[Chapter 250: Movie Production Begins]
On October 18, Naomi joined the film crew ahead of schedule.
She played Linton's wife in The Man from Nowhere.
Linton, a secret ace operative from the Delta Force, had made a powerful international crime syndicate his enemy during a mission. In retaliation, his pregnant wife was brutally murdered by this organization while they were traveling together.
The tragic loss of his beloved wife and unborn son right before his eyes shattered Linton's will to live.
As a result, he left the Delta Force and relocated to a remote area to heal his emotional wounds, living like a man who had lost his soul.
He often reflected that if his wife had survived, his son would now be about the same age as Sam (So-mi).
This personal tragedy was the driving force behind his desperate mission to save Sam.
Naomi's role in the film was brief; it was a cameo with a simple performance, easily filmed within two days, so there was no need for her to join the crew early.
Her salary was symbolic -- just $200,000.
She came early to the set mainly to seize the opportunity to be intimate with Linton, filling a void and gaining the essence of youth and vibrancy.
Of course, it was also a pleasure to party alongside Linton with Sophie Marceau, Winona, Heidi Klum, and others enjoying the time together.
...
On the 19th, Monica returned from Spain.
Back in Italy, she truly felt the warm welcome that set the country apart from others. The media had crowned her the "Flower of Italy."
The box office for Happy Death Day in Italy was steadily climbing.
Several top Italian brands, once out of her reach, now approached her with endorsement deals.
Her agent quickly secured contracts with three major brands: Gucci handbags, Prada women's clothing, and Bulgari jewelry. Each contract paid a hefty four million dollars per year, comparable to the treatment of top international actresses.
Of course, Monica knew her actual status was not quite that high. This prestige came largely from the bonus of Happy Death Day and the popularity fueled by the scandal involving Linton.
More importantly, as a rare Italian female star to gain recognition in Hollywood, it was natural for Italian brands to prioritize supporting her.
Later, while promoting in Spain, although the treatment was less lavish compared to Italy, she was still swarmed by fans everywhere she went -- from the airport to the hotel and the cinemas, fans shouted and screamed her name.
The feeling of being adored by fans was wonderful, but she understood all of this was due to Linton's support.
As long as she kept his backing, her future in stardom would be bright.
She also knew that Linton must like her very much, or else he wouldn't have handed her the lead role in his own directed and starred film before the promotion of her first movie was even complete, and increased her salary to $1.5 million.
Just look at how attractive the heroines of Linton's movies like Naomi and Catherine were.
Although The Man from Nowhere was a male-centric film and her screen time was limited, it was still the best resource in Hollywood.
The other women were likely jealous, even if they said nothing.
Being quietly given such a good role made her more confident in her special place in Linton's heart, so she was determined to reward him richly.
Moreover, every intimate moment with Linton felt like a mix of ecstasy and near-death experience; it restored her youth and beauty. What could be better than that?
She could think of nothing else -- she was already drenched and needed to find him to satisfy her craving.
So after landing in Los Angeles, instead of returning to her villa, she told her bodyguard to drive her straight to the film set.
The rooms Linton arranged for her and Naomi were both in the top-floor luxury suite of the hotel, right next to Linton's own room.
...
After settling in, Monica rushed to find Linton, giving him a warm hug and kiss.
After the kiss, she whispered in his ear, "Darling, I miss you so much. Can you love me now?"
"Baby, so urgent?"
"Honey, I miss you."
"Alright, let's go back to the hotel."
They quietly returned to the hotel suite, where Linton immediately wrapped his arms around Monica's slender waist.
With a tap of his heel, the hotel room door automatically closed and locked with a click.
Monica became extremely passionate and wild.
Linton felt the ultimate temptation and an unmatched experience.
...
That night, the number of party guests increased again. Fortunately, the top-floor suite at the Universal Studios hotel was spacious and luxurious enough.
At the party, Monica's performance was exceptionally passionate and wild, and her stamina was two levels higher than the four other girls.
Naturally, Sophie and the others were unwilling to be outdone, so they all turned up their intensity.
The party was naturally fantastic, elevating Linton's experience to several new levels.
...
On November 20, everything was ready, and filming of The Man from Nowhere officially began.
As usual, Linton held an opening ceremony and accepted media interviews.
"Mr. Anderson, I heard The Man from Nowhere is a pure action film. Can you tell me how it differs from traditional action movies?"
Upon hearing the question, Linton thought it was quite sharp. Then he noticed the reporter was from Hollywood Gossip Daily -- his own media. No wonder they did their homework in advance.
"The Man from Nowhere isn't just an action film. It's a drama-action hybrid driven by emotion, using action scenes to express violence. The fight sequences are innovative compared to traditional action films. They are quick and decisive, combining the thrill of action with artistic beauty. To achieve this, I specially invited an action choreography team from Hong Kong."
...
"Superstar Linton believes Hollywood action movies are outdated, and his new film The Man from Nowhere will ignite a revolution in the genre."
"Superstar Linton argues that Hollywood action films are exciting but lack beauty; The Man from Nowhere will crush traditional action films."
"The great director Linton feels Hollywood action directors can't keep up with the times, so he brought in a Hong Kong stunt team to provide a fresh viewing experience that blends beauty and violence."
Linton's remarks at the launch conference sparked exaggerated media reports and heated debates.
But for Linton and The Man from Nowhere crew, that was exactly the goal -- free publicity.
The film hadn't even started shooting yet, but the hype was already building.
*****
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