Chapter 280: Four Subpoenas
Chapter 280: Four Subpoenas
While the two of them were speaking softly, the mobile phone on the coffee table rang. The girl attentively picked it up and placed it beside Eric’s ear, taking the chance to lie across him as well.
Eric wrapped one arm around the girl’s slender waist and pressed the answer button with his other hand. Jeffrey’s concerned voice sounded from the other end. “Eric, are you alright now?”
“I’m fine. I’m just watching the show. How’s the company right now?” Eric glanced at the news still playing on the television and said. However, his tone was inevitably somewhat forced. He was not someone with a heart made of iron. Facing such a large-scale attack, how could he possibly feel nothing? If he had not left himself a bit of leverage beforehand, even Eric did not know what he would be doing right now.
“The company is still relatively stable, but several unimportant junior employees resigned today. I suppose they couldn’t withstand the pressure from public opinion. I didn’t try to keep them. Also, Robert probed me this afternoon. From what he meant, it seemed he wanted me to persuade you.”
“I imagine some people hinted something to him. Ignore him. Just do what needs to be done.”
“I understand. I only wanted to tell you about it. Also, when exactly do you plan to strike back? We can’t just let things keep developing like this, can we?”
Eric paused before saying, “It’s not time yet. Right, how are things with the money?”
Hearing this question, Jeffrey’s tone grew somewhat heavy. “They’re all stalling. I personally went to Columbia and Fox, but I didn’t meet a single person in charge. I asked Edward, and he said that if this matter goes to court, although we’ll definitely win, it will take several months. As for the loan, Carolyn contacted several more banks. Citibank was originally interested and agreed to lend us fifty million dollars, but Disney and Fox immediately sent lawyer’s letters together, claiming there are problems with our contracts with them and blocking Citibank from lending to us. That also fell through.”
“What do you think their goal is in doing this?” Eric thought for a moment and asked.
Jeffrey said over the phone, “I think it may have something to do with tax payments. But if that problem really arises when the time comes, I think the IRS will definitely agree to let a company with Firefly’s sound operating condition defer its tax payment.”
What Jeffrey could think of, Eric had also thought of. Therefore, he knew the next storm would definitely have something to do with money. Moreover, it would probably involve a very large sum of money. Otherwise, the major companies would not be going to such lengths to prevent Firefly from obtaining funds.
“Jeffrey, don’t think about those two payments for now. Have Carolyn try to get a loan as much as possible. If domestic banks don’t work, then try foreign ones. Since Citibank was willing to relent, I think there must be other banks willing to lend to us.”
“I understand. Actually, Eric, Carolyn told me there’s another way to borrow money, which is to mortgage the Firefly shares in your hands. That way, the other companies definitely won’t have any reason to stop it.”
Eric rejected it without even thinking. “Jeffrey, there’s no room for discussion on this matter. Our opponents are now trying every possible way to obtain Firefly shares. Can you guarantee that after I mortgage them, I’ll still be able to get them back?”
“I mean, if it’s only a small portion, such as ten percent.”
“No, Jeffrey. Don’t mention this matter again.” Eric continued, “Also, since they’ve already made their move, we can’t remain completely passive. Stop production on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? and The X-Files. Also, release the news…” At this point, Eric paused before continuing, “Friends may… not have a second season.”
Hearing Eric say this, Jeffrey was silent for a moment before saying, “Eric, why don’t I go talk to Jennie? She was probably just impulsive for a moment. Now she should be able to understand your situation.”
Eric sighed, remembering how John Aniston had personally called a few days ago to scold him, and had warned him not to approach his daughter again. Eric said listlessly, “No need.”
Jeffrey shook his head on the other end of the phone. “Alright then. By the way, Eric, don’t watch television all day. Don’t read the newspapers anymore either. You know those are all fake. Find something else to do, maybe write a script or something?”
Eric considered for a moment and said, “Why don’t you help me find a band?”
“A band? What do you need that for?”
“I’m moved by the moment. I want to make a song.”
Jeffrey knew Eric understood some film scoring and had seen interludes Eric composed himself, so he did not doubt anything. He nodded and said, “Then what kind of band do you want?”
Eric said, “A rock band. Industrial heavy metal. Find me the best.”
“Uh… alright.”
After saying a few more words, the two hung up.
Eric pushed away the little girl who had been lying on him and listening closely the whole time, turned off the television, gave a few instructions, and then went into his study.
The next day, Jeffrey found Eric the best rock band in Los Angeles. Along with an entire truckload of music production equipment, they were sent into the Malibu estate. Over the next few days, the paparazzi still stubbornly waiting for Eric to appear occasionally heard faint rock music drifting out from the estate.
After the storm fermented for a week, Eric still made no response. However, the matter showed no sign of fading. Protesters carrying banners began appearing outside the Malibu estate and near the Firefly office building, demanding that Eric announce his retirement from directing and stop “poisoning” Hollywood. Some media outlets that wanted to remain fair occasionally published more rational analytical articles about the storm, but they were all buried beneath this one-sided carnival of public opinion. After all, trampling a famous genius director and billionaire into the dust suited the dark desires in many people’s hearts.
At the start of the new week, the storm escalated again. Eric woke up in the morning and had not even had time to eat breakfast when four subpoenas from the Los Angeles District Court were delivered to him all at once.
Drew Barrymore’s father, John Drew Barrymore, jumped out and submitted a series of evidence, condemning his ex-wife Jaid Barrymore for showing no concern for their daughter, and even allowing their underage daughter to be kept by Eric Williams as a private pet. While suing to regain Drew’s guardianship, he also accused Eric of violating his underage daughter.
A clerk from the Los Angeles County government responsible for real estate management took the initiative to expose that Eric Williams used bribery and other illegal means when acquiring fourteen acres of public land at Point Dume in Malibu.
An obscure Hollywood screenwriter named Randy Crapp sued Eric Williams, claiming that the script for Sleuth was suspected of plagiarizing a police-and-gangster film he wrote five years ago, The Struggle Between Light and Darkness, and demanded two hundred million dollars in compensation from Eric Williams.
The newly established Sony Pictures also came to join the excitement, suing that the Sleuth contract Eric signed with Columbia Pictures involved fraud, and that the box office share Eric received was extremely unreasonable and damaged commercial rules.
As soon as news broke that Eric Williams was facing four lawsuits at the same time, not only North America but the entire Western world’s media focused its gaze on Eric. By this point, many people had begun to understand that everything that had happened recently was far from as simple as they imagined. Even so, most people merely watched the situation develop as spectators enjoying the show.
Inside the Point Dume villa in Malibu, Eric and his newly arrived personal lawyer, Edward Lewis, discussed the four lawsuits before them.
“Eric, this matter is getting more and more troublesome. You’ve surely seen it too. There must be major forces supporting these lawsuits from behind. So, to be honest, I don’t dare guarantee now that I can win all four lawsuits for you. Since they can find so many people, then in the future, the judge, the jury, and other factors will also be difficult to control. After all, you are currently the extremely disadvantaged party.”
Eric quietly listened to Edward’s analysis. Only after his personal lawyer finished did he say, “Edward, no matter the result, as long as you do your best, that’s enough.”
“That’s certain,” Edward Lewis nodded and continued. “Among these four lawsuits, the plagiarism suit involving Sleuth is the easiest. I’ve already had people find the original draft written by that screenwriter. Although The Struggle Between Light and Darkness does bear some resemblance to Sleuth, it is only vaguely similar in broad strokes. In terms of details, the difference is basically worlds apart. Then there is Sony’s lawsuit. I personally led the contract signed with Columbia, and I guarantee there won’t be any problems. As for the other two matters…”
Edward looked up at Eric and said, “When I helped you purchase the Malibu land, I did use some of those methods. However, everything was in cash. It’s impossible for any evidence to have been left behind. Moreover, even if it is ultimately proven, I won’t let this matter implicate you. You just insist you didn’t know anything.”
Eric could hear that Edward meant to shoulder the matter himself. He nodded gratefully. “Thank you, Edward. Also, you don’t need to worry too much about the final lawsuit.”
“Are you sure?” Edward glanced at Eric. “I was just about to say that this lawsuit is actually the most dangerous. With the slightest mistake, you may lose.”
Eric shook his head confidently. “Don’t worry. I absolutely won’t lose.”
Edward did not know the specific relationship between Eric and the little girl very clearly, but seeing Eric speak with such certainty, he still nodded.