Ian and DiCaprio sat face to face in the latter's restaurant.
"Why are you following me? What is it?" DiCaprio asked with much interest.
Ian took a moment to see how he was. His beard was fully grown. The facial features were the same but there was something that looked slightly different than Ian remembered him in his previous world.
With one look, Ian couldn't point out what was that change. But for him, what was happening was truly uncanny.
He had met actors from his previous world living a new life here before, but this was quite different.
"As you know, I'm a director."
"A very famous one at that. But the director, trust me, I haven't been able to watch a movie for two years with the restaurant. My entire day goes by with my cooking here, then going home and resting."
Ian smiled at that. Leonardo DiCaprio—the chef. Who'd have thought?
"Yes, I get you. But don't you want to take a break from all this hard work-"
"I love what I do, sir. My restaurant, my life, and my food. I love it here."
Ian nodded.
"I'm not asking anything out of your comfort zone. Don't worry. But I've something for you. In acting. There's a role I think you're very fit for. And if you haven't heard, try asking the waiters about what happened to the actors who came to work with me, even though some didn't even know the ABCs."
DiCaprio smiled.
"This is Los Angeles. Hollywood. Everyone is an actor, in one way or another. I've done three plays myself just to find what my passion truly is. And sir, if you've anything else other than trying to drag me to acting again, you can leave. Or unless you want to order some more?"
Ian smiled back. This time, his words came out with the same authority Leonardo replied with.
"I'm sure this restaurant would go to places with some fame, some media influence, and some more customers. This is already a busy place, but so are the two-three restaurants outside…" Ian stood up. "If you still want to talk, contact my assistant."
Ian handed him his card and walked out.
-
[Renner Studio]
Their usual conference room was filled with tense air. Raelynn, Niko, and Martin were feeling as if the world would turn upside down if Ian got there as they were expecting.
"I can't just believe it! These people have no shame, literally!" Niko said aloud for the three of them to hear.
"I'll try my best to talk with the PR and turn some of these down."
"No, don't," Raelynn said quickly. "Wait till Ian gets here. I'm sure he must have something to say."
As soon as she said it, the door opened and Ian walked in, wearing a grey suit, charming as usual.
"There's something you've to see."
Niko turned the laptop so that Ian could finally see what they looked worried about.
He read the letters.
@Lincoln Studio ✔
Something exciting is coming with @Ian Renner and @Renner Studio. Await! #excited #thrilled #new #collab
Ian frowned at what he just read.
"What are we going to do?" Rae asked, reading everyone else's thoughts.
'I can't believe they used the same trick Goofy did. Something has got to stop' Ian thought to himself.
"Arrange a meeting as soon as possible. Get John to be there too. I've got something in mind."
As soon as Ian said that, everyone in the office walked out. They were all inside Ian's office. Raelynn stayed behind.
"Did you talk to that guy today? The one you wanted to meet so badly?"
"Yeah, I did. Funny enough, he's not French. Nor wants to accept my proposal. But I have got a feeling that he'd come around. I'm sure one thing I said stuck with him."
-
[Lincoln Studio]
"...Are you sure Ian wants to meet us?" Will asked loudly from Gar.
Gar nodded.
Will sighed. "Let's go meet him then. And, what a wonderful idea you had! It worked! And now this collab rumour is spreading all over Nwitter. This is popularity our last project didn't even get!"
Gar felt a pinch in his gut. He wasn't someone who loved doing ethically wrong things—even when Hollywood is a place where such many things happen daily.
"That's what Goofy did too. And you see, Goofy and Ian partnered and did Avatar. And that's a fucking masterpiece. The VFX was top-notch. Avatar was something that we've never had for as long as I can remember. It surely gave high standards for animated movies."
"Stop praising him. And was the board happy with the news?"
Will didn't attend board meetings for weeks knowing that no one wanted him there either way.
"Yeah, they were surprised. I hope this works. If not, you're not the only one who's going home."
-
[At Caprio J' Adore]
Leonardo DiCaprio sat on a small chair that faced the busy street. It was his favourite spot to just blankly stare at the road—busy road.
People aimlessly walked down the street. Some were smiling, some were emotionless, but some others had their feelings expressed. Every day after working back to back in the kitchen, this scenery kept him going.
But today, there was something else that kept him curious and busy. Something that madman said—Ian, was his name.
'If you want to talk. Contact my assistant
With a sigh, he realised how true his words were. The competition between the bakeries and the restaurants around him was crazy.
He knew that there was something that he had to think about when he was at home. One way or another, he wanted to end his endless thoughts about the director.
On the other hand, he had acted before and he loved it. Maybe more than he could admit. But he knew he couldn't make a career out of it, which made him focus more on his cooking.
He sighed again and stood up to close the restaurant.
'What a weird day'.
-
[A week later]
Ian silently sat in front of his computer, typing a script that he thought would be very much needed soon enough.
"They are here, Ian."
Murphy's voice came through the intercom.
"Yes, send them in."
After two minutes, Will and Gar walked through the door.
Ian was feeling mixed emotions seeing them together, walking inside his office door. Things weren't supposed to go like this. But alas, what he thought had changed.
"Please, have a seat, you both."
"Nice to see you too, Ian."
Will said instantly, and Gar smiled.
Ian raised his eyebrows. "So? What is it, now? To collaborate, do we just rumour things around? How is it professional?" he asked, calmly.
Gar felt as if it was a little too freaky considering how serious the situation was. For the last seven days, the buzz went around massively. It was a similar situation whenever something was going on with Renner Studio, but this time, it was a lot more. Some reporters questioned Ian about it, from time to time. Multiple calls per day for the Renner Studio asking about what was going to happen, or if it is true.
People were already excited and wanted to know what would happen in the future if they were going to collaborate, what sort of a movie or series they'd begin, or even if it was a franchise that'd undertake Hollywood.
"Goofy did the same thing, Ian. You disclosed it to the public at an interview. Everyone was talking about it. So we figured why not for us too? Is that a problem?" Will asked back.
Ian smiled and nodded. "I have no idea why you still can't see the problem. But you know what, if everyone thinks that we're going to collaborate, let's give them a collab."
Will felt as if he didn't hear what Ian just said properly. He coughed. "Wait, what?"
"Yes, I realised, why not make your dreams come true? Let's collaborate... But under several conditions."
Gar was surprised and shocked at the same time. He looked at Will and back at Ian.
"Let's hear them."
Ian pressed the intercom.
"Murphy, ask John to come inside."
Will and Gar both stayed quiet as John walked into the office, and sat beside Will.
"He's going to co-direct the movie."
Gar nodded and replied, "Done."
"And, you'd sell your shares of your OTT platform."
Gar's eyes raised.
"No," Will replied immediately.
Ian 'tsked', "Well then, we've no business here."
The room temperature increased by a few degrees as Ian chose to speak again. "We both know how important this collaboration is to you. The board of Lincoln Studio will fire both of you if the collab didn't go through. So, this is your chance. Take it or leave it."
A defeated look clouded the eyes of both Will and Gar.
What came out of Will's mouth next made Ian think that this was easier than he thought.
"Let's do it."
-
A/N; VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!
Read advanced chapters in -Patreon.com/TC_L