Before the first camera even rolled on the set of Thirteen, Anastasia required one more thing to secure the future of the project. She didn't just want Jodie and Mary as her actors; she wanted them in the "Circle."
The Contract in the DarkAnastasia sat with Jodie Foster and Mary Sadler in the dimly lit library of the Granite Sanctuary. On the oak table sat two leather-bound folders—the Jones Firm management contracts.
"I'm not just hiring you for a movie," Anastasia said, her voice calm but carrying the weight of her $124 million empire. "I am inviting you into the fortress. In this industry, they will try to use your talent to build their mansions. I want you to build your own."
The Agreement:
For Jodie: A strategic pivot. The Firm would manage her transition into directing, securing her a 20% stake in the backend profits of Thirteen.
For Mary: A complete shield. As a student and newcomer, the Firm would handle 100% of her legal and financial security, taking a standard 10% management fee but guaranteeing her a $500,000 trust from the film's budget regardless of its success.
"We don't just sign talent," Anastasia added, looking Mary in the eyes. "We protect it. You work for me, but I work for you."
Both women signed. The Jones Firm had just added the most respected young veteran and the most promising newcomer in the country to its roster.
Chapter Forty-Nine: The Golden NightThe winter of 1988 brought the industry to its knees. While Anastasia was deep in the dark, gritty world of Thirteen, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences finally caught up to the "Unscripted" movement.
The nominations for the 60th Academy Awards were announced, and the world stopped.
The NominationFor the first time in her life, Anastasia Jones was nominated for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance as Buttercup in The Princess Bride.
The industry was in an uproar. It was rare for a fantasy film to garner a Lead Actress nomination, but Anastasia's portrayal had been so grounded, so sharp, and so defiant that the Academy couldn't ignore it. She was the youngest nominee in the category that year, standing alongside icons like Cher and Glenn Close.
The Red Carpet SiegeOn the night of the Oscars, the "Fortress" arrived in a formation of black sedans. Anastasia walked the carpet flanked by her sisters, Sarah and Beth, and her newest clients, Jodie and Mary.
Anastasia wore a dress that looked like liquid obsidian—a sharp departure from the "Princess" silks. It was a statement. She wasn't there to be a fairytale; she was there to claim the throne.
The reporters were frantic. "Anastasia! First nomination! How does it feel to be the favorite?"
She paused, looking directly into the lens of the lead camera. "The nomination is a gesture from the past. I'm here to represent the future. Whether I leave with a statue or not, the Jones Firm has already won the decade."
The Closing CeremonyInside the Shrine Auditorium, the atmosphere was electric. As the category for Best Actress approached, the "Circle" sat in the front two rows. Cameron held Anastasia's hand on one side, while Jennifer Grey held the other.
When the montage of clips played, the screen showed Anastasia as Buttercup—not the moment she was rescued, but the moment she looked the villain in the eye and told him his power was an illusion.
The presenter opened the envelope. The room went silent. Anastasia felt the "burn" in her chest—not of anxiety, but of total, cold certainty. She looked at Sarah and Beth, who were watching her with tears already forming in their eyes.
Whatever the name in the envelope said, Anastasia Jones had already achieved what she had whispered about years ago: she had made the world look at her sisters and see the architects of a kingdom.
The Jones Firm Ledger (Oscar Night 1988):
Portfolio Value: $132 Million (Driven by Frozen residuals and tech peaks).
New Signings: Jodie Foster & Mary Sadler (100% managed).