[Chapter 321: Jobs, Do You Eat Apples?
The two of them were accidentally discovered working overtime in the company by Monica and Jennifer.
Everyone was quite displeased with this kind of behavior, believing it severely impacted others' time and should be strictly prohibited. After deliberation from everyone, it was decided to deduct Lily's two chances that month as punishment. Others should take this as a warning, abide by the rules and not make the same mistake again.
However, as the person involved, Link knew that this kind of behavior would persist. Even core members like Monica and Jennifer would often break the rules, and others were no exception. The last time Lily got discovered was due to her poor acting skills. Every detail, from her voice to her walking posture and expressions, betrayed what she was up to. Others were better at covering up; they managed to avoid drawing attention by maintaining appearances usually.
...
The next day, Saturday, the weather was lovely. The sun shone brightly on Beverly Hills, with gentle clouds drifting in the sky. The spring breeze had turned the trees along the shaded pathways lush and green, brought vibrant colors to the azaleas and Diana roses in the botanical garden, and playfully tousled the hair and skirts of women out on the running track, signaling the joys of spring everywhere.
In the morning, Link woke up early to exercise, joining a few women for tennis, badminton, and aerobics. After their training session, Link began his routine weight measurement. Since last year, he'd been tracking his fitness progress, including weight, height, stamina, lung capacity, endurance, sprinting speed, and his lifting abilities, among other metrics.
At the moment, he stood at 6'2", only a slight increase from 1992, and weighed 231 pounds, which was an increase of 70 pounds since early '92. Although he was over the standard weight by a considerable margin, he didn't appear overweight. His physique remained well-defined, without excess fat that one might typically associate with bodybuilders. His muscle density and firmness had improved significantly; in fact, he felt much heavier than how he looked.
Monica and the others often commented that he didn't seem heavy, but when he lay on top of them, he felt like a ton of bricks.
Other metrics like stamina and lung capacity showed little change at this stage. In time, as he fully adapted to his 25% boost in stamina, the data would shift more noticeably.
At his current fitness level, even the world's top athletes couldn't compare to him. If the system subsidies were not calculated only in the film industry, he would be able to make a lot of money as an athlete.
...
By noon, under the prompting of the women, Link changed his clothes and headed down to the commercial district at the base of the hill to shop, also planning to meet with Steve Jobs.
In the past, he needed to swipe his card to pay, but after over two years of hard work and his subsidies, the women in his life had achieved a degree of financial freedom. Even those who weren't entirely independent had assets worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, and had no shortage of money to buy luxury goods.
His aim now was to provide emotional value. For instance, when they bought beautiful dresses, they would ask him which one looked best; when picking out sexy lingerie, they would seek his opinion on color and style; and sometimes when they picked rings or watches, they would include something for him to complete a couple's set.
As he accompanied the women shopping, there were many paparazzi around, snapping photos.
Link wasn't fazed by this at all.
When he first entered Hollywood, he had thought about being a "good man," having a proper girlfriend while secretly seeing many others. However, such a charade was challenging to maintain; his rivals wouldn't give him a chance to disguise himself and would exploit such situations to tarnish his reputation.
Link decided to stop pretending. He embraced being the "bad boy" openly, allowing the media to report whatever they liked. The women around him shared this sentiment. At first, they were wary, worried that their relationships might affect their careers and public personas. In public, they would hide their true feelings, stating in interviews that they were just friends and admired him for his talents rather than anything else.
But now, they cared less about outsiders' opinions. In public, they kissed him boldly and held onto his arm tightly, unabashedly displaying their affection, and sometimes even competed for his attention. In those moments, Link envied those mythical figures, who had many arms.
After some time spent shopping, he noticed the agreed-upon time was approaching, so he hopped on his bike and rode over to Rodeo Drive. He entered an Italian cafe on the second-floor terrace and met with Steve Jobs there.
---
Jobs was still relatively young, just turning forty. He founded Apple at the age of twenty-one, pioneering computer development. After seven or eight years of hard work, he had built Apple into a billion-dollar company, making it one of the most famous computer brands of the '80s. However, after a series of internal power struggles, he had been forced out in 1985. With the money from selling his shares, he founded Pixar Animation and NeXT Computers, hoping for a comeback.
In recent years, Jobs had seen moderate success with Pixar, but NeXT struggled to gain traction in the market, lacking recognition in the computer world. Meanwhile, without his leadership, Apple fell further behind its competitors, losing market share to HP, IBM, and Microsoft. Their value plummeted from over $10 billion to just $3.6 billion. With the release and adoption of Windows 95, Apple's market share continued to decline, putting it on the verge of collapse. At this point, Jobs was likely the most invested person in Apple's survival.
Link understood Jobs's ambitions didn't lie within animation films, so he arranged for Mark Amin to reach out to discuss the possibility of acquiring Pixar. Jobs had requested to meet with him, suggesting that his stance on the issue had softened.
...
"Hey, Steve, it's been a while. You still look as serious as ever," Link greeted. Back in '93 during a signing event for Interstellar, Jobs had attended as a fan, asking him several questions about the book, including design and application ideas for future computers and phones. Link had answered patiently, and Jobs had left quite satisfied, even agreeing to write a foreword for the novel filled with praise. They were somewhat familiar with each other's work.
"Hey, Link, I hope I'm not interrupting your shopping," Jobs inquired, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"You noticed? Well, I was just accompanying them; my main purpose was to meet you." Link sat down and ordered an iced coffee to escape the growing heat of Los Angeles in April.
"Link, your lifestyle is quite enviable."
"Enviable?" Link looked surprised at Jobs's comment and chuckled. "Steve, don't you think what I'm doing is decadent and trivial?"
"Link, I know about you. You possess an abundance of energy and strong self-discipline. You're serious about your work and quite diligent. You have a knack for entrepreneurship and management that continually improves your company's performance. Beyond work, you lead a vibrant personal life. You manage to balance work and family without letting it all spiral into chaos. Among entrepreneurs I know, no one can compare to you," Jobs stated while gesturing towards Link.
Link smiled lightly. He knew Jobs had also been quite the romantic in his younger days.
In the early '80s, at the height of his success, Jobs had met folk singer Joan Baez, who had been Bob Dylan's lover. At that time, Jobs was dating Barbara Yassinsky. A devout fan of Bob Dylan, Jobs admired both his music and his romantic conquests. After meeting Baez, he broke up with his girlfriend and immediately started dating her.
Over the years, he dated several others, finally marrying at the age of thirty-six in 1991. Jobs also had an illegitimate daughter, which perhaps made him admire how Link managed to balance work and family.
...
After some casual chatter, they moved from strangers back to familiar acquaintances. Link was ready to get down to business. "Steve, have you been keeping an eye on Apple's stock lately?"
Jobs frowned slightly, a bit taken aback by the question. "No, why do you ask about Apple stocks?"
"I hold over 600,000 shares of Apple, and the company's current situation is dire. The stock price is plummeting quickly. The Wall Street Journal reported that after Microsoft released Windows 95, Apple's market share has dramatically shrunk, along with projections that it may go bankrupt within the next three years. My investment manager has also advised me to offload my Apple shares as soon as possible. You are an expert in the computer industry, so I'd like to hear your thoughts. What do you think about the ongoing decline of Apple's stock? How risky is it to continue holding it?"
Link spoke slowly.
Jobs furrowed his brow further, stroking his chin thoughtfully as he replied, "In recent years, Microsoft and IBM have expanded rapidly, almost becoming the dominant players in the software and hardware sectors. Apple has taken significant steps backward over the last decade, unable to compete with companies like Microsoft in the market and technology. If Apple doesn't pivot in the next few years, it will undoubtedly go bankrupt."
"Does that mean there's no hope for Apple at all?" Link asked, looking intently at Jobs.
Jobs appeared reluctant to answer the question and stated solemnly, "Of course there is! I said adjustments must be made quickly. Apple still holds many cutting-edge technologies. The company's development just veered off course. Delving into cameras rather than focusing on computers is an extremely foolish approach."
"Indeed. If you were to return to Apple, do you think you could save it?" Link asked with a smile.
Jobs opened his mouth to respond but suddenly fell silent, looking at Link with confusion. "Link, we should be discussing the potential acquisition of Pixar Animation, not Apple."
Link chuckled softly. "I admire your Apple computer designs and vision. It aligns perfectly with my vision of how computers should evolve in the future. I believe you are an entrepreneur capable of leading the technological trends of the era. Thus, I want to collaborate with you to support your return to Apple, leveraging your abilities to make it great again. With Apple's help, I can turn my visions from Interstellar into reality."
Jobs stroked his chin, lost in thought. If anyone else had mentioned helping him return to Apple, he wouldn't have entertained it. But it was Link who suggested it. With a net worth of over $3 billion, he was a major figure in the entertainment industry. Apple's current valuation was $3.6 billion, but it would likely fall below $3 billion in the next six months. Link was entirely capable of influencing the Apple board and facilitating Jobs's return.
However, there's no such thing as a free lunch. Link would not assist him without conditions.
Jobs opened his mouth to inquire about the terms but quickly noticed that throughout their meeting, Link had maintained control of the discussion, leaving him in a reactive position. Having been in the business for over a decade and leading multi-billion-dollar companies, he had interacted with many formidable personalities, yet here he was, feeling passive before Link, a young man just in his early twenties.
Jobs secretly admired Link, recognizing him as a powerful figure in Hollywood with the skills and tactics to excel even in other industries.
...
"Link, I haven't considered returning to Apple for now, but if that changes, I will take your proposal into account. For now, let's discuss Pixar Animation. Guess Pictures is a live-action film production company without any experience in animation films. I want to know how you plan to ensure Pixar remains on the right track after merging, continuing to develop computer animation technology instead of becoming a failed investment due to poor management."
Jobs said seriously.
Link smiled lightly. As a director, he possessed a sharper sense of perception than most, being attuned to subtleties in conversation. From Jobs's earlier reactions, it was clear he had been intrigued by the idea of "returning to Apple." But with Jobs unwilling to delve into that topic further, Link did not press.
Instead, he returned to the main subject, explaining how Guess Pictures intended to carve a niche in the computer animation industry and how they planned to develop a unique approach to animated filmmaking, different from Disney's traditional routes.
*****
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