The American Kill Line: I Can Predict the Future

Chapter 94 A Gift from a Media Tycoon (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Before dawn, the housekeepers in the villa were already up.

Clean the house, make breakfast, and light the fireplace.

It snowed all night long in the latter half of last night.

When Ron woke up in the morning, the outside world was already covered in snow.

Despite having been busy all night, he still went upstairs to the converted gym to work out.

When I got downstairs and went back to my room to wash up, Amanda was already awake.

"Get up and eat something." Ron said as he walked toward the bathroom, taking off his clothes.

Amanda threw off the covers and jumped naked onto Ron's back: "My dear rich man, I think I understand why you're so strong."

Last night's experience was better than she had imagined, so much so that she was still reminiscing about it just now.

She felt like she was just a toy, being manipulated by this man.

The feeling of being suspended in the air and delivering a powerful punch completely overturned my previous imagination of sports.

Therefore, she wanted to have a small dessert before breakfast.

Amanda simply overestimated her physical strength.

After leaving the room, his legs were trembling, and he helped Ron down to the restaurant.

Ron's dress from last night was torn to shreds. As usual, he dialed the tailor's number, then ate his breakfast and watched the news.

It's the weekend, and it's snowing outside.

Ron didn't go out; he stayed in the study, reading on the sofa.

The room was warm and cozy. Amanda pretended to read for a while, but soon she became sleepy, yawned, and fell asleep next to him.

Most of the day passed just like that.

Ron was watching a movie with Amanda in his arms when the butler came up and whispered, "Sir, someone claiming to be sent by Mr. Samler Redstone has come to deliver a document."

"Samler Redstone?"

Ron didn't have much of an impression of the name, only knowing that he was a legendary Hollywood tycoon.

The company, All America Entertainment, is a leading theater chain in North America and the de facto controller of Viacom (television group) and CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System).

"Please invite him up."

Although Ron did not know the other party's purpose, he still decided to meet him.

A short while later, a man in his fifties came up.

Ron smiled; it was someone he knew.

I wasn't surprised that Paramount Pictures' parent company is Viacom.

Amanda, standing beside her, stammered, "Mark—Mark!"

Realizing her rudeness, she quickly stood up: "Hello, Mr. Evans."

Ron sat lazily on the sofa, amused by her pathetic state: "You two know each other?"

Mark Evans, president of Paramount Pictures' financing department, first removed his hat and respectfully greeted Ron: "Good afternoon, Mr. Hunter!"

Then he looked at Amanda and said, "Hello, ma'am, where have we met before? Please forgive my poor eyesight, I can't remember."

In Amanda's mind, the man in front of her was at the top of the Hollywood food chain.

It is no exaggeration to say that a single word can determine one's future.

Faced with such a respectful inquiry, Amanda hurriedly waved her hand: "Mr. Evans, I met you at a Paramount film event before, you probably don't remember me."

"Really?" Mark Evans tried to recall.

Ron chuckled and interrupted, "Don't stand, Mark, make yourselves at home. We're old friends, no need to be shy. What would you like to drink?"

"Coffee will do."

Mark Evans relaxed a little upon hearing this.

The man's identity changed too quickly.

No, more accurately, it rose too quickly.

They first met on a golf course, where Mark saw the other as a "fat pig waiting to be slaughtered."

Our second contact was also over the phone.

With a single word, the other party snatched the cake of the super project "The Avengers" from Paramount Pictures.

Now, he is under orders from the Redstone family, just to present a small gift.

Thinking about the gift and the old man's words, Mark truly realized that the young man in front of him was someone he had to look up to.

After the butler brought in the coffee, Mark first exchanged pleasantries with Ron.

The main topic of discussion was the progress of several projects Ron had invested in at Paramount.

Amanda, standing to the side, gave a strange look, her gaze shifting back and forth between the two of them.

She felt that Mark wasn't having a chat, but rather reporting to the wealthy man she had hooked up with the previous night.

This left her in disbelief for a moment.

In Amanda's mind, Ron should be either a family heir or an investment tycoon on Wall Street.

Therefore, her attitude towards this man was more of a substitute for a temporary period of being single.

While you're at it, enjoy a taste of the rich life.

When you get tired of them, leave without hesitation.

Looking back now, it seems like I stumbled upon a truly important person by sheer luck.

So big that if she misses this opportunity, she may never have another chance to meet it.

Thinking of this, Amanda took advantage of a break in their conversation to touch the coffee cup on the table and said softly, "My wealthy sir, would you like a fresh cup of coffee?"

"Thanks."

Ron could roughly guess what was going on with the little girl's sudden gentleness.

He didn't pay much attention and asked Mark, "So, Mark, what's the purpose of your visit?"

"Look at me, I almost forgot about the important matter."

Mark quickly took out the document from his briefcase and respectfully handed it over: "Mr. Redstone asked me to give this to you as a small gift."

Ron took it and immediately opened it.

This is an equity transfer agreement.

Last year, Texas-based consortium TPG acquired a 35 percent non-controlling stake in CAA.

CAA is actually controlled by its four founders.

After years of changes and power struggles, control of CAA is now in the hands of CEO Brian Lord and film business president Richard Lovett.

The other two founders have gradually withdrawn from the core of CAA's power structure, retaining only their equity stakes.

The transfer agreement in front of us is for the equity of these two CAA founders.

Added together, it's exactly 20%.

Once he signs this document, the $2 million worth of shares will belong to him, making him the de facto majority shareholder of CAA.

They are still shareholders with controlling rights.

In an instant, Ron thought of many things.

How did Samler Redstone know that he had designs on CAA?

"Could it be old Buss?"

Ron remembered the "little surprise" that Old Bass had mentioned when he left his house last time.

Then, recalling what the other party said at the beginning of the month about the merger between CAA and IMG.

"Does old Buss really have that much power?"

The Bass family is indeed very powerful, but they are definitely not powerful enough to easily control a top media mogul like Sumner Redstone.

Ron was more inclined to believe that the old man had revealed his needs to Samler Redstone.

After reviewing the agreement, Ron casually tossed the document onto the table, picked up the coffee Amanda had brewed, took a sip, and asked, "Mark, does Mr. Redstone have anything else to say?"

While Ron was reviewing the agreement, Mark kept observing the other party.

In his view, the significance of this "gift" was enough to move anyone's heart.

Keep in mind that's CAA, the top brokerage firm in the US.

To his surprise, Ron remained completely unmoved throughout the entire process.

His attitude was extremely casual.

This filled Mark with even more awe, and he first glanced at Amanda.

Amanda really wanted to stay and listen, but she wisely avoided it.

Then, Mark unconsciously lifted his buttocks and straightened his back: "Mr. Redstone asked me to tell you that if you want to facilitate the merger between CAA and IMG in the future, he can help persuade CAA."

President Brian Lord.

Mark's voice trembled involuntarily as he said this.

In fact, his heart was in turmoil when he heard the news from the old man the day before yesterday.

If CAA is the "brain" of Hollywood, then IMG is the "body" of global sports.

After the two were combined, it became not just a simple intermediary agency, but a "galaxy"-level empire integrating talent, content, resources, and channels.

Imagine this company decides to make a tennis movie, and the CAA division brings in the best director and screenwriter.

After filming was completed, IMG Media produced multilingual versions and distributed them globally; upon release, its top global models and singers promoted the film extensively on social media.

For example, IMG originally operated top-level events such as the Champions League, while IMG Media was responsible for global broadcast signals and university sports rights.

Now, with the addition of CAA's powerful brand marketing department.

This new company can offer a brand an irresistible service:

From sponsoring an exhibition match between Federer and Nadal, to having Steven Spielberg film a camaraderie video after the match—no, to having Steven Spielberg film a camaraderie video.

When that time really comes, not to mention the other four major Hollywood talent agencies will be terrified.

Even Disney and Warner Bros. would be terrified.

And the man in front of you is very likely the person in charge of this media behemoth.

Ron tapped the transfer documents lightly.

It was obvious that this complete stranger, Sumner Redstone, was after his hedge fund.

Moreover, it was a very sincere gesture, offering such an irresistible gift.

If you're fed right up to someone's mouth, it would seem pretentious not to eat.

After a moment, Ron nodded slightly and smiled, "Okay, I understand. Thank you for your help, Mark. Please tell Mr. Redstone that I really like this gift. If he's free next Saturday, I'd like to invite him to lunch at my house."

>