Billy saw the table of four women and sighed; in half an hour, Ronald Perelman would walk through that door. The ge of pns was good but not great. Monica was reasonable; she was an expert at following the rules, staying quiet, not mentioning things, and exg herself when necessary.

  For some time now, Ronald Perelman's vi had waned, and his stant spending had reinforced the o make sales. The problem y iernal struggle. When Avi Arad's toy pany ied and formuted projects, he had to py along, hoping they would be profitable. Meanwhile, Ronald Perelman was busy putting his partners in the same position—buying and taking a- so these people had no void were forced to make iments. This practice was slowly killing them.

  Billy's purchase of Panini for 52 million had opened opportunities, but the expenses of creating Marvel Produs and Marvel Animation ed funds like water. Spending so quickly had created signifit gaps. The hiring of animators, teams, anization, and now publicity had ed the toy pany and ic business. They needed moo sustain these enterprises, which hadn't been profitable all year. The pany's operation alone cost 5 milliohree months, and they had a bou their throat: SkyBox Iional, acquired in March this year, had been hit by a strike and had only geed losses sis acquisition.

  Greeting Monica with a kiss, Billy gave a cordial hello. He nodded and hugged Winona.

  -Are you okay? - Monica asked.

  -Why wouldn't I be... How was the photoshoot? - Billy asked, handing over a check. The payment for her services had been advanced, and this was the advance—80,000 now, 100,000 ter. That was a great offer for a photo shoot and some publicity. Top models like dy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Cudia Schiffer would charge less for such a session.

  -The usual. We’re having a meeting! You should join us, - Monica said, pleased, while the other women chatted attentively among themselves, eae listening closely to the versation.

  -I have time. The check is made out to the bearer, so don't worry too much. -

  ***

  Ronald Perelman was fresh and fident that everything would work out. He just o secure some finang, and what better way than to sell Skyr Iional, bought for 35 million? If he could prolong the matter until at least 1996, he could make the purchase. He had a pn: acquire all the shares of Marvel, no matter the price, and through the me bankiy in bonds, which he would buy year, with 100 million at his disposal, he could regute Marvel's panies without taking steps back.

  That's why Avi Arad apanied him. Avi assured that the success of Marvel Studios was iing movies—superhero movies would be Marvel's riumph. The appeal of superheroes was an example that success was knog on the door.

  This was sworn, through the animated series created by Billy, which were marvelous, that making toys presented an opportunity to get rich, even with the costs, lising, and toy produ being perhaps more effective than Marvel ics.

  -Even if we mao rea agreement with the former creators of Marvel, we will need a itted offer. Stan Lee has demanded numerous sary increases for new employees, but his work isn't as excellent as the previous ones, - Avi Arad ented, pnting seeds in Ronald Perelman's mind while approag Carl I to buy Marvel Eai Group Ind gain trol of Marvel more easily.

  For now, Avi Arad siders Ronald Perelman to be Marvel's worst asset. Retly, Perelman started diverting promissory notes worth 100 million to sustain the iment group for the st three years and diverting 30% of Billy's payment to crude oil, an a that caused displeasure among those involved. Ronald Perelman wasn't suffitly obligated to be part of Marvel, so he wao buy Billy's shares through the sale to allow him te the shares at the bank and tinue his schemes.

  Perelman had geed a signifit amount of money with New World, from film produ panies, distributors, radio panies, and the television industry. Andrews Group (pact Video Inc.), Ronald's pany, spent 1.5 billion and sold it in 1994 to Fox for more money. Why does he need money? He simply doesn't want to i, and Andrews Group s up assets without reinf the pa buys.

  -We're doing perfectly. year, we'll have a papany full of different simirities. We reevaluate the animated produs with Saban, - Ronald ented.

  -But you o buy 100% of Marvel's shares or at least have the approval of a decisive quorum, meaning more than 83%, - Avi Arad said.

  -Exactly. We hold 76% ownership, and Billy has 11%, - Ronald Perelman said, entering the building. He saw Billy surrounded by beautiful women and could only raise his eyebrows. Actors live very busy lives! All of them were simply stunning.

  Billy stood up from his seat and shook hands after introdug himself, greeting him cheerfully. All were famous models. They closely followed the first agenda item, which was the approval of issui bonds. The liquidity of the Andrews Group wasn't at risk; the risk was that Ronald wao dedicate himself to other businesses, such as Revlon, Harnd Crke, and Merisante.

  -I see the urgency, but the pany is suffit with Panini. We've expanded our produ to satisfactorily respond to uping products. I don't see the o buy Skybox; however, I approve, - Billy ented.

  -Great! This will only bring us bes, - Ronald Perelman said, shaking his hand.

  -I hope so, Ronald, though, curiously, the debt keeps increasing, - Billy remarked, notig Ronald's smile, which didn't indicate anything irregur was happening.

  -Well, we've had a lot to handle, - Ronald ented.

  ....