House hunting

Although the thought of buying a house seemed incongruent with the success of "The Bad Guy," it had surged within Lyman's mind and was now an irresistible urge.

While the logic of this connection might appear absurd, it flowed remarkably well within Lyman's thoughts.

On June 7th, the day following his meeting with Nicolas, the group set out to explore potential properties. Alongside Lyman and Nicolas were Thomas and René.

Though the purchase wasn't being conducted under the studio's name, the properties were to belong to Lyman personally.

For, as the saying goes, separating public from private was paramount. It was best to avoid mingling the two.

On the road, Nicolas took the wheel, heading towards Beverly Hills. From the perspective of Los Angeles, this area was replete with high-end properties.

Furthermore, purchasing here would aid Lyman in expanding his social circle. Notably, CAA's Kevin Huvane, Tom Cruise, and several high-ranking individuals from Paramount Pictures all owned properties in the vicinity.

One could assert that a significant portion of Hollywood's elite had congregated in this area.

"How does it look? The location is excellent, isn't it?"

Upon arrival, Nicolas led the group on a tour of his selected properties.

Aside from the house he frequently resided in, he was willing to sell the other three.

"It's truly splendid. The front yard is quite spacious," remarked René as he walked to and fro, expressing his awe.

"Let's take a closer look," Lyman interjected.

Indeed, the property was commendable, but its ostentatious and gilded decor style seemed excessively extravagant. If not for careful consideration, one might mistake it for a palace.

After dedicating some more time and having explored all three properties, Lyman finally made his choice.

In fact, within the most exclusive segments of Beverly Hills, the finest properties were nestled atop hills. It was a common strategy for mansions to perch upon small hillocks. Lyman's selection followed a similar pattern: a modern, bright, and minimalist home graced the pinnacle of a gentle slope. It spanned two floors, boasting an area of around 200 square meters on each level.

The expansive rear garden harbored a sizable tennis court. Additionally, there was a swimming pool, a barbecue area, five bedrooms indoors, each replete with walk-in closets. The master bedroom was equipped with an exclusive gym.

As for luxuries like a massage bathtub, private bathrooms, and a home theater, they were a given. The basement was spacious, and Nicolas had even arranged for a wine cellar.

Furthermore, on the right side of the property's front yard stood an ample garage, next to which was a small loft. According to Nicolas, this loft was designated for household staff.

The total land area for this property was approximately 800 square meters, a high-end mansion by Beverly Hills standards. Compared to Kevin's home that he'd visited previously, it exceeded it in every aspect: half again as much land, and a vastly superior location. Nevertheless, it remained beyond the means of many.

Of course, compared to the impulsive Nicolas and those who indulged more extravagantly, this property didn't quite measure up.

Hollywood was forever awash with those seeking a life of luxury. Take Michael Jackson, for instance, who once built a dreamlike and opulent estate known as "Neverland." A ranch turned into a residence, it spanned over a thousand acres, complete with a private amusement park, a zoo, an artificial lake, and professional sports facilities. Just acquiring the land alone cost more than $10M, and this was in the late '80s.

What epitomized opulence and wealth? This was it.

Although Michael Jackson faced financial difficulties in his later years and had to sell "Neverland", at least he once enjoyed a glorious life.

The same could be said for Nicolas. As he claimed himself, he purchased a small island near Marblehead five years ago, and he was still in the process of developing it. He had invested over $50M in phases, not even including the subsequent renovation costs.

Being wealthy was always relative—there were always those wealthier.

In any case, Lyman felt that this property aligned well with his preferences.

Within his acceptable range, he aimed to choose the most expensive and finest. That was his philosophy in purchasing real estate.

"How much for this property?" Lyman asked the impulsive Nicolas.

"$20M will do," he answered with an air of grandiosity.

For him, receiving a commission was already quite satisfactory. As for making a profit from Lyman's appreciation of the property's value, that wasn't necessary. Was he short on funds? On the contrary, he would give it away for free if Lyman agreed, but he guessed Lyman wouldn't, so he didn't bring it up.

"The property contract, let me handle that. I'll price it according to the market, no need for you to spend anything," Lyman insisted.

If someone gave you a friendly price, it was only right to accept it.

Moreover, Lyman wasn't completely ignorant of the price range for high-end American properties. He had explored various channels to learn about it.

Although their relationship was fairly good and extended beyond work, he didn't want to feel indebted to anyone.

This property would probably cost no less than $30M, and with such a generous offer, how could he agree?

Even if he had to owe a favor, it should be as little as possible. Bros were all about keeping a score.

"Alright, I'll find someone to facilitate the transfer in a few days," Nicolas relented as he observed Lyman's earnest demeanor.

When it came to official matters, one should keep things official.

"By the way, do you plan to renovate this house? If you have any needs, I can introduce you to a company. They've worked on all my properties and might offer you a discount."

Lyman found this acceptable.

Although he was highly satisfied with the property in terms of its environment, lighting, ventilation, and overall layout, he had a few requirements for the interior, particularly in the bedroom.

The bed had to be large—no, it had to be huge—and soft enough for a deep sleep. There had to be ample space even when he was rolling around with Eva. That was essential.

In this aspect, Nicolas had been a bit careless. The bed was visibly not spacious enough, and there was a large unused area.

This had to be changed, no doubt about it.

Once this aspect was rectified, he wasn't too concerned about the rest.

After all, he stayed in hotels most of the time and found it quite comfortable.

Lyman wasn't particularly picky. He hadn't yet grown accustomed to the lifestyle one might associate with wealth. Although he didn't precisely know the specific standards, his property in France was relatively small (especially compared to this one). Nevertheless, he found it peaceful there and had no intention of changing it.

After the tour concluded, and they met with the representative from the renovation company to discuss his requirements, time flew by quickly.

They began around 9 a.m., and by the time they had progressed significantly and had lunch, it was already past 2 p.m.

After this round of activities, Nicolas wanted to invite Lyman's group to his place, but Lyman declined.

"I have a meeting with someone. Maybe next time. Have fun, you guys."

René and Thomas were free, so naturally, they were hoping for some exciting activities. Both were single guys, and Nicolas had hinted at something, which they instantly understood.

But not Lyman; he genuinely had something to do.