While Demi was arranging interview schedules with various media outlets, Laila returned to the filming location and continued shooting for "Pirates of the Caribbean."
From Louise, she had heard that Faiza was recently conducting an intense casting audition for "Pearl Harbor." Since they had initially aimed for blockbuster success and boldly claimed that it would surpass "Titanic," many aspiring newcomers and established actors had volunteered, hoping to secure a role in this high-profile film.
Laila believed that their rush to start filming was probably an attempt to compete with her and squeeze her film's box office performance. It was somewhat disgusting to see them going to such lengths to overshadow her. Unfortunately, she couldn't change this situation. Delaying her project would be admitting defeat, and that was not an option.
"Pirates of the Caribbean" had been in the planning stages for a long time. It had taken her two years to prepare, starting from sending Roy to learn martial arts, then negotiating with the Golden Island authorities, and finally purchasing the land for the massive filming set. If you included filming and post-production, it had already been nearly three years!
She didn't believe that her pirate film, produced in three years, would be inferior to Faiza's "Pearl Harbor." Since they wanted to compete, let's see who would have the last laugh. The audience's box office receipts would ultimately decide.
"How are you feeling now?" Laila asked as she noticed Roy practicing martial arts with a hint of pain on his face. She furrowed her brows. "If you're not feeling well, you should take a break. I can rearrange the shooting schedule to prioritize scenes that don't require you."
Roy grinned and performed a common bodybuilder pose. "Don't underestimate me, okay? Right now, I can take on whales in the sea."
The doctor had indeed said that he could engage in some light activities without a problem, but the pain wouldn't go away immediately. Luckily, Roy was young; if he were older, he might still be lying in bed recovering.
"Alright, let's finish this scene for now." Regardless of what he said, Laila decided to adjust the shooting schedule. She moved up the scenes that didn't require strenuous physical activity and postponed the fight scenes.
He had been injured for her sake, so no one else had the right to complain. Don't forget, he was currently involved in a rumored romance with her. For the sake of the boss's lover, who would object to his actions?
The crowd that had been protesting outside the filming location had long since disappeared. There was no point in staying, especially since the police were watching them closely. They would seize anyone who seemed suspicious on charges of being an accomplice to the thugs and detain them for 48 hours without further investigation. After 48 hours, if they returned to protest at the entrance again, they would be arrested for another 48 hours.
The sudden display of authority by the police had made the protesters back down. They only wanted to express their opinions, not get themselves into trouble. The previous incident had escalated too much, and because the media had confirmed that Laila wasn't Lesbian, the crowd had gradually dwindled until everyone quietly dispersed.
Upon learning about this, Laila couldn't help but think that if the thugs hadn't attacked, there might still be trouble outside her door. Wasn't this a case of a blessing in disguise?
On her way to work, Laila was unsurprisingly surrounded by reporters once again. She wanted to avoid them, but unfortunately, there wasn't much cover around the filming location, making it impossible to enter discreetly.
"Director Moran, can you confirm the authenticity of your relationship with Roy Seasonstar?"
Laila's eyebrows furrowed as she met the reporters' questions. "If you ask me about my work, I can answer a few questions." Her implication was clear: if they asked about personal matters, she wouldn't answer any other questions either.
However, this time, she underestimated the reporters' persistence or, more accurately, the allure of the rumors surrounding her.
As the topics surrounding her became increasingly prominent, the unofficial embargo that Moran Sr. had secretly imposed on her was gradually losing its effect. Reporting on her could bring in a substantial amount of money, and who would hold a grudge against that?
Furthermore, the previous incident had taught reporters something. Even if they reported that she was a Lesbian, they would only issue an apology. Although they didn't have a powerful boss like Murdoch supporting them, they figured that if they asked ordinary questions, they probably wouldn't face any adverse consequences.
So, even though they couldn't suppress their eagerness, the reporters would stick to her rules. However, when the young reporter looked at her with an irritated expression and balled fists after she rolled up the car window, the other reporters also gave him stern glares.
This was the image Laila deliberately cultivated in front of the reporters. She was well aware that her grandfather's protective measures wouldn't work as her fame continued to grow. So, while it was still effective, she had left an impression among the reporters that as long as they cooperated, they could get the answers they wanted from her.
Now it was time for her to reap the rewards. She believed that someone would teach these newcomers how to correctly obtain the answers they wanted from her.
"BOSS, why didn't you answer their questions just now? Aren't you allowing the rumors to spread?" Demi didn't understand her reasoning. In her opinion, if they were promoting a rumor, why not take the opportunity to provide an answer to the reporters?
Laila, seeing that Demi wanted to learn, didn't mind explaining the nuances to her. "You have to remember that in this world, anything obtained too easily is not worth cherishing. Yes, we do want to promote the rumor, but do you think it will have much impact if it's spread at a time like this?"
"Are you saying that those media outlets will report it?" Demi guessed.
"Exactly. I checked the logos on those reporters just now, and they were all from gossip tabloids. Since they're tabloids, it doesn't matter whether I answered them or not. They can make up something anyway. So, if we want to promote the rumor and maximize its impact, we should do it in a more suitable place."
Demi, seeming to understand but not entirely, asked, "What is a more suitable place? Somewhere where more people can see and hear it?"