"To be honest, Mr. Davis, I haven't fully considered it yet." Dealing with a seasoned business mogul like this, Mavi could only feign ignorance while keeping his thoughts clear.
However, his pretense did not escape the old man's sharp eyes. "Let me put it this way, Mr. Mavi. Disney is willing to invest $300 to $500 million to produce a movie for your Marvel franchise. The profits will be split proportionally, but if the movie underperforms at the box office, all losses will be on us."
Davis maintained eye contact with Mavi as he spoke, clearly demanding a definitive answer. His offer sounded very generous. If it had been the former chairman of Marvel, he would have eagerly agreed without hesitation.
But Mavi knew better—if the movie became a box office hit, his share of the profits would be minimal. This was essentially just another way of selling off his rights.
"I think I'll pass on this partnership. As for Marvel movies, I'll handle them myself when the time comes." Dragging this out any further was pointless, so Mavi gave a straightforward rejection.
His decisiveness left Jennifer's father, Marriott, glancing back and forth between Mavi and Davis, unsure of how to react.
"This young man has some guts, huh? Rejecting a collaboration with a giant like Disney? That's bold. If it were someone else, they'd probably jump at the chance just to stay on Disney's good side," Marriott thought to himself. Though he wasn't in the film industry, he understood the stakes well enough.
Hearing Mavi's clean-cut rejection, Davis, the president of Disney Pictures, raised an eyebrow and patted Mavi's shoulder. "Young man, if you change your mind, feel free to reach out anytime. But I can't guarantee that my stance will remain the same by then. Excuse me."
With that, Davis turned and left to mingle with other guests, leaving Mavi, Jennifer, and her father in an awkward silence.
After a moment of contemplation, Jennifer's father suddenly asked, "Do you understand who you just turned down? Do you realize what this means?"
Mavi shrugged. "Yes, I fully understand the consequences."
He didn't have $300 to $500 million at the moment, but he had foresight. There was no need to sell his assets to others.
"As long as you understand. I hope you succeed." Marriott initially thought Mavi was just another rich kid relying on family wealth with no long-term vision. But after this interaction, he saw him as a young entrepreneur with his own ideas, and his opinion of him changed.
"Thank you," Mavi replied politely.
"Alright, I'll take my leave as well." Marriott patted Mavi's shoulder before turning to his daughter. "Come home with me after the party."
"Oh... Got it." Jennifer's mood sank for a moment, but when she realized that her father had begun to acknowledge Mavi, her spirits lifted again.
To Marriott, only time would tell whether Mavi's decision was right or wrong—no one could say for sure.
"Mavi, you were amazing tonight!" Jennifer clung to his arm, chirping happily like a little sparrow. She never interfered in his business decisions, so she didn't even ask why he rejected Disney's offer.
"It was alright," Mavi responded, not wanting to sound too proud.
This Disney event had undoubtedly brought him and Jennifer even closer.
After the anniversary party, Mavi watched as Jennifer was practically "escorted" away by her father. Meanwhile, he boarded a plane alone, surrounded by four or five towering Russian bodyguards, which made him feel a bit stifled.
Fortunately, a flight attendant in a crisp uniform provided some warm hospitality, easing his mood slightly…
Since the release of the Avengers trailer, Marvel's stock had skyrocketed in just three weeks—from $5.23 to $8.56 per share, a staggering 63% increase! This surge alone earned Mavi a cool $30 million in the stock market.
Marvel's merchandise sales were also booming. On Amazon alone, sales had surpassed $4.6 million in three weeks! Those former Marvel executives who had left now deeply regretted their decision. Even hearing the name "Marvel" made their hearts ache.
And it wasn't just Marvel making a comeback. Mavi's other companies—Google, Blizzard Entertainment, and V-Guest Video—were all seeing their valuations climb daily.
At this rate, within two years, he could take these companies public, raising even more capital to execute his grand vision.
With such strong performance, Mavi was already planning a grand annual company celebration at the end of 2000. Not only to commemorate the year's achievements but also to let his employees enjoy the fruits of their labor.
As he gazed out at the night-lit Florida airport, Mavi suddenly hesitated about returning to Russia alone. He remembered that his birthday in his past life was on July 26—just two days away.
Given his current identity, he could no longer celebrate it openly. So after some thought, he decided to alter his plans—he would return home and quietly celebrate his birthday by himself.
"Ivan, apply for a flight path change. We're not going back to Moscow just yet—we're heading to Shanghai instead."
Mavi planned to visit the metropolis, and while there, he might as well buy a few buildings or some land—as a birthday gift to himself.
With the flight path adjusted, his Gulfstream G200 jet completed the necessary procedures and officially took off. Its destination: Pudong International Airport in Shanghai.
At this time in 2000, China was still prioritizing foreign exchange reserves and had yet to join the World Trade Organization. This meant that the U.S. dollars in Mavi's bank account were highly sought after by local governments—his arrival would be more than welcome.
Ten hours later, Mavi's private jet soared above Shanghai. As he gazed down at the grayish cityscape below, his thoughts drifted.
"Sir, we'll be arriving at Pudong International Airport soon," his butler reminded him in a soft voice.
"Got it," Mavi responded calmly. This was his second time returning to China, and with his birthday approaching, it felt different from before. Unlike the nervous anticipation of his first visit, he had now grown accustomed to his status as a foreign guest.
When the private jet landed, Mavi, wearing sunglasses and flanked by his bodyguards, walked through the civilian terminal.
Pudong International Airport had only begun operations on September 16, 1999. Since only the first phase of construction was completed, there were no dedicated parking areas for private jets yet.
(End of Chapter)