Although Bill Gates had relented on the issue of pre-installing IE on overseas versions of Windows, there were still many details to be hashed out. However, with the agreement in place, the relationship between Microsoft and the Westeros system was essentially broken.
Since Simon had given up on trying to ally with Microsoft, his strategy toward the software giant changed. The threats he made on Saturday morning—including selling off Microsoft shares, accelerating the development of the Linux operating system, and cutting Microsoft off from the internet—would now be pursued, albeit less aggressively and more subtly, like the proverbial frog slowly boiled in water.
Among the various tech companies in the Westeros system, Igreat was expected to be Microsoft's most formidable opponent. After leaving Seattle, Simon went straight to San Francisco to discuss the fallout with several key Igreat executives.
By the end of Saturday's discussions, they had agreed on a plan.
First, the development of the Linux operating system would be accelerated, with the goal of releasing a graphical PC version no later than 1997. To achieve this, Igreat would increase its collaboration with Sun Microsystems. Igreat had already secured the permanent rights to the Java programming language from Sun and was working on a software development platform based on Java.
Anyone paying attention to the IT industry knew that developing an operating system wasn't difficult—the real challenge was building a software ecosystem for it. Without software, even the best system was useless. To build that ecosystem, the foundation was a software development platform. At that time, the most popular development language was Microsoft's C language. Once Igreat released its operating system, Gates certainly wouldn't allow C to be used for developing Linux applications.
Java was Simon's ideal choice for the Linux system. Not only was Java a better programming language than C, particularly in adapting to network environments, but its potential had long been overshadowed by Microsoft's dominance and Sun's decline.
Aside from working with Sun, Simon also had his eyes on the struggling Apple.
The reason was simple: patents. Despite its decline, Apple had developed graphical operating systems before Microsoft and held a vast array of core patents that could challenge Windows. Acquiring Apple would allow Igreat to counter Microsoft's patent walls in the operating system space.
Next came cutting off Microsoft from the internet. Following Saturday's meeting, Igreat would no longer license any critical internet technologies to Microsoft unless absolutely necessary.
As for Microsoft's existing business ventures, Igreat had plenty of ways to suppress them quietly.
In fact, Microsoft seemed intent on making foolish moves on its own. After capitulating on the pre-installation of IE, Simon received a call from Bezos on Monday morning, informing him that Microsoft had notified Igreat's ad division of its decision to slash its second-quarter ad budget by half.
For years, Microsoft had been one of Igreat's biggest advertising clients. In 1994 alone, Microsoft spent $55 million across Igreat's platforms to promote its operating systems, office software, and data center services.
Although Microsoft had enjoyed a near-monopoly, both Simon and Igreat's management knew that the key to sustained business was delivering genuine value to advertisers. Igreat's ad operations had always prioritized ad performance, ensuring their online ads were as effective as traditional media.
Thanks to this rigor, Igreat's ad space was costly but highly effective. Before the fallout, Microsoft had received special treatment within the Westeros system. The $55 million it spent on ads in 1994 brought Microsoft benefits comparable to $100 million in traditional media advertising.
But now that relations were severed, and with Simon considering ways to reduce Microsoft's exposure on Igreat's platforms, Gates' rash decision to cut Microsoft's ad budget seemed like an attempt at retaliation.
It was nothing short of foolish.
In traditional industries, advertisers often cut their budgets to pressure media outlets into making concessions. But Microsoft's move had no impact on Igreat. With Igreat's rapid expansion and near-monopoly on internet traffic, its ad business was a seller's market. Microsoft's retreat would be quickly filled by other clients, and without the special deals offered to Microsoft, Igreat could even profit more.
In contrast, Microsoft would need to spend significantly more on other platforms to achieve the same ad results. For businesses like data centers, which relied heavily on internet promotion, losing Igreat's support would only make growth more difficult.
On top of this, Gates, through Paul Allen, had tested the waters by inquiring if Simon would sell his Microsoft shares.
This was likely something Gates had been contemplating for a long time. With Microsoft's stock price soaring over the past few years and relations between the two sides remaining amicable, he had not pursued it earlier. But now, even though Simon's stake was worth over $20 billion, Gates had finally made up his mind.
Microsoft itself couldn't afford to buy the shares outright, but with its current momentum, Gates could easily pool together capital from other giants to gather the necessary funds. All that mattered was that the shares leave Simon's hands.
But Simon had no intention of selling.
While Gates may have impulsively cut Microsoft's ad budget, Simon was not about to make a rash decision. The Microsoft shares in his possession were a critical leverage point, especially while Igreat's Linux operating system was still in development. As long as Simon held onto his shares, he maintained significant influence over Microsoft.
Besides, even though Microsoft's market cap would never hit the $600 billion it had in Simon's previous life due to the pressure from the Westeros system, it could still reach $200-300 billion at the peak of the new tech wave. Selling now would be a loss for Simon.
Malibu, Point Dume Estate.
After handling matters in Seattle and San Francisco, Simon returned to Los Angeles yesterday afternoon.
Today was March 13th.
Monday.
It was Janet's 35th birthday.
Her birthday party, starting at 7 p.m., was even more lively than Simon's own last month.
For a long time after they met, Janet had been very sensitive about her age. But after turning 30, becoming a wife and mother, she found that time hadn't left many marks on her, and her initial worries had faded.
Now that her birthday had arrived, she was ready to celebrate.
Simon had long dismissed the idea that Western women aged faster than others. He'd seen it mentioned many times and never agreed.
A person's appearance and body were influenced by genetics and their lifestyle. Aging gracefully varied greatly from person to person.
In both the East and West, there were many people who naturally resisted the effects of time. Catherine and Janet were among them.
In Simon's previous life, Catherine Bigelow had become the first woman to win the Academy Award for Best Director in 2010. Standing on the Oscar stage in her brown evening gown, she looked so stunning that people might have believed she was in her thirties or forties, even though she was born in 1951.
Beyond natural beauty, there was also the contrast between women who lived privileged lives and those who struggled with daily hardships. Regardless of their country, the toll of hard work often aged women more quickly after marriage.
The birthday party at Shell Villa was in full swing.
Janet, wearing her signature silk burgundy evening gown, moved through the crowd with Simon at her side. One was calm and composed, the other elegant and radiant. Despite the age difference between them, even the most critical guests couldn't help but admit they made a perfect pair.
As they approached, Catherine Bigelow couldn't help but feel a sense of familiarity, as if nothing had changed despite all the years that had passed. The boy who had seemed so mature beyond his years still carried that same youthful steadiness. And Janet, once a bright, vivacious young woman, remained as lively and beautiful as ever.
But 1986 to 1995—so many years had passed without them realizing it.
Time flowed like water, soft yet relentless, stealing moments from everyone.
Hugging Janet warmly and wishing her a happy birthday, Catherine turned to Simon with a gentle smile, and he returned it naturally.
During their conversation, Catherine mentioned that she had recently adopted another cat—a beautiful American shorthair. Now, her home was filled with two dogs and three cats.
Janet showed interest, promising to visit soon, while also complaining that Simon didn't like pets and refused to have any at home.
Simon felt a bit aggrieved.
It wasn't just him—neither of them liked pets. They simply didn't have the patience for it.
Janet, of course, didn't mention Simon's fondness for "pets" of a different kind—though bringing that up would certainly paint him in a less favorable light.
After chatting with Catherine, Sandra Bullock came over to join them.
Embracing Janet and offering her birthday wishes, Sandra cast a few envious glances at the couple before talking about the latest gossip and happenings.
Sensing Sandra's unease, Simon kindly mentioned that the current projects weren't the right fit for her—they were mostly looking for decorative roles. He joked that as his muse from their work on Run Lola Run, she would always be his first choice when the right role came along.
It was the truth.
Sandra, however, felt a bit embarrassed.
Since missing her chance with Simon, Sandra had focused most of her energy on her career. Thanks to Simon's support, she had remained an A-list actress, but Hollywood had been changing rapidly in recent years. She sometimes felt like she couldn't keep up. And, inevitably, opportunities to see Simon had become rarer. Instead, she often spent time with Janet, going shopping or out to lunch, though Janet didn't involve herself much with Danelys Entertainment.
In the meantime, Sandra had tried reading scripts and reaching out for roles, but despite a few calls with Simon, nothing had panned out, leaving her feeling increasingly anxious.
Hollywood stars, even those at the top of the pyramid, often struggled with insecurity and
self-doubt.
It was human nature.
The higher you climbed, the harder it was to let go.
Once you reached the top, there was always the fear of being pushed off by others.
Simon, always nostalgic, had no desire to see Sandra relegated to a mere decorative role in blockbuster films. He wanted her to be a truly top-tier actress.
When Simon referred to Sandra as his muse, Janet immediately objected, playfully complaining that she was jealous.
And not easily consoled.
Sandra laughed, confessing that she had recently started dating someone. She explained that she hadn't brought him to the party because she feared he would feel insecure around Simon.
Hearing this, Simon clutched his chest in mock heartbreak, which earned him a playful slap from Janet.
At 8 p.m., after the birthday cake had been cut and the guests had sung their songs, couples began gathering in the center of the ballroom for a dance, prompted by the staff.
The sound of Young and Beautiful began to fill the room.
A special live performance by a young singer.
Among the elite crowd, everyone immediately recognized the quality of the performance. Whether swaying in the central ballroom or sipping champagne at the edges, the guests were captivated, quietly lost in the moment.
Naturally, the night's two stars were at the center of the dance floor.
Janet held onto Simon tightly, her head resting against his neck. Halfway through the song, she whispered emotionally into his ear, "Thank you, my love."
Smiling, Simon leaned down to kiss her earlobe and whispered back, "Me too."
Janet, feeling a little overwhelmed, murmured, "You little devil, hold on to me."
Understanding her meaning, Simon grasped her wrist gently.
But not with the same intensity as before.
Janet, satisfied, nuzzled her cheek against Simon's, allowing herself to fully relax and savor the moment.
The song echoed throughout the ballroom.
...
Oh Lord, when I get to heaven, please let me take my man.
Let him open the gates.
Please bless him with such grace.
That charming, dashing figure.
That handsome face.
That is my guiding light, my final refuge.
...
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]