151 life in los angeles

Billy ran along the sidewalk of his neighborhood in Los Angeles. It was normal to encounter paparazzi here and there in this beautiful residential area. Many actors, models, musicians, and entertainment figures had homes in this part of L.A. during certain times of the year.

Arriving at his small building, the purchase was satisfying, and living there was as comfortable as he could expect. He occupied himself with the typewriter not far from where he stood. Although the writing wasn't too good, his editors would take care of the rest. He put water to boil, preparing some pasta for both lunch and dinner.

His phone rang, marking the third call he received today.

-Billy, I heard you were in the city, -said Dolph Lundgren. He was the one who called Billy, as it was Billy who allowed Jim Waitt to get the role in Terminator that launched his entertainment career. Now, it could be said that there were three major action stars. Dolph had secured multiple roles over these past three years.

Upon learning that Billy was in town, he decided to invite him to a restaurant where some of his friends and his fiancée, Annette Qviberg, would be gathering. If you know most of the people in Hollywood, it's from the parties, meetings, and castings. You end up knowing a large group of people in the industry, and what many call stars reduces to a group of acquaintances in this business.

-Yeah, I arrived a couple of days ago, - said Billy.

-Great, come by. We'll be at The Ivy around 9:00 tonight. Join us for a bite; my fiancée and a good friend will be there. Just a small get-together, - Dolph said.

"Sure, I'll be there, - replied Billy, resolutely, following one of Jim Waitt's many pieces of advice: don't turn down people without a good reason.

-Great. I'll add you to the reservation. However, you have my number in case of any inconvenience, - Dolph assured.

-I'll keep an eye out, Mr. Lundgren, - said Billy.

It was interesting for Billy, one of the highly sought-after actors of the moment, to invite him out. For Dolph, it was a mutual sentiment; Jim could have mentioned that Billy's career as a scriptwriter was very promising, and it would come to a point where everyone would beg for Billy's scripts. This was something Dolph, with considerable experience in the industry, could understand perfectly.

Billy continued writing, focusing on the upcoming Game of Thrones book, "The War of the Five Kings." He took the time to write non-stop, and what surprised him was the amount of didactic material that came with the book. Initially planned for 1500 pages, it was cut down to 700-800 pages. Upon learning the thrilling plot, he added a bit more, including Jon Snow's story, which was initially removed. For die-hard fans, this was pure gold as it explained many relationships at the Wall, attempting to add the perspective of the crow rebellion that ended up killing the Lord Commander of the Night's Watch.

Similarly, in book three, which had almost two thousand pages, he added more secret conspiracies to the plot.

The final product of eight books could extend to ten due to the volume of stories, as there were easily 5000 pages cut across all the books. Many characters were deleted, and some were rewritten, but all could be included with careful handling, just like in books four and five, which run parallel to each other. Books two and three could be extended in an intermediate section that runs in parallel between the second and third books.

What a magnificent series.

As he was engrossed in writing, another call came in.

-Raimon, - Billy said.

It might sound odd, but he's called me more than his girlfriend.

-How are you, Billy? I just resolved some issues for your company, so I wanted to pitch an idea, - Raimon said, so casually that Billy couldn't help but laugh.

-What's your idea? - Billy asked.

-Well, I've just approved the formation of a team of eight people for ID Software and RPG Platforms. You know I have many talented computer friends who recently started a project called Command & Conquer. These folks aim to create a real strategy game. Are you interested in expanding our new acquisitions into video games? I'm referring to Warhammer and Dungeons and Dragons, - Raimon explained.

-How would you do it? - Billy inquired.

-For now, I don't have much to say or do. I just wanted your permission. I'll outline a plan. Surprisingly, we've already been granted a license, or well, the previous 'Tactic RPG' has already been approved, and I've developed a game. I believe that, with improvements, the game will be a success, -- Raimon explained happily. -- With your express permission, I'll dedicate the next twenty-four hours to playing Dungeons and Dragons digitally to give us an idea of what we need to do and improve. -

Billy only heard the sound of the call being hung up.

-They just used him to play during work hours, - he said after receiving a call from Anne ten minutes later.

He received his fourth call.

-You let him play; he's been laughing like crazy, - Anne said from San Jose.

-Don't worry. Give him two days; he has some good ideas. Do you have anything to give him? - Billy asked.

-I have nothing. He's done everything, from the comics distribution company to dealing with suppliers and actions. He's kept up with the animators' pace, and... - Anne replied.

-Do you want me to assign my tasks to him? - Anne suggested.

-Exactly. Give him the responsibility for Lux Chanel. I have a feeling he's very interested in the third floor. Tell him that he'll be in charge of procedures from now on. Focus on your job and only support Raimon. I recently spoke with Todd McFarlane, who mentioned the animators have been stressed lately due to work pressure; the deliveries for October are driving them crazy, - Billy explained.

-Okay, - Anne said, feeling calmer.

-Just let him play his video game this week. On Monday, you can give him all the work you want. Also, adjust the scholarship system. Some animators want to pursue a master's degree, so you have to negotiate with them. Don't let Raimon handle this, and allow Mr. Cloud to pursue his master's, provided it's done in California, - Billy instructed.

-Okay, -Anne replied, relieved of some weight; she tends to carry a heavier workload than she should.

-Additionally, you can ask Parks to expedite the negotiations with the Tolkien family. And adjust the animators' schedules, giving them a collective five-day break. Some teams have pending requests; send some of them to negotiate for Meteoro and Pájaro Loco, - Billy directed.

-But they're not negotiators, - Anne pointed out.

-It doesn't matter. I don't want them to be. Parks and my father will close the deal, but they will handle the negotiation process. I'm sure Paul will be a good distraction to close deals, -Billy clarified.

-Very well, have a good day, Billy. By the way, do you approve of ID Software? - Anne inquired.

-Yes, I approve but don't hire more people. We agreed on a contract for eight video games, - Billy confirmed.

-Hiring will stop for a year until we balance the whole company. The unhealthy growth hasn't allowed us to reinforce some details, - Anne replied.

-Understood, but they were necessary. Our numbers are in the green. Besides, I'll ask for a loan by June, before the release of The Lion King, - Billy said.

-Another of your bets, - Anne remarked.

-Not at all. I know we'll make a lot of money with The Lion King. We'll fix all the details we haven't sorted out. We'll hire professionals to restructure the company and provide their perspective on the company's weak spots. At the same time, we'll slowly acquire more copyright, - Billy explained.

-Okay, - Anne replied.

-See you later, and stay informed, - said Billy.

He hung up the phone his father had given him. He would have to swap it for a more advanced one, but he'd wait for a new design. He sighed heavily; the work was so exhausting. Companies always needed people to do more and more work.

-Perhaps I need an independent lawyer, a new manager, to expand human resources, two new logistics managers, a producer, and a chief communicator for LuxToons, - Billy thought.

He wrote all afternoon until the clock struck seven.

The fatigue weighed heavy on his eyes, and the kitchen light illuminated just as he wanted. Enclosed by his four white walls, he felt unavoidably alone, two days away from traveling to the recording studio. The life of an actor was somewhat nostalgic.

He dressed in his best suit. Cash was the best way for now; cards were just a strange sensation now. He adjusted his wallet along with a watch his grandfather had gifted him for Christmas. It wasn't a tie day, so he left it behind, but he adjusted his white shirt with a small vest.

He needed to step out and explore the streets of West Hollywood, even though it was late, the day remained bright. He arrived at a small fast-food restaurant to kill time. The air buzzed with jubilation, people were joyful, and he noticed many beautiful women in elegant evening dresses, prepared to relish the glory of Los Angeles.

While waiting for his food, his seat faced the store window, enabling him to observe the paths people took. He didn't bring his sketchbook, but a wonderful idea crossed his mind. Different planes filled his thoughts, from depths to new drawing styles.

Usually, he went out for a walk and sketched when his imagination ran dry, and the oppressive atmosphere of the office hindered his work. But this city was so alive. How would it be in New York? Surely he would find fantastic shots there.

Around eight-thirty, he received a call from Dolph—a surprise notice that took him aback.

He walked to the recommended restaurant, which took longer than expected, but being new in the city, unfamiliar streets often seemed like mazes. Arriving at The Ivy, there was a long line stretching almost two blocks. Nonetheless, he walked up to the receptionist and simply gave his stage name.

-Billion Darwin, - he said.

-Yes, excuse me, we'll confirm in a moment, - said the receptionist.

Thankfully, after a brief wait, a worn-looking waiter nodded to the receptionist, who allowed Billy to enter. At first glance, Dolph Lundgren was seated with a beautiful woman on his right and a man equally robust, with broad shoulders—both towering figures.

-Bill, it's great you came. Come, this is my friend Jean-Claude Van Damme. Don't let his pretty boy face fool you, he'll give you a beating, and this is his companion Darcy, and here's my fiancée, Emma Krokdal, - said Dolph.

-To you, Billion Darwin, a new actor and part of Jim's roster, - Dolph introduced Billy.

Billy smiled the best he could. -- It's a pleasure to meet you all, Mr. Jean, -- he said, shaking Jean-Claude's hand—a firm grip.

He nodded softly, more as a gentle nod to the women at the table—a brief greeting that Darcy, the beautiful woman beside Jean, responded to with a touch of flirtation, and, of course, to Dolph's companion, Emma, who was also stunning.

If there was a result, they all seemed to be models, but his Alice was the most enchanting.

As soon as he sat at the table, a waiter arrived, serving him a glass of water and bringing what seemed more like a leather-bound book than a menu.

-We were discussing the next project we have at hand. It's been requested that we further define our physique, - Dolph told Billy.

-Well, I see you both are in great shape, - said Billy.

-You're a bit skinny, son. Whenever you want, you can join us at the gym to put some meat on those bones, - Jean-Claude said.

-I don't think time is on my side, Mr. Jean. With studies and acting, I have minimal time. However, I have my morning running routine with some exercises, - Billy responded.

-I'll extend an invitation; with Dolph and some other friends, we have a small gym to train our bodies. Drop by when you want; we'll get you in shape, maybe even throw in some karate, - Jean-Claude offered.

Surprisingly, Billy didn't know him very well, although he kept an eye on Hollywood, not enough to follow the lives of actors, especially at a time when the industry's glamour was more elusive.

-Well, I think it would be wonderful to follow in your footsteps, although I don't think I could keep up with both of you, - said Billy, observing their robust physiques; they looked like bodybuilders.

-Bill, Jim told me you're a very promising actor. You can stop by, not just to gain muscle but also to condition yourself for fight scenes in your movies. Although I'm no expert in gymnastics, Arnold is certainly very capable, - Dolph mentioned.

-I see, - said Billy. Arnold, the great Arnold Schwarzenegger.

-You're as serious as Jim mentioned, - Dolph said with a certain air. - He said you were studying before entering Hollywood. -

-Yes, an MBA at Stanford, - replied Billy.

-Wow, such a promising young man, - said Emma.

-A good university, although people may not know it, I have a degree in chemical engineering from the University of Stockholm. A requirement for being an actor at that time was dedication, and there was no more dedication than professional studies. Unlike sports, studying involves certain demands, - Dolph added.

I couldn't agree more. I'd rather step into a ring than start a career, although my kids will have to pursue one, - Jean remarked.

-Very precise for the Belgian champion, - Dolph said.

-Ha, excuse me, miss, bring me a bottle of wine, - Jean said to the waiter taking orders. Darcy squeezed Jean's arm, but he only kissed her.

Dolph shook his head and chuckled.

-A beer for me. And two appetizers on the house, - Dolph ordered.

-I want an ice cream and a milkshake, - said Billy, almost like a children's menu. Dolph nodded in response.

-How's your movie going? I heard you're filming with Kurt. He's a nice and funny guy, - Dolph asked.

-I haven't had much time to talk. I'm pretty demanding with my role, and I can't think of anything else. But I'll send your regards. The movie is amazing; it's going to be a commercial hit, I'm sure. Director Roland Emmerich has a great pace, - Billy answered.

-Well, invite me to the premiere, I'll be there, -said, Dolph.

-Of course, although I'm not sure if I can do that, - Billy replied.

-Haha, -- Dolph chuckled. -- You'll manage; as long as it's someone from the industry, you can bring whoever you want. The producers will love the exposure. -

-Then without a doubt, you'll be there, - said Billy.

The night was slow, and Dolph was more reserved than anything else. But it was expected; Billy was twenty years younger, and this towering six-foot-six superman was in a phase of preferring peace over parties. Although he left a good impression on Billy due to his charismatic personality. At least, that's what Billy thought.

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