The air in the Derbyshire manor was thick with a new kind of tension—the weight of absolute, life-altering freedom. Sarah had presented the latest figures: a massive buyout offer for their early Apple holdings from a private equity group, combined with their current liquid reserves and tech dividends.
The CrossroadsAnastasia sat at the head of the heavy oak table, looking at her sisters and Cameron. "We have the offer," she said, her voice unusually soft. "If we sell the Apple stock now and liquidate the tech portfolio, we would walk away with enough to retire today. All of us. We could buy an island, leave the industry, and live in total comfort for the rest of our lives. No more paparazzi, no more high-stakes contracts, no more fighting."
She looked at Sarah and Beth specifically. "I built this so you'd be safe. If you want to stop now, we can."
Sarah looked at the ledger, then at Beth. There was a long silence, the only sound the ticking of a grandfather clock. Finally, Sarah pushed the papers back toward Anastasia.
"We aren't selling, Ana," Sarah said firmly.
"We started this because we wanted a seat at the table," Beth added, her eyes bright with resolve. "But we're staying because we want to see you achieve every single dream you've ever whispered about. We don't want 'comfortable.' We want the empire you envisioned. We don't stop until the Jones Firm is the gold standard for the entire world."
Cameron smiled, placing her hand over Anastasia's. "You heard them, Stasia. We're in this until the end of the script."
Anastasia felt a surge of pride that outshone any box office record. "Then we decline the offer. We hold the line."
Chapter Forty-Three: The Fairytale PhenomenonThe fall of 1987 arrived, and with it, the release of The Princess Bride. While the studio had initially worried the film was "too quirky" for a mainstream audience, Anastasia's 10% gross participation deal was about to become the smartest contract in Hollywood history.
The Premiere WeekThe premiere in Los Angeles was a sea of red and gold. Anastasia, now seventeen and a half, stood beside Cary Elwes, but her eyes were on the crowds stretching blocks down the street. The "Unscripted" movement had evolved; people weren't just fans of her acting—they were fans of her defiance.
The First Week Numbers: The film didn't just open; it exploded.
Opening Weekend: $14.7 Million (A massive number for 1987).
First Full Week Total: $22.4 Million.
Because of her 10% Gross Receipts clause, Anastasia earned $2.24 Million in just the first seven days of the film's release, on top of her $2.5 million base salary.
The Global TakeoverThe reviews were unanimous. Critics called Anastasia's Buttercup "the definitive heroine of the decade"—a princess with the soul of a CEO.
As the box office reports flooded the Granite Sanctuary, Sarah began updating the Firm's master ledger. The decision to stay in the game was already paying off. With Dirty Dancing and Point Break moving into post-production and The Princess Bride becoming a global juggernaut, the Jones Firm was no longer just a management company. It was a sovereign power.