May 2010, New York City, New York
"How are things?" I asked casually.
Judging by the eager faces around the table, things were good. At the very least, no one looked worried. The meeting itself was informal by design. No one wore suits, and the whole vibe was chill. I preferred it that way, no rigid agendas, no stiff presentations. Just people talking honestly.
"Things are great," Chad Hurley, the CEO of YouTube, said with barely contained excitement. "We're finally profitable."
I raised an eyebrow, leaning back slightly in my chair. "For real?"
"Yeah," he said, nodding. "Today, YouTube is the second most visited website in the world, right after Google. The ad revenue we're generating is mind-boggling, especially when you think about where we started just a few years ago. And when we factor in revenue from TikTok and Spotify, we're making a shit ton of money. Our expenses are high too, but that's expected given how much we spend on infrastructure. Give me a few more years, and we'll beat Google in terms of profitability. We're even planning to expand into a massive office complex in Frisco."
I considered that for a moment before shaking my head. "Don't."
Chad froze. "Don't?"
"Only build capacity that's absolutely necessary," I clarified. "Servers, critical infrastructure, staff who genuinely need to be in the office. For everyone else who can work remotely, let them do that."
Chad blinked, then turned toward Sundar Pichai who looked just as puzzled.
"You want our employees to work from home?" Sundar asked. "We aren't some startup that needs to cut costs."
"True," I said. "But this helps us attract talent from all over the world. People who can't relocate, or simply don't want to. I want every subsidiary of Phoenix to be a place where people actually want to work. Even if that means we make a little less profit, I'm fine with it. That's also why I'm not taking Phoenix public. The moment I do that, all of you start working for investors instead of building something meaningful."
The room was quiet as I continued.
"Our company has two stakeholders I value more than anyone else. Our employees and our customers, in that order. And no, the customer isn't always right if being right comes at the expense of our employees."
One of the first rules I set at Phoenix was raising base salaries high enough that no one would be forced to juggle multiple jobs just to survive. Too many companies paid their top executives obscene salaries while entry-level employees scraped by on peanuts.
The reason I was pushing work-from-home so early was simple. In the future, companies like Google, Amazon, and Microsoft would build massive office campuses that barely got used because people preferred working remotely. Once those billions were already sunk into real estate, they tried forcing employees back, and post-pandemic, no one wanted that. Planning for flexibility from the start saved hundreds of millions in unnecessary office space, while boosting job satisfaction at the same time.
"Alright," Sundar said after a moment, typing something into his laptop. "We'll prioritize expanding work-from-home practices."
I nodded. "Good. How's the Yahoo takeover coming along?"
"Almost done," Sundar replied. "About a month left before we get approval from the DOJ and the FTC. As you know, the deal's set at $23.5 billion."
I nodded once, accepting that, before turning to Reed Hastings.
"And how are things at Netflix?"
"We've increased our subscriber count to twenty-five million," Reed said. "We've also started acquiring content from entertainment companies around the world, starting with the BBC, StudioCanal, ITV, Pathé, and a few other major players from Europe. In Latin America, we've picked up a significant amount of content from Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina as well.
"In Japan, our biggest move so far has been acquiring Crunchyroll for $35 million. We've shut down all pirated episodes on the platform and started acquiring legal rights directly from the studios. Once we've built a solid anime library, we'll merge Crunchyroll into Netflix, so a single subscription gives access to everything.
"Beyond that, we've acquired Korean dramas and films, along with Indian content. We now have one of the strongest catalogues of Bollywood and regional cinema available. Honestly, I'm still not sure why we did that. Western audiences don't consume much Asian content, and most Asian countries, with a few exceptions, don't have the purchasing power to pay as much for Netflix as Western countries do."
I shook my head at his short-sightedness. "You're forgetting that India alone has four times the population of the US. Sure, they don't have the buying power of Americans or the British, but they have numbers. If not today, then ten or maybe twenty years from now, if we keep delivering good content at reasonable prices, they could generate more profit for us than the US ever did. Same goes for Latin America. Right now, it's a waiting game."
He nodded, though he still didn't look fully convinced.
"I want Netflix to roll out in as many countries as possible by the end of the year," I continued. "It doesn't matter if the user base is small at first. Don't try to get profitable immediately, just try to get as many users as possible. Our competition is with piracy. Many users in foreign countries want to pay for their movies, they are just unable to. We will give them that option with Netflix."
Reed wrote it down before looking up. "What about China? Should we be doing something there too?"
I scoffed. "Their dictator won't allow a foreign company to control content and risk influencing their people. Don't even try. It'll be a complete waste of resources. If they want to license some of our content, that's fine, but only on a yearly basis. Never permanent."
"Got it," he said, making another note.
The meeting felt like it was winding down when Sundar finally brought up something I'd been waiting to hear.
"We've officially launched Instagram," he said. "It's been just a month. We followed the interface you suggested almost exactly, and it's been a hit. People are joining fast, though the growth is still a bit slow."
I rubbed my chin, thinking it over. There was only one real way to supercharge Instagram's growth, and it happened to be one of my strongest advantages.
"I'll handle that," I said with a confident smile. "Don't worry."
(Break)
I stood with Scarlett on our terrace garden in Manhattan, the city stretching endlessly behind her. The late afternoon light painted the skyline in warm gold, and somehow, she looked even more radiant than usual. Her hair was pulled into a messy blonde bun, loose strands framing her face, while a soft bathrobe hung loosely around her, hiding her baby bump beneath it.
"Are you sure you really want to do this?" I asked for what felt like the hundredth time. "You know you don't have to, right?"
"I know," she said gently. "But this is good for your business. Our family's business. So I don't mind. I still won't make an account, but I'm okay posting this on yours. And everyone's going to find out in a week anyway when we attend the Tonys. I'd rather do it on my terms."
I inclined my head. "True. Alright, then let's get this over with."
With that, I started unbuttoning my shirt, just as Scarlett loosened the belt of her bathrobe and let it fall open. Underneath, she was wearing a beige bikini top and a pair of shorts that left her stomach fully visible.
"I'm huge," she complained, rubbing her belly.
"You're beautiful," I said, stepping behind her and wrapping my arms around her, placing my hands over hers. "And of course you're huge. You've got two little munchkins inside you. I'd be worried if you weren't at this stage."
Nothing had made me happier than finding out last month that I wasn't getting one baby, but two. Scarlett, unfortunately, didn't seem to share my enthusiasm.
"Don't you dare ask for another one for at least five years," she warned.
I laughed and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek. "Deal. We'll have our third in five years. I'll remind you in 2015. Maybe we can aim for triplets next time. I'm not stopping until I've got enough kids to form a full football team."
She laughed, shaking her head, as we stood there together, enjoying the moment and the sweeping view of New York below us.
"Uh, guys," Evan, our photographer for the day, said hesitantly. "Should I come back later? I don't wanna ruin the moment."
I stepped away from Scarlett and moved into position in front of her. "I'm ready."
"Me too," she said, nodding with quiet confidence.
Seeing that we were both set, Evan stepped closer and draped a long silk scarf over Scarlett's shoulders, letting it fall naturally along her arms. "There. That looks much better." He then turned to me. "Kiss her belly. Show the world how much this means to you. I'll record a video first for your personal collection, then we'll do the photos."
I didn't need any more prompting. I bent down until my face was close to Scarlett's stomach.
"Daddy loves Mommy," I murmured, "and he loves you two even more. Never forget that."
I pressed a gentle kiss against her belly, pouring all my love into that single moment.
Then something unexpected happened.
I felt a vibration right beneath my lips.
"Whoa," Scarlett said, pulling back slightly, eyes wide. "Did you feel that?"
I looked up at her. "Was that the first time?"
"Yeah," she nodded quickly, grinning. "Don't you think I'd have told you if it happened before? I think it was you. Kiss me again."
I placed both hands on her belly and leaned in, pressing a slower, deeper kiss right over her belly button.
Right on cue, I felt another set of vibrations beneath my lips.
Scarlett squealed in delight. "It's uncomfortable, but damn, it's so satisfying."
"Hey," I said with mock seriousness. "No cursing in front of the kids."
"I said damn," she shot back, grinning.
"Exactly," I nodded sagely. "Say fuck instead."
That did it. We both burst out laughing. I rose from my crouched position and leaned in to kiss her on the lips. It wasn't exactly easy with the bump between us, but we made it work. Somehow, I even managed to lift her off her feet and spin her around, her laughter echoing across the terrace.
When I finally set her down, I kept her in my arms and swayed gently, dancing without any rhythm, just enjoying the moment. I was fully aware that Evan was recording everything, capturing something meant for our future selves more than anyone else.
BARK
Loki chose that exact moment to make his presence known. The husky trotted onto the terrace, tail wagging wildly, even though he was supposed to be in his room, which was the only room on this floor. Instead of shooing him away, I welcomed the interruption. Loki circled us happily, weaving in and out as we continued to spin and laugh together.
"Alright," Evan finally said after nearly five minutes. "Let's get some still shots now. You two, back to your starting position with a kiss on her bump. Loki, with me."
All three of us obeyed immediately. I wanted this to be perfect.
(Break)
Troy Armitage and Scarlett Johansson announce pregnancy in viral Instagram post
Troy Armitage, 21, and Scarlett Johansson, 25, have officially announced their pregnancy via a post on Phoenix's newly launched social media platform, Instagram.
The couple, who surprised the world with their engagement earlier this January, have been at the center of intense speculation for months. Rumors circulating on platforms like Reddit and various online forums suggested that Johansson was expecting. Those rumors were confirmed today when Armitage shared a photograph of the couple, with Johansson visibly pregnant and Armitage kissing her baby bump.
The caption beneath the image read: Thank you for completing my family, love. You've made my life technicolor. ♥️
Sources close to the couple say they've requested privacy during this time and have asked the media and paparazzi to respect their personal space.
The photograph beneath the article shows Johansson baring her belly, dressed in a beige bikini top with a matching silk scarf draped over her shoulders. She looks down at her fiancé with a soft smile as he kneels before her, shirtless like her, kissing her swollen belly with visible tenderness.
— The New York Times
"The heir of Potter is coming!"
— The Guardian
"The richest baby in the world is expected to be born this year."
— The New York Post
"Troy and Scarlett redefine couple goals with their pregnancy announcement."
— The Times
"Recent trends show more young couples opting for the DINK lifestyle. Celebrity couples like Troy and Scarlett are proving that it's possible to plan for children while maintaining a successful career."
— The Washington Post
(Break)
Scarlett wore a huge smile as she walked slowly beside her fiancé, fully aware that every pair of eyes was fixed on her. Camera flashes lit up the red carpet in bursts, and the murmur of voices followed them like a wave.
Troy leaned closer and pressed a soft kiss to her cheek before whispering, "If it gets too much at any point, just say the word, and I'll take you back."
Scarlett smiled and swatted him playfully. "And start a whole new set of rumors about how we're ready to break up, that I got angry over something ridiculous, and stormed out, forcing you to abandon the award show as well?"
"I don't fucking care what anyone else thinks," Troy replied without hesitation. "Only you matter right now."
Her smile widened. "Aww. If we weren't in public, I'd totally make out with you."
Troy grinned. "What does being in public have to do with anything?"
Scarlett raised a hand between them before he could even think about it. "Don't you dare."
He laughed. "Just kidding."
By then, they were nearly at the entrance of Radio City Music Hall, where this year's Tony Awards were being held. Up until that point, Troy's security team had done a solid job keeping reporters at a distance. Unfortunately, the final stretch of the carpet had one last obstacle waiting for them.
"Troy! Scarlett! Congratulations!"
The woman, who looked to be in her late thirties and was clearly the official reporter for the Tonys, greeted them enthusiastically. Her eyes immediately drifted to Scarlett's stomach, as if she were trying to calculate the due date in her head.
"Thank you," Scarlett said politely, meeting her gaze.
"I was so surprised to hear the news," the reporter continued. "And as a mother of three, I can confidently say your twenties are the perfect time to have kids. You two made a wonderful decision. So when can we expect the big day?"
Scarlett instinctively glanced at Troy. He tightened his grip on her hand and answered calmly, "September."
If he'd said August, the paparazzi would've doubled their scrutiny as the real due date approached. A little misdirection now would save them a lot of trouble later.
"[Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows] is releasing in less than a month," the reporter said next. "What can audiences expect from the film?"
Troy's smile widened as he spoke about it. "It's without a doubt the best film in the franchise. It's the perfect ending to a series I fell in love with as a child and still haven't grown out of. To all the Potter fans out there, I can promise you'll love what we've done with the story."
She nodded, clearly satisfied, before asking one final question. "What would you do if one of you wins tonight and the other doesn't?"
Scarlett answered without missing a beat. "We'll share the award. It doesn't matter whether he wins or I do. Neither of us would be here without the other's support."
"Aww, that's so sweet," the reporter gushed. "I hope you both win tonight."
Before she could ask anything else, Troy gently tugged Scarlett's hand and guided her inside the venue.
"Thank you for getting me out of there," Scarlett said as soon as they were past the entrance. "I really need to sit down."
She might project confidence and strength to the world, but the extra weight was taking its toll. Her legs ached, her back throbbed, and all she wanted was a moment to rest.
"Come on," Troy said, gesturing toward the seating area. "Let's get to our seats."
"But you still have to get ready for your performance," Scarlett reminded him.
"I know," he said, nodding. "That's why I asked both our moms to come with us tonight. They'll join us at our seats once they're inside. Until then, I'm not leaving you."
Scarlett didn't say anything. She didn't need to. The way he looked at her, the way he stayed close and made her comfort his priority, made her fall in love with him all over again.
____________________
AN: Check out my second story, 'Swimmer to Superstar (A Hollywood SI)'.
Link: www(dot)fablefic(dot)com