Link was preparing to go to Paris for filming, needing to hand over his current tasks related to movies, music, boxing, concerts, and investments. However, with Ivanka, Mandy, Catherine, Franco, and Cathy Wood around, he didn't have much to worry about besides training, writing songs, and reading.
The only thing troubling him was Alexandra Daddario.
After a few runs and kisses, she seemed to have fallen for him.
When they met, she would affectionately lean close to him, not rejecting his passionate kisses or his hands on her firm buttocks and slender waist.
She would send him 'Good morning' and 'Good night' messages in the morning and evening.
During the day, she would sometimes text him to ask if he was busy. If he said he wasn't, she would immediately call, asking if he was tired from training, reminding him to rest, caring about his diet, and chatting about feelings, movies, and both happy and unhappy things, like a girl in love.
Her voice was as sweet and soft as possible, seemingly wanting to show him all the good things about herself, pure and beautiful.
Link thought that if he didn't have a girlfriend and so many complicated relationships, he might accept her and her love. But he was a playboy and couldn't give her what she wanted. Continuing to entangle with her would only lead to disappointment and hurt.
Although Link never intended to be a good man, he still had his principles and didn't want to hurt an innocent girl.
Additionally, in his casual chats with Daddario, he learned that her family was not simple either.
The Daddario family was among the earliest Italian immigrants to New York. Her grandfather was a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives, her father was the head of the NYPD's anti-terrorism unit, her mother was a top lawyer at a prestigious New York law firm, and her great-uncle seemed to have some connections with the Italian mafia.
Dating such a girl required genuine care; anything less could lead to big trouble.
So, during a phone call, he told Daddario that he couldn't accompany her for morning runs anymore.
Daddario quickly asked why, if he was going to be very busy.
Link told her that he was a playboy, a bad man, while she was a beautiful, kind, and excellent girl. Good girls should date good boys, not bad men like him.
Daddario said he wasn't a bad man, that he was gentle, considerate, and gentlemanly, the best man she had ever met.
Link helplessly told her that the news reports were true, that he was a playboy who had dated many girls, often unable to control his desires even when he had a girlfriend, and that he really wasn't a good man.
Daddario was silent for a while and then asked if he loved her.
Link said he did.
A beautiful, pure girl like her was hard not to like, but her family had both legal and illegal connections.
Daddario also said she loved him, liked kissing him, liked his scent, liked running behind him, liked listening to him sing in the rain, and liked his passionate touch.
Link said he liked her too, but he was a scoundrel and couldn't promise her anything, which wasn't fair to her. Continuing their relationship would hurt her.
Daddario said she didn't mind and didn't need his promises, as long as she could be with him.
Link was touched and told her he was going to Paris for filming and would bring her a gift when he returned.
Daddario asked when he would be back.
Link told her the time.
After hanging up, Link looked at himself in the mirror.
Unlike his previous life and different from Link Baker, his face was becoming more handsome, with fair and delicate skin, defined bones, deep eyes, and a trace of melancholy between his brows, handsome and elegant.
But he seemed to be getting worse.
He used to hate scoundrels, but now he had become the person he hated the most.
Is this everyone's fate?
Ring ring!
The phone rang, and he answered it, hearing a husky, sexy voice calling him 'darling' in French and asking when he would come to Paris.
Hearing her seductive French accent, Link couldn't help but think of the time they spent filming in Paris.
They lay in bed, wearing nothing but a towel, with her teaching him French. She would say a phrase, and he would repeat it. Hearing him speak French, she would laugh heartily, her chest shaking with laughter.
This way, she taught a phrase, and he learned a phrase, continuing during breaks.
In over a month, he could understand French and speak some simple sentences.
"Marion, my flight is at 9 AM tomorrow, and I should arrive around 4 or 5 PM."
Link said in French.
"Airplane is 'avion,' not 'aéroplane,' and I like it when you call me darling."
The woman laughed on the phone.
"Darling, I'll arrive in Paris tomorrow afternoon."
"Got it, I'll pick you up at the airport."
"Wait, there will definitely be paparazzi watching us in Paris. Aren't you worried about rumors?"
"Hmm, are you worried?"
"Of course not, I'm a playboy."
"Parisian women never worry about rumors."
The woman said calmly.
"The news said you had a fight with Guillaume because of me?"
"Yes, once when we were making love, I accidentally called your name. He was very angry, thinking I loved you more. He's such a fool; of course, I love him more, except when you're in Paris."
The woman said frankly.
"If I stayed in Paris, would you love me forever?"
"Haha, maybe. You're my lover. When you're in Paris, I won't think about other men, but you can't stay in Paris forever."
"I love Paris and I love you. If it were two hundred years ago, I would bring an army to take you and Paris from France, so I could have both."
"Haha, darling, if it were the past, you would definitely be a tyrant."
"Yes, I'm a tyrant. Tomorrow, I'll cross half the world to conquer you."
After exchanging a few sweet words with Marion, Link hung up and thought of another woman, Jennifer Lawrence.
They had lived together for a while during filming in Paris.
He was a big star, and she was a newcomer. During their time together, everything revolved around him. She never said much, never asked much, and didn't care about his relationship with Marion. She quietly filmed, and after returning from Paris, she didn't bother him, behaving very sensibly and calmly.
This time, she didn't have any scenes to reshoot, so she didn't need to go again.
Link sent her a message, asking where she was.
Jennifer replied that she was in Los Angeles, auditioning for new roles, and asked if he needed anything.
Link asked if it was going well.
Jennifer said it wasn't going too well. Last week, she auditioned for "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo." The initial audition went well, but because the male lead, Daniel Craig, was 5'10" and she was 5'9", she didn't get the part.
This week, she was auditioning for "X-Men: First Class," with over thirty actresses competing, so the chances were slim.
Hearing "X-Men," Link thought she was probably auditioning for Mystique, which she eventually got, but the role wasn't great, with blue skin and makeup that didn't help her much.
Link asked if she wanted to switch to a different agency. He had an agency and a production company. The upcoming "Scandal Plan" and the currently filming "Bridesmaids" were produced by his company, with two more projects planned for the year.
If she was willing to join, he could help pay the breach of contract fee, with a signing bonus of no less than $1 million. The artist contract would be similar to other agencies.
Currently, her salary was less than $100,000.
Jennifer said she needed to think about it.
After hanging up, Link called Wendy Deng, asking if she knew about the casting for "X-Men: First Class."
"X-Men: First Class" was produced by 20th Century Fox, a subsidiary of News Corporation, where Wendy Deng also worked. She had been trying to enter the film industry in recent years, producing "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan."
Wendy Deng was well-connected, with ties in politics, business, and entertainment across Europe, America, and Asia.
Because of Ivanka, Link had become friends with her, so asking her about this wasn't presumptuous. Given his current fame and status, Wendy Deng wouldn't refuse to maintain a good relationship with him.
Wendy Deng said she had heard about it but didn't know the details. She had talked to Fox's executive president, Paul Hanneman, yesterday and could ask him.
Link told her that his friend Jennifer Lawrence was auditioning for Mystique and asked if she had a chance to get the role.
Wendy Deng said to wait a moment.
After five minutes, Wendy Deng told him that Jennifer's acting was good, and her performances in "The Burning Plain" and "Winter's Bone" had gained her popularity. She did well in the audition, and Fox was considering giving her the role.
Link thanked her.
Wendy Deng told him that "Snow Flower and the Secret Fan" would start filming next month and asked when he would have time to go to China.
Link said he would be touring Asia in July and August and would make time to join the crew.
Deng Wendy said, "Welcome, we'll be sure to show you the best hospitality."
After finishing the conversation with Deng Wendy, he sent a message to Jennifer, informing her that he had just been in contact with Fox Studios and that the role of Mystique would be given to her.
After sending the message, he didn't wait for Jennifer to reply and instead went to the boxing gym to train.
After his afternoon training session, he received a reply from Jennifer, saying that she wanted to discuss the contract.
Link told her that he didn't have time in the near future and gave her Catherine's contact information.
(End of the chapter)