[Chapter 192: Playboy Reputation]
Linton finally had no choice but to accept the outcome and returned empty-handed from the Matsushita family. However, with the gentle consolation of Izumi Sakai, he gradually came to terms with it. Given the current situation, it was clear there was no solution between him and Sukāto Matsushita.
But his own talents were developing at a rapid pace, faster than anyone could have imagined. When he reached the pinnacle of his Starlight Spark abilities and had amassed enough influence and power to make a significant impact in the industry, these obstacles wouldn't be issues anymore.
As for Sukāto Matsushita, he certainly wouldn't give up on her on his own. It would depend on her persistence. If she could withstand her family's pressure and if after five to six years she remained unmarried, he would definitely give her a proper explanation and welcome her into his circle.
However, if she gave in to the pressure and married someone else according to the family's arrangements, then it would only be a matter of missed fate between them.
Of course, as long as she wore the small rosewood bracelet he had given her, she would enjoy health and peace for the rest of her life.
After all, what they shared was not passionate, unforgettable love, so there was no need for unnecessary lingering sentimental attachments.
He couldn't see himself as an innocent young man anymore; he decided to be a man of taste, boundaries, and responsibility -- even if that meant being a bit of a cad.
Having worked out his strategy, he freed his mind from worry and focused on cherishing the companion by his side, Izumi Sakai.
Among the three women from Japan, he was most satisfied with Izumi Sakai. Though not a top-tier beauty by looks, she was highly cultured, independent, strong-willed, and talented. What was even more rare was her pure innocence toward the world.
When they were together, she was sometimes as gentle as water and sometimes as passionate as fire.
...
In the days following, Linton spent the daytime promoting Speed according to the schedule and the nights wholeheartedly enjoying sweet moments with Izumi Sakai whose melodious singing was endlessly delightful.
Three days later, the Japan promotional tour ended successfully. Linton said goodbye to the reluctant Izumi Sakai and, after agreeing on a meeting time in Los Angeles, boarded a plane with his entourage bound for Paris.
Of course, the promotional efforts paid off well. Speed grossed over $16 million in Japan, with a notable boost during the three days of his promotion. Total box office was expected to surpass $30 million.
Moreover, soundtrack sales had exceeded 400,000 copies and were set to surpass 800,000 in total.
...
Arriving in Paris, he was unexpectedly surprised to find Sophie Marceau had returned early just to accompany him. That was the surprise she had mentioned earlier.
And truly, it was a wonderful surprise. At least during his three days in France, Linton experienced great happiness.
Sophie was unreserved, staying close to him, attending daytime promotional events for Speed and spending joyful nights together.
With Sophie's company, the media frenzy over their romance dominated front-page headlines. The exposure greatly boosted the film's box office, which climbed steadily.
At the end of the French promotion, as they parted, Sophie confided the truth to Linton. Her full support despite the rumors was because his circle was already quite large.
The sisters had collectively decided to limit new additions, so her visit was unanimously approved to prevent other temptresses from luring him away.
Linton was speechless but realized the truth: his harem was already extensive, with 11 rooms in the mansion occupied. Including Charlize Theron, Izumi Sakai, and Noriko Sakai, each needing a room, only two rooms remained on the second floor.
Those two rooms had to be reserved; otherwise, family members visiting later would have no place to stay -- lodging them in an apartment building was unthinkable.
It was clear that the threshold for new members joining the harem would need to be raised.
...
Next, flying to Germany, Heidi Klum had also returned early to Berlin to take over the tour, accompanying him without reservation.
German media followed with a frenzy of rumors about the two, again driving massive exposure and climbing box office numbers for Speed.
She said her return to Berlin was also supported unanimously by the harem sisters.
On one hand, it helped promote the film; on the other, she could benefit from the heat of the rumors. After all, creating buzz alongside a world-famous director and star like Linton was quite advantageous.
And of course, she was willing and enjoyed supporting his vibrant personal life.
The side effect was they effectively blocked many aspiring actresses who fancied their chances, causing those women to curse the two privately.
Throughout this whole promotional journey peppered with romances, Linton's bodyguards and assistants were used to it.
Only Jason, escorting Linton, looked on enviously, often sighing, "Man, some people just have all the luck. Why don't I have such romantic fortune?"
By the time Linton returned to Los Angeles, Speed had earned over $15 million each in France and Germany, and more than $22 million in Japan.
...
In comparison, although Catherine Zeta-Jones had worked diligently in the UK with higher promotional intensity, the film had yet to reach $13 million there.
Still, her return to the UK was a triumphant homecoming, greeted by thunderous cheers everywhere she went.
Universal Pictures' UK marketing team specially designed posters with Catherine and Linton sharing the center spotlight. The British media showered her with praise, calling her another "British Rose" conquering Hollywood and stepping onto the global stage.
Originally, Catherine was only known as a dance theater performer in a small circle, with her previous TV appearances not sparking fame.
Now, after this film, she became a household name and a proud representative of Britain, intoxicated by the sweet taste of success.
Universal planned a two-week tour covering major UK cities to maximize Speed's influence.
It couldn't be denied that the rumor-driven publicity worked wonders. No wonder every film release was accompanied by such buzz.
However, the downside was clear. After the extensive rumor campaigns in France with Sophie and Germany with Heidi, Linton's playboy reputation was globally renowned.
According to information gathered by Bella, his fans grew more loyal, and their numbers kept rising; being a playboy equaled strong male charm. Dating multiple beautiful women and stirring up rumors only showed the exceptional appeal of their idol.
As long as he didn't cheat, no one would morally condemn him.
Naturally, Sophie and Heidi's other goal was achieved: they thwarted many actresses who thought they could seduce him easily, causing them to curse the two behind their backs.
...
By August 4th, the overseas box office for Speed had reached $148 million, with Universal predicting total overseas takings would exceed $300 million.
In North America, after 27 days, the box office was at $144.63 million, although daily earnings unfortunately showed a steep decline, with weekday revenues falling below $2 million.
Theaters had also significantly reduced showings, with only about 1,300 cinemas and 2,500 screens playing the film now.
With the weekend of August 6th approaching, Warner Bros. was about to release a blockbuster, The Fugitive.
Directed by Andrew Davis and starring Harrison Ford, Tommy Lee Jones, and Sela Ward, the film reportedly had a budget exceeding $55 million.
Predictably, Speed's screenings would be further reduced, but there was no doubt it would cross $180 million in North America.
In summary, the film had achieved tremendous success.
*****
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