They entered the computer room inside the villa. Simon selected a moderately configured machine, powered it on, and slipped the iCam floppy disk into the drive.
The C girl sat down beside him. "I've already set up the official Tinkerbell website. You can download a simplified version of Photoshop there for viewing and editing pictures."
The computer in front of Simon was a Compaq running Windows 3.0. Aside from the most basic built in Paint program, there was no dedicated image viewer.
In fact, many features that would later become commonplace were still missing from the current Windows operating system.
For example, the Start button.
Simon had once considered creating a Start button utility early and selling it to Bill Gates in exchange for some Microsoft stock, but he had ultimately decided against it.
He already held twenty percent of Microsoft, so it was basically his own company anyway. An add on utility was fundamentally different from system integration. Doing so might disrupt the overall architecture of Windows, and the gain would not be worth the loss.
After asking for the Tinkerbell website address, Simon quickly downloaded and installed the simplified version of Photoshop, then opened the photos he had just taken in the gym from the floppy disk.
In addition to image viewing, this simplified Photoshop offered basic functions like cropping, brightness adjustment, and adding text. It was similar to the built in features on smartphones in Simon's memory, though it lacked more advanced filters and beautification effects for now.
A one hundred thousand pixel image at three hundred twenty by three hundred twenty resolution took up roughly a quarter of the screen on the seventeen inch eight hundred by six hundred resolution monitor Simon was using.
By Simon's standards as someone from the future, both the monitor and the images were undeniably crude.
However, for simply posting pictures on the Ygritte blog, the current computer setup was more than sufficient, and the image quality was perfectly acceptable.
Although Simon had invited a large number of celebrities to join the Ygritte blog, he himself did not have a verified personal account.
Of course, he definitely had an alternate account.
He logged into his Ygritte blog sock puppet. Simon was about to try uploading one of the pictures when he realized it was a photo of the C girl and thought better of it. He simply filled the entire image with black using the paint bucket tool, typed a large "Dark" in the center, and uploaded it.
A rather baffling post quickly appeared on the sock puppet account.
Claire beside him found it amusing.
The boss's sock puppet name was actually "Psychic Simon."
The bio was written with deadpan seriousness: Accepting all kinds of psychic and ghost hunting assignments. One thousand dollars per job. Serious inquiries only.
Scrolling further down, the previous posts were all about ghosts, spirits, and the supernatural, written in a very professional tone.
Simon did not explain that he and Janet had created the account together as a joke. Janet was usually the one messing around on it, even pranking people who sent genuine private messages asking for help.
After posting, Simon did not mind that the C girl had seen this harmless little secret. He said, "The results are pretty good. You should have noticed that images are going to be one of the key areas the Igrett portal focuses on next. Actually, the Ygritte blog could open album functionality at any time. We just haven't done it yet because there isn't enough content. So, Claire, what are your plans moving forward?"
Claire pulled her attention away from Simon's sock puppet account. "For the first batch of one thousand cameras, I plan to use them mainly to collect user feedback so we can make improvements or fix any issues that might exist. This is a brand new product after all. Even though Neil ran a lot of tests in the lab, he can't guarantee the devices will be flawless."
Simon nodded slightly, thought for a moment, and quickly said, "Tell you what. I'll have Ygritte buy all one thousand of the first batch iCams outright. Then we'll run a free trial event for active blog users. One thousand active users sending in regular feedback reports should be more than enough for you to make improvements."
That was exactly what Claire had been thinking.
Since her boss had offered first, she immediately agreed.
One thousand iCams only cost three hundred twenty thousand dollars in total. Compared to the ten million dollar monthly marketing budget Ygritte was currently spending, it was negligible.
Simon noticed the expression on the C girl's face and smiled.
Once iCam gained widespread adoption, it would be hugely beneficial for enriching content on the current internet platforms.
This project had always been one Simon intended to support heavily.
Claire had not pushed for quick results, but Simon had no intention of moving slowly. He added fuel to the fire. "However, one thousand units is still too few. Here's what we'll do. I'll arrange a five million dollar loan for you to fully build out the Tinkerbell company framework and then produce another ten thousand iCams as quickly as possible. Of course, this time you'll have to figure out sales on your own."
Claire's eyes lit up instantly. She could not help leaning closer to Simon.
She felt a sudden urge to hug her boss and kiss him.
Claire actually did not share Simon's strong confidence in iCam. Still, in her view, the one million dollar initial investment really had not been enough.
The problem was that the Vase Fund had already taken fifty percent of the shares for that first round. She and her other partner, Neil Brantley, each held only twenty five percent. If she asked for more capital, her equity would be diluted further. Not only that, her stake in the Vase Fund itself would drop significantly.
If the project failed, she was not even sure she would get another chance at investment.
Now Simon had casually offered a five million dollar loan, solving every one of her problems at once.
The Vase Fund amount would stay the same, her equity would not be diluted, and she could immediately start putting Tinkerbell on the right track.
The five million dollars would do far more than simply build the company framework and produce another ten thousand cameras.
Most importantly, the process would give her invaluable hands on experience running a business.
Through the next ten thousand iCams, from component procurement and assembly to advertising, marketing, and actual sales, Claire would basically master every skill needed to operate a company like this.
Apple had been founded in 1976 and grown at explosive speed.
Yet even the deeply entrenched IBM did not successfully enter the PC market until the 1980s. Companies like Compaq and Dell came even later. The biggest reason was that Apple had gained a head start in learning how to run a personal computer company.
One step ahead often meant staying ahead forever.
In the digital camera field, Japanese giants like Sony and Panasonic, or domestic leaders like Kodak,7 had far more technological accumulation than the current grassroots Tinkerbell team.
The iCam that Neil Brantley had spent years of spare time and the past few months perfecting might have taken those companies only a month to prototype.
However, as long as Tinkerbell secured the first mover advantage in this space, once card style cameras took off, the company would have nothing to fear from traditional camera manufacturers.
The current issue was simply to take as many steps ahead as possible, as early as possible.
That was another major benefit of the five million dollar loan Simon was providing.
Claire could not help thinking that if the project failed, she might never be able to repay the five million dollars.
Well.
The boss would cover it anyway.
Five million dollars meant nothing to this young man.
Even if...
At worst, she could just sell herself to repay the debt and work for him a few more years.
Simon watched the C girl's eyes shimmer with emotion and tapped the desk with a smile. "One thing I should clarify. This five million dollar loan is something I'm pulling from the bank for you. It comes with interest, and you'll have to repay it yourself."
Claire nodded without hesitation. "Mm, I'll repay it myself."
"So straightforward? You sound like a kid promising to finish homework on time."
Claire had always finished her homework on time since she was little. Yet the girl kept her eyes fixed on Simon. "Yes. If I can't repay it, I won't have any other choice anyway."
Simon felt the C girl's hungry gaze, shut down the computer, and stood up. "All right. Go prepare breakfast. I'll wake Janet."
Claire stood as well and followed half a step behind Simon. After a brief hesitation, she finally could not hold back. "Boss, do you want to take a shower first?"
"Hm?"
"There is a bathroom downstairs. I can go get you fresh clothes."
"Aren't you afraid Janet will suddenly burst in and beat you up?"
"The wife wouldn't do that," Claire said, then added, "But if you want to hit me, boss, that's fine too. Just don't be too rough."
"..."
Watching her boss quicken his pace and walk away, Claire curved her lips into a smile.
Another failed attempt at seduction.
Still, it felt like she had found the right direction.
The Shrine Auditorium in downtown Hollywood.
The premiere of Batman: The Dark Knight was being held in the same venue as the first film.
Around five thirty in the afternoon, a black stretch limousine stopped at the red carpet entrance. Famke Janssen stepped out wearing a red Gucci gown.
With Daenerys Entertainment's support, she had already attended one Oscar ceremony. This was her second time on the red carpet outside the Shrine Auditorium. Feeling the frenzied atmosphere around her, Famke Janssen still could not hide her excitement.
This feeling of being the center of attention was probably what so many Hollywood superstars secretly craved deep in their hearts.
Vanity Fair. Vanity Fair.
The higher one climbed, the less "profit" mattered. What became truly important was the "fame."
Wonder Woman would begin filming soon. Before that, however, everyone already knew the role she was about to play.
Her appearance on the red carpet tonight was not just for publicity. She would also appear in the film, albeit very briefly. It was her first official appearance as Wonder Woman.
Hearing shouts of "Diana" and "Wonder Woman," Famke Janssen quietly steadied her breathing and steps. She waved to the fans on both sides from time to time and finally made it across the red carpet.
In the media area she posed for several sets of photos and simply smiled without answering the reporters who shouted questions about Wonder Woman filming.
Once the red carpet formalities were complete, a staff member guided her toward the backstage area. Her publicist leaned in and patiently reminded her in a low voice that she should avoid a certain pose she had struck on the carpet in the future as it might come across as insufficiently elegant.
When the woman had first become her publicist, the PR agent, who had been personally trained by Hollywood's publicity queen Pat Kingsley, had clearly looked down on her.
She had probably seen Famke as nothing more than a vase kept by some powerful man.
Now, after everything they had been through, especially after the Wonder Woman role was confirmed, that arrogance had completely vanished.
Still, the thirty something woman was genuinely capable, and Famke listened carefully and followed most of her advice.
She could not help feeling a small sense of satisfaction.
She had finally made it through.
These past few years had been tight. She still carried five hundred thousand dollars in debt.
After it was confirmed she would play Wonder Woman, Hollywood producers had swarmed her with offers for all kinds of films and leading roles.
Yet without Daenerys Entertainment's approval, she could not accept any of them.
She understood why.
Daenerys Entertainment had invested so much in her over the past few years. How could they let someone else burn through her popularity?
She would not have agreed either if the roles were reversed.
Once backstage, the publicist pointed her in a certain direction and discreetly disappeared.
Famke looked over and saw that Westeros had already arrived. He was chatting with Batman: The Dark Knight director Jan de Bont and several other key cast and crew members. She walked toward them.
Famke Janssen found that she still could not quite see through the young man who now held immense power in Hollywood.
For example.
She had originally assumed that landing the role would require her to offer the kinds of things a woman could offer.
Yet over the past few years he had only asked her to accompany him to one party. Afterward he had not even taken her away.
She remembered clearly that by the end of that party she had somehow lost track of him. Even now the memory still brought a pang of frustration.
After a long time she had gradually figured some things out.
It seemed he preferred women older than himself. Some tabloids had even secretly analyzed it, and their reasoning had sounded quite convincing.
Simon chatted with Famke Janssen for a few moments, then saw Brion De Palma and Robert Redford, whom he had specially invited to support the event, appear at the backstage entrance. He walked over to greet them.
After exchanging hugs and pleasantries, Simon smiled and asked, "Brion, and Bob, have you read the script?"
Both Brion De Palma and Robert Redford had experienced some rough patches over the past year.
The Bonfire of the Vanities, on which De Palma had spent a great deal of effort, had received terrible reviews and made no impact at the box office. Redford's Havana, released at the end of last year, had been an even bigger flop, costing Universal a fortune.
Simon had never forgotten the help the two men had given him during Run Lola Run. Of the three executive producers listed at the time, David Giler was still a long term contracted producer at Daenerys Entertainment. His most recent job had been producing one of the Terminator 2 films.
Therefore, after last year's projects failed, Simon had proactively started looking for scripts for them without waiting for them to ask.
He had quickly found one called Indecent Proposal. It centered on the controversial question of whether a man would accept one million dollars to let a billionaire borrow his wife for one night.
The novel rights for Indecent Proposal were held by Paramount. After discovering it, Simon had quickly negotiated with Paramount and locked it in as their first co production.
In Simon's memory, the Indecent Proposal that would be released in 1993 had starred Robert Redford, with Demi Moore as the female lead. It had been one of the top ten grossing films that year. Although Brion De Palma was not the original director, the story material was perfectly suited to him.