The reviews poured in—good, and very good. Media control rested in the hands of Fox, NBC, and ABC, long-standing rivals. The undeniable truth was that even the positive reviews came from their enemies. Every advertisement, every report, hit its mark.
—It was a good idea. —said Billy, watching how spending $100,000 to secure a week's coverage across 150 different outlets turned into a brilliant marketing move. Sales soared, photos flooded in, and Billy calculated that toy sales had jumped by three to five percent—a spectacular result by any measure.
The office had changed. Anne bought luxurious wooden desks, with marble painted to blend beautifully with the wood, creating harmony with the bookshelves, the soft carpet, and the neatly arranged books she loved so much. Anne was precise to the core—her cheeks flushed as she focused intently, unwilling to take her eyes off the strategy.
—Let's hope for impact. It's useless if it doesn't sell. It just gives me a headache. The idea, though effective, is very aggressive. —said Anne.
—That's the point. —
—I'll run the stats from last year. We sold barely 30% of our market share—almost month by month. That's the sales percentage of companies in recent days, during special occasions. —Anne replied, knowing that the 10% income margin had covered the necessary funds for Microsoft, which had demanded more time and attention than anyone had expected.
—Then I hope to sell enough to pay for that hotel in the Dominican Republic. —said Billy, with his growing ambition in the real estate market. How good it could be to tap into a market on the verge of exploding—properties, castles, and places made to enchant anyone who dared to think otherwise.
—Dreams… —whispered Anne. What else could she do? Refuse? Leave? From any angle, the choices were the same. Those who were careless or overconfident always ended up too close to the flame.
From his ergonomic chair, Billy lifted his eyes from his comics. He had spent half the afternoon drawing. His lunch arrived—a colorful mix of vegetables with ground beef and a side of mashed potatoes with cheese.
—That's a strange meal… too many vegetables. —sighed Anne, slicing into her steak with fries, savoring each bite as the taste melted into the cool sweetness of her lemonade, which she always drank exactly five minutes after every meal. That was her rule, without exception.
—I've got kendo practice. —said Billy, stretching his body. For over a month now, his sword moved in rhythm through the routines he'd been training. His instructor—a master who had also trained Ewan McGregor—taught him how to fight with cinematic precision. The goal was to make every motion epic: lightsaber movements, hours of practice, all preparing him for his next role—a ten-episode miniseries where he'd have three hours of screen time. Anyone familiar with the Star Wars universe would know the massive scale of its production studio—over a kilometer of space, three floors of biome sets, endless green screens, and stunning environments built for filming.
—The investment's starting to pay off. —whispered Anne, knowing how difficult it was to increase value in anything—and how George Lucas could be the true villain in any negotiation. Somehow, Billy had managed to secure a 51% equivalent stake, with unpredictable growth returns. His earnings would eventually flow into the coffers of the old tycoon, who laughed like a delighted child—thanks to a small miscalculation that had turned in his favor.
On Billy's desk lay a newspaper, listing every review of Monsters, Inc., and the full collection of critiques published across the media.
…
California Times – "Monsters, Inc. is a cheerful, energetic piece of entertainment, and like other Pixar films, it's filled with jokes and references aimed at adults." 4/5.
Chicago News – "Much of the first half is uninvolving and even dull… but the pacing and concept improve in the latter half, leading to an exciting finale." 3.5/5.
Telegraph – "Though the affection poured into this charming story will captivate younger audiences, adults will miss the sophistication of the Toy Story films." 3.6/5.
Daily York – "This is the film that proved Pixar could do almost anything. It became a milestone for the movies that followed."
El País – "Its humor is energetic, and its attention to detail is outstanding. But most importantly, its story is innocent and pure." 4.5/5.
Washington Post – "This film proved that Pixar is capable of many things. A true landmark for the films that followed." 4/5.
The Empire – "It has a delightful premise, sumptuous animation, and an amazing voice cast… It's more dazzling and exuberant than Shrek." 4/5.
Texas Post – "One of the brightest and most brilliant gems of modern animation—any chance to see it on the big screen is more than welcome." 4.6/5.
BBC – "A tremendously creative and dynamic story that entertains both kids and parents alike… the monsters are stunning." 4/5.
Radio Times – "Imaginative and heartfelt, this movie is, above all, a great comedy." 5/5.
The New York Times – "It's been years since I've seen a film use creative energy so effectively. Monsters, Inc. is a perfect machine that wastes neither a joke nor an idea." 4.6/5.
The Guardian – "A masterpiece—almost surreal." 5/5.
Hollywood Reporter – "A clever, skillful, and surprisingly intelligent journey through the world of childhood nightmares." 4/5.
…
—Two metal companies in Taiwan and one more in Korea, including a steel firm acquisition. —said James Orran, Director of Financial Strategy at Lux Cars. What else could it be? Big or small, the six-month mission was simple but crucial—get it done.
—Well, that leaves just one factory. We'll use the American market to supply all the countries across the continent. —replied Luigi Ferrato. For some time now, Raimon had been overseeing every acquisition, while Steve Parks continued advising him on the buying and selling of any business deal.
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