"Link, you've worked hard!"
Simon Curtis, dressed in a suit, stood by the car door downstairs at HBO, opened the door, and smiled.
"You too."
Link got into the car, pulled off his tie, and exhaled.
In recent days, he and Simon had been running around, constantly participating in TV shows, accepting media interviews, and being urged by brands to shoot five commercials. It was indeed quite tiring.
However, in the days since the Olympics ended, his account had also increased by $3.5 million in advertising endorsements and appearance fees, plus more than $1 million in rewards from the Sports Commission and the Boxing Association. One Olympic Games had earned him nearly $5 million.
This money did not belong to the competition's peripheral income. According to the contract signed earlier, Dynasty Promotion could not participate in the distribution, and only Franco and Simon could receive a commission as agents.
"Hey, Link, are you interested in fighting me?"
Just as the car was about to start, a red Ferrari F50 convertible stopped beside them, and Tyson shouted at Link.
Link glanced at the car. "Mike, are you planning a comeback?"
"Yeah, I have that plan, but it's not easy to find a suitable opponent. Your fame and strength are good, how about we fight? Our match will definitely attract a lot of people."
Tyson tilted his head and asked.
Link thought to himself, this guy must be really short of money to come andè¹ the popularity of his world championship. However, Tyson's proposal was not bad. Although he had retired, his fame in boxing was still unmatched. Competing with him, the income should be considerable.
"No problem, you can have your agent contact Dynasty Promotion. After both sides negotiate, we can have the match anytime."
"Haha, it's settled then."
Tyson waved his fist at him and drove away.
Link smiled slightly, also having to admire that a skinny camel was bigger than a horse. The news said that Tyson had been bankrupt for many years, owing tens of millions of dollars, but that limited edition F50 was worth more than 2 million dollars. Although he could afford it, he was reluctant to spend so much money on a car.
"Simon, if Tyson contacts us, accept the match. Fighting Tyson is also my dream. I want to fight him before he gets old."
"Okay!"
Simon nodded and took out his phone to write it down.
The car drove south from Burbank, the "media capital of the world" in northern Los Angeles, for more than half an hour to reach the White Oak Apartments on Bird Street near Hollywood Boulevard. Link stretched and got out of the car, bought a bouquet of red cosmos from a flower shop on the roadside, and knocked on Gal Gadot's door.
Before coming, he had texted Gal, and she said she was at home reading the script. He rang the doorbell twice.
Hearing footsteps from inside, Gal immediately opened the door with a bright smile on her face.
She still had her chestnut brown hair loose, bare feet, and was wearing a white tank top and black yoga pants, with a headband on her forehead. She still looked tall and fit.
"Gal, this is for you."
"Thank you!"
Gal smiled and took the bouquet, saying, "Why did you think of buying me flowers?"
"I thought you would like them."
Link smiled.
"Yes, they're beautiful, I love them."
Gal smiled and kissed him, pulling him inside.
Back in the living room, Gal pulled out the wilting tulips and put them in the trash can, then put the cosmos in.
Link leaned against the counter, watching her walk around the living room, her slim waist, perky buttocks, and long legs. She wasn't clingy or pretentious, and was indeed a very good girl. This was why Link came back to her after arriving in Los Angeles.
"How did the movie audition go?"
Link took off his jacket and hung it on the rack.
"Not so good. I'm tall and have a strong temperament, which doesn't fit the aesthetics of Hollywood directors. I failed both auditions."
Gal came out of the kitchen with a glass of pomegranate juice and fruit pudding, placed them on the wooden table, and invited him to try the pudding she made.
Link tried a piece. It was ice cream kiwi pudding, sweet, tender, and smooth, melting in the mouth. It tasted very good. "You're like Charlize Theron or Angelina Jolie, suitable for playing strong female leads and action roles."
Gal sat cross-legged on the carpet and laughed, "Right now, I just want to get a supporting role to pass the boring time. A leading role is too far away for me."
Link thought for a moment. "Wonder Woman" was still a few years away, and he wasn't sure what roles were suitable for Gal at this stage. But he could ask Franco to inquire. Franco had said that he had connections in the entertainment industry and could help if she wanted to act in movies.
"Don't be discouraged, there are many opportunities."
"I know. Forget about me, how's your work going? Recently, your interviews and commercials have been everywhere on TV."
Gal squeezed his arm and said.
"The interviews and commercials are done. There are only a few days of filming left for 'Into the Blue 2.' If I had known there would be so much work, I wouldn't have taken this role."
Link leaned on the sofa and said.
"Others want roles but don't have the opportunity, but you think there are too many. You've really become a big star."
Gal teased.
Link chuckled, put his arm around her waist, and remembered something. "HBO is having a reception at the Beverly Hilton tonight. Do you have time to attend with me?"
"Yes!"
Gal agreed without hesitation and gave him a passionate kiss.
The living room was filled with spring scenery, and the cosmos in the vase bloomed even more brightly.
---
"Scene 62, take 2, second time!"
"Action!"
On the set of "Into the Blue 2" at Universal Studios in Los Angeles, Link stood in a studio filled with crew members. Three cameras were pointed at him, surrounded by lights and microphones. The temperature inside was high.
Link looked at the male lead opposite him and said, "Dude, I have no ill intentions. I just want to cooperate with you once. I'll provide the yacht and salvage equipment. How about we work together to salvage the treasure that fell into the seabed?"
"Sorry, I don't know anything about any treasure."
The actor playing opposite him was a handsome brown-haired man with a broad face named Chris Carmack. He was a model, 185 cm tall, and had acted in "The O.C." and played a vase role in "Just My Luck." His acting skills were average.
"Dude, do you want to keep it all for yourself? That's not a good idea."
Link said, grabbing the male lead's arm.
The male lead turned around and gave him a cool look.
Link let go of his hand and took a step back, indicating that he had no ill intentions.
"Cut!"
"Link, well done, you're a great actor."
After filming a scene, director Stephen Herek took off his headphones and led the applause, and the other staff members also applauded and cheered.
Link waved his hand in thanks, walked behind Stephen, and watched the clip he had just acted in. There was really no acting to speak of, and the opponent's acting was also stiff, completely undeserving of the applause just now.
He sat next to Stephen and said, "Stephen, are you sure this is okay? I heard that other directors, even when working with Oscar-winning actors, will shoot multiple takes, but for me, a newcomer, only two takes are enough?"
Stephen laughed, "It's okay, Link. This is a commercial film, it doesn't require too much acting."
"Are you sure?"
Link regretted taking this role a little. From the script to the lines, to the actors he was working with, and then to the director's attitude, this movie didn't look like it could be a big hit, let alone be nominated for an Oscar. Acting in this kind of movie seemed to be of no help except to consume his own popularity.
Stephen seemed to see his hesitation and smiled, "Link, do you know the barrel principle?"
Link nodded but didn't quite understand what he meant.
"Making a movie is the opposite of the barrel principle. The amount of water a barrel can hold is not determined by the longest or shortest plank, but by the shortest one. If I'm strict with you, I have to raise the requirements for other actors as well, so that their acting doesn't seem inferior.
If this were an art film, I would require every actor to be in place, and even ask for a replacement. But this is a commercial film, the main selling points are sunshine, beaches, handsome men and beautiful women, action scenes, and adventure, not acting. As long as your performances are not too stiff and awkward, it's basically fine."
Stephen explained.
Link understood what he meant. It meant that both he and the other actors in the crew had average acting skills, so he couldn't be too demanding of them.
If he was too demanding, he would need to replace the actors, but the male and female leads were appointed by the producers, and the director had no right to replace them. Stephen was also in a difficult position, so they all decided to just go with the flow.
Link understood but couldn't agree because it would waste his time and damage his popularity, with no benefit other than earning some money, and he didn't lack money.
"Stephen, this is my first role with lines. I hope you can be stricter with me because I am really interested in acting."
"Haha, no problem. From now on, I will judge your acting skills by the standards of a third-rate actor. If you can't pass, I will ask for a retake. How about that?"
Stephen laughed.
"OK!"
Link made a gesture.
In the subsequent performances, Stephen did become stricter with him, constantly correcting his lines, expressions, and body language. Sometimes he would even personally teach him how to act.
Stephen had directed "Mr. Holland's Opus," which was nominated for Best Actor at the 1996 Academy Awards, so he did have some ability in directing actors.
After eight days of filming on set, it felt more tiring than boxing training, but the gains were also great. At least he knew how to position himself, how to face the camera to make himself look more handsome, and how to deal with the male lead's scene-stealing and the female lead's flirting.
Unlike in "Fast & Furious 4," where he only learned how to pose in front of the camera and nothing else.
After staying in Los Angeles for about two weeks, Link went to New York to prepare for his professional boxing match.
After arriving in New York, he turned his $12 million into about 100,000 shares of Amazon stock through his asset manager at Morgan Investment Bank.
Due to the impact of the financial crisis, the U.S. stock market had evaporated $5.3 trillion from October last year to September this year, and the New York Stock Exchange's S&P 500 index had fallen by 40.6% by August, with nearly 300 banks going bankrupt.
Under these circumstances, internet technology companies like Amazon, Apple, and Google were not spared, experiencing their biggest decline since the dot-com bubble in 2000.
Amazon's total market value had fallen from $33.7 billion in May 2007 to $23.8 billion, a drop of nearly 40%, and Amazon's stock had also fallen from a high of $241 per share last year to the current $119.
Link didn't know the lowest value of Amazon's stock during the 2008 financial crisis, nor did he know how much the stock would rise next year. But he knew that when Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos became the world's richest man in 2019, Amazon's market value exceeded $1 trillion, and the stock price broke through $2,000 per share.
Buying 100,000 shares in 2008 could earn him about two to three hundred million dollars ten years later, which was more cost-effective than putting the money in the bank.
As for other technology stocks, besides Facebook, he didn't know much about them and didn't dare to risk investing. Facebook hadn't gone public yet, and there was no channel to invest in it early, so investing in Amazon stock was simpler.
After spending the money, Link felt relieved.
(End of chapter)