Tycoon Actor in Hollywood
Chapter 386: It was time

Chapter 386: It was time

After several days of work, Lucas and Christopher finally completed the final mix of "Heaven." As they gave it one last listen, Christopher rubbed his shoulder, shaking his head in amazement.

"Damn, I got chills," he said. "If I hadn’t made this song with you, I would’ve thought Michael Jackson sang it."

Lucas smiled. "That’s good. We might get some MJ fans to like the song."

"I don’t know, but I’m sure they won’t dislike it," Christopher replied thoughtfully.

After listening to it several more times to check for any issues, Christopher stretched and said, "I’m kind of hungry..."

"Let’s go to the McDonald’s nearby. Kind of hungry too," Lucas suggested. freew\e bnovel.com

Christopher looked surprised. "Oh? You’re not scared to show your face in public now?"

"Haha, nothing to worry about. Got my security with me," Lucas smiled.

Jack, Simon, and some new guards had arrived two days ago. Initially, Lucas hadn’t wanted to trouble them, but they’d come anyway, worried about his safety.

At McDonald’s, while waiting for their orders, the server and cashier could barely contain their excitement at the sight of Lucas. Their hands trembled as they asked for pictures and autographs.

Though the restaurant was empty at this hour, it felt bustling as the entire crew, including the manager, gathered around Lucas for photos.

The staff seemed reluctant to return to work, stealing glances at him between tasks.

"I can never get used to this kind of fame," Christopher remarked after the crew finally dispersed. He studied Lucas curiously. "How are you able to handle this? You didn’t show even a hint of annoyance just now."

Lucas smiled warmly. "You just get used to it," he said. "Like I said a few days ago, we’re all actors. And I can’t complain about receiving people’s admiration. After all, I’m a public figure and celebrity. If I were in their place and saw Daniel Day Lewis, I might ask for pictures and autographs too."

Christopher settled into a comfortable silence as their orders arrived, delivered by a waitress who couldn’t stop stealing glances at Lucas. Her awestruck expression at Lucas’s handsomeness was obvious, but to Christopher’s relief, she and the other staff maintained their distance, allowing the two musicians to discuss their work.

Lucas reached into his jacket and pulled out a paper, sliding it across the table to Christopher. It contained detailed notes about electronic music composition, complete with beat patterns and melody suggestions.

Christopher looked surprised as he examined the paper. "What’s this?" he asked.

"Just a gift from me," Lucas said casually. "It’s titled ’Joy’ - just an idea I had. Might give you some inspiration."

Lucas watched Christopher study the composition, knowing that these notes might lead to an earlier creation of what would become ’Joytime’ - Marshmello’s breakthrough hit in his previous life.

"Interesting..." Christopher said, scanning the notes. Though they didn’t immediately spark inspiration, he carefully tucked the paper away. "Thanks, I guess."

The peaceful atmosphere was interrupted when the restaurant door swung open, admitting a group of teenagers - two girls and three boys who carried themselves with an air of rebellion unusual for this late hour. They approached the counter loudly, their manners notably impolite.

Lucas and Christopher paid them no mind, but as the teens settled at a nearby table, one of the boys caught sight of Lucas’s face.

He nudged his friend, pointing. "Hey, do you think he is who I think he is?"

The girls turned. "Who?"

Despite Lucas pulling his NY cap lower, the teenagers’ eyes widened with recognition.

"Lucas Knight?" One of the girls exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

Before her friends could stop her, she rushed toward Lucas’s table. "Hey, wait!" they called after her, but she was already halfway there.

She didn’t get far. One of Lucas’s security team, dressed in civilian clothes, smoothly stepped into her path, blocking her advance.

"I... I just want to see if he’s really Lucas!" the girl pleaded with the security guard.

"Sorry, young lady. But you have to back off," Jack said, keeping his tone polite but firm.

"It’s okay," Lucas called out to Jack and the others.

Though his security team looked troubled, they let the girl approach.

"Oh my god, you are indeed Lucas!" she exclaimed, her eyes wide with excitement.

"In the flesh..." Lucas smiled, removing his cap.

When her friends tried to follow, Simon blocked their path. "Sorry, but only the girl is allowed to approach."

"This is unreal..." the girl said, her cheeks flushing. "I’m May."

"Well, hello there, May," Lucas smiled warmly.

May beamed, but instead of asking for a photo like most fans, she burst out, "I’ve been dreaming of meeting you so I could ask you some questions!"

Lucas and Christopher exchanged amused glances. "It seems we have a future reporter in our midst," Lucas joked, making Christopher chuckle.

May blushed at the comment.

"Have a seat first, May," Lucas offered.

May nodded eagerly, sitting down beside him and completely ignoring Christopher’s presence. Looking at Lucas with intense focus, she said, "I’ve been meaning to ask this forever, but..."

"When will the Hunger Games sequel be released? Been waiting for it since forever, and there’s no news about it!" May blurted out.

The question caught Lucas off guard.

"I’m just an actor in the franchise," Lucas said, both amused and helpless. "Why would you ask me that kind of question?"

"I know," May blushed deeper, "But from the news, it was said that Paramount hasn’t made the Hunger Games sequel because of you..."

"Yeah, I heard about that news too..." Christopher added from the side. f\reewebn ovel(.)com

But May continued to ignore him completely, her attention solely fixed on Lucas.

The unexpected question about Hunger Games hung in the air, reminding Lucas of yet another complex aspect of his career he needed to address.

Lucas maintained a calm exterior, but inside, he felt troubled. The "Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 and 2" had indeed been delayed due to his packed schedule and ongoing disagreements between his agency and Paramount.

"Is it possible that Hunger Games sequels will still be made?" May asked, noticing Lucas’s silence.

Lucas shook his head reassuringly. "Yeah, it will still be made. Don’t worry about it."

"Can’t you just accept a lower payment so that the film could be made?" May asked boldly.

Lucas laughed warmly at her directness. "The film isn’t delayed because of just that, young lady." He paused, then added, "But I’m confident that Hunger Games will be filmed soon this year."

"Really?!" May’s eyes widened in surprise.

"Yeah..." Lucas nodded.

"Are you sure revealing that kind of thing was a good idea?" Christopher asked Lucas.

"Of course it was a good idea!" May turned to Christopher, finally acknowledging his presence. "Who are you anyway? Are you also a fan of Lucas getting so familiar with him already?"

Christopher was left speechless. Of all things, he hadn’t expected to be mistaken for just another Lucas Knight fan.

Lucas chuckled at the misunderstanding. Noticing the other teenagers still being held back by his security, he gestured for them to be allowed closer. ’Well, it’s not bad to give these kids something to brag about at their school,’ he thought.

As the group gathered around, Lucas engaged them in genuine conversation. The teenagers were visibly amazed by his humility and how seriously he took their questions. Most adults wouldn’t even bother giving them the time of day.

They noticed how natural Lucas seemed, showing no signs of forced politeness or discomfort with their presence. They also observed Christopher’s easy manner with Lucas, assuming he must be another lucky fan who’d somehow earned the star’s attention.

When Lucas finally bid them farewell, leaving with Christopher and his security team, May turned to her friends. "I didn’t expect Lucas to be this kind," she said, genuine surprise in her voice.

"Yeah... He even entertained that fan," one teenager said, referring to Christopher, still believing he was just another fan.

"Lucas is one of the few actors I admire," a boy added thoughtfully.

"He’s like a real-life Bruce Wayne."

"Haha, is it because he put that predator behind bars?"

"Kind of, hahaha."

Their admiration for Lucas grew stronger. While most adults dismissed them for being rebellious, Lucas had shown genuine understanding during their conversation. It made them wish he was their parent or older brother.

***

The next day, Lucas and Christopher discussed plans for the "Heaven" music video. Lucas offered to invest significantly in CGI backdrops that would complement the song’s ethereal quality. They decided to wait a few months to film the video, wanting to gauge the song’s success first.

As they said their goodbyes, Lucas realized he’d developed a genuine friendship with Christopher. Their time together in the studio, working on Digital Audio Workstations, mixing tracks, and having deep discussions about music had created a unique bond.

Unlike his collaboration with Taylor Swift, working with Christopher felt different. There was an easy camaraderie between them as men - they could share crude jokes and guy talk without worry. It was refreshing.

At the airport, heading back to Los Angeles, Lucas checked his phone. "Heaven ft. Marshmello" had already garnered thousands of plays on Spotify in just one day.

Back in L.A., Lucas met with Neil to discuss the Paramount negotiations.

"You ready to do that Hunger Games sequel now?" Neil asked.

Lucas nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt for overlooking the franchise. "Tell Paramount we’ll accept their terms. It’s time to give the fans what they’ve been waiting for."

The decision felt right. After meeting those teenagers at McDonald’s, Lucas had been reminded of how much the franchise meant to young audiences. Sometimes, he realized, it wasn’t just about the business side of things - it was about the fans who believed in him.

Neil looked surprised but pleased. "I’ll draw up the paperwork right away. The fans are going to go crazy when they hear about this."

Lucas smiled, thinking of May’s eager questions. "Yeah, they probably will."

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