536-540

Chapter 536: Eli Lilly Shares

"Rust and Bone" has been in theaters in North America for 26 days, and the North American box office has slowly surpassed $100 million, currently standing at $102 million. This is Lionsgate's fourth movie this year to surpass $100 million at the North American box office.

The first film was "The Expendables 2," which has grossed $165 million in North America and $452 million globally. The second was the comedy "Identity Thief," with $158 million in North America and $215 million globally.

The third was "Now You See Me," which premiered two weeks after "Rust and Bone" and currently has a North American box office of $112 million. Its international performance is slightly better, with about $195 million, bringing its global total to over $300 million.

In the first half of the year, Lionsgate released 12 movies, with 4 surpassing $100 million at the North American box office and 8 earning over $50 million. The only loss was from the distributed film "The Last Stand." This success has left many in the industry envious.

Of the roughly 800 films released in North America annually, only about one-fifth break even. Yet almost every Lionsgate film makes a profit, which has led to envy and jealousy among competitors.

In June, another Lionsgate co-produced film, "World War Z," was released, in collaboration with David Ellison, Paramount Pictures, and Plan B Entertainment.

This film was distributed by Paramount.

By its eighth day, "World War Z" had grossed over $100 million in North America, and its global box office exceeded $300 million. Although it didn’t perform as well as "Iron Man 3" or "Fast & Furious 6," Lionsgate’s $50 million investment won’t lose money and should yield a profit of $10-20 million.

In contrast, films like "The Hangover Part III," "After Earth," and "The Lone Ranger" flopped at the box office.

Warner Bros.' "The Hangover Part III" had a production cost of $103 million, with North American box office earnings of just $112 million and $240 million internationally. While it didn’t lose money, it fell far short of the previous two films in the series.

Sony-Columbia’s "After Earth," with a budget of $130 million, grossed only $60.52 million in North America in its first four weeks, with an international total of $150 million. The estimated losses are expected to exceed $50 million.

But the biggest box office flop in recent memory is undoubtedly Disney’s "The Lone Ranger."

Starring Johnny Depp and directed by Gore Verbinski, the mastermind behind the "Pirates of the Caribbean" series, and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, a top Hollywood producer, the film had a massive budget of $215 million.

From its scale and cast, it was seen as a potential blockbuster, possibly even rivalling "Iron Man 3" for the box office crown of the year.

However, after its mid-June release, it performed disastrously at the box office.

In its opening weekend, across 3,904 theaters, it grossed just $30.11 million. After two weeks, it had only earned $74.35 million in North America, despite Disney’s tireless marketing efforts. The film’s earnings didn’t even match the opening weekend numbers of "Iron Man 3."

The North American box office is expected to cap at around $80 million, and internationally it has just surpassed $100 million.

Total Film magazine predicted that the movie could result in a $200 million loss for Disney.

Rumors suggest that the poor box office performance caused a rift between producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Disney, ending their 20-year collaboration.

The film’s fate is similar to MGM's "Windtalkers," which led to that studio's bankruptcy. If Disney weren’t as large and financially strong as it is, a $200 million loss could be a fatal blow to a typical film company.

Among the "Big Six" studios, three have had box office failures, while Lionsgate continues to churn out hit after hit. This success has led both competitors and media outlets to commend Lionsgate for its prudent approach to film production and distribution, which is rare in the industry.

With Lionsgate's impressive film slate and Netflix’s stock recovery, the studio’s market capitalization has been hyped on Wall Street to between $2.6 billion and $3 billion.

While it's still not on par with the "Big Six," it’s catching up to the pre-bankruptcy valuation of MGM.

The Hollywood Reporter speculated that if this trend continues, Lionsgate could replace MGM or Columbia Pictures as Hollywood’s next big studio.

Lionsgate's steady rise has also intensified competition among major studios, putting pressure on the "Big Six."

As a result, companies like Sony Pictures, 20th Century Fox, ABRY Partners, and AIG have approached Lionsgate with acquisition offers, willing to pay no less than $3 billion for the company or a portion of its shares. If the acquisition were successful, Link and Ivanka would continue to hold senior positions.

After discussing with the board, Link and Ivanka chose to reject the offer.

They don’t need more cash, and selling Lionsgate, which generates billions in revenue annually, wouldn’t be a wise move.

However, given the current market climate, Link decided to sell 10% of Lionsgate’s shares to optimize the company's equity structure and make a quick profit.

As soon as the news broke, former Lionsgate shareholder Carl Icahn expressed interest in buying the shares for $350 million.

Carl Icahn, founder of Icahn Enterprises, is worth $19.7 billion and ranked 69th on Forbes' list. He’s also known as "The Wolf of Wall Street."

After some consideration, Link agreed to the deal.

His stake in Lionsgate dropped from 75.3% to 65.3%, and he pocketed $350 million in cash. With additional earnings from two boxing matches, albums, endorsements, and film salaries, he now holds $600 million in cash.

Considering the growth of the biopharmaceutical industry, Link spent $600 million to acquire a 1.482% stake in Eli Lilly (LLY) from the stock market.

Eli Lilly focuses on developing treatments for heart disease, diabetes, and weight loss. Its product lineup includes popular drugs like Ceclor, Cymbalta, Prozac, Zyprexa, and Cialis.

With a current stock price of $42 per share, Eli Lilly has a market capitalization of $40.5 billion.

Following the global flu pandemic, its valuation skyrocketed past $1 trillion, making it the first pharmaceutical company to reach a trillion-dollar market cap.

Additionally, Eli Lilly has consistently high profits and dividends, offering more stable returns than even Coca-Cola.

This investment made perfect sense.

In addition to acquiring 1.482% of Eli Lilly through Goldbeck Investments, Link also used his Link Global Charity Foundation to buy shares in other pharmaceutical companies.

This included stakes in Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, and others. This initiative began last year, but due to the foundation’s limited funds, they only purchased around $60 million in shares.

Thanks to dividends from these stocks, the Link Charity Foundation can help more retired athletes each year. As these stock prices continue to rise in the future, the foundation will have more money to support more people.

It’s a virtuous cycle.

——

"Honey, the production department just submitted a great script and they think you’re perfect for the lead role. Do you want to take a look?"

At their hillside villa, Ivanka walked into the living room after work, setting down her handbag and slipping into her slippers.

Link glanced at her—she looked stunning in a sleeveless cobalt blue dress. "What script?"

"Remember Fifty Shades of Grey? The novel is a global sensation right now, and the production department wants to adapt it into a film. They think you’d be perfect as the lead, the domineering CEO. What do you think?" Ivanka asked, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and kissing his cheek.

Link, overwhelmed by her familiar scent, sighed, "That’s an erotic novel with tons of steamy scenes, and I’d have to undress. Do you really want to see me doing nude scenes?"

"Yes! Your love scenes in Rust and Bone were fantastic, and the audience loved them. The film has grossed nearly $300 million worldwide—over ten times the investment. You should keep doing these kinds of roles. The box office will only get better, and you’ll get to film love scenes with beautiful actresses. Isn’t that exciting?"

Ivanka teased, clinging to his neck affectionately.

"Not at all. Filming those scenes is tedious and awkward, not fun. And I’m a billionaire and a global superstar. You really want me undressing on screen all the time? Isn’t that embarrassing?"

"Not at all. You’ve got an amazing body! You should make more films like this so women all over the world can fall for you."

Ivanka pressed her cheek against his playfully.

"There’s no need. I’m a serious actor—I don’t need to take off my clothes to get famous. Let someone else have the role."

Link put down his newspaper and pulled her into his lap, kissing her lips. Feeling her warm body, his hands wandered instinctively.

"Stop! It’s hot, and I’m all sweaty."

Ivanka grabbed his hand from under her dress and placed it on her thigh, preventing him from moving it elsewhere.

"That makes it even better, doesn’t it?"

Link kissed her neck, getting ready to explore the mysteries of life and human origins.

Pudada!  

“Daddy! Mommy!”

Suddenly, little Margarita came waddling over, standing next to the sofa, tilting her head, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity as she looked at the two of them.

Link and Ivanka exchanged glances and chuckled. Back when it was just the two of them at home, they could roll from the sofa to the carpet, from the carpet to the bathroom or the bed, playing around however they wanted.

But now things were different. With a little one around, there was always an extra pair of eyes watching.

Ivanka gently pushed him away, crouching down to hug little Margarita and said, “Daddy and Mommy are playing a game. Are you hungry, Margarita?”

“Nope! I'm full!”

Little Margarita shook her head, her voice sweet as could be.

“She just had her milk,” Link said as he tapped her little nose. Margarita’s nose was like Ivanka’s, with a slightly upturned tip, making her look like a cute little pixie straight out of a comic book.

“What did you do today, Margarita?” Ivanka asked as she pulled the little one onto the sofa.

“Um, um, um, played...with the monkey, elephant, and apple.” Margarita babbled as she gestured excitedly.

“Wow, what a smart little one! Only a year old and you already know about apples. Amazing!” Ivanka praised with a smile.

Margarita giggled, waving her arms in delight as she named even more animals. All of these were things the nanny, Evangeline, had taught her.

“Margarita is really smart. Maybe we should get her a few tutors to teach her some preschool knowledge, like music, art, math—anything. We can start now,” Ivanka said, stroking the little girl’s hair.

“She’s only one. It’s too early. Our kids don’t need to be rushed. Let her play for a few years and then learn when she’s older,” Link said as he looked at the tiny bundle of joy between them. Both he and Ivanka were over six feet tall, but here was little Margarita, so small, sitting in the middle with her cute dress and delicate face, looking like a flower fairy.

“When you practice piano, you can let her sit next to you and listen. It’s not like she has anything else to do,” Ivanka suggested.

“Or maybe I should teach Margarita boxing. She’s as strong as Cynthia and Alexander, even stronger than most kids her age. If all three of them trained with me, one day we could dominate the boxing world together as a family!”

“Hmph! Say that in front of Taylor and see if she doesn’t smack you!” Ivanka shot him a look as she picked up Margarita and headed to the pool for a swim.

Link shrugged. He used to think eight kids were a lot.

But with four sons and four daughters, it didn’t seem like enough boys. None of his sons were set to follow in his footsteps in the boxing world, so he decided that in the future, he’d have more sons with Ivanka, Taylor, and Chris Liu.

The ones who liked music could inherit his music career. The ones into boxing could follow in his footsteps. The ones interested in acting could become actors. There was always swimming, charity, too.

And for those who didn’t like or excel in anything, they could just inherit the family business and live off dividends from the family trust.

With his current wealth, he figured he could manage having a hundred more kids.

“Are you coming for a swim?” Ivanka asked as she came out in a bikini, her slim waist, peach-shaped hips, and long legs looking incredibly sexy.

Link shrugged and followed her to the outdoor pool.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 537: Picking Up the Kids*

Taylor has been busy recording songs and releasing a new album recently, leaving her with no time to care for the kids.

So, Link drove to Taylor's mansion in Beverly Hills, planning to take the two little ones back to his hillside villa. With little Margarita there, the three kids together would make it even more lively.

“Daddy!”

Seeing him arrive, Cynthia and Alexander ran happily towards him, throwing themselves into his arms.

Link effortlessly lifted them both up and gave each a kiss.

Even though they saw each other weekly, the two little ones were always excited to see him.

The main reason was that Taylor was stricter with them, having arranged lessons like music, painting, and preschool courses since they were 18 months old. She rarely spent time playing with them.

On the other hand, Link had more free time and would always play with them, taking them to the aquarium, amusement parks, or watching cartoons together.

Taylor had become the tiger mom, while Link was the cat dad.

“Hmph!”

Taylor came down from upstairs, wearing a simple t-shirt and denim shorts. She had an amazing figure and a delicate face, with her hair casually draped. She wasn’t big on dressing up, and when she saw him, she still looked at him with annoyance, as if he particularly irritated her.

Link didn’t mind and looked at the kids' mother, still holding one in each arm.

“How’s the new album coming along?”

“What does that have to do with you? Why should I tell you?”

Taylor wrinkled her nose and responded moodily.

“If you’re stuck, I could help you find some inspiration.”

“No thanks! Cynthia, Alexander, come down. You're too old to be carried around.”

Taylor took the kids from his arms and told them to go to their room to draw.

Alexander and Cynthia looked at Link with their big, innocent eyes, making him feel a pang of sorrow.

“They’re only two years old. Why are you pushing them so hard with all these lessons?”

“None of your business. They’re my kids. I’ll have them do whatever I want. You can’t tell me what to do.”

Taylor retorted stubbornly.

“And you couldn’t have had them without me.”

“Jerk! Don’t you dare bring up the past! Every time I think of it, I want to stab you.”

Taylor shook her white fists in front of him.

Link just shook his head, crouched down, and whispered a few words to the little ones. Alexander and Cynthia nodded their tiny heads and toddled back to their room.

“What did you tell them?” Taylor asked, frowning.

Link walked over to the bar, poured two glasses of water, and handed one to her. “I told them to go draw for now, and I’d take them to the hillside villa to play later.”

“Who said they’re going to the villa with you? I didn’t agree. You’re not taking them today.”

Taylor sat on a chair, crossing her long legs, her tone firm.

Link shook his head. “I’ve recently written two new songs. I think they’re pretty good. Want to hear them?”

“Are you trying to trade your songs for Alexander and Cynthia, one song for each kid?”

Taylor blinked her fox-like eyes at him.

“Stop wasting time. Do you want to listen or not?”

“Fine, I’ll listen. No need to shout.”

Taylor shot him a glare, slipped on her slippers, and walked upstairs.

Link shook his head and followed her. He saw the two little ones peeking at him from behind the doorframe. He smiled at them and told them to wait just a little longer.

—

"Decisions as I go, to anywhere I flow

I go with the flow, in the waves of time

Sometimes I believe, at times I'm rational

Sometimes I think, staying calm is key"

As Link played the piano and sang “Reality,” a popular song by the Belgian band Lost Frequencies, he moved into a second, newly written song of his own.

After finishing, he turned to look at Taylor, who was leaning against the window sill.

“How was it?”

“The first song was good, but the second one isn’t quite polished yet. So, you can only take one of the little ones today. Who will it be, Alexander or Cynthia?”

Taylor asked, crossing her arms.

Link smirked and walked up to her. “I heard from Annie that you’ve been locked away creating lately. Any big breakthroughs?”

“Of course. So many that I’m having trouble deciding which songs to include in my next album,” Taylor said proudly, lifting her chin.

“That’s a great problem to have. Not like me, who can only write a handful of songs at a time. Sometimes I don’t even have any backup songs to swap in. It’s frustrating. If I could create at your pace, writing hundreds of great songs a year, I wouldn’t have retired so early.”

Link praised her.

Taylor gave a small huff, side-eyeing him. “Are you trying to brag that every song you write is a classic, one of your songs is worth ten of mine?”

“No, a hundred.”

“What?!”

Taylor’s fists tightened.

“Kidding.”

Link chuckled, grabbing her pale fist, “You taught me everything—piano, guitar, songwriting. How could I be better than you? You’re the real artist. At most, I’m a pop star. Sure, my album sales are high, but I relied on hype and timing. If it were purely based on song quality, I wouldn’t be able to compete with you, or even Katy Perry or Justin Bieber.”

“You’re saying songs like ‘See You Again,’ ‘Legends Never Die,’ ‘Unstoppable,’ ‘All of Me,’ ‘Give Me a Reason,’ and ‘Just the Way You Are’ are trash?” Taylor asked, not satisfied.

“I wouldn’t call them trash. I just think you’re more talented. In songwriting, performing, stage presence—everything. You’re my idol. That’s the truth.”

“Hmph! Do I need your compliments?”

Taylor punched his arm lightly. “You’re not untalented. You’re just too lazy, too rich, and involved in too many things. If you focused solely on music, no one could compete with you in the industry. You’re your own worst enemy.”

“No way. Maybe some fans would miss my music, but my film and fight fans would be thrilled.”

Link laughed.

“Yeah, making those kinds of films.”

Taylor scoffed.

“But I won Best Actor at the Cannes Film Festival, an award many serious actors never win.”

Link said proudly.

“Hmph, what’s so great about that? If I acted, I could win at Cannes, maybe even an Oscar.”

Taylor said, unconvinced.

“You? If you started acting, you’d win a Razzie next year.”

“Rubbish! I’d never win a Razzie.”

Taylor punched him again.

“Fine, fine, I was joking. You’re so talented, with some effort, you could win the Oscar for Best Actress.”

Link smiled, wrapping his arms around her.

“Hmph, you’re just trying to annoy me.”

Taylor gave him a side-eye.

Link leaned back against the windowsill, letting the sunlight wash over him. Taylor’s scent grew stronger in the warmth, and her delicate ear turned a soft pink in the light.

“It’s been a long time since we talked like this.”

Link sighed.

When they used to live together, there were often moments of silence, or a deep understanding where words weren’t needed. After their breakup, every meeting ended in arguments.

Today, though they bickered, it was much calmer.

Maybe it had to do with maturity, with both of them growing up and becoming more rational.

“You’re only sweet-talking because you want to take Alexander and Cynthia. Don’t think I can’t see through you.”

Taylor said.

Link shook his head, put his arm around her, and turned her face toward him, looking deeply into her blue eyes. They were still as beautiful as ever, though now they held more fatigue and frustration.

“What are you doing, you jerk?”

Taylor blinked at him.

Link gently tilted her chin up and kissed her lips. At first, it was light, but then the kiss deepened. For a few seconds, Taylor closed her eyes instinctively, but then she suddenly opened them and pushed him away.

“You think seducing me will work? Let me tell you, it won’t.”

Taylor clenched her fists and waved them at him.

“No, I just often think about coming to see you when I have free time. But you’re so busy now, and I’m never sure if you’ll be annoyed by my presence. Every time I come, I hesitate for a long time, needing to find the perfect excuse. Sometimes I think if you weren’t so brilliant and independent, I’d buy out all your contracts just to have you all to myself.”

“You pervert. I’ll never let you get away with that.”

Taylor said, lifting her chin.

Link shrugged and started to walk away.

“Just like that? You’re giving up your chance to spend time with Alexander and Cynthia that easily? What kind of father are you?”

Taylor scoffed.

“What do you want?”

“You could try pleasing me. If you make me happy, I might let you take Alexander and Cynthia.”

Taylor said, crossing her arms smugly.

“Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

Link smiled softly, walked over to her, and without waiting for her to speak, gently placed his hand on the back of her head and bent down to kiss her deeply.

Taylor, wrapped in his embrace, pounded his shoulder with her fists, but it was futile. Her body slowly softened under the passionate kiss.

Link had no intention of letting her speak. While they kissed, he pressed her against the wall and methodically began to disarm her.

As Taylor struggled.

He was like a seasoned fighter in the ring, his weapons easily slipping through her flimsy defenses and striking her core with precision.

The battle was about to begin.

Over an hour later, Taylor was utterly defeated, and Link successfully took Alexander and Cynthia with him.

As he left with the two little ones, the babysitter had already packed their luggage. This made him wonder if all the effort he'd just put in was unnecessary—perhaps he could have taken the kids without so much trouble?

"You jerk, you'd better not teach them boxing! If I find out you did, you'll regret it!"

Taylor leaned on the windowsill on the second floor, her hair messy, her voice hoarse.

"Got it. Alexander, Cynthia, say goodbye to Mommy."

Link placed the two kids into the car seats in the back and said.

"Bye, Mommy!"

The two little ones waved at Taylor through the window, their voices clear as they cheerfully said goodbye, telling her they were going to have fun with Dad.

They were adorably well-behaved.

"Dad, why did Mommy call you a jerk?"

Cynthia looked up, her voice sweet and innocent.

Link's face darkened. He shot a glare at the laughing Taylor and told Cynthia it was a term of endearment, something only Mommy and Daddy could say to each other. She wasn't allowed to use it. Then he quickly changed the subject to prevent the word "jerk" from taking root in her young mind.

"Sweetheart, we're leaving. If you miss Alexander and Cynthia, feel free to come by anytime."

"Yeah, yeah, you're so annoying."

Taylor pulled the window shut and turned back inside.

Beep beep beep!

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 538: Collaboration*

After picking up the kids, every day is spent at home with them, except for a few hours of boxing training.

With her older brother and sister around, little Margarita is even happier, constantly following Alexander and Cynthia around, running and playing all day.

Sometimes, little Annie, Selena, and Tiffany come over to play too, turning the hillside villa into a playground for kids of all ages, filled with laughter from morning till night.

In the fourth week since its release, World War Z grossed $200 million at the North American box office, with global earnings surpassing $500 million.

At the same time, Now You See Me entered its final phase in theaters, raking in $120 million domestically and crossing the $350 million mark globally.

Along with substantial revenue from product placements, Lionsgate earned over $150 million in profits from Now You See Me alone.

This week, Lionsgate released another well-received comedy film, The Heat.

Directed by Paul Feig, who also directed Bridesmaids, the movie follows the story of FBI agent Sarah and tough cop Shannon as they team up to take down a Russian drug cartel.

The two leads are Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy.

Sandra is an Oscar-winning actress and one of the top stars in the industry, while Melissa, who gained fame through Bridesmaids, starred in Identity Thief earlier this year, which grossed $160 million domestically. Thanks to this film, her popularity soared.

Both actresses hold strong box office appeal in the North American market.

Originally slated for a March release, internal screenings of The Heat received positive reviews, prompting the distribution department to delay its release to the summer to aim for better box office results.

The box office data for The Heat justified the special scheduling decision.

In its first three days, it grossed $39.11 million across 3,181 theaters.

By its 15th day, The Heat crossed the $100 million mark domestically, becoming Lionsgate's fifth movie this year to do so.

Comparatively, only 26 out of 807 films released last year in North America grossed over $100 million. This year’s numbers are expected to be similar.

Lionsgate alone had five films gross over $100 million domestically in just the first half of the year.

Considering that Lionsgate still has The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, The Wolf of Wall Street, Insidious: Chapter 2, and eight other films yet to be released, Total Film magazine predicts that Lionsgate will have 7-8 films surpass $100 million this year.

If the prediction proves accurate, Lionsgate could account for 25%-33% of all movies grossing over $100 million, a huge share.

This success almost guarantees that Lionsgate will remain one of the top five, or even top three, studios by total box office earnings this year.

As a result, executives at the six major studios are under immense pressure, holding frequent internal meetings to discuss how to increase their own box office numbers and prevent Lionsgate from dominating.

But their conclusion was that there wasn’t much they could do.

Out of the 700-800 films released annually in North America, less than one-fifth break even. Increasing output doesn’t guarantee profits. In fact, producing too many films could lead to even greater losses.

Since they couldn’t improve their own box office numbers, they turned to limiting and suppressing Lionsgate’s films. Unfortunately, Lionsgate has its own independent distribution and marketing channels, along with Netflix as a platform for online releases, meaning they don’t rely on the six major studios’ channels.

This made it difficult for the majors to find a way to hurt Lionsgate.

Just as Warner Bros. was planning to team up with Weinstein Company, Legendary Pictures, and others to limit Lionsgate, news broke that Paramount Pictures was preparing to collaborate with Lionsgate.

Paramount recently signed a five-year partnership deal with Lionsgate.

According to the agreement, the two companies will co-fund and produce 20 films over the next five years, with Paramount agreeing to pay Lionsgate up to $1 billion in production funds over several stages.

Lionsgate has strong production capabilities and a keen understanding of market trends, while Paramount, backed by Viacom, has a powerful global marketing and distribution network.

This strong partnership is expected to yield excellent box office results.

The news was reported by The Los Angeles Times and The New York Post, sparking widespread discussion in the film industry.

Over the past three years, Lionsgate has been an aggressive force in the movie market, competing with the "Big Six" studios on just $500-$600 million in annual production budgets. Remarkably, Lionsgate triumphed last year, ranking third in total box office. This year, it’s likely to remain in the top five.

Meanwhile, Paramount has been performing modestly, often ranking fifth or sixth in total annual box office and rarely breaking into the top three.

If this trend continues, Paramount risks falling behind the other "Big Seven" studios.

Under such circumstances, Paramount’s decision to collaborate with Lionsgate seems "risky."

For the Big Six, Lionsgate is an unwelcome competitor. The best way to deal with it would be to limit its growth and prevent it from continuing to eat into their market share.

However, if Paramount’s partnership with Lionsgate succeeds, Paramount could outperform the other five major studios, improving its rank among the Big Six.

On the flip side, if the collaboration fails, Paramount could be left behind, far outpaced by the competition.

The Hollywood Reporter called Paramount’s bet on Lionsgate a "stunning decision." Regardless of the outcome, competition in the movie industry will become more intense over the next few years. Some large studios might even go bankrupt, and the root cause of all this would be the "rise of Lionsgate." More precisely, it all began when Link acquired Lionsgate.

---

“Haha, Link, congratulations on your partnership with Paramount. It’ll make future collaborations between us even easier,” David Ellison said with a smile, holding a glass of wine at the World War Z $500 million box office celebration.

Link nodded. The collaboration was first proposed by Brad Grey, the chairman and CEO of Paramount, and strongly supported by David Ellison, who works in Paramount’s production department. The proposal eventually gained the backing of Sumner Redstone, chairman of Viacom.

After several rounds of negotiations, the two parties signed a collaboration agreement, temporarily becoming allies.

This partnership offers more advantages to Lionsgate.

First, with an additional $1 billion in project funds, Lionsgate can produce more films.

Secondly, with Paramount’s support, Lionsgate’s distribution and marketing capabilities are strengthened, leading to better box office performance.

Additionally, by partnering with Paramount, Lionsgate will have the opportunity to invest in Paramount’s films, such as World War Z. If Lionsgate sees potential, they can join as investors, rather than being excluded.

More importantly, this collaboration could disrupt the tacit understanding between the Big Six studios, making it harder for them to unite against Lionsgate.

These benefits were why Link agreed to the partnership.

“Any big projects lately? I’m talking about major investments over $100 million—I love big projects,” David Ellison asked.

“Lionsgate doesn’t have many big films in the pipeline at the moment. Besides The Hunger Games: Mockingjay and The Expendables 3, nothing’s confirmed yet. Are you interested?”

Link thought for a moment.

“I’ve seen The Expendables 3 promotion. Are you the lead this time?”

“Yes, definitely the lead.”

“Alright, I’m in.”

David Ellison agreed without hesitation.

“You’re jumping in without even seeing the script?”

“Haha, of course. So far, none of the films you’ve starred in have lost money. I don’t believe this one will either. And even if it does, I’ll take the hit.”

David Ellison winked and laughed.

Link shook his head. He couldn’t guarantee The Expendables 3 wouldn’t lose money, as it was an entirely new script and an unprecedented film. He wasn’t sure if it would be a hit or a flop.

To minimize the risk, he didn’t mind bringing in other studios as co-producers.

“Hey, Link, David.”

World War Z star Brad Pitt approached with his wife, Angelina Jolie.

Pitt’s Plan B production company was also an investor in World War Z, marking the second collaboration between Lionsgate and Plan B after Moneyball. Both projects were successful.

Brad Pitt proposed a new project to Link, based on a true story about the 2008 global financial crisis. It followed a group of Wall Street investors who saw through the subprime mortgage bubble and profited immensely by shorting subprime mortgage-backed securities, making them some of the few to benefit from the financial disaster.

The plot reminded Link of The Big Short, a similar film that was later nominated for an Oscar for Best Picture. Although the box office results were uncertain, the film’s success at the Oscars was promising.

When Pitt asked if he was interested, Link said he would recommend the project to the production department and that the final decision would depend on the project’s plan.

“Link, I heard you’re now a stay-at-home dad. Do you enjoy spending time with kids?” Angelina Jolie asked, her brown, wavy hair cascading down, and dressed in a red gown, she stood beside Brad Pitt with a playful smile.

Jolie was stunningly beautiful, with a seductive presence. Whenever she looked at someone, her eyes seemed to sparkle, almost giving off the impression that she wants to sleep with me.

Link wasn’t sure if it was just his imagination, and didn’t want to think too much about it. He smiled and said, "Yes, Ivanka and Taylor are both really busy, while I have more free time. Most of the time, I'm at home taking care of the kids."

"Haha, that’s funny. A big star like you, staying home every day with the kids. Brad, you should learn from Link."

Angelina Jolie gave Brad Pitt a playful slap on the shoulder.

"Yeah, being a stay-at-home dad is quite an interesting experience. Once I finish the projects I’m working on, I plan to stay home and take care of the kids too," Brad Pitt said with a shrug and a smile.

"Link, I have a great project in hand. It’s about a fairy tale, kind of like Sleeping Beauty, with a witch and a cute little princess. It’s really interesting. Would you be interested in checking out the script?" Angelina Jolie asked with a smile.

"Sounds good, I’d love to take a look at the script you’re talking about."

"Great, let’s catch up later."

Angelina Jolie smiled, raised her champagne glass, and clinked it with his.

After chatting a bit more, the Jolie-Pitts left hand in hand.

Other main cast members and the director and producer of World War Z, as well as Brad Grey, the chairman of Paramount Pictures, and Rob Moore, the vice-chairman, also came over to greet him.

Initially, Link had planned to just show his face and leave, but he was so popular that it took over an hour of socializing at the party before he could make his exit.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 539: Discussion*

After the party ended, Link received the script for Maleficent from Angelina Jolie.

Maleficent is a character from the movie Sleeping Beauty, an evil fairy who curses Princess Aurora to prick her finger on a spindle and die on her 16th birthday because she wasn’t invited to the christening ceremony.

In the new script, Maleficent is portrayed in a more positive light. She was originally a beautiful, pure young fairy with wings that allowed her to fly, living in a peaceful forest kingdom.

However, after being betrayed by her lover, the king, who cut off her wings, her heart grew cold.

Seeking revenge on the king, she cursed Princess Aurora. But as Aurora grew up, Maleficent gradually realized that the young princess could not only bring peace to both worlds but also true happiness to her. Through their interactions, Maleficent's heart was slowly purified.

After reading the script, Link recalled a movie similar to it, Maleficent, which also starred Angelina Jolie as a forest witch with horns.

The box office performance of this film was impressive, surpassing Mr. & Mrs. Smith, starring Jolie and Pitt, and becoming her highest-grossing film.

Mr. & Mrs. Smith grossed $480 million worldwide.

Meanwhile, Maleficent had a production cost of $180 million, suggesting good investment potential.

After reviewing the script, he recommended the project to the production department to discuss specific collaboration details with the producers.

There were currently two producers involved in the project, one being Disney, and the other Angelina Jolie’s film studio.

This script drew from the story of Sleeping Beauty, a Disney-owned property. After screenwriter Linda Woolverton completed the script, it was submitted to Disney for production.

However, Disney, concerned about the large investment and potential for loss, only agreed to invest $80 million, leaving the remaining funding to be figured out by the producers.

After reading the script, Angelina Jolie loved it and wanted to play the lead role. Through her film studio, she invested $30 million and promised to help raise more funds.

After meeting Link at the celebration party, she brought up the idea of collaboration, and to her surprise, Link agreed.

"Link is quite a decent guy."

At a beauty salon, Angelina Jolie said this as she lay on a massage chair.

“Link? Which Link?”

Reese Witherspoon, lying on the chair next to her, turned over curiously and asked.

“We’re in Hollywood. Which Link do you think?”

Jolie replied with her eyes closed, a skincare mask on her face.

“Alright. Why are you suddenly talking about Link? Are you two close?”

Reese Witherspoon asked with a gossipy expression.

“We’ve talked a few times. We’re friends. I met him at a party the other day and mentioned the new film. I asked if he was interested in collaborating, and he quickly gave me an answer. He’s different from the executives I know at other film companies, much more personable.”

Jolie thought "personable" was the best way to describe Link.

Most executives at film companies are very focused on profits. They treat profitable actors warmly but are cold toward those whose popularity is fading.

Moreover, many executives and producers like to exploit actresses during collaborations, something Link never did.

In this way, he stood out in the industry as a good person.

"Is that so? I don’t think so. Do you know Gone Girl? Last week, Lionsgate held auditions for the roles. I’ve read the novel and love the character Amy, but during the audition, David Fincher directly told me I wasn’t suitable.”

"What does that have to do with Link?"

Jolie asked.

“Link is the lead actor and producer of the film. I contacted him through my agent, telling him how much I liked the role and that I was confident I could play it well. But he turned me down.”

Reese Witherspoon explained.

“I remember the lead characters in Gone Girl are husband and wife. You’re over ten years older than him. Do you think you’re suited to play his wife?”

“I know it doesn’t fit, but he still rejected me. So, while you’re praising him for being personable, I naturally disagree.”

Reese Witherspoon laughed.

Jolie shook her head, unwilling to argue.

"Fine, maybe Link didn’t do anything wrong. But in recent years, he's been very aggressive in campaigning for the Oscars, sweeping the Best Actress award two years in a row. Some say he’s the next Harvey. Every actress who wants an Oscar has to win his favor. Do you think that’s right?”

Reese Witherspoon asked.

“You’re comparing Link to Harvey? I completely disagree. First of all, Link is handsome and sexy. Even if he did exploit actresses, they’d probably be willing. But so far, I haven’t heard of him exploiting anyone. Plus, Link is worth over $10 billion and is only 24. He’s a global superstar. No number of Harveys can compare to him.

Saying he’s the next Harvey is the biggest insult to him.”

Jolie said.

“I’m talking about his Oscar campaigns. In that regard, he’s more aggressive than Harvey. Harvey would prop up one Best Actress every few years, while Link does it every year.

I’ve heard that Palm Beach Pictures is involved in August: Osage County, which will be released at the end of the year. The film stars Meryl Streep, Julia Roberts, and Jennifer Lawrence—three Oscar-winning actresses. It’s clear they’re aiming for next year’s Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress Oscars.

The media also believes that if the film is of good quality, Meryl has a good chance of winning Best Actress again. If that happens, it’ll be terrifying. Lionsgate’s films will have monopolized the Best Actress award for three consecutive years. He’s scarier than Harvey.”

Reese Witherspoon sighed.

"Why does that scare you? With Harvey, you had to be cautious about being exploited. With Link, you have to hope he wants to exploit you. If you can be exploited by him and win an Oscar, isn’t that a win-win?"

Jolie teased, covering her chest with a towel.

Reese Witherspoon shook her head and was about to speak when her phone rang. She had her assistant answer it.

After chatting for a bit, the assistant informed her that it was Bruna Papandrea, the head of Pacific Standard Films.

Pacific Standard Films is the company Reese Witherspoon founded in 2006, and Bruna Papandrea is her partner.

Bruna told Reese that Palm Beach Pictures had responded to their script for Wild, expressing interest in discussing investment.

“Yes! Fantastic!”

Reese Witherspoon sat up excitedly.

“Palm Beach Pictures? You’re working with Palm Beach Pictures?”

Angelina Jolie asked, eyeing her curiously.

“What’s wrong? Palm Beach Pictures has done an excellent job with female-centric films in recent years. Bridesmaids, Zero Dark Thirty, The Master—all Palm Beach films. My script is also female-centric, so it’s a perfect fit.”

Reese shrugged and smiled.

“Palm Beach is also Link’s company. Aren’t you worried about being exploited by him?”

Jolie teased.

“I’m not worried at all. Link might be a playboy, but he’s open about it. He doesn’t play games behind the scenes. He’s actually a decent guy. If I were ten years younger, I’d definitely chase after him.”

Reese laughed.

Jolie snorted. She had praised Link earlier, and Reese had opposed her. Now, hearing that Palm Beach Pictures wanted to work with her, Reese was suddenly singing his praises.

Such a fickle woman.

—

“Daddy! Daddy! What’s this?”

In his hillside villa, Link was reviewing a script when Alexander came running up, dragging a pair of red boxing gloves.

“Boxing gloves, Daddy’s toys.”

Link put down the script, took the gloves, put them on, and showed Alexander how to use them and how to punch. He even gently tapped Alexander’s little face with the gloves, making the little guy giggle.

“Is it fun?”

“So fun!”

Alexander took one of the gloves and put his little hand inside.

"What are you doing?"

Just as Link was about to teach him how to throw a punch, he heard someone speaking behind him. He turned to see Taylor and Ivanka walking in, with Taylor glaring at him sternly.

"Uh, Alexander pulled out the gloves. I was just showing him they’re boxing gloves. Nothing else."

Link hurriedly explained.

“Hmph, blaming Alexander for something you did? He’s only two. Aren’t you ashamed?”

Taylor coldly responded.

Ivanka stood to the side, amused.

"Alright, I admit I took them out. I had just finished boxing and forgot to put them back. But I wasn’t teaching Alexander how to box. Don’t misunderstand.”

Link sighed, taking the blame.

Taylor glared at him before picking up Alexander, who had rushed toward her.

“Mommy!”

Cynthia also came running out with little Annie, followed by little Margarita, who toddled behind her older sister and aunt, her hair tied into two pigtails. She happily ran over to Ivanka, hugging her long legs and giggling, calling out “Mommy” over and over.

“Hey, I have a question.”

Little Annie jumped onto the couch, pulling at Link’s arm. The little girl was seven, in second grade, and already a top student.

"What's that?"

Link lowered his head and asked.

Little Annie glanced at Taylor and Ivanka, then leaned toward his ear and asked, "Bro, are Taylor and Ivanka both your wives? I asked the teacher, and she said our country has a one-husband-one-wife law, and everyone can only have one wife. How do you have two?"

Link raised an eyebrow. "You really asked your teacher about this?"

"Yeah, Mom said if there's anything I don't understand, I can ask the teacher."

Little Annie blinked her big eyes, saying this like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"Gossip like that isn't worth asking. Focus on learning; you don’t need to know too much about other things."

Link rubbed her head affectionately.

"Oh, so are Taylor and Ivanka both your wives?" Little Annie asked again.

"Yes!"

"But the teacher said everyone can only have one wife. How can you have two?"

"Your brother's a superhero. Superheroes aren’t ordinary people; they can have as many as they want."

"Can you have ten?" Little Annie waved both hands excitedly.

"What are you two talking about?" Taylor asked as she set the little one down.

"The freshly picked cherries are pretty good, give them a try," Link said, stuffing a cherry into Little Annie’s mouth before she could answer.

"When are you releasing your new song? How about we both drop ours next Monday and see who tops the singles chart?" Taylor crossed her long legs, teasing him.

"No need to compete. I'm a global superstar, you're just an A-list singer. Beating you wouldn't feel like much of an achievement." Link laughed.

Taylor huffed but didn’t argue. In terms of fan base and influence, she couldn't match up to Link right now, but that might change in the future.

After eating a few cherries, Link picked up a script from the table and handed it to Ivanka, asking her to take a look.

By the end of the year, most of the movies for this year were in post-production, and the company’s production department was starting to plan projects for next year. He had to take time to read through scripts to avoid any box-office flops.

Tentative movies for next year included American Sniper, The Expendables 3, The Big Short, Maleficent, Wild, Fifty Shades of Grey, and a few sequels.

Since he still had collaborations with Paramount Pictures, he needed to find a few more projects.

Lionsgate was in a precarious position, struggling to maintain its momentum. There was a lot of pressure within the company, but as long as they could weather this tough period, the future looked bright. Whether through going public or being acquired, he and Ivanka would eventually be able to relax and count their money.

(End of chapter)

*Chapter 540: The Vanishing Lover*

The film Lethal Police Flower has been in theaters for three weeks, grossing $120 million in North America and accumulating $48.8 million in international sales, for a global total of $168 million.

This week, Lionsgate's final summer film Her was released.

This movie is a joint production of Palm Beach Pictures and Annapurna Pictures.

It tells the story of writer Theodore, who, after a breakup, falls in love with the voice of 'Samantha,' the operating system on his computer. Samantha not only has a seductive voice and vast knowledge but is also surprisingly fun, making the reclusive Theodore unable to pull away.

As Theodore's needs and desires grow, their relationship deepens, and they ultimately fall in love.

The film had a production budget of $23 million, similar to The Master, and stars Joaquin Phoenix as the male lead, with Amy Adams as the supporting actress, and Scarlett Johansson providing the voice of Samantha.

The movie remains an artistically inclined film.

Before its release, it was selected as the closing film at the New York Film Festival and received positive reviews from critics.

Her initially premiered in six North American theaters, earning $462,000 in its first week, with an average daily gross of $9,737 per theater. While this isn’t as high as Rust and Bone’s $20,000 per day during its limited release, it still ranks in the upper mid-tier for independent films.

Based on the first week’s performance, the release expanded to 148 theaters in the second week.

As Her was being released, Link began a new round of light heavyweight boxing title defenses.

Over the course of just over a month, he fought in three arenas across Australia (Sydney), Melbourne, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

He defeated WBA Light Heavyweight Title contender Karo Murat, WBC challenger George Brands, and IBF contender Tommy Carpenter.

All fights were finished within one round.

His professional record now stands at 35 wins, 35 KOs, continuing to build his legend.

These three matches brought him a total income of $225 million.

This money was used to acquire shares in Eli Lilly, BYD Auto, and JD.com, increasing his stake to 2.025% in Eli Lilly, 5.36% in BYD Auto, and 5.1% in JD.com.

The Hong Kong Goldenbeck Investment Company also successfully entered JD.com’s board of directors.

If things go well, in the future, Link will hold shares in three companies with trillion-dollar market values: Tesla, NVIDIA, and Eli Lilly. He also has stakes in five companies with billion-dollar valuations, including Netflix, Spotify, SpaceX, JD.com, and BYD, and smaller shares in Universal Music, News Corp, Amazon, Facebook, Wanda, Alibaba, Maotai, and others.

Looking at these companies’ investment reports, Link felt that even if he retired now, he could still hold the position of the world's richest person for decades.

“Boss, we’re about to start shooting, please get ready.”

On the set of Gone Girl, Ms. Anna came over to remind him.

“Alright!”

Link handed the documents to Anna and picked up the script. Although he had read it many times before, he was now reviewing it to memorize his lines.

The movie tells the story of a couple in Missouri.

Nick, the husband, is a poor guy from the countryside who’s unemployed and living off his wife.

Amy, the wife, is a beautiful, wealthy second-generation socialite, whose parents are bestselling authors.

On their fifth wedding anniversary, Nick returns from a bar to find his wife missing and the house transformed into a crime scene.

As the police investigate, all signs point to Nick as the murderer.

Nick becomes vilified by the media and the public as a notorious "scumbag."

However, it’s all part of Amy's plot. She does this to get back at Nick for cheating and uses this carefully orchestrated "murder" to keep him under her control.

Link plays Nick, the "kept man," while Amy is portrayed by Rosamund Pike.

Rosamund Pike is a famous British actress, known for her role as a Bond girl in Die Another Day in 2002, and for her breakout role in An Education in 2009. Last year, she starred in Jack Reacher alongside Tom Cruise and is considered a second-tier Hollywood actress.

She was cast as the lead in Gone Girl through an audition process.

When the casting for Gone Girl began, the media leaked that Link was playing the male lead.

During auditions, over a hundred beautiful actresses tried out for the part, including Reese Witherspoon, Natalie Portman, Emily Blunt, Kristen Stewart, Amy Adams, and Lily Collins.

Since there were many familiar faces, Link stayed out of the casting process, letting the director and screenwriters choose the most suitable actress.

After three rounds of auditions, Rosamund Pike was selected. She’s ten years older than Link, stands at 5'9", and has fair skin, blonde hair, and a striking beauty.

The film’s director is David Fincher, known for works like Se7en, Fight Club, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, The Social Network, Alien 3, and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. He is a top-tier Hollywood director.

Fincher is known for excelling at thrillers, which is why Lionsgate spent big to get him to direct this film.

Link silently rehearsed his lines and then practiced with Rosamund Pike twice before the director, Fincher, called for action.

“I need to kiss you now.”

In the dimly lit alley, Link looked at the woman across from him and said.

“Are you serious?”

Rosamund smiled slightly.

This scene depicts when the male and female leads first meet.

After meeting at a bar, Nick invites Amy for a walk. As they pass by a bakery, white sugar powder falls from the sky like snow, and Amy, gazing at the "snow," smiles sweetly as it lands on her hair and lips.

"How could someone not kiss you after this sugar snowstorm?" Link teased.

Rosamund, charmed by his words, leans against the wall.

“Hold on.”

Link gently wiped some of the sugar powder from her lips and said, “Now, it’s perfect,” before leaning in for a kiss.

The two kissed passionately in the alley as the sugar snow fell around them.

“Not bad!”

Director David Fincher rubbed his stubbled chin as he watched the scene on the monitor and nodded.

Initially, the crew considered casting an actress close to Link’s age. However, after auditioning more than ten actresses in their early twenties, none felt quite right.

Nick, played by Link, is a "kept man" who is submissive at home, so the female lead needed to be a strong, smart, beautiful, and dominant woman with high intelligence—qualities none of the younger actresses could deliver.

As a result, the casting team expanded the age limit by ten years, bringing Natalie Portman, Emily Blunt, and Rosamund Pike into the final round.

After thorough consideration, Natalie Portman’s features were deemed too sharp, and she wasn’t tall enough. Emily Blunt wasn’t attractive enough. Rosamund Pike, on the other hand, was tall, beautiful, and had a softer temperament, making her a better match for Link.

Ultimately, the role went to Rosamund Pike.

Even after casting Pike, Fincher wasn’t sure if she’d be able to handle the role or have enough chemistry with Link to create the desired 1+1>2 effect.

After seeing their performances, Fincher was relieved.

Link, with his artistic-looking face and delicate acting style, naturally played the role of Nick without appearing sleazy, even in romantic scenes with Rosamund.

And though Pike is ten years older, her youthful, elegant appearance and Link’s mature demeanor make the age difference hardly noticeable.

“David, the kissing scene under the streetlight is so romantic. I suggest they kiss for a bit longer.”

Screenwriter and novelist Gillian Flynn smiled as she watched Link and Rosamund on set.

“Alright, I agree with your suggestion.”

“Cut! Let’s do it again!”

Director Fincher called out.

The reason for the retake wasn’t Flynn’s suggestion, but because the movie had just started filming, and Fincher wanted to use these intimate scenes to build chemistry between the actors, ensuring smoother filming later.

He also wanted to see how much more depth Link’s performance could offer by pushing him to showcase more layers in their interactions.

After six takes, Fincher finally announced, "It’s a wrap."

“How was that, Rosa?” Link asked, gesturing to her lips, which were slightly swollen from six real kisses for the scene. In an artistic film, the actors have to truly kiss rather than just touch lips.

“Not bad. You’re a great kisser, and I’m your fan. This scene was a fantastic experience for me,” Rosamund laughed.

“Yeah, I think it went pretty well, too.”

The makeup team came over to retouch both actors and apply ice packs to Pike’s lips to reduce the swelling.

After this, Fincher announced the next scene.

——

Link spent nearly a month on set for Gone Girl before finishing all of his scenes and returning home to continue his role as a stay-at-home dad.

“Lethal Policewoman” has been in theaters for two months, grossing $159 million in North America and $68.17 million overseas, bringing its global box office total to over $220 million.

Since this is a modern urban film, it features a lot of product placements. Before production even began, Lionsgate had already secured over $18 million in sponsorship funding, covering almost half of the production costs. Based on current box office figures, Lionsgate’s profits are no less than $80 million.

Meanwhile, “Her” has been out for four weeks, earning $23.39 million in North America and $18.08 million overseas. With a production cost of $23 million, the film has already broken even from box office revenue alone.

Despite this, the movie has received great reviews, with an 8.4 average rating from the media. Thirty-two media outlets, including The New York Times and The Los Angeles Times, have given it scores above 8.5. On Rotten Tomatoes, it has a 73% freshness rating, with 54 supporters and 19 detractors, and Yahoo viewers have given it an A rating.

It’s also considered one of the top contenders for next year’s Academy Awards.

“Bro, congratulate me!”

While Link was reading a bestseller, Selena came running over, phone in hand, her round face full of excitement.

“What should I congratulate you for? Did you pass all your exams this year?” Link looked up and asked.

“No, don’t bring up exams. It’s the Venice Film Festival! Spring Break made it into the main competition, and it might even win a Golden Lion! Isn’t that something worth congratulating?” Selena said smugly.

“Yes, getting into the main competition at the Venice Film Festival shows the movie is good, and it also means you acted well. You do deserve congratulations,” Link praised.

“Haha, of course! If you can switch from music to acting and succeed, then as your sister, I can’t do too badly either,” Selena said, patting her chest confidently.

“Do you want to visit Venice? You can borrow my plane,” Link suggested.

“Forget it, I didn’t get a Best Actress nomination, so there’s not much for me to do there. But borrowing your plane sounds great—I’m planning a trip to Paris with Tiffany.”

“Go ahead, let Anna make the arrangements for you.”

Link reached out and messed up her new hairstyle, tangling her air bangs. Selena paused for a moment, then angrily tugged at his arm and gave him a few playful slaps before glaring at him and stomping off.

Link chuckled softly and continued reading his bestseller. The novel he was currently reading was The Revenant by Michael Punke, a book with over 100,000 words.

After finishing it, he realized that the main plot was similar to the movie version. He thought for a moment and called someone at Lionsgate's production department to check whether the novel’s rights were still available. Regardless, he planned to buy them.

He didn’t necessarily plan to play the male lead, but the film had performed well at the box office and won a few Oscars that year, making it a worthwhile investment.

Ring!

“Hey Link, what are you up to? Come out for some poker,” Leonardo called right after Link hung up.

“Where? Who’s there? Let me make it clear, if I lose, don’t accuse me of cheating,” Link laughed.

“As long as you don’t cheat, I won’t say anything,” Leonardo replied, telling him that Joaquin, Tobey Maguire, Robert Downey Jr., and Matt Damon were all at the film club chatting after attending the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards.

Link thought for a moment and agreed.

(End of chapter)