Chapter 38 – Katya Gets Jealous
"I'll provide the production team and the scripts," William said calmly. "Vivid Entertainment only needs to contribute distribution channels and expansion capital.
As for equity, we can have our accounting teams conduct a proper valuation based on your investment before deciding the final share structure."
Hirsch would be lying if he said he wasn't interested in forming a new subsidiary with Umbrella.
The Soldier's Wife and the Black Neighbor and the other Valley titles William had delivered were selling extremely well.
But most of those profits hadn't stayed in Hirsch's pocket.
They had gone straight into expanding the sales network.
That was simply how the market worked in this era.
Sales relied primarily on physical VHS tapes distributed to brick-and-mortar video stores. That meant aggressive ground promotion—teams knocking on doors, persuading store owners to stock their titles.
At this stage, Vivid Entertainment was still just a small company operating mainly in Los Angeles.
But after William's breakout hits, Hirsch's ambition had begun to swell earlier than expected.
Not long ago, he had drafted a nationwide expansion plan. A large portion of their available capital was already being funneled into building a team in New York State.
"William," Hirsch said after a moment, "we've worked together long enough that I won't beat around the bush.
Your proposal genuinely interests me. But the reality is, Vivid Entertainment doesn't have much cash on hand right now."
He looked at William carefully.
William smiled. He had expected something more complicated.
"Steven, I understand your concerns. But forming a company isn't something that happens overnight. I'm confident you'll have time to prepare the capital.
I'm just bringing up the idea today. You can take your time and give me an answer later."
Hirsch relaxed slightly.
Perhaps the recent surge in profits had made him overly eager. He hadn't realized he was rushing the conversation.
"My apologies. I was being impatient. It's a strong proposal. I believe we'll eventually reach an agreement."
William nodded.
"By the way, Steve, you've been in this business much longer than I have. There's something else I'd like to ask you."
"Of course," Hirsch replied readily.
He had no annoyance toward William. After all, most of the company's performance now was thanks to the young man sitting in front of him.
"It's about the actresses I've been using for the Valley productions," William continued. "Some issues have come up recently.
So I'm considering registering a talent agency—recruiting a new batch of performers who are easier to manage."
He paused, letting the implication settle.
"I'd like to hear your thoughts."
"But since I already own a production company," William continued, "I wanted to ask— is there any way to avoid triggering antitrust scrutiny?"
To be honest, he had thought carefully before raising this question with Hirsch.
After all, Valley companies lived in the gray areas of California law. If anyone knew how to walk a legal tightrope without falling, it would be them.
Hirsch took a sip of coffee and smiled knowingly.
"You're asking the right person."
William made a polite gesture. "I'm all ears."
Hirsch leaned back.
"First, you need someone you can trust. Not completely—just relatively trustworthy.
Then, register a capital management company.
Next, have that trusted person establish a talent agency.
After that, your production company and the capital management firm can invest in the agency. Make sure your trusted person holds 34% of the shares.
That way, you can sidestep antitrust regulations."
It sounded simple when Hirsch laid it out like that.
In reality, the execution would be anything but simple.
But it was workable.
"Thank you, Steve," William said sincerely. "That helps a lot."
He stood, shook Hirsch's hand, and left Vivid Entertainment.
---
A few days later, another $1.25 million from Vivid Entertainment was wired into Umbrella's account.
At that moment, however, William was busy standing in line at the California Secretary of State's office—alongside Katya and Nicole Kidman.
"You said you were going to take over my management contract," Nicole said helplessly, glancing at William. "So how did this turn into me managing myself?"
"No choice," William shrugged. "You know the antitrust laws. We need a separate legal entity."
"Don't you have any relatives who could register it for you?" Nicole frowned. "What happens to this company if one day we go our separate ways?"
She felt deeply unsettled.
The "gift" William was offering felt overwhelming.
In her original calculation, their relationship had never been about romance—just mutual benefit. He used her; she used him. Simple.
But now he was giving her 34% of a talent agency.
That wasn't exploitation.
That was trust.
And without sufficient foundation, that kind of trust was dangerous.
Even knowing the risks, William still chose her.
That frightened her.
Yes—frightened her.
Because she was beginning to realize she might actually be falling for him.
But she was mistaken about one thing.
William hadn't chosen her out of blind trust.
He chose her because of her ambition.
He knew exactly how far Nicole Kidman would go for her career.
And keeping her loyal was simple—keep her career rising.
Other matters might carry uncertainty.
But this one? He was confident.
Which made her, paradoxically, the safest choice.
"Nicole, I trust you," William said casually, as if it were nothing.
The more lightly he said it, the heavier it landed.
She could feel it clearly now—her heart was slipping.
Flustered, she masked her expression.
"I need the restroom."
She hurried off toward the ladies' room.
Katya watched her retreating figure, her expression complicated.
She raised an eyebrow at William.
"Brit, you trust that actress that much? There's a saying—'Prostitutes have no loyalty, actors have no righteousness.' Aren't you afraid of being betrayed?"
William didn't answer directly.
He couldn't exactly tell her he was reincarnated.
So he deflected.
"What? Are you jealous?"
Katya rolled her eyes—but inside, a flicker of doubt surfaced.
Jealous?
Impossible.
No way.
Yekaterina getting jealous over some British guy? Absolutely not.
She straightened her posture as if convincing herself.
Yet the thought lingered longer than she expected.