Hollywood Director 1992

[Chapter 26: When the Star Comes Knocking]

"Link! Link!"

"Link, look over here! Look over here!"

In the afternoon, Link drove back to his West Hollywood apartment. As soon as he parked the car, he heard a chorus of voices calling out from the surrounding buildings -- a mix of both men and women. A few days earlier, he would have stopped to wave politely, but after the commotion grew tiresome, he decided he didn't have time to indulge it anymore.

"Hey, Link, when is your next movie going to start shooting? Can you hook us up with some roles?"

As he entered apartment 13, he saw a group of around eight people, both men and women, including his buddy Eric with tattoos.

"The next movie's not set yet, but if I need actors, I'll definitely consider you guys."

"Thanks! Thanks! Link, how about hitting the bar? There are loads of folks looking to meet you!"

"I just got back from the bar; I'm not going again today."

Link waved goodbye and headed upstairs, dismissing their chatter.

"Did you see that? That's the big director Link. He made a film for $20,000 and turned it into millions."

Eric watched Link's retreating figure, his mouth gaping in envy.

"He's so handsome; I wonder if he has a girlfriend?"

Some of the women sighed, glancing in the direction he had left.

"Don't even think about it. A bunch of women were waiting for him the other day, wanting to sleep with him, and he called the cops!"

"That's too bad."

"Don't worry, though. I've got this. This year, our apartment has had two famous directors; who knows if there'll be a third or a fourth? I've decided to enroll in film classes tomorrow; I want to be a big director too."

Eric pumped his fists, rallying the rest of the restless group.

---

Back in his apartment, as Link was organizing his things, Chris Barnes came over. He was still wearing his tank top and shorts, showing off his muscles.

"Link, are you planning to move?"

"Yeah, it's not convenient living here. I'm moving in a couple of days."

"Of course; you're a big shot now and can afford a mansion."

"I didn't buy a mansion, just a small apartment -- smaller than this one. You can come check it out sometime."

"Sure thing!"

Chris crossed his arms, pacing around the living room.

Link continued unpacking; after moving in over six months ago, he had been too busy making movies to furnish his place much.

The most valuable items in the apartment were some books, including directing guides, bestsellers, film magazines, and script copies. Nothing else was of much importance.

"Link, are you going to keep directing?"

Chris finally settled down after circling the room several times.

"Of course, directing is my main gig."

"Can I tag along?"

"I'm not doing action movies."

"That's okay; I won't be an actor. I can handle other tasks. When we shot Buried, I took care of props, sound equipment, and helped with the lighting. I did a pretty good job, didn't I?"

"Well, you did do well. I just registered a movie studio, and I'm looking for people, especially in technical roles. You can start by going there for a bit of training; once I start shooting again, you can join the crew."

"Alright, it's a deal! Thanks, Link!"

Chris excitedly hugged him.

Link waved him off as Chris left. During the filming of Buried, Chris had indeed been a big help; otherwise, Link wouldn't have been able to manage everything alone. After the film's success, he had handed Chris $20,000 as back pay. Now, he wanted to see if Chris could adjust to this new lifestyle before bringing him on board full-time.

---

After packing away two boxes, Link stretched and grabbed a cup from the table, taking a few sips of warm water. Outside, the sun was setting, painting the opposite apartment building in shades of orange. It looked beautiful but couldn't hide the crumbling walls and trash blowing in the wind. Compared to the glamour of Beverly Hills, this place felt less charming.

Knock, knock, knock!

A knock interrupted his thoughts. Chris had just left, so whoever was at the door was certainly an unexpected visitor.

Link had encountered more than one uninvited guest recently and didn't feel like engaging.

"Director Link, are you there? It's Monica."

A gentle voice came through -- Monica Bellucci.

...

Link walked over, opened the door, and found Monica standing there.

She seemed to have just showered, her presence fragrant with body wash and perfume. Her crimson deep V dress hugged her curves, emphasizing her figure, and her long legs peeked out from beneath the hem.

Monica had clearly made an effort with her makeup today, her dark eyeliner making her eyes pop, and her lips glistened full and inviting. She appeared even more radiant than the last couple of times he'd seen her. At 28, she was in the prime of her beauty. Her demeanor was also more animated than before, sparkling with life like a blooming red rose.

"Good afternoon, Monica."

"Good afternoon, Director Link. Are you busy? I brought a bottle of Italian red wine; would you like to try it?"

Monica raised her hand, showcasing a bottle with an Italian label.

"Sounds great! Come on in!"

Once Monica stepped inside, Link closed the door behind her.

"Director Link, are you really moving?"

Monica glanced at the boxes scattered around the living room.

"Yeah, I bought a small apartment in Beverly at 108 Wilshire Boulevard."

"Congrats! You're amazing for making a film like Buried!"

"Just got lucky!"

With no fancy wine glasses available, Link grabbed two simple glasses and poured the red wine, sitting down across from Monica. The air was thick with her floral perfume and the rich aroma of the wine.

"This is wine from a Tuscan vineyard. What do you think?"

Monica took a sip, her lips glistening with the dark red liquor.

"It's quite good. The flavor is rich, but I rarely drink red wine, so I'm no expert."

Link leaned back on the couch, crossing his legs, casually engaging in conversation with Monica.

After a few sips, Monica's cheeks took on a rosy hue, her brown eyes sparkling.

"Link, now that the Buried promotion is done, when are you shooting that new movie you mentioned last time?"

"We're aiming for next month."

"Next month? You said there's a role for me; is that true?"

"Yes, the new film needs a female lead, but I'm not sure if you'd fit the role."

Link openly admired her features: her flawless complexion, graceful neck, and the curves of her chest peeking from the dress.

"Director Link, I've done over ten films in Italy, and during the shoot of Bram Stoker's Dracula, I gained a lot of experience. You should give my acting a try."

Monica's enthusiasm was palpable, her breath increasing in excitement, clearly valuing this opportunity.

*****

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