[Chapter 454: The Changing Assistant]
"Link, here's a tip for you -- always take a few more bodyguards when you go out, just to avoid getting into trouble."
Quentin said over the phone.
"Got it. I'm walking out with at least four bodyguards these days, and the car's been retrofitted with bulletproof armor. No worries about assassination attempts."
Link replied while reviewing some documents.
"Okay, you might just be the most hated director in Hollywood's history. I think it's all because of the money. If you hadn't started Guess Pictures and made so much cash, you'd probably be the greatest director in the world."
"No need to speculate -- I already am the greatest director ever," Link laughed.
Quentin scoffed, "No more kidding. When is Guess Pictures planning to release Kill Bill?"
"Originally it was set for December, but with Saving Private Ryan and Titanic dominating at the box office, it's not the best timing. The distribution team plans to push Kill Bill to March next year."
"Hmm! That's underestimating the movie too much. Kill Bill's fantastic. Even if it released this week, it could top the box office and maybe even be the weekly champ. As the writer, you should have more confidence."
Quentin expressed his dissatisfaction.
Link smiled, "I know. I have confidence in the movie too, but Saving Private Ryan is one of ours as well. Releasing Kill Bill now would cause competition between our own films, and that would hurt the company's box office."
"Alright then, March it is. Hopefully, Kill Bill can pull in seven or eight hundred million worldwide."
"I hope so too."
Link chuckled and ended the call.
...
"Link, every time you talk to Director Quentin, you spend the longest time on the phone. Today it was over twenty minutes," Aishwarya Rai said, smiling as she took the phone.
"Yeah, Quentin is a bit of a chatterbox. I waste so much time on calls with him," Link said, continuing to sketch notes in the director's script.
After over two months of shooting, the main scenes of Armageddon were mostly wrapped. What remained were many special effects shots to be filmed in the studio and enhanced with computer graphics, especially the space scenes to give a realistic, visually stunning effect.
While busy working, Aishwarya stayed close by, standing behind him to massage his shoulders.
Aishwarya was skilled in yoga and versed in massage techniques.
After working together for months, she inevitably developed feelings for him, sometimes making more intimate gestures when alone.
Link responded when he had the chance, with hugs, kisses, and gentle touches.
At first, Aishwarya was shy and reserved, but over time she grew bolder, sometimes nestling into his arms and asking for kisses, as if caught in a passionate romance.
Link enjoyed these tender yet intense moments and always responded positively when he wasn't too busy.
...
Knock knock knock--
The door knocked several times. Link patted the girl in his arms who had gone limp from the kisses. Aishwarya opened her eyes, fluttered her long lashes at him, kissed his cheek, then gracefully rose to open the door.
Watching her delicate waist curve made Link think of her beautiful belly dance moves.
"Link, busy?"
Ben Affleck walked in and greeted him.
"A bit of work stuff. What's up?"
"It's about the Batman sequel. Warner Bros. is prepping for it and invited me to reprise the role, but I heard you won't be directing."
Ben asked.
"I talked with Warner Bros. about it. Their schedule is tight, wanting to finish filming by May next year, and I don't have the time to direct it. If they want you back as Batman, you should consider it without worries."
"Got it, I'll seriously think about it," Ben said before leaving.
Link went back to his script, continuing to write and draw.
---
In the afternoon, the crew resumed shooting in the studio. While drilling on a meteorite, team member William Sharp suddenly lost it, wielding a machine gun mounted on the drill vehicle and randomly shooting at the meteorite, forcing the drilling to halt.
Later, due to a worker's mistake, the drilling vehicle detached from the meteorite and drifted into space, making the mission fail.
As everyone on Earth prepared for impending doom, AJ, who had gotten lost earlier, arrived on site with another vehicle.
Harry and his team continued drilling, overcoming countless obstacles, finally creating an 800-foot hole in the meteorite and successfully planting a nuclear bomb inside.
When they prepared to leave, they discovered the bomb's auto-detonator was malfunctioning -- someone had to stay behind to manually trigger the bomb.
Staying meant sacrifice.
The drilling team drew lots to decide who would remain.
AJ was unfortunately picked. As he held the detonator ready to stay, Harry snatched it and pushed him into the shuttle.
In the end, as everyone evacuated safely and moments before the meteorite was to hit Earth, Harry pressed the detonator. The bomb exploded, splitting the meteorite apart from within and pushing the fragments off course as they skimmed Earth's atmosphere into deep space.
Earth and humanity were saved. Harry, who died in the explosion, became a revered hero.
AJ married Grace, and they lived happily. The rest of the crew also lived the lives they had dreamed of.
...
"Cut!"
"That's a good take, approved!"
After nearly three months of shooting, Armageddon was officially wrapped.
Link took the film reels back to the company to complete post-production and editing, with special effects expected to finish in the next three months.
---
Returning to Los Angeles, Link didn't have time to rest. His girlfriends continuously invited him to watch Titanic in theaters, wanting to experience the tragic love story of Jack and Rose on the big screen.
Being a responsible man, Link never refused, seeing the film over twenty times and contributing significantly to Fox Pictures' box office.
"Jack and Rose's love story is so touching, honey. Are they real people?" Winona Ryder asked, holding his arm as they left the theater. Her eyes were red from crying, her hazel eyes shimmering.
"Probably. Director Cameron is quite the historian. Before filming, he researched all the passengers. Rose and Jack likely existed, but their love story might not be true; maybe they never even met," Link said, holding her hand, not wanting to shatter her romantic dream.
"What a shame. Their story is so beautiful," Winona sighed.
"I don't think so. Their love story, while beautiful, isn't very realistic," Sofia Coppola chimed in with hands in her pockets.
"If the tragedy hadn't happened and they got off the ship as lovers, they'd soon be worried about real life. Jack doesn't seem like a steady worker, and Rose is a lady -- not someone who'd work in a factory. After living together for a while, they'd grow bored, fight over petty stuff, and eventually break up. So Jack dying in the Atlantic and living forever in Rose's heart is actually their best ending."
"I agree with Sofia," Angelina Jolie said with a smile. "Love without a solid foundation is just a fantasy. Jack couldn't even buy a ticket, where would they live or eat after getting off the ship? Rose was upper class; even if down on her luck, her lifestyle was better than most. If they stuck together, the ending would be bad."
Winona pursed her lips but didn't argue.
Link smiled, knowing Sofia and Angelina were right. Later, Rose and Jack starred in another movie, Revolutionary Road, with a story much like their view.
"Link, if you were Jack and we were Rose, after the disaster, would you give us the door plank?" Sofia teased playfully.
"No way!" Link laughed before they could roll their eyes.
"The water's freezing! With my skills, grabbing a lifeboat for you isn't tough."
The three girls laughed, thinking of his wealth and strength -- they believed even on a sinking ship, he could save them with ease.
"What if there's no lifeboat? What if we all fall in the ocean?" Jolie joked.
"Simple -- I'm a good swimmer and strong. I'd carry all three of you from the Atlantic to America."
"Ha! That's what you say. Forget carrying us all, how about just carrying me home first?" Angelina jumped on his back, kissed him, arms around his neck, legs wrapped around him.
Link patted her on the rear and carried her to the car.
After watching the film with Winona and the others, Link accompanied more girlfriends to see it, answering all their questions patiently.
...
Once finished with dates, Link returned to his editing studio to complete the edits on Armageddon.
While editing, the post-production of Tomorrow Never Dies completed, and MGM hosted a test screening.
The system rated the film well, with 65.3% participation, 99.1% completion, and 88% market fit.
Rewards included a 2.4x box office bonus, 15% director experience increase, 15% stamina boost, and a 16% gain in film quality.
At the test screening, MGM's boss Kirk Kerkorian privately approached Link to discuss Guess Pictures acquiring MGM.
Link's offer remained $4.2 billion for full acquisition (including $3.8 billion bad debts), or $100 million for 49% stakes, promising to turn MGM profitable within ten years.
Both terms were good for MGM.
MGM struggled deeply. Even with Tomorrow Never Dies' success, bankruptcy loomed.
Selling to Guess Pictures before bankruptcy meant Kerkorian could recover hundreds of millions, or selling 49% for $100 million would bring Link onboard, easing loan worries. With Link joining, MGM's shares would be worth more in a few years.
Most importantly, against Guess Pictures' competition, any of the Big Seven Studios could go under. MGM's survival by teaming with Guess Pictures mattered.
Still, Kerkorian hoped for more -- if Guess Pictures offered $4.5 billion, he'd sign immediately.
Link declined.
After wrapping work, Link relaxed, taking his girlfriends and kids to a Hawaiian estate for vacation.
*****
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