This was already Laila's second visit to the police station. The first time was due to the street racing gang and the incident at the coffee shop, which "invited" her here. It was during that time that she got to know the police chief, and while filming "Iron Man," she asked him to connect her with his big brother in the military. This led to a deal where she borrowed the latest military weapons and equipment.
So this time, after her lawyer arranged for bail, she walked straight into the police chief's office.
The police chief wasn't surprised to see Laila. If she brought heavyweight actors, how could the behind-the-scenes boss not appear? If she hadn't shown up, it would mean Downey hadn't reached a level of importance worth paying attention to.
But that was impossible. The movie, with a budget of one or two hundred million dollars, had just been handed over to Downey as the lead. It was evident how much effort their company had invested in him.
"What exactly happened? Is he okay?" Laila asked the questions she wanted to know as soon as she entered the police chief's office.
The police chief gestured for her to sit down and said, "From what I know, Downey got into a fight with someone and sent the other person to the hospital."
"Just a fight?" It wasn't as bad as she had imagined, and Laila's tense nerves relaxed a bit. Who knew how afraid she was that he had gone back to using those prohibited substances? If it was just a fight, she could spin a news blitz to clean up the situation. It shouldn't be too bad.
The police chief stared at her. "Just a fight? Do you know whom he fought?"
"Someone powerful?"
"More precisely, someone troublesome." The police chief shook his head and mentioned a name.
Surprisingly, Laila recognized the name, having heard it in conversations and even seen him a few times at parties. However, their families had no connection, so there wasn't much interaction between them.
"How did he end up mixed up with that person?" She couldn't help muttering.
That person could indeed be described as "troublesome." His family was in the retail business and owned several supermarkets in the country. Additionally, they had other industries that could rank among the top 100 in the United States.
This guy's family was wealthy, but due to being nouveau riche, their manners didn't quite match their money-making abilities. Not all nouveau riches were vulgar, but this family was somewhat peculiar, attracting a lot of dislike.
During the parties she attended with her family, she often overheard people gossiping about their manners, attire, and some unsavory things they did. They even discussed the "misbehavior" of the son and some things that weren't respectable.
At the time, she didn't pay much attention to this person, mainly because she considered herself a director with no intersection with such people. Who would have thought they would collide now?
Fortunately, they had met before, exchanged greetings, and even though there wasn't much connection, they could exchange a few words. While a fight was a big deal, it depended on how the parties involved handled it. If they could reconcile, it might be possible to downplay the incident.
The police chief saw her thoughts, "If you think reconciliation can solve the problem, I advise you not to waste your efforts. He has already made it clear that no matter who intervenes, he will make sure Downey goes to jail."
Laila frowned, "Was the fight severe?"
The police chief smiled and shook his head, "You can tell it's not severe if you understand those dandies. For them, hurting their pride is more unbearable than physical injuries. By tomorrow morning at the latest, everyone will know Downey sent him to the hospital. Do you think he will forgive him?"
Laila understood his meaning; the guy Downey beat up was a scoundrel. No matter the cost, he wanted his man in jail, and it wasn't possible to downplay the situation as she had hoped.
Even knowing this, she still wanted to give it a try. After all, the movie's publicity was already in full swing. If Downey were charged, it would have a significant impact on her and the film. By then, even breaking would require thanking the heavens.
Imagine who would want to see someone with a pending case playing a superhero? Especially comic book fans would surely be at the forefront of protests, thinking Laila had chosen a lousy candidate and insulted their superhero.
So, even if it cost her a little extra, Laila wanted to keep this case in its infancy. Even if she couldn't silence the paparazzi, it would be best if she could, like last time with Roy's fight, dress it up as a friend's dispute.
Seeing that she had made up her mind, the police chief didn't try to persuade her further. After all, she would come back when she hit a wall.
Exiting the police chief's office, she saw Roy waiting outside. It reminded Laila that he was also here waiting for updates.
"Any new information?" She walked towards him.
"None. I still can't see Downey. The police say they're still investigating and won't disclose any information." Roy scratched his head in frustration, "In theory, Downey shouldn't randomly pick a fight. Try to meet him, I think there might be some misunderstanding."
Laila sighed, suppressing the irritation rising in her heart, "Regardless of whether it was for a reason or not, fighting is wrong. He should know he's a public figure and the upcoming lead actor in a movie. No matter how others treat him, he should endure it, shouldn't he?"
Roy really didn't know how to refute her words.
Setting aside everything else, they were actors. Shortly, they would be vying for the summer season with a heavily invested film. Even if they encountered significant issues, they needed to find a way to suppress them. If every actor acted like this before a premiere, who would be willing to hire them for a film?
Understanding was one thing, but it was clear Downey did something he shouldn't have. Whether it was just a friendship or it involved Laila's company, he had to get things clear. Regardless of whose side she stood on, it was essential to understand the situation first and then figure out how to resolve it.
"I still think it's better to get things clear first. I believe in Downey. Since he promised not to repeat his past mistakes, he will surely keep his word. You've seen it yourself; he's serious and hardworking when filming, right?"
Laila nodded with a furrowed brow, admitting that Roy had convinced her somewhat. During the filming of "Iron Man," she saw Downey's dedication. In many scenes that required a stunt double, he would rather risk injuries for the sake of the final effect, even the most miserable being when he fell from a height and hit a wall, resulting in a fractured arm, a nosebleed that lasted a long time, and only after being treated at the hospital was he able to continue.