Chapter 225: Moving to a Luxury House

[Chapter 225: Moving to a Luxury House]

In June, Los Angeles entered summer, with weather much hotter and drier than Vancouver. Unlike Vancouver's marine climate that brought rain every few days, film shoots in LA were rarely interrupted by bad weather. This might be one reason 'Northern Hollywood' in Vancouver had developed for so long but still didn't compare to Los Angeles.

On a pleasant morning, Link and Monica played tennis on the court on the east side of the villa. He wore only shorts and sneakers, displaying a muscular upper body with a bronzed complexion that glimmered in the morning light. His muscles, although not overly massive, radiated a wild energy that conveyed strength.

Across from him, Monica donned a white tank top and black leggings, tied her long hair in a ponytail, and her fitted attire accentuated her voluptuous curves and vibrant, radiant skin.

After three sets, Monica panted lightly, her neck and chest glistening with sweat.

"Are you doing okay, honey?" Link asked.

"Feeling great, I can keep going," she replied, playfully holding her racket like she wasn't done yet.

"Let's call it a day. The guests are arriving soon," Link said, halting play with a green tennis ball.

"Alright then," Monica tossed her racket aside, plopped down on the rubber court, and wiped the sweat from her forehead with her wrist guard. "Don't get too smug; when Sofia and Milla arrive, we'll team up against you. Three of us can take you down."

"You can certainly try," Link chuckled, walking over to her, pulling her into an embrace, and patting her on the backside before heading back inside to soak in the large bathtub.

...

This luxury villa was located in a prestigious enclave northeast of Beverly Hills, nestled at the foot of Beverly Hills and just a short drive from the shopping districts on Beverly Drive, Wilshire Boulevard, and Rodeo Drive.

The area boasted beautiful surroundings, convenient transport, and top-notch security. It was filled with opulent mansions, many selling for over ten million dollars. Link purchased this mansion in the foothills from Hungarian billionaire Stephen Hartz at the end of last year. Named Caesar Villa, it was designed and constructed by renowned architect Howard Backen.

The purchase price was $22.5 million, making it the most expensive property in Beverly Hills at the time. With the rising real estate prices in Los Angeles, its value was expected to appreciate even more.

After six months of renovations, he had moved in recently, renaming it Link Villa, deeming the original name unlucky, not to mention a bit too ostentatious. The villa sat on 4.5 acres, with the main structure covering over 3 acres, offering about 16,662 square feet of living space, featuring ten bedrooms, eleven bathrooms, two tennis courts, a swimming pool, a gazebo, a small garden, and a fountain-lined driveway.

Because the villa was situated at a height, one could enjoy views from the second floor of the bustling streets of Beverly and downtown Los Angeles, with the Pacific Ocean visible to the west. The only downside was its vulnerability to wildfires.

Currently, only Link and Monica lived there, along with three housekeepers, two cooks, and a handful of cats and dogs. He had invited Lily and her daughter to move in for safety and more space, allowing for piano practice and dance lessons without disturbing neighbors. The surrounding area housed highly prestigious private schools, making it convenient for kids like her daughter.

However, Lily had some reservations and was still considering the offer. Link did not push her.

His reason for spending such a fortune on the mansion was not just for the sake of lavish living or to impress; it was a strategic move to elevate his standing in Hollywood as his reputation grew.

While living in the Golden Oak Apartments, he had frequently been approached by people looking to get close to him and form connections. Paparazzi had been eager to capture his private life, infiltrating the apartments to snap candid shots of him with Monica and others like Jennifer, Sofia, and Brooke Shields. The move served better for privacy and security.

Yet, the Golden Oak Apartments remained as a convenient option closer to work when he was busy.

...

After enjoying a shared bath, Link and Monica changed into comfortable casual wear. Before long, their housekeeper came to announce that guests had arrived.

Link stepped into the front yard as a few sports cars drove up the driveway. Inside were Nicolas Cage, Johnny Depp, Keanu Reeves, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, Jim Carrey, and their female companions.

"Wow, Link! This place is stunning -- more luxurious than Buckingham Palace!" Nicolas Cage exclaimed, circling the mansion in his sports car before parking.

Though grand and artistically decorated, the mansion certainly didn't surpass the royal residence in London.

"Not that extravagant, it's just a bit larger," Link replied with a smile, walking down the steps to welcome his friends.

"With a place this big, with so many rooms, have you thought about renting one out? I'm considering moving soon," Ben Affleck asked, stroking a nearby plaster statue.

"Don't be ridiculous -- who would even think of renting a place like this?" Matt Damon interjected.

"Don't worry about it being empty, Ben. If Link's 47 girlfriends all moved in, the issue would be having too few rooms!" Jim Carrey quipped with a mischievous grin.

"Ha! Sounds about right," both Ben and Matt laughed.

"Enough joking around," Link said, inviting everyone into the living room.

Monica joined, greeting the ladies, including Nicolas Cage's fiancee Patricia Arquette, and Depp's new partner Kate Moss, and others.

Everyone gathered to chat, drink, and play cards, with the lively atmosphere enhanced by the antics of Nicolas Cage, Jim Carrey, and Ben Affleck.

Soon, Quentin Tarantino, Robert Rodriguez, Danny DeVito, Sofia Coppola, and Renee Zellweger also arrived, making the party even more vibrant and noisy.

...

"Link, look at you! Back in '91, we were all living in that rundown apartment, and just over two years later, you're in one of the fanciest mansions in Beverly Hills. How do you keep leveling up so fast?" Quentin remarked, standing on the balcony and gazing at the spacious lawn and beautifully landscaped garden, with the Los Angeles skyline in the distance.

Seeing all this invoked some bittersweet feelings in Quentin. He had been among the first to move to Beverly Hills, even if it was just an apartment. Link was the second to relocate.

Now, Link resided in this luxurious mansion while Quentin still rented a three-bedroom apartment in Beverly.

He had once been content, feeling fortunate, but in comparison, the happiness he once felt seemed stolen, leaving him emptier inside.

"I live here for the convenience and safety. It's harder for paparazzi to snap candid shots," Link explained.

"That's true! It's pretty secluded; doing anything shady would be hard to catch," Quentin retorted with a hint of jealousy.

Not wanting to engage in banter, Link switched the topic. "By the way, your cuts from the first two rounds of Pulp Fiction's box office are in. Thinking about buying a villa now?"

The film's North American gross was nearing $70 million, with worldwide earnings of $120 million, earning Quentin's production company a 5% share domestically and 3% globally.

Two rounds brought in about $3 million -- enough to secure a small mansion in Bel-Air nearby.

"Pass. While the villa is nice, it's too quiet; it lacks energy. Don't you worry about ghosts?" Quentin asked, adding a playful touch.

"I'm not as timid as you are. How's your new film coming along?" Link countered.

"Still working on the script," Quentin replied.

"Are you not filming Kill Bill next?" Link asked, curious about Quentin's plans.

"I had a great idea while working on Pulp Fiction; I plan to prioritize releasing that, then I'll think about Kill Bill."

"Alright, do your thing. If you ever decide to drop Kill Bill, let me know."

"I'm not giving up on that script, so don't even think about trying to claim it -- Kill Bill is mine," Quentin said, eyeing Link suspiciously.

"Nobody's out to steal it from you."

"Link, Quentin, come play cards!" Ben Affleck called out.

*****

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