[Chapter 249: Four Beautiful Women]
Hawaii.
Oahu Island was the third largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago and the political, cultural, economic, and transportation center of Hawaii, home to Honolulu.
This paradise featured blue skies, white clouds, and emerald waves, surrounded by picturesque mountains and numerous scenic beaches. Many of the larger beaches had been developed into public areas, attracting tourists, while the smaller stretches were snatched up by the wealthy as luxurious estates.
Among these wealthy individuals was Link.
His beach, located in the southwestern part of Honolulu, spanned approximately 4.2 hectares and included an ocean-view estate, two docks, 2.1 hectares of pristine sand, and three courts, all priced at $32 million.
The beach lay within a cove, shaped like a slender crescent moon, its sand fine and white. At night, from a distance on the rocks, the beach resembled a sliver of the moon.
Link renamed it to Moon Bay after his purchase.
Early in the morning, the sunlight shone brightly over Moon Bay, the air was pleasantly warm, and the turquoise waves gently lapped at the back of a yacht, pushing it swiftly toward the shore.
Sam Haskel and Richard Fox sat on the yacht, gazing out from the deck at the beach, surrounded by swaying palm trees and tropical fruit orchards. In summer, the vegetation was lush, with many branches heavy with ripe fruit.
Behind the villa, six Hawaiian-style villas sat along with scenic outlooks and more than twenty connected pagodas, stretching from the beach docking area up to the towering cliffs in the distance. High tropical trees interspersed among them created a spectacular view.
Around the beach, a few locals were engaged in activities, although they were all dressed in the same uniforms, making them look more like servants busily attending to their chores.
"Link really knows how to enjoy life," Sam remarked with admiration.
Richard nodded in agreement, sharing Sam's perspective.
Media reports claimed that after making a fortune, Link had splurged on the top-tier luxury estate in Beverly Hills, spending tens of millions of dollars. The Hawaiian estate was even larger and nestled within a tourist area of Oahu, just under three kilometers from the capital, Honolulu, likely at a hefty price.
Link had invested over a hundred million just to acquire properties, which was unusual even among America's top billionaires.
But considering Link was only 22 years old, with a net worth close to $2 billion, his films continued to be box office hits, and his company was thriving, it wasn't surprising for him to spend money like this.
"Gentlemen, we have arrived. Please disembark here!"
As the yacht reached the dock, the villa's butler called out.
...
Sam and Richard stepped off the yacht, climbed into a convertible, and drove to the beach. After four or five minutes, they stopped, and Sam got out, walking along the corridor that stretched through the pagodas toward the villa area.
"Ah, Link, be gentle; my chest hurts!"
"Ha ha, Link, hit harder! Jennifer loves it when you bring your full strength!"
"Come on, Renee, quit the teasing!"
While walking, they heard laughter not far off. They turned to look at the beach edged by the palm trees, where a sunny stretch of sand hosted a group of tall palm trees offering shade. Several people dressed in light summer attire were playing volleyball.
Specifically, it was Link and four attractive women.
Sam squinted and quickly recognized three of them -- Sandra Bullock, who had recently skyrocketed to fame with Speed, Renee Zellweger, the star of The Blair Witch Project, and Julianne Moore, the second lead from The Hand that Rocks the Cradle.
These three were acquaintances.
However, the Latina beauty in a black bikini was unfamiliar to him. She was over 5'6", with a sun-kissed complexion, slim waist, and long legs. As she jumped to spike the ball, her toned muscles flexed, and her hips appeared prominently, exuding confidence and charm.
She was the loudest, joyfully shouting as they played, like a spirited wild mare.
"Gentlemen, this way please," the butler reminded them.
Sam and Richard snapped back to reality and continued walking, although they couldn't help but glance back at the vibrant scene on the beach, captivated by the lively images in front of them.
Once again, Sam reflected on Link's enviable lifestyle. During his vacation, Link didn't just enjoy a beautiful beach and luxurious villa; he had four stunning women accompanying him as well. Life was grand.
Beside him, Richard was equally stirred up. He recognized the women on the court from his past interactions with them in their professional lives.
He understood that Sandra Bullock and Julianne Moore were known to be serious and grounded individuals in the industry. Though they had dated, their private lives were relatively contained; they weren't the type to easily be swayed by temptation.
Yet there they were, together in Link's private villa, joining him for a game of beach volleyball, which left him surprised and, in some ways, envious of Link's charm with women.
...
After reaching the villa, with the butler's guidance, they freshened up in the bathroom. Afterward, they dressed in local attire with the help of servants.
The villa had prepared three outfits for each of them in different colors and lengths; guests could choose whichever they preferred.
Sam opted for a blue beach shirt and shorts, while Richard selected khaki long pants and a matching shirt.
After their showers, they headed to a scenic room near the beach for some relaxation.
Servants served them local delicacies, primarily bread, fruit, and rich soup to satisfy their hunger.
...
While they were eating, Link strolled over, wearing a loose shirt and shorts. His hair was still short and shiny, but a couple of weeks in the sun had deepened his tan to a golden hue, making his eyes sparkle with a bright reflection, as if the essence of the Hawaiian sun and stars lay within his gaze.
"Ha ha, Sam, Mr. Fox, welcome to my humble abode," Link greeted them warmly while shaking Richard's hand.
"Link, now that you're here, do you even think about Los Angeles anymore?" Sam asked, gesturing toward the beautiful view of the villa and beach outside the glass room.
From the yacht, he had only seen the elegant exterior and layout, but being there in person amplified the impression.
"It's stunning here, more luxurious than many palaces. If I were to stay here, I might forget about anywhere else," Link replied with a grin.
"If you like it, stay longer. You could bring your family here sometime; I only spend about a month here each year, and the rest of the time it sits empty," Link laughed.
"Ha ha, well then, I won't hold back," Sam responded with a chuckle.
A servant brought Link a meal of bread, fruits, and seafood chowder. He tore into the bread, dipping into the soup as they chatted.
Richard congratulated Link on the blockbuster success of his new film and praised Guess Pictures for its outstanding summer box office performance. He also addressed the reason for being there -- to invite him to direct the sequel to Batman.
Warner Brothers had proposed a base salary of $10 million, with an additional 5% of the box office gross once it surpassed $100 million in North America. This was the deal Link had previously negotiated with Columbia Pictures, and Warner Brothers was willing to follow suit.
They had initially discussed it over the phone, but Link had declined due to a busy filming schedule for another movie he was set to start later that year.
Richard refused to give up.
After Terry Semel, the president, suggested inviting Link to direct the Batman sequel, Richard returned to the production office and convened a meeting with the project producers to discuss the feasibility of offering Link the role.
After deliberation, they concluded that Link was indeed an excellent choice.
First, Link was the most successful commercial director in Hollywood at that time. From Buried through Se7en, none of his films had ever lost money; all had performed exceptionally well at the box office, making him a guarantee for studio profits.
Moreover, the story of the Batman sequel shared many similarities with that of Se7en. Both were dark, crime-themed films about the struggle between heroes and villains. The antagonists in those stories were often mentally distressed extremists seeking vengeance on society through their own means. Additionally, Se7en's storyline was set in a metropolitan area, suggesting that Link excelled at capturing urban crime narratives.
Finally, having a top-tier director helm a popular IP like Batman represented a powerful collaboration. Both Link's fans and Batman enthusiasts were sure to be thrilled at the prospect of such a film, eagerly anticipating its release.
In light of these factors, inviting Link to direct the Batman sequel became Warner Brothers' most strategic move for the project.
To facilitate this, Richard Fox contacted Link's agent, Sam Haskel, asking him to act as a mediator and inquire about Link's demands, promising that as long as they weren't unreasonable, negotiations could proceed.
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