[6 am - Renner’s mansion]

Ian felt the presence beneath him shift and try to wiggle out of his embrace. He was exhausted after all the amazing sex he had with Rae. He noticed her getting off of the bed, trying her best not to wake him up.

Ian, who felt the obvious shift in the bed, pretended he was asleep. He was tired as he had spent two nights in a row without sleeping, and with all the stamina work last night, he was ready to sleep an hour or two more.

Raelynn got off the bed and walked outside the room, where the sun loomed inside the room through the balcony.

The wind gave her chills, but she stood still and looked outside. The view from the mansion was pretty—more like, beautiful. Beautiful by its truest definition.

The trees and nature made all of her stress go away. Stress from work, and stress from what she was about to ask from Ian.

Thirty minutes passed, and Raelynn continuously kept watching outside the balcony. Ian couldn’t sleep any more.

“What is it?” Ian’s morning voice came out making Raelynn turn around in question.

“I was meaning to talk to you…” She said and walked towards him.

His eyebrows raised in question.

The same expression was visible when Ian would always have a question or was curious about something.

She sat on the edge of the bed.

“Is it something related to work?” he initiated the conversation.

“Well, yeah… So, you remember Real Estate, the script you gave us to read?” She asked.

The script Real Estate was one of Keanu’s scripts that Ian liked well, and the same one he had asked his directors to read and see if anyone liked the project to take it. Although there were some suggestions Ian had with the script, in the end, he had given it to all the directors, including Raelynn.

The Real Estate script was about a young businessman, who’d always wanted to sell real estate. The person’s background and his personality, including his behaviour and character were what Ian thought would sell the movie.

The protagonist’s main enemy was revealed to be his best friend by the end of the movie, and the core of the movie was how the people around you affect your life.

Nevertheless, when Raelynn got the script, she was extremely excited about the idea of directing a movie as such.

“Yes”

“I’d like to take on the project. It’s a good enough script, and within next week, I’m ready to take it.”

She said making the frown on Ian’s face disappear.

“I’m glad. That script does deserve some good director making a great movie out of it,” he said and extended his arms for her to get in.

“Mhm?”

“Keep work in the studio, Rae.”

Raelynn nodded at his request. It was true. There had to be some boundaries between them and work. With that being said, the only two statements needed were Ian's request asking not to bring office matters to bed, and Raelynn's acceptance that she won't with her nod.

-

[Renner Studio]

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

A man was wearing a dark blue tie to match his black suit. From the reflection of the glass doors, he looked at his own, and there was one thing he was able to see, failure.

He was in the lobby of Renner Studio. Facing the glass next to the receptionist, he had lots of thoughts in his mind.

Even before he knew the same reason he was there on that day is not something he would approve of, but given the circumstances, he knew that there was no other option.

“Sir?”

“Yes, I’m Thomas.”

“Thomas?”

“Thomas Guise. From T & T&M.”

The receptionist’s eyebrows raised, but she quickly adjusted herself for the professional appearance. If there was anything that she had to learn from being a receptionist for years, it was that judgmental looks will get you little to nowhere while working in a studio like this.

“Okay, but sir, there seem to be no appointments scheduled with Mr. Renner.”

Thomas nodded. “I know that, but can you try to squeeze me in? I’d take no longer than twenty minutes.”

“I’m sorry sir. That would not be possible on such short notice, but I can arrange a window tomorrow morning, 10 am?” She asked politely.

Her tone gave the comfort that any man would even buy tons of milk without even getting the need to ask twice.

“Yes, thank you.”

“Okay, I’d need a little more details including your email and contact number….”

[On the third floor of the studio]

Ian sat on his chair, editing his work while being on great focus.

The three knocks on his office door showed that it was an emergency and Ian took his eyes off the screen to see who it was.

It was Murphy.

“Yes, come in!”

Murphy had a file in his hand, and he sat in front of Ian.

“Here is your schedule with the PR. Sir, you’ve seven interviews for this week, and three next week. After that, you’re officially free to take a break to start the next project. Also, someone named Thomas from T&M has requested an appointment tomorrow at 10, which gives you a small slot to meet up with him. Is that fine?”

Ian nodded without thinking more. He kept looking at the interviews and where they were. For the majority, he wasn't needed.

“Check the 21st and 22nd, I think Keanu’s presence will be enough with the two studios. Keep the actors as the faces of all the interviews, always. There’s no harm in it. And-”

“Okay sir, will do. Anything more?”

“Add tomorrow’s appointment to my schedule?”

“Done, sir.”

With that, Murphy walked away from his office.

The upcoming time was going to be tough for Ian as he was struggling to compose the newest movie he was working on, which was another action movie, mixed with a bit of sci-fi, drama, thriller, heist, and adventure.

-

[Lincoln Studios]

In Will's office, he and his best friend sat next to each other, while the reporter in front of them asked a few questions related to their latest movie.

“So, Will, in the sense of creativity, one problem the fans are dying to know is that the truth behind your statement, it wasn’t something you had planned before but just came out and then let the scriptwriters go with it?”

Will nodded as he understood what he was asking.

Once in an interview, not long ago, he had answered and explained how Karma Realism had come to life. The truth was that it was his idea, initially to create the sequel of the first movie, but then, he almost regretted it when the ratings started to go down after its initial hype—truthfully, which was built just for the sake of the studio name and fame.

“Yes, truth to be told. I thought of it, right when I stopped watching the first movie for the tenth time, with my kids. There were a lot of things that I wanted to add to the movie, but the panel of directors didn’t quite agree, which now I see why. Nevertheless, I think it became quite the success.”

He lied the latter through his white teeth.

Gar nodded along because he didn’t know what more to say.

Although the directors and the board of the studio had already labelled the movie as a flop considering it the first movie, there still was a massive audience who rooted for the franchise.

And this was why, the interviews, and media appearances still gave them some results, although not as much as they had expected.

“Mr. Gar, what was your idea about the ending? Was it supposed to be an open-ending, or was Jin supposed to get his happy ending?”

Gar chuckled.

“I think the ending opens Jin’s next big adventure in this Karma-based series. In the end, it doesn’t matter as life is a circle. But, I think the movie serves the right ending, no matter how angry the fans are…”

He said while Will chuckled agreeing along.

The interview went along for an hour more, and then the reporter walked out of the room just as he entered—with his bed hanging from his shoulder, and his head high with a smile, probably because the interview of the day went well.

“When are we going to start our next project?” Will asked as soon as the reporter went.

“When the time is right. Till then, we’ll brainstorm some ideas with the others. And, don’t forget, this is just the start. Board agreed with our extensions for the studio, so all we’ve to hope is that we crush our next movie!” Gar said positively as he saw Will visibly relax.

There could be several misunderstandings such as Lincoln Studio taking over Goofy as the rival of Ian Renner and the Renner Studio, but the situation and the future they hold were completely different.

Shortly, what Will and Gar were about to do would surprise everyone.