[Chapter 438: The Show's Impact, Fan Surge]
The landscaping on the farm had been completed over the past two days as per contract, and they were now addressing the final touch-ups. James van Sweden and Topher Delaney had arranged to inspect the work with Linton the day after tomorrow.
The training for 117 service staff and 4 chefs from Hong Kong was also concluding today. According to the schedule, they were set to fly into Los Angeles on November 8th and then take a private charter directly to Linton's private airstrip on the farm.
Linton's immediate priority was to hire a competent butler to oversee the management of the estate gardens.
Fortunately, before returning from Japan, Linton had instructed Winnie to put out a nationwide call for applications. The offered salary was a generous $200,000 annually, which attracted many candidates.
After initial screening, Winnie shortlisted five promising candidates and had Goodman's law firm conduct thorough background checks.
The investigation narrowed the list down to four well-qualified individuals, awaiting Linton's final decision.
This afternoon, Linton's task was to interview these four candidates in person and select the best fit.
All four had attended the prestigious British Butler Academy and had prior experience working as butlers. Among them were two men and two women, ranging in age from 29 to 38.
During the interview, Linton used his Soul Induction ability to have each candidate share their work history for 30 minutes, detailing how they interacted with previous employers, reasons for leaving, followed by inquiries about their family backgrounds and whether any concealed motives existed.
He ultimately chose a 32-year-old female butler named Erica Sige.
Erica was a second-generation Italian-American. She wasn't stunningly beautiful but possessed a warm and trustworthy aura. She had previously worked as a butler for an aristocratic family living in a countryside castle in England. Earlier this year, the elderly noble passed away, and the heir, unable to afford the exorbitant inheritance taxes, had to sell the castle to the government. After settling the debts, the heir took a substantial payout and relocated to London.
This left Erica unemployed, prompting her return to America to seek new opportunities.
Another reason for choosing Erica was her family situation -- her husband was the castle's gardener, and their relationship was strong, with a 5-year-old child. Losing their jobs together didn't lead to drama; instead, they relocated to the U.S. to start fresh. Her husband had since found work with a landscaping company in Los Angeles.
Erica explained that if she secured the butler position, the family could move together to Montana's estate, where her husband could continue as a gardener.
Linton saw her stable family life as a big plus, signifying loyalty and reliability, ideal for working steadily away from the bustling city.
He then called Erica's husband in and used Soul Induction to verify their marital bond was genuine, and that he had no hidden intentions.
On the same day, Linton signed the butler contract with Erica and asked her to settle her affairs promptly, as she would accompany him to Montana the day after tomorrow.
Her husband also agreed to continue gardening but requested time to wrap up his current job before moving to Montana with their child.
---
At 8 PM, UPN TV Network aired a special financial segment titled [Linton: The 24-Year-Old Media Titan.]
Linton, along with Madonna, Winnie, Sophie Marceau, Cristiana Reali, Monica Bellucci, Jennifer Connelly, Akina Nakamori, all gathered in the estate's living room to watch the interview.
On screen, Linton wore a dark Armani suit with a crisp white shirt and a bow tie, his handsome, strong-featured face and commanding posture immediately capturing the attention of the women watching.
Even Jennifer gasped, "Wow, you are so handsome."
The women around him agreed enthusiastically, which made Linton smirk. "You see this every day, don't you? What's the fuss about?"
Beyond his usual fans, the buzz around his recent acquisition of MCA had drawn interest from many social elites who typically ignored entertainment news, and even housewives who rarely watched movies -- all tuning in to UPN's financial feature.
The poised and intelligent host, Stephanie, asked a series of questions that revealed Linton's four-year journey in detail.
Within four years, Linton had risen from an average college graduate to a chart-topping singer, a Hollywood director, a superstar, bestselling author, philanthropist, film company owner, media mogul, and recently, the successful $6.3 billion purchaser of MCA.
This astonishing story stunned countless viewers.
Each single achievement would be a lifetime milestone for many, but Linton accomplished it all in just four years. This defied belief -- an unparalleled genius in American history.
---
7:55 PM, Harvard Graduate Dormitory, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
"Jack, why don't you clean up? The party's about to begin," Honey Vick reminded her roommate, Jack, who was still watching the TV.
"Go ahead without me. Linton's interview is starting soon. I've got to watch," Jack replied.
"Which Linton?"
"You know, that Hollywood director and superstar Linton, the one who just acquired Universal. Tonight's his first TV interview."
"Another celebrity gossip thing? I don't see the point -- there's gossip about him everywhere anyway."
"No, this one's a financial special -- titled 'Linton: The 24-Year-Old Media Titan.'"
Financial interview? Honey became interested. "When does it start?"
"At 8 PM."
"Forget the party. Let's watch it together and see what makes him tick, how he managed to buy Universal in just a few years."
Just then, the energetic track Believer started playing as the elegant host appeared, delivering a flawless introduction that brought Linton on stage.
"Wow, this guy's handsome."
"The host is gorgeous too, and quite sexy."
As the interview unfolded, the roommates could only manage phrases like:
"Unbelievable."
"Incredible."
"He's my new idol."
---
San Francisco, Galaxies Garden Suburb, Middle-Class Community.
At 7:50 PM, Mrs. John, having finished her chores, sat on the sofa ready to watch her favorite series, Melrose Place.
Just before 8, her husband and son emerged from their rooms and settled on the couch.
This was unusual -- normally her husband retreated to the study to work or read, and her son was glued to his video game console.
"Mom, where's the remote? Let's switch the channel to UPN."
"Mickey, Hans, what's going on? Are you here to keep me company?"
"Honey, UPN is airing a Linton interview at 8. I don't want to miss it."
"Dad's right, I want to watch my idol Linton."
"What about my Melrose Place?"
"Don't worry, Mom. Melrose Place's rerun is tomorrow afternoon."
"Alright, I guess I'll watch with you guys and see what's so special about Linton."
Unexpectedly, Mrs. John found herself hooked from the very start. By the end, she was won over by Linton's charm and legendary story, becoming a new fan.
---
New York, Long Island. Inside a vast estate, the recently debt-free developer Donald was watching the program and was clearly impressed.
"How is this guy so amazing? Almost catching up to young me," he muttered.
His 14-year-old daughter Ivanka hid her face. "Dad, you only took over the family business from grandpa when you were 25."
"What's your point? When I started in '71, the company was worth just over $10 million. In less than ten years, it grew twentyfold. Am I not better than him?"
"Okay, Dad, you're the best."
"That's more like it. But this kid Linton is good too -- he's got about 70% of me. If you ever get a chance, learn from him."
At that moment, a new idea sparked in his mind. He was organizing a Miss Universe pageant and had planned to cooperate with NBC.
Now, seeing UPN's rising coverage and ratings, and knowing they were more affordable as a new network, he considered approaching them. If he could connect with Linton, maybe he could even get cameo roles in his films.
What he didn't know was that at that exact moment, through the TV program, his daughter Ivanka was also inspired, planting a seed to one day approach Linton herself.
...
Not only Ivanka but many others like Paris Hilton and Nikki Hilton, Amanda Hearst and Lydia Hearst also felt moved.
Even bigger talents like Britney Spears, Anne Hathaway, Beyonce, and Jessica Alba -- young girls showing early promise in singing or acting -- began plotting ways to meet Linton, hoping to gain his recognition and launch their careers.
---
With the airing of the interview, Linton's fan base surged again.
As Chris had said, many mainstream elites rediscovered Linton through this program and became fans.
Another significant demographic was family-oriented women who didn't usually watch movies or listen to music beyond the usual love ballads by Mariah Carey. This interview won him a huge number of mom fans.
Even the final gossip question -- Linton publicly admitted with a happy smile that he and Madonna had a baby girl recently.
He made a firm promise to raise and nurture his daughter responsibly, to give her the best upbringing so she'd grow into a thoughtful and kind person.
Though a small fraction of extreme conservatives criticized him for having a child out of wedlock and branded him a player, leading to a few lost fans, the vast majority praised him for taking responsibility.
In fact, this candid admission elevated his image far above many Hollywood stars.
The gossip segment not only satisfied viewers' curiosity but also improved his "playboy" reputation, increasing fan loyalty instead of causing loss.
---
After the one hour and twenty-minute interview concluded, the women around Linton gushed, their eyes sparkling as they admired his excellence.
Jennifer and Akina, who had been worried about the midnight screening's box office potential for Scream, temporarily forgot their anxieties.
Monica even snuggled into Linton's arms and kissed him, playfully trying to disarm him. "Darling, you're amazing, I can't resist anymore."
Others joined in excitement...
Only Madonna, holding the asleep little Lina, quietly returned to her room to settle the child, leaving with a softly whispered, "Wait for me."
Soon, cheerful singing filled the living room, overpowering the TV sounds...
In the gym, dance studio, screening room, then the garden terrace and bedrooms...
During his late-night play, Linton clearly felt his popularity surge dramatically.
---
At 3 AM, the phone rang, interrupting an intense session.
"Boss, great news! The midnight screening of Scream is a huge hit," came Klinsmann's excited voice.
"How much did it make?"
"A total of $1.78 million, surpassing Final Destination's $1.63 million. Your instincts were right -- Scream's North American box office is likely to break $100 million."
"Good. Keep up the great work."
...
After hanging up, Jennifer and Akina, who had been eavesdropping, rushed toward him, barely able to contain their excitement.
"Darling, you're incredible. I'm going to reward you properly."
"Darling, I'll keep going until dawn."
Others naturally weren't to be outdone...
The fun resumed, with joyful, sweet singing filling the night once again...
*****
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