After a quick breakfast and some preparation, Marcus followed Nathan to the parking lot. The car waiting for them was a budget sedan—probably the same model used by police departments or taxi companies. Marcus settled into the back seat while Nathan started the engine and pulled out of the lot.
Nathan struck up conversation while driving. "It's been a while since we've had some father-son time..." He paused, glancing at his son through the rearview mirror. "You comfortable back there, buddy?"
Marcus nodded. "Yeah, I'm good."
"Good." Nathan smiled. "This car might be cheap, but she runs well."
Despite his words, it was obvious he felt embarrassed about the vehicle.
Marcus remembered that Nathan used to have a collection of cars back when he was successful. The bank had seized all of them after his bankruptcy.
"Anyway, I wanted to talk about last night." Nathan cracked the window slightly, letting fresh air flow through the car. "I gotta say, I was surprised by your suggestion to... well, pressure William House like that. It's not something I expected from you. Where'd you get such a devious idea? Doesn't seem like you."
Marcus tensed. 'Great. He wants to dissect this.' Honestly, he hadn't fully grasped the original Marcus's personality yet—which made him cautious around people who knew this body well. They might notice inconsistencies.
"I just thought of it myself." Marcus said, scrambling for a believable explanation. "Anyone could've come up with it, right? William's loaded, and once you mentioned he's an executive producer at a major network, the idea just clicked."
Nathan was silent for several seconds. Marcus worried he'd said something wrong, but then Nathan nodded slowly. "You know what? You've really grown up, Marcus. Thinking like that... I can't help but feel ashamed I didn't notice you becoming a man. I missed it."
Marcus stayed quiet, letting him continue.
"I was so wrapped up in my own shit that I failed to see you growing up right in front of me." Nathan shook his head with a rueful chuckle.
Despite the sadness in those words, Marcus felt relief wash over him. It seemed Nathan, despite being the original Marcus's father, didn't actually know his son that well. As a result, he wouldn't notice anything unusual.
Besides, any changes could be chalked up to "maturity" or "growing up."
Nathan drove for about fifteen minutes before they reached their destination. After parking, they walked along the sidewalk. Marcus took in the aging buildings and worn storefronts around them.
This was Lankershim Boulevard—the NoHo Arts District. Not a bad alternative for Nathan's studio after being forced out of Burbank.
While it wasn't as bustling as Hollywood Boulevard, Marcus could see it had its own charm—a scrappy, authentic arts scene. Unpolished, but real.
Nathan caught his son observing the neighborhood. "This place might not look like much, but it's packed with aspiring actors, theatre companies, acting schools, comedy clubs." He smiled. "And production studios, of course. Rent's way cheaper than other parts of Hollywood."
Marcus nodded. They continued walking until they reached Nathan's studio. Above the entrance, metallic letters spelled out: "Crown Entertainment Films."
"So? What do you think?" Nathan asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.
"It's decent." Marcus said honestly. He'd braced himself for something worse, but the entrance was presentable—not impressive, but not embarrassing either.
The location wasn't bad either. A café sat right across the street, convenient for grabbing coffee.
They stepped inside to a small receptionist area.
The woman sitting there was in her mid-twenties, casually chewing gum.
Marcus found his eyes lingering a moment longer than necessary. She had light brown hair pulled back loosely, with a few strands framing her face. Her features were girl-next-door pretty—soft, approachable, with bright eyes that had a hint of mischief in them. She wore minimal makeup, just enough to look polished without trying too hard.
Her eyes landed on Nathan and Marcus. She nodded slightly. "Morning, boss."
"Morning, Amy." Nathan nodded back.
"Is that your son?" Her gaze shifted to Marcus with obvious interest, a small smile playing at her lips. "He's pretty handsome."
"You bet he is." Nathan chuckled proudly. "Gets his good looks from me. But don't get any ideas, Amy."
Amy's smile widened just a fraction. "Wouldn't dream of it, boss."
Marcus gave her a slight nod and a half-smile. She bit her lower lip, looking almost embarrassed at being caught staring, then quickly busied herself shuffling papers on her desk. He found her reaction amusing.
He winked at her before following his dad, which made the woman look flustered for a moment. They walked down the hallway and arrived at the main studio area, where staff were already setting up equipment. The space was spacious but bare—scuffed floors, outdated lighting equipment hanging from exposed beams. It felt more like a warehouse than a proper studio.
The staff turned their heads when they saw Nathan and greeted him. They also noticed Marcus at his side. "Who's that, boss?" someone asked.
"This is my son, Marcus." Nathan announced proudly to the staff, who quickly greeted him.
Marcus nodded along, looking around. He saw a green screen set up and could tell they were preparing for a shoot. "What are you shooting today, Dad?"
Nathan's expression dimmed slightly. "We're making an advertisement for a snack brand." He sounded a bit dejected. "Honestly, I want to focus on making movies, but for now, I take on advertising projects to pay the rent and staff salaries."
Marcus nodded. He had to admit, while Nathan didn't seem responsible from appearances alone, he actually cared a lot about his obligations.
"Go sit over there for a bit. I'll be directing this shoot." Nathan gestured toward some chairs set up near the monitors. Marcus settled into one, getting comfortable.
He watched as Nathan walked onto the set and started organizing things, getting the actors ready. Ten minutes later, they began shooting. Marcus could hear Nathan giving direction: "Mike, I want you to look absolutely blown away after you eat the chip—like the taste is out of this world. And Lea, you'll be eagerly reaching for the chips in Mike's hand, okay? Let's make it energetic and fun."
The actors looked to be in their mid-twenties. Mike had short dark brown hair and light stubble, with an athletic build. He wore casual, comfortable clothing—jeans and a plain t-shirt—giving him that easygoing, ordinary guy vibe.
Lea had long brown hair styled in soft waves. Her complexion was fair, and her blue-green eyes stood out. She had a slim, healthy build and also wore casual clothes—probably what the ad needed. The whole point was to make it look like regular people enjoying the snack.
The shooting went smoothly. Marcus didn't know much about filming or acting, but he could tell Mike and Lea had genuine talent. They actually managed to look genuinely excited about the chips in their hands, selling the product naturally.
Within an hour, they'd finished shooting the one-minute advertisement. Nathan walked back to his son. "Did you get bored watching all that?"
Marcus chuckled softly. "Honestly? It was pretty interesting. First time I've seen an ad shoot up close like that."
"Really?" Nathan seemed pleased. "Then you'll definitely want to stick around for the next shoot. We're doing a feature film." He pointed at Mike and Lea, who were talking with crew members. "See those two actors?"
Marcus nodded. "Yeah."
"They're the leads." Nathan said, clearly eager to show off his project. "We've got a break coming up. How about we grab coffee at that café across the street? I'll bring Mike and Lea along." He called over to the two actors and invited them to join.
Soon enough, Marcus found himself sitting across from the actors at a small table, steaming cups of coffee in front of them.
"I'm Michael Cole." Mike extended his hand with an easy smile. "Nice to meet you."
"Lea Saunders." Lea shook Marcus's hand warmly.
Nathan leaned back in his chair, looking pleased. "This is the first time my son's seen behind-the-scenes work like this. Why don't you guys tell him about the film we're making? The characters you're playing?"
Mike took a sip of his coffee and nodded. "The story's actually pretty interesting. It's about a couple living in a neighborhood terrorized by a serial killer. News is spreading, everyone's afraid. But the character I'm playing, Ethan, is actually the serial killer all along."
Lea leaned forward, her eyes lighting up as she explained. "Right. And my character, Jenna, has no idea her boyfriend is the killer. The story follows her experiencing strange things in their house, finding little clues. Gradually, she pieces it together and realizes the truth—then she has to fight to survive and escape."
Marcus listened carefully. He had to admit, the premise was intriguing. However, it wasn't the type of story that would naturally attract audiences—unless it was executed beautifully despite the low budget.
Nathan looked proud as he watched them explain. After all, he'd written the story himself.
After some more conversation, they returned to the studio. Inside, props and fake walls had been arranged to simulate a house interior. The crew began filming, and Marcus settled in to watch.
"Lea, I want you to look at the camera while you're eating—like you're looking at and talking to Mike." Nathan positioned the camera over Mike's shoulder. The setup showed the couple sitting at a dining table, with Nathan using a POV technique—making the camera become Ethan's perspective.
As Marcus watched the filming progress, he gradually realized something. This "film" might have worked as a short, but not as a feature. Even without being an expert, he could tell the movie wouldn't stand out. 'I hate to say this, but I don't think what he's making is going to change the studio's fate.'
He remembered Nathan's hopeful eyes—believing this movie would be his breakthrough. The two actors' eyes too, thinking they were part of something great.
As he was thinking, a notification suddenly appeared.
[New Quest Available - Major Quest | Optional]
Marcus was surprised and glanced at the notification. He excused himself from the staff and asked for the restroom. A crew member pointed him in the right direction, and he headed there immediately. Once inside and confirming he was alone, he tapped the notification, muttering to himself. "I wonder why it says 'optional.'"
[Major Quest: First Feature Film]
[Objective: Create your first full-length feature film.]
[Description: You have witnessed feature film production at the studio and realized the film Nathan is making won't change Crown Entertainment Films' fate. Make a feature film that will turn things around.]
[Time Limit: One Month]
[Reward: +20 Points]
[Yes] or [No]
Marcus was surprised to receive a quest just from watching Nathan's production. Though he noticed it was "optional"—he could accept or decline.
But this was his first "Major Quest." He wasn't about to decline it.
"My first Major Quest. Twenty points if I complete it, and I lose nothing by trying. So why not?" Marcus chuckled softly as he tapped "Yes."
As soon as he accepted, a new notification appeared.
[Quest Accepted]
[Milestone Quest Unlocked — Category: Yearly Quest]
[Title: Release Your First Feature Film]
[Objective: Successfully complete and release your film to the public.]
[Milestone Rewards:
• $1M Box Office — +5 pts
• $5M Box Office — +10 pts
• $10M Box Office — +15 pts
• $20M Box Office — +20 pts
• $50M Box Office — +30 pts
• $100M+ Box Office — +50 pts]
[Total Potential Reward: 130 Points]
[Time Limit: 1 Year]