Chapter 60: Who is the beneficiary

Seeking recommendation! Seeking collection!
The sky was slightly white, and a meeting room of Warner Bros. was brightly lit. After learning of the fire at Warner Studios, many Warner executives, including Jeff Robinoff, rushed over and worked with Duke and other crews. The management staff sat at the conference table and listened to the preliminary investigation results of the fire scene.
The preliminary investigation by the fire department was not complicated, and there were no technical terms to go around. The fire was caused by the long-term overload of the dehumidifier in the warehouse, which caused the short circuit of the aging circuit and ignited a scene. Moreover, Warner made The studio is not well managed, and the warehouse's fire sprinkler and alarm systems are almost all furnishings, and the management party bears an inescapable responsibility.
"It is estimated that the loss is as high as 800,000 US dollars. Fortunately, the film of "Course to Death Island" was not damaged."
Hearing what the top Warner said, Duke took a sip of espresso. In some respects, his luck was indeed good enough. Because of Sofia's relationship, he avoided a potentially fatal blow.
"Sure this is just an ordinary fire?" Jeff Robinoff asked suddenly.
No one speaks, although everything is like an ordinary fire, but in the fiercely competitive Hollywood, no one can guarantee that this is just a simple fire.
"First, report ∵, the police will deal with it; ..."
Jeff Robinoff’s position is the highest here, and the project he is directly responsible for is the one who suffered the loss. "Secondly, I have sent someone to the printing factory to stare at the film. The film will be processed for a few more copies, and one of them will be sent to the bank. Safe; third, to temporarily claim that this is just an ordinary fire; fourth, to use reports that may occur in the fire to remind the public of "Break into the Dead Island". We have to turn disadvantages into advantages..."
None of the people who can sit in the executive positions of large companies are fools. What Jeff Robinoff first considers is not the truth of the fire, but how to make the most of the fire.
"I asked to keep a copy of the film personally." Duke also said afterwards.
"can……"
Until the sun rose, everyone walked out of the conference room. Charles Rowan walked beside Duke and patted his soot-stained shoulder.
"We are lucky." Rowan seemed a little emotional.
"Compared to the damage caused by the fire." Duke reluctantly pulled out a smile, "We are indeed lucky."
"Pay attention, Duke." He reminded, "I suggest that you don't speak to the media for promotional activities not prepared by Warner. Someone is watching us."
He added, "Behind every set fire in Hollywood, there are always hidden things. There is no evidence for these things, and no evidence is needed."
When he walked into the parking lot with Sophia, Duke was still considering Charles Rowan’s words. The other party had worked hard in Hollywood for more than 20 years and was used to seeing the dark side of this circle. As he said, some seem An accident without a problem actually does not require evidence.
It is enough to see who is the biggest beneficiary of the fire, even if there is no evidence that this is man-made.
Does the evidence matter? If it is really artificial, since you dare to start at Warner Studios, you will definitely not leave too many valuable clues, even if you catch a possible arsonist, the law and order in this country is so poor, there are vagrants and unemployed workers everywhere. , For the banknotes sent to strangers, some of them dared to kill even people, let alone a fire.
Even if all this is true, the last ones who bear the responsibility will be little fish and shrimp who don't even know the inside story.
This is a country of commerce, this is a country of wealth, this is a city of sin, and money can conceal too many things.
"What do you think, Sophia?"
At Sophia's insistence, Duke got into her BMW, sat in the co-pilot, and asked, "You start in and out of the studio before you can speak. You have seen and heard more than me. "
"Remember what happened in 1979?"
Seeing Duke’s slightly puzzled expression, Sophia reminded, "In 1979, on the set of "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back", Uncle Lucas’s project also suffered a fire, burning down many props and parts including r2d2. Films, the real situation of the fire has not been found out yet."
"I remember." Duke nodded. "I was in boarding school and I heard my mother mention it later."
"I am a person who is easily influenced by the outside world, so I don't have very good suggestions..." She shook Duke's hand firmly, "You can learn from Uncle Lucas, who was supported by Fox at the time. Choose to forget all this for a while and move forward with all your strength until you stand at the top of this circle, and you now have Warner’s support."
Finally, she laughed, "Duke, you are confident, determined, and stubborn. In my opinion, no one can defeat you, except yourself."
"I'm not stubborn at all."
Duke took a picture in the rearview mirror, and he could still see a lot of soot marks on his body.
"Back to North Hollywood, I still go to the hotel."
Sophia started the car and drove slowly to the exit of the parking lot. After thinking about it, Duke said, "Go to the hotel."
"Don't worry about your golden cat?" Sophia turned the steering wheel and teased.
"If it wasn't for Nami to stop it, maybe I had done a stupid thing." Duke teased himself, "Well... a stupid thing that can make me a black warrior."
"Black Warrior?"
"Nothing." Duke shook his head.
Even now, he is not sure if he would rush into the fire to rescue the film that was not there at all.
"I owe her a favor," Duke said again.
"So, you decided to compensate with feelings?" Sophia's monotonous nasal voice was full of mockery, "Chasing her to be a girlfriend?"
"Honey, I'm not that stupid yet."
When the car stopped in front of a hotel, Duke found the room card from his pocket and unfastened the seat belt. "Favorites are favors, and feelings are feelings. I have a clear distinction."
Sophia shrugged.
"Also, Sophia."
Just stepping out of the car, Duke turned around again, "Call me and order a set of men's and women's clothes and send them directly to the hotel."
"Hey, Duke!" Sophia exclaimed dissatisfiedly, "I am your film affairs assistant, not your life assistant!"
Unfortunately, the tall figure walked directly into the glass turnstile of the hotel, Sophia had to start the car and leave temporarily, parked on the open space next to him, and found the phone dialing number.
Opening the door of the hotel suite, Duke walked in, looked at the black-gray shirt in front of the full-length mirror, took it off and threw it on the hanger, naked and sturdy upper body, and entered the living room of the luxurious suite.
The living room was extremely quiet. Except for the slight noise when he walked on the thick carpet, there was only the long and soothing breathing from the sofa. Naomi Watts, dressed in a blanket, was lying like a Persian cat. Fell asleep on the sofa.
But this Persian cat seems to have just emerged from the chimney, with golden curls scattered on the forehead, and the tips of the roasted hair are very obvious. The face covered with black and gray has not been washed, and the tip of the nose can be seen vaguely. The stains under the lips were exposed on the shoulders outside the blanket, and there was still a dirty dress strap hanging.
"You sleep so soundly."
Coming to the sofa, Duke picked Naomi and walked into the bathroom.
In her sleep, Naomi felt that her whole body was surrounded by a warm feeling, as if she had returned to the scene of the fire. She kicked off her high heels, stepped on the rough road, and rushed to the tall figure regardless of the pain on her feet. Side, and then the two moved away from the fire.
Even now, she didn't know how to have the courage to face the flames. After the initial calmness, she was also afraid of fear. If the flames destroyed her long hair and her appearance, what should be done? That is the basis for the survival of an actress.
But she had only one thought at the time, she couldn't look at the saboteur and be stupid...
Slowly opening her eyes, Naomi found herself lying in the warm bathtub, rubbing the foam from the shampoo with her two big hands, scrubbing her body in a strange way. Play naughty on the top.
Turning the body, Naomi hugged the strong body squeezed next to him, unconsciously put her head on his chest, and gently rubbed the strong muscles with her delicate face. It felt really good.
"you're awake?"
Seeing those dimly sleepy blue-green eyes, Duke stopped the movement in his hands and said something very uncomfortable, "You wash it yourself, I'm going to rest."
Naomi did not speak, one hand held Duke’s arm, the other hand went under the foam, and after groping for a few times, she found the right position. Duke suddenly opened his eyes, and his breathing gradually became quicker. Naomi made too many moves, rolled over and pressed her down, and the bathtub and the floating foam shook at the same time.
When Naomi was taken into the bedroom by Duke, she seemed lazy and couldn't open her eyes. She lay for a long time before she took the towel from Duke and wrapped her wet blond hair.
"I'm going to do my hair again." She said with regret.
Although he didn't rest all night, Duke was not sleepy, lying next to Naomi, his dark eyes turning back and forth until the blonde's self-talk came to an end, and then he slowly spoke.
"Nami..." He turned his head and asked, "Did you learn to sing in drama school?"
"I've learned it, how do you pull it?" Naomi turned her head and looked at Duke, "But that was a long time ago, and I didn't think about the development of music. It was just a basic course. ."
"Nothing..." Duke squeezed her nose lightly. "If you have time, I suggest you practice your throat again, maybe it will come in handy in the future."
Naomi Watts looked at Duke seriously for a while, seeming to understand something, and nodded slowly.
At noon, a boutique delivered clothes. Duke finished the check-out procedure. As usual, he waved goodbye to Naomi Watts and walked in different directions.
The fire brought some negative effects, but Duke temporarily suppressed his desire to explore, and after a few days of rest, he devoted himself to post-production.