Chapter 3: Stirring Up Trouble at the Independence Day Premiere

[Chapter 3: Stirring Up Trouble at the Independence Day Premiere]

Standing on the street, Alicia appeared nervous. "Honey, what should we do?"

Etto was equally frustrated.

Only Charlie remained determined. Someone who had clawed his way up from the bottom wouldn't be crushed by a little setback.

He flashed a confident smile and encouraged them, "Without Locke's help, we'll do it ourselves. It'll be tougher, but trust me, once the news breaks, 20th Century Fox's competitors will follow suit."

Charlie's pager buzzed in his pocket. He quickly pulled it out -- it was a message from his unreliable agent.

"Publisher found. Return immediately."

"Good news!" Charlie was elated and told Etto and the others.

He hurried toward a nearby phone booth to call back.

At this time, many still used pagers. Charlie couldn't afford a cell phone yet, so he relied on the pager for now.

...

Filled with hope, Charlie dialed, but the agent's tone was harsh. "Listen, Charlie, don't bother Chris Book House anymore. Raymond is one of my boss's major clients. At this critical stage of his book release, you better not offend him! I'm currently..."

Charlie paused, then cursed loudly, "Fuck! You're just an agent, not my old man. How dare you speak to a client like that!"

The agent hesitated, offered a half-hearted apology in a condescending tone, and tried to say more.

Charlie quickly cut him off. "You're fired, asshole!" and hung up.

...

"What happened?" Etto approached curiously.

Charlie took a deep breath and shook his head.

He was angry inside. 'Just wait. When I make it, all of you will respectfully call me Godfather!'

"Get in the car! It's time to go!" Charlie was full of fighting spirit, eyes resolved.

---

At 2 PM, outside the Mann Square Theater, it was all decked out with banners and a red carpet.

The streets were packed with reporters, media, and movie fans.

This was the early premiere event for 20th Century Fox's Independence Day, part of the pre-release promotional campaign.

Shortly after, the film would be screened at the White House for President Clinton before its official North American release on July 2, just before Independence Day.

Before this, the studio had spent nearly $30 million marketing the film, including $1.3 million on Super Bowl ads.

Clearly, 20th Century Fox had great confidence in the film.

Independence Day was more than just a movie; it was a commercial juggernaut.

But the rookie Charlie knew nothing about the deeper details and was recklessly crashing the event.

And without Locke's assistance, Charlie was planning even more aggressive tactics.

Among the crowd of fans, the uninvited guests were nervous yet excited.

...

Lamont Vincent, a Black man who grew up in the same neighborhood as Charlie and dropped out in middle school, had always respected Charlie's toughness.

Hearing his boss's orders, Lamont enthusiastically waved his arms in loyalty. "Don't worry, Godfather, watch me!"

Charlie's mood was unpredictable, his emotions on a rollercoaster.

He wanted to succeed and understood making waves would offend people. That didn't scare him, but losing everything before completing his plan did.

...

Suddenly, cheers erupted as the film's cast arrived by car. The hot superstar Will Smith was smiling and waving.

Etto and the others looked at Charlie.

The moment of truth had arrived; success or failure depended on this.

Charlie gave them a determined look and growled in a low voice, "Go!"

...

Relying on his tall, muscular build and flanked by two other tough guys, Charlie protected Alicia and surged through the crowd towards the red carpet like a conquering force.

Will, with his girlfriend Jada, was confidently accepting reporter interviews when he noticed an aggressive group approaching and kindly tried to calm them down.

He assumed they were just overzealous fans.

After the success of Bad Boys last year, Will was no stranger to such scenes.

But the next moment, Lamont, whose appearance was awkward, spat and shouted with a fierce glare, "You damn bastard! You cheated on my sister and said black people are fools who deserved to go to hell. You're a a piece of shit with black skin and a white heart!"

The crowd erupted.

Fans, reporters, and studio reps all had their blood pumping.

Will was stunned speechless.

Before he could respond, Alicia leapt forward with a lovesick expression. "Darling, we haven't seen each other in so long. You promised to bring me to the movie premiere."

"Damn it, who the hell are you?" Will's eyes flickered with anger.

The studio reps reacted swiftly, sending over a dozen security guards.

At that moment, Charlie suddenly opened Alicia's purse and threw out dozens of photos.

"These are intimate pics of Will and that woman!"

"Oh my God, I envy Will so much!"

The crowd grabbed the photos, shouting excitedly.

In Will Smith's shocked and angry face, Alicia kept preening and performed her best act. "Darling, were all those sweet words lies? You don't know how much I adore you. I even wrote a sadomasochistic book called Fifty Shades of Gray to express my love."

Lamont fanned the flames, yelling, "You called our own people stupid pigs! You're a disgusting man with black skin and a white heart. And you also deceived my sister's feelings!"

Their back-and-forth, plus the photos, pushed the tension to a climax.

Fans buzzed with gossip, reporters seemed pumped on adrenaline, aggressively seeking answers.

Other cast members watched the spectacle from a distance.

Jada, Will's girlfriend, clenched her anger, her face twisted in resentment.

The 28-year-old Will was at a loss.

Fortunately, 20th Century Fox staff remained professional, refusing to comment without facts.

With security's help, Will and company quickly left.

...

With the lead gone, journalists turned their attention to Alicia and Lamont.

They clearly knew which story had more value. "Sir, has Will Smith ever publicly said he discriminates against his own people? Has he ever called himself a man with black skin and a white heart?"

Lamont was bold but silent, glancing around without answering. "He cheated on my sister. She's even pregnant with his child."

With no response from Lamont, reporters pressed Alicia.

Prepared Etto took out a camera, snapping pictures and steering the interview. "Ma'am, are you Will Smith's girlfriend? As I understand, he's with Jada. You say you love him and even wrote a book about sadomasochism?"

Alicia looked pitiful yet sassy, nodding. "Yes, I deeply love him. I wrote about our relationship in Fifty Shades of Gray.

Did I cause him big trouble? I never meant to. He hasn't contacted me for a long time. I really miss him. I always carry his photo to comfort my longing. Please give it back; I don't want to cause him any trouble."

Reporters eagerly volleyed questions.

In a corner, the victorious Charlie clenched his fists, chuckling quietly.

He slowly focused his gaze into the theater, squinting.

Now, faced with this scandal, how would 20th Century Fox handle it?

*****

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