[Chapter 415: Link's Bold Demand and Diana's Plea]
Diana's situation wasn't settled yet when Link received a call from Michael Ovitz after returning to the hotel for a rest in the afternoon. Ovitz said there was something important he wanted to discuss.
"Haha, Link, congratulations on Toy Story's big success, Guess Pictures is once again leading the industry this year," Ovitz said politely over the phone.
"Thanks! I hope your prediction comes true," Link responded as he sat on the sofa, accepting a coffee from Charlize Theron and taking a sip.
Hearing Ovitz praise Toy Story and Guess Pictures' performance, Link cut through the pleasantries and told him to get straight to the point, since he had other plans that evening.
"Alright, Link. Pixar's animated film showed great promise and demonstrated the potential of computer animation. However, Guess Pictures isn't a specialist in animation, so we can't fully explore the market potential there. Disney, on the other hand, can," Ovitz paused, "Now Pixar has proven its value and your good eye. This is the peak time for Pixar's value; the next film might not be as successful. Have you thought about selling Pixar now? Disney is willing to offer a very sincere price."
"You want to buy Pixar?"
"Yes, sincerely, making sure you get no short end of the stick," Ovitz assured.
Link smiled slightly, glanced at Charlize in a silk nightgown lounging beside him, and pulled her into his arms. "Alright, $2 billion. How do you like that offer?"
"Two billion?" Ovitz exclaimed, "Link, you bought Pixar last year for only $300 million, with a 10% share it was about $500 million. Now you're asking for $2 billion? Isn't that excessive?"
"Not at all! Toy Story's box office proved Pixar's value. It's like a golden goose that will keep producing more hit animated films. So $2 billion is a bargain and our bottom line. If you can't spend that much, just drop the idea of buying Pixar."
Charlize blinked her bright eyes at him, wrapping her slender arm around his neck and teasingly kissing his chin. Her hand playfully teased him. Link smiled back, tickling her tummy. She giggled and bit his finger gently, lifting his hand to the most comfortable spot.
Ovitz was about to haggle but hearing Link say it's the bottom price, he swallowed his words. "Alright, Link. To be honest, Disney aims to buy Pixar with a top offer of $1 billion. You paid $500 million last year and made $500 million in one year. It's a great deal. If you want to sell, call me."
"Forget it. Guess Pictures values Pixar and has no intention to sell, but if you like Pixar's prospects, you may buy part of the stock by year-end."
"Year-end? Planning a financing round?"
"In two weeks, you'll know."
As Link was about to say goodbye, Ovitz proposed a collaboration between Guess Pictures and Disney for jointly marketing and distributing Toy Story. Disney was a pro at animation promotion and could help the film earn more at the box office.
He also mentioned helping develop Toy Story merchandise: toys, clothing, theme park attractions.
Link thought it was reasonable but was busy for now and asked Ovitz to contact Michael Leeson and Mark Amin, who handle Guess Pictures' film distribution and merchandise.
After hanging up, Link passionately kissed the blonde beauty in his arms, whose pale, slender legs stretched straight.
Moments later, a love music played from the bedroom speakers, sincere and passionate.
---
The next day, Link kissed the sleeping beauty's hair before leaving the hotel to shoot a film.
At noon, Monica Lewinsky came to report to him.
She had talked to Diana yesterday and asked if she needed help passing messages to Link.
Diana didn't explain her purpose, saying she planned to travel around southern Ireland, praising the scenery there.
Link was helpless - he was filming in London, Diane visited the set, he was filming in Ireland, and now Diana followed to travel.
If the media knew, no matter how he explained, people wouldn't believe there was no relationship.
"Link, should I try to persuade her again?" Lewinsky asked.
Link shook his head. Diana's noble status meant she had multiple aristocratic titles despite divorce, and she had a solid reputation. Many celebrities admired her.
With such a woman, he couldn't be rough -- he had to be polite for now.
"Forget it. Invite her to the hotel this afternoon after shooting. I'll talk with her then."
"Meeting her might spark rumors."
"No problem. I'm a playboy; rumors are part of my life."
"Okay, I'll contact her now."
Lewinsky wiggled her hips as she left.
Link grabbed his director's chair and checked the set. Once the crews were ready, he signaled the clapper to start filming.
...
After a busy day, around 6 p.m., Link returned to the hotel and found Diana in the living room.
She chatted with Charlize on the sofa. Though Charlize was young, beautiful, and tall with a sexy figure, she seemed like a naive girl next to Diana.
Link had business to discuss with Diana, so Charlize and Lewinsky left for the next room to watch TV.
After they left, Link sat on the sofa with his legs crossed.
"Miss Spencer, can you now tell me what you want?"
Diana sat opposite him, looking anxious. She wore a simple T-shirt and jeans; her long golden curls were tousled over her shoulders. Except for earrings and a watch, she had no other accessories.
Compared to the poised nobility she showed in London, she now looked like a plain woman who had shed her pretenses.
"Link, do you find me annoying?" she asked, blinking her long lashes, her hands over her abdomen. A nervous expression showed on her fair face.
"Whether I find you annoying depends on your explanation. If your story is good and satisfies me, I can forgive your nonsense. Otherwise, no," Link replied.
Before he finished, her eyes welled up, and a tear slid down her cheek.
"Don't cry!" Link waved firmly. "I'm a director and have seen many women cry - some silently, some sobbing, some laughing through tears - even scolded some into crying. I've seen it all. It made me numb to tears. Sometimes I give tips to women to cry better. Want some?"
Diana burst out laughing. "You're so blunt. Don't your girlfriends mind?"
"Honesty is a virtue. Why should they mind?"
Link sipped his coffee. "You be direct too. Don't cry or laugh. Just tell me why you spread rumors about us. If you say you're a huge fan and have long admired me, using this way to pursue me, I can accept that."
He joked.
Diana smiled slightly, sighed, and holding her coffee cup, said, "Fine, I admit the last time I visited the set, it was to spread rumors about us."
"Why do that? I don't get it."
"Because you're a playboy, single, famous. Spreading rumors about you suits me since the negative impact on you is minimal."
"So you're like a female Zorro, fighting for justice by outing bad guys?"
"No way!" Diana laughed again, annoyed, "Can you be serious? What I'm about to tell you is very serious. I hope you take it seriously."
"Alright, go ahead."
"You must have heard about me. Before I separated from my ex-husband, I was a beloved princess. After separation, tabloids often published rumors that I frequently changed boyfriends, seeing various men, like a slut. Do you believe that?"
"Doesn't matter; I watch entertainment news just for fun, never bothered if it's true or not. It wastes time."
"It's all fake! Completely fake!" Diana became agitated. "They purposely use these stories to damage my reputation, especially after divorce. Anytime I'm with a man, media jumps to say I have a new boyfriend, several a month. My life is under surveillance, no freedom. Even when I visited your set, it was like that."
"So you spread rumors about us to fight back against those behind the scenes?"
"Yes. Since they say I'm bad, I decide to spread rumors with the world's most famous playboy, making it known everywhere. It's not just my scandal alone."
"Why me? Because I'm a playboy? Framing a playboy is like fighting villains? No guilt?" Link frowned.
"No, also because you're powerful, a world-class cultural figure, one of the richest men in America, with clout and status. Even if they target you, it's hard. So targeting you does minimal harm overall."
"Sounds logical. You successfully struck back at those watching you and saved those men wrongly associated. The media sells papers; the public enjoys the drama. Only I, the playboy, get hurt. So I should forgive you?"
"Will you forgive me?" Diana blinked.
Link looked at her agreeable face, helpless. Though a playboy, he never hurt anyone. He was a saint among scoundrels. But now, labeled a tool for use and forced to take the blame. It made no sense.
But not forgiving won't help; she was Diana, also famous, and couldn't be treated roughly. If she stirred media trouble, angry fans might boycott his films in the UK.
"Alright, it's settled. I won't hold you responsible."
"Thank you, Link! I heard you're open-minded, gentle, a real gentleman, a good man. Now I'm sure."
Diana smiled happily.
Link shook his head, declining the praise to avoid seeming gullible.
"Diana, now that's clear, when are you going back to London? You've been here too long and risk media exposure."
He wanted to get rid of this trouble soon.
Diana blinked, "Link, can you do me one more small favor? It won't affect you much."
"What?"
"Could you be my boyfriend? A fake boyfriend, just for show."
Diana said hesitantly.
"Are you joking?" Link was taken aback.
"No! I'm serious," she said with moist eyelashes and a sincere face. "Many know our rumored affair. If you're my rumored boyfriend, those behind the scenes can't feed rumors about me with other men. It protects their families and reputations. My kids won't be mocked and can grow up happy."
She started crying again.
Link frowned, silent. He had dozens of girlfriends, so adding one more was no issue. But Diana's special status meant dating her even as a rumor would cause complications.
"I know this request is much; I just don't know what else to do. Anything I do is overanalyzed and scandalized. I have no choice. If you don't agree, I understand and will leave for London tomorrow, not bothering you again," Diana wiped tears, voice choked.
Link stared at the touching woman across from him. After a while, he spoke.
"I can agree, but as your real boyfriend, not just in name. You'd need to live with me in the US. If you agree, come over. If not, you can leave."
"You mean really?" Diana looked surprised.
"I mean real, with a relationship."
"But I'm 11 years older than you."
"I don't care."
Among his girlfriends, Brigitte Lin was 18 years older; Michelle Pfeiffer 14 years older. He didn't mind age.
"But you have so many girlfriends."
"Don't think about that or whether I'm a bad boy. If I weren't, you wouldn't be asking for help."
"It's your choice," he said. "But I want an answer in half an hour."
Diana looked at him helplessly. She only wanted help but got countered with becoming his real girlfriend. Though she liked him -- rich, elegant, handsome, a great date -- this was fast, too fast.
She couldn't adapt to the role yet.
But without his powerful protection, true freedom was hard to gain and her future looked bleak.
What should she do?
*****
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