Chapter 245: What Do You Think of Me?
Chapter 245: What Do You Think of Me?
Donald Teplang had just been about to speak when Eric suddenly interrupted him. After the waiter finished serving the food, Donald noticed Eric’s strange expression from across the table. Worried that this young man would bring up another topic he could not make sense of, Donald Teplang quickly spoke first.
“Eric, have you been to New York before?”
Eric nodded. “A few times.”
“What do you think of it?” Donald gestured outside.
Eric smiled and told the truth. “I don’t feel much. The few times I came before were all rushed, and I was here on serious business.”
Donald nodded, then said, “You should walk around more and take a look. A bustling world-class metropolis like New York is paradise for people like us. By the way, have you ever thought about buying property in New York? You should know housing prices are very cheap lately. Perhaps in another year or two, New York housing prices will soar again.”
Eric looked at Donald Teplang suspiciously. This real estate tycoon had not personally come to him just to sell him a house, had he? That was too absurd. Eric raised his wrist and glanced at his watch, then said, “Mr. Teplang, you should know I don’t have much time. If there’s something you want to say, you can say it directly.”
Donald Teplang had originally wanted to spend a few minutes slowly leading into it, but when Eric asked so bluntly, this real estate tycoon, who had always been decisive and willing to gamble, set down his utensils, adjusted his sitting posture, and said to Eric, “Eric, are you interested in the real estate industry?”
Eric felt as if he understood, yet not fully. He could only continue asking, “What do you mean?”
Donald Teplang’s tone carried strong temptation. “I mean, do you want to invest in real estate? You should know that now is an excellent chance to buy into the North American real estate industry at the bottom. If you miss this chance, you may have to wait at least another twenty years.”
Eric did not know whether this real estate tycoon was saying that intentionally or unintentionally. However, he really did calculate it in his head. From now until the subprime mortgage crisis in 2008, was that not exactly twenty years?
Putting aside that inexplicable thought, Eric asked calmly, “Why me, Mr. Donald? If it’s really as you say and this is a great opportunity, then there should be plenty of people buying at the bottom, right?”
Donald Teplang answered without hesitation, “Of course there are many people who want to buy at the bottom, but they don’t have your advantage.”
Eric smiled faintly and asked, “You mean my… funds?”
Donald Teplang nodded solemnly. “Eric, I happened to see some news about you in the paper, which is why I couldn’t resist coming to visit you presumptuously. But this is also a great opportunity for you. Your Firefly company will generate a large profit this year, right? If you use it to invest in real estate, I guarantee that in a few years, that money will more than double in value. This is much less risky than investing in films.”
Eric asked with interest, “Mr. Teplang, if I decide to invest in real estate, do you have any good suggestions?”
Donald Teplang froze for a moment. He had not expected this young man to be so direct. But after seeing the playful look in Eric’s eyes, a trace of awkwardness finally flashed across Donald Teplang’s face.
However, he quickly remembered his purpose for coming this time, pushed that emotion aside, and said, “My real estate company happens to need financing recently. But you should also have heard about our country’s recent economic situation, so loans from banks are not easy to obtain. I also happened to see some things about you in the newspaper. Eric, what do you think?”
Eric shook his head. “Mr. Teplang, I actually don’t have much money on hand. If you know even a little about me, you’ll find that I’ve more or less spent all the money I earned this year.”
“Isn’t there still… still the several films at the end of the year?” Donald Teplang immediately said. “Eric, your company has five films releasing at the end of the year, and all of them are films the distributors are very optimistic about. They should bring in at least 100 million dollars in profit, right?”
“Sorry, Mr. Teplang. I’m not interested in investing in real estate,” Eric directly refused. Although his knowledge from his previous life made him think without hesitation that real estate was very profitable, Eric knew absolutely nothing about the industry. If he invested one or two hundred million dollars, it might simply vanish into the water. Whether he could even get back his principal would be a question.
By comparison, Eric would rather invest in films. After all, he knew the hit films of the coming years like the back of his hand. Even if he eventually had so much money that he truly could not spend it all, he would definitely invest it in industries he was more familiar with, not real estate, which he did not understand at all.
Donald Teplang was not discouraged after Eric refused him, but he also did not continue persuading him. He knew that as long as this young man had some rationality, even if Donald wore out his lips over this meal, Eric could not possibly agree immediately. The most important thing now was to first establish a relatively long-term connection with Eric. He believed that with his social skills, even though the age gap between them was rather large, he could easily become friends with him.
So Donald Teplang’s expression soon relaxed, and he said in a casual tone, “Eric, I heard a while ago that your Home Alone 2 crew was negotiating with a hotel for on-location filming. What do you think of the Hyatt Hotel on 42nd Street? That’s my property. I can let your crew move in and film for free.”
Eric refused. “No need. We’ve already reached an agreement with the Plaza Hotel beside Central Park, and they’ve also agreed to let us use it for free.”
Donald Teplang knew exactly what grade the Plaza Hotel was. He asked in disbelief, “Free?”
Eric nodded, faintly pleased. Getting a five-star hotel to let the crew use it for free, and even have the staff willing to guest-star as temporary actors, had not been easy before.
The reason this was possible now was all thanks to Pretty Woman. After the Wilshire Hotel in Los Angeles served as the filming location for Pretty Woman, it became popular along with the film, even turning into a Beverly Hills tourist spot. During this period, many tourists visiting Los Angeles specifically went to the Wilshire Hotel to look around. Those who could afford it even stayed there.
Although Donald Teplang’s Hyatt Hotel on 42nd Street was also of decent quality, it still had not reached the luxury level of the Plaza Hotel. So after hearing Eric say this, Donald Teplang stopped persuading him. After thinking for a moment, Donald Teplang then said, “Then, Eric, what do you think of me?”
“What?”
“I mean, do you think I could guest-star in your movie?”
Eric raised his eyebrows. He thought of a certain passerby in Home Alone 2 and asked, “Are you sure?”
Seeing that there was a chance, Donald Teplang hurriedly said, “Of course. I’ve guest-starred in several TV shows before. I think a movie should be about the same, right?”
Donald Teplang was so eager not because he valued that one guest role. Even if he used to have this hobby, with his company in danger now, he could not possibly have much interest in it. He was doing this only to use it as a way to maintain contact with Eric and continue persuading him.
Since the man had delivered himself to the door, Eric naturally nodded. There was a playful hint in his smile as he said, “If you’re willing, of course there’s no problem.”
…
The lunch was fairly pleasant. Afterward, Donald Teplang soon sent Eric back to the set.
“Everyone, everyone, pay attention. Time to work. Allen, where’s Allen?” Eric walked onto the set, picked up the megaphone, and started shouting.
The people who had been resting immediately gathered and began returning to their posts.
“Mr. Williams, were you looking for me?” Allen appeared from somewhere and asked.
Eric nodded. “You don’t need to stay here this afternoon. Help me collect some information on Donald Teplang’s company.”
“Who is Donald Teplang?” Allen asked in confusion.
Eric was too lazy to explain and pointed at Elisabeth, who was walking over. “Ask Liz. Give me the materials tonight.”
“Oh.” Allen nodded and walked toward Elisabeth.
Eric then began instructing the crew members to prepare for the afternoon’s shots.
…
At the hotel where the crew was staying, the environment this time was infinitely better than it had been in Seattle.
The sound of running water rang in the bathroom for a while before stopping. A moment later, Eric came out with a towel wrapped around his waist.
Nicole, who was wearing a pale blue nightdress and lying on the big bed reading a magazine, heard the movement and sat up. She raised a document on the bedside table. “Allen came by just now and delivered this.”
Eric raised his brows in surprise. “You opened the door?”
The woman nodded innocently. “I called you, but you didn’t hear me, so I had to…”
Eric stared at her helplessly for a few moments and sighed. “Fine.”
Seeing that Eric did not pursue the matter, Nicole secretly let out another breath of relief. Very few people knew about her relationship with Eric. Even Aniston did not know. That silly girl still thought Eric had chosen her through a proper audition.
However, although Nicole also did not want outsiders to know about her relationship with Eric, the people who should know, such as Jeffrey or Eric’s assistant, or a few other important people around Eric, still had to know.