[Chapter 310: Tom, Let's Just Get Divorced!]
After chatting with Sophie Marceau, Link received calls from Aaron Kutch, deputy editor of The Hollywood Reporter, Ross Stanton, associate editor of the Los Angeles Times, and Graydon Carter, editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair.
With the recent box office charts released, Link had once again become a hot topic, the center of American media attention. Numerous journalists were clamoring for interviews, but Link was busy on set, leaving him no time to engage with the press.
The media representatives called to ask him several pressing questions on the public's mind. They wanted to know how he felt about Guess Pictures dominating the box office and whether he intended to continue his pursuit of the top spot on the annual charts. They were also curious about what plans Guess Pictures had to maintain its market share.
Additionally, they inquired about Link's thoughts on becoming the youngest billionaire on Forbes' list, asking him how he viewed wealth and ideals, and if he had any secrets for achieving billionaire status. They wanted to know if he had any success stories to share with his fans.
Link patiently answered a few questions over the phone. By the time the interviews wrapped up, his food had gone cold in its container. His personal assistant, Lewinsky, promptly brought him a hot meal.
...
"Hey, big shot, you wrapped up?"
Before he could dig in, Jim Carrey approached with his meal and a copy of Forbes, peering into Link's lunch container. Inside, he saw a simple assortment of food: broccoli, bread, and fried pork cutlet.
"Why are you eating the same stuff as us?"
"They're all lunch boxes, aren't they?"
Link took a sip of water.
"Man, with your money, eating fast food seems too casual," Jim remarked, smacking his lips.
Link shook his head. When he came to the set, Lily had mentioned hiring a few chefs, nutritionists, and housekeepers to take care of his meals, ensuring he ate well and stayed healthy while he focused on work, but he had declined.
His standards for food were not high; as long as it was clean and nutritious, he was good. Too complex a meal seemed like more trouble than it was worth.
"Jim, you had a good year too, congratulations!" Link said, glancing at the magazine while munching on the pork cutlet.
"Haha, thanks! But compared to you, my earnings don't even register," Jim replied with a wide grin, clearly in a good mood.
He also made the list in the latest issue of Forbes. After the success of Dumb and Dumber and The Mask, his pay per film had surged to $20 million, making him one of the highest-paid actors in Hollywood.
Last year, he had earned $32 million, placing him eighth on the Forbes Celebrity Earnings list, right after Link, Michael Jackson, Madonna, and Spielberg. Back in 1992, for his role in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, he earned just $200,000, demonstrating his rapid ascent in the industry.
"Link, I owe a lot of my success to you. You pulled me out when I hit rock bottom and helped launch my career. I'll always remember that," Jim said, his expression turning serious.
"We're friends, no need to make a fuss about it," Link replied, tapping his water bottle against Jim's.
Jim's demeanor shifted back to playful, eager to keep the atmosphere light.
...
"Hey, can I join the two wealthy gentlemen over here?" Nicole Kidman approached with her own lunch.
"Of course, Nicole. Are you here to discuss something important with Link? I won't interrupt. Enjoy your meal!" Jim winked at Link and took his leave, being quite sensitive to the situation.
With a slight smile, Nicole set her lunch box down across from Link, looking intently at his handsome face.
"What are you staring at?"
"Because you're good-looking," she replied, gently brushing her hair aside.
"Link, you are something else. I told Ben Affleck you were the perfect Batman -- your personality, interests, and habits fit the role flawlessly. But now I'm unsure, because I've realized you might be better than Batman. Batman relies on inheritance from his parents, but you built your empire from scratch. You're more talented, and quite frankly, far more charming."
Link felt a surge of confidence at her words. He might not be able to match Batman in wealth, but he certainly surpassed him in physicality and strength.
"In the past, I couldn't understand why women like Michelle would love a guy like you so unconditionally. I get it now. You're an exceptional man -- a rare find in this world. Sharing you with others would still be better than marrying someone ordinary," Nicole smiled, resting her chin on her hand.
"So Ben Affleck is always watching me on set because of your suggestion?" Link popped a segment of orange into his mouth, savoring the citrus.
"Haha, during that time, he was anxious about how to portray Batman. I told him you were the model for it. He took my advice, and the results were great! So I guess my suggestion was spot on," Nicole winked, her blue eyes sparkling.
"You did well, and I should thank you for that. However, the upcoming scene is quite challenging, so be prepared. Let's get it in one take."
"Sure thing, but wait! I think we're getting a bit sidetracked. We were talking about your work, not mine," she replied, playfully rolling her eyes as she leaned over the table, her neckline elegantly displayed before him, mingling with the scents of the meal and her sweet perfume.
"This is a film set; work comes first. We can discuss everything else after we wrap. Alright, I've finished, and you should hurry up. We need to get moving," Link said, tossing his empty lunch box into the trash and standing to direct the crew for the next scene.
...
Nicole shot him a look, then turned her attention back to the Forbes magazine on the table, her expression shifting to one of complexity.
In this issue, she hadn't made the list, while several women close to Link had garnered spots on the Hollywood actresses' earnings list. Among them, Michelle Pfeiffer took fifth place with $21 million, followed by Sandra Bullock with $15 million at eighth, and Monica Bellucci, who earned $10 million, ranking twelfth.
Jennifer Connelly was at $8.5 million, while Julianne Moore, Renee Zellweger, Winona Ryder, and Milla Jovovich all earned over $3 million a year. Meanwhile, despite being the wife of the superstar Tom Cruise, who had starred in two films and taken on three endorsements last year, her income was only $2.6 million.
In Hollywood, it seemed no one envied these women more than she did. After sharing Link's bed, they accessed not only a wealth of film opportunities but also Link's protection, raking in millions each year.
Nicole once believed that marrying Tom Cruise was her greatest fortune, but compared to these women, it felt insignificant.
She delicately traced her finger over Link's photo in the magazine, her eyes blazing with desire. A man like that should belong to her.
...
"Nicole, Mr. Cruise is on the phone. Do you want to take it?" her assistant, Millie, called out.
Nicole snapped back to reality, taking the phone from her assistant. Tom's voice came through, laced with urgency.
"What are you doing?"
"Why do you ask?"
"I'm your husband; can't I ask?"
"Sure! I'm just having dinner with Link or maybe having sex with him; which one would you prefer to hear?"
Nicole's cold laughter echoed through the phone.
"Nicole, remember your role -- you're my wife."
"Does that mean I can't have dinner with the director on set?"
"Is it really just dinner? You two have been on set for over a month, seeing each other every day. Link is a womanizer; can you guarantee your relationship is strictly platonic?"
"What's your point?" Nicole asked impatiently.
"There are rumors in the papers alluding to you and Link having an inappropriate relationship. Is that true?" Tom asked, his voice tense.
With Link being a notorious womanizer, and Nicole one of the most beautiful actresses in Hollywood, the tabloids had buzzed with rumors ever since Batman began filming, suggesting she and Link had been getting close, often spotted entering and exiting the same hotel together.
While the media didn't overtly claim she was cheating, every line implied an inappropriate relationship, dragging Tom's name into it and painting him as the victim.
Tom was furious; he realized Nicole Kidman had a mission and would inevitably have a relationship with Link. However, he wanted to keep this under wraps, at least not before entering the court, as the public exposure would be humiliating for him.
Nicole chuckled coldly. "Improper relationship? Yes, what the newspaper said is right. I am so beautiful and sexy, how could that bastard Link let me go? Not long after I joined the crew, he took the opportunity to discuss the script and took advantage of me in the office. Afterwards, he forced me to live with him. He filmed during the day and forced me severely when he came back at night, treating me like a slave. I am just a small actor. What can I do in the face of a rich and powerful director like him?"
"That bastard Link! I'm going to kill him!" Tom roared through the line.
"Nicole, do you have any proof? Photos, video, or anything else? We should call the cops and get him locked up, ruin him -- quick, tell me where the evidence is!"
"There's no evidence. The first few times were unintentional, and after that... well, it was voluntary."
"What?! How could you do this? Don't forget your identity -- you are mine!"
Tom's voice rose in anger.
"I didn't want it this way. Link's charm is undeniable; he's not just young and handsome -- he's also thoughtful. During our time together, he has entranced me both physically and emotionally, and I've hopelessly fallen for him. I don't even know how it happened!"
"You bitch! How could you do this? Don't forget that Michael assigned this task to you," Tom shouted.
Nicole's expression chilled. "Michael Ovitz's assignment? So, you really knew of Michael's plan to use your wife as a pawn?"
Although Michael hadn't disclosed this to her, the prospects led her to suspect that Tom might be aware of it.
Hearing Tom say it out loud made her shiver, a chill spreading through her body.
Tom's possessiveness and need for control had always been suffocating; he loved to showcase her in public while scrutinizing her every move, even preventing her from talking to other men.
At first, she believed this was an expression of love, something she could endure despite feeling resentment.
Now, she realized it was not love at all -- it was possessiveness and vanity.
"I don't... okay, I know, but this was all Michael Ovitz's idea. I opposed it at first, but it was futile. He insisted you were the best candidate, that there was no one else. I had no choice but to comply."
Tom's voice shifted from angry to somewhat resigned. "Nicole, don't blame me; this mess stems from that bastard Link. He's made Hollywood a chaotic mess since he arrived, disrupting the original order. CAA and the seven major studios have lost so much power.
The film industry has also taken a hit with terrible movies making money while good movies can't find a screen. Many companies went bankrupt because of him, and countless talented actors are out of work. Everything is because of Link. If he stays in Hollywood, the entire industry will suffer, and the art of filmmaking will decline. We're doing this for Hollywood, for the films. Do you understand?"
Nicole sneered, wiping her tears away. "For the films? For Hollywood? Please, stop making excuses; everything you've done is for yourself. You want to use me for your gain, to solidify your standing in this industry, don't you, my dear husband?"
"I haven't! I didn't! Don't think that way!"
"Tom, let's just get divorced! We've made our positions clear; there's no point in continuing this marriage," she declared.
"You can't divorce me! I won't let you run off with that damned Link and tarnish my reputation!"
Tom shouted furiously.
"I'll walk away with nothing."
"I said no divorce, never."
"Why not?"
"All of your success is thanks to me! Without me, you're just some actress from Australia. Now that you've made it big, you think you can bail? Life doesn't work that way."
"Fine, then keep your nose out of my personal life. I can sleep with whoever I want and do what I please at night."
"You bitch--"
Tom's furious shout echoed through the receiver. Nicole decisively hung up, wiping her eyes as she prepped in the makeup room.
Once she finished her makeup and stepped out, everyone in the crew was ready as well.
...
They began filming.
"Scene 617, take one, action!"
This scene depicted Dr. Chase treating Bruce Wayne's psychological issues.
"I have something for you -- it's on the desk. I hope you like it," Dr. Chase called out from the adjacent room.
Bruce Wayne walked to the desk, picking up an item from a box that was a creepy doll mask, black on one side, white on the other, a dream doll.
"What's this?"
"This could help with your nightmares. I thought your dreams might need changing," Dr. Chase entered wearing a deep purple sleeveless dress, her tall and sensual figure captivating, with golden hair cascading down her shoulders.
"My parents were murdered. In front of me. I was just a kid," Bruce said, looking at Dr. Chase as he moved to the window, hands in his pockets. "A lot of what happened is jagged. Pieces missing. I can't really remember. I just get flashes. Usually in my dreams. I'd kind of gotten used to them. At least accepted them...."
"And now..."
"They've changed. The dreams, I mean. There's a new element I don't understand. A book. Black. Covered in leather..."
Dr. Chase listened quietly, sympathy and understanding etched on her face. "Bruce, you're describing a suppressed memory, a painful image trying to resurface after being forgotten."
...
"Cut!"
Link reviewed the shot, calling Ben and Nicole over.
"Ben, you need to relax. When you look at Dr. Chase, your eyes need to convey some emotion -- show appreciation for this woman sitting in front of you.
Nicole, your performance seems a bit off; your emotional range isn't consistent. Sometimes you're reacting too quickly, and other times too slowly. It looks stiff. What's going on? You used to excel with scenes like this."
Nicole shrugged her shoulders. "There are some issues I'm dealing with, Link. Can we talk after the shoot?"
"Alright! You two go adjust your performance."
...
Ten minutes later, they continued filming.
In previous shoots, Nicole had delivered stable performances, boosting Ben Affleck's acting. Today, however, her off day caused a lack of synergy, and they had to run the scene five times before they got it right.
*****
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