Chapter 170: Chapter 170
Coming down from the club, Anna once again ran into Conrad Sterling downstairs.
The man honked briefly, asking with barely enough interest to give her a lift, "Do you want me to take you back?"
"No need, I drove myself here." Anna replied indifferently, turning away without a trace of sentiment.
But suddenly recalling something, Anna turned back to remind Conrad, "President Sterling, since you’ve already turned me down, please do it a bit more decisively. Stop finding excuses to spend time with me. After all, I am now a single, lonely woman, and it’s easy to misinterpret your intentions."
Conrad Sterling: "..."
Watching this woman leave after speaking, Conrad suspected that if Anna had a tail, it would surely be wagging to the sky.
Though it was he who rejected her, why did Conrad feel the situation was completely reversed?
Anna’s tone was such that it seemed like Conrad was the one who was rejected.
And she felt harassed and warned him not to approach her again.
If he had known... he wouldn’t have given her the car!
This woman indeed takes a mile when given an inch, bringing discomfort to Conrad each time they meet.
As Conrad was stewing in inexplicable frustration, ready to leave, suddenly someone tapped on his car window from outside.
It was Riley Osborne, standing hesitantly outside the car door, cautiously asking Conrad, "President Sterling, it’s hard to get a taxi right now, could you give me a ride?"
Riley’s clothes were torn, and she was wearing her agent’s coat, looking quite disheveled.
Seeing Conrad silent, Riley’s face reddened with embarrassment, and she stood there in disappointment.
"Even though Conrad reluctantly responded with a single syllable, it was enough to make the girl’s eyes light up with surprise.
Quickly opening the car door, "Thank you, President Sterling."
Now that they secured a ten million investment, coupled with Quinn Locke’s talent for breaking the bad luck of investors before filming starts, Anna suggested forming a team and starting shooting quickly.
Over at Marilyn’s side, even though they formed their team earlier than Anna’s, it seemed like they were intentionally waiting for them and specially chose to hold the launch ceremony on the same day.
Especially since the launch locations for "Future Travel" and "Customized Girlfriend" were quite close.
Sharon Langley went specifically to observe Anna’s launch ceremony, then reported back to Marilyn.
"Compared to our side, the other one can be clearly seen as a small workshop product – as shabby as can be. I went for a look just now, beside Florian Hollis, I didn’t recognize any of the male actors."
Marilyn sat on her exclusive chair, listening to her agent’s report.
"I heard the current filming funds are all self-funded by Anna?"
"She begged the Zane Family heiress for that ten million, but it’s far from enough. Their investment is delayed, probably because investors aren’t optimistic, thinking investing in this cast would be a waste of money. Actually, anyone doing business in Aethelgard would inevitably have to deal with the Ford Family. It’s like the investment isn’t in their hands but in yours, Marilyn." Sharon reminded Marilyn.
Besides Conrad Sterling, who in Aethelgard does business without considering the Four Families?
Sharon Langley suggested that if Marilyn utters a word, Anna’s film would never be made.
Marilyn had considered this before, but she never regarded Anna seriously, not wanting to lower herself to deal with that woman.
Or perhaps she just felt now wasn’t the time.
Since Anna insists on funding this movie herself, it’s not good to stop her.
But if she spends that ten million and doesn’t get further investment, there will be a good show to watch.
While the "Customized Girlfriend" team was energetically preparing to shoot, the "Future Travel" team’s launch ceremony news didn’t fall behind them.
The two sci-fi movies were compared during the preparation stage, and now shooting sites are adjacent, naturally inviting comparisons.
One could say the strong lineup of Marilyn’s side made Anna’s team seem that much more modest.
Marilyn’s side lavishly spent and pulled favors to bring in dozens of big celebrities for cameo roles. On the first day of shooting, due to the proximity of the set locations, many "Customized Girlfriend" staff ran over to the neighboring set to see celebrities, as if their own crew had none.
That’s not all; in the afternoon, Marilyn received thousands of flowers and two juice trucks, reportedly sent by the Sterling Group.
Conrad Sterling’s generous gestures towards Marilyn were not the first, but doing it so extravagantly, it seemed on the first day Actress Ford was ready to dominate at least three trending searches and headlines.
Juice trucks were mainly for the crew during hot weather. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ NoveI[F]ire.net
Marilyn intentionally had an assistant bring some over, distributing them to staff on Anna’s team.
Florian Hollis looked at the juice truck opposite, sneering disdainfully, "Such trifling favors, what’s there to brag about? Like anyone couldn’t afford the same? Kevin, go order two ice cream trucks to be sent over here right away, and make sure they say ’Anna Thornton is the best, Customized Girlfriend sells big’."
Upon hearing this, Kevin Jacobs covered his ears in refusal, not wanting to get involved in such antics.
During the launch ceremony earlier, when the media came for photos, Kevin Jacobs kept Florian Hollis at the back, preventing him from appearing on camera.
It’s truly embarrassing!
Initially, Kevin Jacobs didn’t agree with Florian taking this role.
What low-budget sci-fi film? The director was unheard of, and no famous actors were involved; just thinking about it showed no prospects.
Seeing the reality now was even more diminished than imagined, especially when compared to the neighboring set.
Kevin Jacobs regretted to the core now!
"Florian, you’re not the lead, what’s the point of showing off?" Kevin Jacobs pulled Florian aside, "You’re just a special guest. We don’t have many scenes, so the launch ceremony wasn’t necessary for you."
With that, Kevin Jacobs went to negotiate with the director: "Florian’s schedule is packed. Can we shoot his scenes quickly? Then we won’t need to come over anymore."
The director also knew Florian’s schedule was tight, and he was the biggest name there, so others had no objections.
Yet Florian still delivered on the ice cream trucks.
He sent ice cream to the crew, while Anna planned to treat everyone to a feast.
It wasn’t that she deliberately wanted to compete with Marilyn, but the success of a film depended on the efforts of the entire crew.
With the neighboring team having such good perks, morale was inevitably affected.
Anna decided on a dinner treat to stabilize the troops.
"Everyone, Marilyn said that after work, President Sterling will treat all staff to a big meal!"
Sharon Langley announced this news, causing the "Future Travel" crew to erupt.
Mary couldn’t resist sneering, "We treat to a meal, and they immediately respond with one too — definitely intentional! Anna, I told you they intentionally chose the same launch day to suppress you!"