America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Festival Palace, in the office of the film festival organizing committee.

Isabel Huppert's face was like still water as she coldly stared at the committee chairman Jacob across from her and said, "I heard you're proposing to have Ajani present the Palme d'Or? The film festival is about to start, what are you trying to do, launch a surprise attack?"

"You are the biggest female representative of French cinema…" said Jacob.

"You know very well what I think of her!" Huppert slammed the table and snapped, "Over my dead body!"

Not to mention the years of open rivalry and covert struggles, Ajani had actually caused real harm during the shooting of the Bronte Sisters, having once stabbed her in the head for real!

Everyone in the French film circle knew that they were mortal enemies who couldn't coexist.

Huppert loudly said, "If Ajani is a guest, I will hold a press conference right now and announce my resignation as president of the jury."

Jacob wanted to create a spectacle, but he hadn't expected Huppert's reaction to be so fierce.

The festival would start tomorrow, and the organizing committee couldn't possibly replace the jury president just for the sake of a guest presenter.

The Cannes Film Festival would become a joke to the entire world.

Jacob had no choice but to give in, "Alright, we'll find someone else."

Huppert was known for her tough stance, and she pushed further, "I refuse to let her present any awards."

Jacob, already conceding, simply responded, "This time, we will not invite Ajani."

Huppert was satisfied, walked out of the office, and returned to the jury president's office. Her assistant came over and said, "We've received two more invites."

"Put them on the schedule for now," Huppert thought of her nemesis and said, "Keep an eye on Ajani's movements."

The assistant made a note of it.

Huppert felt as if her head was about to explode, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of calls she'd been receiving lately.

Her old friend Steven Soderbergh had even called to ask her to pay attention to "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" and the performance of its lead actor, Martin.

Harvey Weinstein had even tempted her with the Oscars.

But Huppert was unshaken when came to Palme d'Or decisions, having already watched her teacher's "The White Ribbon," which was of undeniable quality.

As for other awards, she would wait and see, also considering the jury's opinions.

......

At Wuyang Hotel, Ivan, who had come from Los Angeles a week before, sat in the hotel lobby with a French interpreter he had hired from Los Angeles, watching the guests come and go.

A woman carrying an air of presence, accompanied by a female assistant, entered the lobby at that moment.

The interpreter cautioned, "Ajani is here."

Ivan, who had specifically looked at Ajani's posters and photos, eyed the strangely stiff-faced middle-aged woman and asked, "Are you sure she's Ajani?"

The interpreter, familiar with the situation in France, noted, "Excessive plastic surgery, beauty collapsed, it would have been better to age naturally."

Ivan first took out his phone to make a call, then pulled out a mini camera and, with the interpreter's cover, snapped a few continuous photos.

At the hotel reception, the assistant returned from inquiring and said, "All rooms are booked."

Ajani, notorious for her bad temper, cursed, "Damn it, does the whole world have to be against me?"

A friend in the committee had suggested she present the Palme d'Or, so she had rushed over from Paris, only to receive news upon landing that due to Huppert's strong objection, the proposal had not passed.

Her arch-enemy Huppert didn't want her there, but not only did she intend to come; she planned not to leave!

"Ask about other hotels," Ajani said.

The assistant, who knew her employer's temper, dared not say more and hurriedly called the Prosperous Grand Hotel.

"Sorry, all rooms at the hotel have been booked…" Before the voice on the phone could finish, it changed its tone, "Hello, someone has just canceled a suite here, if you are interested in booking a room…"

The assistant quickly said, "I'll book it! The reservation is for Ms. Isabel Ajani!"

After confirming with the other end, the assistant hurried back to inform Ajani, and the two of them soon left for the Prosperous Grand Hotel.

Ivan and the interpreter, just like any other reporter commonly seen on this seaside avenue, followed them at an easy pace.

There was no worry of being noticed for tailing, as there was a swarm of journalists following Ajani.

Ajani entered the Prosperous Grand Hotel, and after her assistant took care of the paperwork, they both went upstairs together.

Ivan instructed the interpreter to wait in the lounge area while he went upstairs to check, confirmed the room was the same one that had just been canceled, went back downstairs, left the hotel, made a call, and then went to a roadside café.

Before long, Bruce sat down across from him.

Ivan didn't waste words, "Ajani has checked into the Prosperous Grand Hotel."

"She's here, and it seems she won't be leaving any time soon," Bruce commented, "The 'Inglourious Basterds' cast is also staying at the Prosperous Grand, there will be encounters going in and out."

In the past two years, Ivan's paparazzi work had not gone to waste, and he had learned much from Jody, TMZ's ace reporter, "If I can't find a suitable opportunity, I have a way to arrange for her to 'accidentally' meet Harvey."

Bruce nodded, "Get the right pictures and contact me, the production will facilitate media coverage."

"You can count on me," Ivan assured.

Bruce didn't linger; he got up and headed back to the Wuyang Hotel.

Ivan left as well, going back to the Prosperous Grand Hotel to keep watch himself.

Bruce returned to the hotel quickly and roughly informed Martin about the situation.

Martin said, "Harvey is a good teacher when it comes to PR campaigns, so we need to learn from him."

Bruce asked, "Has the conflict between Yuper and Ajani become this intense?"

Martin pointed at his phone: "Melanie just got the news that Yuper is strongly opposing the organizing committee's invitation to Ajani to be the Palme d'Or award presenter, telling them directly that it would only happen over her dead body!"

This is the advantage of hiring well-known local PR for big productions and companies—the ability to grasp firsthand information and developments.

......

The next day, the Cannes Film Festival kicked off.

In front of Lumiere Hall at the Festival Palace, a long red carpet had been laid out, and hundreds of journalists from around the world had crammed the media area full.

There were also hundreds of guests participating on the red carpet.

Many of them lingered on the red carpet for a long time, and security personnel had to occasionally step forward to move people along.

The reporters in the media area weren't interested in the unfamiliar faces from around the world, focusing their cameras entirely on well-known actors and directors.

There were too many people walking the red carpet, most of whom weren't worth the time.

The Cannes red carpet is open for public ticket sales, and the price this year was 20,000 Euro per red carpet walk.

That is, by spending 20,000 Euro, one could walk the red carpet at the Cannes opening ceremony.

Those who paid their own way to come didn't draw much interest from the media, so they would arrange with photographers in advance to take their pictures specially.

Once the photos were taken, they would be sent back to their home countries, making it appear very glamorous; however, occasionally, the media area in the background would show that the cameras were not even pointed in their direction.

Mene himself also had corporate sponsorship, having received a business-sponsored ticket to walk the red carpet.

Dressed in a black suit, with a camera hanging around his neck, he waited in a corner of the grand staircase of the Festival Palace, anticipating the arrival of his artsy muses.

Martin and David Fincher arrived in the same car and, after disembarking, joined Catherine Kennedy and Kate Blanchett in the waiting area.

This was also a feature of the festival's opening red carpet event—creative team members from the same production often walked the red carpet together.

Right in front, the "Burning Plain" team took the opportunity of Kim Basinger chatting with Catherine Kennedy for Jennifer Lawrence to quietly approach Martin.

"There are so many people today, those who bought tickets, from sponsor channels, lots of handsome men and beautiful women," she said in a low voice, sincerely asking Martin for advice, "With so many people, how can I draw some media attention?"

This was the dilemma of all newcomers.

Considering Nicholson's position, Martin thought for a moment and said, "If you walk beside Charlize, you'll definitely have cameras following you, but if you want to attract attention, you need something special, something that leaves a lasting impression."

Lawrence considered, "Something special?"

Martin casually replied, "I'm a man, what suits men won't suit women."

Just then, a wave of gasps rolled in from the red carpet, each wave louder than the last.

When Lawrence turned to look, she saw Sophie Marceau in front of the media area.

One of the straps of Sophie Marceau's evening gown had slipped off her shoulder, revealing what she often generously showed in her films.

At the sight of so many gasps, Sophie Marceau first covered her mouth in surprise.

After covering her mouth, she slowly pulled up the strap of her gown.

At that moment, every camera, private and media alike, turned toward Sophie Marceau.

Without having to think too hard, Lawrence knew that Sophie Marceau would dominate the prominent spots in entertainment media around the world.

She sighed inwardly, this lady really went all out for attention!

On the grand staircase, Mene went on a photo-snapping spree with his camera, capturing every critical moment involving Sophie Marceau.

Beside Sophie Marceau, Monica Bellucci was at a loss for words; she herself only dared to bare all and be daring during filming, but this one on the red carpet...

Had the industry become this cutthroat?

Lawrence looked toward Martin again.

Martin shook his head slightly at her. Enjoy exclusive content from My Virtual Library Empire

Lawrence understood that what Sophie had just done wouldn't work well if she tried it, too.

She couldn't very well lift her gown and throw her underwear at the fans, could she? She still had to consider Nicholson's feelings.

The "Burning Plain" crew walked onto the red carpet, with Dior's goddess Charlize Theron undoubtedly the center of attention.

Martin looked at Lawrence in her white gown and suddenly burst into laughter.

David Fincher came over at just the right time and asked, "What's so funny? You look like a pervert."

Martin pointed casually at the scene ahead, "Witness the metamorphosis of an actress."

Arriving in front of the media area, the red carpet was a bit uneven due to the heavy foot traffic.

Just as the media's cameras mostly shifted to Charlize, an accident happened.

Jennifer Lawrence seemed to trip over the red carpet and fell to the ground with a thud.

Charlize's first reaction was to help her up.

For a brief moment, Lawrence stole the spotlight.