Tycoon Actor C507

The female cast sleepover lasted three nights before the women had to say their goodbyes. During that time, Jennifer, her co-stars, and director Greta had learned tremendously about their characters—and themselves—even while simply enjoying each other's company.

Greta and the cast discovered that Jennifer was genuinely kind without any artifice or pretense. More importantly, Jennifer had finally grasped her character in ways she hadn't before. Greta no longer had any doubts about whether Jennifer was right for the role.

When Barbie producer Robbie Brenner called later that week, her first question was direct:

"How did the sleepover go? And what's your honest assessment of our Barbie?"

Greta didn't hesitate. "The sleepover exceeded all expectations. As for Jennifer—she's perfect. Spending time with her confirmed she's absolutely right for this role. She understands Barbie instinctively and works incredibly hard to embody the character."

Brenner's pleased chuckle came through the phone clearly. "Good. I'm relieved I made the right choice."

Greta found herself asking a question she'd been wondering about for months: "Besides Jennifer, did you consider other actresses? Or did you choose her primarily because she's Lucas Knight's wife?"

She didn't expect much of an answer—after all, it really wasn't her business. But to her surprise, Brenner was surprisingly candid.

"I did have other candidates in mind," Brenner admitted thoughtfully. "But I ultimately chose Jennifer because if any actress embodies Barbie in real life, it's her." She paused. "It wasn't just about Lucas, though I won't lie—investors were thrilled about having the power couple together. It practically guarantees box office success."

Greta understood that reality. Hollywood investors demanded projects with built-in profit potential, and Lucas and Jennifer's recent marriage made them an irresistible marketing proposition.

"But here's what really convinced me," Brenner continued. "Jennifer is treated like a perfect doll in Hollywood—much like Barbie—but mainly because of her relationship with Lucas. They represent this fantasy of the perfect couple that people project onto them, especially now that they're married. It's like how little girls play with their perfect dolls and create ideal scenarios."

She took a breath before continuing. "But I don't think it's actually perfect, and I've always wondered how Jennifer feels about being overshadowed by her husband's fame and wealth. Lucas seems to embody perfection both on and off screen, while Jennifer sometimes gets lost in his shadow. I think this project could be her breakthrough—her chance to step into the spotlight on her own terms. That's my hope, anyway, though ultimately it's up to her."

After the call ended, Greta stared thoughtfully out at the LA skyline.

'Was Brenner actually targeting Jennifer all along, not Lucas?'

It would make perfect sense. Barbie was fundamentally Jennifer's story, her showcase. Perhaps the Mattel CEO had only made it seem like she was pursuing Lucas to get the project greenlit faster and reassure nervous investors.

If so, it was a brilliantly strategic move.

---

The pandemic continued limiting industry operations, but Warner Bros. finally decided to begin filming. A week after the sleepover, with the entire cast and crew fully vaccinated and showing no symptoms, they received the green light for principal photography in England.

The production arranged for private jets to transport everyone to the UK. Lucas offered his jet to the cast, though it could only accommodate 19 people total. With his security team and driver taking five seats, only 14 spots remained available. Most went to the female cast members—Jennifer's new friends from the sleepover—while other cast and crew took additional planes.

"So this is the famous power couple's jet," Emma Mackey said as they boarded, clearly more impressed by whose plane it was than the luxury itself.

"Mr. Knight, thank you so much for letting us fly with you," Issa said gratefully, speaking for the group.

"Not a problem at all," Lucas waved dismissively. He noticed they seemed a bit tense around him. "Please, relax. I've heard all about you from my Honey Bunny here. She told me you've already started sharing secrets." He grinned mischievously. "Now I know what some of you are hiding."

Jennifer blushed at the pet name but felt warmth at his affection. "Cut it out, pumpkin. Don't tease them!"

The women laughed, understanding Lucas was joking, though it still felt surreal being around the famous couple. Jennifer settled in with her new friends while Lucas gave them space to bond.

'It's nice seeing her connect with people like this,' Lucas thought, watching Jennifer's animated conversation with the group.

He turned his attention to the few male cast members he'd invited and walked over to join them.

Simu Liu was already settling into his seat when he spotted Lucas approaching. He glanced over at Jennifer surrounded by the chattering women, then back at Lucas with mock concern.

"Hey man, you doing alright over here? Looking a little lonely," Simu said with exaggerated sympathy. "I mean, I get it—your wife's been stolen by her new girl gang. Should we stage an intervention?"

Lucas chuckled. "Yeah, I'm devastated. Here I thought marriage meant we'd be attached at the hip, but apparently I've been replaced by a sleepover crew."

"The betrayal is real," Simu nodded solemnly. "Want me to go tell them you're feeling left out? I could cry a little for dramatic effect."

"Please don't," Lucas laughed. "I'm actually enjoying watching her be this happy. Besides, now I get to hang out with you guys without her rolling her eyes at our terrible jokes."

Soon Lucas was deep in conversation with Simu, Kingsley Ben-Adir, and Michael Cera. The men bonded over shared experiences in the industry, upcoming scenes, and plenty of good-natured ribbing about their characters.

It was exactly what Lucas had hoped for when he invited them—building the kind of natural chemistry that would translate well on screen.

---

The flight from LAX to London Heathrow took nearly 11 hours, but during that time, Lucas and Jennifer connected deeply with their co-stars. Though everyone took naps periodically, the long journey allowed the cast to bond naturally. By the time they landed, any remaining tension around the power couple had completely dissolved.

After touching down at Heathrow's private aviation terminal, they disembarked quietly, trying to maintain a low profile as they were escorted through the airport.

People in the terminal occasionally glanced their way, but social distancing protocols prevented anyone from approaching. The face masks and shields helped keep them relatively anonymous, even though their eyes might be recognizable to die-hard fans.

Everything was proceeding smoothly until Emma began fidgeting with her face mask.

"Hey, I think your mask shifted," Dua pointed out quietly.

"Really?" Emma paused mid-stride and quickly removed her face mask to readjust it. The rest of the group stopped with her, clustering around while she fixed the issue.

It only took a few seconds, but that was enough.

"Wait—is that Emma Mackey?!" someone in the crowd shouted.

The recognition spread like wildfire. Emma was incredibly popular in the UK, after all. A group of people immediately started moving toward them, but Jack and Simon quickly stepped forward to block their path.

"Move, move!" Jack called out as the cast hurried toward their waiting vehicles.

More people began noticing the commotion. Sharp-eyed fans started recognizing other figures in the group.

"That's Lucas Knight!" someone yelled, pointing.

"Jennifer's there too!" another voice added.

Suddenly dozens of people were running after them with phones out, recording everything. Social distancing was completely forgotten in the excitement.

Fortunately, their driver had the van doors open and ready. The cast scrambled inside just as the crowd reached them, phones still filming through the windows.

Inside the van, everyone exhaled in relief before turning to look at Emma.

Emma's face flushed with embarrassment. "I'm so sorry, guys. That was completely my fault."

Instead of criticism, Simu Liu lightened the mood with perfect timing: "Wait, hold up—are you actually famous enough here to cause airport stampedes? Because I'm pretty sure I just saw a grandmother sprinting after us with her phone out."

Everyone stared at him for a moment before Jennifer and the others burst into laughter. Even Emma couldn't help smiling.

Lucas nudged Simu playfully. "You might not realize it, but Emma's pretty big here."

"Really?" Simu still sounded skeptical. "I mean, she seems nice, but airport-mob famous?"

"Really," Lucas confirmed. "She's a British-French actress, so this is her home turf. Plus, that Netflix show she's in is huge here."

"Oh," Simu said simply.

"You don't sound very impressed, man," Michael chuckled.

"That show's actually one of Netflix's biggest hits," Kingsley added, glancing at Lucas. "Didn't your company help fund it?"

Lucas nodded. "We did. Emma's got quite the following."

Emma looked relieved that her co-stars weren't upset about the chaos. The group's supportive reaction helped ease her embarrassment over the small mistake that had blown their cover.

---

After the airport incident, the group headed to Leavesden Studios, famous for housing Warner Bros.' most iconic film productions. The facility had become synonymous with the studio—essentially Warner Bros.' home base in the UK.

They arrived at the sprawling complex where elaborate sets awaited them. Staff members immediately assisted the cast, helping them settle their belongings and get oriented. Jennifer could barely contain her excitement about seeing the Barbie set. She'd heard it was built with meticulous attention to detail, perfectly designed for the project. Her co-stars shared her anticipation.

Before the tour could begin, director Greta approached them with concern written across her face.

"I heard about the airport situation," she said. "It's already going viral on social media. Are you all okay?"

"We're fine," Hari assured her, with the others nodding in agreement.

Emma's guilt returned under Greta's gaze. "Actually, it was my fault—"

"Stop," Greta interrupted gently. "It's not your fault. These things happen. Don't be so hard on yourself."

Emma felt a wave of relief. She'd been expecting harsh criticism from studio executives for accidentally revealing the power couple's presence in England.

"I know everyone's tired from the journey," Greta continued, "but would you like to see the set?"

"Sure!" Jennifer responded immediately, her eagerness unmistakable.

Lucas smiled and placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Let's go."

The others agreed enthusiastically, and Greta led them toward the soundstages. When they entered Barbieland, everyone stopped in amazement.

The pink world stretched before them—a fantastical realm that was somehow both artificial and magical. Every detail had been crafted to perfection, from the pastel houses to the dreamlike landscapes.

Jennifer wandered through the set in wonder. Soon she would inhabit this world, embodying Barbie and bringing the character to life.

Lucas watched her explore, noting her genuine fascination. 'Accepting this project wasn't a mistake,' he thought. He'd ultimately agreed to it because of Jennifer's involvement, recognizing that this role could help her grow as an actress and discover new depths in her craft.

After exploring the various set pieces, Greta suggested they rest for the day. Filming would officially begin tomorrow morning.

Everyone could barely wait to start. The cast dispersed to their accommodations, chatting excitedly about the upcoming shoot. Lucas and Jennifer shared a room, spending the evening discussing their characters and helping each other prepare.

Time passed quickly, and suddenly it was the first day of principal photography.

The cast and crew assembled on set, ready to begin. Jennifer stood in full Barbie costume, positioned in front of the cameras. The equipment was ready, crew members at their stations, everyone waiting for Greta's cue.

Standing there in her pink perfection, Jennifer's mind focused: 'I am Barbie. A perfect doll living what appears to be a perfect life.' Her expression subtly shifted, eyes taking on that idealized Barbie-like quality. 'A perfect woman who believes her world is flawless, unaware of all the imperfections beneath the surface.'

Something clicked for Jennifer in that moment. Barbie might be a perfect doll who sees everything as ideal, but the reality was imperfect—and that wasn't necessarily bad. It was like how people viewed her relationship with Lucas as perfect when it wasn't, but that didn't make it less valuable.

She realized that her public image as part of a "perfect couple" was just one tool helping her understand Barbie's journey. More importantly, she understood how Barbie would gradually discover the complexities of womanhood—the unfairness society directs toward women, the objectification they face, and how that growing awareness would become central to the character's arc.

"Action!" Greta called out.

Jennifer began her performance, fully embodying Barbie for the first time.