AN: New week. Last week, we didn't make it in the top 5. Well, let's see this one.
Double release today. The next chapter will be released within approx. 2 hrs.
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Lost in Translation's shoot went on steadily, with every scene bringing Alex's vision a little closer to reality. The long days were somewhat exhausting when they were doing multiple shoots, but the mood on set remained cooperative despite Alex's perfectionism.
His team liked him, not only because he was paying for the whole production, but because he treated them as colleagues, respected their opinions, listened to their objections, and lightened the mood when necessary.
He often walked through the set between takes, checking in with everyone.
"Lighting good?" he'd ask his cinematographer, who usually nodded before launching into a detailed explanation of the next setup.
"Sound holding up?"
"Yeah, just make sure Tom doesn't mumble too much in this next scene," the sound guy joked.
Alex smirked. "Noted. I'll bribe him with more coffee."
His conversations with Tom Hanks were always casual but insightful. Tom had a way of making everyone feel comfortable, and even though he was an industry veteran, he never acted superior. Plus, both of them worked before, so it made things even smoother.
During a break, the two sat near the monitors, sipping coffee.
"You know," Tom said, stretching his legs, "I gotta say, Alex, you have a way of making even the smallest moments feel… important."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "That a good thing?"
"Of course. Some directors get caught up in spectacle, but you focus on the human stuff. The silences. The little glances. The things that matter."
Alex nodded, appreciating the compliment. "Thanks, Tom. I just want this to feel real. No forced drama, no over-the-top emotions... just two people figuring themselves out in a city that feels just as lost as they are."
Tom chuckled. "You should put that in the press release."
Alex smirked. "Maybe I will."
...
Scarlett Johansson was proving to be a natural fit for Charlotte. She had the ability to convey emotions subtly, using small gestures and quiet expressions rather than grand movements. Alex had always believed that less was more, and Scarlett was the perfect actress to bring that idea to life.
One afternoon, they were filming a scene where Charlotte wandered through the temple gardens, lost in thought.
Alex stood beside the monitor, arms crossed as he observed. When the scene wrapped, Scarlett walked over, brushing a stray hair behind her ear.
"How was that?" she asked, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
Alex glanced at her. "It was good. But…"
Scarlett sighed. "But not great."
Alex offered a small smile. "It's close. You're feeling the moment, but let's try it again with a little more… stillness. Instead of acting lost, just be lost. No overthinking."
Scarlett nodded, taking in his words.
On the next take, she slowed down, letting herself fully absorb the surroundings—the gentle rustling of leaves, the distant sound of temple bells, the way the wind brushed against her skin.
"Cut!" Alex called, this time with a satisfied nod. "That's it. Perfect."
Scarlett grinned. "So, I don't need to overthink everything?"
Alex chuckled. "Overthinking kills the moment. Just trust yourself."
She studied him for a moment. "Is that how you do it? Just… trust your gut?"
He exhaled, leaning against the monitor stand. "Sometimes. Other times, I spend hours obsessing over whether I made the right call."
Scarlett smirked. "So, you do overthink."
"Only in private," Alex said, amused.
...
Not every day was filled with deep artistic discussions. Some were just plain fun. Anna Faris, playing Kelly, brought a lively energy to the set that kept everyone entertained.
During a particularly long day of shooting, she walked onto set wearing oversized sunglasses and sipping a ridiculous-looking fruit smoothie.
"Alright, darlings," she announced dramatically, "let's make some movie magic."
Alex, adjusting a camera setting, glanced up. "Anna, are you method acting right now?"
Anna gasped, placing a hand on her chest. "Excuse you, I am always in character. It's called commitment, Alex."
Scarlett, sitting nearby, laughed. "Pretty sure you just like the free smoothies."
Anna grinned. "Hey, if being an actress means getting free drinks and wearing cute outfits, I'm living the dream."
Alex shook his head, chuckling. "Alright, let's focus. We need to get this scene done before the light changes."
The take began, and Anna, fully in character, delivered her lines with just the right amount of exaggerated enthusiasm.
"Cut!"
Alex checked the monitor and nodded. "That was great, Anna."
Anna flipped her hair. "Of course it was. Now, where's my next smoothie?"
Scarlett threw a napkin at her, and the entire crew burst into laughter.
...
[One evening after the shoot]
One evening, after a particularly exhausting day, Scarlett found herself wandering toward the production office, where Alex was still working.
She knocked on the doorframe. "You always stay this late?"
Alex looked up from his laptop. "Comes with the job."
She stepped inside, eyeing the stacks of script notes and schedules. "Do you ever not work?"
He smirked. "Rarely."
Scarlett arched an eyebrow as she stepped closer, eyeing the thick folder Alex had just turned toward her. The cover page had a simple yet bold title:
EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES
Beneath it, in smaller text: A Story by Alex Wilson
She looked up at him, intrigued. "What is this?"
Alex leaned back in his chair, rubbing his temple. "Something I've been working on for a while. It's a different kind of project. Not like Lost in Translation at all."
Scarlett hesitated before pulling up a chair across from him. "May I?" She asked.
"Go ahead," He turned the folder toward her.
She flipped open the folder, her fingers skimming over the pages. The first few lines introduced a world under siege, powerful figures rising from the shadows, and a group of unlikely heroes forced to unite.
As she read, her brows furrowed. "This is… big."
Alex smirked. "Yeah. That's kind of the point."
She continued flipping through, reading the descriptions—billionaire genius, super-soldier from the past, an assassin with a haunted past, a scientist struggling with the monster inside, a god out of mythology. It was unlike anything she had ever seen.
"You're writing about superheroes," she said, glancing at him.
"More than that," He corrected. "I want to create something that's not just about people in costumes punching bad guys. I want it to be epic but also grounded. A world that feels real, with characters who feel real. People who are flawed, who struggle, who grow. And when they come together, it actually means something."
Scarlett let out a low whistle. "So, basically, you want to reinvent the genre."
Alex chuckled. "Something like that, but on a much bigger scale."
She flipped a few more pages, stopping at a section titled Natasha Romanoff – The Black Widow. Her eyes scanned the words. A Russian spy, trained from childhood. Deadly, intelligent, carrying more secrets than anyone should. A past she couldn't outrun, a future she wasn't sure she deserved.
Scarlett blinked. "She's… fascinating."
He leaned forward, elbows resting on the desk. "You think so?"
She nodded. "She's not just the usual female side character. She's complicated. There's depth here. The way she's torn between her past and what she wants to be... it's compelling."
A small smirk tugged at Alex's lips. "You'd make a good Natasha."
Scarlett froze mid-page flip. "Wait. What?"
Alex shrugged casually. "I mean, if this ever gets made into a movie... Which, let's be honest, would take years and you'd be perfect for the role."
Scarlett gave a short laugh. "Me? A superhero? I just spent the last three weeks wandering through Tokyo looking lost in Lost in Translation. That's not exactly action-star material."
He smirked. "Acting is acting. You have the presence. You can hold a scene with just a look. And Natasha isn't about being the biggest or the strongest. She's about being the smartest. The most dangerous person in the room and no one realizes it until it's too late."
Scarlett tilted her head, considering it. "You really think I could pull that off?"
Alex didn't hesitate. "Yeah. I do. Or, there are many complex and unique characters you could choose if you don't want to be a spy."
She sat back, tapping her fingers on the folder. "Well. Now I have to read the whole thing."
Alex grinned, handing her a pen. "Feel free to leave notes. But be warned, if you roast my writing, I might never recover. And, keep it a secret."
Scarlett giggled, "Well, no promises on the first part, but I can keep a secret or two."
And just like that, Earth's Mightiest Heroes had its first unofficial reader.
...
[Next morning]
The next morning, Alex was still half-asleep when his phone buzzed on the bedside table. He groaned, blindly reaching for it before glancing at the caller ID.
James Calloway – Editor
That woke him up.
Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair before answering. "Morning, James. You better not be calling me this early with bad news."
James, ever the no-nonsense type, didn't waste time. "Bad news? Are you kidding me, Alex? Both books are blowing up. We've got a major success on our hands."
Alex blinked, still shaking off sleep. "Both books?"
"The American Beauty and Silent Hill: City of Ashes—they're flying off the shelves. Pre-orders were already great, but now that they're out? They're selling faster than we expected. Reviews are pouring in, and let's just say… people are talking."
Alex swung his legs over the bed, now fully awake. He had always believed in these books, but hearing confirmation that they were not just successful, but huge, sent a thrill down his spine.
"Define 'talking,'" Alex said, rubbing his temple.
James chuckled. "Well, American Beauty is already being hailed as one of the most compelling, raw, and brutally honest psychological dramas of the decade. Readers are eating it up. And Silent Hill: City of Ashes? The horror community is obsessed. It's terrifying, atmospheric, and a worthy successor to the franchise."
Alex let out a slow breath. He had worked on both books tirelessly, pouring months into refining every detail, making sure they were as perfect as they could be. Hearing they were a success was… surreal.
"And you're sure these aren't just early numbers?" Alex asked, always the skeptic.
James snorted. "Alex. American Beauty just hit number one on the New York Times Bestsellers List for fiction. Silent Hill: City of Ashes is sitting at number three in horror, right under King. And it's only been twenty-four hours since the official launch."
Alex leaned back against the headboard, processing that.
Number. One.
He exhaled. "Shit."
James laughed. "Yeah, shit is right. And that's not even the best part. Hollywood is already sniffing around. We've got an interest in adapting American Beauty for the screen. But knowing you, you'll probably be making the movie sooner or later. And Konami? They want a meeting about expanding Silent Hill into something bigger."
Alex rubbed his face. This was happening fast. Not that he wasn't used to success, he had built his empire on it, but still, two bestsellers at once? Not to mention, a major gaming company looking to collaborate?
"Alright," he said, his mind already shifting into business mode. "Yeah, I'll make the movie, so don't bother contacting others. As for Konami. Well, I'm already too busy with my schedule, so have them write an official document or something and mail me. I'll see what I can do."
"Already on it," James confirmed. "But I figured you'd want to hear the news firsthand. Enjoy it, Alex. You just dropped two back-to-back hits, and the world is taking notice."
Alex smirked. "They always do, eventually."
James chuckled. "Cocky bastard. Alright, I'll keep you posted. Congrats, man."
As the call ended, Alex set his phone down, letting the weight of it all sink in.
He had done it. Again.
Although those stories were not his, still, he was still the one to do all the work in that new bland reality. Plus, the Silent Hill book was fanfiction in a sense because he just took the original settings and crafted a new story. He was kinda worried that it might be a dud, but well... It turned out perfect.
...
[1 week before the wrap-up]
The evening was quiet, the kind of rare silence Alex didn't often get to enjoy. After a long day of shooting, he had finally collapsed onto the couch in his suite, a glass of whiskey in hand.
Max and Caroline's bakery was blooming. (We will come to this in the next chapter) So, yeah, he decided to enjoy a little alone time.
Then came the knock.
Followed by a voice he recognized instantly.
"Alex," Rachel's voice was calm, too calm, but there was an underlying edge to it. "Are you busy?"
He smirked, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Am I ever not?" he called back, but he was already rising to his feet, setting the drink aside.
When he opened the door, Rachel stood there, looking every bit the picture of control she always maintained—her hair pulled into a bun, her black-rimmed glasses perched perfectly on her nose, her blue shirt crisp, buttoned just enough to be professional but tight enough to remind him of what was underneath.
But her eyes…
They gave her away.
She was at her limits.
"Something on your mind, Rachel?" Alex leaned against the doorframe, watching her closely.
Rachel stepped inside without waiting for an invitation, closing the door behind her. She stood there for a second, her fingers twitching at her sides before she let out a slow breath. "You owe me."
Alex arched an eyebrow. "Do I?"
She glared at him, but it was the kind of glare that barely masked the need behind it. "You promised, Alex."
'Ah. That.'
His smirk widened as he recalled their little agreement, one that he had fully intended to keep until the chaos of production had pushed it further and further down his priority list. Then spending the days with Max and Caroline... Well, truth be told it kinda slipped his mind.
"No touching yourself. No relief. Until I say so," he murmured, watching as Rachel visibly swallowed. "And you've been such a good girl about it, haven't you?"
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[7 advance chs] [All chs available for all tiers]
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Which role do you think SJ should be cast in Marvel other than Black Widow? [Not a poll, just want to see some opinions]