บท 240: Compensation for her and upcoming project
The upcoming film, "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," was about to start production, and Lucas was more than ready for his role. He had spent countless hours in his "Mind Workshop," fully immersing himself in the character's shoes, reliving their story within the safety of his mental space. Meanwhile, another project, "Silver Linings Playbook," had been offered to him as well, but he declined after learning that it was being produced by "The Weinstein" company.
Lucas couldn't help but feel a sense of dread when he thought about the production house, led by none other than Harvey Weinstein. His knowledge from his previous life had warned him about the atrocities the man was capable of. Jennifer, had also been offered a role in the film, during a recent phone call. Thankfully, she had turned it down too.
Lucas knew that the Weinsteins were still influential in Hollywood, but he was determined to bring Harvey down ahead of time, albeit cautiously. He needed time to build his own influence, power, and resources before making any moves against such a formidable foe. For now, he focused on the upcoming "Wallflower" project, knowing that success in this film would bring him one step closer to his goal.
***
As a result of Lucas and Jennifer's refusal, Neil, Lucas's manager, informed him that the "Silver Linings Playbook" project had been delayed due to difficulties in casting the main male and female lead. Lucas knew that in his previous life, Jennifer Lawrence had used her connections with Harvey Weinstein to secure the role, and she had indeed done an outstanding job. However, by following Lucas's footsteps, it seemed unlikely that she would receive an Oscar for this particular role.
Neil couldn't hide his disappointment when he heard the news. "You sure you don't want to reconsider? I've heard some big names are attached to this project, like Robert De Niro."
Lucas shook his head firmly. "I don't care if Daniel Day-Lewis himself is in it. I'm not working with Weinstein."
Neil raised an eyebrow, curious. "I didn't know you had grievance with the Weinstein."
"Harvey and I aren't exactly on good terms," Lucas said, sipping his milk nonchalantly.
"He's been trying to woo me with his influence, but I want no part of that creep's games."
Neil was taken aback, but eventually shrugged it off. "Your call, man." He couldn't help but wonder what kind of history Lucas had with Harvey Weinstein.
As Lucas prepared for his role in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," he couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt. Jennifer had turned down an Oscar-worthy role because of him, and he owed her for that. He wondered if she knew the magnitude of her sacrifice, would she resent him? He pushed the thought aside and focused on the future.
Lucas began scouring through scripts, searching for a project that could give Jennifer a chance at an Oscar. His thoughts turned to "Blue Jasmine," a film that hadn't been made yet in this reality but had been a success in his previous life. He contacted Woody Allen, who was more than willing to collaborate on the project.
Lucas's ability, "Mind Workshop," proved invaluable as he recalled every detail of the original film, even managing to write a rough draft of the script. This version, however, would be tailored to Jennifer's strengths, giving her the opportunity to shine.
Lucas knew that no matter what, he owed it to her to make up for the lost opportunity. With any luck, "Blue Jasmine" would be the perfect vehicle to showcase her talent and earn her the recognition she deserved.
Lucas's cheat ability, "Mind Workshop," had improved leaps and bounds, allowing him to relive his past life in vivid detail. It was through this that he could bring songs, scripts, and even movies from his previous reality into his new world. However, there was a catch: the more he used it, the more he questioned which reality he belonged to.
He often found himself feeling disoriented, unsure of where or when he was. To combat this, Lucas only immersed himself in his past life when absolutely necessary, like when writing the "Joker" film or brainstorming business plans for "Uber," a company he co-founded with Vincent, his agent.
Lucas knew that while his power was a double-edged sword, he couldn't let it consume him. He took a deep breath, focusing on the here and now, and continued working on the "Blue Jasmine" script, determined to make it perfect for Jennifer.
Meanwhile, Uber, the company Lucas co-founded with Vincent, was slowly but surely making waves in the market. Although it had already generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits, Lucas knew that the company's potential was far from tapped. He decided to hold off on cashing in his equity until the app's infrastructure was more stable and user-friendly.
Lucas couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment every time he checked the company's balance sheet, but he knew that this was just the beginning. The real power lay in influence, and that came with even more money. He made a mental note to promote Uber on his Twitter once the app's servers were more stable.
Lucas understood the value of money in this industry. As much as he hated to admit it, thicker wallets commanded more respect.
With enough wealth, he could buy influence over politicians and those in positions of authority, paving the way for his ultimate goal: to bring down predators like Harvey Weinstein.
For now, Lucas returned his focus to his preparation for his upcoming film role and "Blue Jasmine," knowing that success in the film industry would only bring him one step closer to amassing the power he needed to exact justice.
---
Lucas and Neil were in the process of packing their belongings at their hotel room, preparation for their trip to Pennsylvania, the filming location of "The Perks of Being a Wallflower." Lucas couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation bubbling in his stomach.
Jack, his ever-vigilant bodyguard, stood by the door, a concealed gun on his person just in case. As they made their way through the bustling streets to their rented car, it was only a matter of time before someone recognized him.
"Lucas! Lucas! I've finally seen you!" A young man in a jacket sprinted towards them, phone in hand. Others soon joined him, all clamoring for autographs and selfies.
Jack stepped in front of Lucas, his expression wary. "Guys, please, we're in a hurry," he said, trying to shoo them away.
Lucas placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, Jack. Just a few pictures and autographs, then we'll be on our way."
Reluctantly, Jack backed down, allowing the fans to approach. Lucas smiled for the camera, signing autographs and posing for selfies with the excited group. He knew that these moments mattered, that his fans were the reason for his success.
As he talked to his adoring fans, Lucas couldn't help but notice the passerby phones recording his every move, capturing how gracious he was. It was a small price to pay for stardom, he thought.
In just a matter of minutes, the commotion attracted even more attention. People who weren't even fans of Lucas before stopped to see what the fuss was about, and soon enough, they too wanted a piece of the action.
"Wow, it's Lucas!"
"He's so handsome!"
"Can I take a photo?"
"Please, an autograph!"
Lucas felt the attention intensifying, so he motioned for Jack to step in. However, even with Neil and their driver, Shawn, helping out, it was still difficult to navigate through the growing crowd.
Finally, they managed to usher Lucas into the rented van, with Jack closing the door behind him. The fans continued to plead for just one picture or autograph, but the trio had no choice but to deny them.
"Sorry, folks, but Mr. Knight has important things to attend to," Jack said apologetically.
As the van pulled away, the disappointed crowd dispersed, some sighing wistfully. "I missed my chance."
"I thought I could've touched him," a young woman lamented.
Lucas watched them through the tinted window, feeling a mix of gratitude and guilt. He knew his newfound fame came with a price, but he never expected it to be this overwhelming.
Inside the car, Neil couldn't help but chuckle. "Well, look at you, Mr. Popular. Now even a stroll down the street isn't safe anymore."
Lucas sighed, still reeling from the commotion. "I didn't expect this much attention."
"It looks like one bodyguard isn't enough anymore," Neil said, nodding at Jack.
"I agree. You should hire another," Jack added, not missing a beat.
Lucas sighed. "Fine, Neil, you handle the recruitment process."
"Will do," Neil said with a grin.
To avoid a repeat of the earlier situation, Lucas donned his usual disguise: a cap and sunglasses. He hoped it would be enough to fly under the radar at the airport, though he doubted it would work for long.
As they neared the airport, fans indeed started to recognize him, but the disguise did its job well enough to deter them from mobbing him. Lucas, Neil, Shawn, and Jack boarded the plane without any major incidents and soon took off for Pennsylvania.
As Lucas settled into his seat in economy class, he could feel the weight of countless stares boring into him. He glanced around, catching a few discreet glances and the unmistakable glow of phone screens held at odd angles. Been here, done that, he thought, but he couldn't help but notice the intensity had grown since the last time. Thankfully, most of the passengers were respectful, limiting their interactions to polite greetings or brief conversations. Hours passed smoothly as the plane soared through the sky, and Lucas whiled away the time chatting with genuine fans and fellow travelers who recognized him but didn't make a fuss.
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