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In the riverside apartment by the Spree River, the five-story building is organized efficiently. The first two floors house the bodyguards and maids, while the third, fourth, and fifth floors are Simon's private quarters. The fourth and fifth floors have been transformed into a large duplex with over twenty rooms.
Allison Norris, also known as A-girl, arranged for the entourage accompanying Simon to Europe and sternly addressed the four restless maids in the European team before heading upstairs.
In her bedroom on the third floor, Allison swapped her black suit for a more casual but still presentable light gray sweater and white pants. After a quick touch-up in front of the mirror, she grabbed a folder and went up to the fifth floor.
Simon was on a phone call in a living room on the fifth floor, overlooking the Spree River.
Seeing this, Allison didn't approach but instead went to the master bedroom to assist B-girl with Simon's luggage.
B-girl, Becky Hope, was also dressed in a sweater and fitted pants, but hers were beige and black respectively—different colors, but the same style.
Simon liked a certain sense of order and uniformity.
Given the number of times they had traveled with Simon, it was clear he wasn't accompanied by any other woman on this trip, presenting a unique opportunity.
However, over the years, the girls had come to realize that the chance of ending up in Simon's bed was slim—unless they left his service.
Just like former housekeeper Alice Ferguson, who moved on to head Amazon's online store.
The girls understood why. A maid who becomes involved with her employer often develops ambitions or sentiments that interfere with her duties.
The first housekeeper, Sophia Fissi, became the head of Melisandre; the second, Alice Ferguson, took over Amazon's e-commerce operations; and C-girl, Claire Guy, now owns a billion-dollar company. With such precedents, A and B girls knew that excelling in their roles and demonstrating capability could secure their futures.
However, these opportunities seemed rare.
Thus, they were vigilant about preventing other maids from catching Simon's attention.
Despite the outward harmony among A, B, C, and D girls, there was an undercurrent of competition.
Of course, C no longer competed with them, but Alice's successor, Zoe Parks, and others were also eyeing opportunities.
After tidying the bedroom, the two girls exited to find Simon had finished his call and was now seated by the window, flipping through a thick script.
Allison approached Simon with the folder, catching a glimpse of the script title, "True Romance," before averting her gaze. "Boss, we've received a few more invitations."
Simon didn't look up from the script, only murmured in acknowledgment for her to continue.
Allison continued, "One invitation is from the BMW family for a luncheon the day after tomorrow. The other is from Bernd Eichinger, the chairman of Constantin Film, for a party on the same evening."
Before heading to Europe, Simon's itinerary had been set.
The plan was to stay in Germany for two days, then head to Helsinki for a day, spend the weekend in Florence, and return to North America on Monday.
The two days in Germany were fully booked with luncheons, meetings, receptions, and parties starting from noon today.
At Simon's level, many social engagements were inevitable.
Avoiding them entirely could lead to significant issues, much like the reclusive Howard Hughes, whose obsessive avoidance of social contact ultimately left him a puppet of his executives and assistants in his later years.
Constantin Film was one of Germany's strongest film companies in recent years, and the BMW family's significance was self-evident.
They must have known his schedule was packed today and tomorrow, hence the invitations for the day after. If he wanted, Simon could rearrange his schedule to accommodate them.
After a moment's thought, Simon said, "Skip the Constantin party. Contact Eichinger and suggest a breakfast meeting tomorrow morning if he's interested."
Allison hesitated, remembering Simon's breakfast meeting with Ela Deutschmann, and asked, "What about Mr. Deutschmann?"
"Bring him along," Simon replied.
Allison nodded and continued, "What about BMW?"
Simon turned another page of the script and asked, "Who sent the invitation—Joanna Quandt or her children?"
Allison paused to check the folder. "Joanna Quandt."
Simon decided, "Arrange for us to attend the luncheon the day after tomorrow before we leave."
Allison nodded, a curious expression crossing her face.
Simon noticed her look and, smiling, glanced over Allison's lithe figure in the snug sweater and pants. "Do you know who Joanna Quandt is, Allison?"
Allison shook her head.
B-girl, who had just served Simon coffee, raised her head slightly but didn't speak.
Simon continued, "Joanna Quandt is quite a remarkable woman. Like you, she started as a maid. She later became the secretary to Herbert Quandt, the second-generation heir of BMW, and eventually his third wife. When Herbert Quandt died unexpectedly in 1982, Joanna outmaneuvered Herbert's other children to secure the majority of the family fortune, including a significant stake in BMW, making her one of the wealthiest and most powerful widows in German business."
Simon's recount was calm, but even B-girl, who knew some BMW family anecdotes, couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration at Joanna Quandt's story.
Allison's eyes sparkled with a hint of longing but quickly repressed it. "Boss, it's still some time before lunch. Would you like to rest for a while?"
It was morning in Europe but late at night in North America.
Simon took a sip of coffee from the cup B-girl handed him, checked his watch, and saw that it was not even 9:30 AM in Berlin.
Lunch was a reception hosted by Daenerys Entertainment for various filmmakers, starting at noon. It would be hosted by Ela Deutschmann, so Simon could afford to be late or even skip it. Although he had no intention of missing it, he was feeling a bit tired from the long flight.
He stood up, "I'll rest for two hours. Wake me at eleven-thirty."
Allison agreed and gestured for Simon to follow her.
The apartment was large, and Simon might have had trouble finding the master bedroom on his own.
Upon reaching the master bedroom that the girls had just prepared, Allison opened the door and took Simon's coat as he removed it. Watching him, she thought about the story he just told and instinctively followed him into the room.
After hanging his coat, she turned to see Simon sitting on the edge of the bed, looking at her with a slight smile.
Allison hesitated, feeling a mix of uncertainty and anticipation, but without Simon's directive, she didn't move closer.
Simon observed her for a moment before shaking his head slightly. "That's enough. You can go."
A wave of disappointment washed over her.
Knowing that taking initiative was futile, Allison left the room, letting go of her fleeting hopes.
The idea of their boss being a second-generation heir to something like BMW was an unrealistic fantasy. And they all knew that Janet, their boss's wife, was even more formidable than Simon.
There was also a female assistant close to the boss, but none of the maids believed she could replace Janet.
That made their chances even slimmer.
After a brief two-hour rest, Simon began his whirlwind schedule.
With Simon confirmed to attend this year's film festival, Berlin was abuzz with excitement. Beyond the official delegation of filmmakers, many without films at the festival flocked to Berlin, hoping for a chance to meet Simon Westeros.
For anyone looking to break into Hollywood, networking with Westeros could open doors effortlessly.
Moreover, the Berlin Film Festival's red carpet that evening was unusually vibrant, with media reporters and spectators noting a significant change.
Typically, held in February, the Berlin red carpet was often sparse due to the harsh winter, with few supermodels or actresses willing to brave the cold unless absolutely necessary.
This time, however, the red carpet seemed to exude a spring-like allure.
"Wow, Michelle Pfeiffer looks stunning in that red dress. Just like in Scarface, Michelle, I love you!"
"Claudia Schiffer is here too!"
"Who's that, um, Gong something? Asian names are so hard, but she's really beautiful."
"And there's Nadja, my God, those legs!"
"Wow, that Spanish girl looks so hot."
At the opening ceremony, two friends were enthusiastically critiquing the celebrities on the red carpet when they heard excited screams, mostly from women.
"Simon, Simon!"
"Oh my God, he's so handsome."
"Simon, I love you!"
"Ahhh!"
Everyone turned to see Simon Westeros, dressed in a sharp black suit, strolling down the red carpet alone, effortlessly commanding the space around him.
The cameras flashed incessantly, capturing his every step. His entourage of burly, sunglass-wearing bodyguards kept a respectful distance, creating a clear space around Simon, whose presence drew all attention away from the other stars lingering on the carpet. Recognizing him, those stars quickly hurried off the carpet. Many stars waiting at the entrance also hesitated to step onto the red carpet, realizing they would receive no attention while Simon was there.
In the feverish atmosphere, spectators and participants alike couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy towards the young man on the red carpet.
At just 18, he rose to prominence.
In seven years, he founded Daenerys Entertainment, invested in Microsoft, Intel, and Cisco, created AOL and Egret, and established the Westeros commercial empire...
Many people would consider their lives complete if they achieved even a fraction of what Simon Westeros had accomplished in these years.
Last year's Forbes list placed Simon
at the top with a personal fortune of $65 billion, surpassing the combined wealth of the other top ten American billionaires. Yet, this staggering figure continued to grow.
Recently, the media, not just in North America but globally, reported on Cisco and AOL both surpassing $20 billion in market value.
Westeros Holdings' shares in Cisco and AOL alone made Simon the richest man in the world.
And yet, these companies were just part of the vast Westeros empire.
At the Berlin Film Festival, many remembered his unparalleled achievements in the film industry.
In the past year, Daenerys Entertainment alone accounted for nearly 40% of the North American box office, an unprecedented feat in Hollywood's century-old history.
If the value of companies like Microsoft, Cisco, Intel, and AOL were tangible, then Daenerys Entertainment, with its continuous expansion in Hollywood, was like a hidden dragon.
There were persistent rumors about Daenerys Entertainment going public.
Forbes valued Daenerys Entertainment at $25 billion last year. With its ongoing growth, the company's conservative valuation by various media now exceeded $30 billion.
$30 billion—this alone could create another world's richest man.
As they watched the red carpet, the crowd couldn't help but admire or envy the young man, who, at just 25 years old in two weeks, had already become a global icon. Many thought that achieving even a tenth of Westeros's success would be a life well-lived.
A journalist from North America suddenly recalled an old interview from the Los Angeles Times when Simon Westeros first gained fame.
Though the specific details were fuzzy, the journalist remembered the article's perspective: A god among mortals.
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