331-335

*Chapter 331: Street Attack*

"Mr. Brad, most of your previous roles have been more positive. Why did you choose to play a villain this time?"

During the recording of the Collateral promotional show, the host asked.

"This character is very challenging. He’s a killer, cold and ruthless, with decisive actions. He’s very different from the roles I’ve played before."

Richard gave a brief analysis of the character. Compared to characters like Don Corleone and Bourne, this one was more complex and had more depth. After playing cool, suave roles for so long, he was getting a bit tired of it. Trying out a new type of role was a refreshing experience.

"Mr. Brad, I heard that before filming, you worked as a delivery driver in the city. Was that to better understand the role?"

The host inquired.

"Yes, this character is a professional hitman who has the ability to blend into crowds like an ordinary person. That’s not easy for me to pull off. Following the director's suggestion, I worked as a delivery driver to get a feel for what it’s like to blend in with the crowd."

"How did that go?" the host asked.

"Pretty well."

"Yes, Richard did an excellent job. His performance was surprising," director Michael Mann added with praise.

The recording lasted over an hour, and the Collateral crew left the TV station.

"Richard, we’re counting on you for the movie promotion," director Michael Mann said with a smile.

"Me?" Richard replied.

"Yes, the media always says you manage to stir up some big news every time you do movie promotions. Do you have anything planned for this one? We’re ready to cooperate."

Michael Mann asked with anticipation.

Richard chuckled. "No plans this time. It’s always just been coincidences; I don’t stir things up on purpose."

"That’s too bad." Michael Mann left, slightly disappointed.

Richard shook his head. Do they really think I’m some kind of newsmaker?

"Richard, got some time? How about grabbing a coffee?" Jamie Foxx approached him as they were about to leave.

"Just the two of us grabbing coffee?" Richard joked.

"Haha, should I invite some female friends over?"

"No thanks, I don’t want to end up on the front page."

There was a nice outdoor Italian café nearby, so they sat down under an umbrella.

"Is something on your mind?" Richard asked while stirring his coffee.

"Yeah, do you know about Ray Charles?" Jamie Foxx asked.

Richard nodded. Ray Charles was a Black singer who lost his sight at a young age and always wore sunglasses. He was known for blending gospel’s spirituality with blues music, pioneering soul music, earning him the title of the Father of Soul.

Richard had heard some of his songs too, like I Can't Stop Loving You, Born to Lose, and You Don't Know Me, all considered classics.

"Richard, a friend of mine wrote a script based on Ray Charles’s life and wants to turn it into a movie. He’s having trouble finding investors, though. Would you be interested in checking it out?"

Jamie Foxx took out a script and asked.

Richard shook his head. "Sorry, I’m not interested."

"Uh..." Jamie was stunned. The outright refusal without even looking at the script was a bit too blunt.

Richard smiled lightly. "But I know someone who might be. Are you familiar with producer Arnold Kopelson? He’s the executive producer for New Century Films and is quite interested in this type of project. I can recommend the script to him."

"That’d be great, thank you so much, Richard!" Jamie Foxx was thrilled. Arnold Kopelson was a top producer in the industry, known for producing classics like Se7en, A Perfect Murder, and The Fugitive.

Recently, he’d also worked with New Century on a few critically acclaimed and commercially successful films, including Rock Barbie and Crash. People in the industry said Kopelson was the key to New Century’s success.

Jamie and his writer friend had watched Crash, which inspired them to approach New Century.

"Jamie, are you planning to play Ray Charles yourself?" Richard asked.

"Yes, I’m a singer too, and he’s my idol," Jamie Foxx said.

Richard nodded slightly. "You’d be a good fit."

Bang! Bang! 

Suddenly, two gunshots rang out from the street. The glass windows of the café shattered, scattering everywhere.

Chaos erupted on the street as people panicked and fled.

Richard quickly flipped over the tempered glass table and pulled Jamie Foxx down with him. He wasn’t about to risk getting hit by a stray bullet and dying young.

Peeking out from behind the table, Richard spotted two men, both Black, running quickly toward them with duffle bags. Gold jewelry was spilling out of their bags.

Woo-woo-woo! The sound of police sirens grew closer.

"What should we do, Richard?" Jamie Foxx asked nervously, keeping his head down.

"Don’t worry, I have bodyguards."

One of Richard's bodyguards, Ted, was crouched behind a nearby café table, gun in hand, tracking the movements of the two men. If they got too close, he’d shoot.

Ted was one of Richard’s bodyguards, all of whom had been recommended by his uncle, Frank. Frank’s war buddies ran a security company, and most of the bodyguards there were former special forces soldiers with excellent combat and shooting skills.

"Richard, aren’t you an FBI agent? Shouldn’t you do something in a situation like this?" Jamie Foxx asked.

"Are you kidding me? I’m scared of dying too," Richard replied with a laugh.

"Mr. Brad, please get in the car."

Another bodyguard, Eric, pulled up in a modified car with some bulletproofing.

"Let’s go, Jamie."

Richard pulled Jamie Foxx along, and they quickly got into the car.

"Stop! Get out of the car!"

The two robbers charged toward them.

Bang! 

Ted shot one of them, then quickly ran over and disarmed the other, breaking his arm in the process. It all happened in less than five seconds.

"Ted, stay here and hand these two over to the police," Richard instructed.

"Yes, Mr. Brad."

With that, Richard’s car slowly drove away from the scene.

"That was intense!" Jamie Foxx exhaled deeply.

Richard shook his head. "Robbery in a commercial district? Where are our tax dollars going? I’m definitely filing a complaint with the 13th Precinct."

"Haha, count me in!" Jamie Foxx laughed.

Back in Los Angeles, Richard had his assistant deliver the Ray script to producer Arnold Kopelson, briefly explaining the situation and asking the production team to evaluate its potential for investment.

This film would eventually make Jamie Foxx the third Black actor to win an Oscar for Best Actor, so the artistic merit was clear. But filmmaking wasn’t just about art; commercial success was also important.

Richard made his opinion clear to Kopelson during their call.

If the script had potential, it could be a major project. If it was average, it could still be a smaller investment. Even if it didn’t make money, an award-winning film would still be valuable for New Century.

Kopelson agreed. This year, New Century had already wrapped up Crash 2 and Hotel Rwanda and was gearing up for new projects, so this script could be reviewed along with the others.

After the call, Richard received a message from his lawyer, informing him that the incident at the 13th Precinct had been resolved without any issues.

Richard didn’t pay much more attention to that small incident.

—End of Chapter—

*Chapter 332: Being a Superhero Isn’t Easy*

The next day, the Los Angeles Times reported on the robbery that occurred in District 13. The incident was so ordinary that it didn’t attract much attention.

On November 14th, Collateral was released in North America. On its opening day, it grossed $28.81 million, making it the box office leader for the day, a pretty solid performance.

However, after the box office figures came out, the media started buzzing with criticism.

The reason? In the past three years, Richard’s films, aside from Pitch Black, had never opened below $40 million, and this time it didn’t even reach $30 million. If this isn’t a decline, what is?

The Chicago Tribune criticized him for taking on too many random roles, leading to a decline in his box office appeal. His previous roles as a spy, a racer, and a ranger had all left strong impressions on audiences, but this time, he played a villain—a role viewers were not ready to accept.

The Washington Daily News claimed that Richard had played too many action roles in recent years, causing audience fatigue. According to them, Richard was losing his fan base.

The Baltimore Sun suggested that taking on the villain role was an attempt by Richard to push his acting boundaries, but he didn’t succeed. This failure would inevitably have a major impact on his career.

“Always someone trying to tear me down,” Richard muttered as he tossed the newspaper aside, taking a stroll through his estate with his little one in his arms.

“Don’t go outside; it’s cold!” Gisele, dressed in a lemon-yellow, form-fitting workout outfit, was running on the circular driveway. After giving birth, she didn’t waste much time resting and had immediately set up a detailed fitness plan to get back to her sexy, toned physique within 60 days.

“Hey, Louis, look at your mom, running circles all by herself. Doesn’t she look silly?” Richard teased.

Louis blinked his big eyes, watching his mom run halfway around the track. As Gisele came closer, he clapped his tiny hands and babbled excitedly, kicking his little legs in Richard’s arms.

“Yah yah yah!”

“Sweetheart, Louis is cheering you on!” Richard said with a grin.

Gisele shot him a glare. “Don’t distract me! You’re just a hurdle in my path to losing weight.”

“Okay, guilty as charged,” Richard chuckled.

“Yah yah!” Louis cheered even louder as Gisele approached, grinning toothlessly and laughing.

“What are you laughing at? You’re a little hurdle for Mom too,” Gisele playfully poked his rosy cheeks.

“Yah yah yah!” Louis reached out his tiny hands, asking to be held by his mom.

“Nope, I’ve still got three more laps to run,” Gisele said, wiping off her sweat.

“Let’s eat breakfast first. You’ll need energy to work out, right?” Richard suggested with a laugh.

“Hmph!” Gisele pinched him on the waist but still took the baby from his arms.

Richard smiled and wrapped his arm around Gisele as they headed back to the dining room.

—

A week after its release, Collateral grossed $43.96 million, easily becoming the week's box office champion.

But with Tom Cruise’s The Last Samurai and Miramax’s big project Cold Mountain hitting theaters soon, it would be tough for Collateral to hold onto the top spot.

The Last Samurai, with a $120 million budget, is about an American officer who goes to Japan as a military advisor and gets inspired by the samurai spirit during the Meiji Restoration, eventually becoming a samurai himself. While Tom Cruise looks a bit out of place among the Japanese cast, overall, it’s a high-quality action film.

Cold Mountain, directed by Anthony Minghella with a $70 million budget, stars Jude Law, Nicole Kidman, and Renée Zellweger. Set during the Civil War, it tells the story of a severely wounded soldier making his way home, hoping to reunite with his beloved wife in Cold Mountain. It’s also quite a good film.

The Last Samurai opened with $28.2 million, while Cold Mountain took in $24.59 million. With the competition, Collateral struggled to bring in even $5 million a day.

“Hey, Richard, what did you think of Cold Mountain?” Jude Law called to tease him.

“It was pretty good. Congrats on another great movie.”

“Haha, thanks, but I have to apologize.”

“Apologize? For what?”

“Hehe, I took second place at the box office this week.”

Richard smirked. “You’re second, and I’m first, so why apologize?”

“First?” Jude laughed. “Fine, you can battle it out with Tom Cruise. I’m staying out of this. When you’re in town, I’ll buy you a drink.”

“Next time I’m there, I’ll look you up.”

After a brief chat, Richard hung up.

Then the phone rang again.

“Anthony, what’s up?”

“Richard, were you at the shooting incident in LA’s District 13?”

“Yeah, I happened to be there promoting the movie that day. Why do you ask?”

“Turner News showed a video today, supposedly shot by a fan. They spotted you having coffee and secretly filmed you.”

“So what? It’s no big deal,” Richard said.

“You’re wrong. It’s a big deal. The news anchor said you shirked your duty. As an FBI agent, you should’ve confronted the crime instead of getting in your car and leaving.”

“Leaving?” Richard laughed. “Before I left, I had Ted capture two suspects and hand them over to the police. Isn’t that enough?”

“You had Ted catch them? That wasn’t in the video. We need to find the full footage; otherwise, people are going to use this to tarnish your image.”

Anthony hurriedly hung up after that.

Richard just shook his head. Silly news.

But the next day, CNN and CBS morning news shows, along with many major newspapers, all covered the story.

A few weeks ago, some media outlets had reported on the incident, but with so many robberies and shootings happening daily, no one paid it much attention.

Now it was different. The legendary special agent and boxing champion Richard himself was at the scene, and the minor story suddenly became much more exciting, making people want to know more.

In their coverage, various media outlets raised a question: Should an FBI agent like Richard intervene in a robbery?

Some said yes—protecting the public is an FBI agent’s duty, and not doing so is neglect.

Others argued no—Richard was chatting with Jamie Foxx when the shooting started. He didn’t have his gear, so what could he do?

Some even expressed disappointment, saying that Richard, the superhero in their hearts, should have intervened. His decision to leave tarnished his glowing public image.

The debate raged online.

“Heh, this is perfect news. Reach out to the media and make sure they drag Richard through the mud,” Weinstein laughed as he looked at the paper in the Miramax office.

“On it!” his assistant replied.

“Richard finally has a scandal. Get people to stir it up,” Weinstein ordered.

“Got it, boss!”

Taking advantage of this moment, many of Richard’s detractors jumped at the chance, using every possible tactic to smear him.

Some said his strong image was just a marketing ploy and that he wasn’t as tough as he seemed.

Others claimed that he wasn’t the true hero of the 9/11 attacks, accusing him of using the tragedy for fame—calling him despicable and shameless.

Some even said that he was drawing a government paycheck without doing his job and should be sued and fined.

The flood of accusations was overwhelming, nearly burying him.

—

“Hey, Richard, looks like you’re in trouble,” Levi teased over the phone.

“I’m not worried. Being hailed as a hero all the time is exhausting. I’d rather people just see me as an ordinary guy,” Richard laughed.

“Well, if you’d stepped in back then, none of this would be happening.”

“Yeah, right. I’m a billionaire. You expect me to personally catch criminals? What’s the point of paying taxes then?”

Levi laughed. “But you’re FBI, a special agent, and a superhero. You’re supposed to be against all forms of evil. If even you walk away, what’s the world coming to?”

“Stop with the nonsense. There’s more to this story. Just wait and watch.”

“There’s more? Oh, wait, I get it. Collateral is still in theaters, right? You did this on purpose, didn’t you? You sly devil.”

“Shut up. I only got a $2,000 paycheck for that movie, and no cut of the profits. Why would I tarnish my own image?”

“Alright, alright, I’ll stop. I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show.”

Being too famous really does come with its own set of burdens.

After hanging up the phone, Richard sighed softly.

"Honey, I support you. You did a great job this time. Next time something like this happens, try to avoid it if you can. Don't forget you’ve got me and little Louis at home," Mrs. Bündchen said while doing yoga.

"Got it," Richard replied, picking up the little guy.

——

As various forces weighed in, the news snowballed, and Richard was getting dragged through the mud.

Soon after, Richard's spokesperson, Gilbert, held a press conference in New York.

At the meeting, Gilbert firmly refuted the false rumors circulating online. He stated that Richard Brad was only an unofficial FBI operative and had never taken a penny for his services.

Gilbert also pointed out that the video aired by Turner News Network was incomplete.

The truth was, before leaving, Richard had instructed his bodyguards to subdue two robbers and stop the crime. This was corroborated by the 13th District police and eyewitnesses at the scene.

The news anchor’s comments damaged Mr. Brad’s reputation, and his legal team had officially filed a lawsuit against Turner News, demanding a retraction and restoration of his good name.

That same afternoon, the LAPD held a press conference to explain the situation, confirming the statements made by Gilbert and the police.

That evening, the head of Turner News came forward to apologize and released the full video.

The video verified the statements from both the spokesperson and the police: Richard, along with Jamie Foxx, got into the car, and his bodyguards detained the robbers and handed them over to the police.

Turner News expressed regret for the inaccurate reporting and fired the producer of the news segment from that day.

The next day, the FBI also held a press conference, stating that Richard Brad had submitted his resignation, along with his firearm and credentials, in mid-September.

The FBI had accepted his resignation, and Mr. Brad was no longer serving as an investigative agent.

At first, this seemed like ordinary news, and no one paid much attention. Richard was an actor, athlete, and millionaire—being an agent wasn’t necessary for him.

But no one expected his fans to strongly oppose the decision. They pointed out that Richard had made major contributions back in 2001. How could he give up his status as a top agent just because of a few slanders? Heroes shouldn’t bleed and shed tears.

Fans wanted Richard to rejoin the FBI. They felt safe with him there, especially New Yorkers. New York is Gotham, and Richard is Gotham’s hero. Gotham can’t be without him.

An online petition was launched, urging the FBI to reinstate Richard.

Not only was he a top agent, but he was also an icon and role model for many young people, almost a living legend. His presence had immense symbolic value.

Within three days, the petition gathered over 150,000 signatures.

Anthony quickly released a statement explaining that Richard resigned from his agent role for professional reasons—he was an actor, and having an FBI license made international travel inconvenient.

But netizens didn’t care and kept signing the petition. In five days, the signatures surpassed 550,000.

The FBI held another press conference, stating that although they had approved Richard’s resignation as an investigative agent, he remained an FBI Senior Advisor and Honorary Lifetime Agent, a title he had held since 2001.

After this announcement, everyone was satisfied. The honorary agent title was seen as his true identity, and Richard was still the unbeatable superhero.

"Richard, I’m impressed! Seriously impressed!" Jude Law said over the phone.

"Impressed by what?" Richard was confused.

"You’ve caused such a stir over one movie! Even British papers are covering you every day.

I’ve seen Collateral, but it’s nowhere near as exciting as the news about you these past few days. Everything that’s happened recently could be made into a movie. The theme would be ‘It’s hard to be a superhero.’"

Richard chuckled. "Your imagination is wild. The video was sold to the TV station by the paparazzi. They wanted to make a big story out of it, so they only aired part of it.

As for resigning from the FBI, that’s true. In August, I went to Russia to film, and it took three days to clear customs.

When I came back, I realized having an agent’s license wasn’t useful, so I submitted my resignation. The FBI didn’t want to make a big deal out of it and didn’t announce it publicly until all this happened."

"It’s so complicated—workplace intrigue, international drama, and domestic politics. These events alone could fill a 90-minute movie," Jude Law said.

Richard smiled, chatted a bit more, and then put down his phone.

"Hey, Richard, look! Collateral surged to number one in its third week, with a total gross of $103 million. It’s on track to make at least $130 million, which is great for an indie film," Anthony said, laughing as he read the paper.

"I don’t get any bonuses from it, so what’s there to be happy about?"

Richard took a sip of tea.

"Why not be happy? This year, the three movies you starred in—XXX, Speed 2, and Collateral—grossed $310 million worldwide, $280 million worldwide, and Collateral is expected to reach $200 million globally. And don’t forget The Lord of the Rings 3 is about to release. Altogether, your movies are making over a billion dollars this year. Who in Hollywood can compete with that?" Anthony said, smiling.

Richard shook his head. "When you’re famous, trouble follows, especially for someone like me. Keeping a low profile might be better. That’s why I’m planning to retire in a couple of years."

"Retire?!" Anthony jumped up, startled. "Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I used to act to get famous and make money. Now I’ve got more money than I need, so there’s no point staying in the entertainment industry.

I want to go home, take care of my kids, train, produce films, and start a sportswear brand. Maybe even buy a sports team and use it to promote my brand.

I’ve got too much on my plate to keep acting."

Richard shrugged.

"When do you plan to retire?"

"Next year, I’ve got three films lined up. If there aren’t any sequels for Speed or Mission Impossible after that, I’ll retire by 2006 at the latest."

"Alright, then how about I get you a few more roles before you retire?" Anthony laughed.

"Not interested. Instead, you should focus on grooming a top star before I leave so the company doesn’t fall apart when I’m gone."

"Yeah, I suppose you’re right. If you leave, people might lose faith," Anthony said, scratching his head and unintentionally pulling out a few strands of hair.

"Take care of yourself, and spend more time in New York. Don’t forget you’re a married man."

"I know. I’ll be back to cheer you on when your match against Lewis starts," Anthony said with a grin.

"Sounds good!" Richard put on his jacket and left the office.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King was about to premiere, and he had to do the rounds with the cast for promotion. He barely had time to go home and hold his kids.

——

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 333: I Am Not the Box Office King*

“This day doesn’t just belong to me. It belongs to everyone. Let us rebuild our home and restore the peace it once had.”

Sitting on the throne, Aragorn delivered his coronation speech to his old companions and subjects. He wore a golden crown, sported a well-groomed beard, and had a dignified and imposing presence—like a true king.

“Richard, you played the king perfectly.”

Director Peter Jackson looked at the big screen and said, “Maybe someone else could look more like a king, but they couldn’t match your commanding presence. This role is destined to become a classic.”

Richard smiled, “You’re the director. Half the success of this role is thanks to you.”

“Yes, I know, I’m just complimenting myself,” Peter Jackson said, winking.

Richard chuckled. “When will King Kong be released? Everyone’s waiting for your new film.”

“There’s still a long way to go. King Kong has a lot of special effects, and there are some technical issues that still haven’t been resolved. We’ll be busy for at least another year,” Peter Jackson said, stroking his large beard with a sigh.

“You’re putting so much care into it. It’s bound to be another masterpiece.”

“Of course!” Peter Jackson said confidently.

Richard smirked; he was feeling a bit smug.

Clap, clap, clap~

As the movie ended, the theater erupted in a wave of applause.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King had succeeded, living up to the expectations of all the LOTR fans.

This wasn’t easy. Many movie trilogies fall apart by the end, but The Lord of the Rings only got better with each film. By the end, the fans didn’t even want it to stop.

Clap, clap, clap~

The applause went on for three minutes, without stopping.

The audience looked toward the middle of the front row, where the creative team sat, giving them generous applause.

“Peter, congratulations. You’ve secured your place in film history.”

“Hahaha, thank you, thank you!”

Director Peter Jackson was moved to tears of joy.

Amidst the applause, Peter Jackson, Richard, and the rest of the team walked to the front to thank the audience while promoting the movie tickets.

Compared to the first two films, the third one had a bigger budget, more elaborate special effects, and a longer production time. Being the conclusion of the entire series, it was expected to set a new record at the box office.

The next day, the opening box office numbers came in at $74.62 million, slightly higher than the previous two films. Critics were full of praise, and the movie scored no less than 9.3 on sites like Rotten Tomatoes.

In its first week, the film earned $163 million, dominating the December box office. Many new releases chose to move their release dates, unable to compete with the juggernaut that was The Return of the King.

After a month in theaters, the film had won four consecutive weekly box office titles, finishing with a total of $392 million in North America. This outpaced the first film’s $320 million and the second film’s $350 million. The third film’s numbers were incredibly impressive.

The Return of the King became the undisputed box office champion of 2003 in North America. In second place was the animated movie Finding Nemo with $320 million, and in third was Pirates of the Caribbean with $305 million.

Looking further down the list, people noticed something odd: Richard’s name appeared way too frequently on the box office chart.

The first-place film, The Return of the King, starred Richard.

The fourth-place film, The Matrix Reloaded, featured Richard in a cameo.

In sixth place was 2 Fast 2 Furious, starring Richard.

Seventh place went to X-Men 2, where Richard played a supporting role.

In eleventh place was XXX, also starring Richard.

Seventeenth place went to Collateral, with Richard in the lead.

Of the top ten films, four were connected to Richard, and of the top twenty, he appeared in six, four of which he starred in.

Just counting the films where he had the lead role, his movies made $910 million in North America alone this year.

That number was staggering.

Someone looked up film archives and found that since the beginning of cinema, no actor had ever had such high box office earnings in a single year in North America.

From then on, Richard earned the new title of “Box Office King.”

“Hey, Box Office King, what are you up to?” Levi teased on the phone.

“Holding my kid at home,” Richard replied, cradling the little one.

“Wow, you’re the Box Office King, a champion fighter, and a billionaire. Instead of making movies or training, you’re just at home holding your kid?” Levi groaned in frustration.

“Stop wasting time. If you’ve got something to say, say it, or I’m hanging up.”

“Hmmph! Richard, you’d better watch your tone, especially at a time like this.”

“What time is it?”

“Do you know what I’m doing right now? I’m filling out a ballot. Do you know what kind of ballot?”

“Can you stop being so dramatic and just get to the point? Or next time I won’t hesitate to drag you to the gym.”

“Richard, I’m deeply disappointed in you. I’m filling out the ballot for the Oscars’ Best Actor category. I was going to vote for you, but after that comment, forget it. Bye!” Levi hung up immediately.

Richard smiled and didn’t bother taking him seriously. This year, he had two projects in the running for Oscar contention: Best Supporting Actor for The Return of the King and Best Actor for Collateral. Both roles had real potential.

When Anthony heard about Richard’s plans to step away from the industry, he began lobbying hard, trying to win him an Oscar before he retired.

Richard gave him a few million in publicity funds. Whether he got a nomination or not didn’t matter; he was just going to let things run their course.

“Ya~ya~ya~”

“What’s wrong, Louis?” Richard asked as Patricia fiddled with the TV remote, trying to change the channel. Little Louis suddenly started babbling excitedly.

“Ya~ya~”

Little Louis stared at the TV like he wanted to watch something specific.

“Are you trying to see a pretty lady?” Patricia laughed.

“Don’t say that.”

Gisele Bündchen tapped her on the head as she walked by. “Louis saw his dad. Change the channel back one.”

“Alright!” Patricia flipped back one channel, landing on HBO Sports, which was broadcasting Richard’s recent boxing match against Lennox Lewis.

Thud, thud, thud!!!

In the ring, Richard, wearing red gloves, unleashed a barrage of punches to Lennox Lewis’s head, forcing him to retreat. His aggressive approach turned Lennox’s offense into a strict defensive posture.

The fight took place on the 19th. Richard was the WBA heavyweight champion, and Lennox was the WBC-IBO champion. It was a unification bout, one of the most anticipated boxing matches of the year.

The fight lasted three rounds. From the very beginning, Richard went on the offensive and maintained relentless pressure throughout all three rounds.

He was using his signature jab, each punch faster than the last, never letting up.

At first, Lennox tried to defend and wait for Richard to tire.

But to his surprise, Richard’s stamina was incredible. He kept getting faster and stronger, like he was punching a heavy bag, his rhythm impeccable.

In the third round, Lennox tried to turn the tide but realized the situation was beyond repair.

In the final moments of the third round, Richard landed a punch on Lennox’s ear, knocking him down for a ten-second count.

Richard won the fight with ease.

The bout lasted 8 minutes and 42 seconds, generating $172 million in pay-per-view sales.

This surpassed the previous record, which had been held by Richard’s fight against Mike Tyson. That fight earned $125 million in pay-per-view sales.

Now, the top two fights in PPV history were both his, and three of the top five belonged to him, including his matches against Lewis, Tyson, and Holyfield.

Richard’s personal earnings from this fight also set a new record. Lennox, being British, wasn’t as big a draw in North America as Holyfield.

So the revenue split was 70-30.

Richard’s total earnings were $102 million.

In 8 minutes and 42 seconds, he made $102 million, becoming the first boxer to hit that number and setting a new single-fight income record in boxing history.

At the same time, his nickname “The Human Money Machine” spread even further.

Now, he held three championship belts: WBA, WBC, and IBO.

His personal record stood at 36 fights, 36 wins, 31 by knockout.

He was ranked tenth in the Boxing Hall of Fame.

“Ya~ya~ya~”

Little Louis, sitting in his high chair, was waving his fists and shouting excitedly, his face flushed with enthusiasm.

“Haha, little Louis is cheering for his dad!” Patricia laughed.

“Patricia, maybe you should change the channel,” Gisele said.

“What’s wrong?”

"Don't let Louis watch the boxing match, or what if he grows up wanting to be a boxer?"

Giselle held the baby bottle, blocking little Louis' view.

"What's wrong with being a boxer? Earning a hundred million in eight minutes is crazy," Patricia laughed.

"All you see is the money he makes. You don’t see the grueling, self-punishing training he goes through every day. One minute in the ring takes ten years of hard work behind the scenes. I don’t want Louis to end up like that," Giselle said as she fed the little guy. The baby clutched the bottle, his eyes fixed on the TV, blinking away.

"So, what do you want little Louis to be when he grows up?"

"Anything, as long as it's a decent profession," Giselle thought for a moment and said.

"And what about you, brother-in-law?" Patricia turned her head and asked.

"Same as your sister. Doctor, teacher, lawyer, civil servant, all are fine." Richard smiled.

"Don't you want him to follow in your footsteps and become a boxing superstar? Little Louis is pretty tough—he took a big tumble yesterday and didn’t even cry!"

Patricia covered her mouth and laughed heartily, her carefree attitude earning only an eye-roll from Giselle.

Richard chuckled, "Being tough isn’t enough. The key to being a boxer is willpower, self-discipline, and talent.

The little guy was born into a wealthy family and hasn’t faced much hardship. How strong could his willpower be? If he grows up to be an ordinary worker, I’d be content with that."

"That's exactly what I think. Every time I see kids from rich families turning into rebels, I can’t help but worry about Louis’ upbringing," Giselle said as she switched the TV to a cartoon channel.

"Darling, I have an idea," Richard said, stroking his chin thoughtfully. "We still have our apartment in Tribeca. How about in two years, we move back there and pretend to be an ordinary family?"

"Brother-in-law, you're a global superstar, a boxing champion—your name is everywhere in the news. How could you pull that off?" Patricia laughed.

"No worries, I’ll retire from the public eye in a few years. Five years from now, I plan to leave boxing altogether.

By then, Louis will only be five or six, and his worldview won’t have fully formed yet. We could leak fake news online and in the papers saying I lost a ton of money in bad investments and owe the bank a fortune.

We'll live frugally, and Louis will study hard, thinking he needs to grow up and help us pay off the loans."

Before he could finish, Patricia and Giselle were doubled over in laughter.

"Yah! Yah!"

Louis, still clutching his bottle, looked at them curiously.

"Louis, your dad's a bad guy—he's thinking of ways to trick you," Giselle joked.

"No, I’m doing it for his own good," Richard said as he patted the little one’s head.

"Brother-in-law, how are you going to hide your ranking on Forbes? And what about the clothing line named after you and my sister?" Patricia laughed.

"Well... that’s a bit tricky. Got any good ideas?" Richard asked, frowning.

"Sure! You could buy a ranch in rural Brazil, somewhere with no internet, no electricity, not even newspapers. Spend your days feeding horses, fishing, and farming. A kid raised in that environment would definitely learn to work hard. What do you think?" Patricia said, laughing.

"That’s... not a bad idea. We’ll think about it," Richard replied seriously.

"I think it’s great! Imagine Louis growing up and one day realizing his dad is the richest man in the world. Haha, that’d be such a funny scene!" Patricia clapped her hands.

"Don’t give wild ideas," Giselle shot her a look. "Who says rich kids always turn out bad? Isn’t the current president from a wealthy family? He didn’t turn out bad."

"The president’s not bad? He’s attacked Afghanistan and Iraq, causing so many deaths. How is he not bad? He’s the biggest villain in the world," Patricia scoffed.

Giselle smiled gently, "Richard, look at her—sharp-tongued like a feisty little reporter, isn’t she?"

"Yeah, Patricia would make a great reporter," Richard laughed.

"Hmph! I’m just telling the truth," Patricia said, wrinkling her nose as she pulled Louis over. "Louis, how about Auntie teaches you how to walk?"

"Don’t be silly, he’s only three months old!" Giselle pushed her away.

Richard laughed heartily and glanced at the clock. It was time for training again, so he headed into the gym to continue practicing his basics.

——

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 334: The Arrival of the Oscars*

After the New Year, Richard took some time to visit South Africa and spend time with Ms. Theron, who was currently pregnant.

Ms. Theron was living in the Gauteng district of Johannesburg, a well-known affluent area in South Africa. The environment was nice, with sunshine all year round and longer daylight hours, making the weather even better than Los Angeles.

The estate was surrounded by high walls, electric fences, a large iron gate, and even a security booth—ensuring good safety.

“How do you like living here?”

Richard asked as they walked together down a small path in the estate's garden.

“What do you think?”

Ms. Theron tilted her head, answering him with a touch of indifference.

“How about moving to a vineyard in Bordeaux? The environment there is pretty nice.”

Though the Gauteng area in Johannesburg had a good environment, it was still close to the slums. Just like in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the gap between rich and poor was vast.

Only a wall separated the poor area from the wealthy district, and they even heard gunshots from the neighboring slum when they arrived.

“This is my home. Of course, I’m going to stay here while I’m pregnant. Why would I go to France? Are you there?”

Ms. Theron retorted, pouting.

Richard smiled gently. “You’ve been through a lot.”

“Sweet talker. You’ve made me suffer. Last year, I gained over 160 pounds for a role, and I just lost the weight. Now I’m almost back to where I was last year.”

Ms. Theron playfully punched his shoulder with her fist.

“My fault. After you have the baby, I’ll help you lose the weight. How about that?”

Richard laughed.

“Do I have to lose weight? Do I look that bad like this?”

Ms. Theron was displeased.

“Of course not. You look beautiful, very beautiful. This style suits you perfectly.”

Richard admired her silk printed dress, which had a distinctly South African flair.

Ms. Theron was wearing a long silk dress with vibrant, rainbow-like patterns. Around her neck and wrists were bead necklaces, and her golden-brown curly hair fell elegantly over her left shoulder. She had a pink king protea flower tucked behind her ear.

Her skin had tanned slightly from the sun, giving her a natural, radiant beauty. Her face was smooth and tight, with a bright spot highlighted by the sun.

There was a raw, untamed beauty about her that made her even more stunning.

“Hmph, at least you have good taste.”

Ms. Theron smiled faintly and linked her arm with his as they continued walking.

The estate was vast, spanning 11 hectares. It featured a large botanical garden filled with unique flowers, including king proteas, milkweed daisies, and vast collections of succulents, along with neatly trimmed shrubs.

There were also three small zoos on the estate, housing three zebras, two giraffes, and a flock of ostriches that laid eggs.

Compared to the Blythe Estate in New York, this place was more connected to nature and livelier.

“It must be great to vacation here,”

Richard remarked, looking at the cloudless blue sky.

“If you like it, you can stay longer.”

“Alright, let’s stay a few more days. I was so busy last year I nearly worked myself to death. A vacation here sounds nice.”

Richard stretched lazily.

“Sir, ma’am, it’s time to eat,”

a young maid called out as she ran over.

“Got it!”

“My mom is still mad at you. Be careful later.”

Ms. Theron chuckled.

“You’ll help me, right?”

Richard gave her a quick kiss.

“No way, you deserve to get scolded, you jerk.”

“Fine, no matter what Ms. Martiz says to me, I’ll take it. For you and the baby, a little suffering isn’t a big deal.”

“Suffering? Ha, you’re shameless.”

After some playful banter, they returned to the villa for dinner.

Ms. Martiz still wore a stern expression. She looked at him with disapproval, remembering how they had once claimed to be just friends. Now, with a baby on the way, it seemed irresponsible to her.

“Richard, why don’t you consider moving to South Africa?”

Ms. Martiz asked.

“Huh?”

Richard was confused.

“South Africa allows polygamy.”

Cough

Richard almost choked on his grilled meat.

“Mom, try the new-style grilled meat that Tobeka made.”

Ms. Theron quickly changed the subject.

“All you know is how to eat. How did I raise such a foolish daughter?”

Ms. Martiz tapped her forehead lightly.

Ms. Theron just smiled. “As long as you’re happy, it’s fine to be a little foolish.”

“Hmph!”

After dinner, Richard and Ms. Theron spent time chatting and walking around the city, taking in the sights of Johannesburg.

—

After spending over a week there, Richard returned to Los Angeles for filming. National Treasure was about to begin production.

Last year, because Ms. Bundchen had given birth, Richard didn’t feel like filming, so the production was delayed for over four months. But it couldn’t be delayed any longer.

National Treasure tells the story of an adventurer, Ben Gates, who learns from his grandfather about a shocking secret: the Founding Fathers of the United States hid a vast fortune as an emergency reserve. The secret to finding this treasure is hidden within the Declaration of Independence.

Following the clues in the Declaration, he embarks on a treasure hunt.

It’s a commercial film with a pretty good storyline.

Richard joined the cast in mid-January and continued filming until March when they finally wrapped.

While filming, he took some time to attend the 61st Golden Globe Awards ceremony. His performance in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King had earned him a lot of praise, and this time, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.

However, the award ultimately went to Jamie Foxx for Collateral, which stung a bit.

“Richard, sorry, I took this one.”

Jamie Foxx joked while holding up the award on stage.

“…”

Richard forced a smile. Is it really okay to show off like that? He clapped along.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won Best Motion Picture (Drama), Best Director, Best Original Score, and Best Original Song.

Lost in Translation was also a big winner at this year’s Golden Globes, taking home Best Motion Picture (Musical or Comedy) and Best Screenplay.

With most of the films related to him scooping up the major awards, his trip to the ceremony wasn’t in vain.

In early February, the 76th Academy Award nominations were announced.

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King received 11 nominations.

Lost in Translation received four nominations.

Collateral received two nominations: Best Actor and Best Film Editing.

“Is it really appropriate for me to be nominated for Best Actor?”

Richard frowned.

“Why wouldn’t it be? You did a great job. Don’t you think so?”

Anthony laughed.

“It was good, but I thought I’d be closer to an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. That seemed like a better chance.”

“Both roles have a shot, but going for Best Actor is more worthwhile. With that nomination, your pay could go up by at least $5 million.”

Anthony gestured animatedly.

“It feels too rushed. I might attract criticism.”

“What are you worried about? You single-handedly carried a $900 million box office. You contributed so much to the film industry, so why not get a nomination? With your status, even agreeing to participate in the Oscars is doing them a favor.”

"That makes sense! This is the first time I’ve noticed you sound pretty nice when you talk," Richard said with a smile.

"Haha, of course!"

On the day the nominations were announced, many people called to congratulate him, but none sounded more bitter than Keanu Reeves.

"Richard, I heard you won the Oscar for Best Actor. Congratulations, man, you’re incredible," Reeves said, laughing.

"Thanks. Are you eating lemons? You sound pretty sour."

"Sour? Me? What a joke."

"Well, that's good. Both Depp and I were nominated for Best Actor this time. How about we get together sometime?"

"No time."

Reeves hung up immediately.

Wasn’t that sour?

Richard chuckled and returned to the set to continue filming.

"Scene 231, take 1, action!"

---

On February 29th, the 76th Academy Awards were held at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. Richard, dressed in formal attire, walked into the theater.

It was his first time attending the Oscars. He’d been invited before but never had time to attend.

"Hey, Box Office King! Long time no see!" Orlando Bloom called out on the red carpet.

"Not me. Don't slander me."

Richard didn't like the nickname; it sounded too frivolous.

"You are! You raked in over 900 million at the box office in a year. The title is well deserved."

"Doesn't count. I wasn’t the lead in The Lord of the Rings."

"It was you!"

Director Peter Jackson pointed at a Return of the King movie poster. "Look at that! Whoever's face is biggest is the lead. In the third film, Aragorn is the main character."

On the Return of the King poster, Richard, dressed in armor and holding a mighty sword, looked heroic, with his face taking up the most space, while the others were placed below him.

He looked like the lead, but in his opinion, the real star of the movie was Weta Digital’s visual effects team, much like the Titanic was all about the ship.

"Richard, you’re always so modest," Liv Tyler said with a smile.

"Except when it comes to boxing," Orlando added, making everyone laugh.

After posing for photos on the red carpet, the group headed into the Dolby Theatre, where familiar faces were everywhere. More than twenty productions had received nominations, with over a thousand creative team members present, along with hundreds of award presenters and performers. The place was packed.

Richard and The Lord of the Rings crew sat in the front row. The movie had been nominated for three years in a row, but despite many nominations in previous years, they hadn't won any major awards.

This time, every media outlet predicted The Lord of the Rings would be the biggest winner at the Oscars.

"Hey Richard, do you think you’ll take home a golden statue?" Johnny Depp asked, sitting nearby. Pirates of the Caribbean had received five nominations, including Depp’s nod for Best Actor.

"I’m confident. What about you?"

"Haha, me too!"

They hugged, and Johnny returned to his seat.

"Hey Richard, I didn’t think we’d actually run into each other at the Oscars," Jude Law said, joining them.

His movie, Cold Mountain, had received seven nominations, and Jude was also nominated for Best Actor.

"You should have seen it coming. After all, we’re both pretty outstanding, right?" Richard replied.

"Haha, you’re absolutely right. Let’s see who’s better tonight," Jude said, playfully raising his fist.

"Deal!"

They bumped fists.

But the three of them were just joking around. The real threat for Best Actor was veteran actor Sean Penn.

This was Penn’s fourth Oscar nomination for Best Actor, having been previously nominated for Dead Man Walking, Sweet and Lowdown, and I Am Sam.

He had left empty-handed twice, and after the third time, he didn’t even bother attending.

But this time, he was present, and the Academy wouldn’t want to disappoint him again.

At 5:30 PM, the ceremony officially began. From the smaller categories at the start to the major awards at the end, the whole event lasted three and a half hours.

At one point, Richard went on stage to present the award for Best Original Screenplay, which went to Sofia Coppola for Lost in Translation.

The rest of the time, he was just part of the audience.

Finally, the major awards were announced. As expected, the Best Actor award went to Sean Penn, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King swept all 11 of its nominated categories, including Best Picture and Best Director.

Lost in Translation won one award, while Collateral went 0 for 2.

"Richard, don’t feel bad. We’re still young; there will be plenty of chances," Jude Law comforted him.

"Which eye of yours sees that I’m feeling bad?"

"Haha, both of them," Jude laughed, pointing at his eyes.

After the ceremony ended, Richard skipped the Oscars after-party and headed straight back to his villa in the hills.

He was still in the middle of filming, and staying up late would affect his performance.

The next day, he resumed shooting. After more than two months of filming, National Treasure wrapped up, and Richard could finally relax.

---

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 335: Bundchen's New Identity*

"I’m heading to work now. You don’t have any plans, so just stay home and take care of Louis for a while," Mrs. Bundchen said, applying a face mask in front of the mirror in her dressing room.

"Aren’t you going to take a little more time off? Louis is only six months old; he still needs you," Richard said, leaning down to hug her shoulders.

"Stop teasing me. I've already taken over a year off. Since last January, I’ve basically been semi-retired. If I don’t get back to work soon, the fashion world will forget I exist," Mrs. Bundchen replied with a hint of dissatisfaction. From 2000 to 2003, she had been the top model, dominating in both fame and influence, with countless top-tier endorsements and the highest income in the industry.

But after not working last year, her position dropped from first to second in the 2003 global model earnings rankings. She had to return to reclaim her throne.

Richard smiled, "You don’t need to rush. You’ve got your own personal brand. Even if you don’t do anything, you still make millions every year. Plus, my sportswear line will launch in about half a year, and I’ll need you to manage that."

"It’s fine. I can handle it," Mrs. Bundchen said confidently, waving her hand.

"Alright, if you can handle it, then I’ve got something else for you to do."

"What now? Don’t cause more trouble."

"Take a look at this," Richard said, pulling a contract and a stock certificate from the safe.

"IMG?"

Mrs. Bundchen skimmed through the contract. It was a stock subscription certificate for IMG Models.

"15.2%!! Why did you buy so much IMG stock?" she exclaimed in surprise.

"It’s your New Year’s gift. If you want to be the queen of fashion, let’s go big. IMG is a solid platform."

IMG was founded in 1960 by legendary sports agent Mark McCormack. It is one of the world’s top modeling and athlete agencies, and one of the top ten model agencies globally, also representing Mrs. Bundchen herself. Currently, the company’s valuation hovers around $870 million.

The shares listed on the certificate amounted to a staggering 15.2%, making her the third-largest shareholder after Revlon Group and Silver Lake Capital.

Last year, Richard had earned $550 million from Google and Amazon dividends, prize money, movie royalties, and dividends from New Century Pictures and BBA Corp.

At the end of each year, he and Ellie always looked for ways to spend their earnings.

Most of it was reinvested in Amazon and Google, increasing their holdings in both companies. Another $80 million was invested in his personal clothing brand, with future royalties increasing to 25%.

Through Stralem’s channels, he also acquired 15.2% of IMG shares.

IMG was a great platform, beyond just modeling. It had two major divisions: LENS, which focused on image production for art, fashion, and film; and M2M, which handled fashion videos, including movies, fashion shows, original series, and documentaries.

After some research, he saw IMG had great growth potential and was a solid investment.

Additionally, IMG’s agency work overlapped with BBA and Starlight Sports, but each had its own focus. Richard had shares and connections in all three, with the future potential to merge them into a super agency.

"Sweetheart, are you surprised?" Richard asked with a smile.

Mrs. Bundchen gave him a side-eye, "All I want is to use modeling as a platform to promote my clothing line. The more famous I am, the better the sales. Why give me IMG shares?"

"With shares, you have more control. You can do whatever you want. Isn’t that better?"

Richard smiled, gently touching her cheek.

"You’re just giving me more work!"

Mrs. Bundchen playfully bit his hand.

"I don’t mind," Richard said, pulling her in for a kiss.

"You don’t have to sign the stock transfer papers if you don’t want. I can manage the shares for you," she said, pushing him away to continue her makeup.

"This is a gift for you. You really don’t want it?"

Richard seemed a little disappointed.

"If the gift is too valuable, it loses its meaning," she insisted.

"It’s only a bit over a billion. I can make that in eight minutes. It’s not that valuable, is it?"

"Yes, time is priceless. Very valuable," she said with a smirk.

"But we spend hours in bed..."

"Stop it!" she said, drawing a lipstick line across his face.

"Alright, you can manage the shares, and the dividends each year will be your salary for handling them. You can’t say no to that. Otherwise, I’ll lose face. And if I lose face, you won’t be able to get out of bed today."

Richard spoke in a serious tone.

Mrs. Bundchen smiled, "Alright!"

—

After breakfast, Mrs. Bundchen, accompanied by her assistant, secretary, and bodyguards, got into the car.

Richard stood at the door holding their little one to see her off.

"Luis, say goodbye to Mommy!"

"Ya~ ya~"

Louis, sitting in his baby carrier, reached out his little hand toward the car.

"Be good, Louis. Stay home with Daddy. Mommy will be back this afternoon," Mrs. Bundchen said, wiping her eyes. She had gotten so used to being with him that she didn’t want to be apart, not even for a moment.

"Why put yourself through this?" Richard laughed.

"Hmph, it’s still cold outside. Don’t stay out too long with Louis. And don’t take him into the training room when you practice boxing. I don’t want him growing up getting hit," she teased.

"That’s job discrimination," he joked back.

Richard complained unhappily.

"I'm leaving now!"

Bundchen waved to the little one as two sedans slowly drove out of the Brad Manor.

"Luis, it's just the two of us now. What should we do? How about taking a walk? The weather's nice today, and I can show you some nature."

Richard, wearing a baby carrier, placed the little one in front of him and started walking around the villa.

The large, neatly trimmed hedges looked like a maze. The expansive lawn, with fresh green sprouting, was due for another trim soon. Four Huskies and Samoyeds were running wild across the grass, and when they saw sunlight on the tennis court, they chased after the sun.

Richard strolled under the warm sun with the little one, who let out a few excited sounds before soon starting to doze off, wobbling as he slept.

"What a little piggy!"

Returning to the villa, he handed the half-asleep child over to the nanny and went to the training room to practice boxing. He had a match in June against "Little Tyson" David Tua, and he needed to keep winning.

"Bundchen, you're really back at work?"

At IMG, in Ms. Bundchen’s personal office, Angela knocked and walked in, dressed casually in a sweater and jeans.

"I told you yesterday, I’ve been cooped up at home for a year, I need to get out and do something."

Ms. Bundchen handed her a cup of hot coffee.

"Do you really need to work? Your husband makes a hundred million in eight minutes, over a billion a year. He could buy IMG with just a year's salary. Why are you even here? Do you really need to do runway shows for a few hundred thousand?"

Angela blinked playfully.

Ms. Bundchen smirked. "The way you put it, doing runway shows sounds pretty unreasonable."

"Not just unreasonable, completely ridiculous. Think about it. Your man is a global superstar, a billionaire on the Forbes list. If you’re out here doing small-time modeling jobs, what will people think? Is he not enough of a billionaire to support his wife? I can't believe Richard let you out."

"Emm, you might have a point."

Ms. Bundchen crossed her legs and tapped her knee, recalling Richard’s conflicted expression before she left. Angela’s words made her realize how odd the situation was.

"See? Being with Richard, you're far beyond the modeling world. Why come back? Compete with the newbies for gigs?"

Ms. Bundchen nodded slightly, eyeing Angela. "Did Richard send you?"

"Ah—" Angela almost spilled her coffee. "No! I’m just telling the truth. Am I wrong?"

"No, but I’m already here. Am I supposed to just go back? I don’t want to be a full-time housewife."

Ms. Bundchen spoke earnestly. She had once aimed to become a supermodel in ten years and then marry a good man. But everything changed when she met Richard.

It didn’t even take two years before she became a supermodel, then the highest-paid model for three consecutive years. She launched her own clothing brand, and marrying a billionaire was the cherry on top. She had truly reached the peak of the modeling world.

"Sigh, it's all Richard’s fault. He ruined my dream."

Ms. Bundchen wrinkled her nose.

"Oh, come on! You married the man every woman dreams of, and now you’re the envy of all. Do you know what people say behind your back?"

Angela gave her a playful wink. "They say you must have saved the galaxy in a past life to end up with a guy like Richard—good looks, fame, fortune, status, everything."

"From ‘97 to ‘04, it’s been seven years. Every woman’s been waiting for you two to break up, but you’ve let everyone down."

Angela playfully slapped her on the shoulder.

"Ah! Are you trying to murder me?"

Ms. Bundchen rubbed her shoulder and shot her a look. "Honestly, I didn’t think we’d last this long either. Seven years is a long time. It hasn’t been easy."

Looking back at those years, there had been sweetness and struggles. Overall, it was a good experience, and Ms. Bundchen smiled softly.

Knock, knock.

The office door was tapped on.

"Come in!"

"Good morning, Ms. Bundchen. The CEO said there’s an internal meeting at noon. Do you have time? If not, we can reschedule."

The CEO’s secretary politely stood at the door.

"At noon? Yes, I’m free."

"Great."

The secretary courteously closed the door.

"Director?" Angela looked puzzled. "How did you become a director? And why is the CEO sucking up to you?"

"Nothing much. Richard bought some shares in IMG."

Ms. Bundchen shrugged casually.

"I bought shares too. Why didn’t I get a director's position? Did Richard buy a lot?"

"Not really, just 15%."

Cough.

"Fifteen percent isn't a lot?"

Angela shook her head. "Giselle, let me ask you. How does it feel to go from model to major shareholder?"

"Emm, pretty awesome, haha!"

Ms. Bundchen burst into laughter.

"Hmph, Director, now that you’re in power, remember to take care of me."

Angela hugged her playfully.

"No problem. In fact, I’ve been meaning to talk to you. I’ve got a lot of work coming up—managing my personal brand, Richard’s sports brand, IMG. I’m thinking of opening a personal studio. Want to join me? I’ll give you shares."

Ms. Bundchen smiled, arm around her friend’s shoulder.

Angela rolled her eyes. "You want me to work for you?"

"Not interested? I’ll find someone else."

"No, I’m in! I can’t let go of this golden opportunity!"

"Don’t be ridiculous. Are my legs really that big?"

Ms. Bundchen shot her a look.

(End of Chapter)