Chapter 74: Dan Brown

In the bedroom, Scarlett Johansson sat in front of the vanity mirror, with a beautiful custom-made Bulgari blue sapphire diamond necklace sitting in a box on the table.

Charles, standing behind Scarlett, slowly picked up the necklace. "Pretty, isn't it? I'll help you put it on!"

It cost Charles almost $320,000, not cheap at all!

"Yeah," Scarlett Johansson nodded. What woman doesn't like jewelry?

Suspended below the diamond necklace was a beautiful teardrop-shaped sapphire that looked perfect around Scarlett Johansson's neck.

The sapphire rested attractively on Scarlett's cleavage, moving up and down with her breaths.

"Do you like it?" Scarlett Johansson looked left and right in the mirror, occasionally brushing her chest with her hand.

"Of course, it's beautiful," said the 20-year-old Scarlett Johansson. Her smooth, fair complexion and alluring figure left few men untouched.

No wonder Durant wanted to drink Scarlett Johansson's bathwater. Charles thought back to when they bathed together. Could Durant really drink all that water?

"Charles," Scarlett Johansson stood up, turned around, and gave him a tender kiss, her sexy nightgown strap sliding off her shoulder.

Not far behind them was a soft bed, promising another sleepless night.

Charles was in the phase of capital accumulation and didn't want to spend too much time and energy on women.

Satisfying their vanity and spending money on them saved a lot of time. Jewelry, bags, and such didn't matter much to Charles now.

He had given gifts to Megan Fox, Kate Beckinsale, and Scarlett Johansson. Britney Spears, on the other hand, didn't care much, being wealthy herself.

"How's the Pacific Theaters deal going?" Charles asked his assistant Dona Williams from his office chair.

"Philip met with them several times. They won't budge from $26.5 million."

"Fine, settle at that price. Have the lawyers finalize the property registry and the franchise contracts, then complete the acquisition. We need to resolve this ASAP," Charles decided.

"Understood!" Dona Williams nodded in agreement.

After buying a house on Manhattan's Hudson River, plus his personal expenses, Charles had around $28 million left.

However, the DVD of Saw was due for release later this month, bringing another wave of cash flow to Carpe Productions.

"This year's Saw II will be the first movie independently distributed by Carpe Productions. With the popularity of the first movie backing it, it shouldn't be difficult," Charles decided to build his own distribution channels.

"Next year, we need more movies!"

Wedding Crashers and Brokeback Mountain were both distributed through Universal Pictures. Mr. & Mrs. Smith was also under contract, and Charles planned to handle the remake of Infernal Affairs through the Universal contract as well.

"Boss, regarding the Mr. & Mrs. Smith distribution contract, we can only mortgage half of the revenue rights, reducing the available funds a lot!" Dona reminded.

"We still have 70% of the revenue rights from Wedding Crashers, which we can also mortgage. Raising $30 million in loans shouldn't be a problem," Charles didn't mind the interest. If the company didn't borrow money, how could it grow?

"Right, arrange my trip to the Cannes Film Festival in May. Let's see if there are any good movies to buy. Building a distribution channel requires films," Charles needed to personally go to the front line to acquire films.

"Boss, it's time. Mr. Dan Brown should arrive soon!" Dona Williams reminded, checking her watch.

Charles nodded. Today, he had a meeting with suspense novelist Dan Brown. His book The Da Vinci Code, published last year, had very high sales, and many film companies wanted to adapt it.

Price, adaptation plans, and such needed to be negotiated to persuade the author.

Charles Carpe had arranged to meet Dan Brown at the Bradbury Building in downtown Los Angeles. As a historical landmark and an iconic building in LA, the Bradbury Building frequently appeared in films.

Charles traveled in a luxurious G-Wagon outfitted for business trips. He had this idea after a one-night stand with Liv Tyler.

Porsche also launched an SUV called the Cayenne a few years ago, and Charles bought one for personal use.

He modified the G-Wagon to suit his style for luxurious business travel.

"Is that Kobe Bryant?" Charles asked as they passed the courthouse, spotting Kobe surrounded by reporters, looking solemn with his wife by his side.

Dona Williams reminded him, "It's last year's Eagle County assault case hearing."

"I know that from last year's news. I mean, why hasn't he resolved it yet?" Last June, Kobe was accused of assaulting a 19-year-old hotel staff member in Eagle County, Colorado, during knee rehabilitation.

Charles remembered Kobe had resolved it with $5 million.

"Boss, these lawsuits can take a year or two. Maybe the settlement price was unsatisfactory to both sides. One side wants money; the other needs reputation. The initial trial was in Eagle County. Kobe, however, needs to be available for the NBA season. The judge allowed a court session during the games," Dona Williams explained. In the end, it would be resolved with money.

Charles shook his head. "Caught in a honey trap!"

By the end of this season, the Lakers' Shaq-Kobe duo would break up, with Shaq heading to the Miami Heat.

"So, Kobe has to shuttle between Eagle County and LA for court hearings?"

Dona Williams nodded. "Kobe's a global basketball star. This kind of reputation damage is too significant. An out-of-court settlement is best. The girl probably wants too much."

Charles looked at Dona beside him. She wore a typical secretary outfit: a pencil skirt, unbuttoned white shirt paired with a small suit, and black-framed glasses.

He rubbed Dona's thigh, humorously asking, "What's with the outfit today?"

Dona Williams leaned on Charles's shoulder, licking her lips seductively. "Boss, didn't you say you like me in uniform?"

Having been with Charles for two years, they'd done just about everything in the office. Dona Williams was an excellent assistant - smart, pretty, and capable!

Charles peered into Dona's collar. "Black lace, nice!"

"However, we need to discuss Dan Brown's movie adaptation rights. I'll reward you properly afterward!"

Charles was determined to secure the movie rights to The Da Vinci Code.

*****

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