章節 328: Profits
Lucas had a great time working on the production of Game of Thrones Season 3. Although filming was delayed due to a negotiation dispute between his manager, agency, and HBO regarding his pay, it didn't hinder the quality of the series.
Two days after returning to New York, Lucas met up with Liza. Together, they orchestrated a special day for the kids Lucas had been supporting through his charity work.
They arranged for a private cinema screening, inviting the children and their guardians for an afternoon of fun and escape.
In addition to the children Lucas had known for some time, there were several new faces he had only met a few months ago. Seeing their condition tugged at his heart, but he felt a sense of gratitude that he was able to help in some way.
As they settled into the plush seats of the cinema, Lucas found himself fielding questions from both the kids and adults. He couldn't help but chuckle at the contrast.
"Lucas, Lucas!" one of the younger girls piped up. "Is Jennifer as pretty in real life as she is in the movies?"
Lucas grinned. "Even prettier, if you can believe it."
Meanwhile, one of the guardians leaned in. "So, about that Weinstein business..."
Lucas held up a hand, still smiling. "Maybe we can chat about that later. Right now, let's just enjoy the movie, yeah?"
The hours flew by, filled with laughter, popcorn, and the magic of cinema. As the day drew to a close, Lucas could see the sadness creeping into the kids' eyes.
"Do you have to go?" a young boy asked, his lower lip trembling slightly.
Lucas knelt down to his level. "I do, buddy. But hey, this isn't goodbye forever. I'll be back before you know it."
After a round of hugs and high-fives, Lucas watched as the kids left with their guardians, their faces still bright from the day's excitement.
Liza approached him, her eyes shining with gratitude. "Lucas, I can't thank you enough for what you do for these kids. You have no idea how much these visits mean to them."
Lucas shook his head, a soft smile on his face. "Liza, you don't need to thank me. Being around these amazing kids... it's a privilege. They're the real heroes here."
Liza smiled warmly and gave Lucas a heartfelt hug. "You're one of a kind, Lucas Knight," she said softly.
***
Later, Lucas met up with his fellow actor friend, Paul. After catching up on various topics, Lucas steered the conversation in a different direction.
"Hey, Paul," Lucas began, a hint of mischief in his eyes, "remember how I suggested you invest in Bitcoin three or four years ago?"
Paul furrowed his brow, trying to recall. "I don't remember that, man. You sure it was me?"
Lucas sighed, pulling out his iPhone 4. He pulled up some information and showed it to Paul. "This is the cryptocurrency I invested heavily in back in 2009. I put in thousands of dollars when it was practically worthless."
Paul's eyes widened as he looked at the screen. "And now?"
"Now," Lucas said with a grin, "it's worth around a million."
Paul choked on his coffee, coughing and spluttering. "Are you kidding me? This better not be some kind of joke, Lucas."
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "No joke, man. Back then, one Bitcoin wasn't even worth a dollar. Today, it's trading at around $12."
Paul stared at Lucas, his mouth agape. "Twelve dollars? From less than one? That's... that's insane."
"Yep," Lucas nodded, "and it's only going to go up from here. Mark my words, in a few years, we'll be looking at thousands per coin."
Paul slumped back in his chair, looking stunned. "Man, I wish I'd listened to you back then."
Lucas chuckled, reaching into his bag and pulling out a small hard drive. He handed it to Paul, who looked at it quizzically.
"What's this?" Paul asked, turning the device over in his hands.
Lucas grinned. "That, my friend, is a hard drive containing a Bitcoin wallet. Your Bitcoin wallet, to be precise."
Paul's eyebrows shot up. "My Bitcoin wallet? How? When did I get Bitcoin?"
"Remember when I told you about it years ago? You actually listened and accepted some," Lucas explained. "But it seems the word 'Bitcoin' faded from your memory. So, I've been keeping the account safe for you all this time."
Paul stared at Lucas, a mix of disbelief and gratitude on his face. "Lucas, I... I can't accept this. It's yours. You kept it all this time..."
Lucas waved his hand dismissively. "Nah, it's fine. It was always meant for you. Besides, I've got plenty of my own."
"How much is on here?" Paul asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lucas leaned back, a smile playing on his lips. "Oh, about 500,000 dollars worth of Bitcoin, give or take."
Paul's jaw dropped. "Five hun... Lucas, are you serious? This is too much, I can't-"
"You can, and you will," Lucas interrupted firmly. "Consider it a very late birthday present."
Paul looked at the hard drive, then back at Lucas, his eyes glistening slightly. "I don't know what to say, man. Thank you. Seriously, thank you."
Lucas clapped him on the shoulder. "Don't mention it. Just promise me you'll hold onto it. Trust me, it's only going to become more valuable."
As Paul nodded, still in a state of shock, Lucas couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction.
Paul leaned back, a rueful smile on his face. "You know, I've been noticing those companies you started back then are raking in some serious cash now. I remember you asking me to join, but I didn't think much of it at the time. Looks like I missed out on another golden opportunity."
Lucas laughed, shaking his head. "Don't beat yourself up over it. Who could have known those businesses would take off like they did? It's just like Bitcoin – sometimes you win, sometimes you miss out."
Paul nodded, then noticed a thoughtful look cross Lucas's face. "What's on your mind?"
Lucas paused for a moment. "Actually, I've been considering another business venture recently."
Paul sat up straighter, his interest piqued. "Oh yeah? What are you eyeing now?"
"I've been investing heavily in this streaming site called Netflix," Lucas explained. "So far, the millions I've put in haven't yielded significant profits, but I have a feeling about its potential."
Paul stroked his chin, nodding slowly. "Netflix... yeah, I've heard of them. Streaming, huh?" He thought for a moment before adding, "You know what? I might be willing to throw some of my savings into that."
Lucas looked at Paul thoughtfully. "Are you sure about that? It's still a risk."
"After what just happened with the Bitcoin?" Paul chuckled. "I'm willing to take a chance on your instincts."
Lucas nodded, but added cautiously, "I appreciate the trust, but maybe talk it over with your financial advisor first. It's always good to get a second opinion."
"Good point," Paul agreed. "I'll do that."
They moved on to other topics. Lucas was glad to see his friend taking an interest in investing, while Paul couldn't help but feel he was finally catching up to Lucas's forward-thinking approach to business.
***
A few days later, Lucas found himself at the airport, greeting Jennifer with a warm kiss. Realizing they were in public view, they quickly made their exit, managing to reach Lucas's apartment without incident.
Once inside, Jennifer let out a heavy sigh. "I'm getting tired of all this scrutiny," she said, flopping onto the couch.
Lucas chuckled, "Well, at least we're giving the paparazzi their daily workout." This elicited a laugh from Jennifer, easing some of the tension.
"You hungry?" Lucas asked, heading towards the kitchen. Jennifer nodded, and Lucas began preparing a meal.
As he was cooking, his phone buzzed with a text from Neil: "Heads up - talk shows are really pushing for you to make an appearance. Getting hard to keep turning them down."
Lucas sighed, texting back: "They still hot over the Harvey thing?"
Neil's reply came quickly: "That'll take a while to die down. But now they're also curious about your family situation. Think it might be worth addressing?"
Lucas paused, his hand hovering over the phone. His family situation in this life was... complicated, to say the least. He didn't have much feeling for them, and the thought of discussing it publicly made him uncomfortable.
"Everything okay?" Jennifer called from the living room, noticing his hesitation.
Lucas shook off his thoughts. "Yeah, just work stuff," he replied, trying to keep his tone light.
He glanced back at his phone, still unsure how to respond to Neil. The idea of opening up about his family on national television was daunting, but he knew the questions wouldn't go away on their own. He'd have to address it eventually - the question was, how?
Lucas returned to the living room, handing Jennifer her plate before settling down beside her on the sofa. As they ate and watched a movie on TV, Jennifer couldn't help but notice Lucas's unusual quietness.
"Hey," she said softly, nudging him gently. "What's on your mind? You seem distracted."
Lucas offered a small smile. "It's nothing important, really. Just work stuff."
After a moment of hesitation, Lucas turned to her. "How's your family doing? I was wondering... when do you think you might introduce me to them?"
Jennifer's face lit up at the mention of her family. "They're doing great, actually. Mom and Dad are still back in Louisville, keeping busy. My brothers are off doing their own things, but we try to catch up when we can."
She paused, considering Lucas's question. "You know, I've been thinking about introducing you to them for a while now. They're really excited to meet you. Maybe we could plan a trip to Kentucky soon? Mom's been asking when I'm coming home for a visit anyway."
Jennifer's enthusiasm was evident as she spoke about her family. It was clear she had a close relationship with them, despite the demands of her career.
"They're pretty down-to-earth people," she continued. "I think you'd get along great with my dad. He's got a great sense of humor, kind of like you."
Lucas nodded, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "That sounds great. I'd love to meet them."
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