Chapter 151: On-Set Accident (Part 1)

[Chapter 151: On-Set Accident (Part 1)]

"Ian, are you okay?"

In a luxurious Beverly Hills mansion, Ian sat on the balcony, taking a phone call. It was Kate calling from New Zealand, where she was filming a movie, but out of concern for Ian, she made the effort to check in after hearing the news.

Looking at the sunshine in the distance, Ian smiled slightly. "Don't worry, baby, I'm doing just fine."

Kate's tone carried worry. "But I heard that Carr Media Group is having financial difficulties, so if you need money, I can help, though it won't be much."

This touched Ian a bit.

He gently reassured her, "You don't need to worry, baby. I'm not at that point yet. If you really want to help, focus on your filming and don't go looking for other guys. I miss you, and I don't want to end things with you."

Kate chuckled softly, "Of course! You know, sometimes I wish you would go bankrupt. That way, I could take care of you, and no one would compete with me for your attention."

Her words were sincere.

How amusing! The woman who liked him hoped he would go bankrupt, just so she could pamper him. It left him torn between gratitude and resentment.

But Ian knew all too well that if that day ever came, losing his charm would mean losing his appeal to her. Kate might not care about money, but she certainly appreciated the allure it brought Ian, which was a mindset shared by most women.

"It seems I will have to disappoint you then," Ian laughed.

Kate sighed, "Has Scarlett called you?"

"She tried calling, but the line was busy," Ian replied softly.

Kate sounded a bit defeated. "Alright, I won't interrupt you anymore."

...

After hanging up, Ian connected with Scarlett on the line and found some comfort in their conversation. After managing the concerns of the girls, he sat back on the balcony, gazing at the slanting sun in the distance.

Night was approaching.

"I love the night," he murmured while looking up at the sky. "The darkness can obscure so much ugliness and offers a sense of security, allowing one to release their inner turmoil."

In the room, Jessica Alba and Helen Berry were enjoying pastries. When they heard Ian's reflective voice, they turned to him.

"So, which Hollywood star is in trouble now?" The innocent girls didn't fully grasp Ian's situation, but they were likely reassured by his presence.

They didn't understand finances or crises, but they understood Ian Carr!

Nothing could faze Ian Carr; he was the most powerful journalist in the world!

Ian grinned, "Not just Hollywood, not just big stars."

With that, he got up and walked toward the bedroom, shedding his sleepwear.

Looking at the two beauties on the bed, he smiled slightly. "We still have some time; once it gets completely dark, it's time to be Batman."

Helen Berry looked at him excitedly, biting her lip. "Hopefully, that won't make your legs weak!"

As she said this, her legs shifted slightly apart, her long legs lit up alluringly under the lights, while Jessica began to sway, slowly letting a light veil fall, showcasing the most enchanting sight...

---

Hollywood at night was serene yet profound, accompanied by countless sounds of laughter and merriment.

Walking down the streets of Hollywood, the shadows cast by the streetlights elongated Ian's figure, making him resemble a moon knight in the dark.

Ian rarely conducted spontaneous interviews at night. Most of the time, he "gathered" news during the day and made precise strikes at night.

However, this time, Ian felt quite relaxed. Mainly because he already had enough dirt on people, and this action was merely a further supplement to his collection.

As a result, whether he found more or not didn't really matter.

At this moment, he walked until he reached 10202 West Washington Boulevard.

Right across the street was the clearly marked sign of Columbia Pictures.

Seeing this, Ian smirked slightly.

He first headed to a nearby dark corner, wrapped himself in a white veil to become invisible, and then easily blended in.

Due to the significant energy drain of his invisibility, Ian deactivated it upon entering Columbia's premises. After all, there were few people around, and he felt that nobody would notice him.

Ian planned to check inside Columbia Pictures to see if he could snag any information but noticed a light coming from a soundstage not far off.

Someone was shooting a nighttime scene? Ian's curiosity piqued as he walked over.

...

It was the fourth soundstage of Columbia Pictures.

The crew was busy shooting a nighttime scene. The production was titled Something's Gotta Give. It was a romantic comedy distributed by Columbia, starring Jack Nicholson, Keanu Reeves, Diane Keaton, Amanda Peet, and Jon Favreau.

The story was quite amusing. Jack Nicholson played an older gentleman with a beautiful young girlfriend (portrayed by Amanda Peet). After the girlfriend left, he fell ill and was cared for by her mother, ultimately falling in love with her mother and competing with a doctor, played by Keanu Reeves, for her affections.

What a quirky plot!

Ian Carr's greatest strength was that he never deceived himself.

Foolishness was foolishness; why pretend otherwise? The attraction of both mother and daughter is a pursuit many men dream of, and this film catered to those desires.

As a romantic comedy, Something's Gotta Give posed little risk, but what kind of person was Ian Carr?

There were some methods I wouldn't use, but that didn't mean I didn't know how!

Gaskill had locked him inside the cage of the law, hoping he would conduct his business legitimately, but Madoff had given him a reason to break free from his shackles, allowing him to act without restraint!

Isn't it said that to achieve great things, one needs the help of the righteous and the incentive of the unscrupulous?

...

At that moment, Jack Nicholson was performing a scene opposite Amanda Peet, delivering heartfelt lines like the seasoned pro he was.

Ian coldly glanced at the chandelier above the soundstage, its wires thrumming, entangled in the tapestry of light.

Now, with upgraded strength, Ian pulled and, clatter, the chandelier crashed to the ground towards Jack Nicholson, causing everyone to gasp.

The wires were yanked aside, narrowly missing Amanda Peet as the glass shattered, sending shards flying and prompting Amanda to scream.

The sudden turn of events startled everyone.

"What the hell!" yelled director Nancy Meyers angrily.

Filming was temporarily halted, and everyone rushed over to check on Jack Nicholson, as he was the bigger star; Amanda Peet was just a newcomer.

Fortunately, the old man was unharmed, while Amanda quietly stated, "I'm hurt."

Though Ian managed to control the chandelier's fall, some glass shards had splintered off and grazed Amanda's face.

Ian felt somewhat guilty -- this wasn't something he had planned; it was an accident.

Luckily, the injury wasn't severe; it was just a small cut, and it would disappear in a couple of days, leaving no scar behind.

However, this could spell a significant issue for the plot!

The second female lead had been injured?

Director Nancy Meyers indeed shouted, "Damn it! Can't you be more careful?"

Directors rarely had good temperaments, and although it was an accident, Nancy was scolding Amanda, making the girl feel quite wronged.

Nancy glared at Amanda's arm and called out, "Makeup artist, see if you can fix this!"

The makeup artist rushed over and inspected, shaking her head. "This is tough to work with. Can we re-angle during shooting?"

Nancy Meyers retorted angrily, "That's impossible! It's the face! It's the face!"

*****

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