Prince blushed when she looked at him and said, "Have you finished shooting? When can we leave?"
"It's finished. I came here to inform you about the party. So, can you leave now?" Laila asked, looking at his red forehead with a strange expression.
"Sure, let's go. What's keeping us?" Prince snorted and got up, heading outside. "Filming a movie for so long made me wait all afternoon."
Laila followed him, somewhat speechless. Who would have thought he would come so early? They had agreed that the party would start after the shoot was over, probably in the evening, right? He came right after lunch, and did he expect to blame someone else?
The group arrived at the parking lot, and everyone got into their cars and headed to the destination.
After each shoot, they would host a party where everyone would get drunk. Working under Laila was quite stressful, and it was essential to let off some steam during such gatherings. Roy had said so, although he vehemently denied it when Laila had asked him about it on one occasion, acting like he knew nothing.
As the crew members set off in a grand procession, several journalists who had been waiting around the amusement park noticed the situation. It wasn't news that Laila's crew would go for a party after each shoot, but seeing so many people moving in a group immediately raised their suspicions. They quickly reported this development to their respective news outlets while following the convoy, hoping to get the latest scoop.
So, by the time they arrived at the party location, the news that "Director Moran's new film is suspected to have completed shooting, and the entire crew is headed for a celebration" had already been disclosed on some news websites.
Laila knew journalists were waiting outside, and that's why she organized such a large group movement. She wanted to use the journalists to spread the news that the film was completed. Leveraging the media to give the movie some exposure was a good move, right?
Most importantly, she wanted Prince and Theron to appear together on camera. She knew that Faiza would be interested in their movements, and she hoped that Faiza would also like her "old vinegar gift package."
To accommodate Al Nadeem, Laila had chosen a high-end club this time. It was a place with a strong emphasis on privacy, which she had contacted through her connections at AmEx. This way, she could ensure that the crew members wouldn't embarrass themselves in front of the journalists while they got intoxicated.
When the crew members arrived at the club's entrance, several journalists who had received the news in advance immediately surrounded them. There was no doubt that the location of the party had been leaked by someone from the crew, and Laila didn't mind them making some "pocket money." The condition was that they only shared what she allowed; otherwise, the next person to talk would be the one with the disobedient mouth.
Today, Laila was one of the hottest directors in Hollywood, and her company was thriving. No one would risk losing their position for a little extra profit.
"Director Moran, is it true that you and your crew are here because the film has already completed shooting?" a journalist asked as soon as Laila stepped out of the car, thrusting a microphone in her direction. His quick action left other journalists trailing behind and cursing under their breaths.
Laila put on a surprised expression and said, "Your information is really fast. You even know about this place. Who told you?"
The journalist chuckled mysteriously, pushing up his glasses with a hint of pride. "We have our ways. But can you answer my question?"
Not far away, Jia Xiaoming, who was still in the car, couldn't help but wipe his sweat when he saw Laila teasing the journalist. He had seen her instructing the crew to leak information to the journalists to earn some "hush money," and now she was acting like she had no idea. She was really cunning!
Laila pretended to be helpless and said, "Actually, there's no need to keep it a secret. We indeed just finished shooting."
"Can you reveal the name of the new movie? I'm sure many people are eager to know," the journalist asked.
Laila hesitated for a moment and then smiled, "Well, since you've been so concerned about us, I'll tell you. But promise me, I'll answer your question, and then you'll let me go and entertain my friends, alright?"
"Your friends?" The journalist detected something unusual in her words. If it were crew members or actors, she wouldn't have used the word "entertain." So, the people she wanted to "entertain" were worth investigating—were they investors, advertisers, future collaborators, or perhaps... her boyfriend?
Laila didn't reply, and Al Nadeem had already stepped out of the luxury car under the protection of his bodyguards. His white, exotic robe stood out among the sea of black-suited bodyguards, making him impossible to ignore.
A foreigner? And dressed in Arabic attire? The journalists became excited; this was the rhythm of a big news story! They hadn't forgotten that the movie "The 13th Warrior" had become a multi-million-dollar production thanks to an investment from an Arab businessman.
Was Moran finally venturing into big-budget productions as well?
"Director Moran, is that person your friend? Can you tell us about his identity?" The journalist urgently shouted.
Laila gave a slight smile and said, "I'm afraid I can't reveal that information right now. However, I believe with your abilities, you'll find out soon enough. Sorry, I have to go and entertain my friends."
She walked past the journalist toward Al Nadeem, and the journalists attempted to get closer but were blocked by the stern-looking bodyguards.
There were only five or six journalists who had arrived, and they couldn't compete with the large number of bodyguards. They could only watch as Laila and the others were surrounded and entered the club.
"Laila, why are you attending the party this time?" Roy, who knew that she never attended post-shoot celebrations, couldn't help but glance at Al Nadeem walking ahead. "It's not because of him, is it? And how come you brought this unrelated person with you?"
Laila looked at Al Nadeem and Theron, her eyes narrowed with a smile. "Well, Prince did send his bodyguards to help us, so how can I not acknowledge it? It's only fair."
Roy knew that something was fishy with her! Her laughter and smile gave it away, and he knew there was definitely something more to this. He didn't know what it was, but one thing was clear: Prince's presence here would undoubtedly bring her significant benefits.