496-500

Chapter 496: A Highly Dangerous Woman

On September 15th, Luca donated $10 million to the Angel Children's Medical Charity Fund. The organization was founded by Aniston, Kate Kelly, and Mackenzie Bezos.

New members included Ms. Nina, Han Li, Lima, Britney, Ambrosio, Ms. Theron, Bündchen, and others.

The foundation's funds are primarily used to improve children's healthcare and assist severely ill children, such as Jin Yaya from China.

On September 17th, following a vote by the city council, New York City Mayor Mr. de Blasio awarded Luca the honorary citizenship certificate.

This caused a heated debate online.

Some questioned, "Typically, honorary citizenship is reserved for those who make significant contributions to New York City. What has scumbag Luca done for NYC?"  

Others mocked, "Hah, honorary citizenship doesn’t mean much these days."  

Still, others envied, "Tch, having money means you can do whatever you want."  

Later, the city government explained that back in 2002, Luca risked his life to save someone and was seriously injured, earning him the nickname "Superman." In 2003, some council members proposed granting him the certificate, but it was not approved.

In recent years, Luca made significant contributions to the entertainment industry, internet technology, and charity work, making him deserving of the "Honorary Citizen" title.

"Charity work? Isn’t that just donating money? What’s the difference between this and buying it?"  

In an apartment, Miranda pointed at the certificate on the wall.

"What nonsense are you spouting?"  

Luca shrugged, "I earned this fair and square."  

"Tch~ In terms of reputation and influence, you’re no match for Kate. If they’re giving it out, she should get it first. Why you?" Miranda scoffed.

"Kate has a UN honorary title, so she didn’t apply for this one."  

"Why do you even want it?"  

"It doesn’t mean much—just sounds nice."  

"Tch~ Even if you got a hundred honorary titles, you’re still the same scumbag—an absolute scumbag!" Miranda poked him in the forehead.

Luca’s face darkened as he glared at her.

"Don’t you have work today?"  

"Can’t I take a day off?" Miranda rolled her eyes and leapt onto the sofa, lazily stretching her slender waist.

"Oh, really? That’s perfect. Since Kate and Lima aren’t around, we should settle some scores." Luca put down the script in his hands.

"Settle scores? What scores?" Miranda blinked innocently.

"Let me remind you: recently, you mocked and ridiculed me every day, instigated Kate and Lima to gang up on me, and even bought some useless baseball bats to scare me. Don’t you think all that deserves a little payback?"  

Luca clenched his fists with a mischievous smirk.

"You jerk! Don’t come near me! If you dare touch me, I’ll tell Kate and Lima you bullied me."  

Miranda curled up on the sofa, clutching a pillow defensively with a slightly fearful expression.

"Go ahead. Even if they beat me up later, I’ll still settle this with you now. Otherwise, I won’t feel at peace. You said I wasn’t a man before, right? Today, I’ll show you what it means to be a man."  

Luca grabbed the pillow and pinned her to the sofa.

"Ahh! Help! You jerk, let me go! If you dare hit me, I’ll fight you to the death!" Miranda, dressed in a tank top and shorts, flailed on the sofa.

"Scream all you want. Even if you scream your lungs out, no one will hear. So be good, lie down, and let me smack your butt a few times. Maybe then I’ll be merciful. But if you resist... well, you’ve seen Fifty Shades of Grey, right? I’ll use some of those... creative methods."  

Luca pinched her cheek lightly, savoring the moment he had long awaited.

"Wuwu~ Are you really going to hit me? Can’t we... skip that part?" Miranda’s blue eyes filled with tears, her round cheeks looking adorably innocent, making it hard to stay mad.

"Drop the act. After everything you’ve done, even ten spankings wouldn’t be enough. But today, I’ll settle for just a few and call it even. How about that, Miss Miranda?"  

Luca waved his hand, aiming at her backside.

"Really? Just a few? Okay, go ahead!" Miranda’s eyes twinkled mischievously as she lay flat on the sofa.

"Wait... Are you up to something?" Luca hesitated.

"What’s the matter? Scared? Coward!" Miranda taunted with a smirk.

"Fine! You asked for it."  

*Smack! Smack! Smack!*

The sound echoed, and Luca was momentarily captivated by the surprisingly pleasant feeling. Just as he prepared to strike again, something hard pressed against his waist.

Looking down, he realized it was a taser.

"No! Don’t!!"  

*Bzzzt!*

A flash of electricity coursed through him. His body stiffened as he collapsed onto the carpet, trembling uncontrollably.

"Hahaha! Luca, how does it feel to be electrocuted?"  

Miranda triumphantly placed her bare foot on his chest, her face brimming with victory.

Luca lay motionless on the carpet, paralyzed.

"So, Luca, enjoying yourself? Want another round?" Miranda teased, sparking the taser again with a mischievous grin.

Luca tried to plead, but his tongue felt numb, rendering him speechless.

"Oh, you’re asking for more? Alright then. I’m nothing if not generous!"

Miranda pointed a taser at his face, a mischievous smirk curling her lips like a little devil.

Luca stiffly tilted his head.

“Ha! Scared now, you jerk? How dare you spank me! How dare you spank me!”

Miranda sat on top of him, mercilessly pinching his cheeks and bouncing on him a few times.

Lying beneath her, Luca felt like he’d rather die. At that moment, he deeply regretted provoking this little demon.

Miranda always had a habit of hiding weapons in the sofa—scissors, pepper spray, even knives. This time, he’d been too careless and didn’t anticipate her moves.

Click!

The door swung open.

“What are you guys doing?”

Kate was back.

At that moment, Luca felt so emotional he nearly cried.

“Kate, thank goodness you’re back! That jerk Luca bullied me earlier—he spanked me!”

Miranda ran over, throwing herself onto Kate’s shoulder, wailing.

“You’re saying Luca spanked you?”

Kate raised an eyebrow. “If Luca hit you, why is he lying on the floor with his hair sticking up?”

“Hehe, nothing much. I just gave him a little zap.”

Miranda pulled a taser out from behind her back.

Luca closed his eyes. Miranda, just wait. I swear I’ll get my revenge.

The next day, dragging his still-tingling body, he joined the set of The Proposal.

The shoot was taking place on Franklin Street, No. 25, in Queens, not far from Greenwood Publishing. By the time he arrived, filming had already been underway for a few days.

The Proposal was a comedy about a woman who faked a marriage with her subordinate to secure an American visa.

The female lead, Margaret, was a Canadian working as a high-ranking executive at a renowned American publishing company. She was highly efficient but also incredibly domineering.

Due to some technical issues, her visa couldn’t be renewed, and she was about to be deported to Canada. Unwilling to lose her executive position, she staged a fake marriage with her assistant, Andrew.

To avoid suspicion from immigration officials, the two went to Andrew’s hometown to celebrate his grandmother’s birthday. Along the way, they encountered a series of hilarious situations.

Margaret, the female lead, was played by Aniston, a strong, assertive woman in her thirties.

Luca played Andrew, the male lead—an attractive, slightly timid recent graduate.

“Andrew’s personality is so similar to yours!”

Aniston said, holding the script with a grin.

“How so? Am I that easy to push around?”

Luca replied with a laugh.

Aniston chuckled, “By the way, have you sorted things out with Britney? What’s your plan for the future?”

Luca shrugged. “Not really. I suppose things will stay the same—friends, lovers, unofficial spouses.”

“You’re not planning to get married? Or, let me ask this—who do you see yourself marrying someday?”

Luca rubbed his forehead. “I have no idea. At least, I won’t be thinking about that anytime soon.”

“Fair enough. You know, you could always consider moving to Dubai. Men there can have three or four wives.”

Aniston teased with a laugh.

Luca shook his head with a smile. That was out of the question—neither Lima nor Britney would agree to that.

“Jen and Luca, are you ready?”

From the director’s area, Anne Fletcher called out.

“OK, I’m good to go,” Luca replied.

“Let’s roll.”

The two walked onto the set.

“All departments, get ready!”

The Proposal, Scene 4, Take 3, Camera 1, first take—action!”

Clap!

The clapperboard snapped, and the shoot began.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 497: Be Careful Not to Get Smashed

"Good morning, boss. You have a conference call in half an hour," Andrew, dressed in a sharp suit, stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a cup of coffee in hand, greeting his boss, Margaret, who briskly walked into the office.

"I know. It’s about the spring book sales. Got it," Margaret said as she took the coffee and handed him her bag.

"And there's a staff meeting at nine," Andrew added as he hung up her bag.

"Did you call that person? What's her name again, the tall one?" Margaret asked.

"Kate! Yes, I called her. I told her that if she doesn’t submit her manuscript on time, her book won’t be published. Oh, and your immigration lawyer called. He says there’s something important to discuss with you," Andrew quickly replied.

"Understood. Cancel the conference call, postpone the staff meeting to tomorrow, and have the immigration lawyer wait. Contact the PR department and have them draft a press release saying Frank is willing to appear on Oprah’s talk show," Margaret instructed.

"Really? Boss, that’s amazing!"

"Don’t flatter me. If I wanted your praise, I’d ask for it," Margaret said, turning around to sip her coffee.

---

“Cut!”

"Luca, come here," Director Anne called out.

"On my way!" Luca hurried over to the director's area. "Director Anne, is there a problem?"

"Luca, this is a comedy, but your performance is too stiff. You need to relax and be more expressive. You're too serious—it’s not working," Anne said as she replayed the footage.

Luca watched the clip and began to see the issue. Comedy wasn’t his forte, and his lack of preparation was evident. His expressions were too rigid, and he failed to deliver laughs. Performing opposite a comedy veteran like Ms. Aniston only made his shortcomings more obvious.

"Luca, you’re usually very humorous. Why so serious on set?" Anne asked.

Luca thought for a moment. "I think it’s because I’m underprepared. I’ve never acted in a comedy before, and I need time to adjust to the dynamic."

Anne considered this. "How about we give you three days to prepare?"

"That works. I’ll get into the groove as soon as possible," Luca agreed, nodding.

---

The crew adjusted Luca’s schedule, giving him three days to prepare. During the day, he stayed on set, watching Aniston perform and discussing comedic techniques with her. At night, he immersed himself in classic comedies, studying Charlie Chaplin, Jim Carrey, and Aniston’s work. He practiced silly faces in the mirror every morning to discover the funniest expressions.

"Luca, you’re trying too hard," Aniston pointed out during rehearsal. "Comedy comes in many forms. Some people do well with understated humor—just a simple look can make the audience laugh. Think of Ross in Friends. Others are more flamboyant, relying on exaggerated actions, like Joey or Chandler. It depends on the actor’s strengths."

"Which style suits me?" Luca asked.

"The first one," Aniston replied with a smile. "You have a naturally serious demeanor. Play up that contrast with subtle, amusing expressions to make it funny."

Luca considered this and suddenly pouted playfully.

"Pfft!" Aniston burst into laughter. "That’s great! Keep it up!"

---

By the fourth day, Luca was back on set. This time, his performance was significantly better. He leaned into the understated humor, using subtle expressions to complement Aniston's more dynamic style. His shocked, slack-jawed reactions and exaggerated sighs of exasperation were spot-on. As the takes went on, his movements became more fluid, and he found his rhythm.

---

“I don’t know what’s going on. Explain yourself, Margaret,” Andrew said, clenching his fists in frustration.

Margaret glanced at him. “If I can’t get my visa, I’ll have to leave the company. And when that happens, they’ll make Bob the editor-in-chief.”

“So, I have to marry you?” Andrew asked.

“Is there a problem? Helping me is helping yourself. Or do you already have someone else in mind?”

“I don’t have a partner, but fake marriage is illegal,” Andrew argued.

“They’re looking for terrorists, not publishers like me,” Margaret shot back.

“Margaret, I won’t marry you!” Andrew yelled.

“Oh, you will. If you don’t, Bob will replace me, and you’ll be fired. That means your dream of becoming an editor will go down the drain. But don’t worry. It’s just a fake marriage. Once my visa is approved, we’ll get a divorce. Also, you should probably take that call.”

Margaret rattled off a long string of words, ending by slamming her hand on the ringing phone.

Andrew stood in front of the desk, looking adorably clueless.

“Cut!”

“That’s a wrap!”

Director Annie called out.

“Great job, Luca!”

Aniston smiled.

“It’s all thanks to your lead. I just followed your rhythm,” Luca replied modestly.

Aniston’s character, Margaret, was a domineering woman who spoke fast and acted with authority. In contrast, Andrew was portrayed as a naive, sweet-natured guy who seemed easily overwhelmed in her presence—a role Luca excelled at.

Their characters’ contrasting personalities turned Aniston into the one driving the comedic beats, setting the rhythm of the performance, while Luca acted as the supportive counterpart, enhancing her lead.

After a few days of shooting, their on-screen chemistry grew stronger, and their performances became increasingly seamless. The scenes set in the company and the immigration office were wrapped up in just ten days. Next up were the scenes set in Andrew’s hometown, which would be filmed on an island villa over the course of a month.

Before that, however, Luca needed to attend a movie premiere.

On September 26, The Departed premiered in North America. Luca flew to Los Angeles to attend the event, held at an AMC theater.

“Luca, try to move quickly down the red carpet. Don’t stop for interviews, and be careful—watch out for flying tomatoes,” Ed warned him before stepping out of the car.

“I’ll be careful,” Luca nodded. Although the recent news of his sudden wealth had overshadowed the old scandals, there were still people who didn’t like him—especially Britney’s hardcore fans.

Ever since the little one had been born, their animosity toward him had reached its peak, so he had to tread lightly.

As the car pulled up to the venue entrance, Luca adjusted his tie and stepped out.

“Well, well—Luca! Long time no see!”

The moment he exited the car, someone approached him with a grin.

Luca’s eyes lit up—his lifesaver had arrived.

“Leon! It’s been ages. So good to see you!”

“Good to see me? Are you sure about that?” Leonardo asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Of course! How about we head in together?” Luca said enthusiastically.

“Alright, let’s do it.”

The two heartthrobs stepped onto the red carpet together, causing an uproar among the crowd.

“Leo, I love you!”

“Leo, over here!”

“Luca! The jerk is here!”

The crowd’s reactions clearly favored Leonardo, with his fans louder and more passionate.

Leonardo couldn’t hide his smugness and shot Luca a triumphant grin.

Luca forced a smile, about to retort, when he suddenly noticed something red flying toward them.

“Watch out!” he shouted, quickly stepping back.

Splat!

As luck would have it, the tomato hit Leonardo squarely on the shoulder, splattering juice everywhere.

Boom!

The crowd erupted in chaos.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 498: What's the Big Deal About Making 100 Million a Year?

"Leon, are you okay? Do you need to see a doctor?"

Outside the movie theater, Luca asked while trying to hold back laughter.

"Stay away from me."

Leonardo responded with a scowl.

"Come on, Leon, don't be like that. I warned you to be careful earlier. Honestly, you should be thanking me."

"Thank you?!"

Leon clenched his fists, let out a snort of anger, and stormed off.

Luca chuckled softly and walked into the theater.

The premiere event was lively, packed with stars like George Clooney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Richard Gere, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, and Matt Damon and his wife, along with a host of big-name directors and producers.

Each guest mingled in their respective circles, but the biggest clusters were around Leo and Brad, surrounded by over a dozen people enthusiastically chatting.

Luca made a round of greetings to acquaintances before settling into a front-row seat and pulling out his phone to play Tetris.

However, his presence was too eye-catching. As an actor, screenwriter, producer, and a wealthy mogul, he quickly became the center of attention. Soon, people gathered around him in droves, chatting and seeking opportunities.

Some wanted him to review scripts, others sought him for movie projects or funding, and even a few well-known Wall Street stockbrokers approached, claiming to have lucrative investments that could guarantee him massive profits.

Initially, Luca entertained a few conversations, but as the crowd grew, he called on Ed to intervene. He wasn't interested in their projects or their ways of making money.

For instance, one stockbroker boasted about a promising opportunity: investing in a real estate asset management bank, claiming that handing over the funds would yield at least $100 million a year.

Luca just laughed. Back in 2003, he invested in YouTube and made $1.2 billion in four years. In 2004, he speculated on Google stock, turning a few million into over $1 billion, with annual dividends in the tens of millions. A $100 million annual project? That was nothing—earning $1 billion a year was more like it.

"Hey, Luca, isn't it a little too quiet over here? Doesn't seem to match your reputation," Julia Roberts said as she walked over with Angelina Jolie.

Luca smiled. "It is a bit quiet. Maybe people are afraid of getting hit by tomatoes and are keeping their distance."

"Ha! That might be it. Angelina, for safety, maybe we should keep our distance, too."

Both Julia and Angelina stopped in their tracks.

Luca shrugged. "No need to overreact. I was just about to offer you a warm hug."

"No, thanks. I'm allergic to tomatoes. What about you, Angie?"

"Oh, I'm not allergic to tomatoes. Just to jerks," Angelina quipped with a sly smile.

"Ha! Well said. So, maybe we should go."

Without a second thought, the two women turned and walked off, giving him no face.

Luca shook his head and sat back down.

*Ding-dong!*

A notification popped up on his phone: "The game has begun."  

He glanced over at Angelina, who had left the crowd and was walking out of the screening hall. Her sleek black dress clung tightly to her figure, highlighting her curves.

Luca cracked his knuckles and left through another exit.

"Second floor, west-side restroom."  

Another text message followed.

Raising an eyebrow, he made his way to the second floor. The restroom, reserved for VIPs, was relatively empty. He waited for a clear moment and slipped inside.

The restroom had two doors. As soon as he pushed one open, a hand grabbed his tie and yanked him in.

"Whoa, take it easy!"

"Shh! Hurry up!"

From inside the cubicle, muffled sounds of restrained passion emerged.

Half an hour later, Luca returned to the hall, holding a bucket of popcorn.

"What were you doing?" Ed asked.

"Bathroom break. Had an upset stomach. It was, uh, explosive."

Ed grimaced. "And now you're eating popcorn?"

"Want some?"

"No, thanks!"

Ed turned away in disgust. "Oh, by the way, the guy who threw the tomato was caught. He’s a racist—got upset seeing a Brazilian like you causing a stir in Hollywood. He wanted to teach you a lesson."

"By throwing a tomato at me?"

"Exactly. Except he accidentally hit Leonardo instead. He apologized to Leo's team, and they let it slide, so the guy's been released."

"Got it. We need to handle this through PR—keep the media coverage minimal. We don't want others getting ideas and starting a trend."

"Agreed. That's what I was thinking, too."

Around 2 p.m., the movie began.

The opening scene featured Jack Nicholson as the villain, Frank. Jack's acting was phenomenal, his commanding presence giving the character a lion-like ferocity and making the villain utterly compelling.

By comparison, Matt Monda wasn’t quite as good. In several scenes, he got overshadowed. If Brad Pitt had taken the role, the effect might have been better.

Luca’s character had several scenes opposite the two leads.

After watching the film, he silently assessed their performances. Old Jack’s acting range was roughly an A+, while Leo’s was an A. His own and Matt’s were about the same, hovering around A- to B+. Overall, everyone’s acting was solid.

Clap clap clap—

At 5 PM, the movie ended, and the theater erupted in applause.

“How do you feel about it?”

Luca asked.

“Not bad!”

“Who do you think did the best job?”

“You, of course—no doubt about it.”

“Haha, Ed, we’re really getting in sync.”

On the third day, the weekend’s box office results came in: over $27 million. Although it was slightly below expectations, it still topped the weekend box office rankings.

The movie’s reception was also decent, with a Rotten Tomatoes score of 7.3. However, some reviews about Luca’s performance were less favorable.

Some critics said he was too young and handsome for the middle-aged character. Others even started online campaigns to boycott his films, though they didn’t gain much traction.

Luca, busy with other filming commitments, ignored the reviews.

In early October, under the bright sunshine on a small island off the coast of Massachusetts, the Fake Wedding crew was filming on the dock.

“Why did you say you were poor before?”

On the dock, Margaret, wearing high heels and dragging a large suitcase, asked as she walked.

“I never said that.”

Andrew chuckled.

“But you also never said you were rich.”

“I’m not rich; my parents are.”

Andrew came from a prominent family, a low-key billionaire.

“Right. You know, only rich people say things like that.”

Margaret quipped.

“Hey, Andrew! Welcome home!”

Someone shouted from afar.

Andrew waved. “Mom, what’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing. Just throwing a little welcome party for you two—what’s wrong with that?”

Andrew’s mom smiled. “Only about 50 of our closest friends and neighbors.”

“They’re all excited to see you. Come on, come on!”

Andrew’s grandmother chimed in with a laugh.

“A welcome party?”

Margaret frowned.

“Yes, now hurry up! My grandma walks faster than you!”

Andrew teased.

“Cut!”

“Not bad, Luca. You’re getting better and better,” said Annie, the director.

“Yeah, acting in comedies is a lot easier. In the past, I had to spend at least half an hour getting into the right emotional state to deliver the performance. Now I don’t even need to try that hard,” Luca replied with a laugh.

Since 2003, Luca had taken on many roles: the suffocating tension in Buried, the dark malevolence in Match Point, the campy gay character in Little Miss Sunshine, the madness in The Prestige, and the hopeless romantic in My Blueberry Nights.

Each character had distinct traits, requiring him to dig deep and immerse himself to deliver what directors wanted.

In contrast, Andrew in Fake Wedding was a sunny, charming guy with little depth, quite similar to Luca himself. It didn’t take much effort to play the part well.

“Take ten minutes to rest before we start again!”

The crew got busy setting up the next scene. Meanwhile, Luca and Aniston sat under a beach umbrella, sipping coffee.

“The scenery here is amazing,” Aniston remarked.

“Yeah, with the ocean view and spring blossoms, it’s a great place to settle down.”

This island, close to Boston, was essentially a small town. Getting off the island required a boat or helicopter, and residents here were all multimillionaires at the very least.

“A few days ago, Kate mentioned she was thinking about buying a large property. This area might be worth considering,” Aniston said.

“It’s a bit remote. Maybe after I retire, I’d consider settling here,” Luca said with a smile.

“Retire? You own so many stocks; even if you did nothing, you’d still get millions in dividends each year. You could retire anytime,” Aniston joked.

Luca shrugged. “I’ve explained my reasons before. Remember when we first met?”

Aniston smirked. “Of course. It was at the café near the Academy gates, with Ross and Professor Nia.”

“Exactly. The first time I saw you, I was captivated. Then we talked a lot, and I told you I wanted to win an Oscar. You all laughed.”

Luca chuckled.

“We thought you were joking.”

“Of course not—it was serious.”

“All right, then. Let’s work hard together!”

Aniston extended her hand with a smile.

“Deal!”

Luca firmly shook her hand.

“Jen, Luca, get ready!”

“Okay!”

(End of chapter.)

Chapter 499: The Little Ones Are Adorable

"Margaret, I need to talk to you—just for a few minutes."

Andrew was gasping for air.

"Go ahead."

Margaret crossed her arms.

"Three days ago, I couldn’t stand you. I wanted you to get hit by a car or poisoned."

"Oh, that’s a pleasant thought."

"I said don’t talk."

Andrew gestured dramatically. "Then, we spent a few days together in Alaska, and things started to change. It happened when we kissed, when you told me about your tattoo, and when we were completely naked, just looking at each other."

"I didn’t see anything."

"Of course, you didn’t. Just like you didn’t see me standing alone at the wedding, with no bride. Imagine my despair when I realized that the person I love might be forced out of the country. So, Margaret, marry me—because I want to date you."

"Trust me, you don’t actually want to be with me."

"No, I do."

Andrew stepped forward and kissed her deeply.

*Clap, clap, clap!*

Applause erupted around them.

"Cut!"

By late October, filming wrapped up successfully. Luca and Aniston returned to New York.

"Hey, George, Catherine! Guess who’s back!"

Aniston called out cheerfully as they arrived at their villa.

On the lawn, two little ones looked up with wide eyes. Their big eyes blinked, and their smiles stretched to their ears, drool threatening to escape.

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!"

The two toddlers wriggled their little bodies, stood up with chubby legs, and ran toward her, giggling all the way, almost tumbling over.

"Mommy missed you both so much!"

Aniston scooped them up, hugging them tightly and showering them with kisses. The little ones wrapped their arms around her neck, giggling uncontrollably.

"Hey, George, Catherine! Look who’s here!"

Luca came into the yard, dragging a suitcase.

The two kids glanced at him briefly, then buried their faces back into Aniston’s shoulders.

"Alright then!"

Luca shrugged, feeling a bit dejected. He resolved to spend more time with them—and with Louis and Max, too.

"Haha, George, Catherine! Say 'Daddy!' Daddy brought lots of gifts for you!"

Aniston stepped forward and nudged the kids toward his arms.

"Yes, George and Catherine, there are toy planes, rocking horses, and Daddy’s favorite—soccer balls. Want to play later?"

Luca smiled warmly.

"Yes!"

"Climb!"

The little ones puckered their lips and kissed him all over his face, drooling a little in the process.

"Haha, you’re so sweet!"

Luca hugged the three of them tightly.

To make up for the time he had been away, Luca stayed at the villa for two days, playing games with the little ones every day. But soon, Mr. Ross called, asking him to come to Los Angeles for an important decision at the company.

"What’s the matter?"

---

### The Next Day, Los Angeles

*Bra Pictures CEO Office*

"Luca, here’s the situation. We’ve been evaluating new projects, and Mr. Mores from Competition Pictures approached us. He wants to know if we’re interested in the Fast & Furious franchise."

Mr. Ross explained.

"Fast & Furious? What’s Mores’s angle?"

Luca asked.

"They’re looking for a partner to co-develop the series. The last film, Tokyo Drift, performed poorly at the box office, and one of their partners backed out. They need a new partner, but the investment for this series is enormous. The budget for each of the first three films exceeded $80 million. Not every production company can take this on."

Mr. Scott, the general manager, added.

Luca nodded. The Fast series was inherently expensive, given its reliance on luxury cars and stunts. The previous installment, filmed in Tokyo, had underperformed due to the absence of Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. This left the production company under significant pressure to continue the series.

As a rising industry mogul, Luca was now on everyone’s radar.

"Why not partner with Universal? The papers said Universal was planning to reinvest in the series."

Luca questioned.

"They did collaborate with Universal on the last film, but Universal interfered too much, replacing both Vin Diesel and Paul Walker. That’s partly why the box office results were so poor. This time, they want more creative control."

Mr. Ross explained.

Luca pondered for a moment. "So they’re only asking us to co-produce the fourth film?"

"Exactly," Mr. Ross confirmed.

Luca frowned. "That’s not ideal. If it succeeds, we’ll earn a little. If it fails, our losses will be significant. I think it’s better to buy the rights to the series outright."

"Buy the rights? As far as I know, Competition Pictures isn’t looking to sell. Universal reportedly offered $150 million for the rights, and they declined."

Mr. Scott said.

"Everything has a price. If $150 million doesn’t work, then offer $200 million. Owning the rights gives us control. Without them, investing doesn’t make much sense. We’re not short on good projects, after all."

Luca spread his hands.

"Boss, I agree with you. We’ll reach out to Competition Pictures as soon as possible."

"Good. I’ll wait for your updates."

After seeing them off, Luca returned to his desk to tackle the backlog of work from the past month.

---

The company’s daily operations were primarily handled by Scott, while Mr. Ross and the others managed the production department. Luca’s role was mainly to review reports and provide input to ensure the company stayed on track.

Step Up 2: The Streets had been in theaters for three months, grossing $65 million globally. Including DVD sales, the film had earned the company over $10 million in profit.

As it was still a profitable franchise, the production department planned to release a third installment next year, which Luca approved.

Director Billy wanted to make a feature film version of The Tuner. The production team approved his pitch, and Luca had no objections.

He called Billy to discuss the project. Billy was working on the script and was thrilled to receive some creative input from Luca, jotting down notes eagerly.

The two chatted for about ten minutes before hanging up.

*Ring, ring, ring—*

The phone rang. He turned on the speakerphone and immediately heard a string of coos and babbles from the other end.

“Haha, Luca, did you hear that? Max is singing! Oh my God, he’s only two months old. Our little sweetheart must be a genius,” Britney said excitedly over the phone.

“Yes, Max is definitely a genius, but don’t you think it’s a bit early to have him singing at just two months old?” Luca leaned back on the sofa, chuckling softly.

“I didn’t teach him. He hears me singing and starts humming along. Sweetheart, hum a little more for us.”

"Ee-yee-ya-ya~"

The little guy started babbling again. Though it wasn’t actual lyrics, there was a sense of rhythm and melody to the sound. Listening to it, Luca couldn’t help but smile.

“So, what do you think? Can you tell what song it is?” Britney asked.

Luca scratched his head. “Could it be Baby One More Time?”

“Hahaha, that’s right! I can’t believe you guessed it. Our little sweetheart is amazing! Mwah! Mwah!”

"Ahhh!"

After a couple of kisses, the little one burst into tears.

“Oh, oh~ our sweetheart is so talented. Even his crying sounds like a song!” Britney said with a laugh.

Luca wiped the sweat off his forehead. “Honey, I think it might be more suitable to let him listen to some children’s songs at this age.”

“But he loves listening to my songs! Every time he hears them, he becomes so calm.”

“Well, maybe you could try recording a children’s album. Your voice is so sweet; singing children’s songs would make it even sweeter. Max might love it even more.”

“Hmm~ That’s a great idea. Recording a children’s album would be easy. I could finish it in two days. Actually, I’m thinking of releasing it online for free downloads. What do you think?”

“That’s a fantastic idea. Your voice is so charming; I can already imagine countless little ones falling asleep to your songs. It’s wonderful just thinking about it.”

“Haha, it’s settled then. Oh, looks like Max has fallen asleep. I need to head upstairs. When will you be back?”

“The company’s working on a project right now. I’ll be back by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

“Alright, come back soon and help me record the album.”

“Will do.”

Luca smiled, sat quietly for a moment, then made a call to Lima and little Louis in El Salvador.

Lima had just given birth and planned to stay home for six months to recover. By then, the baby would be older and traveling by plane would be easier.

“Lima, where are you?”

“At the pediatric hospital. Louis has a little cough.”

“A cough? Is it serious?”

“No, it’s nothing. He probably caught a bit of a chill at the beach yesterday. The doctor said he’ll be fine after a good sleep.”

“Oh, thank God.”

Luca breathed a sigh of relief. “Sweetheart, you’ve been working so hard.”

“It’s not hard at all!” Lima laughed. “Do you want to talk to the little guy? He’s learning to blow bubbles now.”

“Sure, I’d love to hear him blow bubbles.”

Luca smiled as he stayed on the line, listening to the little one blow bubbles with Lima.

---

The next afternoon, Mr. Scott brought some updates. Speed Films wasn’t willing to sell their rights outright but was open to negotiations.

“What kind of negotiations?” Luca asked.

“They’re willing to sell 30% of the rights first and collaborate with us to develop Speed 4. If it’s successful, we’ll have priority to purchase an additional 20%,” Mr. Scott explained.

“And the price?”

“Their first offer is $80 million.”

“Hmph, Universal valued the full rights at $150 million, but now they’re quoting $250 million for us. Do they think I’m a fool?” Luca shook his head. “Mr. Scott, if they’re sincere, we can keep talking. Otherwise, forget it. We’re not short on good projects.”

Mr. Scott nodded. “Boss, do you think this project is worth pursuing?”

“Of course, or I wouldn’t have aimed to acquire the full rights.”

“What’s your ideal price point?”

“Take a guess.”

Luca smiled faintly. “For full rights, no more than $200 million. If you can negotiate it lower, I’ll double your year-end bonuses.”

“Thank you, Boss!”

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 500: I Love Speeding*

On October 4, Taken officially started filming at a Los Angeles studio.

Thanks to Luca's involvement and Tom Cruise joining the project, the original $40 million budget had ballooned into a blockbuster with an investment exceeding $100 million.

With such significant changes to the film, Luca wasn't entirely confident about its box office prospects.

As the screenwriter, he participated in the team’s script discussions. The writing team had expanded from two members to four, with even Tom Cruise joining as a contributor. Luca didn’t mind and focused on fulfilling his contractual responsibilities.

---

"Luca, we’ve made some progress in our negotiations with Race Films. Want to hear about it?"

Outside the set, Luca answered a call from Mr. Ross.

"Progress? Sure, let’s hear it."

Luca smiled.

"An offer of $85 million for 50% of the Fast & Furious franchise rights. This would allow us to collaborate with Race Films on developing the series. However, they insist on retaining full creative control over the filming process. We can provide input and oversee production but cannot interfere with the crew’s work. This is a non-negotiable condition for the partnership."

Ross explained.

"That’s fine. We can leave the crew to them. But for production and screenwriting, we must maintain oversight," Luca replied.

"Of course. So, are you agreeing to this?"

"Yes. Who doesn’t love car racing? Me included. This series has immense market potential. Let’s secure the rights as soon as possible."

"Understood!"

Funding wasn’t a concern. Bra Studios, having operated for over two years, had earned a decent amount and held the rights to several films. These assets could be used as collateral for bank loans. After all, no mature company is without some debt.

Luca pocketed his phone and walked into the studio.

---

*Knock, knock, knock.*

“Pete, you might find this interesting,” Wilson said, walking into the office with a folder in hand.

“What is it?” Pete looked up.

“Bra Studios is negotiating with Race Films to co-develop the Fast & Furious franchise.”

Wilson said.

“Bra?”

Pete frowned. “How far along are the negotiations?”

“Second round. Race Films has agreed to sell 50% of the franchise rights for $85 million. Bra Studios has accepted the offer, and they’re finalizing the details.”

“$85 million? He must have a lot of faith in the project,” Pete said coldly.

“Indeed. Race Films approached Bra because of Luca’s financial strength and his knack for spotting opportunities in filmmaking.”

“Knack? That hick just got lucky with a few projects. What ‘knack’ does he have?” Pete sneered. “Wilson, if B Plan were to approach Race Films with a better offer, do you think they’d choose us or that small studio that’s barely two years old?”

“Not necessarily,” Wilson replied after a pause. “Pete, there’s something you might not know. Race Films’ previous partner was Universal, but Universal’s domineering attitude during Tokyo Drift led to disappointing box office results.

Race Films wants more say in their projects and sees Bra Studios as a better fit. While B Plan is far more powerful, it won’t be easy to take over this project.”

Pete snorted. “Difficult doesn’t mean impossible. Notify the project team to analyze the Fast & Furious series. Also, leak word that we’re willing to offer $100 million for 50% of the rights.”

“Pete, our project pipeline is already full through 2009. We don’t have the funds or manpower for a new project, especially a high-budget one like this.”

“That’s not your concern. Just do what I say. Decision-making is my job.”

“Got it.”

Wilson nodded and left the office.

“Mary, you too,” Pete said, zipping up his pants.

His secretary crawled out from under the desk, gave him a glare, and swayed her hips as she exited.

Pete lit a cigar and stood by the floor-to-ceiling window, exhaling smoke rings before making a few phone calls.

---

The next day, Luca went about his usual work on the Taken set, observing and learning to gain more experience.

That afternoon, Ross called again with bad news: negotiations for the Fast & Furious rights had hit a snag.

B Plan had aggressively entered the picture, teaming up with Leonardo’s Appian Way and Weinstein Company. Together, they offered Race Films $200 million to co-develop the franchise.

Race Films was wavering and had announced a pause in negotiations.

“Luca, it’s obvious they’re targeting you,” Ross sighed.

“Let them. I’ve said it before—getting the rights would be great, but it’s not a necessity. We have plenty of other excellent projects.”

“You’re just going to give up? We’ve spent two weeks on this—it’d be a waste to back out now.”

Luca rubbed his temples. “I can raise the 200 million in funding, but Bra has been around for less than two years. Its production capabilities are limited, and we don't have the strength to compete with them. If we engage in a price war, it’ll mean pouring in even more money, which isn’t worth it.”

Although the Fast series could bring in billions over the next decade or so, there are easier and more profitable opportunities elsewhere for him to invest his time and resources.

He wouldn’t let a movie project interfere with his other investments.

“Still, Ross, you’re right. After negotiating for half a month, giving up too soon would be a waste. Please reach out to Mr. Moritz from Competition Pictures. I’d like to speak with him personally.”

“Got it! I’ll arrange it right away.”

That evening, Luca worked overtime and finished two scripts: Fast 5 and Fast 6. The plot revolved around Rio de Janeiro, making it relatively easy to write.

---

The next afternoon, at a beachside café, Luca met Mr. Neal Moritz and the lead actor from Fast 1, Vin Diesel.

It was said that Moritz and Vin Diesel had a good relationship.

Because of issues with Universal Studios, Diesel had skipped the second and third films. It was also his influence that prompted Moritz to break away from Universal and independently produce the entire series.

“Mr. Kelly, it’s a pleasure to meet you!”

Moritz and Diesel were polite. While both were relatively well-known in Hollywood, they weren’t on the same level as a true industry mogul.

“The pleasure is mine. Please, have a seat.”

Luca remained calm. For this project, it was great if he could secure it, but he wasn’t overly concerned if he couldn’t. He was simply doing his best.

After some small talk, Luca took out two scripts. “Mr. Moritz, I’m a fan of racing films, and I love street racing. Fast 1 was one of the best in its genre.

“Half a month ago, you mentioned collaboration, and I was intrigued. I immediately had my team follow up, and I even wrote two scripts myself. I’d love for you to take a look and share your thoughts.”

Moritz and Diesel flipped through the scripts, a flicker of surprise crossing their faces. No wonder Luca had won an Academy Award for screenwriting—the quality was outstanding. The plot design was thrilling, even more spectacular than the first three films. After finishing one script, they exchanged it to read the other.

After a moment, Moritz set the scripts down. “Mr. Kelly, these are excellent. Even if we had our entire writing team working together, we couldn’t match this. However, I do have a question.”

“Go ahead.”

Luca set his coffee cup down, gesturing for him to speak.

“Mr. Kelly, our collaboration is still in the negotiation stage.”

“No, negotiations are on hold. It seems, Mr. Moritz, you’ve been exploring other options.”

Luca spoke with a faint smile.

Moritz chuckled awkwardly. Their actions had indeed been less than honorable. They had been close to striking a deal, but when someone else showed interest, they got tempted.

“Apologies, Mr. Kelly. There have been internal disagreements in our company. We’ll have a decision soon.”

“I hope so. Please, continue, Mr. Moritz.”

“Thank you. Mr. Kelly, these scripts are impeccably structured. I imagine you put a lot of effort into them.”

“I did.”

“But since our collaboration isn’t finalized, aren’t you worried we might copy the storyline?”

Moritz asked.

Luca smiled lightly. “For a screenwriter, there’s nothing more fulfilling than seeing their work come to life on screen.

“If you like these scripts, you can have them for free. All I ask is that you make the best possible film. Beyond that, I have no demands.”

Moritz smiled, not doubting his sincerity. A good script could sell for millions, but compared to Luca Kelly’s wealth, that was trivial.

“Mr. Kelly, I have a question too. May I?”

Vin Diesel asked after finishing the scripts.

“Of course,” Luca replied with a smile.

“Mr. Kelly, it seems these two scripts’ lead characters are based on me and Paul?”

“Yes, Vin. I believe Fast 1 is the most impressive installment in the series so far. You and Paul had perfect chemistry—one strong and the other charming. You complemented each other beautifully.

“The second and third films, without you, lacked that same energy. That’s why I believe the upcoming films should revolve around you two as a fixed duo anchoring the entire series.”

Luca explained.

Diesel’s mouth curled into a grin. “Mr. Kelly, thanks for the compliment. I think working with you would be a pleasure.”

Luca smiled. “There will be opportunities.”

“Mr. Kelly,” Moritz interjected, “one of the lead roles in the script would also suit you. Have you ever considered starring yourself?”

When they first discussed the project, they had thought about inviting Luca to take the lead. He seemed like a good fit. However, his many tabloid scandals had made them hesitant, so they decided to gauge his interest directly.

Luca shook his head. “Street racing is too dangerous, and I won’t take on risky roles. Besides, I don’t act to make money—I act to win Oscars. The Fast series doesn’t align with that goal, so it’s not something I’d consider.”

“Haha! Mr. Kelly, you’re refreshingly candid. Here’s hoping you achieve your Oscar dreams soon.”

Moritz raised his coffee cup with a laugh.

“Thank you!” Luca replied with a smile.

(End of Chapter)