"..." The reporters had been teased by her many times before. Every time she appeared, they were left dumbfounded. In her presence, they, who were usually eloquent, became speechless. They wondered why their outstanding rhetorical skills failed them when facing her.
If it were a regular director or actor, they would have left impatiently long ago. With their inherent charm, they could easily boost their fame through rumors, and many people were willing to pay a hefty sum for their praise.
However, she was different. Even though they didn't enjoy being toyed with by her, they had to endure her teasing every time they encountered her. After all, the public loved news about her. Even a strand of her hair could boost circulation if it appeared in the newspapers.
It was precisely because of this frustration that, whenever there was unfavorable news about her, they would try their best to tarnish her image. On one hand, it increased sales and viewership, and on the other, they hoped to see her distressed by their actions.
Unfortunately for them, she had a media conglomerate backing her, not to mention the media mogul, Oswald Moran. If it weren't for this old man keeping them in check, they would have splashed tons of dirt on her a long time ago.
Of course, this was just the sentiment of some paparazzi. Some reporters still had a favorable impression of her. As for being toyed with by her, they didn't mind. Reporting on her interactions with journalists as a source of entertainment could also be a hit with the public.
Seeing that no one was speaking below, Laila smiled slightly. "Since you all made the effort to come here, I can answer some questions. But can we please do it one by one?"
This was another reason why reporters liked her. As long as they followed her rules, she would always give them some benefits.
"Okay." "No problem." "Let's get started!"
The reporters immediately agreed to her proposal.
"Good. Each person can only ask one question. Let's start with the gentleman in the white jacket." After scanning the room, Laila picked a reporter who looked the most presentable. As a visual creature herself, she couldn't help but incorporate aesthetics into her life.
This also set the stage for a future Hollywood rumor: when interviewing Laila, reporters had to be handsome or beautiful, and while age might not be that important, they had to be visually appealing. Otherwise, they would find it difficult to be selected for a chance to ask questions and would have to sadly blend into the crowd, recording the questions asked by others. This had nothing to do with any unwritten rules; it was purely her preference.
But that's a story for another time.
For now, let's focus on the reporter who had been selected. He eagerly asked, "Laila, can you tell us why you were arrested and taken to the police station?"
Laila shrugged. "I encountered a group of troublemakers from the street racing gang while at the coffee shop. There was a little chaos, and when the police arrived, they brought everyone in."
This response disappointed the reporters. They had hoped to hear that she had been arrested for drug use or theft, or some other crime that should never be associated with her!
From her words, it seemed like she had been caught up in the chaos. The public's interest in such topics would not last long, and they didn't have much to work with.
The second reporter to be chosen asked, "Laila, did you visit a coffee shop frequented by the street racing gang?"
This was a good starting point, and the other reporters applauded his question. It was well-known that street racers liked to gather at specific places and rarely roamed elsewhere. If you could casually have a coffee and run into a group of street racers, it would be quite unfortunate, wouldn't it?
Laila shook her head. "No, it's a fantastic coffee shop that doesn't serve any alcoholic beverages. It's a paradise for comic book lovers, and only young people who enjoy comics go there."
"Comic books? Is Laila Moran interested in comic books?"
This was a question that could lead to various topics. It was clear that the reporters who came here were experienced and didn't make rookie mistakes.
"Yes, I like comic books with superheroes," Laila admitted readily, setting the stage for future discussions.
"Will you consider directing movies about superheroes in the future? Like Superman and Batman?"
Laila pondered for a moment. "If the opportunity arises, I might want to give it a try. I believe many people, like me, get excited when they see superheroes on the big screen and witness their various abilities. Unfortunately, I have too many films I want to make at the moment, so it might not happen for a few years."
Her words stirred up excitement among the reporters, and headlines like "Laila Moran Announces Plans to Direct Superhero Film in the Future" started forming in their minds. They already knew what to write to captivate entertainment-loving readers the next day.
But what truly shocked them was when one reporter asked, "Why did you spend so much time in the police station?" Laila's response left everyone stunned and completely amazed.
"It was because, in the interrogation room, I negotiated a deal with a Mr. Victor. He believed I could use the coffee shop and a few thousand dollars to resolve the trouble I got into."
The amount of information in that sentence was mind-boggling!
Not only were the reporters excited, but the TV viewers watching the live broadcast were also in a frenzy.
Doing business in the interrogation room? Wasn't that supposed to be a place for interrogating criminals? Why would someone negotiate a deal there? Who was this Victor person, and how could he be so powerful that he could help Laila Moran resolve her issues for just a coffee shop and a few thousand dollars? Well, how much could these two things add up to anyway? It probably wouldn't even cover the cost of one of Laila's outfits!
Wait a minute, they seemed to have forgotten the most important thing! Who was Victor?
"Who is Victor?" the reporters asked in confusion. They were stunned. With so many people named Victor, they had thought of every influential Victor possible, but they couldn't imagine a Victor who could help the Moran family for the price of a coffee shop and a few thousand dollars.
Amid the chaos outside, the police chief upstairs was losing his mind.
"You two idiots actually let her go? Do you not know who's waiting outside?"
The two officers, who dared not lift their heads, wore grim expressions. "Her lawyer arrived, and we didn't have any excuses to keep her!"
Then why did you arrest her in the first place? The director's foul language almost broke out. If it weren't for the sake of maintaining his image, he would have scolded these two idiots until they lost the confidence to survive.