Chapter 220: The Intouchables

"Sophie, aren't you busy filming your second movie La disparue de Deauville? How do you have time to come see me?" Charles asked with a smile as he sat on the couch.

Sophie Marceau, dressed in a white blouse and black pants showcasing her intellectual beauty, walked up beside Charles, propped her head on her hand, and teased, "Oh, you don't want me around because you have other beauties keeping you company these days?"

Charles ran his fingers through Sophie's hair; the excitement he just felt from Eva Green had not yet faded.

Upon hearing Sophie's words, Charles laughed and immediately pressed her down on the couch, "Last time I went to your set, you left me hanging!"

"Is that so?" Sophie Marceau slid her hand inside Charles' colorful shirt, caressing his back.

"Oh God! Being both the director and the lead actress is exhausting enough. And you still dragged me into the makeup room during the break!" Sophie Marceau chuckled.

"Last time, weren't you satisfied?"

Charles unbuttoned the woman's shirt and kissed her a few times before smiling and saying, "You don't know how incredible I am?"

"Yes, many actresses from France have been charmed by you - first Marion Cotillard, then Eva Green, now even I can't escape? Who's next then?"

Charles did not respond. Olga Kurylenko, who had recently obtained French nationality, also came to mind.

"What do you mean 'charmed'? I call it free love!"

"Free love with so many women just for you, huh?" Sophie Marceau pouted. "So why don't you get married then?"

Charles shook his head and smiled, "I absolutely despise divorce."

"In the entertainment industry, many people marry young and then divorce and remarry multiple times. It's too common!" Sophie Marceau sighed, "Though I've only been married once, I've never thought of remarrying after my divorce."

"It's a pity our 'French Kiss' never seems to have a lonely heart, right?" Charles smiled and kissed her lip.

"That's the charm of love. You don't necessarily have to get married to need love," Sophie Marceau, whose private life was quite complicated, always had a bit of rebellion in her.

"So, we're good like this," Charles suddenly surprised her. Sophie Marceau yelped and held him tightly.

"I only enter your body, not your life!"

Sophie Marceau played along, whispering in his ear, "You make our lover relationship sound so philosophical; you must have some French blood!

By the way, you've been in France for a while; just on vacation? Aren't you going to Germany to see the World Cup? Recently, many French newspapers have been calling for you to go to Germany."

"German newspapers probably welcome me too! But although I'm vacationing in France, I'm also preparing to develop another French film," Charles explained, placing work above romance.

"What movie?" Sophie Marceau still had some ability to think.

"Oh, do you know the 2003 French documentary A Second Chance? It was based on a true story from the '90s, Philippe Pozzo di Borgo's biography The Second Breath.

In the '90s, Philippe Borgo had a parachuting accident that left him quadriplegic. His black caretaker took care of him..."

Charles was planning to develop The Intouchables, which would become the most beloved French film, surpassing Amelie in France.

It would also break the global French movie box office record held by The Fifth Element.

Charles was ready to get off Sophie and talk seriously about this film.

"Charles, do you have to talk about work right now?" Sophie Marceau clung to him tightly, "Or else, you won't get my service anymore!"

Half an hour later, both were disheveled, leaning on the couch. Satisfied and rejuvenated, Sophie Marceau asked, "It sounds like a touching story - white aristocrat, highly educated; black immigrant, from a complex background - their friendship, trust, and responsibility!"

"When do you plan to develop it?" Sophie Marceau clearly took an interest.

"After La Vie en Rose is released. I want Capet Pictures to be known all over France," Charles smiled. "Interested?"

Sophie Marceau nodded.

"Want to direct?"

"Can I?" Sophie Marceau was still filming her second directorial work; was the third one already set?

Charles wondered about Sophie Marceau's directorial abilities.

Holding her shoulder, he smiled, "Take some time to read the book The Second Breath and watch the documentary A Second Chance.

The Second Breath primarily talks about Philippe's psychological journey after becoming paralyzed, his new outlook on life. Not much about the black caretaker in it; A Second Chance documents many of their stories and life together.

We'll combine both and get a screenwriter to adapt it into a suitable script. Then you can be a producer, and we can cast a beautiful housekeeper for Philippe. You can even cameo!"

Sophie Marceau was stunned for a moment, then laughed, pointing at Charles, "You not only sleep with me but also make me work for you and then have to promote your movie with my cameo!"

"Relax, after La Vie en Rose releases next year, you'll see the gap between us in the film industry is more than just an ocean," Charles said while gently smoothing the wrinkles around Sophie's eyes.

"I want to break Amelie's standing in French cinema!"

Sophie nodded, "I'll make time to read the biography and watch the documentary. How did you come across Philippe Borgo and this story?"

Because neither The Second Breath nor A Second Chance had significant influence.

"Oh, because Philippe Pozzo di Borgo was VP of LV's Champagne houses, Veuve Clicquot and Perrier-Jouet, and a shareholder," Charles laughed, "Don't forget, I'm also a shareholder of LV now. Philippe lives in Monaco; asking him to sell the movie rights was easy!"

"I see..."

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.