346-350

Chapter 346: I Really Am a Bargain

"You know, space is infinite, so anything is possible. In this world, there is one version of you, but in the infinite worlds around us, there are infinite versions of you."

"So are we the sad versions here?"

Back in New York, Luca spent two days with Kate and Lima before quickly diving back into work.

He stepped onto the Broadway stage to rehearse the play Rabbit Hole with Mr. Ross.

Rabbit Hole tells the story of a young couple, Becca and Howie, who were once happy, with a perfect relationship and a loving family, including a cute son. But eight months ago, a car accident took the life of their child, and the couple now faces challenges in their relationship, marriage, mental health, and family, leading to a crisis in their marriage.

Luca played the second male lead, the driver responsible for the accident — a 17 or 18-year-old aspiring comic book artist. He had accidentally killed Becca and Howie’s child while driving, and is filled with guilt. He creates a comic book titled Rabbit Hole, which tells the story of a child who loses his father and travels through different voids and parallel worlds to find him.

Through this comic, he forms a subtle emotional connection with Becca, the female lead.

Luca had seen the movie version of the play, which starred Nicole Kidman. The film was excellent, even earning Kidman an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.

Performing it as a stage play, however, brought a whole new feeling — both challenging and rewarding.

After rehearsing for a while, Luca stepped off the stage.

"How are you feeling, Luca?" Mr. Ross asked, walking over.

"I feel pretty good," Luca said, taking a sip of water. "Stage acting is completely different from filming. In movies, it's like recording; if there's a mistake, the director calls cut, and the actor can correct it anytime. But in a stage play, it’s live. The audience is right there, and if you make a mistake, it's a big problem. So you have to be fully immersed and focused on stage. It's a huge test, both physically and mentally."

"Well said. Also, remember, on stage, every action and expression is exposed to the audience. For that half hour or hour, don’t make random gestures — like shrugging, smirking, or blinking unnecessarily — as it can distract the audience," Mr. Ross advised.

"Got it!" Luca nodded and returned to the stage to rehearse with the veteran Broadway actors. Though Luca was the biggest name among them, his experience in theater was still quite green.

"You know, people here have changed," Luca said in character.

"But I still love my wife," another actor responded.

"I know," Luca replied.

"I love her very, very much."

"I know that too."

Sitting on the stage, Luca performed and learned, and before he knew it, it was afternoon.

"Let me buy you a coffee!" Mr. Ross offered.

Luca smiled lightly. "Is there something you need, Mr. Ross?"

"Can't I buy you coffee just because?" Mr. Ross clapped him on the shoulder. "You did well today, so I thought I'd treat you. Come on!"

"Alright, sure!" Luca laughed, and they headed to a café next to the theater.

In this Broadway neighborhood, the streets were lined with old theaters, and actors discussed plays, operas, and films. The cafés were filled with artistic people of all ages. The atmosphere was lively and rich with art, a stark contrast to Hollywood.

"Mr. Ross, how do Broadway actors make money?" Luca asked, glancing at the actors around them, thinking they all seemed talented enough to make it big in Hollywood, though many were unfamiliar faces.

"Here, it’s all about the art, not the money. Understand?" Mr. Ross replied, annoyed.

Luca smirked. "Is the coffee free here?"

"Of course not!"

"Then why can’t we talk about money?"

"Fine. Broadway actors get paid in two ways, just like in Hollywood. There’s a set fee, and there’s a profit share. Like you — I invited you to play the second male lead in Rabbit Hole, and you get $200 per performance."

"Right, as a favor!" Luca reminded him.

Mr. Ross glared at him, stroking his beard. "The other way is profit-sharing. After a play opens, we split the revenue from ticket sales based on contributions — between the theater, director, lead actors, and writers. It’s similar to film."

Luca nodded. "What about Rabbit Hole? What’s the payment structure for this one?"

"A set fee!" Mr. Ross hesitated before answering. "I paid for the script and actors myself."

"Isn't that risky? If the play doesn’t sell tickets, won’t you lose your investment?"

"Don’t be ridiculous!" Mr. Ross snapped. "The story of Rabbit Hole is so good, how could it not sell?"

Luca chuckled. "Don't get mad, Mr. Ross. I’m just saying, everything has the possibility of failure, right?"

Mr. Ross grumbled, "That’s why I hired you, isn’t it? You’re the big star. This is your first stage play. Once it’s up, the media will promote it, and then the audience will come."

"Oh..." Luca paused. So he was the box office guarantee — and all for $200 a performance. What a bargain.

"Alright, Mr. Ross, I wish Rabbit Hole a box office hit and may dollars roll in," Luca said, raising his coffee cup.

"Don’t talk about money — it’s too vulgar," Mr. Ross said, laughing as they clinked cups.

"I understand!" Luca smiled, putting his cup down. "By the way, Mr. Ross, have you seen the final cut of Step Up?"

"Yes, I have. It turned out surprisingly well, so breaking even shouldn’t be a problem," Mr. Ross said, stroking his beard.

"Just breaking even?" Luca chuckled inwardly but didn’t argue. "For the company’s first film, breaking even is good enough."

"Haha, I’m glad you think that way. Your company is new, and as long as you focus on making high-quality, sincere films, in three or four years, you’ll turn a profit. But if you focus too much on making money, you could end up with nothing," Mr. Ross said earnestly.

"I understand," Luca nodded. "I’m planning to go to Los Angeles this weekend to check out the final cut."

"You’re going to LA?" Mr. Ross asked, suddenly stopping his beard-stroking, his expression conflicted.

Luca pretended not to notice and nodded. "A friend recommended a role, and I’m thinking of auditioning."

"Oh..." Mr. Ross took a sip of coffee and fell silent.

Luca checked his watch. It was 5:30 p.m. "Mr. Ross, it’s getting late..."

"Wait, Luca!" Mr. Ross finally spoke, hesitating for a few seconds. "There’s something... a friend of mine."

"Mr. Ross, if there’s something you need, just tell me. If I can help, I will. If not, I’ll tell you straight," Luca said with a smile.

"Alright!" Mr. Ross sighed. It turned out that he had a screenwriter friend named Michael Arndt. Years ago, they had worked on a film together. About five or six years ago, Arndt wrote a script called Little Miss Sunshine.

After finishing it, Arndt had approached several production companies, but the script was seen as too plain, lacking any dramatic high points or exciting moments. It was just a story about the small things within a family, so no one wanted to invest in it.

Earlier this year, Focus Features had been set to invest, but in the end, they backed out because the story was too understated, and the financial risk was high.

Seeing his old friend struggling, Mr. Ross thought the script had potential and agreed to help out by reaching out to some industry contacts. He had tried Jennifer Aniston, but her production company was busy filming The Blind Side, so she wasn’t interested in the project.

That’s when Mr. Ross approached Luca.

"Little Miss Sunshine?" Luca rubbed his chin. He remembered the movie did well at the box office. So it hadn’t been made yet?

"Yes, Luca. Here’s the script. Take a look," Mr. Ross said, pulling a slightly sweaty, stapled manuscript from his bag.

"Alright!" Luca began reading it carefully under the café’s light.

Mr. Ross waited quietly, feeling a bit nervous. The script wasn’t one that younger actors typically found appealing. Would Luca choose to invest?

*Chapter 347: I Met a Wizard*

"Are you going to rehearsal today?"

In the apartment gym that morning, Kate had just finished her yoga routine. Sitting cross-legged on a mat, she took a sip of coconut water and asked.

"No, I’m just a supporting role with few lines. No need to go every day."

Luca, pushing an ab roller across the floor, inhaled deeply before lowering himself slowly, his muscles rippling. His chest and abs were sharply defined, like they were sculpted.

"Why not come with me to the office? We're selecting models today, and you could be a judge. You’ll have your pick of beautiful women," Kate teased, a smirk forming at the corner of her mouth.

"Don't try to tempt me. I’m not falling for it. Besides, I have a meeting with Jenny today to talk about the movie The Blind Side. It's about to start shooting, and things are going to get busy again," Luca said, catching his breath.

"Jenny? Your 'big sister' Jenny?" Kate smiled slightly, setting her coconut half down, then leaned in, resting on her knees as she asked, "Aniston and Pitt are separating again, and they’re about to get divorced. Are you thinking of swooping in to win over America’s sweetheart, Aniston?"

"Please, can you stop slandering your brother?" Luca retorted with irritation. "Jenny and I are just friends, and I don’t have any intentions toward her."

"Friends? Ha! You've had twenty-two 'friends' already. I’ve been keeping count for you," Kate chuckled.

Luca's face darkened. "Kate, can you not? Some friends really are just that—friends. I’m not looking to sleep with every female friend. Sometimes, I just don’t know how to say no. You know how irresistible I am."

"Yes, you’re very irresistible. It’s all their idea to sleep with you, right?" Kate teased again.

Luca smiled and grabbed Kate’s coconut, finishing it in a few gulps. It was sweet, hydrating, and anti-aging.

Kate shot him a playful glare before remembering something.

"Google went public in August. In just a month, our shares have increased by 30%, netting us about eight million. How should we reward Mrs. Martina? How about a sports car?"

Back in May, Mrs. Martina suggested that investing in Google stock was a good idea. Luca agreed and provided her with some recommendations.

Before Google’s IPO, Mrs. Martina had acquired 150,000 first-round shares at around $80 each, giving them 1/18th of Google’s publicly offered stock.

A month after the IPO, Google’s stock skyrocketed to $125, and their shares soared in value.

Mrs. Martina played a big role in this success. Besides her share of the profits, she deserved an extra reward.

"You handle the gift. Whenever you have time, chat with Mrs. Martina. We have a lot of stock securities and other investments at the moment, plus some surplus capital. I’m thinking about setting up an investment company to manage our stocks and future projects. What do you think?" Luca mused.

"You can make the call on that," Kate smiled softly. "Your investment acumen is impressive. From Amazon to Google, your picks have all made money. Even Mrs. Martina admires you. She said your contribution this time was even greater than hers. She jokes that if you worked on Wall Street, you’d be a big shot by now."

"Haha, I’ve always said I’m a smart guy, just too lazy to use my brains," Luca replied smugly, raising his eyebrows.

"Yes, you’re smart, but you’re also infuriating," Kate ruffled his hair, laughing gently.

"Dear Kate, can you not mess with me? I have to meet someone later," Luca sighed in resignation.

"Alright, I’ll go make lunch. What do you feel like eating?"

"Whatever you make, I’ll eat."

"Good boy!"

Kate chuckled, satisfied, as she walked away. Luca continued his workout on the floor.

After breakfast, Luca drove away from 76th Street. It was a beautiful day, with sunlight streaming through the leafy French sycamores, casting dappled light and scattering an autumnal yellow leaf on the car’s hood.

Traffic from Long Island to Manhattan was heavy, but fewer cars were heading toward Long Island. Luca drove smoothly and arrived at the South Shore’s villa district in just an hour.

The area was convenient, with well-developed infrastructure, close to the bay, the South Shore Botanical Garden, and the Marine Park. It was a highly livable area.

Luca glanced around. Britney’s large estate was just a ten-minute drive away.

Ding ding dong~

Arriving at Aniston’s villa, the gate slowly opened, and Luca drove in.

On the front lawn, Aniston stood in a gray hoodie and jeans, her hands tucked in her pockets, smiling brightly at him.

"Hey Jenny, did someone cast a spell on you? You look so youthful and full of life," Luca remarked, admiring her.

In the past, Aniston always seemed burdened, her smile not as sweet as it had been in the early seasons of Friends.

But now, it was like she had a new lease on life. Her complexion was more radiant, and she seemed to have filled out slightly.

Dressed casually with her hair in a ponytail, she had no trace of a movie star’s ego or the worries typical of a woman in her thirties. She looked like a happy college student.

Aniston smiled gently. "Yes, I met a wizard recently. He cast a time spell on me, and I feel like I’ve been reborn."

"He? Do you mean that 'him'?" Luca raised an eyebrow, teasing.

"Did I say that?"

Aniston thought for a moment and then burst out laughing. She had mentioned on the phone last time that she’d found the love of her life. She couldn’t believe he remembered.

"Yes, the 'him' I mentioned. The love of my life," Aniston said, stepping forward and hugging him, resting her head on his chest and breathing softly.

Luca shrugged, smiling. "Jenny, aren’t you worried he’ll see us? You said you love him. Won’t he get mad and come after me?"

"Ha, don’t worry. He can’t hurt you right now."

Aniston laughed heartily.

"Why? Isn’t he around?"

"No, no, he’s here. He’s right here."

Aniston smiled mysteriously.

"Where?"

"Here, between us," she said, placing his hand on her belly.

"Here? Did you eat him?" Luca asked, confused, feeling her stomach.

Aniston rolled her eyes. "Idiot, can you be any denser?"

"Ah—wait, no way! You’re saying you’re pregnant? You’re having a baby?" Luca’s mouth dropped open in disbelief.

"Shh~ Let’s go inside," Aniston whispered, pulling him into the villa.

"Mr. Pitt, I think I just saw Mr. Luca Kelly enter Aniston’s villa. Yes, he drove in. I’ll keep watching," said a man seated on a bench not far from the villa. Wearing a hat, he had been pretending to read a newspaper all day. After watching the car enter, he glanced at the villa and then went back to his paper.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 348: Can I Touch It?

On the second floor of the villa, the sun was shining brightly. In front of the floor-to-ceiling window, the lilies in the crystal vase bloomed clearly. The beige fabric sofa was bathed in sunlight, making it seem even warmer and more comfortable.

Aniston gently touched her belly, her smile sweet, and the sunlight gave her an angelic, maternal glow. She looked more beautiful and gentle than ever.

Luca gazed at her belly, feeling a mix of emotions.

"Jen..."

"It's not yours."

Before he could ask, Aniston interrupted him.

"It's not Brad's either."

"It's mine, only mine. It has nothing to do with either of you."

Aniston stated firmly.

Despite Aniston's words, Luca still felt it was related to him. Otherwise, why would she be divorcing now?

"Can I touch it?"

Luca rubbed his palms together and asked.

"The embryo isn’t fully formed yet, so there’s not much to feel. But sure, go ahead. Maybe he’ll sense your presence," Aniston said with a smile.

"Okay!"

Luca moved closer, reaching out but pulling back at the last second.

"Wait a minute!"

He quickly ran to the bathroom, washing and disinfecting his hands thoroughly before returning.

"Haha, you don’t need to be so nervous! You don’t even need to wash your hands," Aniston chuckled.

"It’s better to be careful," Luca said, rubbing his hands together. Once they were warm, he slowly placed them on her belly.

Aniston pressed his hand gently and smiled, "Do you feel anything?"

Luca closed his eyes and focused. "Warm... but nothing special."

"Of course not! It’s only been two months. You’ll feel something in four or five months—maybe he’ll kick you and tell you to move your dirty hands away," Aniston laughed softly.

Luca smiled too, though his smile was a bit forced.

"You don’t need to be so tense. Don’t feel pressured," Aniston said kindly. "This child is mine; it has nothing to do with you. When he's born, he won’t take your last name, nor will you need to take care of him. Your life will go on as it always has. If you have free time, you can come keep me company. If not, that's fine too."

"I’ll make time," Luca said, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

Aniston smiled softly and leaned into his embrace, guiding his hand back to her belly. "Little one, can you feel the little guy? Does it make you feel like you're suddenly all grown up?"

"Yes, just like when a tree grows new branches and leaves—it signifies growth," Luca reflected.

"I feel it too, but even more strongly. In my twenties, I was told by doctors that I had infertility issues and that I’d likely never conceive. I was young then, focused on my career, so I didn’t care.

"But after marrying Brad, I wanted a child. It felt like having a child would complete my life.

"Yet no matter how many treatments I tried, my eggs never met the standard for conception, and surrogacy wasn’t an option. I had nearly given up.

"But last month, I found out I was pregnant. Do you know how excited I was? I cried from joy."

Aniston buried her head in his chest, her shoulders trembling slightly.

"This is a blessing from God!" Luca said, gently patting her back.

"Yes, he must be an angel sent by God. My angel," Aniston choked out.

Luca stroked her hair, quietly listening to her soft voice.

"Once I knew he existed, I decided to get a divorce. No matter the cost, I wanted to be divorced before the angel arrived. I wanted to give him a warm, peaceful, and clean environment. I wanted to protect him from any outside disruptions."

"You’re going to be a wonderful mother. When he grows up and learns what you did for him, he will love you deeply," Luca said.

"Yes, he has to!" Aniston smiled brightly.

Luca smiled and kissed her hair. "Jen, will your pregnancy affect filming?"

"It’s fine. I’ve planned everything out. The film should be wrapped up by December, and I’ll only be five months along by then—it won’t even show," Aniston explained.

Luca nodded. "Just be careful."

"And you’ll be with me on set, right? You’ll take care of me?" Aniston tilted her face up, smiling sweetly.

"Of course."

Luca leaned down and kissed her gently.

The sun shone brightly outside, while inside, time seemed peaceful and perfect. But such moments pass quickly.

In the afternoon, as the sun dipped lower, casting a golden glow over the villa, Luca's car slowly drove away.

Beep beep!!

As he drove away, an Audi suddenly sped towards him, honking loudly and forcing him to stop.

Luca grabbed a wrench, preparing to defend himself.

"Luca!"

The rear window of the Audi rolled down, revealing a cold face with equally cold eyes.

"Mr. Pitt, what’s this about?" Luca asked calmly.

"What were you doing here? What did you just do?"

Pitt's gaze was as sharp as a knife, scanning Luca, growing colder by the second.

"Mr. Pitt, I was just visiting Ms. Aniston. You know I’m the screenwriter for The Blind Side," Luca replied seriously.

"Is that all?"

Pitt bit down on his cigar, grinding his fingers into it. "I don’t care what you were doing in that villa, or what relationship you two have. But I’m telling you now, I’ll be watching you."

Pitt waved his hand, and his car roared off.

Luca shook his head, sent Aniston a message, then restarted his car.

He wasn’t bothered by Pitt’s threat. What weighed on his mind more was the unborn child. It had all happened so suddenly, catching him off guard.

With a sigh, he drove to the open-air tennis courts in Central Park, where he’d booked a session with a top coach.

Once they started playing, Luca ran all over the court, swinging his racket with power, almost venting his emotions. He played for over an hour, drenched in sweat, his clothes soaked through.

The coach was panting heavily, practically kneeling on the court, thankful that the darkness made it too hard to keep playing.

"Mr. Kelly, your stamina is amazing, and you’re playing really well. You should consider going pro," the coach praised. He had been on the national team and even won an Olympic bronze medal eight years ago. But today, he was exhausted.

Luca smiled faintly. After the match, he felt much more relaxed and tipped the coach generously before leaving.

When he got home, it was already after six. Kate, Lima, and Miranda were all back, sitting on the couch watching TV.

"Were you playing tennis?"

"Yep."

"Go take a shower. Have you eaten?"

"I’m getting hungry."

"Good thing we got you some takeout—Australian beef tenderloin and T-bone steak. Just heat it up."

"Thanks!"

After showering and changing, Luca sat on the couch and started digging in.

The girls giggled as they teased him about his messy eating, saying he looked more like a pig than a gentleman.

Luca just grinned and kept eating, their laughter gradually calming his mind.

No matter how things changed outside, home always stayed the same—and that was good.

The night grew darker. As he held Lima in his arms, she stirred, rubbing her forehead against his chin.

"Dear, how about we have a baby?" she asked.

"Huh? Why the sudden thought?" Luca was surprised.

"Today, Claudia brought her little one to the fashion show. I thought she was adorable," Lima laughed.

Luca's mouth twitched. What was up with women lately? Why were they all so into having kids? He gave her a playful smack and said, "Fine, let’s have one. Let’s have ten."

Luca pulled up the blanket, and the night enveloped them.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 349: Luca and Caro

It was a weekend afternoon in Los Angeles. Luca stepped out of his car in front of the Warner Bros. Studio and headed towards Yaste Café. He was here to meet Ms. Theron and discuss a new role.

Three months earlier, Ms. Theron had taken on a new movie project, North Country, which tells the story of a female miner, Josie, who, fed up with harassment from her male coworkers, initiates the first sexual harassment class-action lawsuit in the U.S. with the help of a lawyer named Bill.

The movie had several important male supporting roles. Theron had recommended Luca for the third male lead, who would play the protagonist’s jerk of an ex-boyfriend in her youth, and now, a sleazy coworker.

“Why do I always have to play the jerk?” Luca thought in frustration when he first heard about the role. He considered himself a good guy, so why was he always typecast as the bad guy?

Ms. Theron had simply laughed and said, “You’re perfect for it.”

Luca didn’t argue, though he wasn’t thrilled. The movie was expected to do well at the box office, and indeed, it grossed over $100 million and received several Oscar nominations. The only thing left was for Luca to pass the audition.

“Hey, Charlize!” Luca greeted as he walked into the café.

Scanning the room, he quickly spotted Ms. Theron, sitting in a booth at the center. She was dressed in a silver-gray suit, her mid-length blonde hair draped over her shoulders, chatting with a woman in her thirties.

“Luca, over here!” Theron waved him over.

The woman sitting across from Theron looked Luca up and down, raising an eyebrow with an odd expression. As he approached, he overheard snippets of their conversation: “Isn’t he too handsome for a western? He looks too fresh...” “Actually, he’s quite mature...” “Really? You two met at the Berlin Film Festival?”

“Ahem,” Luca cleared his throat when he reached them.

Theron introduced him formally, “Luca, this is director Niki Caro. You’ve probably seen her film Whale Rider.”

“Of course, Ms. Caro. Whale Rider was stunning, a beautiful and moving film. It reminded me of Braveheart,” Luca said.

Niki Caro, a New Zealand director, had received widespread acclaim for Whale Rider, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actress and several other awards. She was also set to direct Disney’s live-action Mulan in the future.

“Thank you, I was impressed by your performance in Buried,” Caro replied with a small smile.

After a handshake, Luca took a seat between the two women.

“Luca, Director Caro thinks you’re too young for the role. Do you have any thoughts on that?” Theron bluntly stated.

Caro raised an eyebrow at Theron’s directness but added, “Mr. Kelly, this role has two time periods—one at sixteen or seventeen, which you can pull off easily. But the second period requires a rough-around-the-edges middle-aged miner. You’re only twenty-three, and your features are too refined. Do you understand what I mean?”

“I do, but playing a middle-aged character isn’t a problem for me,” Luca responded confidently.

He furrowed his brow, causing deep wrinkles to appear on his forehead and at the corners of his eyes. His jaw tightened, and his expression turned rugged, like a weathered laborer.

With the subtle changes in his face and demeanor, his whole presence shifted. He slowly pulled out a cigarette, tapping the pack like a seasoned smoker, lit it, and took a slow drag. His eyes grew heavy with the burdens of life, giving off the aura of a man weighed down by the struggles of middle age.

Caro blinked in surprise. She had worked with many talented actors and had seen plenty who could slip into different roles with ease. But Luca’s on-the-spot transformation, without any preparation, was rare. His ability to control the muscles in his face and convey such a drastic shift in character was impressive.

Beyond just the facial transformation, it was his entire energy that changed. From a fresh, youthful appearance, he had morphed into someone mature, rough, and even a bit greasy—details that signaled he truly embodied the soul of a middle-aged man.

Caro was convinced that with makeup, Luca could easily pull off the role of the middle-aged miner.

She glanced at Theron, as if to ask, “Where did you find this guy, who looks young but acts so seasoned?”

Theron smirked. She had been a little surprised herself, not expecting Luca’s performance to be this good. But after getting to know him, she wasn’t too shocked—sometimes, he acted like a grumpy old man in their previous interactions.

“Alright, that’s enough, Luca. Put out your cigarette,” Theron snapped her fingers.

Luca blinked and slowly came out of character, apologizing as he put out the cigarette.

“Brilliant performance,” Director Caro clapped her hands. “You’ve convinced me. I believe you can handle this role.”

“Thank you!” Luca replied, relieved that everything had gone smoothly.

Later that afternoon, Luca attended the audition for North Country at Warner Bros. Studios. With some makeup and a mature look prepared by Tony, the audition process was straightforward—lines, performance, and a brief discussion. In just fifteen minutes, he was done, and the on-site producer immediately told him he was in.

Luca thanked everyone, especially Ms. Theron. Her influence as a newly-crowned Best Actress and an A-list star had undoubtedly made the audition smoother.

As Luca drove back to Malibu, he called Theron.

“Charlize, I passed the audition. Do you have time for dinner? Oh, alright, I understand. By the way, I need to tell you something,” Luca said.

“What’s up?” Theron asked.

“Did you know I’m being blacklisted by someone in the industry?” Luca asked.

Theron paused and then chuckled. “I know. You messed with someone’s marriage. What did you expect? Of course they’d want payback.”

“No, I didn’t! They’re just picking on me because I’m Brazilian,” Luca protested.

“Don’t worry about it. No one in Hollywood can block you entirely. This role is yours, and that won’t change,” Theron said confidently.

Luca felt like he should be kissing up to her, but his pride wouldn’t allow it.

They chatted a little longer about movies. Theron’s new film, Head in the Clouds, had just been released and was performing well at the box office, solidifying her rising status in Hollywood.

Once back at his estate, Luca called Ed to come over and sign the contract.

“Got it, Luca,” Ed replied before adding, “By the way, what did you think of the script for Wrong Love I sent you?”

Luca scratched his head. “Why did you think I’d like it?”

“Well, it’s a gay-themed film. You’ve shown interest in that genre before, so I saved it for you,” Ed explained.

“Bullshit! I’m not into that genre,” Luca retorted. “As for Wrong Love, it’s too small of a production. The pay is only a few hundred thousand. But Stay looks good, even though the lead roles have already been cast—Ewan McGregor and Ryan Gosling. The third male role is too small; I’m not interested.”

After a pause, he added, “Ed, I’m better suited for action, romance, and suspense films. Try to focus on those when looking for scripts.”

“Got it,” Ed agreed.

Luca hung up the phone and tossed it aside before diving into the pool with a splash.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 350: New Movie Plan*

The next morning, he drove to Bra Studios.

At the door of Annie’s office, he knocked, "Hey Annie, how have you been?"

“Not bad, just really busy,” Annie shrugged, looking a bit tired.

After finishing the movie, she took on several projects: The 40-Year-Old Virgin, The Longest Yard, Ice Princess, and The Pacifier, working as a choreographer on set.

“Annie, have you ever thought about shooting another movie during your downtime?” Luca sat down and asked.

“Another one? With your script, and you funding it?”

“Yes, we’ve had a great collaboration, haven’t we? I’m hoping for another chance to work together.”

Luca had a good project in mind.

Annie smiled gently. “Alright, bring me the script. If I like it, I might consider directing it. This time, though, I hope you’ll star as the lead.”

“Deal,” Luca said, raising his coffee cup for a toast.

“Haha, am I late?” Billy walked into the office a little while later. In the few months since they last met, he’d gained some weight and looked rounder.

“No worries, Billy. You’re heavy, so it’s understandable if you’re a bit slow,” Luca joked as he poured Billy a cup of coffee. “When is Honey 2 starting production?”

“Next summer. Do you want to be the lead? I think we’d be a perfect match,” Billy patted Luca’s shoulder.

“Perfect match?” Annie shook her head.

Billy snorted, “Haven’t Luca and I worked perfectly together?”

“What do you think?” Annie almost brought up the foolish incident where Billy quit halfway through production but held back.

Luca chuckled, “Alright, Billy. I have plans for next summer, so I probably won’t have time to be the lead.”

“Alright then!”

The three of them chatted for a while, eventually discussing the final cut of Step Up.

After the movie was edited, it was handed over to the distribution company and locked in a vault, so Luca couldn’t watch it yet. However, he had seen the rough cut, and it wasn’t much different from the original version. His main concern was the film’s soundtrack.

After listening to the music once, he didn’t notice any big issues. It was close to the original, but close wasn’t the same. Would it affect the overall quality of the movie? He wasn’t sure and was a bit worried.

After discussing the movie, Luca took out the script for Little Miss Sunshine and asked for their opinions.

“Does this movie need choreography?” Annie asked as she flipped through the script.

Luca thought for a moment. The little girl in the movie did participate in a dance competition, so choreography was needed. But the dance was simple and didn’t require Annie’s master-level expertise.

“Annie, I’m not here to talk about choreography. I wanted to ask if you’d be interested in investing in this movie?” Luca asked.

After reading the script, Annie slowly shook her head.

“The story is good, but the plot is too plain, and the pacing is slow. I’m not a fan of this kind of movie. As for investing, does the company still have money?”

“Alright,” Luca turned to Billy.

Billy shook his head immediately. “Don’t look at me. I fell asleep after reading just two pages of the script. You want me to invest?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll invest alone then.”

Luca was just asking to avoid complaints if the movie ended up making money later.

“Luca, you’re really going to invest in this? That’s a risky move,” Billy frowned.

Luca shrugged. “Maybe it’s just my personality. When I read the script, I found it fascinating. It’s very realistic and accurately reflects current family and social issues in America.”

“You really are a quirky guy!” Billy exclaimed.

Since neither Annie nor Billy wanted to invest, Luca didn’t push them. The three of them had lunch together before going their separate ways.

“Luca, don’t forget about the script you mentioned. I’m waiting for it!” Annie reminded him as they parted.

“I won’t forget.”

Luca waved goodbye and then drove to a nearby café to meet Little Miss Sunshine screenwriter, Michael Arndt.

A few days ago, after reading the script, Luca bought the adaptation rights for $250,000. Today, he planned to discuss the script with Michael and meet the two directors Michael recommended: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.

This pair of directors were a married couple in their forties who had directed several films, though they weren’t well-known in the industry.

Three years ago, they had taken an interest in the script and wanted to direct the movie. However, they hadn’t been able to secure funding. When they heard recently that someone was willing to invest, they immediately reached out to Michael, hoping to discuss the project.

After chatting with the two of them and reviewing their director’s notes, Luca confirmed that they were indeed the original directors of Little Miss Sunshine and agreed to let them take the helm.

“Pleasure working with you!” Luca extended his hand with a smile.

“Thank you, Mr. Kelly! Thank you so much!” Jonathan Dayton said excitedly.

His wife, Valerie Faris, smiled happily beside him.

“Mr. Kelly, will you be the producer?” Valerie asked.

“Producer?” Luca thought for a moment. He would probably be very busy next year and might not have time to produce the movie. But who should he pick?

A producer is like the general manager of the crew, and Luca needed someone reliable for the role. He thought Annie would be perfect, but she was too busy.

“Mr. Kelly, I think I know someone who’s perfect for the job,” Michael suggested with a smile.

“Who?”

“Ross!”

Michael laughed. He and Ross were friends. Last time, Ross had recommended one of Michael’s scripts, and now Michael was returning the favor.

Luca thought about it and realized Ross would be a good fit. Last time, Ross did a great job as the producer for Step Up, handling everything with skill.

Plus, Ross was a mutual acquaintance of Michael, Jonathan, and Valerie, so they should work well together.

“Ross has been busy with a play recently. He might not have time,” Luca said.

“Haha, trust me, he’s short on money,” Michael chuckled.

“Oh, alright!” Luca laughed too. If Ross weren’t short on money, why would he be working on a play for extra cash?

With the producer settled, the framework of the crew started to take shape. Next, they needed to budget, cast actors, and secure funding for production.

“Mr. Kelly, are you interested in playing Frank, the supporting role? I think you’d be perfect,” Valerie asked.

Frank? The supporting character Frank is the young girl’s uncle, a failed suicide attempt and a gay man. Am I really perfect for that?

Luca quietly shook his head. “I’m not sure if I’ll have time when we start casting. Let’s finalize the preparations by the end of the year, and we can probably begin filming around May or June next year.”

“Sounds good!”

The four of them continued discussing specific details of the project.

Little Miss Sunshine was a new project, and the two directors suggested setting up a temporary studio for it. They could assemble a production crew.

After thinking it over, Luca agreed.

Initially, he thought about using Bra Studios' facilities since the company had everything in place. But since neither Annie nor Billy was investing, it would be inconvenient to work together in the same space.

By 5 p.m., Luca got into his car, ready to head home for some rest.

“Hey, Luca. Busy lately?” Ryan Gosling called to invite him out for drinks.

“Alright, I’ll be there soon!”

Luca agreed and drove to the bar street in West Hollywood.

(End of Chapter)