Lucas flagged down a taxi and directed the driver to the Commerce Casino, where he knew Neil would be. As the cab pulled up to the glitzy establishment, Lucas took a deep breath and exited the vehicle. He strode confidently through the flashing lights and throngs of people.
After a quick ID check at the entrance, the bouncer waved him through, allowing him into the buzzing casino floor. His eyes scanned the sea of faces, slot machines, and card tables until they landed on Neil, seated at a high-stakes poker table with eight other players. Lucas's jaw clenched when he recognized one of the players as none other than Bruno Mars, the rising star of the music industry.
Lucas approached the table, trying to remain inconspicuous. Most of the players were too engrossed in the game to notice him, but a few heads turned, eyebrows raising in recognition. He stood behind Neil, watching the game intently, his frown deepening with each hand dealt.
As Lucas watched Neil play poker, he noticed a few faces in the crowd who recognized him. A man in a sharp suit approached him first. "Are you Lucas Knight?"
Lucas nodded, trying to remain inconspicuous.
A young woman with stars in her eyes soon followed. "What are you doing here, Lucas?" she squealed.
Another woman, this one with a seductive smile, sauntered up to him. "Want some company? I can show you how to have a good time."
"Uh, thanks, but no thanks," Lucas politely declined. "I'm just waiting for my friend to finish his game. I'm not much of a gambler, I'm afraid."
The blonde lady pouted. "Aw, that's too bad."
The redhead next to her sighed dramatically. "I was hoping to play some games with a rising Hollywood hottie."
Lucas blushed and chuckled nervously. "Sorry to disappoint you ladies, but I'm here on business tonight. Raincheck?"
The women giggled and wandered off, leaving Lucas to continue observing the poker game.
As Lucas tried to shoo away the admiring fans, Neil finally caught his eye and mouthed, "I'm almost done."
Lucas sighed. "Hurry up."
"I'm on it," Neil mouthed back, focusing on the game again.
Meanwhile, Peter, better known as Bruno Mars, also noticed the commotion.
Recognition dawned on his face as he realized the blond young man was none other than Lucas Knight, a rising star in both acting and music.
Finally, the round of poker ended, and Neil stood up, citing that he had something important to attend to. The other players grumbled, but when Peter also pushed his chair back, they were visibly disappointed. After all, Peter was on a losing streak.
Lucas breathed a sigh of relief as the game wrapped up, and he prepared to leave with Neil. However, just as they were about to exit the casino, someone called out to them.
"Hey! I recognize you! You're Lucas Knight, right?" Peter said, extending his hand for a handshake.
Lucas stopped in his tracks, surprised that the one and only Bruno Mars had made an effort to catch up to him. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Bruno. I'm a big fan of your work, by the way."
"Thanks, man," Peter said, grinning. "Just call me Peter, though. I've been meaning to tell you, your performance at the Grammys was insane. Been wanting to meet you since then, but you know how it is."
"I know what you mean," Lucas chuckled, accepting the compliment. "Your music's pretty great too."
Peter smiled, clearly flattered by the praise. "Listen, I know this might be forward, but I'd love to collaborate with you sometime. I've got a few ideas brewing, and I think your voice would be perfect for them." He reached into his pocket and handed Lucas a business card. "Give me a call if you're ever interested. No pressure, though."
Lucas took the card, his heart proud. "Thanks, Bruno… I mean, Mars… I mean—"
Peter laughed. "Peter's fine, trust me. And hey, no rush. Just let me know if you're ever up for it."
"Will do," Lucas said, tuckting the card away. "Nice meeting you, Peter."
"You too, Lucas. See you around!" Peter waved as he disappeared back into the sea of people.
As Bruno Mars disappeared back into the crowd, Neil clapped Lucas on the shoulder. "See? I told you coming here would be worth it. My instincts never fail me."
Lucas chuckled. "You mean to tell me you planned this whole thing?"
Neil grinned. "Well, I can't take all the credit, but I did have a hunch that meeting someone like Bruno could be good for your career. And look, my hunch was right on the money."
"I guess you were right this time," Lucas admitted, still in disbelief.
"I know, I know," Neil said with a wink. "But seriously, this could be a big opportunity for your music career. You should think about his offer."
Lucas fell silent, "Yeah, I mean, he is a global superstar. I'm just… me."
Neil chuckled and patted him on the back. "Don't sell yourself short, kid. You're already a big deal here in the States, and it's only a matter of time before the rest of the world catches on. Trust me."
"We'll see about that," Lucas said, still unsure. "Speaking of work, we have that meeting at Lionsgate Studios tomorrow, right? To discuss the song placements for 'The Hunger Games'?"
"I know, I know," Neil said, rolling his eyes playfully. "You're going to add more of your vocals to another film. I can't wait to hear what you've come up with this time."
Lucas grinned. "You'll have to wait and see, Neil. Even I haven't recorded it yet."
"You're hopeless," Neil laughed, shaking his head. "Alright, let's get some rest. Tomorrow's going to be a long day."
---
The next day, Lucas and Neil arrived bright and early at Lionsgate Studios. They were ushered into a sleek conference room where they met with the sound department and producers of 'The Hunger Games'. Neil wasted no time discussing the contract details and pushing for a better deal for Lucas's song placements. However, the producers were hesitant to budge until they heard the songs firsthand.
Lucas, feeling the weight of expectations on his shoulders, went into the recording booth and poured his heart into the tracks. Hours later, he emerged, nervous but satisfied with his work.
The producers gathered around the mixing board, donning their headphones. As the first note played, their eyes widened in surprise. By the end of the first song, they were nodding along, and by the time the second one finished, they were grinning from ear to ear.
"These are… outstanding," one of the producers said, shaking Lucas's hand. "We'll have our people draft a new contract tonight. Consider it done."
The next day, Neil reviewed the revised contract and while it wasn't exactly what he had hoped for, it was a significant improvement from the initial offer.
After a quick negotiation, they agreed on the terms, and Lucas signed on the dotted line.
With their business at Lionsgate Studios wrapped up, the duo returned to their hotel. Neil couldn't wait to discuss the other offers pouring in for Lucas.
"You've got some great opportunities lined up, kid," Neil said, flopping onto the couch. "I've got offers for endorsements, cameos, and even a few movie scripts."
Lucas collapsed onto the bed, exhausted but elated.
"What kind of offers?" Lucas asked, his curiosity piqued.
Neil's grin widened. "We've got endorsement deals from Gucci, H&M, Calvin Klein, Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Apple, and Samsung, just to name a few. They're all offering either a flat fee or royalties, your choice. Of course, you can only choose one brand per sector, so no mixing Pepsi and Coke or Apple and Samsung."
Lucas frowned, weighing his options. "I know how exclusivity works, Neil. But thanks for the offers. What about acting projects? Anything juicy there?"
Lucas listened intently as Neil listed the indie film offers he had managed to secure for him, including "Silver Linings Playbook" and "The Perks of Being a Wallflower", along with a few more titles that Lucas wasn't familiar with. He recognized "Silver Linings Playbook" as the film that had earned Jennifer Lawrence her first Oscar, and recalled that "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" was about an introverted, socially awkward, and depressed young man named Charlie.
These two films, he thought, seemed right up his alley, given his acting in emotionally charged roles like the one in "50/50". While Adam, the character in "50/50", was dealing with a life-threatening cancer that affected him physically, emotionally, and mentally, the new offers seemed to focus more on mental health struggles. Although the characters in these indie films didn't have cancer, their deteriorating mental states posed a similar threat to their well-being.
Lucas's eyes took on a melancholy hue as he thought about the two films that dealt with mental health issues. Neil noticed the change in his friend's demeanor and decided to break his contemplation, "So... What do you think?"
Lucas snapped out of his thoughts and said, "Tell me about the offers for the big budget films."
Neil nodded and began listing the projects with larger budgets. However, Lucas's mind was elsewhere, still pondering over the two films that had left an impact on him. Once Neil finished, Lucas sighed and said, "Alright. Since the projects I'm interested in aren't starting anytime soon, I'm taking a break."
Neil was taken aback, not expecting Lucas, who was usually a workaholic, to take time off. Little did he know that Lucas had come to realize that even with the help of his cheat "Mind Workshop" which increased his acting skills and abilities, it didn't mean he was immune to the toll of overworking himself.
Lucas stood up, signaling the end of their meeting, "I'll let you know when I'm ready to dive back into work. Until then, I need some time for myself."
Neil reluctantly agreed, understanding the importance of self-care, "Alright, Lucas. Take all the time you need. Your well-being comes first."
As Lucas walked away, Neil couldn't help but feel a sense of pride in his client's growth. It was about time Lucas prioritized his mental health over his career, no matter how successful he had become.