Lucas just smiled, shaking his head slightly. "Jennifer, you know me. I've never been about chasing the biggest paycheck or the flashiest role. Whiplash... The way it captures the intensity, the passion, the borderline obsession of pursuing perfection in art - it really speaks to me."
"Sure, the director's new to the scene, but sometimes that fresh perspective is exactly what a story needs. I'd rather take a chance on something I believe in than just coast on my recent success."
Jennifer nodded, trying to understand. "I get it, I do. It's just... you've worked so hard to get where you are. I don't want to see you throw away opportunities."
Lucas reached out, giving her hand a gentle squeeze. "I appreciate you looking out for me, Jennifer. But trust me, this is the right move. Sometimes you've got to follow your gut, you know?"
Jennifer sighed, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah, I know. From the years I've known you, you're quite the dedicated actor. Just... don't be too dedicated that it'll harm your health like, you know, that whole Romeo thing you just pulled."
Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "Don't worry. 'Whiplash' doesn't require me to starve myself or go completely off the deep end."
They chatted for a bit longer, the conversation flowing easily despite their earlier decision. As the party started to wind down, Jennifer's eyes sparkled with renewed excitement about her award.
"I should probably head out," she said, glancing at her Oscar. "I can't wait to show this baby to my parents. Mom's gonna flip!"
Lucas nodded, a warm smile on his face. "They're gonna be so proud. You've earned it."
They shared a brief hug, both aware of the bittersweet nature of their parting.
"Take care of yourself, okay?" Jennifer said softly.
"You too," Lucas replied. "Knock 'em dead with 'Serena'."
As Jennifer headed off, Lucas felt a mix of emotions. Pride for her success, a tinge of sadness at their decision to take a break, but also excitement for what lay ahead.
With a final glance around the party, Lucas decided it was time to head back to New York.
He had a meeting scheduled with Damien Chazelle, the young director of "Whiplash," in a week, and he wanted to be well-prepared.
***
Back in the Big Apple, Lucas found himself juggling his acting career with his growing business empire. He had a series of meetings lined up with the board of Uber, discussing expansion strategies and potential new markets. The ride-sharing company had been growing exponentially, and Lucas wanted to ensure they stayed ahead of the curve.
Next on his agenda was a check-in with his team at Airbnb. They were facing some regulatory challenges in certain cities, and they needed to strategize on how to navigate these hurdles while maintaining the company's rapid growth.
Lucas found himself at Le Bernardin, one of the city's most prestigious restaurants, awaiting his meeting about Uber recent development.
He'd chosen this location not just for its excellent cuisine, but for its private dining areas that ensured discretion.
Lucas was deeply invested in his various business ventures, but one project in particular had his attention lately - the development of the Uber Eats app. This new service aimed to leverage Uber's existing network of drivers to enter the food delivery market, potentially disrupting the industry just as Uber had done with ride-sharing.
After a short wait, a man in his early thirties approached the table. "Mr. Knight?" he asked, extending his hand. "I'm Jason Anderson, lead project manager for Uber Eats."
Lucas stood, shaking Jason's hand firmly. "Please, call me Lucas. It's great to finally meet you in person, Jason."
They exchanged pleasant small talk as they settled into their seats and ordered their meals. Lucas asked about Jason's journey with Uber, and Jason inquired about Lucas's latest film projects.
As their appetizers arrived, Lucas leaned forward slightly, his expression becoming more serious. "So, Jason," he said, "I'm eager to hear about our progress with Uber Eats. How are we looking?"
Jason nodded, reaching for his briefcase. "Of course, I've got all the latest reports right here. I think you'll be pleased with where we're at."
Jason began to lay out various documents on the table.
Then Lucas leaned forward, his eyes scanning the reports eagerly. "So, how's the user interface coming along? I want it to be as intuitive as our ride-sharing app."
Jason pulled up a phone, showing Lucas some mock-ups. "We've kept it familiar for existing Uber users, but added features specific to food ordering. See here, how users can easily browse menus, customize orders, and track their delivery in real-time."
Lucas nodded approvingly. "That's exactly what I had in mind when I pitched this. What about the restaurant side? How are we making it easy for them to manage orders?"
Jason swiped to another screen. "We've developed a simple dashboard for restaurants. They can update menus, manage their availability, and even get analytics on their most popular items."
As they delved deeper into the details, Lucas felt a growing sense of accomplishment. His idea was taking shape, evolving from a concept into a fully-fledged service that could change how people interacted with food delivery.
"And the rollout plan?" Lucas asked, already thinking ahead.
Jason pulled out a timeline. "We're looking at a soft launch in select cities next month, then a gradual expansion. We want to ensure we can handle the volume and work out any kinks before going nationwide."
After wrapping up his meeting with Jason, Lucas decided to head over to Liza's restaurant. He'd brought her in as an investor on the Uber Eats project, knowing her restaurant expertise would be invaluable. Plus, her establishment was serving as one of the test cases for the app.
As Lucas entered the restaurant, heads turned and whispers began. A few brave souls approached, asking for pictures. Lucas obliged with a smile, while Simon and Jack kept a watchful eye on the surroundings, particularly wary of any paparazzi that might be lurking.
Eager to avoid too much attention, Lucas made his way to the reception desk. A new face greeted him, a young woman who seemed a bit star-struck. Blushing, she led him to Liza's office.
The moment Liza saw Lucas, her eyes lit up. She rushed over, enveloping him in a warm hug. "Lucas! My god, I saw those pictures of you circulating, looking like death warmed over. Then boom! There you are at the Oscars, healthy as a horse. How the hell did you transform so fast?"
Lucas chuckled. "What can I say? I've got a great plastic surgeon on speed dial. A little nip here, a tuck there, and voila!"
Liza playfully swatted his arm, laughing. "Oh, shut up. Seriously though, you had me worried there for a while."
Lucas's expression softened. "I know, and I'm sorry about that. But hey, I'm back to my old self now. Ready to take on the world... or at least the food delivery industry."
Liza quickly interjected, "Speaking of food delivery - how's your grand Uber Eats idea coming along? It's been what, a year since you started development? Are you scamming me out of my hard-earned cash?" She raised an eyebrow, her tone playful.
Lucas chuckled, playing along. "Oh, you caught me. I've actually been funneling all the money into my secret underground lair. Got to fund my supervillain lifestyle somehow."
Liza burst out laughing. "I knew it! No wonder you looked so gaunt in those pictures. Clearly the result of your evil scheming."
Their laughter subsided, and Lucas's expression turned more serious. "Joking aside, the app development for the first version is actually complete and ready to go."
Liza's eyes widened, a mix of excitement and nervousness crossing her face. "Phew," she exhaled. "I really hope it'll turn a profit though."
Lucas could see the anxiety behind Liza's eyes. This was her first major business investment outside of her restaurant, and he understood the weight of that decision. He reached out, patting her hand reassuringly.
"Don't worry about its success," he said with a confident smile. "I'm the most followed person on Twitter, after all. If I can't make this work, nobody can."
Liza just chuckled at his confidence, shaking her head in amusement. "Alright, Twitter King. Just don't let it go to your head."
After his meeting with Liza, Lucas headed to meet Damien Chazelle, the young director of "Whiplash."
When Lucas walked into the coffee shop where they'd agreed to meet, he immediately spotted Damien. The young director looked like he was about to jump out of his skin, his leg bouncing nervously under the table.
As Lucas approached, Damien shot to his feet, nearly knocking over his chair in the process. "Mr. Knight! It's an honor to meet you again. I mean, properly this time. Not like at Sundance when you were... um..."
Lucas couldn't help but grin at Damien's nervousness. He held up a hand, cutting off the young director's rambling. "Damien, relax. And please, call me Lucas. We're going to be working together, after all."
Damien nodded, taking a deep breath. "Right, sorry. It's just... you're Lucas Knight. You're kind of a big deal."
Lucas chuckled, sliding into the seat across from Damien. "Look, when we're on set, you're the boss. I'm just there to bring your vision to life. So don't worry about my 'status' or whatever. I'm here because I believe in your script and your talent."
Damien visibly relaxed at Lucas's words, a small smile forming on his face. "Thanks, that means a lot coming from you."