Chp 86 : Going Home?

Heathrow Airport, 29th January 1986.

Al's day started with him having a nice simple English breakfast while being glared at like prey by fuming Stanley Kubrick who somehow knew something about him and Vivian.

Al swore he wasn't sleeping, no, he meant lying down with Vivian on purpose. He could wake up and kicked Vi out of his room but he didn't.

She looked different, unlike a spoiled girl he met a few years ago. She somehow has matured and he didn't know how to respond when she snuggled to his bed.

Not only that, the smell of lavender permeated in his room made him nervous. It must be the soap or shampoo she used.

But not the wonderful smell that made him uneasy but the tent on his pants was rising like there was no day after tomorrow. He used to treat Vi like his big younger sister but for the first time, he thought of her as a woman.

Was his first time with Minnie opened the gate of male sexual hormone from his brain and his lower head?

Or maybe because of that damn Lolita film that made their conversation became awkward and seeing Vi differently. He even called this situation Reverse-Lolita syndrome or in Japanese called "Shotacon".

His face suddenly ashen, he promised Christiane to stay on their manor for the rest of his shooting and assisting Stanley.

He regretted his decision but what can he said. The rice has turned into porridge and he can't undo what he promised to Christiane as he didn't want to hurt her feelings.

For now, on his mind was only going home, meet his big foster family, and finished his business that involved his company.

The company that still in a dormant position, a sleeping giant that needs to be feed carefully before it could rule Hollywood.

He also got a call from Mary that something happened to their project but she wouldn't tell him what.

One thing he realized when he entered the airport and boarded the aircraft was, the security here was really weak. He just remembered the security was tightened after 9/11.

He pondered about renting a private jet or maybe just buy it. Maybe he would think about it later and for now, sleep was his main need.

Unfortunately, his flight to the USA was restless because he kept thinking about what was Vi doing yesterday.

But his brain was unexpectedly brightened. Watching <Lolita> reminded him about a script that has become the best film at the academy awards.

He stood up and searched for the portable typewriter he just bought in England in the baggage compartment. It weighed around 6 kg and fortunately, he could handle the weight.

He started to miss laptops and tablets, or maybe he could invest in a computer technology company and quicken the invention. He got the blueprint of these things on his Mind Library.

But first, he needed to work on this. He started to type crazily like he was possessed by Shakespeare.

At the end of the flight, one script was finally done. He could see a sparkle radiated from his masterpiece.

Then his last job was only to register this script to the Writers Guild Association.

~~~

Los Angeles, California.

The first time he stepped out of the aircraft, what he wanted to do was pulled out his shirt and pants and running stark naked to the nearest water source.

It was so damn hot but he missed this. Fortunately, he was discreet about his appearance on the media and no one realized his coming back to Los Angeles.

On 24th January, Golden Globe Awards was being held and his film, <The Man From Earth> got few nominations and won 2 awards which were the best-adapted screenplay and Jerome Bixby came to receive the award.

Also, Liam Neeson got his first award as the Best Actor in Drama Category, a surprising move from Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Liam Neeson who was Irish seemed to get recognization from them, but Golden Globe now was not as influential as in the future.

They were more like a consolation prize when they didn't win an Oscar.

Al didn't get the nomination in directorship but everyone was looking for him.

Where the hell was this kid? He is currently the number 1 teenage idol in Hollywood and every Hollywood's studios would do anything to feel his Midas's touch and let him became the leading actor on their film.

Reporters and paparazzi were searching crazily for his whereabouts.

There was also benefit from Golden Globe Awards, this movie pushed the box office revenue for the film he directed.

<The Man From Earth> box office got another $200,000 making the total box office of $35 million in North America.

Not only that, Artificial Eyes, the joint distributor from Muspelheim Films in England soon released his film across Europe.

The British have been waiting enthusiastically for his film to be released on their land as they can't wait to see the film directed by the person that Prince William and Princess Diana favored.

Walking through the arrival station unnoticed by everyone else. He finally found the people he was looking for.

He sneaked out behind her and closed her eyes with his callused hands.

She shrieked in surprise. He hoarse his voice like Batman and whispered, "Guess who?"

"Al, I know it's you. The only person who always did this was you." Mary said in anger.

"You know me so well Mary." He let out his hand from her eyes and turned her around, and hugged her, he didn't forget to kiss her on the cheek, something he seldom did.

The Apple of Eden he has tasted made him becoming bolder to the opposite sex and he also felt the change.

"Damn, I miss you, Mary, I miss you all." While turning his head to Jodie and Jessie.

"That's new, not that I dislike it." She gave a teasing smile. "And I like your new look, you are bulkier, taller, and bald suited you well."

"I don't like it, I feel like I'm naked all the time and cold, England's in January is so cold and I dislike it." He pouted.

Jodie came to him and hugged him tightly, followed by Jessie who also missed him.

"Come on, you look like a person who has been coming home from the military duty?"

"But, I did come from military training!" He whined.

The girls rolled their eyes, then Mary took his hands and dragged him, "Let's get home. Everyone misses you."

"Wait, Mary, you said there's something urgent happened in our film company?" She raised one of her eyebrows.

She then sighed and said, "No, Al, you've been flying for 11 hours. You must be tired from jet lag."

"I can manage it, relax. There's something more important we should do."

"No buts." He said before Mary could say something, "The sooner the business done, the faster I can go home and enjoy my holiday."

Eventually, Mary gave up convincing him and fulfilling his request.

"You noticed something different from him Jessie?"

Jessie looked at Jodie in disbelief "Hell yeah, since months ago Jodie, when he got back from his adventure with this Minnie girl. I won't be surprised if he had sex with her."

Jodie's eyes were bulging "What!? How do you know?"

"Trade secret." She mysteriously smiled.

Muspelheim Films, Playa Vista, LA.

As he entered the two-stories building where his film company was located, he was greeted by the employees over there.

If they didn't know him, they should just quit. He was their boss although they feared Mary more.

As they went over to Mary's office, he found out that Quentin was already there, sitting in the corner of the sofa while reading a script.

Seeing someone opened the door, Quentin's attention turned to his direction and smiled in response.

"Boss! Long time no see!" He came over to Al and gave him a bear hug.

"I told you, Quentin, call me Al like everyone else."

"Sure, but it won't make you pissed." He grinned.

"Ass." Al smiled in response and punched his shoulder.

Mary cleared her throat and said, "Okay boys, didn't want to disturb your bromance scene but we should be quick. The sooner we finished the meeting the sooner you'll go back and rest."

"Mary." Al whined, "I told you I'm okay. I have slept enough in the plane." He lied.

His complaint turned mute to Mary and gave him a cold stare with her eyes as dark as a black hole. He immediately shut his mouth and sighed.

As Mary brought them to the meeting room on the same floor as her office, Al saw the film company he had of wasn't up to his standard he dreamed of. It was too office-like and ordinary.

He hoped the sooner Nidavellir Investment got the money the sooner he could turn this office just like the Google office he dreamed as he saw in his memory.

He could invite a foreign investment from other people but that meant he would give the shares of his company to someone.

As everyone else should know, Al was a controlling person. Although he was open to suggestions, as the person who knew the future best, he didn't want someone to question his authority except his family.

That was why he needed Toby, the smartass to be his trusted person. He doubted Mary would willing to work for him forever, she someday would be also retired and settled with someone.

In the meeting room, there were Mary, Jodie, Jessie, Quentin and him. Quentin explained something he saw and heard at the New Year's party and the meeting room turned to somber.

"Men, they are pigs," Jodie whispered in hate. Soon she realized what she said and apologize to everyone in this room.

Al who sat beside her put a hand on her shoulder to comfort her. He did, his touch eased Jodie and she soon started to calm down.

He gave her an assuring smile and she smiles in response, mouthing "thank you" to him.

"So, are you sure we lost the project?" Al confirmed.

"They didn't say anything, putting us on hold. But I heard they were already found the investor and soon started to fly off to Thailand and begin their shooting there." Mary said in a solemn tone, she regretted she didn't watch out for their project carefully.

Jodie has already said that Hollywood was like a den of the snake. Betrayal would be their breakfast and the sweet empty promise was their dessert.

Deception would be their dinner and adultery and cheaters would be their midnight snacks.

To break through the rules, they need capital, a million even billion. That was why she has been rested assure by Nancy as she told them that when the Yen appreciation was over, Al would be loaded with richness.

But she was also afraid of her little brother that greed and vanity would deprive him of his path. Mary's eyes flamed with determination, she would protect her little brother at all cost.

Elephant in the room, she said, "We lost one project but we have the other one. How's the preparation of <3 Men and A Baby>, Quentin?"

Quentin took a small note from his pocket and opened the pages, "Well they would be shooting the film next month and everyone else from the crew was happy about our offer. We also already got at least $15 million from <The Man From Earth> box office dividend and we already put the first installment of $7 million for <3 Men and A Baby> from an original budget of $11 million."

Muspelheim Films got a full investment from Nidavellir Investment and Garcia, LLC, and their money circulated through these 3 companies.

That was why production studios were the best place for money laundering. Hollywood accounting could make anything legal by how big the film production has cost.

Al cut in, "Is there any substitution project so far?"

"None, but there was one script that interests us. There was one tiny little bitsy problem by the way." Jodie smiled playfully.

Jodie's word intrigued him, if she said it interest her then it must be a good script but her smile on her face made him doubt.

"And what is it?" Curious Al asked.

She nodded to Jessie and she took a script from the shelf and gave it to Al.

"The screenwriter wanted you to play the male dancer."

"The hell? <Dirty Dancing>?" Everyone gave a sly nod.

Minutes passed after he opened the first page and every page he turned, his face morphed into cringes.

Al was surprised to find this script fell into their film company. This was one of the Box Office bomb classics that made 40 times profit.

Of course, he would give this a hall pass! The problem was the screenwriter wanted him to be the leading actor!

"I-I can't dance." Al stuttered, his face flushed in embarrassment. He didn't want to star in this film but the opportunity was hard to be passed on.

He was struggling, choosing a little embarrassment for a moment or company prosperity.

"Pfft." Everyone else was holding their laugh, amused at his stuttering and red face.

"Guys, spare me okay."

"Well, just reject it easy," Mary said.

"No, as Jodie has said. This script is good and too precious to be passed on. I believe this film's box office will be good. How did this script fall to ours? And who was the screenwriter? I want to talk to this person."

"Her name is Eleanor Bergstein, she lived in Brooklyn but for the past months, she lived on her holiday villa in Beverly Hills with her husband.

As to why fell to us, it was supposed to be MGM's but their management suddenly changed and this project was put into limbo. After she saw your performance in <Back to the Future>, she wants you to be the leading actor in this film, that's only her requirement for us."

He sighed, "Okay, make an appointment with her. I'll be available until next week before going back to England."

"So soon?" Mary asked worriedly.

"Yes, I was also hired to become Stanley's assistant director."

"Shit! That was cool man, but it's not fair while I'm staying here all alone. Jessie, can we swap place? I want to become his assistant!" Quentin said in excitement.

"Na ah, over my dead body, Q." She put up her finger into a no-no gesture.

The meeting continues, with them discussing the company progression until evening.

As they went back, Mary told him another shocking news.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you, we have new foster siblings last week."

"Sibling(s) as in plural?"

"Yep."

Al grinned, "Additional to my munchkin army for ruling the world!" Then he laughed maniacally and earned him a slap from Mary.

To Be Continued...

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