Chapter 1: Standard Business Practices
[Chapter 1: Standard Business Practices]
Ian felt a sharp pain coursing through his body, as if his bones were falling apart. Memories flashed through his mind, recalling the disaster that had occurred while he was chasing after a big celebrity...
A real disaster.
On a rainy day, his car had skidded, rolling down a narrow mountain road. The way people always said celebrities were the ones who crashed, but somehow he wasn't dead?
Ian opened his eyes, only to find he wasn't in his car. He was in a small room, his hands bound and pressed back-to-back with a girl.
In the nearby mirror, he saw the shocked face of a young white man with short golden hair and light blue eyes.
Was that his face?
As he stared at the reflection, a wave of memories surged in.
It hit him.
...
It was the year 2000, and he was Ian Carr, 24 years old, a typical reckless young man -- gambling, fighting, drinking, and chasing women. He had done just about everything a young guy could get into.
His father ran a small local newspaper called the Los Angeles Herald. It had reasonable circulation and a limited income, just enough to get by. However, Ian's wild ways led to his father constantly dipping into their funds to pay off Ian's gambling debts, eventually putting the newspaper into dire straits and ultimately stressing him to death.
When Ian inherited the newspaper, he was determined to turn it around -- with the newspaper's dwindling funds in hand, he ambitiously ventured into a secret casino, only to turn a hopeful fifty thousand dollars into a debt of ten thousand.
Some rich kids just had it worse when they tried to achieve something!
...
Desperate to recoup his losses, Ian decided to head out with a camera and snap some photos of Kate Beckinsale. Rumor had it she was involved with a producer in a questionable way.
At this stage, Kate Beckinsale had already appeared in several movies, but her breakout roles in Pearl Harbor and Underworld hadn't hit the screens yet -- she had just finished filming Pearl Harbor and was on the verge of stardom.
If Ian managed to snag some dirt on Kate Beckinsale, it was likely that Touchstone Pictures would pay a hefty price to keep the scandal under wraps.
Los Angeles boasted the most extensive range of media companies in the U.S. mainly because it was home to Hollywood and had nearly a hundred thousand gangsters.
It was a wild scene where beauty mixed with chaos; it became a playground for paparazzi.
Instead of capturing celebrity scandals, Ian fell into a murder and kidnapping incident...
...
"Charlie Mills..." Ian muttered to himself, foggy-headed.
He recalled the details.
It was when Kate Beckinsale was meeting with a Hollywood producer couple. Unexpectedly, that couple was killed by a gangster named Charlie Mills, who, in turn, had taken Kate Beckinsale hostage. Normally, gangs didn't kidnap stars; the fallout would be too explosive. But this was an exception, as Kate had witnessed the murder.
Ian's previous self hadn't done well in such a situation. Instead of being a brave reporter catching all the action or a smart one making a quick escape, he panicked like a chicken with its head cut off...
And ended up getting kidnapped, too.
...
Damn it!
Awakening to two sets of memories, Ian surveyed his surroundings.
The room was cramped, with just a bed and a narrow wooden table. It looked more like a closet than a proper room.
On the table lay a digital camera and a microphone -- his or rather, his previous self's.
"Damn! You couldn't even manage to take decent photos?"
With the memory of being a top-tier paparazzo, Ian felt utterly contemptuous towards his predecessor!
He couldn't even use a long lens?
....
The shaky overhead light swayed, and the sound of waves crashing filled his ears, meaning he was inside a cabin on a boat.
What did Charlie Mills intend to do?
Wait, who was the woman behind him?
Ian struggled to twist his neck to see behind him, catching only a glimpse of golden hair and an exquisite profile.
She was unconscious.
Leaning to one side, Ian used the mirror to catch a better view of that stunning face.
Kate Beckinsale.
Poor starlet, was his arrival the butterfly effect that led her into a situation she hadn't faced in her past life?
So much for relying on the advantages of being reborn!
What was he thinking about rebirth right now?
Ian looked down at himself, as thick ropes bound him tightly, and as an experienced "player," Charlie Mills had impressive skills in tying ropes. There was no hope of getting free, especially with that big guy sitting outside the cabin.
Ian remembered hearing about Mills; he was a tough character in Milan Street, a member of the Crips, overseeing underground dealings. The guy would do anything for money.
...
Outside the cabin, Mills was on the phone.
The wind carried his muffled words, "Those two guys have been dealt with... A couple of people saw me... Yeah, there was a beauty, Kate Beckinsale, they'll pay well for her. There's also a kid... doesn't serve much, but at least he has a healthy heart, kidneys, and spleen... As a favor to a friend, I'll offer you a package deal."
He chuckled lazily, seemingly relaxed.
...
Wow, he knew how to do business, didn't he?
This situation had to be resolved quickly.
It needed Kate Beckinsale's cooperation.
Ian shifted his body slightly and whispered, "Miss Beckinsale! Miss Beckinsale!"
Finally, after some nudging, Kate Beckinsale stirred awake.
The next moment, she screamed, "Ah!!!"
Oh, for heaven's sake!
"Don't scream!" Ian urged.
Sadly, it didn't work; her voice cracked through the air.
...
Charlie Mills, hearing the commotion, approached.
His heavy footsteps echoed with the rhythm of impending doom as he opened the cabin door.
"Awake? Don't worry, pretty girl, we'll be there soon."
Kate gasped, "No, let me go! I'm Kate Beckinsale, a British actress. I just starred in Pearl Harbor, a major film! You can't do this to me!"
Mills smirked with a broad grin, "Exactly. That's why you're here. You see, customers love celebrities, and they think they're getting a good deal by having you before you really hit it big... You're worth two hundred grand, miss. If we hadn't rushed, you could've fetched an even better price."
With that, he laughed as he left.
...
"Oh my God!" Kate cried in despair.
Ian was at a loss for words.
Kate continued to shout towards the door in vain, "Let me go, I can give you three hundred thousand, even five hundred thousand! Touchstone Pictures and my agent can pay you!"
Ian sighed softly, "Don't count on it; it's not gonna happen."
"What did you say?" Kate strained to turn and see Ian, only able to catch a glimpse of his profile.
Ian replied softly, "If you get kidnapped, or worse, you could get played to death. That would make big news, perfect for the studios to exploit. Think about it, Kate Beckinsale's once-in-a-lifetime performance -- there won't be another chance to witness the exquisite beauty of the English Rose. What's holding everyone back? Come see the movie! Isn't it better than spending a fortune to bail you out? Besides, how much would it take for a murderer to risk you pointing them out and let you go?"
Kate was shocked, "Oh my God! You can't be serious!"
Ian scoffed, "Making money off the dead is standard business practice!"
*****
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