Anne's lips were sweet, delicate, and pale. She was the kind of woman who made you want to bite and drown in affection. Billy gently cupped her cheeks and took a deep breath; she couldn't do anything but close her eyes and let out a sigh so deep it seemed to carry her to some unseen edge.
–I think we need to talk – Anne said. A feeling had risen from somewhere deep in her soul, something she had never expected, something that went beyond her thoughts.
–What could be so important? – Billy asked.
–It's just… I want a family. But there's no one within my reach. The people around me have little to offer. But you... You want... You only want to be the father of my child. All I want is to be a mother. It's strange, but when I look at you, I just want something of my own, even if it's just a memory – Anne said, swallowing hard. It was a distant yet quietly desperate way of saying it.
–This isn't about guilt or what I might feel. Sometimes I wish things were different. But it's something I've always thought about. My goals were to keep my family off the streets, to give my younger siblings a life, even without a father, and to care for my nieces and nephews who lost their parents. I carry a family on my back, and I've done what I set out to do. Some of them are about to enter university, to chase their dreams. Money is the least of my concerns now. I have my own house, a place for people who choose to stand beside me. I don't want gold. I just want peace. –
–Sometimes my goals are as wide as those of a woman who made it. And what does someone who has everything still want? Well, not everything—just one thing. I want to be a mother. A mother who walks with me, who stays in my life. Someone who's as alive as I am. I won't take long to find what I've been longing for – Anne said, finally releasing that suffocating truth she carried so deep inside. At thirty-three, time seemed to be running out. A child to care for, a responsibility she could share with others. She earned enough, had more than enough in the bank to fund this life—and another. If she knocked on a door, she'd be hired with even better numbers, but that didn't matter. What mattered was the certainty she had: Billy would never fail. It was a kind of trust that went beyond fear or logic. Retirement at forty-five already seemed like a living goal. Her grandfather was still around. Her cousin, recently divorced, was now living with them and working as a nurse—not glamorous, but dependable, with flexible hours and time for herself.
–What do you want from me? To be the father? I'm not the right person for that. I can say it clearly: I'm not made for raising a child. I don't have the time, the patience, or the maturity – Billy said.
–I'm not asking that. I just want your permission… for your genetics. We've never been about lies. I want him to be a good boy. I'll hire a governess to raise and discipline him when I'm away, to oversee homework and daily care. My grandmother and cousin will be there to help, while I make time where I can – Anne replied. Her eyes were always so soft that Billy saw something in them few others had—something raw, primitive, and honest.
–You want my genes – Billy chuckled. – How primitive. What if I carry the gene for evil? –
–Then at the very least, it'll make him the best—even in evil – Anne replied, leaning in close. The caress of a lover, dust floating in the light that trickled through the skylight.
–Then you know it has to be legal. Fully legal – said Billy.
–I'll sign. I'll write a contract. I'll record a video. Just make me happy – Anne whispered.
–We need another operations manager, – Billy added.
–Let's hire someone from Stanford with good grades. I'll train them to handle the divided roles of Rachel and Raimon, at least for the comics and RPG company – Anne answered.
–Then what can I do when everything's already been decided, when it seems like there's nothing left to say? – Billy asked, taking a deep breath. He knew the path of no return had already been chosen when it needed to be. What remained now was to wait and see what would come of it. What else could one do?
Fatigue arrived with the early hours of morning—that was his cue to retreat, to step back and look beyond the ill-intentioned path life had thrown him onto. It was a story—no doubt about that. A story ridiculous and fantastic, so unreal and full of nonsense and backstage theatrics.
–No rush… I'll take care of everything and give you a copy to keep in your desk drawer—or maybe in a bank vault. It doesn't really matter where – Billy said, accepting the indifference.
The fear of being alone was reason enough to say yes. A raw, undeniable reason that pushed him to act in ways even he didn't expect.
***
Lux Animation had two hits in hand. Who could split up a winning pair? Especially when those successes existed in such wonderful and minimal spaces, where stories told other stories and gave time a way to dissolve into truth.
The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Gigantic—what can people do when they grow bitter toward what they don't understand? Because ignorance breeds it.
–So I suppose we have another success. Not as massive as we hoped, but still. I must say, in the coming months, we'll likely face plenty of criticism—maybe doubt—and that can weigh heavily on our artists – said John Lasseter, watching the team's morale droop under the words of those young voices who didn't know the whole story, a truth that was only partially visible.
–But it's a win. No question – said Andrew Stanton, who knew the numbers better than anyone: a $45 million production that brought in $240 million is a real success. Yet compared to the highest earners, it felt small. Even The Hunchback of Notre Dame, a different kind of project, had cost $41 million and brought in $398 million. A harsh reality. Gigantic had launched as a direct competitor to Titanic, which was still making waves: $500 million domestically and climbing, with sequels in the works. Worldwide, it had hit $600 million and was expected to reach $1.5 billion in the coming days, breaking records and earning a place among iconic blockbusters from Spielberg to Star Wars, Jurassic Park to Toy Story, and now Titanic—an allegorical success of massive scale.
–Let's throw a party, hand out bonuses—and you know how it goes. Keep people motivated about upcoming films. And hey, if one flops, don't stress—success will come. Billy's got some great movies in the pipeline – John Lasseter added.
–We might hear from Billy in the next few days – he added calmly. The promise of releasing two 3D films per year was no longer a dream—it was a fact. Now that they had the resources, the goal was clear: two movies per year, each grossing over $300 million.
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