บท 145: ### Chapter 144: Are You Trying to Seduce Me?
"Hi, Mr. Brad, your car is really beautiful."
"Thank you!"
In the morning, under the bright sunshine on Hollywood Boulevard, Richard drove his silver Cadillac to the BAA office, receiving countless envious glances and praises along the way.
He was quite satisfied with this. Recently, this car had been featured prominently in many entertainment tabloids.
Many reports claimed that after becoming famous, the champion Richard had followed the same path as many other champions, indulging in a luxurious lifestyle, frequently visiting nightclubs and entertainment venues, and parading around with various beauties.
They said he was young and famous but lacked discipline, and if this continued, he might become the next Morrison.
The newspapers even included many pictures, with this luxury car in the center, and sometimes with one or two beauties, other times with three or four.
However, the person driving was blurry in the photos. If the pictures were clearer, it would be evident that the driver was not him but Norman, that slacker.
Entering the company building, Richard went to Anthony's office, where he found him reviewing some documents.
"Is there something you can't say over the phone?"
"Haha, it's good news. Have a seat first!"
Anthony poured him a cup of red tea from a teapot. It was said that drinking red tea helped with weight loss, so Anthony had developed a liking for it.
Richard glanced at his waistline. "It's been almost six months, how come you haven't slimmed down?"
Anthony's chubby face twitched. "Who said I haven't? I've lost ten pounds since last year and an inch around my waist."
"Haha, for us actors, it's common to lose tens of pounds quickly for a role. Why is it so hard for you to lose weight?"
Richard sniffed the tea, which had a sweet, fresh cherry aroma.
"Losing weight too quickly can damage the liver. Slow and steady is better for overall health, according to my doctor."
Anthony smiled and sat in his office chair, which creaked in protest.
Richard shook his head and picked up a document on the desk. It was information about a new Land Rover SUV model, with a sleek black body and tough lines, looking very aggressive.
"Are you buying a car?"
"No, Land Rover's marketing department is inviting you to be the North American spokesperson. Here's a proposal for you to review."
Anthony opened another folder.
"What's the endorsement fee?"
"Three hundred and fifty thousand for two years, plus two new SUVs. This is the initial offer."
"I heard Tyson got over a million dollars for a fried chicken commercial."
Richard said as he browsed through the information.
"Haha, that was for a KFC commercial in 1990 when Tyson was very popular. However, shortly after the commercial aired, he lost to James Douglas in Tokyo. Many people blamed it on the fried chicken, so it didn't have the desired effect."
Anthony laughed.
Richard smiled. "Indeed, compared to Tyson, who started a new era, I still have a long way to go. Besides this commercial, are there any others?"
"There are. Underwear, clothing, hamburger and hot dog endorsements, pharmaceuticals, fitness equipment... Since your victory, we've received over twenty endorsement offers.
"But based on your criteria—high endorsement fees, prestigious brands, no food or pharmaceuticals—the Land Rover offer is the most suitable."
"Alright!"
Richard put down the material and tapped the table. "Discuss this with Star Sports and avoid creating unnecessary tension over the agency split."
"Haha, understood. As long as you remain the champion, we'll all profit. So don't worry about the agency matters."
"Great. Anything else?"
"Yes, the 'Mission Impossible' crew initially rejected you but recently decided to give you the role of the lead villain, Ambrose. Are you interested?"
Anthony put down another folder.
"What's the pay? When is the filming?"
"One million dollars, according to B-grade actor standards, with filming scheduled around September."
"Will it conflict with 'X-Men'? If there's a conflict, prioritize 'X-Men'."
Richard said as he browsed through the script.
"'X-Men' is in June and July. If there's a conflict, we'll do our best to adjust."
"Alright, you handle the adjustments."
After having a cup of tea in the office, he chatted with Old Hall before taking the script back to his office.
His office wasn't large but had a sofa, bookshelves, a desk, and some plants. The floor-to-ceiling window faced Hollywood Boulevard, letting in plenty of sunlight.
Richard made a cup of tea and took a script titled "Girl, Interrupted" from the bookshelf. He needed to prepare as shooting would begin in a few days.
The role wasn't difficult, with five scenes and over thirty lines. However, he would be acting opposite Winona Ryder, a slightly quirky and very talented actress, and he didn't want to be overshadowed.
Knock, knock, knock~
After a short while, there was a gentle knock on the door.
"Come in!"
"Hey, boss, good morning."
The door opened, and a chocolate-skinned beauty stood at the entrance. She wore sportswear, her hair tied in a ponytail, her lips curving in a sweet smile, brighter than the sunlight outside.
"Hi, Jessica, have a seat!"
Richard gestured to the chair opposite and poured her a cup of red tea.
"Thank you, boss."
Jessica smiled sweetly.
"Don't call me boss. It creates a sense of opposition between us. We should be friends."
"Okay, but your rapid rise is truly amazing. Every time I see you, it's like meeting a new person—champion, movie star, millionaire, inspirational youth icon. Maybe next time, I'll have to look up to see you."
Jessica looked at the ceiling and laughed.
"Don't worry, I'm not growing that fast. Jessica, why are you here at the office?"
"Do you remember the new show 'Dark Angel' from 20th Century Fox? I heard you recommended me. I passed the first audition, and the company hired a stunt coach for me, so I came for training."
"Oh, I remember."
At a party hosted by Murdoch, he had met director James Cameron and thought of his new project "Dark Angel" with 20th Century Fox. The lead role was perfect for Jessica, so he mentioned it to Norman and Anthony.
"If you need any help, just let me know."
"Okay, thanks, boss!"
Jessica blinked and smiled.
Richard shook his head, took out a script, and asked,
"Got time? Help me run some lines."
"A new movie?"
"Yes, an art film."
"'Girl, Interrupted'? Sounds great!"
Jessica opened the script and scanned it. They began practicing their lines.
While practicing, Jessica read only the female lead's lines, and Richard had to both say his lines and act them out.
"Are you Susanna?"
Richard asked curiously.
"You?"
"I'm Toby, Andra Jacobs' brother. I was at the graduation ceremony too. You look beautiful when you sleep."
Richard smiled slightly at her.
"Hey, why is the next scene a bed scene, boss? What are you trying to do?"
While practicing, Jessica held the script to her chest, pretending to be scared.
"Don't joke around. We're just running lines."
"Really? But I heard many movie bosses use auditions as an excuse to seduce actresses. Are you trying to..."
Jessica blinked, her eyes full of suspicion.
"Forget it. Go train. I'll do it myself."
Richard reached for the script.
"Haha, just kidding. Let's continue. Have you ever thought about dying?"
"Oh, yes, many people have thought about it at some point."
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