Chapter 265: Clippers

"Is this adapted from Alexandre Dumas' The Three Musketeers?" Arthur leaned back on the bed, flipping through the script in his hand.

"Yes, it's the follow-up story to The Three Musketeers, and I'll be playing D'Artagnan's daughter in the movie," Sophie Marceau leaned against Arthur's chest.

The movie is called Reckless Rose, an adventure comedy with a touch of action. Arthur, feeling Sophie Marceau's softness in his arms, laughed, "This surely looks like a low-budget B-movie. You just finished shooting Fanfan in France not too long ago. Are you thinking about going back to France to shoot another film already?"

As he spoke, Arthur's hand, which had been caressing the woman's softness, squeezed harder, "I'm guessing the most eye-catching part of the movie will be your exposed cleavage, right?"

Sophie Marceau chuckled, "It's just a movie. What's strange about that? I've had performances of similar scale before! Besides, is there any inch of my body that you haven't seen by now?"

Arthur shook his head, "That's not the point. A Few Good Men released last year already made you quite well-known in Hollywood. You can pick any Hollywood script you like. No need to waste time on such crude European low-budget films!"

"Alright, I'll listen to you. Besides, Fanfan hasn't even been released yet, so I'm not in a hurry." Sophie Marceau wasn't particularly eager to return to France for a new film.

"Next, I have to attend the Directors Guild Awards, the Independent Spirit Awards, and some city film critics' meetings. There weren't so many activities when I was in France!"

Listening to Sophie Marceau's complaints, Arthur patted her lightly, "It's all about increasing exposure, and both the Directors Guild and Writers Guild awards are quite important before the Oscars. There are quite a few foreigners participating in the Independent Spirit Awards too."

Among Hollywood's three major guilds: Directors, Actors, and Writers, only the Actors Guild hadn't established their own awards yet, but it was happening soon.

In a few years, even the Hollywood Producers Guild would create their own Producers Awards!

While Arthur enjoyed the lavish lifestyle of Los Angeles, he also kept an eye on other news:

At the end of February, a bomb exploded in the underground parking lot of the North Tower of New York's World Trade Center, resulting in 6 deaths and over 1,000 injuries.

Implementing a new round of the Basel Accord (Capital Adequacy Accord) required banks to have a capital-to-risk-assets ratio of 8%, imposing significant pressure on Japanese banks. Combined with a sluggish stock market and real estate sector in Japan, many large enterprises were forced to repatriate capital.

Japanese companies, having aggressively purchased real estate in the US in recent years, were now preparing to sell some assets at a loss!

"World Trade Center in New York, really..." Seeing the news, Arthur decided that he wouldn't be venturing to the Twin Towers in the future, for his own safety.

In a private room at a West Hollywood club, Donald Sterling had arranged to meet Arthur to discuss Los Angeles real estate business.

Unfortunately, Arthur wasn't interested, merely responding perfunctorily to Sterling's proposals.

"Donald, have you made up your mind? You know the Clippers' situation. What do you think about $90 million?" Arthur asked with a smile.

"Arthur, the Clippers made it to the playoffs last season," Donald Sterling reminded Arthur.

In the 1991-1992 season, Larry Brown joined mid-season and led the Clippers to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

However, in the first round of the playoffs, the Clippers were eliminated by the Jazz with a 2-3 loss.

"Didn't you buy the Clippers for less than $13 million ten years ago?" Arthur took a sip of his drink.

"After all these years, making it to the playoffs for the first time isn't much progress. The attendance numbers and ticket prices still can't compare to the Lakers."

Donald Sterling shook his head, "Los Angeles is a major international city. I believe the Clippers' future value will be much higher."

"But right now, the Clippers are almost forced to move to Anaheim to share an arena with the Anaheim Mighty Ducks hockey team," Arthur remarked.

"Besides, I heard Sterling Real Estate Company isn't doing well these days. Is that true?"

Donald Sterling glanced at Arthur and laughed, "Ha, it's just some ordinary operational issues. Nothing to worry about!"

Arthur scrutinized Sterling's face, sensing that the latter didn't seem very concerned. In his mind, Arthur thought it would be challenging to fulfill his dream without making Sterling feel a significant pinch.

"Arthur, let's have a drink. I'll let you know for sure if I ever decide to sell the team."

Once again, with this usual statement, Arthur raised his glass and clinked it with Sterling's, smiling.

Watching Donald Sterling leave with two young women, Arthur squinted his eyes and asked Karl Anderson beside him, "Does Seraph have any former intel analysts?"

Karl Anderson was taken aback for a moment, "Among our recruits, we do have former CIA agents skilled in intelligence gathering. However, the Seraph training base is still under construction, and personnel recruitment is ongoing!"

"Alright then, start setting up intelligence and information research teams," Arthur understood from Karl Anderson's words that Seraph was still in its nascent stage and wouldn't be very efficient just yet.

"Let's head back," Arthur said. The current situation made it clear that Donald Sterling had no intention of selling the Clippers.

He decided to wait until the end of the season, hoping that Michael Jordan's retirement would lower NBA viewership and sponsorships, making Sterling more likely to be tempted by cash offers.

...

As the Oscars approached, various PR parties became more frequent, but Arthur went to New York to visit the 1993 New York Fashion Week.

Midtown Manhattan, Bryant Park on Sixth Avenue served as the main venue.

Yu Feihong, who was guest-starring in a TV show in East Village, Manhattan, was also called by Arthur to watch some shows.

"These clothes are beautiful," Yu Feihong couldn't help but admire at the Givenchy show.

Arthur also thought the current aesthetics were good, unlike the chaotic future.

Yu Feihong asked, "By the way, isn't the Oscars ceremony coming up soon? Why did you come to New York?"

"It's held at the end of March, there's still time, so I came to New York. There's also a Galaxy crew filming here," Arthur said, referring to David Fincher's Se7en.

At night, in a villa in the Upper East Side.

"Ah," Arthur collapsed onto Yu Feihong, panting heavily.

After a while, feeling the sweat on both of them, Arthur suggested, "Let's take a hot bath?"

"Okay," Yu Feihong nodded.

Soon after, Arthur was soaking with Yu Feihong in a warm bathtub, all fatigue washed away.

"Ah," Arthur gently comforted Yu Feihong, kissing her.

"Alright," after a passionate moment, Yu Feihong leaned against Arthur, "At the beginning of the year, a very good movie was released in China, with great reviews and box office success."

"Is Galaxy interested? This film will be at the Cannes International Film Festival this year!"

"Oh, what movie?" Arthur became interested.

"Farewell My Concubine! It was released in China around New Year's," Yu Feihong's face flushed, "The reviews are excellent."

"Farewell My Concubine?" Arthur said, skimming the water. If memory serves, it won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes International Film Festival this year!

*****

https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.