336-340

Chapter 336: Richard Street

In mid-March, the new Forbes list was released.

Bill Gates, the founder of Microsoft, remained at the top spot with a net worth of $46.6 billion, an increase of $5.9 billion compared to last year.

The second spot was taken by legendary investor Warren Buffett, whose personal wealth reached $42.9 billion, with a net increase of $12.4 billion from last year.

Larry Ellison, who ranked 6th last year, dropped to 12th place this year, with a personal net worth of $18.7 billion, an increase of $2.7 billion.

Richard, who was ranked 452nd last year, climbed to 316th this year, with a personal net worth of $2.9 billion.

Last year, Amazon began publishing copyrighted e-books, and the reform was a great success, with its stock slowly rising to around $32. His 9.8% share in Amazon doubled in value.

New Century Pictures had a great profit last year, with its market value being overestimated at $300 million.

His investments in companies like Tomp Properties, Hilton Hotels, and Oracle brought him nearly $100 million in dividends.

On top of that, his earnings from acting fees and competition prizes also placed him on several subsidiary lists of Forbes.

He ranked first on the 2003 list of highest-earning global celebrities, topped the 2003 list of highest-grossing actors worldwide, and was the highest-paid actor in 2003.

Additionally, Google's two founders, Sergey Brin and Larry Page, also made their first appearance on the Forbes list, tied with J.K. Rowling, the author of Harry Potter, at 552nd place, with a net worth of $1 billion.

Among the 587 billionaires on the list, the average age was 64, with only 27 under the age of 40.

Richard was the youngest, the wealthiest self-made billionaire, and still a major celebrity, earning him two more pages of coverage from the Forbes editors.

"How do you feel after seeing this year's list?" Ellie asked with a smile.

"Well, everyone's wealth is growing fast. Gates went up by $5.9 billion, Buffett by $12.4 billion, and Ellison by $2.7 billion. Compared to them, Ellie, you need to work harder," Richard said earnestly.

Ellie rolled her eyes, "Your wealth doubled this year. Besides the newcomers on the list, your growth rate is the fastest."

"Also, Google is preparing to go public with an initial valuation of $22 billion. Once it actually goes public, it might break $100 billion. How much will your 18.3% stake be worth?"

"At least $10 billion. The 30th person on this year's list is worth exactly $10 billion. With your other assets, you might break into the top 20—a $10 billion tycoon at just 26."

Ellie spread her hands, at a loss for words.

"Seems like it."

When Google goes public, the shareholder information in the filing will make it impossible to keep his identity hidden. His identity could be exposed.

"Ellie, is there any way to keep hiding it?"

"We can spread the shares across several entities, but that comes with risks. The IRS might invite you for coffee. Want to try?"

"Alright, I want to be a law-abiding citizen."

Richard felt a little worried.

If Louis finds out how rich the family is, would he grow up to squander billions in a year? Being a father is tough.

"Richard, it's time to start," Anna came over and said.

"Got it."

Richard was currently on a street at the southern tip of Manhattan. After the 2001 attack left it in ruins, it was rebuilt over the past three years into a brand-new street.

To thank Richard for his donation back then—nearly $10 million from seven matches—the city decided to name the street after him.

The city government provided ten name options for citizens to vote on, with "Richard Street" emerging as the winner with 89.3% of the vote. Richard, being a New Yorker and a local pride, had no choice but to accept the honor. Today, he brought Ms. Bündchen and a few close friends to attend the unveiling ceremony.

Attendees included city officials, legislators, hundreds of reporters, and thousands of spectators.

Richard unveiled the commemorative plaque and gave a speech thanking the citizens for their support, promising to continue contributing to the development of a beautiful New York.

Applause

After his speech, the crowd erupted in applause.

"Look at him, what a great man. Too bad he's not my son-in-law," said Old Tomp, wearing a wool coat and gloves, clapping.

"How many times have you said that? Is it still funny?" Eva protested.

"Of course it is. If I had a son-in-law like Richard, I'd run for the next election. With his help, I'd have an 80% chance of winning."

"80%? That sounds exaggerated," Eva was surprised.

"That's a low estimate. Just based on what Richard did in 2001, I’d have a 50% chance. Add in the fact that he's a billionaire, a movie star, and a positive, healthy image as a boxing champion—he's got more advantages than Reagan."

"What if he runs himself?" Eva teased.

Old Tomp didn't answer but stared at Richard with a fiery gaze. "Eva, how close are you and Richard? Friends? Lovers? Have you two... you know?"

"Dad! What are you saying?" Eva blushed angrily.

"Eva, I want you to answer seriously."

Eva bit her lip, "We have."

"Really?"

Old Tomp's eyes lit up.

Eva nodded. Last year, Paris invited her for drinks, and Richard showed up. After that, things naturally happened. Richard later bought Tomp Properties' stock and put her in charge of it.

"Are you still together?"

Eva nodded. After being with Richard, she lost interest in other men. Compared to him, they were all lacking. Sometimes, when Richard had free time, the three of them would meet up. Their relationship was normal.

"That's good. I heard Richard loves kids. Last time I went to his estate, he wouldn't put the child down, carrying the baby everywhere, not at all like a champion boxer."

"Yes, he loves kids. He said having children makes the house lively, and a lively home feels more like a home."

Eva smiled.

Old Tomp looked at her. "Do you want to have his child?"

"Huh?"

Seeing Old Tomp’s serious expression, Eva's face flushed, and she huffed before walking away.

Sigh

Old Tomp shook his head. After Richard finished his speech, he laughed and approached to shake his hand.

"Richard, congratulations! Your name will be remembered along with New York."

Old Tomp was a bit envious.

This time, not only him but many wealthy and political figures had lobbied hard and spent a lot of money, but they couldn’t win the support of the citizens.

Once the city revealed the ten candidate names, Richard's name had been far ahead, with an astonishing 89% support—higher than even Franklin or Lincoln Street in previous votes.

This showed Richard’s political potential, though he had little interest in politics.

"Mr. Tomp, your Tomp Tower is much more grand than this place," Richard pointed to the building across the street with a smile.

This street wasn’t part of the World Trade Center’s main thoroughfare, but a quieter pedestrian street, making it seem less prominent compared to the towering Tomp Tower.

"Haha, Richard, the top floor of Tomp Tower has some properties for sale. Interested?"

Old Tomp laughed.

"Oh, that’s good news. I'm very interested."

Richard smiled.

His assets were growing, and he needed a place in New York to manage his companies and investments. Tomp Tower seemed like a great option.

After chatting for a bit, Richard greeted some familiar faces—Paris' grandfather Baron Hilton, Norman's father Old Holiday, Ellie’s grandmother Mrs. Adler, Murdoch and Wendi Deng, David Ellison, the president of Stralem & Company, and others.

After the ceremony, Richard hosted a party at the Waldorf Astoria.

"Richard, congratulations," Eva and Paris walked over, smiling.

"Thanks!" Richard clinked glasses with them.

"When are you free?" Paris asked with a wink.

Richard thought for a moment and smiled, "How about in a few days?"

"Deal."

"Hey, Richard, got time tomorrow?"

David Ellison walked over, putting his arm around Richard. "I found a great script. It’s a guaranteed hit."

"Is that so? Come over for coffee tomorrow."

Richard smiled.

"Hey, Richard!"

Murdoch and Wendi Deng walked over, arm in arm.

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 337: Corporate Espionage*

The next day, at the Brad Manor.

“How’s the script?”

David Ellison asked.

“It’s pretty good!”

“Haha, I told you it’s great! Arnold said it was too risky—what an old-timer.”

David laughed.

“I agree with Arnold,”

Richard replied.

“What?”

David was taken aback. “You agree with him?”

“Yes. The company’s plan until 2008 is to focus on small to mid-sized projects. From the script, you can tell that this one would require an investment of at least a hundred million, which doesn’t fit our strategy. Arnold’s decision is correct.”

Richard used to think like David, wanting to make big films and earn big profits. But after seeing many big projects fail, he realized the original plan of starting small was the right one.

New Century is a young company, still in the early stages of building its management and operations. In terms of capital and influence, it’s still in its infancy. Focusing on smaller projects is the best approach at this stage. Companies like Focus Features, Lionsgate, New Line, and Miramax all started this way, gradually becoming leaders in the industry.

On the flip side, take Carolco Pictures as an example. One massive flop led to financial troubles, and the company ended up bankrupt.

New Line and the other indie studios succeeded, proving their strategy was correct. New Century must follow the right path. That’s why Richard supported Copetson Productions and appreciated the old man’s guidance. Without Arnold’s steady hand in production, New Century wouldn’t have grown into what it is today.

“Richard, take another look at this script. It’s a big production with big action scenes, and with you as the star, it’s bound to be a blockbuster. It’ll double the company’s profits, and New Century will be able to stand on equal footing with Summit, Focus, and New Line. How can you pass up such a great project?”

David tried to convince him.

“There are three reasons. First, the company’s strategy cannot change—within five years, we’ll only invest in small to mid-sized productions. Second, I don’t have time, and I won’t be taking on this film. Third, Arnold is the head of production, and all projects must have his approval. That cannot be changed,”

Richard said seriously.

“Haha, what kind of plan is that? Isn’t Mr. & Mrs. Smith a big-budget film with a $110 million budget? Second, I already spoke with Anthony—you have no commitments next year, so we can push the filming back. Third, we’re both major shareholders; we can invest in whatever we want. Why do we need to listen to Arnold?”

David retorted.

Richard smiled. The reason he took Mr. & Mrs. Smith was that he had vetted the project. But he hadn’t seen any familiar references for the script David brought, which was one reason he wasn’t interested.

“David, New Century only invested $30 million in Mr. & Mrs. Smith, so it’s still considered a small investment. As for Anthony, he’s a proper capitalist. If he could, he’d have me filming ten movies a year. Third, Arnold has won two Oscars for Best Picture and has been nominated three times. Compared to you and me, he’s the expert. Isn’t it right to follow the advice of professionals?”

“So, in the end, you’re just not going to agree?”

David, disappointed, put away the script.

Richard thought for a moment. “You can try pitching it to another production company. If someone is willing to partner, New Century can invest about $30 million, just like with Mr. & Mrs. Smith. How’s that?”

Seeing David’s crestfallen face, Richard couldn’t bear to crush his enthusiasm entirely.

“$30 million? What can that get done? Fine, fine, I’ll contact other production companies.”

David quickly downed his tea and hurried off with the script.

Richard shook his head. Still too young, he thought. He then called Copetson Productions to ask about the company’s status.

This year, the company released three films: Crash 2, Hotel Rwanda, and Monster. Upcoming projects included Ray, Saw II, Little Miss Sunshine, and their co-production of Mr. & Mrs. Smith.

Given New Century’s current production capacity, three projects a year was already stretching the company thin. Adding another one could cause problems.

“Richard, there’s something I think you should know,”

Copetson Productions said.

“What’s that?”

“For the past few years, we’ve been acquiring scripts to build up our script library. But since last year, it’s gotten harder. For example, you’ve seen Cinderella Man. We bought it and planned to film it in a couple of years. But recently, the original writer tore up the agreement, paid the penalty, and took back the adaptation rights.

"We’ve also lost several scripts we were negotiating for because someone swooped in at the last minute, offering a higher price. The company has lost eight good scripts. It feels like there’s a corporate spy or someone closely watching New Century.”

Richard frowned and smiled. “Last year, we had an impressive profit margin, so it’s not surprising that others are keeping an eye on us.”

There are thousands of movie companies in the U.S., but fewer than a hundred are profitable, including smaller production companies. Last year, New Century invested under $50 million and earned $150 million—a 300% return. That would make anyone envious.

“Next time we find a good script, just buy it outright. We’ve got money,”

Richard laughed.

“Haha, you’re right, we’re pretty loaded.”

Copetson laughed heartily. Last year, the company gave out $80 million in dividends. Based on his contributions and shares, he personally received $6.5 million—more than he had earned in the previous twenty years of producing. After paying out the dividends, the company still had over $70 million in funds, so it was indeed in a strong financial position.

“Richard, adaptations of bestsellers have been popular recently. The screenwriting department suggests we buy the adaptation rights to a few bestselling books. If those people want to play games with scripts, let’s see who has more money.”

“That’s a good idea. By the way, Bündchen recommended a bestseller to me. She said it would make a great movie. Let me think… I forgot the title.”

He searched the bookshelf but couldn’t find it, so he called Bündchen and finally remembered.

“The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger. See if it’s worth adapting.”

“The Devil Wears Prada? Alright, we’ll review it quickly,”

Copetson chuckled and hung up.

“Arnold, what did Richard say about the corporate espionage?”

Frank asked in the office.

“Nothing specific. You’re the CEO, so you decide,”

Arnold replied.

“It’s mostly your production department’s problem.”

“Investigate as you like,”

Copetson waved dismissively and walked out.

Frank laughed and picked up the phone. These people were really bold, trying to plant spies in the company of a top agent. They must have no idea what they were getting into.

He hired a few private investigators, and within three days, they caught two insiders.

Based on the company’s confidentiality agreements, their actions were illegal. He handed them over to the police for prosecution.

Someone in the company must have leaked the story because, the next day, a humorous article appeared in The Los Angeles Times. It mentioned that corporate spies had been planted in Richard Brad’s company but were caught and handed over to the authorities.

Readers chuckled at the thought. Richard was a legendary spy, the “King of Spies,” so trying to plant spies in his company was amusing.

A few days later, a tabloid hinted that the spies might be from Miramax.

“Mr. Weinstein, do you have any comment on these rumors?”

A USA Express reporter asked during the premiere of The Memory Layer.

“Rumors, nothing more,”

Weinstein replied with a scowl as he stormed ahead.

“Mr. Weinstein, it’s said that Cinderella Man, originally a New Century project, is now being developed by Miramax. How do you explain that?”

The reporter continued to ask questions.

Weinstein didn’t answer and kept walking.

“This is normal business practice. Please don’t spread false rumors. Thank you.”

Weinstein’s assistant stepped forward and said.

“Mr. Weinstein, there are rumors that you and Richard don’t get along. Are you jealous of Richard’s talent?”

A reporter shouted.

“Childish. Do I need to be jealous of him?”

Mr. Weinstein shot a glance at the person and walked into the theater with a grim expression.

“Ha! We’ve got tomorrow’s headline: ‘Weinstein: Do I need to be jealous of Richard?’”

The reporter laughed loudly while holding his recorder, and the others looked on with envy.

This story was definitely newsworthy. On one side, you had a veteran, a golden producer, an Oscar-winning machine. On the other, a rising entertainment mogul. Rumors about their feud were well-known in the industry. This was sure to be a hot topic.

“Mr. Brad, what’s your opinion on other companies planting business spies in New Century?”

At the premiere of Crash 2, a reporter from The New York Post asked.

“Such practices are shameful. New Century welcomes collaborations with any colleagues who have good intentions and aim to prosper the film industry together. We strongly oppose unfair competition and refuse to work with companies that have a bad reputation.”

Richard replied calmly.

“Mr. Brad, which company are you referring to when you mention a bad reputation?”

“Mr. Brad, are you talking about Miramax?”

“Mr. Brad, a few days ago, Mr. Weinstein said at a movie premiere that he doesn’t need to be jealous of you. What’s your response?”

Reporters were all clamoring to get their questions in.

“The matter is still under investigation. Please be patient. New Century will hold a press conference to inform the public of any updates.”

Richard replied.

“Mr. Brad, it’s been said that several film companies have targeted New Century’s new projects, leading to some of them being canceled. Will this affect the company’s normal operations?”

A New York Times reporter asked.

“There will be some impact, but it won’t disrupt our regular operations. New Century will continue to focus on producing high-quality films. Please support our new movie Crash 2. Thank you!”

Richard waved and walked into the theater.

“Richard, you handled that brilliantly.”

Jessica Alba caught up and smiled.

“It wasn’t too bad.”

Richard smiled.

“Richard, this situation is pretty complicated. We might not get to the bottom of it anytime soon.”

Producer Kopelson said.

“It’s fine. Blowing this up wouldn’t be good for anyone. Keeping it quiet is the safest option.”

Filmmakers all work in the same industry, and scandals like this could hurt the public’s perception of it. A blow to the industry affects everyone. New Century had no intention of escalating the matter.

If David Ellison hadn’t been loose-lipped, this whole thing wouldn’t have gotten out in the first place.

On March 12th, Arbor Day, New Century released its first film of the year, Crash 2. The movie featured much of the original cast and was directed and written by Paul Haggis.

While the first film focused on racial tensions in the city, this time, the movie highlighted the struggles of immigrants from various backgrounds.

Shot in a documentary style, the film depicted these immigrants' experiences in the city through several interconnected stories, showcasing the challenges faced by different races and income groups in this competitive urban environment.

Paul Haggis did an excellent job with the cinematography, and the stories were quite authentic and touching.

However, there were some flaws. The first movie had a tighter plot with more suspense and intense racial conflicts. In this one, the connections between the stories felt a bit forced.

Overall, it was still a solid movie.

Jessica Alba also had a role in the film. She played a Mexican girl with heavy makeup, long wavy hair, and tattoos, looking like a rebellious street girl.

There are many girls like that in the city. When they lose their income, the streets become their place of work. Jessica’s character eventually ends up on the red-light district streets.

“Richard, how did I do?”

Jessica asked softly.

“You did great! It’s rare for you to play an ugly character. If I didn’t look closely, I wouldn’t have recognized you.”

Richard chuckled.

“Oh, come on, I’m an actress, aren’t I?”

Jessica blinked and laughed.

“Alright, you are.”

Clap, clap, clap~

When the movie ended, the audience of over a thousand people applauded for about ten seconds. While not as enthusiastic as for The Lord of the Rings 3, the response was generally positive.

The box office results for the movie’s opening day came out the next day: $15.57 million from 2,130 theaters. It wasn’t great, but it wasn’t bad either. March is typically a slow season, and Crash 2 was a niche film, so this performance was acceptable.

However, for the media, this number was pretty average. New Century films usually made a splash as soon as they were released.

With a $18 million budget, Crash 2 was New Century’s largest investment to date. Many people had expected another dark horse success, but it didn’t quite live up to that.

Some media outlets speculated that New Century had been deliberately targeted, with its best projects sabotaged, leaving them to produce a sequel instead.

New Century didn’t respond to these reports, and the matter eventually faded away.

After wrapping up the film’s release, Richard shifted his focus to his new role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith. With a $110 million budget, it was the biggest project he had ever starred in, so he had to take it seriously to avoid ruining his career.

From mid-March, he spent time in the studio with the stunt coordinator, discussing the choreography for the action scenes. The movie was about a married couple who were both assassins, combining intense action with love, professionalism, and humor, making the fight choreography particularly challenging.

“Richard, I think we should have more interactions. It might spark some inspiration for you.”

In the training room, Angelina Jolie, dressed in tight workout clothes, smiled.

“Alright, let’s practice.”

Richard struck a fighting stance.

“Richard, during the fight scenes, try to make the moves a bit more romantic. We need that spark.”

Stunt coordinator Jeff Mann reminded him.

“Got it.”

Richard nodded.

“Action!”

The two began sparring in front of the camera.

The stunt director filmed their movements, planning to make adjustments and corrections afterward.

“Richard, Angelina, the eye contact during the fight is also important.”

The stunt coordinator, Mann, called out.

“Got it!”

Richard bent down, locking eyes with Jolie. He grabbed her by the waist and spun her around. Jolie kicked at him, and Richard caught her leg, pulling her into a perfect split. Their eyes met, noses almost touching, as if they were dancing.

Richard grinned.

“Yes, just like that!”

Mann nodded with approval.

Richard was known as the top male action star in the industry, and Jolie as the top female action star.

Their fight scenes were considered top-tier in the business. Having them as leads was the perfect choice.

Happy New Year! Thank you to everyone for subscribing, tipping, and voting. I really appreciate the support (^▽^)!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 338: Mr. & Mrs. Smith

"Richard, how do you think our coordination is going?"

After finishing their training, the two sat on the couch watching rehearsal footage, both in tank tops, sweat glistening on their skin.

"Not bad."

"I don't think so. Out of 100 points, our coordination is barely a 10."

Julie said seriously.

"That bad? It's our first rehearsal, so I'd say we're doing alright. No need to rush, we'll get better with more practice."

Richard replied.

"No, it's not good enough. The most important part of Mr. and Mrs. Smith is the 'couple' aspect. When we interact, there should be a feeling of a husband and wife, but from the start, you haven't treated me like a wife. There's no tenderness in your eyes. So, it's not up to par, right?"

Julie looked at him.

Richard nodded slightly, "You're right. I'll work on it."

Julie smiled slightly, "You've changed."

"What?"

"You used to be fun, full of charm and testosterone. Just looking at you made people want to jump into bed. But now, you're different—serious, uptight, like an old man with no sense of romance."

Richard chuckled and grabbed her restless hand, "You've changed too. You're like a thirsty old woman now."

"What? Who's an old woman?"

Julie pounced on him.

Richard laughed out loud, grabbing her wrist and pinning her down on the couch. She struggled to lift her leg, but he held her firmly in place.

"You jerk!"

Julie tilted her head to try and bite him.

Richard immediately kissed her back.

"Ahem, ahem~"

Suddenly, a few coughs came from the room.

Richard let go and looked back—it was Gwyneth, dressed in a white blouse and black skirt, carrying a small handbag, and smiling charmingly.

"Ignore her, let's continue," Julie said, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"Tsk tsk, looks like I arrived just in time," Gwyneth teased.

"Hmph, you came at the worst time," Julie glared at her, her eyes filled with frustration.

"Haha, don't look at me like that. You can keep going, just pretend I'm not here. Oh, if you get tired, I can even give you a little push. Isn't that helpful?" Gwyneth joked.

Julie bit her lip and laughed, "What do you think, Richard?"

"Enough playing around, it's time to get back to training," Richard said, standing up.

"Richard, you jerk! You just got me all fired up, and now you're leaving me hanging. You're the worst!"

Julie angrily kicked him.

Richard smiled, "Yes, keep that anger. When we spar later, pretend I'm your enemy."

"Is that so? Great."

Julie grabbed a katana from the rack and swung it at him furiously.

Richard dodged, rolled on the floor, and ended up behind her, giving her a light kick on the butt.

"You jerk! You're dead!"

Julie gritted her teeth and swung the sword at him again.

"Hey, you two, stop messing around! That’s dangerous," Gwyneth called out.

"No worries, it's a prop sword. She can't hit me," Richard said, dodging her attacks.

"Want me to record this for you?" Gwyneth asked from beside the camera.

"Sure!" Richard and Julie started sparring again.

After more than ten days of practice, their coordination became more natural and smooth. The set for Mr. & Mrs. Smith was finally ready, and filming was set to begin.

Richard said goodbye to Bündchen and little Louis and headed to West Africa, Morocco. The filming locations for Mr. & Mrs. Smith were primarily in South America’s Colombia, West Africa’s Morocco, and the island of Naples in Italy.

The Morocco scenes didn’t take long—just over ten days. The crew then moved to Naples.

---

Around this time, Mrs. Theron was nearing her due date, so Richard took a week off and flew straight to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Barely 12 hours after landing, Mrs. Theron went into labor, and Richard carried her into the delivery room.

"Richard, don’t leave. Stay here with me," Mrs. Theron said, gripping his hand.

"I’m not going anywhere. I’ll stay right here with you," Richard said, holding her hand and wiping her sweat with a towel.

The midwives were busy. At first, the baby was in a breech position, and the delivery was difficult. After more than two hours, the baby was finally born. Mrs. Theron’s voice was hoarse from shouting, and Richard’s wrist bore several bite marks.

"Wahhh~"

The baby cried loudly as soon as it was born.

"Boy or girl?" Richard asked curiously.

"It's a girl."

"Haha, that's fantastic!"

Richard took the freshly cleaned baby, a tiny wrinkled bundle weighing 8.1 pounds, cradled in his hands.

"Why does she look so ugly?"

Ms. Theron frowned.

"Don't talk nonsense. Our little sweetheart is beautiful. Look at her eyebrows—they're curved and lifted just like yours. Her little nose is just like mine—long, straight, and the tip is slightly upturned, like a little pixie. Look at her tiny mouth—small and pouty. And her little chin is pointy. Haha, our little sweetheart is definitely going to grow up to be a very, very beautiful girl," Richard said softly, cradling the little one with a smile.

Ms. Theron shot him a look. "I don't see how she resembles either of us."

"That's because you're not looking carefully. The more you look, the more she looks like us," Richard chuckled.

"Have you thought of a name?" she asked.

"How about Annie Blade?"

"Too plain."

"Margaret?"

"Too awkward."

"Diana?"

"Too unlucky."

"Then what do you think we should name her?" Richard asked helplessly.

"Let's call her Annie Theron Blade," Ms. Theron said, smiling with a slight curl of her lips.

"Alright, whatever you say," Richard said, kissing her.

After giving birth to little Annie, Ms. Theron stayed in the hospital for three days to regain her strength before Richard took her back to the estate to continue her recovery.

To help her recuperate, Richard had fresh ingredients flown in from Italy and France, along with four Michelin-starred chefs to prepare a variety of meals every day.

"Sometimes I really want to kill you," Ms. Theron said, glaring at him as she ate her meal.

"Why? What did I do wrong?" Richard asked, puzzled.

"Everything! I weigh 170 pounds now!" Ms. Theron huffed angrily.

"Really? But you still look beautiful—no, even more beautiful than before," Richard said, caressing her smooth cheek.

"Ugh, you're so annoying," she muttered.

"Ahem," Mrs. Matiz interrupted, casting an annoyed glance at the two of them. "Now that the baby's born, you two need to leave. I can't stand the sight of you."

"Mom, little Annie can't fly yet. Are you really going to kick us out?" Ms. Theron frowned.

"Who said anything about kicking little Annie out? I'm telling you two to go. Annie will stay with me," Mrs. Matiz replied.

"No way, I want to take care of Annie myself," Ms. Theron insisted.

"Yes, Tannie, I've already made arrangements in Los Angeles. We have nannies and housekeepers, so there's no need to worry about Annie's care," Richard said.

"Besides nannies and housekeepers, do you have time to care for Annie?" Mrs. Matiz asked, looking at him pointedly.

"I—I won't have much time these next two years, but after that, when I retire from acting, I'll have plenty of time," Richard explained.

"So for now, you're expecting Sally to take care of Annie? You forgot she can barely take care of herself," Mrs. Matiz said.

"Mom!" Ms. Theron protested.

"Am I wrong?" Mrs. Matiz shot back.

In the end, they agreed that Annie would stay in South Africa temporarily while Ms. Theron continued to recover there. A few months later, Richard would take Annie to Los Angeles.

—End of Chapter—

*Chapter 339: Walk of Fame*

After spending eight days in Johannesburg, Richard returned to the film set to continue shooting.

The schedule for the Mr. & Mrs. Smith crew was packed. On days when the weather was bad and the crew had a break, Richard would either go back to New York to be with little Louis or head to South Africa to see little Annie.

By early May, Fast & Furious 3 was set to be released, and he had to return to the U.S. for promotional work.

Flying back and forth like this, Richard suddenly realized that retiring from the industry sooner might be a wise decision.

As a father now, there was no need to spend three or four months — or even more — on a movie set for just a bit of extra money.

On May 2, at the start of the summer blockbuster season, Fast & Furious 3 premiered in 3,656 theaters across North America, grossing $67.5 million in its opening weekend, becoming the first summer box office champion.

In its second week, DreamWorks released Shrek 2, which earned $147 million in its opening weekend.

Fast & Furious 3 dropped to second place, bringing in another $42.77 million, for a two-week total of $110 million.

Though slightly behind Fast & Furious 2, which made $118 million in its first 10 days, the difference wasn't significant. The total box office was expected to reach around $160 million. This marked the third consecutive Fast & Furious film to cross $150 million at the North American box office, proving the series' enduring value and showing that both the film's quality and Richard's box office appeal had remained strong.

"Richard, how many films do you have coming out this year?"

On the Mr. & Mrs. Smith set, Jolie sat under a parasol, sipping ice water, her long, tan legs crossed casually.

"Only three where I’m the lead: Fast & Furious 3, Mission Impossible 2, and National Treasure. Then there’s Troy, where I have a supporting role."

Richard held the script, fanning himself. The summer in Colombia was sweltering, and the mosquitoes were relentless—definitely not the ideal place for filming.

"Three films? Can you break last year's $910 million box office record?"

Jolie tilted her head curiously.

"Are you kidding? If it weren't for Lord of the Rings: Return of the King last year, my films would have grossed only about $500 million. This year, if all goes well, it'll be around $400 or $500 million."

"That's still insane. The total global box office for your films has surpassed $5 billion. The papers say you might be the first actor in history to hit $10 billion globally."

"That’s unlikely."

Currently, his films had grossed $5.2 billion globally, including Lord of the Rings and X-Men, but $10 billion was still a long way off.

He took a sip of his lemon water and added, "Too much going on these past few years. Having kids has made things busier. I'll gradually phase out of acting. The box office record doesn’t concern me."

"Retire?"

Jolie sat up, pushing up her sunglasses to stare at him in surprise. "You're only 26, and you're thinking about retirement?"

Richard smiled. "Yeah, I'm considering it. I only took on two films this year. If there aren’t any sequels next year, I don’t plan on doing any."

"Why retire? You're earning $30-40 million per film, you're one of the top three most influential actors, and you're in the top 10 on Hollywood’s power list. You're going to walk away from that?"

"$30-40 million isn’t much, is it?"

Richard glanced at her.

Jolie blinked and then laughed lightly, "Right, I almost forgot that you’re a billionaire. You make $1 billion in eight minutes, earning over $10 billion a year. So yeah, $30-40 million is small change to you."

Richard shrugged. Retiring wasn’t just his decision, it was also recommended by Ellie and his security advisors.

With his net worth over $2 billion this year, and likely reaching $10 billion next year, it really didn’t make sense to spend so much time on set. Acting could become more of a hobby, but it shouldn't take up too much of his time.

"Hey, Richard, remember our bet?"

Jolie propped her face up with her hand, smiling.

"What bet?"

"The Oscar bet. You said you’d win an acting Oscar within ten years. If you win, I’d have your baby."

Jolie stared at him intently.

Richard smirked, "That’s tough. I give up."

"No way! You're a billionaire now, and you can’t back out. Fine, you can surrender, but don’t forget the losing bet."

Jolie leaned in with a sly smile. "You lose, you have to sleep with me however I want. Are you sure you want to give up?"

Richard chuckled, "Is that so? Didn’t I already fulfill that bet?"

Jolie bit her lip, glaring at him with mock resentment. "That doesn’t count! Every time, it was you taking charge. I felt more like a doll. The bet means you have to be my doll, and I get to mess with you."

Richard smiled, "Well, there’s still two years left, right? I got nominated this year, so maybe I’ll win next year."

"Alright, I’ll be waiting."

Jolie grinned, running her fingers down her slender waist.

Richard shook his head and, after a brief break, the crew resumed filming.

—

After three weeks, Fast & Furious 3 grossed $138 million. This week, Fox’s big-budget film The Day After Tomorrow and Warner Bros.' Harry Potter 3 were both released.

With Shrek 2 still performing strongly at the box office, Fast & Furious 3 was pushed out of the top three. From this, it was clear that this summer’s competition was just as intense as last year’s.

Meanwhile, Crash 2, which had been released in March, concluded its run after a little over a month, grossing $49.1 million in North America. Though it didn’t lose money, it fell short of its $60 million projection.

With Crash 2 exiting theaters, the media began publishing more stories predicting the decline of New Century Pictures. However, the studio remained silent, focusing on producing new films, motivated by the prospect of bigger year-end bonuses.

"Busy, Richard? I’ve got something to discuss with you."

David Ellison called from faraway Los Angeles.

"Go ahead."

Richard stepped into the shade.

"Can you invest more? $30 million is too little. How about $80 million?"

David Ellison asked.

"No, only $30 million. Did you find a partner?"

Richard was curious. Word was that David had been shopping the Stealth script around for months, looking for collaborators, but with little success.

"Yes, I found two companies. Richard, if you won’t invest more, how about playing the lead role? You can name your price if you agree."

David Ellison offered generously.

Richard smiled. He’d heard this line too many times.

As a box-office king, any project he joined would be a guaranteed success, so many producers made outrageous offers right from the start, saying he could name his fee—even $100 million.

Richard declined. In April, a big scandal had shaken Hollywood.

Someone had been falsely using his name to raise funds for a movie, claiming that he had agreed to star, but the project was short on money. Once they raised enough, the film would be made, and investors would see quick returns.

As soon as investors saw he was involved, they quickly invested money.

Using this as an excuse, that man managed to raise over 150 million dollars. However, he made too much noise and caught the attention of Richard’s legal team.

Just as the scam group was about to flee, they were all caught by the FBI.

From this incident, people in the industry also saw his immense commercial value.

"David, forget about me being the lead. I don’t have the time. You can keep looking for someone else to work with. Good luck!" Richard said with a smile.

"Richard, you can’t do this! If you don’t agree, I’ll take the script to Weinstein instead."

"Oh, really? Then you should go. I don’t mind at all," Richard said, still smiling.

David Ellison paused for two seconds, said goodbye, and hung up the phone.

Richard chuckled softly, handed the phone to his assistant, and went back to the set to continue filming.

"Richard, hurry up!" Julie called from the car.

"I'm coming!" Richard responded with a smile.

"Scene 217, Take 3, Action!"

After being attacked by assassins, the Smiths were sitting in the car, ready to escape. At this moment, they both realized each other's true identity, and the confession began.

"I’ve never been in the peacekeeping forces."

Julie, wearing a white shirt and her hair flowing in loose curls, looked sexy and captivating.

"What? No way! I really liked that part of your life," Richard said while tidying up the car.

"Well, maybe being honest wasn’t the best idea," Julie smiled as she sat in the passenger seat, her lips curved seductively.

"No, no," Richard shook his head. "I never went to MIT either."

"Really?" Julie blinked her long lashes.

"I went to Notre Dame. I majored in Art History."

"Art?" Julie was surprised.

"History. That’s a pretty famous program, you know?"

"Okay!" Julie said with a laugh.

"Cut!" Director Doug Liman reviewed the footage and nodded in satisfaction.

Richard and Julie had great chemistry. Both were top-tier in terms of looks, and both had a certain sensuality. The subtle flirtation between them and their occasional banter made them seem like a real couple.

"Next shot, get ready!"

"Scene 218, Take 1, Action!"

Richard and Julie continued their performance.

——

By late May, the rainy season had arrived in Medellín, Colombia, and the crew took a break.

Richard returned to Los Angeles to attend the Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Ceremony.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a sidewalk stretching along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, and it's one of the most famous tourist attractions in Hollywood. Over 2,000 pink star-shaped plaques are embedded in the sidewalk, each bearing the name of a honoree, celebrating their contributions to the entertainment industry. Every year, one or more stars are awarded.

Last year, Richard's films grossed over $900 million, and global box office revenue surpassed $5 billion. The Walk of Fame committee awarded him the 2,262nd star in recognition of his contributions to the film industry.

"Richard, the box office for Fast & Furious 3 is doing well. Universal is planning to start production on Fast & Furious 4 next year. However, your fee is too high. They’re hoping you’ll lower it," Anthony said as they walked down the Walk of Fame.

When they initially filmed Fast & Furious 1, Universal only saw it as a small project and didn’t pay much attention to it.

No one expected the first movie to gross $220 million worldwide. The second and third movies also performed well, with global box office numbers exceeding $200 million each, turning the franchise into a huge hit.

The continuous success of the trilogy caused the main cast’s salaries to skyrocket. The budget for the third movie was $80 million, and if they wanted to keep the original cast, even $120 million wouldn’t be enough.

For the second and third films, Richard was paid $30 million plus 10% of the North American box office, totaling more than $63 million. Although that seemed like a lot, it was still less than his current quote of $25 million plus 10% of the global box office.

For the fourth installment, if Universal wanted to keep him as the lead, the profit margin would be too low, so they had to be strict about negotiating his salary.

"How much of a cut are they asking for?" Richard asked.

"$30 million is their highest offer."

"No profit-sharing?"

"No. According to what I’ve heard from Universal, the new executive producer is considering changing the lead to cut costs," Anthony explained.

Richard nodded. Originally, Neal Moritz was in charge of producing the project, but last year, Universal Pictures got a new president, and the production team was also changed.

Neal Moritz left Universal and started his own production company, something he had discussed with Richard.

"A change is probably for the best. I’ve been wanting to exit the series anyway. Even if the audience isn’t tired of it, I am. Hmm... for the auditions, maybe they can try Vin Diesel or Evans."

"Got it!" Anthony nodded, then smiled slyly. "Richard, without Fast & Furious, you’ve got no movies lined up for next year. I’ve got a script here you might want to take a look at. It’s a historical epic."

With a quick motion, Anthony pulled out a script. "It’s a new Fox project, Kingdom of Heaven. It’s about the 12th-century Crusades, with an even bigger scope than Troy. If you’re willing to play the lead, the pay is negotiable."

Richard glanced at him and smiled. "Alright, I’ll take a look at the script."

With the script in hand, Richard left Hollywood.

After staying in New York for two days, he went to Johannesburg to spend time with little Annie, and finally flew back to Colombia to continue filming.

"Doesn’t all this running around tire you out?" Julie teased.

Tired? Maybe, but Richard just smiled casually. "I love it!"

Julie laughed softly. "Men."

——

(End of chapter)

Chapter 340: Troy

After spending more than two months traveling, the film crew finished the location shoots and returned to Los Angeles to film the indoor scenes.

“How did you two meet?”

In the office, a psychologist asked the question.

“It was in Colombia,” Jolie said with a smile, crossing her legs in stockings.

“In Bogotá,” Richard added, wearing a vest over his shirt, with neatly styled short hair that made him look more mature.

“Five years ago,” he continued.

“Six years,” Jolie corrected, pursing her red lips with slight dissatisfaction.

Richard shrugged. “Yes, five or six years.”

“On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your relationship?” the psychologist asked.

“8,” Jolie answered.

“Wait, is 10 absolute happiness and 1 total misery? Or is there some other scale?” Richard gestured with his fingers while asking, and Jolie rolled her eyes, finding him overly talkative.

“Just answer based on your instincts,” the psychologist suggested.

“Alright,” Richard looked at Jolie. “Are you ready?”

“Ready!”

“8!” They answered in unison.

“Cut!”

“This scene is done.”

After finishing the outdoor scenes, the indoor ones became simpler, and their cooperation improved, making filming even smoother.

By early July, the filming of Mr. & Mrs. Smith was mostly complete and had entered the editing phase. Richard’s schedule became more relaxed. He spent his days at home, taking care of the kids and walking the dog. Occasionally, he played golf with Ellison and Old Tom, enjoying his free time.

A few days later, Anthony came knocking again.

“Richard, Fox’s production department reached out to me again. They’re inviting you to take the lead in Kingdom of Heaven and have offered a $30 million salary, along with 10% of North American box office and 5% of global box office profits.

Given the movie's budget, the North American box office alone should reach at least $200 million, meaning this deal could exceed $50 million. Are you sure you don’t want to reconsider?” Anthony asked.

“No, I’m tired. Let them find someone else,” Richard replied, shaking his head.

Initially, he thought the script was good, with a storyline not inferior to Troy. He wondered who Fox would choose for the role if he didn’t take it.

After searching online, he came across actor Orlando Bloom and found out that he was originally cast for the role. Richard also saw some box office data, which showed the film made $47.39 million in North America. That’s when he tossed the script far away.

It was a flop.

Taking on this project would certainly tarnish his stellar box office record, and he didn’t want to suffer a setback just as he was thinking about retirement.

“Richard, it’s $50 million. Can’t you take on just this one movie next year?” Anthony said, his chubby face wrinkling.

Richard smiled. “There are so many actors in Hollywood—why are they so fixated on me?”

“Troy. After the internal screening of the movie, every theater representative and producer who saw it praised your performance. They said you were the standout, and your role was just as good as Brad Pitt’s. Fox’s team saw your excellent performance in Troy and is insisting you play the lead. They won’t take no for an answer,” Anthony explained.

“Is that so?” Richard rubbed his chin. “I’m still going to say no.”

“Why?”

“I’m too rich. I make seventy or eighty million in one match. Filming a movie takes six months for just fifty million—I don’t have the time,” Richard replied, spreading his hands.

In June, he had fought a match in Las Vegas against David Tua.

Though Tua wasn’t very tall, he was agile and could take a punch.

However, he only lasted three rounds against Richard’s powerful punches.

In the third round, Richard landed a perfect jab to Tua’s face, knocking him out cleanly.

The match lasted 8 minutes and 12 seconds, and Richard walked away with $78 million, even though the prize for this fight was slightly lower than usual.

“Richard, you said you wouldn’t retire from movies until the year after next. Isn’t it a waste not to do at least one film next year? You’re at the height of your fame,” Anthony said, regretfully.

Richard thought for a moment. “I could take on one, but the script has to be carefully chosen. Something set in the city would be best. Historical films are too exhausting and complicated. Oh, and I did say I wanted to win an Oscar, so an art film would be my priority.”

“Haha, now we’re talking!” Anthony left with satisfaction, patting his backside as he walked out.

Richard shook his head. That guy was becoming a real bother. If it were any other agent, he wouldn’t even let them through the door.

“Wahhh!”

A baby’s cry echoed from the nursery.

“Helena, what’s going on?” Richard called out as he got up.

“Louis needs a diaper change,” came the reply.

The nanny responded.

"Alright, you little bed-wetting puppy."

Richard walked into the nursery, where two nannies were changing little Louis' diaper. The little guy turned his head to look over, and a big tear rolled down from the corner of his eye.

"Aren’t you ashamed? Almost a year old and still wetting the bed. Shame on you, don’t you think?"

Richard shook the little guy's hand and smiled.

"Giggle giggle~ Mama~"

The little guy laughed shamelessly.

"Little Louis, say ‘Daddy.’ Daddy will take you out to play."

Richard smiled.

"Mama~ Mama~"

Little Louis waved his little hands and called out.

He had been able to say "Mama" since he was five months old, but whenever it came to saying "Daddy," he always struggled, which made Richard a bit frustrated.

"Say ‘Daddy!’"

"Mama~"

"Say ‘Daddy~’"

"Mama~"

The little guy was stubbornly calling for his mother, as if he were doing it on purpose.

"Mr. Brad, don’t worry. It’s normal for kids to say ‘Mama’ first," Nanny Helena laughed.

"Alright, Louis, Daddy’s taking you for a walk. But we’ve got a deal—when we get back, you have to say ‘Daddy,’ or I’m KO-ing you."

Richard gave the little guy a serious warning. After the little one was dressed in shorts and a shirt, Richard put on his hat, got the stroller ready, and headed out the door.

While strolling around Central Park, he spent the entire time teaching Louis to say "Daddy." After a lot of effort, he finally heard the little guy say it clearly.

That afternoon, he proudly showed off to Bündchen while holding the little guy.

"Sweetheart, listen! Little Louis can say ‘Daddy’ now! Louis, say ‘Daddy~’"

"Da-da~ Da-da~" Little Louis called out while lying in his arms, holding a toy robot.

"Heh heh, what do you think?" Richard laughed.

"Pfft~" Mrs. Bündchen scoffed, kicking off her heels as she walked away. "No matter what, Louis came from my body. So what if he calls you ‘Daddy’? Do you think you’ll be closer to him than I am?"

"Well, you never know. I’ve been busy lately, so I haven’t spent much time with the little guy. But from now on, I’ll be around more. Once he grows up, he’ll definitely be closer to me."

Mrs. Bündchen rolled her eyes at him, walking into the dressing room. She took off her business dress and changed into a simple floral-print dress.

"Sweetheart, are you free tomorrow afternoon?"

"Why?"

Mrs. Bündchen let down her long curls.

"The movie Troy is premiering. Let’s walk the red carpet together."

"Alright!"

The next day, Troy premiered. The movie, starring two Hollywood megastars along with rising star Orlando Bloom, received a lot of attention.

It opened in 4,135 theaters, with a first-day box office of $68.57 million, surpassing the expected $60 million—a strong performance.

Richard's role, in particular, was highly praised by critics in the media, calling it one of his best performances.

Although he played a supporting role, his presence on screen was just as strong as the lead actors.

Some critics even said his performance was steady and understated, bringing a sense of historical depth to the character, making the role more multidimensional and compelling—more intriguing than the lead at times.

"Richard, director Ridley Scott wants to talk to you," Anthony said.

"What for?"

"He’s the director of Kingdom of Heaven."

"Alright."

Having worked with Scott before on Black Hawk Down, they were familiar with each other. But now, how was he supposed to turn down this role when they met?

That was going to be tricky.

(End of the chapter)