[Chapter 253: Friends]
After an exhilarating dinner, Link and the ladies returned to the villa to unwind, leaving the negotiations to Sam Haskel and Richard Fox.
After two days of discussions, Warner Bros. had submitted a new payment agreement. The base salary remained unchanged at $10 million. For the Batman sequel, if the North American box office surpassed $100 million, Link would receive a 5% share; for over $200 million, 10% from domestic and 5% from overseas revenue. If it exceeded $300 million, he'd earn 10% from global revenue; and if it topped $400 million, 15%. Once the North American box office crossed $500 million, they'd calculate based on $400 million since the 15% revenue share was Warner's limit.
This new deal emerged from extensive negotiations and showed more goodwill than the previous agreement. After reviewing the collaboration terms, Link wasted no time and informally signed a letter of intent with Richard Fox in the villa's main hall, planning to finalize the formal contract once they returned to Los Angeles.
---
After bidding Sam and Richard goodbye, Link sent off Sandra Bullock and Julianne Moore, and then Renee Zellweger, as they received news about new projects and headed back to Los Angeles to prepare for their roles.
Jennifer Lopez hadn't had her fill of the festivities and wanted to stay and keep him company. Link was more than happy to indulge her a bit more.
Considering the villa felt a bit lonely with Jennifer Lopez alone, Link called Brooke Shields, Winona Ryder, and Jennifer Aniston to see who had time to join him for a vacation. The first to arrive was Jennifer Aniston, accompanied by her Friends co-stars Courteney Cox and Lisa Kudrow, along with the three supporting characters Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer.
Upon arriving, the three men were thrilled by the stunning beachfront view and cheered excitedly, daydreaming about sailing out to fish, playing soccer on the beach, or hitting the local bars in search of beautiful women, often staying out all night.
However, after just two days of fun, they returned to the villa to find the atmosphere had shifted. Unlike before, when Link had been closest to Jennifer Aniston, now both Courteney and Lisa were openly flirting with him, wearing revealing outfits and splashing around with him in the pool, creating a rather suggestive ambiance.
By nighttime, what had started as only Jennifer Aniston staying in the main villa now included Courteney and Lisa as well, leaving just the three men in the guesthouse.
Even if they were a little oblivious, they could figure out what was happening. As their friends, Matt, David, and Matthew felt angered by the situation and privately advised the women to slow down; Link was known to be a playboy with many other women around, and they didn't want any feelings wasted on him.
Jennifer Aniston ignored their warnings, while Courteney and Lisa told them to mind their own business.
They were all relatively unknown actresses who only got to mingle with someone like Link due to Jennifer's connections -- an opportunity too rare to discard. They saw Link as a strikingly charming man: handsome, wealthy, and powerful. They didn't view time spent with him as a waste, but as a wonderful life experience. Even if they were to be sidelined or neglected in the future, they held no regrets.
...
"Ugh, why? Even good girls like Courteney and Lisa are falling for the devil's charms?" Matt shouted, staring upwards in disbelief after the girls departed.
"Jennifer's a good girl too," David added, eyeing the golden-haired figure with a hint of regret.
"Okay, fine, Jennifer's a good girl. Why do good girls go for the devil instead of us nice guys?" Matt sighed, clearly frustrated.
"Maybe I have an idea," Matthew said seriously.
"What is it?" Matt and David leaned in, curious.
"They're drawn to the devil, and it's likely due to the immense temptation he represents, which is way more than what we can offer."
Matthew raised his eyebrows playfully.
"Great, don't joke. Our girls have been stolen by the devil, and we should be mourning and furious right now!" Matt punched his chest with determination.
"Yeah, I'm furious," David agreed, clenching his fist.
"Alright then, let's take action and get back our girls!" Matthew declared, putting an arm around each friend as they marched towards the beach volleyball court.
...
On the court, Link and Jennifer Lopez were joined by the four ladies for a spirited game. Link showcased his strong physique as he moved swiftly, hitting the ball over the net, effortlessly jumping to spike the ball. His athleticism commanded attention, and he defended against the opposing team with ease.
"Wow! Link is so strong; we might not beat him!" Matt exclaimed.
"Are we really going to surrender to him? No way, I'd rather not live with myself," Matt pondered, conflicted.
"How about we join Jennifer's side? Seven against one?" David proposed.
"Hmm?" Matt and Matthew exchanged puzzled looks. "Dude, we're men -- are you really suggesting we join the girls' team?"
"Why not?"
"Of course! That would be a brilliant idea!"
With mischievous grins, the three made their way to the women's team.
The four ladies wore sporty outfits that, while different in style, fit them snugly and accentuated their curves. They played for a while, sweating and covered in sand, making them look even hotter and more appealing.
"Hey ladies, how about the three of us joining the team?" Matt shouted.
"Yeah, you four aren't matching up to Link, but add us three volleyball champions and we can definitely take him down!"
The trio rolled up their sleeves for a game.
"Forget it; I'm too tired to play."
"Yeah, I'm out too. You guys go ahead." Courteney and Lisa wiped their brows and settled on the sidelines to watch.
Meanwhile, Jennifer Aniston and Jennifer Lopez approached Link to set up a 3-on-3 match.
...
"Hey, stop talking, and serve the ball already!"
With her golden ponytail swinging, Jennifer Aniston sported a fitted tank top and shorts that showcased her slim waist and bright cheeks, appearing both sweet and vibrant.
On Link's left side stood the sporty Jennifer Lopez, clad in pink, flaunting her stunning athletic figure.
"Alright, fine. You've convinced me! I'll show you what I've got and prove my skills," Matthew called out as he stretched his legs on the opposite court.
During the first match, Matthew and his friends played frantically and within thirty minutes, they collapsed on the sand, panting, struggling more than Jennifer Lopez herself.
"Matthew, you guys are out of shape! Look at Link; he's been playing for over an hour and isn't even breaking a sweat," Jennifer remarked, teasingly touching Link's impressive abs.
With his head raised, Matthew couldn't find the words to respond, still catching his breath.
...
After volleyball, Link, as host, drove the Friends cast and Jennifer Lopez to a local festival event.
As they spotted a group of gorgeous girls swaying to the music by the bonfire, the trio quickly forgot their earlier frustrations and happily joined the party, dancing away at the ladies' invitation.
Link chuckled, holding a beer.
"Had I known they'd be this rowdy, I wouldn't have invited them." Jennifer Aniston smiled as she looped her arm through his.
"They're all fun, and it's nice having friends around. It makes the villa feel livelier."
"Really?"
"Absolutely! Your friends are my friends."
Link leaned down to kiss her softly, and Jennifer beamed, wrapping her arms around him tightly, as if trying to merge with him.
Courteney and Lisa watched from the side, feeling a slight pang of envy but not vying for Link's attention. Without Jennifer, they wouldn't have even crossed paths with someone like Link, let alone have shared so many unforgettable nights.
*****
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