Chapter 700 - Surrender

Who wouldn't acknowledge Laila's company for consistently producing blockbuster films? How could one not criticize her and her company? It wasn't until they realized they needed her that these internet trolls were finally pulled back.

In this industry, everyone knew each other's secrets. Knowing was one thing, but getting caught red-handed would be too embarrassing. So when companies sought collaboration with Laila, they naturally reined in those trolls who had criticized her.

Laila's sudden change of release date not only caught Michael Bay's attention but also made production and distribution companies scheduled for the summer of the following year anxious.

Originally, they were relieved they wouldn't have to clash with Laila's colossal production during the Christmas season. But how did hell break loose overnight?

For other heavyweight films, a week was usually sufficient. However, this tactic didn't work against Laila. Everyone knew her formidable track record meant her films usually dominated the box office charts for two consecutive weeks.

For those investing in big-budget films of one or two hundred million dollars, if they couldn't secure the top spot in the first week, they would likely face the grim news of financial losses. After investing so much money in filmmaking, who would want to see their funds go down the drain?

So, even the resigned film companies, despite being mocked online as cowards, withdrew their films one by one from Laila's vicinity and moved them elsewhere. On the other hand, some film companies that thought they would clash with her during the Christmas season happily celebrated, knowing they wouldn't face an embarrassing defeat.

Meanwhile, Cooper and Faaris, who had been lurking in the shadows, were discussing this matter.

Laila had been absent from Hollywood for a year, but Faaris, based on Cooper's recommendation, had invested in several movies within that year. With Cooper's understanding of Hollywood and the film industry, most of Faaris's investments had turned a profit! Although it seemed that he didn't invest as heavily in each film as he did before, the overall earnings from these films, when combined, were remarkably impressive. Well, it appeared that all the films he invested in individually before ended up losing money. By comparison, the current net profit seemed even more outstanding.

For this reason, Dawud appreciated Faaris even more and even allocated more funds for him to continue this lucrative business. Mainly because his recent business in Saudi Arabia hadn't been going smoothly for some unknown reason. Many previous partners withdrew or distanced themselves without apparent reasons. Even some friends who used to have good relations with him seemed to be gradually distancing themselves.

What bothered him the most was some family members who, initially disciplined by him, began to show signs of making small moves. Although the shares they held might not be substantial individually, when combined, it was enough to give him a headache.

Unfortunately, since they were all part of the same family if he acted ruthlessly against them, he would also suffer some losses. So, he monitored their actions and, without a foolproof plan, could only endure silently. At this time, the profits Faaris brought from Hollywood became even more critical for him.

This was also why he was willing to invest more funds. This business was solely his, and the earnings had no relation to his family, allowing him full control.

On Faaris's side, initially, he just wanted to cause some trouble for the "pitiable" lady, making her suffer from failure and regret. He hadn't thought about making money from it. After two years of well-planned investments, he realized that correctly investing in films could be more profitable than running an ordinary company. Also, the praise from his boss for making money finally made him pay more attention to this business.

In this situation, Cooper, who played the role of an excellent advisor, took an increasingly important place in Faaris's mind.

"She changed to the summer season. Does it have any impact on our plan?" Faaris poured a glass of red wine for Cooper. Compared to a year ago, he was increasingly trusting the man who brought him luck and profits. Giving him a seat alone was already a great show of respect.

Cooper swirled the wine glass in his hand and said, "There's a slight impact, but it's not significant."

Faaris placed his glass of wine on the table. "For next year's summer films, it means the Oscars and Golden Globes of the following year. We need to ensure she's rejected from the awards; do you understand?" Making money was important, but for him, it was even more critical to see Laila fail continuously.

He would never forget the several times he lost to her. In the first two instances, he could find excuses, saying it was because of the young lady's connections that she achieved those results. However, the last time, when it was clear he had control over crucial aspects, he still lost.

He had never continuously lost to the same person, especially to a woman, making him find it even more difficult to accept. In his mind, women should stay at home, and even if they went outside, they should cover their bodies to prevent anyone other than family members and husbands from seeing them.

A woman like Moran, in his opinion, should be tied up at home and married off to a man who could control her. That should be her proper way of life, not doing jobs suited only for men!

Undoubtedly, Faaris had been influenced by a strong sense of male chauvinism. Perhaps that was why he had always disliked Laila and tried every means to deal with her. Losing to a woman, especially this woman, was the most shameful stain in his life. Only by defeating her could he wash away these stains!

On the matter of defeating Laila, Cooper had a similar mindset, wouldn't he? Speaking of being defeated, he was the one who had been defeated many times. Since Laila's debut, he had never gained an advantage over her, even using a dare to kiss a donkey's ass to bring great embarrassment in front of a global audience. Although he didn't actually kiss the donkey's ass in the end, whenever the media mentioned his name, they associated him with a donkey, as if he had already done it!

"Mr. Faaris, please rest assured. For this plan, we've arranged it for a long time. All possible scenarios have been thoroughly considered, and arrangements have been made for any possible events. As long as there are no major accidents, this time we will definitely make her experience a significant setback!"

Cooper felt that his plan this time had been fully prepared, and it would undoubtedly let Laila and the people she valued taste the shame he once suffered.