Chapter 52: Brooke Shields

[Chapter 52: Brooke Shields]

In the morning, Link woke up and went to work out. At the gym, he unexpectedly ran into Jim Carrey again. Lately, it seemed like Jim had little to do except hit the gym every day.

During a break, the two started chatting about work. Link mentioned that before filming Paranormal Activity, he had considered inviting Jim Carrey to play the lead role. Prior to 1992, Jim's career path had been uncertain, and he had taken on a variety of roles. Inviting him to star in Paranormal Activity would have been a good move.

However, ever since Jim wrapped up filming Earth Girls Are Easy, he became known as a leading comedic actor and carried the tag of being a "funny guy." Casting him in a horror flick would have felt out of place.

Jim was currently busy working on the animated short film, Itsy Bitsy Spider, slated for release by the end of July.

Jim mentioned that he was also writing a script, a comedy, and wanted Link's guidance on it.

"Sure thing, Jim. You're great at comedy. Keep at it, and you'll see some exciting developments down the road," Link replied.

"I will! Do you need to take a break? You're sweating a lot -- looking pretty worn out," Jim observed, slowly walking on the treadmill.

"Yeah, I've had a busy schedule lately," Link said, wiping his forehead.

In truth, what was tiring him wasn't the demanding film editing work, but rather the enticing Monica's seductive body. Since their days in San Diego, they had shared a bed and Monica was better at flirting and made him unable to stop every time.

...

"Good morning, Mr. Cameron," Link greeted as the famed director James Cameron strolled down the gym's main aisle.

"Hello, Mr. Link," James Cameron had to stare at his face carefully before he recognized him.

Link didn't take it seriously. Although Buried had recently gained some attention, it was still a niche movie, and many in the industry wouldn't know him.

"Mr. Cameron, I heard rumors that you're planning to adapt the Spider-Man comics. Is there any truth to that? I'm a big fan of yours and Spider-Man. I'm really looking forward to seeing that film," Link expressed.

"Yes, there's a plan to do so, with filming possibly starting in three to five years," Cameron confirmed.

"That's great news!" Link said as he shook hands with Cameron, not wanting to interrupt the celebrated director's workout further.

However, the Spider-Man project that Cameron mentioned might never see the light of day. At that time, he had a close partnership with Carolco Pictures, which had invested $10 million in 1989 to acquire the rights for Terminator sequels.

In 1990, Carolco further invested $100 million for Cameron to shoot Terminator 2, the first film in history with a production budget exceeding $100 million. More than a year after its release, Terminator 2 had grossed $400 million worldwide, bringing immense profit to Carolco and establishing it as a leader in independent filmmaking.

James was enthusiastic about Spider-Man and wished to adapt the superhero character. For that purpose, Carolco spent $3 million to acquire the adaptation rights from Marvel Comics, valid until 1996.

Link remembered that not long after, Carolco would face bankruptcy, forcing Cameron to abandon that project and instead direct Titanic, which catapulted him to unprecedented fame.

...

"Link, look over there -- there's a stunning woman approaching," Jim nudged Link with his elbow, squinting at the entrance to the gym area.

A tall blonde woman strolled in confidently, around twenty years old, standing at about 6 feet tall, wearing a white sports tank top and blue yoga pants, a jacket tied around her waist, showcasing her long legs and curvy figure that swayed as she walked.

"It's Brooke Shields, the eighth wonder of the world," Jim exclaimed, clutching Link's arm, excitement distorting his features.

Behind Brooke Shields was a fat lady with heavy makeup and tacky clothes. The two have some similarities in facial features, like mother and daughter.

The older woman nagged about their living situation, complaining that the apartment was too low-class, with worse amenities than Beverly Hills.

She grumbled that most residents in Golden Oak Apartments were second-rate entertainers, while Beverly Hills was home to top stars and billionaires, offering more significant opportunities.

As the mother mentioned second-rate entertainers, she glanced over at Link and Jim, seeing they were also looking at her, her expression turned sour. She loudly commented that the people living there lacked manners and advised her daughter to be cautious of men with no future.

...

Jim and Link exchanged glances, shrugging it off as they resumed their workout.

"Link? Are you Director Link?" the blonde woman asked, stopping in front of them.

"Hello, Ms. Shields," Link responded.

"Hello, Link! Do you live here too?" she continued.

"Yes, I just moved in not long ago."

Link shook hands with Brooke; from a distance, she looked stunning, and up close she seemed just as impressive, although her arms had more hair than his, and her shoulders appeared broader.

"What a coincidence! I just moved in too; I'm in Building C," she said.

"Are you renting, or did you purchase a place here?" Brooke's mother interrupted, cutting off her daughter.

"Is there a difference?" Link asked.

"Link, my mother wants to rent here too, and she's curious about the price," Brooke interjected.

"Don't worry, I know those details -- $12,000 per quarter for a small unit, and over $20,000 for a large one. Prices vary across floors," Jim chimed in enthusiastically.

"Who would want to rent here? I own eight properties in Los Angeles; do I look like I need to rent?" the mother scoffed, looking aside.

"Sorry, my mom's in a mood today. Link, we'll chat another time," Brooke said, tugging at her mother to leave.

After a few steps, she turned back to apologize to Link.

...

"Of course, she's a big star, Brooke Shields. Why would she need to rent?" Jim added with a playful shrug, though there was a hint of disappointment in his eyes.

"You'll be a big star too; soon enough, you'll have a million-dollar mansion," he said cheerfully.

"Haha, Link, you certainly know how to comfort! It's been a pleasure chatting with you," Jim replied, making a funny face.

Link laughed softly and went back to his workout, keeping focused. Jim continued to share gossip about Brooke Shields.

Brooke, at 27, had started modeling for commercials when she was just 11 months old, thanks to her mother, Teri Shields. By age 11, she appeared in Pretty Baby, and at 13, she posed for Playboy magazine, later starring as the lead in The Blue Lagoon at 15, garnering immense media attention and earning the title "The Eighth Wonder of the World."

Her career peaked with The Blue Lagoon, but following that, she primarily acted in a string of less successful projects, often in superficial roles. She became one of the most recognized actresses of the 1980s known for her looks.

The media often covered her romantic life too, with numerous rumors swirling around her relationships with pop king Michael Jackson, Nicolas Cage, and several wealthy suitors.

Recently, during an interview with an ABC host, Brooke had shared how strictly her mother managed her dating life, revealing that she hadn't been allowed intimate interactions with men before marriage. Consequently, she hadn't genuinely dated anyone and described her bond with Michael Jackson as just friends, and the same with Nicolas Cage.

When asked if she was still a virgin, she confirmed, "Yes."

After the interview aired, few believed her claim. How could a stunning woman raised in the entertainment industry still be a virgin? Many thought it was a publicity stunt for a comeback.

Unfortunately, the entertainment business was rich with glamorous faces, making it tough for Brooke to regain the spotlight.

---

After his workout, Link returned to his apartment where Monica had just woken up, clad in a sheer golden lace nightgown, her smooth legs crossed as she sat at the vanity putting on mascara.

Her eyelashes were already longer than the average person's, but after applying mascara, they looked longer and curled, making her eyes appear larger and even more stunning when lined.

"What are you staring at? After last night, I doubt you can keep up," Monica teased, casting a sultry glance his way, her lips curling into a smile.

Link shook his head; he had to practice restraint. He didn't want to overexert himself.

"Why are you putting on makeup at home?"

Though he couldn't indulge, he still approached her from behind, wrapping his arms around her waist, finding the most comfortable position.

"I can't just stay home all day! I have a coffee date with a friend at noon; want to join?" Monica kissed him on the cheek while reaching for her Dior rose lipstick, applying it carefully.

"I'll be at the office shortly. I won't have time for lunch," Link replied.

"What a shame! I wanted to introduce you to a gorgeous friend," she said.

"Is she as pretty as you?" Link asked, squeezing her waist playfully.

"Take it easy! She's younger and more talented than I am."

"Talents don't mean much to me; no one's more talented than I am," he retorted.

"Darling, do you know what I love most about you?" she turned to kiss him gently.

"Is it my strong body?"

"Haha, no! It's your confidence and the talent that matches it. To me, you're like a radiant sun, and the closer I get, the more I feel myself melting," Monica said, leaning comfortably against him.

"I always said I'm from Mars, while you might be from Mercury," Link murmured as he cupped her face, leaning down to kiss her freshly painted lips.

But as Monica wrapped her hands around him, he quickly pulled away from the vanity, trying to avoid any more distractions.

Monica burst out laughing.

At breakfast, Link handed Monica a supplementary card to his Citibank account, with a limit of $100,000.

"What's this? Are you trying to spoil me?" she asked.

"This is for the promotion of the film. You can't take any roles in other films for the next six months to keep your character's mystery intact. This is your compensation," he explained, sliding the card towards her.

"I can collaborate with the company, but can I use this to swap for a role in your next movie?" she inquired playfully.

"Just keep it. If there's a role suitable for you in the next project, why wouldn't I cast you?" Link replied.

"Double the rewards? I'm lucky! Thank you, darling!" Monica said, her eyes sparkling with excitement as she waved the card.

"Anytime! Now, let's eat! We'll play tennis and exercise later," Link said, diving into his breakfast to keep from getting entranced by her gaze.

Monica playfully covered her mouth, laughing joyfully, full of charm.

*****

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