Chapter 499

Since Adriaan used to listen to Jobs patiently when he met him at various banquets, why would he be so indifferent in the office? It was nothing more than an attempt to stir up the other person's emotions and take advantage of it. Jobs was smart and capable. Not to mention, he set up a trap to drive out Amelio when he returned to Apple, not to mention the events that led to the founding of Apple.

This person's intuition was very sharp, and he was very proud and narcissistic. At the same time, he was also a bit emotional, so he could better grasp the initiative in his hands. Aren't you very proud and narcissistic? I'm not investing in Apple, I'm investing in you. Don't you like to monopolize power? Not only will I not compete with you, but I will support you unconditionally!

In fact, this approach was very effective. Although Jobs was still a little skeptical about his flattery and enthusiasm, he quickly agreed, and Adriaan's plan was further realized.

If nothing else, after the millennium, Apple would be able to go further, and after Adriaan played his last few cards, the relationship between them would be much stronger, and a new media empire would take shape. This was one of the reasons why he did not think about MP3 after buying ICQ. The Recording Artists Association of America had been fighting a lawsuit against MP3 for several years in order to control the advantage of CD records. Before that, there was no need to think about it. After that, Jobs would fight for it. Why would he waste so much effort to fight for this dispensable link?

In addition, he also took this opportunity to trip up Microsoft. If he had not intervened, it would have been a pity that Jobs would have chosen to give up the copyright lawsuit that he had been fighting for more than a decade in exchange for a capital injection from Bill Gates. But now that there was another injection of capital, Apple could continue to fight Microsoft, and maybe even win the lawsuit, albeit a small one.

However, what Adriaan did not expect was that after Jobs got his money to reorganize Apple, he immediately announced that he would seek a settlement with Microsoft! This was a move that surprised many people. After all, the two rivals had been competing for many years. Even though Jobs seemed to be in decline, even if he returned to Apple, given his temperament and character, how could he reconcile with Gates?

This was especially true for Adriaan. If in his memory, Jobs could not use the long-delayed lawsuit to get Gates' money because he needed the money, then why did he do it now? He thought about it for a long time, but could not find an answer. It was not until Jobs praised Gates, Microsoft, and their products on various occasions, and even invited Gates to participate in a press conference. When Gates' face appeared on the screen, just as it had been a decade ago, the audience gasped in amazement. Then Adrian came to a conclusion based on his memory and the information he had gathered.

Jobs was indeed a genius. He sighed to himself. In a nutshell, Jobs's strategy was to take a step back and see the bigger picture. He probably had already mapped out Apple's future path in his mind. Oh, maybe not a detailed plan, but his intuition had led him to make the right judgment.

Adriaan used to vow that if he was in charge of Apple without Jobs, as long as he worked hard and had key employees, the company would be almost as brilliant, if not as Jobs's. Now it seemed that it was just a boast. At least he would not have thought of taking the initiative to reconcile with Microsoft when he had enough money, and then pave a better path for himself.

Fortunately, this mistake was made in time. I will try to overestimate you as much as possible. Adriaan said to himself.

※ ※ ※

"I know, Roger, I know you are trying to do this, but I don't have time now. I want to spend more time with my daughter. You should … Yes, he is … Well, let's postpone it until Saturday … Yes, it's a deal. Goodbye." Kate let out a long sigh and turned off the phone. He leaned against the wall for a while before he put the phone on the counter and walked to the bathroom.

"Well, little girl, if you move around again, I won't be polite … Oh, damn, I'm wet, you little troublemaker!"

"Duck! Duck! Wet duck! Daddy wet duck! "

Voices could be heard coming from the door. At the same time, there was the sound of splashing water, a deliberately pretended angry shout, and a completely unconcerned giggle.

Kate came to the door and leaned against the door frame to watch the two people inside silently. Adriaan, wearing slippers and a simple but loose shirt and shorts, was sitting next to the children's bathtub, pressing down on his naked daughter to give her a bath. The little one jumped happily in the water, splashing water on her father from time to time. Adriaan's whole body was soaked, and his hair was a mess. He had no image at all.

However, although he looked very angry, the smile in his eyes was very obvious, making the little one, who was dodging left and right in the water, giggle.

Bastard! Kate suddenly scolded in her heart, then she sighed softly and looked at Adriaan with a complicated look. Anyone who saw him now would think that he was a good father. In fact, as long as Adriaan was by Lily's side, he would do his best to take care of her. Many times, he was even more competent than her as a mother. This was really …

"Mom!" The little one in the bathtub found Kate at the door at this time, and immediately raised her hands and waved happily.

"Hey, dear, you don't want to take a bath?" Kate immediately came over, hesitated, and rolled up the sleeves of his clothes, ready to join in.

"Let me do it." Adriaan said considerately, "Lily is very naughty. If she gets her clothes wet like me, it won't be good. Anyway, soon …"

Before he finished speaking, a handful of water was poured on Kate's head. Lily, who was sitting in the bathtub, shouted excitedly and sang a song that no one could understand.

"You are going to be out of luck, Lily." Carter unhurriedly pushed aside his wet hair and pounced on his daughter. Amidst her screams, he held her firmly in his hands.

After a while, when Kate became a drowned chicken and Adriaan completely became a water man, the little one finished taking a bath. Even so, she was still restless. After her parents changed their clothes and played with her for a long time, she went back to her room to sleep under the guidance of the nanny.

"You have worked hard." When Kate finished taking a bath and was drying her hair with a hairdryer, Adriaan, who was wearing pajamas, came in and hugged her from behind.

"Not at all." Kate stared at him in the mirror for a long time before turning around. "In fact, every time you are here, Lily will stick to you, so you are the one who has worked hard."

Adriaan smiled and did not speak. He just kept kissing her face and neck. Kate closed her eyes and felt the touch on her skin. She held Adriaan for a while and said, "Are you going to the UK in two days?"

"Yes." Adriaan noticed something and stopped moving. He held her face and asked, "What's wrong?"

"With those two women?"

"Of course, they are the heroines."

A feeling of annoyance came from her heart. Kate suddenly pushed Adriaan away, then turned around and sat down by the bed.

"Hey, what's wrong?" Adriaan immediately followed and sat behind her.

Taking a deep breath, Kate smiled somewhat self-deprecatingly, then turned her head and said, "I just think … your greed seems to be endless. I heard that there is another Asian maid over there, is that right?"

"Oh, your relationship with Charlie is getting better and better. I didn't expect her to tell you so soon." Adrian clicked his tongue.

Carter could not help but cough dryly, neither admitting nor denying it as he looked at her without saying a word.

"She's a Japanese singer, not a maid." Adriaan shrugged and said lightly, "I invested in a promising record company over there. The other party recommended a good newcomer to the United States for further study. She stayed with me for a few days and now moved to her own apartment."

"Why not stay for a few more days? Or just live with you. It's more convenient, isn't it? "Kate finally couldn't hold back and said in a sarcastic tone.

"It's fine to try something new occasionally. Although the food outside is delicious, I still eat home-made food most of the time." Adriaan smiled meaningfully. "And that woman is quite scheming. Although I don't mind them approaching me with some purpose, they have to know their limits."

Kate opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but she didn't say it. Not only did she continue to remain silent, but she also turned her head to the side. She knew that Adriaan's words also included the two women who were going to the UK with him. She also knew that Adriaan was actually referring to the good times when they met, but she still couldn't help thinking about her purpose.

No woman would tolerate her lover looking for other women, let alone a lot of them. But the man in front of her not only did this, but he also made her unable to leave. If she had stayed by his side in the past because she missed him and his sweet words and meticulous care, then now it was more because of her own future and her daughter.

Kate pursed her lips and smiled bitterly. Yes, he was a miracle director. As long as he liked someone, that person would become popular. There had been countless examples to prove this. Why wouldn't she … want to? Then, if she broke up with him, she definitely wouldn't be able to keep her daughter. Although she couldn't see through him, she was sure of this, and this was something she couldn't tolerate …

"Fool, don't think so much." Adriaan's voice suddenly rang in her ears. Kate was slightly shocked, and she didn't know when she was already in his arms.

"Do you think you can deny something like this?" He looked at her with a faint smile, his eyes full of insight.

Carter first revealed a stunned expression, then his eyes became evasive, but it quickly turned into annoyance.

"Since when do you like to avoid these questions? This is not the Kate Beckinsale I know. "Adriaan said as he put his hand into her bathrobe.

"Since you played with me!" Kate said angrily, and then her tone softened. "Can't you see through what I'm thinking for once?"

"If I can't see through you, how can I keep you by my side … to play with?" Adriaan deliberately emphasized the word "play" with a smile on his face. He didn't change because of the pain in his waist.

"Bastard!"

"Oh, Kate, can't you say something else?"

"Well, bitch or dog sh * t, which do you choose?"

"… In short, it's not difficult to face these things directly. You don't have to always find excuses for yourself in your heart."

Kate reached out and gently touched his face. She stared into his eyes. "Then I can be better in the palm of your hand, right?"

"Very right, my dear." Adriaan smiled and bowed his head to kiss her moist lips.

"But I don't know how to do it." Kate said after a soft snort.

"It's very simple. Remember the last time you and Charley were lying in my arms together?" Adriaan showed that meaningful smile again.

He was ready for it! A glimmer of understanding arose in Kate's heart, but she was not angry. She looked at him and bit her lip. "Anyway, you still have two days to go to England. How about tomorrow?"

※ ※ ※

In late August, Adriaan finally left Los Angeles, but he did not go to Africa or Europe.

"This place is so vast. What are you going to do if there's a sandstorm here, George?" Adriaan said with emotion to George Lucas, who was next to him, as he looked at the desolate gravel ground with his hand shading his eyes.

"Unless God doesn't want me to make movies anymore, there won't be a sandstorm here." Lucas shrugged.

"Mr. Director, everything is ready." A short director's assistant ran over at this time.

"Very good. Tell them to get ready." Lucas nodded and walked over to the camera after saying goodbye to Adriaan.

Adriaan slowly followed behind him. He was now in Morocco in northwest Africa, separated from Spain by the Strait of Gibraltar. It was famous for tourism, fishing and phosphate mines. It was one of Hollywood's favorite locations, especially for many movies about the Sahara Desert, including last year's "The English Patient."

There was a scene in Lucas's "Star Wars" prequel where the young Anakin raced in the desert to win a chance for freedom, so he chose this place. Before this, the crew had gone to Italy and Tunisia to shoot scenes in the royal palace. They had just arrived in Morocco, and it just so happened that Adriaan was going to England, so he dropped by to see them.

"It looks like it went well." Seeing that Lucas was making the final preparations, Adriaan did not disturb him and slowly wandered around the set. He had already seen the revised script. Lucas had made only minor changes based on his suggestions. After all, his suggestions were put forward based on the views of the Star Wars fans in his previous life. In this way, although there were still many loopholes in the story, there was no problem with the basic logic.

After taking a few steps, Adriaan noticed that Natalie was already in position on the set. She was waving at him. Although she was wearing a somewhat rustic blue and gray outfit, her ridiculously beautiful face was very cute. She waved her hand generously, not caring at all about being looked at.

Adriaan shook his head with a smile and then waved back. His main purpose for coming here was her, so it was not a big deal to greet her like this, even though her mother was also here.

"I know you are very cautious, but it's better to be careful," Charlize, who had been tidying up the documents behind him, said in a low voice.

"Don't worry, dear, I know what I'm doing." Adriaan smiled and looked back at Charlize, who was wearing sandals, jeans, a white round-neck short-sleeved T-shirt, and a pair of large sunglasses. Then, he said in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "Even if you want to, I won't do it."

Unfortunately, Charlize was not moved at all and continued to look at the documents with her head lowered. Even so, Adriaan still noticed that the corner of her mouth was slightly curled, and he could not help but chuckle.

It was rare for Kate to take the initiative to make such a request. No matter what she was thinking, Adriaan would not refuse, so he brought Charlize with him the next day. However, Charlize was, after all, Charlize, especially after working beside Adriaan for so long, was quite sharp, and quickly noticed something. However, Adriaan used Kate's suggestion as an excuse to let her take the initiative to tease Charlize, but the inexperienced Kate did not know what to do. Although her character still retained some of her original shrewdness, using this trick on a woman …

She was already a little nervous, and after the three of them returned to the bedroom and was suddenly kissed by Charlize, she was even more at a loss. At the same time, she became a little resistant, so the atmosphere became a little more awkward.

In such a situation, Adriaan naturally came out to smooth things over, and then brought the topic to the other two women's interest. After a few conversations, the atmosphere became much more harmonious, but the previous traces of lust also dissipated, so in the end, Adriaan once again realized the idea of hugging them left and right, but unfortunately, they both slept with their clothes on. Hugging two beautiful women to sleep, but not being able to do anything, was the most depressing.

However, Adriaan was Adriaan, after all. Even if he couldn't do it at night, couldn't he do it in the morning? Especially when people had just woken up, they would be in a daze and their reactions would be slower by half a beat. In addition, the morning was also the time when their lust was at its peak. Therefore, under his intentional teasing, he successfully made Kate and Charlie hug and kiss under him the next morning. By the time they came to their senses, it was already too late.

If it weren't for the consideration that Lily would come knocking on the door to find her parents, and that it was useless to hang a do not disturb sign on the doorknob, Adriaan would definitely make the two women unable to get out of bed. After all, it had been too long since the last time. Even so, when Kate and Charlize got up, they still looked delicate and weak. Although the villa's maids had signed a confidentiality agreement, seeing them like this, it was inevitable that they would cast a surprised look.