401-405

*Chapter 401: The Unspoken Rules*

"Spartaaaa!!"

In the audition room, Luca stood on a platform, dressed in a Spartan outfit. With a shield in one hand and a giant sword in the other, he shouted fiercely at the sky, his expression resolute.

He was tall and muscular, with strong, powerful arms, a well-developed chest, and defined abs. His clean, crisp movements made him appear as mighty as the legendary Spartans.

His facial features were sharp, resembling ancient Greek sculptures.

The female staff members on-site stared at him, swallowing hard. A few bold women gathered together, pointing at certain parts of his body, whispering and making some rather brazen comments.

The casting director glanced at the women, shook his head helplessly, and said, "Okay, Mr. Kelly, thank you for your performance. You'll hear the results within three days!"

"Got it!"

Luca put down the shield and sword and walked out of the audition room.

"Hey, how did it go, Luca?"

His Brazilian friend, Rodrigo Santoro, had also come for the audition.

"Felt pretty good!"

"Luca, with your incredible physique and reputation, you’ll definitely pass the audition."

"Let’s hope so, Rodrigo. They need a lot of people for this project, so you’ve got a great shot too. Good luck!"

In the original film, Santoro played the main villain, Xerxes I. Hopefully, this audition would also yield good results for him.

After saying goodbye to Santoro, Luca entered the changing room. Wearing the Spartan costume drew too much attention, so to avoid unwanted advances, he changed into something more casual before heading downstairs.

"Luca!"

Tony quickly caught up to him.

"Where were you just now?" Luca asked as they walked.

Tony glanced around and lowered his voice, "I'll explain in the car."

"Alright, spill it."

Once in the car, Luca sipped on a soda, leaning back in his seat.

"Luca, here’s the deal."

During the audition, five different people approached Tony and handed him five cards. They were all acting on behalf of others.

"Who for?"

The cards only had phone numbers, and nothing could be deciphered just by looking at them.

"No idea, but they all said roughly the same thing."

Tony smirked, "They said that if you want a lead role, call the number on the card. Someone will arrange it. If not, your chances are slim, since there’s a lot of competition for the lead roles. So, the sooner you act, the better."

Luca scoffed—so this was about the unspoken rules. He had been in Hollywood for almost three years, and this wasn’t the first time he’d encountered something like this.

But this time was outrageous. Five cards at once? That meant at least five women had their eyes on him. No, probably more. One card likely represented more than one person.

Ryan had once told him that a friend had gone to a hotel, opened the door, and found three bizarre-looking women inside. He was so terrified his legs turned to jelly, and he ran off immediately.

Since then, his friend never underestimated people who climbed the ladder using the unspoken rules—sometimes playing that game required skill, boldness, and courage.

"Luca, are you going?"

"What do you think?!" Luca glared at him and tossed the cards aside.

"Heh, Luca, you're really not going? Most people would jump at the chance."

Tony started the car, laughing.

"Why don’t you go in my place?"

"Haha, I can’t. Even if I wanted to, they wouldn’t be interested."

Tony grinned.

"You could do their makeup."

Luca joked.

"Haha, they don’t want a makeup artist—they want someone like you, a real hunk," Tony shook his head. "If you don’t go, today’s audition will be tough to pass."

"No worries, I’m just here to try."

Luca shook his head. The movie was a classic, with both critical acclaim and box office success. Landing a lead role could elevate his career to the next level.

But if not, it wasn’t the end of the world. He had other options.

He pulled out his phone and called Kate, telling her about the situation.

Kate burst out laughing, completely heartless in her amusement.

"Luca, if you want to go, just go. I won’t hold it against you."

"Hmph, stop laughing. Doesn’t your women’s rights group care about unspoken rules in the entertainment industry? You can’t just focus on actresses—you should care about us male actors too. There are just as many female predators in this industry."

Luca complained.

"Haha, darling, stop whining. You benefit from those unspoken rules—you should be grateful they’re not exposed."

"How am I benefiting?"

"Come on, don’t forget how you got your roles in North Country and The Departed."

Thanks to Ms. Theron and Ms. Aniston.

"We’re friends!"

"Uh-huh, sure. One unspoken rule is a transaction; after a few more, you’re ‘friends.’"

"..."

Luca wiped the sweat from his brow. Sis, could you be any more blunt?

"Kate, are you busy today? What are you up to?"

He quickly changed the subject.

Kate chuckled, "Not busy. I was working on some design sketches with Lima this morning, then went to the finance company. Darling, do you know how much our Google stock is worth now?"

"How much?"

"Shhh, quietly—it’s $120 million."

Kate tried to suppress her excitement.

"That much? So, we’re rich now?"

"We’ve been rich for a while, but now we’re even richer."

Kate hummed proudly. After calming down, she asked, "Darling, we still have some Amazon stock. Should we sell it all and buy more Google stock?"

They had started buying Amazon stock in early 2003, investing around five or six million. But Amazon’s growth was slow, and the annual dividends were only around a hundred thousand—nothing compared to Google’s skyrocketing stock.

"You could check with Ms. Martina for her opinion. Now that we have so much Google stock, a little more or less won’t make much difference."

By late 2007, the subprime mortgage crisis in the U.S. would gradually unfold, triggering a global financial crisis. Many stocks would take a serious hit, including Google and Amazon. That would be the best time to make moves, so for now, the goal was to make more money.

"Darling, now that we’re rich, how do you plan to spend it?" Kate asked with a laugh.

"You know I don’t know how to spend money. So I’ll focus on earning, and you can focus on spending. You can buy whatever you want—like yachts, mansions, private jets—the whole rich person package."

"Haha, sounds good! Once we get a yacht, you can sail around and pick up girls."

"Uh, you’re so good to me!"

"Of course, darling. Who else would I be good to?"

Kate smiled.

Luca grinned. After chatting with her for a bit, he also talked to Lima for a while.

Compared to the money-obsessed Kate, Ms. Lima was much more focused and calm. She was dedicated to both designing and modeling, learning as she went. Gradually, she had become even more renowned in the design world than Kate.

For this year’s autumn-winter Kate&Lima fashion show, she would be the lead designer.

Half an hour later, Luca drove back to the Big Pear Tree estate.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 402: Sparta and Mrs. Smith

As the sun set over the Dali Tree Estate, a gentle evening breeze rustled through the trees, creating a soothing sound.

In the swimming pool, Luca stretched his long arms as he swam gracefully, creating ripples in the clear water.

After swimming a few laps, he stepped out of the pool, lay on a lounge chair, and enjoyed a glass of Bordeaux wine while gazing at the blood-red sunset.

Beep, beep~

As dusk settled, the sound of a car horn echoed from outside the estate.

He put on a robe and opened the villa’s front door.

Vroom~

A red sports car sped in, drifting along the main driveway and stopping right in front of the garage.

Click~

The car door opened, and a long, fair leg stepped out. Julie, holding onto the car door, emerged.

Her long, wavy hair cascaded down, and she wore a black gown.

The dress had a high slit, and her heels were sky-high, emphasizing her long, slender legs in a strikingly sexy way.

Strapped to her thigh was a silver handgun.

Her outfit was identical to what she wore in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

“Naughty boy, how do you like my game gear?” Julie teased, her red lips curling seductively as she leaned on the car roof, striking an alluring pose.

"Julie, you're always so stunning. I can't find the right words to describe you, so I'll just look at you in awe for ten seconds as my compliment!" Luca said with a grin.

“Hmph, smooth talker!”

Julie walked over in her heels and tugged open his robe for a quick look.

“Where’s your game gear? Hurry up and put it on—I’m ready to play!”

“Do I really have to wear it?”

“Of course! Today’s game is Mrs. Smith vs. Sparta. Let’s see if Sparta’s spear is sharper or if my gun is quicker!” Julie pulled the gun from her thigh holster, clicking it into place with a crisp sound.

"Don’t tell me that’s a real gun?"

"Of course, it's real. Who plays with fakes?"

Julie pointed the gun at him, giving it a little twirl.

"Get dressed, or I’ll shoot!"

"OK, OK!"

Luca, knowing he couldn’t win this, obediently got changed.

A blood-red cape, leather briefs, and a metal helmet.

Sparta was now ready.

“Shhh~ the game begins!”

Julie whistled, jumping up and wrapping her long legs around his waist, arms around his neck, attacking him playfully.

"Alright then, I won’t hold back!" Luca grabbed her legs and fell onto the lawn with her.

"Ah! You scoundrel, today you’ll see how tough I can be!"

Julie sprang back up, her legs striking like whips in a series of kicks.

She had trained in martial arts, Muay Thai, and yoga during the filming of Tomb Raider, so she didn’t pull any punches.

Luca took a few hits before grabbing her legs and pinning her down on the lawn.

“Ah, you devil! Let me go!” Julie cried.

"You're my prisoner now."

“I didn’t use my full strength. Let’s go again!”

“Fine, but remember, the loser gets punished!”

“Ah~”

An hour later, both of them lay exhausted on the lawn.

“You brute, you’re way too rough!”

Julie panted as she lay on his chest.

“You didn’t like it?”

“Hmph, don’t get cocky. I’ve been busy all day and I’m tired, but once I recharge, I’ll get back at you.”

Julie wobbled to her feet.

Luca stood up, supporting her. “Let’s get something to eat. There’s food in the kitchen, and I saved some chilled juice in the fridge for you.”

"Thanks!"

Julie paused for a moment before heading into the kitchen.

“How did your audition go today?”

After dinner, by the lit-up poolside, Julie lounged on a chair, swirling a glass of wine.

“Not bad, but the outcome is uncertain,” Luca shrugged.

"Did anyone slip you their card today?" Julie asked with a mischievous smile.

“How do you know?”

“Haha, I know those women. I heard about your audition today, and those old ladies couldn’t wait to make a move. Men like you—they’ve been drooling over you for a while. Too bad for them, they’ll never have a chance.” Julie laughed playfully.

Luca shook his head. “I thought it would be a serious audition.”

“That doesn’t matter. They think you have a shot at getting cast, so they hand you their cards. If you pass the audition, they’ll pretend it was thanks to them, but in reality, they’ve done nothing—just used the opportunity to sleep with you.”

“Don’t say ‘you’—I’d never consider making that kind of deal.” Luca replied with disdain.

“Haha, you should give it a shot. With your talents, you could easily conquer them, and once they’re at your feet, you’ll be the king of Hollywood. That’s how you conquer Hollywood—by conquering women.”

“Are you joking?” Luca asked, annoyed.

“Haha~ I’m dead serious. I’ll start by breaking the rules with you!”

Julie downed her wine and wobbled over into his arms.

“Are you drunk?”

Luca stroked her lips gently.

“Mm-hmm~ but I still want to play. I need my revenge!” Julie pressed her face against his chest, hugging him tightly.

"Stop playing, time to sleep."

Luca caressed her hair, sensing her exhaustion.

“No, kiss me!” Julie lifted her lips toward him.

Luca leaned down and kissed her softly.

Julie wrapped her arms tightly around his neck.

They quietly embraced on the lounge chair, more absorbed than ever before, until the night grew deep and they both fell asleep.

The next morning, Julie left the estate early, and Luca got up to train for his next role.

After just one night, he felt like something about Julie had changed, though he couldn’t pinpoint what.

After pondering it for a while, he put the thought aside and focused on his workout.

In The Prestige, he played a magician, so he needed to work on his arm and wrist flexibility, keeping his body loose. A magician’s eyes also had to be sharp and bright, which required training.

The best way to practice was through sports like tennis, squash, and ping-pong.

Luca hired two sports trainers and spent his days in the gym.

That afternoon, he received a call from the production team of 300.

His audition was successful, but the role offered was the main villain, Xerxes I, originally played by Rodrigo Santoro.

Before filming, the production required all actors, even supporting roles, to undergo six months of intense physical and combat training.

After thinking it over, Luca turned down the role.

First, it conflicted with The Prestige, and he didn’t want to let down director Nolan by splitting his focus.

Second, he wasn’t a fan of the character. Xerxes was the villain and would be heavily made up, hiding the actor’s real face.

The production team expressed regret but had plenty of backup actors.

After wrapping things up in L.A., Luca returned to New York to continue filming The Departed.

His role in the film wasn’t large—just over ten scenes—and after more than a month of intermittent filming, he only had one scene left.

His character, Dignam, was the "terminator" of the story.

In the film, after Matt’s character, the mob informant, kills the mob boss played by Leon and destroys all evidence, no one knows his true identity.

Just as he’s about to rise in the police ranks, Luca’s character, Dignam, silently sneaks into his home and shoots him dead.

“Scene 15, Take 1, Action!”

On the set of The Departed, today’s scene was filmed in an apartment with only him, Matt, and a rat.

When filming started, Matt walked into the apartment carrying a bag of bagels—his home in the movie.

Luca had already snuck in, and the moment Matt opened the door, Luca pointed a gun at him.

“Alright, go ahead and shoot me,” Matt said, a bit stunned but accepting his fate.

Bang!

Luca fired without hesitation, expressionless.

Matt fell to the ground, his blood bag bursting, spilling fake blood everywhere.

Luca put on a woolen cap and left the apartment silently.

“Cut!”

“That’s a wrap!”

Luca’s scenes were all finished. His next stop would be in London.

(Chapter end)

Chapter 403: An Unforgettable Wedding

"I say love it is a flower,

And you, its only seed.

It's the heart afraid of breaking

That never learns to dance."

July 22nd, Oahu, Hawaii. The sun was shining bright.

At a resort on Waikiki Beach, Luca, Kate, Lima, and Miranda had gathered, enjoying a trip to Hawaii and attending a wedding.

The couple getting married were Ambrosio and Jamie Marzu, who had been in an on-and-off relationship for over four years but had finally decided to tie the knot.

Many guests were in attendance, including friends and family from both sides. Among the guests were notable figures like Isabeli Fontana, Raquel Zimmerman, and Gisele Bündchen. With Kate and Lima also present, half of Brazil's supermodel squad was in attendance.

Luca sat in the audience, flanked by Kate on his left and Lima on his right. The wedding was about to start, and the live band began playing Bette Midler's The Rose.

As the sweet melody filled the air, Ambrosio appeared in a stunning white wedding gown, walking through the floral arch with Jamie Marzu at her side.

Clap, clap, clap  

The crowd erupted in applause as the couple made their entrance.

Ambrosio held a bouquet of white roses, her smile radiant. They walked down the flower-covered aisle to the altar, where they stood before the officiant, ready to exchange vows.

"Luca, how do you feel watching them get married?" Miranda leaned over with a smile.

"Not much. Should I have a thought about it?" Luca shrugged.

"Haven’t you thought about marriage?" Miranda teased.

"I have, but the ones I love are right beside me. What difference does it make if it’s now or later?" Luca said, holding both Kate's and Lima's hands.

"Humph! If I were Lima, I would’ve kicked you out by now," Miranda quipped.

"Well, you're not Lima," Luca replied, kissing the back of Lima's hand.

Lima smiled gently, her eyes gazing at Ambrosio in her white dress. "An's so happy."

Miranda chuckled, "Luca, did you catch Lima’s hint?"

"What hint?" Luca’s face darkened as he shot Miranda a glance. Weddings are the worst place to be pressured into marriage, he thought.

The last time he attended Tony’s wedding, Ed had pushed him about getting married. Now, accompanying Kate and Lima to this wedding, Luca was already feeling the weight of expectations. Miranda’s teasing only made things worse.

"Fine, I’ll stop," Miranda giggled as she covered her mouth, watching Luca squirm.

Kate smiled gently and squeezed his fingers.

"Do you think Jamie will cheat again after they get married?" Kate asked softly.

"Of course, he will! Just like Nina said, a leopard never changes its spots," Miranda responded with a smirk.

Luca grimaced, feeling even more uncomfortable. Not only were Kate, Lima, and Miranda adding pressure, but he also felt someone’s eyes boring into him from behind. He finally understood the phrase "sitting on pins and needles."

"Lima, do you still envy Ambrosio?" Kate asked, turning to Lima.

Lima pressed her red lips together and smiled. "That wedding dress is beautiful. Don’t you want to try one on?"

"No need to be envious. When we buy that island in a couple of years, you can wear your wedding dress and walk down it. How about that?" Kate said softly.

"Sounds good!" Lima shrugged with a grin.

"And I want one too! Is that okay?" Miranda chimed in, holding Kate’s hand.

"Of course!" Kate smiled. "What do you think, Luca?"

"Uh, no objections from me!" Luca shifted in his seat, sweating under the sun.

Clap, clap  

The ceremony concluded, and now it was time for the reception and speeches from friends and family.

Kate Kelly would be delivering a speech as one of Ambrosio’s closest friends. Kate, a supermodel and a talented writer, was well-known, often appearing in magazines and on TV. In the U.S., more people knew her than they knew J.K. Rowling.

As Kate took the stage, the crowd erupted into applause.

"I’m honored to say a few words on behalf of Ambrosio’s friends. First, congratulations to Ambrosio on her wedding.

I’ve known Ambrosio for nearly six years now. In my eyes, she’s always been beautiful, smart, kind, passionate, and cheerful.

She’s incredibly beautiful—without a doubt, the most beautiful girl from Brazil. Her warmth and friendliness are so infectious that even someone like me, who usually keeps to myself, was drawn to her and became her friend."

Her serious tone contrasted with her humor, making the audience laugh. Everyone knew Kate Kelly was serious, straightforward, and cool. She had a reputation for shutting down interviews when she didn’t like the questions. Who would’ve expected her to crack a joke?

"She’s also very smart. Ambrosio has always made the right choices, from Brazil to Paris, from small runways to the global stage. She’s achieved so much…until she met Jamie Marzu."

"Uh…" Jamie winced. What did she mean by ‘until’? Was there something wrong with that statement?

"I remember in 2001, Ambrosio excitedly told me about meeting an amazing guy she had fallen in love with. That guy was Jamie Marzu."

"Thank you!" Jamie smiled nervously.

"You're too happy, too soon!" Ambrosio murmured under her breath.

"They started dating in May of 2001 and had their first breakup in July. I asked Ambrosio why, and she told me Jamie had cheated—she caught him red-handed."

"Uh…" Jamie’s face froze, sweat trickling down. This was his wedding—why was she talking about this?

"In March 2002, they broke up again. The reason? Jamie cheated again.

Over the past four years, they’ve broken up 15 times. Every time for the same reason: Jamie cheated."

"15 times in four years?"

"This guy’s terrible!"

"Yeah, with someone like Ambrosio, why would he cheat? That’s outrageous!" The crowd began to buzz with discontent. Even Jamie’s family and friends were looking at him with disdain. How could he be such a lousy guy?

Jamie wiped the sweat from his brow, pale and panicked.

"Is she here to ruin the wedding?" Jamie whispered.

"No, she’s here to deliver justice," Ambrosio replied with a smile.

"For over four years, Ambrosio endured 15 instances of infidelity, 15 breakups, and 15 reconciliations. She silently bore the pain, but she never gave up.

A month ago, Ambrosio told me she was getting married. I asked her who to, and she said Jamie. I was shocked. She knew Jamie kept making mistakes, so why was she marrying him?"

"Why?" The crowd leaned in with curiosity.

"Why?" Jamie, clinging to Ambrosio, was dazed.

Ambrosio shook her head silently.

"I asked her why. Ambrosio told me it was because she loved Jamie, deeply and wholeheartedly. At that moment, I thought she was foolish for loving someone who didn’t deserve it. This wasn’t the Ambrosio I knew. She used to be so smart, but now she was doing something so unwise."

"Ambrosio, I’m sorry! I swear I’ll never cheat again!" Jamie cried, trembling.

Ambrosio wiped a tear and shook her head.

"Back then, I thought Ambrosio was foolish. But when I saw her walk through the floral arch today in her white gown, holding flowers, with a smile of pure happiness, I suddenly understood.

As Shakespeare said, ‘Love is blind, and lovers cannot see the silly things they do.’ I realized that Ambrosio wasn’t foolish. She had found love and had held onto it for over four years, enduring 15 betrayals from the man she loved."

"I was wrong!!" Jamie suddenly cried out.

"Ambrosio, I was wrong. I swear I’ll never cheat again!" Jamie knelt on the ground, vowing.

"Jamie, stand up. I forgive you," Ambrosio said, pulling him up.

Clap, clap, clap  

The crowd burst into applause, with people shouting Jamie’s name, promising to make him pay if he ever cheated again, and praising Ambrosio for her strength.

"Ambrosio is so foolish," Miranda sighed, then turned to Lima. "Lima, you’re foolish too."

Lima smiled softly.

"All cheaters deserve punishment," Miranda muttered, glaring at someone.

Luca winced. If it weren’t so hot, he would’ve shown Miranda what a "cheater’s revenge" looked like.

"Today is Ambrosio’s wedding, a reward for the perseverance she’s shown. I wish her happiness.

And Jamie, you’ve married an incredible woman. I hope you remember your promise and never hurt the one who loves you again. Otherwise, the punishment won’t be far behind."

"Rest assured, Ms. Kelly! I swear, no more cheating!" Jamie proclaimed loudly.

Kate nodded slightly and stepped off the stage.

Clap, clap  

The crowd stood, cheering and applauding Kate Kelly for her speech.

"Haha, punishment for all cheaters, is that right?" Luca stood clapping, only to hear someone’s cool voice behind him. He turned and saw Gisele Bündchen with a half-smile on her face, her eyes fixed coldly on him.

“Heh, the punishment for a player isn’t far off. Is that for all of them?”

Luca stood up and started clapping, but suddenly heard a soft voice behind him. He turned his head and saw Bundchen’s face, half-smiling. Her eyes were fixed on his back, sending a chill down his spine.

‘Why are you staring at me? I’ve never done anything to you,’

Luca asked with his eyes.

“Hmph!”

Gisele Bündchen snorted and turned away.

“I think the best punishment for a player is to break his back!”

Mrs. Isabeli Fontana said with a laugh.

“Haha, makes sense!”

“Well said, Fontana!”

“Luca, we’re not talking about you!”

The people around teased him playfully.

Luca wiped the cold sweat off his forehead and thought to himself, "You guys think being a player is easy?

Being a player comes with not only physical pressure but also mental pressure. If you do it long enough, you might get depressed.”

“Luca, why are you sweating? Are you scared?”

Miranda asked with a mischievous grin.

Luca glared at her, his eyes saying, ‘Girl, just you wait. My revenge will be unforgettable!’

‘Hmph, I’m not afraid of you!’

Miranda lifted her chin. When she saw Kate coming back, she greeted her with a smile.

As long as Kate was around, she didn’t need to be afraid of a certain player.

After an unforgettable wedding, the group spent a few days in Hawaii before heading back to New York at the end of July.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 404: Is This a Proper Dance Performance?

"Luca, how was your time in Hawaii?"

In the office of Greenwood Publishing's general manager, Felix poured a cup of tea and asked the question at Bucky Tower, Long Island, New York.

"Not great. Too much pressure," Luca replied, holding the small teacup to smell the fragrance.

"Pressure? Weren’t you there on vacation? Why the pressure?" Felix asked curiously.

"I went to a friend's wedding with Lima. You get what I mean?" Luca responded.

"No, I don’t. Aren't weddings supposed to be happy occasions?"

"Before you were married, did you never experience the terror of people pressuring you to get married at weddings?"

"Haha, I get it now. But I was never afraid of that. I got married when I was 22." Felix chuckled.

"Right. I forgot you’ve been married twice," Luca teased.

"Luca, you're 24 now. You should think about settling down."

"Stop! Don’t even start with that. You called me here to talk about the book, right? Let’s get to it!" Luca leaned back on the sofa.

"Fine, let's talk about the sales performance of Fifty Shades of Grey."

Released on October 16 of last year, Fifty Shades of Grey sold only 600,000 copies in the first three months. It was a mediocre result.

Typically, the first three months of sales indicate the fate of a book. A good book that sells well early on tends to continue doing well, while poor early sales often mean it won’t pick up later.

Fifty Shades of Grey was different. In its first three months, sales were unremarkable, but after more than half a year, it suddenly surged in popularity. It reached the top five on the New York Times bestseller list for fiction in March, April, and July of this year and remained in the top twenty in other months.

In the nine months since its release, the book has sold over 8 million copies.

"8 million doesn’t seem like much. The Harry Potter series sold over 200 million copies. Twilight has sold over 20 million copies. Then there’s Nicholas Sparks, the godfather of romance, and Anne Rice, the vampire queen—their books sell in the millions. 8 million doesn’t seem impressive," Luca mused as he sipped his tea.

"8 million isn't impressive?" Felix almost rolled his eyes out of his head.

He scoffed silently, not wanting to talk further, but as the author’s representative, he had no choice.

"Luca, don’t compare yourself to them. You're a new author, and selling 8 million copies of your first book in less than a year? That’s a miracle!" Felix said excitedly. "Since the 20th century, out of the hundreds of thousands of authors in America, fewer than thirty have sold over 10 million copies of a single book in a year, and you’re one of them!

"Aren’t you even a little proud? Don’t you want to celebrate this achievement?"

Luca shook his head. "Not really. Maybe I’ll crack a smile if it sells 100 million."

"..."

Felix’s expression froze as if a pigeon had just pooped on the corner of his mouth.

"Luca, your ambitions are way too big," Felix sighed.

"That’s why they call me Mr. Big," Luca smirked, putting down his teacup. "Felix, is there anything else you want to talk about? Just get to it. Stop with the flattery."

"Alright, my point is simple. Can you step into the spotlight and—"

"No!"

Before Felix could finish, Luca cut him off. People were already calling him a jerk; if he publicly admitted to writing Fifty Shades of Grey, he’d not only be labeled a jerk but a pervert too—especially since the book had a female protagonist.

"Felix, we already have a contract about this. Let’s not bring it up again," Luca insisted.

"Fine. I just thought if you came forward, I could double the book’s sales within the year. That's 16 million copies, maybe even 20 million.

"Luca, do you know what 20 million copies means? Only Harry Potter has sold that much. If Fifty Shades of Grey reaches that level, you’d be a global literary star. Doesn’t that excite you?" Felix's eyes were glued to him, unwilling to give up.

Luca glanced at him. "Say one more word about it, and Kate’s new book won’t be published with you."

"Okay, okay, I won’t say another word. I promise!" Felix quickly waved his hands in surrender. He knew how much influence Luca had with Kate. If Luca said the word, Kate would agree, and Felix didn’t want to lose the opportunity.

"Luca, you mentioned Kate’s new book. Does that mean she’s written another one already?" Felix asked eagerly.

The fourth book in the Twilight series, Breaking Dawn, was just released in April, and now there’s a new one? Kate’s writing speed was impressive.

"Yes. Emily already reviewed the manuscript and thought it was great. Kate brought the manuscript with her this time," Luca explained.

The new book was Me Before You, the same one that had earned him the "jerk" title. It had been sitting on his computer for a year, and it was time to publish it. Once this was out, he had plans for another book next year.

"She brought the manuscript? That’s great! I need to take a look at it later," Felix said excitedly, feeling he should have tried harder to convince Luca earlier. After all, the manuscript was already here. There was no way they’d take it back.

"Luca, since Kate is working on a new book, what about the Twilight series? Didn’t you both say there were going to be six books?

"I think Kate should focus on Twilight right now. The series is already a success, and as long as it doesn’t end, it’ll keep making money. Starting a new book is too risky. When you get the chance, maybe you could talk to her," Felix suggested as he poured Luca another cup of tea.

"No need. All six books are already written. Kate’s only writing a new book because she’s got nothing else to do," Luca replied.

"All six? That’s amazing!" Felix exclaimed.

"Of course!" Luca smiled, finishing his tea in one gulp. He almost spat it out, realizing this pot of tea had been steeped too many times and had lost all its flavor.

Was this really Felix’s way of hosting guests?

Frustrated, Luca asked, "Anything else? If not, I’m leaving."

"One more thing! It’s about the film rights for the Twilight series," Felix said, pulling out a few folders.

"Luca, you know how important it is to adapt novels into films. A movie can greatly increase a book’s visibility and boost sales.

"The Twilight series has been out for three years, and the first four books have sold over 20 million copies. That’s an incredible achievement.

"Several production companies are interested in acquiring the film rights. These are their preliminary offers. Take a look," Felix said, handing over the contracts.

"Alright," Luca said, flipping through the folders. Among the companies were Universal, Summit, New Line, Lionsgate, and Fox—fifteen major production companies in total.

Compared to last year, the offers had significantly improved. The highest bid last year was only $10 million, while now, the lowest was $15 million.

The highest offer came from Summit, offering $30 million in adaptation fees, along with 5% of the global box office and merchandise sales. They also offered him the lead role and were willing to co-develop the series with Bra Films.

Universal Pictures' offer was also appealing: $40 million in adaptation fees, with 2% of the global box office and merchandise sales. The 2% was just for the first film; if the movie did well, the percentage would increase for the second and third films.

However, Universal didn’t mention anything about playing the lead role or co-developing the series.

After reviewing the offers, Luca found Universal's terms to be quite appealing.

Before, when he hadn’t yet made his acting debut, he was eager to use the Twilight series to make a name for himself. But now that he didn’t lack roles, he had no interest in playing the lead in Twilight.

As for co-development, he wasn’t particularly interested in that either. What he needed now was enough capital to take advantage of the economic opportunities in 2008, which would be far more lucrative than spending years making movies.

"Felix, we can sell the adaptation rights now, but the terms need further negotiation.

"This time, we’ll only focus on the adaptation fee, box office share, and merchandise share. Prioritize increasing the box office share as much as possible.

"I'll talk to Kate about this, and then our financial and legal representatives will organize a negotiation team. Since you're the general agent for Twilight, you'll need to join the team. Do you have time?"

"Of course, that's my job!"

Hearing his agreement, Felix was pleased. Once the Twilight series is turned into movies, the book sales will probably multiply, right?

"Great, looking forward to working together!"

Luca shook hands with him.

"Haha, yes, looking forward to it, Luca. Do you have any plans this afternoon? How about we go down to the izakaya for a drink? A few Japanese Kabuki dancers are performing there, their dance is pretty unique."

Felix pulled him along.

"Kabuki? Is it an authentic performance?"

"Of course."

"Then I’ll pass!"

"Uh..."

"Haha, just kidding. Let’s go! Let's bring Kate and Emily and check it out together."

Luca got up with a smile.

"Alright!"

The two left the office together.

(End of chapter).

*Chapter 405: Are You Coming to the Party Tonight?*

On August 2nd, at the Beacon Cinema in Manhattan, New York, the premiere of Red Eye was held.

This movie stars Rachel McAdams. It's a low-budget suspense thriller that Luca had seen before—it's of high quality.

Today, he's wearing formal attire: a white shirt, black tie, and black suit, walking down the red carpet.

“Luca, over here!”

As he steps off the red carpet, he spots Rachel. She’s wearing a burgundy Prada gown, her mid-length hair down, and she’s smiling radiantly—still as charming as ever.

Standing beside her is someone not worth mentioning. As soon as he sees Luca, the guy looks sour, shifting uncomfortably, clearly displeased.

Luca smirks and strides over.

"Hey, Rachel, you look stunning!"

With a charming smile, he opens his arms and embraces Rachel.

"Hmph!"

The person beside them looks even more annoyed.

"Haha, Luca, I’m so glad you could come!"

Rachel pats his arm.

"Ahem, Luca's here, let's head inside," says Ryan, wrapping his arm around Rachel’s shoulder.

“Come on, Ryan. Your movie’s poor box office performance has nothing to do with Luca. Why are you giving him a dirty look?”

Rachel laughs and tries to comfort him.

"I’m not scowling!"

Ryan puts his hand up to shade his eyes, “The sun’s too bright.”

“Did the sun darken your face?”

Rachel teased with a grin.

Ryan wiped his face and forced a smile. “Hey, Luca, you made it!”

“Ryan, it’s been a while since we’ve had drinks together. When should we invite Heath to join us?”

Luca chuckled.

“Sure.”

Ryan forced a half-hearted smile.

Luca smiled knowingly, realizing Ryan’s pettiness.

This year, Ryan had only taken on one film, Stay.

The film had a budget of over 20 million dollars and brought together Ryan, Ewan McGregor, and Naomi Watts, but only grossed less than 30 million at the box office.

Meanwhile, his friends, including Luca, Rachel, and Heath Ledger, had all been very successful this year.

Luca had the most success this year.

He starred in three films: North Country, Little Miss Sunshine, and The Departed, two of which were major productions.

The film he led, Step Up, grossed 130 million, and his movie Match Point had made over 75 million globally and was still showing.

Compared to last year, he had made great strides.

Rachel also had three films released this year: Red Eye, Wedding Crashers, and The Family Stone. One was a major production, and all performed well at the box office.

She was steadily rising in Hollywood, becoming a new star.

Then there was Heath Ledger, who had the best year. He filmed four major productions: Casanova, Lords of Dogtown, The Brothers Grimm, and Brokeback Mountain. The first three had been released and did well at the box office.

Once Brokeback Mountain came out, Heath was expected to become even more famous.

Compared to his three friends, Ryan was more focused on acting, but his one serious film had average box office and reviews, leaving him feeling bitter.

Luca knew Ryan was petty, but he didn’t mind.

"Ryan, have you taken on any new roles lately?"

As they walked inside together, Luca asked.

“No.”

Ryan said dryly.

“Didn’t you just take one recently? That project seems pretty good,” Rachel chimed in.

“It’s just a small production, nothing compared to Luca, who just finished working with director Martin Scorsese on a major film and then landed the lead in Christopher Nolan’s next movie. Impressive.”

Ryan said bitterly.

“Watch your tone!”

Rachel smacked him lightly and gave Luca a discreet, apologetic look.

Luca shook his head and laughed, “In The Departed, I was just a minor role. As for Nolan’s movie, I’ve been involved in the project for six months now, even helping with the screenplay. It took a lot of effort to land the role, and it’s just a supporting part.

There’s really nothing special about it. Ryan, what’s your new movie called?”

"Half Nelson!" Rachel answered for him.

"Half Nelson?"

If Luca guessed correctly, this movie would earn Ryan an Oscar nomination for Best Actor.

“This movie is definitely going to be great!” Luca said confidently.

“Haha, just hearing the name, you can tell if it’s good? Do you even know what ‘Half Nelson’ means?” Ryan said sarcastically.

“Of course I do!”

Not only did he know, but he had personal experience with it, as Kate often used that move on him at home.

“In mixed martial arts, there’s a one-arm neck choke move called a half nelson, right? Just from the name, I can tell this film will have both depth and impact.

Ryan, you don’t like this project? If you don’t, could you recommend it to me? I’d love to give it a shot.”

“Heh, I’ve already signed the contract.”

Ryan grinned.

“Then congratulations.”

“And congrats to you for landing a supporting role in Nolan’s film. You have no idea how many people envy you. Just look at the negative news in the papers.”

Ryan shrugged and led Rachel into the screening hall.

Rachel glanced back, batting her eyelashes.

Luca smiled and strode forward. The hallway to the screening room was a bit dark, and he discreetly held Rachel’s hand, only to get pinched immediately.

Inside the screening room, there were plenty of people.

Director Wes Craven, leading actor Cillian Murphy, supporting actor Brian Cox, and other invited celebrities like Jada Smith, Vince Vaughn, and Naomi Watts were all present.

The film was produced by DreamWorks, so quite a few famous people had come to show support.

Rachel entered with Ryan to greet people.

Luca said hello to a few acquaintances and sat down in the front row.

“Mr. Kelly!”

A young woman wearing glasses approached.

“Hello!”

Luca nodded, eyeing her curiously.

“Mr. Kelly, I’m a screenwriter, Diablo Cody. I have a script I’d like you to look at. Could you spare a moment?”

Ms. Cody asked.

Luca frowned. Why bring up a script at a time like this?

“Mr. Kelly, my script is really interesting. It’s about a teenage girl who unexpectedly gets pregnant and decides to give the baby to another couple. The movie starts in ten minutes; would you like to take a look?”

Ms. Cody persisted.

“All right!”

Luca took the script.

“Luca, what are you reading?”

After a while, as the movie was about to start, Rachel and Ryan returned.

“It’s a fantastic story. I’m thinking about buying it!”

Luca said, waving the script.

“Really? Let me take a look later!”

“Sure.”

The movie began, and the three of them sat down to watch.

In the film, Rachel plays Lisa Reisert, a hotel manager who gets caught in a terrifying situation at an airport.

She meets a charming man, played by Cillian Murphy, who turns out to be a terrorist.

On the plane, he takes control of Lisa, forcing her to help him assassinate a senator by changing his room arrangements.

If she refuses, the terrorist’s accomplices will kill her father.

With no choice, Lisa reluctantly goes along.

The film is directed by Wes Craven, known for the Scream series.

The movie is suspenseful and thrilling, especially during the climactic fight where Rachel, in a straight skirt, battles the terrorist and ultimately kills him. It’s intense and exciting.

“Rachel, I didn’t expect you could be so sexy!”

Luca said with a chuckle.

“Why can’t I be sexy?”

Rachel retorted, clearly annoyed.

“You can be! I was complimenting you, wasn’t I?”

“Pfft, keep your compliments to yourself!”

Ryan pulled Rachel close, “Honey, you were beautiful!”

“Thank you.”

Rachel smiled, “What do you think the box office will be like for this movie?”

“It’ll definitely do well!” Ryan said.

“The movie was great. I’d say at least sixty million!” Luca guessed, though he wasn’t sure of the exact box office numbers.

“Sixty million would be fantastic!”

Rachel nodded in agreement.

Clap, clap, clap~

As the film ended, the audience broke into enthusiastic applause.

“Luca, are you coming to the party tonight?” Rachel asked with a smile after the screening.

“Sure!”

(End of Chapter)