Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 116: A Bit of Fun]

After the meal, everyone waved their goodbyes in the parking lot. The lively group dispersed quickly, almost like birds taking flight.

"Mom, my tummy hurts," Cecilia rubbed her stomach.

"Whose fault is that? You ate too much. We'll go for a little walk when we get home to help with digestion before bed," Lily said.

"Uncle Link told me to eat! If I didn't, he would keep piling food on my plate, and I ended up stuffed."

"Hah! That's rich coming from you. I thought you liked the food, so I kept giving you more!" Link chuckled.

"Even if I liked it, I couldn't eat that much. I couldn't finish. There was still so much left; it's too wasteful!" Cecilia complained, her little mouth going non-stop.

"You silly girl, if you couldn't finish, just say you were full. No one made you eat so much; you were just being greedy," Lily said, playfully poking her on the forehead.

"Not true! I'm not greedy!" Cecilia argued, crossing her arms defiantly.

"Your mom is the greedy one, and you're just like her since she raised you," Link laughed.

"Is that so?" Cecilia blinked her big eyes at Lily.

"Don't listen to him; he's the greedy one," Lily rolled her eyes at Link. "Earlier at the dinner, they were talking about how tough it is for them in Hollywood. What are your thoughts on that?"

"I didn't think much about it. If you want to say something, just say it. We're pretty open in this family," Link replied with a grin.

After Link had taken advantage of her a few times, Lily grew used to it and didn't even roll her eyes at his teasing anymore.

"Their group invited you out and talked about them struggling in Hollywood because they might want you to help them get roles in future movies," Lily observed.

"I can understand that," Link said.

"You just need to keep that in mind. Don't change the script just to help them. If a movie flops, do you think they'll return the pay just because we're friends? Not a chance. People come from all walks of life, and no matter how noble they were before, they end up getting selfish and greedy after a while. I've heard countless stories of folks backstabbing their own just to get ahead. So when you're making a movie, just do your best and focus on that. If someone asks for a role, just let me handle it."

After she concluded, Lily poked him on the shoulder. "Are you even listening?"

"Yeah, I heard you. You were saying to focus primarily on the film and not worry about personal connections, right?" Link replied with a smile.

"Exactly. Now that your career is reaching new heights, many people will be eyeing you, trying to get a piece of the pie, just like these guys. You need to keep your guard up and not give them that opportunity."

"You're right; safety first. It's great having you around, Lily."

"Hah! Now you see my worth? As long as you don't mess around or bully me, I'll continue being good to you," Lily replied with a soft smile.

Through the rearview mirror, Link caught a glimpse of Lily's rosy cheeks, her eyes sparkling under the light, and the enticing curve of her lips more appealing than before.

"You're so pretty, Lily."

"Quit it! Focus on driving," she scolded, playfully hitting him on the back.

---

After dropping Lily and Cecilia off at their apartment, Link took the chance to sneak a few kisses from Lily while the little girl wasn't paying attention. Lily nearly kicked him for it once she realized what was happening.

When he returned to Golden Oak Apartments, he found Monica still awake, lounging on the sofa near the floor-to-ceiling window. She was wearing a pink spaghetti strap nightgown that hinted at her figure, her red manicured toes peeking out from under a cashmere blanket. A glass of red wine sat on the small table beside her, while she held the script for Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

The movie was about the Miami Dolphins' mascot going missing right before a big game. Jim Carrey, as the animal detective, took on the job of locating the missing dolphin, leading to a series of absurd adventures.

Monica had originally aimed for the lead role of the Dolphins' glamorous agent. However, after reading the script, she found the second female character far more intriguing, envisioning it as a better acting challenge.

That character, the villainous and alluring Iris, was the mastermind behind the kidnapping of the dolphin mascot. Director Tom Shadyac also believed that Monica suited the role better, so it was given to her.

"Why isn't the light on?" Link asked, flipping on the overhead light to brighten the room.

"You're back! I didn't realize it was getting so dark while I was reading," Monica said, rising from the sofa, her long curls cascading over her shoulder, the silk gown hugging her curves enticingly.

"Did you eat?" Link asked, wrapping his arm around her waist and kissing her gently.

"Yeah, just some pasta since you weren't around," she replied.

"Want to grab a bite? We might be doing a lot of exercise tonight," Link suggested.

"Haha, are you still hungry?" Monica smiled as she playfully clung to him.

"I spent the evening chatting more than eating, so I'm up for some more," he offered, with a grin.

"Okay, I'll whip something up," Monica said, giving him a quick kiss before donning her slippers and heading to the kitchen.

...

After Link took a shower and changed into some comfy clothes, he joined Monica in the dining area, where she had prepared a fragrant seaweed soup and hot slices of pizza.

Not particularly hungry, Link settled on a small bowl of soup.

As they ate, they began discussing managing an agency, as Link had planned to open one and have Monica run it while signing people like Renee Zellweger, Matt Damon, and Ben Affleck.

However, Monica didn't seem very interested in starting a business. She preferred acting, shopping, yoga, and modeling for fashion magazines - anything to maintain her beauty.

Link didn't push her toward the business side; he appreciated her having a bit of ambition while being less driven than Jennifer. He liked that Monica embodied a typical Italian flair, mixing ambition with a laid-back attitude.

*****

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