Chapter 228 - Seize Every Opportunity

"Yes, I just had her sign it. A million-dollar paycheck is a pretty good price."

"Well, you can determine the pay as you see fit." Laila wasn't too familiar with the market rates, and she didn't want to meddle in matters she wasn't well-versed in. Besides, if the money was too little, she could always compensate with bonuses once the movie was released. She wasn't the kind of businessperson who only cared about making money for herself and left her subordinates starving.

"By the way," Laila thought for a moment, "how's the construction of the studio going? Is everything going smoothly?"

"The construction is going relatively smoothly, but there are a lot of people paying attention, and there have been attempts to break in. Fortunately, the security measures there are quite good, so no one has succeeded so far."

Laila smiled. "Tell them that occasionally allowing some clever individuals into less important areas is fine. It could even help with publicity."

Louise wiped the sweat off her forehead. Even in this situation, Laila never missed an opportunity to use the media. Truly, she was a savvy boss.

"Understood, I'll let them know."

Laila placed the studio within the scope of the theme park. One reason was that after the film was finished, it could be transformed into an amusement park area. The other was to attract attention to the park.

During both the construction and filming phases, people interested in the movie and journalists would undoubtedly flock there, eager to learn about details that others didn't know. This way, ticket sales for the park would also increase significantly. It was a win-win situation.

Moreover, according to the blueprints, the less important scenes were constructed closer to the entrance, while the crucial and secretive scenes were placed deeper inside. It was nearly impossible to reach the innermost areas due to multiple layers of monitoring and defenses. Visitors and journalists could only wander around the periphery and take a few photos at most.

Laila wasn't worried about these backgrounds being revealed because they wouldn't reveal much about the plot. They would only increase the audience's curiosity about the movie, which would eventually be reflected in the box office numbers.

Just by orchestrating the right elements, she could boost the box office. She had truly reached the peak of understanding people's psychology, not letting any opportunity go to waste.

After working for a while, there was a knock on the door, followed by Demi's voice.

"Boss, Miss Charlize Theron would like to see you."

Laila put down the documents in her hand and looked up. "Let her in."

"Sure." Demi acknowledged and ushered Theron into the office.

"Please, have a seat." Laila gestured for her to sit across from her. "Is there something you need?"

Theron hesitated for a moment. "I've received the contract. Thank you very much for giving me this opportunity."

"You deserve it. You've earned my trust through your hard work, so there's no need to thank me." Laila rested her folded hands on the desk. "However, you didn't come here just to say these words, did you?"

Although she hadn't said it, Laila could guess what Theron wanted to discuss. "Are you curious about the American Express gathering?"

"Yes, that's right." Theron sighed with relief. When facing a boss several years her junior, she didn't know why she always felt so nervous, as if her heart had been caught.

"Susan has briefed me on the matter. I appreciate everything you've done for me."

Laila smiled. "You're a part of our company, so there's no need for others to interfere. Besides, you're a promising actress, and I see the potential for you to become a top-tier star. You can think of what I'm doing now as an investment in you."

In a capitalist society, being a bit pragmatic often makes things feel more relaxed. Character shines through from the heart, and she was aiming to develop the highest caliber of stars—those who could stand gracefully even under the spotlight, exuding elegance rather than meekly bending under minor favors.

"So, what about the gathering?" Theron heard that she would be accompanying Laila. That made her a bit uneasy. She had never been to such high-profile events before. Could she avoid embarrassing the boss?

"Don't worry. You've learned quite a bit in our etiquette classes. Just relax and treat those people as ordinary individuals." Laila reassured her. She, too, felt nervous after her rebirth, abruptly becoming a high-society lady. As a Westerner, she didn't even know how to eat properly.

Luckily, she had Little Laila's memories in her mind, which helped her understand which fork and knife to use in different situations.

Seeing Theron was still somewhat anxious, Laila waved her hand with a smile. "Don't be too concerned about the gathering. Just come with me. You might even get to know some directors and actors there. Sometimes having a few more friends is a good thing." She was repeating what Hunter had told her.

"I understand." Theron took a deep breath. "Do I need to prepare anything?"

Laila looked her up and down. "I'll take care of everything. My mother will be there as well. Her team will be interested in you." Who didn't like dressing up dolls? She was so beautiful—how could she resist the opportunity to dress someone up?

Theron realized Laila was referring to Janet and felt relieved. To be honest, she had no idea what to wear for such a high-profile gathering. Certainly, nothing in her closet would suffice. The napkins at the event might be worth more than her best clothes.

"Thank you, I know what to do now."

Laila nodded. "Just follow my lead when the time comes. Oh, by the way, have you read the script?"

"Yes, I've just received it and haven't finished reading it yet, but..." A blush of excitement spread across Theron's fair cheeks. "It's such a fantastic script!"

Laila chuckled. In truth, "Kill Bill" didn't have much to reveal in its script. The film's brilliance lay not in the plot but in the action sequences, which were difficult to convey through a screenplay.

Laila assumed Theron found the script fantastic because the character of the female lead was quite impressive. To put it simply, the movie was about the female lead fighting from start to finish, acting cool until the very end. Praising it as "fantastic" might not be far from the truth, as she was the one playing the female lead.

"If you like it, that's great. Most movies nowadays are told from a male perspective. This time, I'm attempting a female-led action film, which is a breakthrough for me as well. There's a possibility of failure, so if you want to withdraw at this point, you still can."