"How are things going with Scarlett?" Cameron Diaz asked with concern.
"It's fine now." Gilbert's expression softened, though Cameron Diaz still caught the lingering hardness in his eyes.
Gilbert said, "I heard David Ellison is afraid of spiders. Scarlett pranked him with one — he's probably still lying in the hospital!"
Cameron Diaz knew Gilbert well and asked, "You're just going to let David Ellison off that easily? That's not like you."
"What else can I do?" Gilbert sneered coldly. "Let him go? Impossible."
"So what are you planning to do?"
"No rush. We can't act like savages — shouting and fighting the moment something happens. We need to be rational." Gilbert clapped his hands lightly, already thinking about how to deal with David Ellison.
If this were medieval or early modern Europe, Gilbert would have gone straight to David Ellison's door, thrown down a glove, and challenged him to a duel.
But that era was long gone. Resorting to violence and bloodshed would only draw hatred and endless retaliation in high society.
Besides, David Ellison's stunt could be seen as minor — after all, he didn't succeed, and he was scared half to death by the prank.
A generous person might let it slide and treat it as over.
But Gilbert was not generous. His goal was to drive David Ellison out of Hollywood and make Larry Ellison lose faith in his son — that would be enough.
After all, Larry Ellison didn't have only one heir; he had plenty.
Because this incident involved private matters and was rather disgraceful, David Ellison had Michael Bay impose a gag order, forbidding anyone from spreading word of it.
But Michael Bay said, "David, I don't think this can be hidden.
I know Scarlett. Since you failed and got pranked in return, she's definitely going to brag about it everywhere."
David Ellison closed his eyes in pain and slapped himself hard.
"Why did I have to be such an idiot and mess with her?"
Michael Bay secretly cursed: Who knows what got into your head? Didn't you see that she's protected by Gilbert?
He quickly warned David Ellison, "Losing face isn't the worst part — I'm more worried about Gilbert retaliating."
"Retaliate?" David Ellison became even angrier. "I haven't even sought revenge yet, and he dares to come after me?"
Michael Bay gestured for him to calm down. "Gilbert probably knows his limits. If he retaliates, it'll likely be within the film industry."
Hearing that, David Ellison perked up. "If it's only in the movie business, then I'm not afraid.
Our studio's two projects for next year both have great potential. I can go head-to-head with Gilbert."
Michael Bay didn't know where David Ellison got his confidence from, but he decided to let Michael Ovitz and Martin Bob handle this. He was just a small-time director — he couldn't afford to offend such Hollywood giants.
Michael Ovitz and Martin Bob soon learned of the matter and couldn't help but sigh, rubbing their foreheads in frustration.
What should have been normal business competition had now turned into a personal feud and that changed everything.
Hollywood's big names all had their quirks. Some liked to "share" their partners — regardless of gender — while others were strict about personal boundaries. Gilbert happened to be the latter.
That was why no one dared touch Naomi Watts, Cameron Diaz, Anne Hathaway.
Now, David Ellison had been the first to "eat the crab" — but this crab was too big, and it had pinched him hard.
Worse still, Gilbert, that shark, had already locked his attention on David Ellison.
What would happen next was all too easy to imagine.
After listening to Michael Ovitz's analysis, David Ellison finally realized the gravity of the situation.
Since Gilbert was still a shareholder of Oracle, he quickly turned to his father for help.
On the other end of the line, Larry Ellison scolded his son harshly before saying, "Don't worry. I've spoken to Gilbert. He won't pursue it further."
David Ellison breathed a sigh of relief. "That's great. I admit it was my fault. Next time, I'll think things through before acting."
So in David Ellison's mind, the issue wasn't that trying to steal another man's woman was wrong — only that he had targeted the wrong person.
Larry Ellison knew his son too well. "Don't harbor any wishful thinking. Just focus on your films and listen to what Michael Ovitz and the others tell you. That's how you'll survive in Hollywood."
David Ellison agreed repeatedly, though inwardly, he dismissed it. If Scarlett Johansson won't do, then maybe Anne Hathaway or Jennifer Connelly will.
Both of them hadn't been around Gilbert for long, so their attachment to him couldn't be that deep.
From an outsider's perspective, David Ellison's behavior was downright foolish — who tries to steal another man's woman so blatantly?
Of course, Hollywood wasn't without such scandals. The love triangle between Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, and Brad Pitt had once made endless headlines.
Rumor had it Angelina Jolie snatched away Brad Pitt, leaving Jennifer Aniston heartbroken and in tears.
Then there was James Franco, who played the villain in Spider-Man. His girlfriend was allegedly stolen by Spider-Man producer Ian Bryce.
At the time, Franco was just starting out and needed the opportunity. Though his girlfriend was taken, he endured it.
Perhaps out of guilt, Ian Bryce even had the screenwriter give Franco more scenes.
Feeling that he was integrating well into Hollywood, David Ellison considered himself learning from his "seniors" and proudly carrying on their habits.
But what he failed to realize was this — normally, in such affairs, it was always the powerful stealing from the less powerful, or rivals of equal standing competing. That was what people called love rivalry.
There were also open arrangements — partners sharing partners — which weren't uncommon. Yet no one was forced into it.
Of course, some secretly seduced the lovers of the powerful, but those cases were kept deeply hidden.
Only David Ellison was foolish enough to openly act as a subordinate trying to steal from a superior — though he himself didn't see it that way.
This was a case of cognitive bias — what others saw as stupidity, he viewed as confidence and ambition, even plotting his next opportunity.
So, David Ellison completely ignored Michael Ovitz's advice. He truly had an idea.
He planned to make another move while Gilbert relaxed his guard.
But what he didn't realize was that Gilbert had never lowered his vigilance at all. He had always kept an eye on the outsider, David Ellison and now, even more so.
"Scarlett asked us if we should spread the word about this," Cameron Diaz said.
"Spread it, of course," Gilbert clapped his hands. "Spread it far and wide. Let Scarlett and her close friends brag about it — that'll make sure the story gets out."
"Should we involve the media?"
"That won't be necessary," Gilbert replied. "With David Ellison's temperament, I doubt he'll back off so easily."
"You mean, he'll still dare to provoke Scarlett?" Cameron Diaz asked in surprise.
"Not exactly," Gilbert explained. "Think about it — since childhood, what has David Ellison ever wanted and failed to get? He's someone with extremely clear goals.
Do you think what he wants is a woman?"
"Hardly," Cameron Diaz said thoughtfully. "What he wants is to step on your head to climb higher in Hollywood — to pave his red carpet with your reputation."
"Exactly." Gilbert stroked the stubble on his chin. "Send a few more bodyguards to Jacqueline. Tell her to stay alert. As for Lauren, she'll be safe with me."
"Alright," Cameron Diaz took out her phone. "I'll inform Jacqueline and her agent right away."
Gilbert thought for a moment, then added, "I heard David Ellison is very interested in one of my investment projects. Spread the word that I'm showing interest in several anthology-style films.
Didn't that French baron recently try to push a Napoleon biopic and contact me through Jacqueline?
Tell people I'm very interested in the project — that I plan to invest two hundred million dollars to make an epic biographical film."
Cameron Diaz looked puzzled. "What's your plan?"
"To lure David Ellison into trying to steal it," Gilbert said after some thought. "Mixing truth and lies is the only way this will work."
His goal was simple — Larry Ellison's support for David Ellison wasn't limitless. Once David suffered repeated failures, Larry would inevitably withdraw his backing.
Without Larry Ellison's funding, David would be nothing more than a clawless cat — harmless and weak.
However, although David's logic was twisted, he still had veterans like Michael Ovitz and Martin Bob beside him. It wouldn't be easy to trick him.
Coincidentally, a self-proclaimed French baron had recently been looking for Hollywood partners to produce a Napoleon biopic.
The film community was buzzing — many directors had expressed interest.
Gilbert had even met the baron once and had to admit — the man was persuasive. His project proposal was airtight, highly detailed, and seemed very feasible.
But Gilbert had asked Sophie Marceau in France to investigate. As expected, she uncovered some suspicious details.
Gilbert immediately realized the project was a trap. Besides, he didn't recall any major Napoleon biopic ever being released in his previous life. The only one that did appear years later was a total flop.
So Gilbert immediately dropped contact with the baron, though the project remained hotly pursued in Hollywood.
David Ellison might have noticed it, but with so many competitors, he hadn't yet made a decision.
If Gilbert now showed strong interest again, David Ellison might take the bait and try to snatch the project from him.
Add a few more such projects into the mix, and Sky Flim's financial chain would inevitably tighten.
If all those films bombed, the company's funding would collapse, and David Ellison would lose his father's trust.
Once that happened, a son stripped of trust could never inherit Oracle and Gilbert, as a shareholder, could then unite with the others.
After all, the Ellison family had more than one heir. When David lost both wealth and power, he would be nothing more than a lamb waiting for slaughter — entirely at Gilbert's mercy.
....
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