Wallace spent the rest of the day until evening in his hotel room. When it was evening, he wore a black professional suit and left the hotel. After asking for directions, he decided to walk to the Consulate Midtown Restaurant since it wasn't far from the hotel. He walked while enjoying the bustling and hustling view of the city. After five minutes of walking, he arrived at the restaurant. He checked his wristwatch and saw that he arrived ten minutes earlier. He entered the restaurant. A room had already been reserved for the meeting, so he was taken to the room by a waiter.
When he entered the room, he saw a man who looked like he was in his sixties with a little bit of white hair in his hair, showing that he had left it natural without even bothering to dye it. He also saw a lady who looked like she was in her early twenties sitting beside him.
"Welcome to New York, Mr. Wallace," the man smiled as he stood up while extending his hand for a handshake.
"Good evening, Mr. Joss," he shook the extended hand. He also looked at the lady beside him.
"She's my daughter, Emilia Curt," he said.
"Hi," Emilia also extended her hand. He shook the latter's hand while he was confused. Joss never had a daughter, but he didn't bother to show it on his face.
"You look even more handsome than before; it's like you've changed a little bit more completely," he looked at Wallace as he said. The lady's eyes also shone strangely.
"Well, a lot has happened during that time," he said.
They met when he was still in his third year. That was when he knew that the man had been following his novel, and he wanted to develop it. He came to collaborate with him on conditions while also signing him and signing a contract about helping him to develop his movie. The man made use of his own channel to develop the movie but made himself an assistant director, making Wallace the director, which made him respect the latter. If it had been other people, they would have asked to be the director of the movie while paying a stipulated amount or at least be a co-director. The latter just accepted being the co-director and invested in his movie, and when the movie finally aired, took back his investment, and they split the profit by 70-30, with seventy percent going to Wallace and thirty percent to the latter.
"Why did you do that?" he asked.
"I've written and directed a lot of movies in my life, and I've also collected world-renowned rewards over it. Apart from money, I have a passion for doing so, and that passion stops me from stealing other people's work. I saw the potential your novel has, and coincidentally, most of the pillars of the Justice League have died, so I decided to bring you into the picture," he said.
"It's also a form of thrill to see a movie I direct break records and become one known across the world, so I also have to thank you for giving me a chance," he smiled.
"No, thank you," he answered.
"But I'm curious, did you do plastic surgery?" he asked.
"Nope, is my change that obvious?" he asked.
"Well, I don't know; a lot can change in three years," he answered.
"How's the anime development of Ascension going on?" he asked.
"Well, it's nothing difficult; the movie was the difficult one. We've already prepared everything, and the first episode has also been prepared, so I'm just waiting for you to take your rightful mantle before we start," the latter answered him.
"When am I going to take it then?" he asked.
"There will be a New York Festival in a week, so I will get you to come, and you will use the chance to make your first debut. I'm excited to work with you as a director in the future. We will rule the world of fictional and fantasy movies in the future," he said excitedly.
Wallace smiled.
"Since you finished the first one a week ago, are you planning on starting a second one?" Joss asked.
"I've already started, and I have the general direction of the second one already. I will start publishing after I take care of some things," he said.
"I'm very excited," he said.
"About the software," Wallace asked.
"I've forgotten about that already; sorry, I saw a company that fits your speculations. The developer of that company is very talented, but he could not join any large company because they want to buy his game from him, and no man is willing to invest a heavy sum in a game that they don't know if it will be fruitful in the future. This is his email," Joss handed him a card.
"I will see if I can make do with that one," he said.
"About my apartment," he asked.
"It's ready," the latter handed him the card.
"Emilia will take you there," he said.
"Sorry for troubling you," he said.
"No problem," the latter answered him.
They ate and drank while also talking about miscellaneous stuff. The latter also told him more about New York City, where to go and not to go, because it looked like the mafia members were operating. They separated that evening after getting an invitation from Joss for a family dinner, which he would be attending in two days.
He got into Emilia's car. The latter drove while he looked at the bustling city outside the car.
"Mr. Wallace," she called as she drove.
"Hmm," he answered.
"What inspired you to write the novel, especially the beginning part of the novel? It's filled with pain," she asked.
"Well, nothing much. Experiences, and I've always loved fictional novels, so I chose to write it," he said.
"You are a man of talents and bright prospects, accomplishing such things at an age where most people splurge their parents' money," she said.
"Hmm, you're also great. You already have your own brand at such a young age, and it's very popular. You must have started it when you were super young," he said.
"I had Dad's money to support me," she said.
"We are both great in our own ways," he said.
"Well, you're right," she said as she handed him a card. "I want to be friends with you," she said.
"Hmm," he accepted her card.
"I will message you," she said with a smile.
"If you also need anything since you are new here, I will be here to assist you," she said.
"Thanks," he said.
Her car had already arrived at a large gate.
"This is one of the Plaza Hotel estates," she said. They provide maximum protection and services in exchange for their expensive price
. "You have good taste," she said.
"Hmm," he nodded.
The car entered the gate, and they had to drive for five minutes before they got to Wallace's apartment itself. "I would have loved to come in with you, but I have something going on. I will come with Joss and his family tomorrow night for a housewarming party," she said.
"Hmm," he nodded.
It was painted white, and it was a large mansion. He swiped his card, and the gate opened automatically. He entered the compound and entered his house. After going around the house, he looked at it, satisfied. In the compound, there was a private gym with modern training equipment, and there was a garage there. He went to the garage; there was a car in it. The car was dark.
It was a Mercedes Benz 663 AMG. It was a luxurious armored vehicle priced around a million dollars. It was simply a monster on the road, with a 5.5-liter V8 engine, 7-speed automatic transmission, and all-wheel drive. Its armor features included ballistic covers, bullet catchers, and protected fuel tanks. What it meant was that as long as he was driving in a city, unless they wanted to wipe out areas around the city and deploy heavy weapons, he was safe because no bullet could get through the car. The car itself was low-key; it was dark with a streamlined body, which made it beautiful, making it look like a normal car. Not many people could use it; even Joss was only able to get it because of his influence.
He looked at the car, satisfied, and got into the car. He drove out of his mansion. It was already night; the sky had darkened, and the skulls returned. He started to hear the familiar wails again. He ignored them and drove back to the hotel. He packed his luggage and checked out of the hotel. He returned to the apartment and settled down. After settling down, he sat in the luxurious living room and lit a cigarette before taking a puff with a cup of wine.
"Another objective achieved," he said as he looked at the skulls surrounding him that only he could see but were hell-bent on making his life miserable.