Chapter-58: Script!

"Ric's eyebrows raised in surprise as Ari mentioned a script. He couldn't help but wonder why he had called him instead of Drew, the intended recipient. With a curious expression on his face, he asked for clarification.

"For me?" he inquired.

Ari shook her head. "Oh, no, no, no. Not for you. It's for Drew."

Ric breathed a sigh of relief, but his interest was piqued. Why had Ari called him about a potential script for Drew? He decided to ask him, hoping to get some answers.

"Why did you call me instead of Drew?" he asked curiously.

"Well, I wanted your opinion on this script," Ari replied over the phone. "After all, you have an excellent sense for good scripts and movies."

Ric couldn't help but feel flattered. Ari had always been a great judge of character, and his opinion meant a lot to him. However, he couldn't help but feel that Drew was a big girl now and could make her own decisions.

"That may be true," Ari replied calmly, "but I value your input as well. It's always good to have a second opinion before making any decisions. And Drew values your opinion more than her judgment in the industry. After all, you haven't steered her wrong yet."

Ric couldn't argue with that. Ari had never brought a bad script to him before, and he trusted his judgment. After allowing some time to pass, he replied, "Hmmm. You know what, Ari? Come to my home in the evening, and we can discuss the script."

With that, they ended the call, and Ric couldn't help but feel excited about the prospect of reading a new script. He knew that Ari had a great eye for talent, and he couldn't wait to see what he had in store for Drew."

Soon the car arrived at an impressive building complex, the FNGA office. This impressive facility serves as the hub for all of FNGA's operations within the global gaming industry. Notably, four of the world's major game studios—EA, Activision, Blizzard, and Capcom—all have offices within this building, each of which is owned by Ric and falls under the FNGA umbrella.

[A/N: How Capcom became Ric's, don't ask.]

As Ric stepped out of his car, he saw Kyle Briggs waiting for him at the front gate of the building. He is the CEO of FNGA. When he came close to him, he extended a warm handshake and a courteous greeting. "Afternoon, sir," Kyle said.

Returning the gesture, Ric replied, "Afternoon, Kyle. I hope I'm not running late."

"Of course not, sir," he assured him, nodding to Sofie as they made their way inside.

As they walked, Ric and Kyle engaged in pleasant conversation, setting the tone for what was sure to be a productive and successful meeting.

The meeting was a resounding success, with not a single hitch in sight. The participants delved into a plethora of topics, ranging from the sales of the new consoles launched last year to their performance, audience satisfaction, and any technical or mechanical errors that needed fixing. The team even discussed the possibility of updating the old systems and consoles to cater to the existing market.

As the meeting reached its crescendo, the participants passionately discussed the increasing number of games on the FNGA's platform and their performance on the newly launched console. The team was thrilled to see the growing number of game developers and publishers joining the platform, which was a testament to its success.

The highlight of the meeting was when the managing heads of the four game studios gave a report about their studios' current and future projects. The room was filled with anticipation and excitement as they shared their plans for the future, leaving everyone on the edge of their seats.

Overall, the meeting was a triumph, and the team left feeling energized and motivated to take on the challenges ahead. With such a passionate and dedicated team, there was no doubt that they would continue to push the boundaries of the gaming industry and create unforgettable experiences for their audience.

As the day wore on, Ric had two more places to visit and a meeting to attend. The first stop was at FPV, Feather Pixar Visuals. Ric looked around the establishment, spoke with the upper echelons of the company, and even saw the dinosaurs up close and personal. It was a moment that left him giddy with excitement. He was one of the few people on the planet to have seen them before anyone else.

Next, he made his way to Feather Columbia Records. It was the first time he had ever been to a recording studio for anything other than recording music. Ric was there to attend a meeting, but what he learned was far beyond what he could have ever imagined. He gained first-hand knowledge of the many singers and bands that the studio was managing, their status, potential, talent, and earning power. He learned about the rigorous application process that each artist had to go through to be selected.

The meeting also went on about the management of the musical instruments, the artists who specialized in them, the music directors, technicians, music video directors, and other essential staff members. It was a mind-boggling experience that left Ric with a headache. He was grateful for the capable people taking care of the company instead of him.

Ric was absolutely wiped out after the day he had. As soon as he plopped into the car, he was out like a light. By the time he woke up, it was already dark outside, and they had made it back home. As soon as the car pulled up to the gate, Ric jumped up and stumbled out of the car.

As he walked into the house, he was surprised to see Ari waiting for him. "Damn, I totally forgot you were coming over," he blurted out.

Ari just shrugged it off and said, "No worries; I've only been waiting for about an hour or so."

"Since you've waited this long, give me a few minutes to freshen up." Ric said with a shrug before making a beeline for his room.

"Sure thing," Ari replied with a chuckle, amused by Ric's laid-back attitude.

If anyone saw him behave like this, their jaws would drop. In the most formal of settings, he is the epitome of politeness, speaking with a measured tone that would make even the most seasoned diplomat envious. But don't be fooled by his reserved demeanor, for when the situation calls for it, Ric can adapt like a chameleon, seamlessly blending into any environment.

Take him to the stage, and he'll have the audience in stitches with his quick wit and infectious humor. Even as a child, he knew how to act in social gatherings, effortlessly charming everyone with his silver tongue.

It's no wonder that even the devil himself would befriend Ric if given the chance.

But there's more to Ric than meets the eye. Only those who truly know him can attest to his casual, relaxed side—a side that he reserves for those he holds dear.

His level of casualness varies depending on the bond he shares with the person, and only those who have known him for a long time or have a close relationship with him can witness his goofball or brat personality. He also values authenticity and honesty in his relationships and is not afraid to speak his mind when necessary.

[A/N:Sorry that I can't give Ric or any other character enough justice. [Despite describing his character, I still can't present it properly.]

Fifteen minutes later, a refreshed Ric took a seat in front of Ari. Before settling in, he extended an invitation for dinner. "You're going to stay for dinner, right?" he asked.

Ari, feigning helplessness, replied, "Do I have any choice?"

"Everyone has the freedom to choose," Ric responded.

"Not always," Ari countered. Without a moment's hesitation, he handed over a stack of papers. "Here is the script," he said.

Ric, taking the script, inquired, "Has this script been approved for filming?"

"Nope, Not yet." Ari replied. "I stumbled upon it on the table of the producer I met with today."

"Whose?" Ric inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Paramount," Ari answered.

"Who?" Ric asked.

"Janny," Ari clarified.

Ric's memory jogged, and he remembered Jennifer, who was supposed to finish her film today. "Ah, right! You gave her a good role. But isn't her film supposed to finish today?" he asked.

"Yes, but it got pushed back by another week. That's why I went to meet the producer today," Ari explained. "And that's where I found the script. When I read it, I immediately asked if he would give it to me because I wanted to show you."

Ric's face lit up with a smile. "What did he say?" he asked with curiosity.

"He said if you liked the script, it would immediately go to the planning stage for shooting," Ari replied with a chuckle.

After laughing at the comment, Ric settled in more comfortably and began reading the script. As he read, his expression changed from one of interest to one of shock and awe. The script was nothing short of mesmerizing.