Chapter 511 Still in the Cold War
As soon as he walked out of the studio, Duke saw Tina Fey greet him, as if he had been waiting for a long time.
Eileen just called you.
Handing over the phone to Duke, Tina Fey said, She's in Shang Hai now. She's here in the afternoon, and she'll be leaving tomorrow. You'd better call her back.
Duke nodded and asked Tina Fei to handle the follow-up matters, while he walked to a quiet place, dialed Erin Lauder's number, briefly said a few words, and made an appointment to meet at the Peace Hotel. Just hang up.
Declining Yang Lan's dinner invitation, Duke drove back at the fastest speed. In recent years, Erin Lauder's makeup brand is at a critical stage in its infancy. She is almost a trapeze herself. I call regularly, and I don't see each other a few times a year.
Even in order to completely open the European market, Irene Lauder settled in Paris for a while.
Back at the hotel, Duke went directly to the western restaurant he had made an appointment with, walked in and asked the waiter a simple question, and then led him to the booth in the corner. I saw a friend I hadn't seen in half a year.
Irene Lauder's blond hair was neatly tied behind her head, and her face was basically without makeup. Although she was the same age as him, she was well-maintained. The years did not leave too obvious traces, and the greenness on her body had all faded away. , replaced by quietness and maturity, especially after seeing Duke, the blue eyes that turned around were shining with wisdom.
But accompanied by wisdom and joy, she sat there quietly, without standing up, the curvature of the corners of her mouth showed that she was in a very good mood at this moment.
With the friendship between the two of them for so many years, there is no such stress. Duke walked over and sat across from her.
Don't know me? Duke noticed that Erin's eyes kept rolling with him.
Erin Lauder smiled even more happily and said deliberately, I just want to see if the world's No. 1 director at the box office and the best director at the Oscars are different from the past.
Duke opened the menu, Did you find anything?
You're still the same. Erin Lauder told the waiter. He added, It's as hard as a rock.
I've already ordered it, you can order your own. She said again.
Duke nodded, ordered some western food casually, and after the waiter left, he said, Aren't you the same?
The two looked at each other. At the same time laughed.
They also bear huge pressure, but they continue to move forward under pressure. In their respective fields, they can be regarded as successful.
The veal steak that Duke ordered and the vegetable salad that Irene Lauder ordered were brought up quickly, and looked at the other side's diced vegetables with almost no salad dressing. Duke has long been surprised.
Except for a few people with special physique, whether it is a man or a woman, after passing through the stage of 30 years old, they want to maintain a good figure. have to pay a certain price.
Why did you come to Shang Hai? Duke asked while eating.
There's something wrong with one of the stores, I'll come and take a look. Erin Lauder seemed helpless. I have to leave early tomorrow morning to go to Tokyo.
Solve it?
Seeing Irene nodding, Duke couldn't help sighing, You've been busier than me these past few years.
No way. You have become the most successful director on the planet. Erin shrugged playfully, My career is still in the initial stage of development.
More than a billion dollars in annual sales or preliminary development? Duke raised an eyebrow.
Aerin Lauder laughed, It only surpassed one billion last year. Others don't know it. Don't you know that the rapid development of my Aerin series products is based on the channels of the entire Estee Lauder Group.
Duke is of course aware of this. Although the Aerin brand with the same name is wholly owned by Aerin Lauder, her efforts are the key to achieving the scale it is today, and the support of the Lauder family is also an important factor.
It is easier to succeed standing on the shoulders of giants, not just talk.
But it will be much better in the future. Irene only ate a small amount, put down her fork, picked up the napkin and wiped her mouth lightly, and continued, The company's layout in major global markets has basically been completed, and I use In five years, a relatively mature team has also been formed, and it will not fly around again in the future, and I believe that the spare time will also increase.
Do I need to say congratulations? Duke didn't eat much.
Irene handed over a napkin, pointed to the corner of his mouth, and said, With our relationship, we don't need it anymore.
What about this side? Duke took the napkin and wiped his mouth. Where is your store?
Several first-tier cities. Erin Lauder said, The sales here are not ideal.
Duke raised his chin with one hand, thought for a while, and then said, My personal opinion, you'd better prepare early. Erin, the market potential here is amazing, with a population of more than 1.3 billion, and The economy is developing very fast, and the demand for high-end products in the future will definitely be huge.”
Well, I'll draw attention. Erin looked at Duke. That's why you came here.
The two had known each other for more than ten years. She knew Duke very well. When her friend put down the camera, she was no different from her businessman.
You still know me. Duke did not deny it.
No matter what reason he finds to cover up, he is here, just like in North America, in the end, he wants to make money. Although he basically can't make money now, the potential income in the future is extremely high.
After all, the market boom here is getting closer and closer.
When the number of screens in China exceeds 20,000, the global $500 million is only the entry threshold for a commercial masterpiece, and even if the global box office does not reach one billion dollars, it is embarrassing to say that it is a commercial film with a big box office.
Although by the time he waved goodbye to that world, the share of the box-office revenue of ordinary Hollywood films was still 25%, but this was the amount paid by China Film Group after deducting taxes and publicity expenses, which almost meant pure profit.
Of course, China Film Group is not a good stubborn company, its credibility is not much better than that of Hollywood companies, and it is not unheard of to delay payment or even default on the sub-accounts of overseas movies, and even have international lawsuits with Hollywood companies.
Do you have any familiar female stars here? Erin Lauder asked suddenly.
No... Duke shook his head, What are you going to do?
Irene didn't hide it, and said directly, Find the top one to endorse my products.
Go to the Warners. Duke held out his hand. Give me a pen and your notepad.
Taking the signature pen and notepad that Irene handed to him, Duke opened his phone and looked at it, leaving Phil's personal phone number with him.
This is the head of Warner Bros. in China, and I'll give him a call when I go back.
Irene was also welcome. After she took it, she said casually, Thank you.
Duke smiled and shook his head. In fact, with the reputation of the Estee Lauder Group, as long as Irene releases the news, people who want to get this endorsement may be able to stand on Nanjing Road.
The two talked about their respective work. In the spare time of busy work, this kind of conversation between old friends is undoubtedly an excellent way to relax.
Gradually, the conversation turned to Duke's personal issues.
You haven't made up yet? Erin asked.
Duke was stunned for a moment, We? Make up?
You and Evie. Irene said after reminding, Since Oscar, the gossip tabloids have been hyping up the problems between you. Although you haven't mentioned it, I can always understand something. Are you separating?
It's still in the cold war. Duke sighed. There are some things I don't want to compromise, and she doesn't want to give in.
Irene thought for a while, but still persuaded, Dear, you are a man, you should have a broader mind, this is not like your style of doing things.
Duke just said, It involves my mother and Scarlett.
Yeah. Irene nodded, but didn't say anything anymore. She knew that Duke attached great importance to his mother.
In fact, the stalemate is now, the problem is no longer as simple as Mrs. Leah and Scarlett Johansson. At a board meeting of the instant sharing company, Duke asked his agent David to reject a financing, and the funds were Behind him, the figure of Donald Trump can be seen faintly.
To put it bluntly, Donald Trump has used him to make a lot of money, because of Ivanka, Duke has repeatedly backed down, and people's greed will never end, he obviously imposed certain certainties on Ivanka. Pressure, like Mrs. Leah to Duke, Ivanka also attaches great importance to Donald as a father.
Even if Donald Trump is Ivanka's father, Duke can't tolerate it indefinitely, allowing him to share a huge pie in the future in a company with unlimited potential.
He did have plans to take the initiative to invite Ivanka back to the Duke's Manor, but Donald Trump's repeated and repeated actions really made him worry.
Even if Duke is reluctant to admit it, he can't change the fact that at the level of him and Ivanka, the relationship between the two is more than just two people.
Ivanka has issues with his mother, Duke has concerns with Ivanka's father, and that's been the reality in recent months.
Until now, the two are still in a cold war, and Duke once wanted to talk to Ivanka, but was rejected.
Duke intends to wait for a while, until the two can completely calm down, and then talk about the future, otherwise talking with prejudice will only push the future in a worse direction.
As old friends, when the two were about to leave, Erin Lauder still persuaded Duke, Ivanka is a good girl, you should think more about it.
I know. Duke was rather helpless. It's just Donald Trump. It's a bit unbearable.
Irene is not good to say more, I'm leaving, see you when I return to North America. (To be continued ^)
PS: Ask for monthly and recommended tickets!