Chapter-67: Hope Foundation

July 14, 1993, London, UK

The UK is not a safe place for public celebrities, especially if you are famous. It's the den of the paparazzi. You can not walk for ten minutes without protection; otherwise, you would be swarmed with people with cameras or recorders.

So, when he came to the UK, he was prepared. He came alone this time; along with attending the event, he had other work.

Getting out of Heathrow Airport, there was already a car waiting for him. The moment he landed, the car took him straight toward his hotel.

Getting to his room, he unwinds himself, takes a shower, and then lies on the bed for a while before calling Kyle.

"Are you in Landon?" he asks the moment the call connects.

"Yes. I came yesterday." Kayle replies.

"Come to my hotel; I am leaving the address," Ric says, then he impatiently disconnects the phone.

The next day, in the lounge area of the hotel, Ric is seen with coffee going through some papers and editing them. From the looks of it, it looks like a script. Then a voice interrupted him.

"Good morning, sir." Ric looks up and sees Kyle standing in front of him. "Good morning," he replies, gesturing for Kyle to sit down. "I need your help with something," Ric continues as he picks up the papers and keeps them in his bag. Then he looked at him and said, "How much is left?"

How much is left?" Kyle repeated, confused. Ric clarified, "Of the budget for the project I allotted you to work with for Carnival Inc.," Kyle nodded and pulled out his phone to bring up the financial report. "We have about 30% left," he informed Ric.

"Is it enough to create an NGO?" Ric asked, his eyes lighting up with excitement. "I've been thinking about starting one for a while now, and I think we could make it happen with the remaining budget." Kyle raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the idea. "What kind of NGO are you thinking of?" he asked, leaning forward in his seat.

"A charity organization," Ric replied. "I want it to be able to collect and provide funds for underprivileged communities, especially those affected by natural disasters or conflicts. as well as donate to causes such as education, healthcare, and other organizations that work towards environmental conservation and animal welfare. I believe that by focusing on these areas, we can make a significant impact on people's lives and the planet." Kyle nodded in agreement, impressed by Ric's vision.

"That sounds like a great initiative," he said. "It is possible. But I know the main reason you want this to happen is to lower your tax liability," Ric chuckled. "But hey, if we can do some good while saving some money, why not?" Kyle laughed and agreed. "Absolutely, it's a win-win situation."

"Now the question is, will it be an independent company?" asked Kyle. "Yes, that's the plan," replied Ric. "We want to create a separate entity that can focus solely on these areas and have the flexibility to partner with other organizations and companies." "That makes sense," said Kyle. "It will allow for more innovation and collaboration."

"And a smooth flow of money and resources so that the IRS won't have to scrutinize me as much for paying less tax or bringing cash back from overseas," added Ric with a chuckle. "But in all seriousness, it's important for us to have a clear structure and strategy in place for this new venture to succeed," added Ric.

"And How will it work?" Kyle asked. Well, that's your job to make it possible," replied Ric with a grin. Kyle could only smile warily, looking at the grin on Ric's face. "Well, at least tell me the name of the organization."

"Hope Foundation," Ric replied with a serious tone.

July 15, 1993, Carmarthen, UK

By the time Ric arrived at the cinema hall, there was already a crowd in front of the gate. Looking at the time, he knew there were a few hours left before the royal couple arrived. So, I went indie with his godfather and other cast members.

It is Ric's first time meeting the UK's royal family. Even in his previous life, he never met them. So he is nervous but excited at the same time. He is especially interested in meeting Princess Diana, whom he admires for her humanitarian work. As he waits for the royal couple to arrive, Ric can feel his heart racing with anticipation. He hopes to make a good impression and perhaps even have a conversation with Princess Diana about her charity work.

While waiting for the royalty to arrive, Ric, in the meantime, started mingling with other guests. It's an official event in the entertainment world. The majority of people invited here are part of that world, and Ric is famous in this world. So he is not surprised when several people approach him to say hello and chat.

The media host of the event asked him a few questions about the film. Ric answered the questions with enthusiasm, mentioning how honored he was to be part of such a meaningful project. She even asked him about his upcoming projects, to which he gave a vague but promising answer.

This was a prepared answer, as his upcoming film will be released soon, so naturally, a few tidbits were shared to keep the audience intrigued.

There are always protocols to follow when you meet a person who is at the topmost level of any country. So, when Prince Charles and Princess Diana arrived, everyone lined up to meet them as per protocol.

One by one, the royal couple greeted each person, including the actors and director of Jurassic Park. Soon, the couple found themselves in front of Ric.

He was introduced to the royal couple as the author from whom the film was adapted and the screenwriter of the film.

Ric is famous worldwide; he is known for his books and movies. He made headlines multiple times across the world on different occasions. All this publicity was due to his age and the awards he received at that age.

Moments after he was introduced to the royalties, he said, "Mr.Jackson, it's a pleasure to meet you." Charles smiled as he shook hands with Ric. He smiled and replied, "The pleasure is all mine, Your Highness."

After that, The prince exchanged a few words with Ric about his work and expressed his admiration for his talent before moving forward to meet the others.

As he left, Princess Diana approached Ric. "Mr. Jackson, it's nice to finally meet you." Ric felt a sense of awe as he looked at her, knowing that she was one of the most influential people in the world. He replied, "The pleasure is mine, Your Highness. But please call me Richard,"

She smiled and said, "I am a fan of your work." Then she added, I have read all your books, seen all your movies, and even listened to some of your songs. Your talent is truly remarkable." Ric blushed at the compliment and thanked her graciously.

But she continued, "Even my children are your fans. But tell you the truth, I always wanted to see you in person, and now that I have, I can say that you are even more impressive in real life." Richard chuckled and replied graciously, "Thank you, your highness; I'm glad to hear that, and it's my honor to have a fan such as you."

The conversation then shifted to different topics before touching on philanthropy, a subject that the princess was passionate about. But the conversation was put on hold at that moment as she went forward to greet others as the showtimes were getting closer.

Soon, everyone took their seats as the film was about to start. Coincidentally, Ric got the seat beside Diana. Throughout the film, they exchanged occasional comments and laughs. As the end credits rolled, Ric told Diana about the charity foundation that he was forming. Diana listened attentively and expressed her interest in supporting the foundation through her own philanthropic efforts. Before leaving, she even invited him over for lunch and to meet her children.

Princess Diana was known for her philanthropic work and dedication to charitable causes. She was involved in numerous organizations and initiatives aimed at helping those in need, particularly children and people affected by HIV/AIDS. Her interest in supporting Ric's foundation is a testament to her commitment to making a positive impact on the world.