I am sitting in my office at Goldstar going over my schedule for the next few months. My 26th birthday is coming up. Mike has sent me an email about signing paperwork to take over and have full control of Goldstar & my inheritance. I am sure Auntie & Uncle will be happy to have Anna and I come home to visit.
I don't want to sound stuck up or conceited, but the money is no big deal to me. When I found out about my inheritance, and how much the businesses I owned made a year, it sounded like an unbelievable amount of money. At the time there was $145million in the bank, and the companies made about $15million annually. After 6 years with interest it is just shy of $300million.
I made more than all those businesses put together did annually, filming the last season of Centauri. I certainly make more shooting a movie, and The Goldstar Talent Agency makes almost 30 times more than Goldstar Realty annually.
I make more in a year owning the Goldstar Talent Agency than the total inheritance. I smile as I see an appointment for Saturday.
PLANE DELIVERED!!
Marie had suggested I look into a private jet. It would cost more than first class, but it would be mine to fly anywhere at any time. It could fly into smaller regional airports avoiding 99% of the paparazzi, but can also use major airports.
I, well Goldstar bought a Lear Jet 1500X. I am told it's the fastest one they make and can fly cross country without refueling. It's not as fast as the plane with the backwards wings Jim took when he came up to Canada after I was attacked, but it cost half as much, so I am ok with it.
I am spending about a million to have it repainted and a new interior put in. The Goldstar logo will be on each side behind the nose, and the Ben & Karen's Kids Foundation logo on each side behind the wings. The inside was hideous so it's all being redone with new comfy seats. It seats 10, and I am having a padded bed with raised padded sides for Zeena added. So she can fly in comfort, and not roll off if there is turbulence.
Larry's movie is doing a big premiere next week. It's in a local movie theater that's right in the middle of downtown where they shot a lot of the movie. There is a big After Party, planned at the Kansas University Stadium. Our flight back home to Kansas will be my first flight in the plane. I can't wait.
Anna & Larry are getting married the month after that so they will be staying home after the premiere.
Marie just gave me an official offer for Anna to direct her first movie. After I look at it I put it in my bag with some homework I have. I got an offer the other day for myself that I am unsure of. It's outside of my comfort zone. I also have a bound edition of some Centauri comics printed 30+ years ago. Centauri is now a young woman in the comics and doesn't see herself as a sidekick anymore. She and Proxima have a falling out.
I need to talk to Nicole, and see what she thinks about both projects. I can't wait to tell Anna tonight about the director's offer. She is going to freak.
I get home and Larry is on the deck grilling dinner. I tell Anna the news she can't stop screaming. She is so excited. Larry rushes in from outside, thinking something is wrong. Anna runs to him. "I am a director. I am a director." She yells jumping up into his arms.
He catches her smiling. "I know. You have been working on a couple of films." Larry says.
Anna leans back in his arms, like a little kid being held in their parents arms, and smiles at Larry. "No. I am going to be a Director, not an assistant, a Director! A studio is offering me a Rom-Com to direct."
"That's Awesome!" Larry says, giving Anna a big hug.
Larry puts Anna down and I walk up to her. "So that's a yes?" I ask with a smile.
"Fuck Yes It's a Yes!" She says excitedly.
I look at my phone as it dings. It's Nicole getting back to me.
NICOLE - Nick has gone out for a while. Do you want to come over and talk?
I look at Anna staring at Larry like a hungry lioness. They need to find their own place after the wedding. I think to myself.
ME - 15 minutes?
NICOLE - Bring Zeena. Ronald misses his ZeeZee.
ME - Sure thing.
I clear my throat, and Anna looks at me smiling. "I am taking Zeena and going over to Nicole's to talk to her about two new projects. Jim has a late class, but will be home in about 2 hours." I say.
Anna hugs me. "Plenty of time. I love you, Cous."
I laugh. "I Love You Too."
Before I pull out of the driveway. I text Jim.
ME - I am heading to Nicole's for a bit to talk about two new projects. Be careful when you get home. When I left Anna was eyeing Larry like he was a piece of meat.
JIM - More like she wants his meat. LOL. Class is about to start. Gotta go.
I get to Nicole's and Zeena hops right out. She knows where she is. She wants to play with her buddy. I open the door and walk in. "Hello!" I yell out.
"In here." Says Nicole. Zeena trots ahead and then I hear Ronald squeal and laugh. Yup Zeena found her buddy. Nicole walks up to me and gives me a hug. "Long time no see stranger." She says.
"I know. I am sorry. I have been so busy." I say.
I look at Ronald and smile. "He has gotten so big!" I say, as I watch him fearlessly roll on the floor basically attacking Zeena, and Zeena lets him. She gives him little pokes and nudges with her nose and paws, but that's it. I am constantly amazed by her.
We settle on the couch and Nicole smiles at me. "So Cutie, what did you want to talk to me about?" She asks.
I decide to take the easy one first. I pull out the bound book of the Centauri Limited Series from my bag, and toss it on the cushion between us. Nicole picks it up smiling. "You read these?" She asks, as she flips through the pages.
"Don't you?" I ask.
"No, I just read the script." Says Nicole.
"I first got them from the producer when they wanted to do the Centauri TV show. He said they wanted to modernize and cover her early years that were depicted in the comics. I asked what comics and the next day I was handed a few different collections like this. Season One was based on some early stories written in the 1970s. Season Two was a storyline from the 1980s. The Agency kind of combined two different story lines. One from the 1970s, and one from the 1980s." I say.
Nicole laughs. "Look at you doing your research."
"The same was true of your two Proxima movies. The first was an origin story mixed with comics from the 70s, your second was from the 80s." I say.
"You read the Proxima comics too?" She asks.
"I asked the producer if the Proxima movie was based off a certain comic. I got three bound editions for the first movie. The first tells Proxima's origin story. The second one Centauri's, and the third telling the story that covered the bad guy. They kind of wove it all together." I say.
And now they want to do a Centauri movie." I say and I watch Nicole's face. She is surprised and happy for me. "Really?"
"Yeah, and you will have a guest starring roll in it." I say a little uncomfortably.
"Oh Cutie that is Awesome!" She says as she reaches out and squeezes my hands. I can see she is truly happy for me. "I haven't heard anything about it." She says.
"Technically I satisfied my contract with the studio for the three movies with the original contract. The TV show was just a one season contract that was basically just duplicated for season two. They are waiting to sign the star first." I say.
"So why haven't you signed?" Nicole asks.
"I wanted to talk to you first. I wanted to be sure you were ok being a guest star in my movie." I say feeling a little uncomfortable.
"I knew after you did my movie you would be great at this. I am not surprised, but I am proud and happy for you." She says. I kneel up on the cushion and hug her.
We sit back and I let out a mental sigh. I didn't think she would be upset, but I wasn't sure. We watch Ronald torture poor Zeena for a minute. He is crawling and rolling all over her. "So." Nicole says after a moment. "You said there were two projects."
"Do you remember the director from the first movie I did with you?" I ask.
"Well technically Nick's movie was first. I was in that one, but I think you are talking about my movie." She says with a smile teasing me. "The director was Donna."
"Yup." I say. "Donna offered me the leading roll in her new movie. It could turn into a trilogy if it does well."
"That's great. What's the movie?" She asks.
I pull out the book, 50 Shades of Grey, and put it on the couch. Nicole giggles. "No way. You are going to be Anastasia?" She asks.
"Actually she was impressed with the way I took charge in our scene. She told me I have been an inspiration to young girls as Centauri. She wants to do a little bit of a rewrite to it and see if they can make it work with me in the role of Christian. She wants me to be an inspiration to young women now too. She wants to show them women can be in charge in the bedroom too." I say.
"Have you seen the movie? It has a lot of very steamy scenes." Nicole says.
"I figured it would when I read the book. The book is very steamy. That's what has me uncomfortable. I am not sure I can do all those scenes." I say.
"I know what you need." Says Nicole as she picks up her phone and starts texting someone.
"You do? What do I need?" I ask.
She smiles up at me. "An education." And she turns back to her phone when it dings. "Thank You!" She says as she types it out, and then makes a call.