Chapter 421: Warner's Compromise

"What is it?" Ivanka asked.

"Anna called, Bob Weinstein wants to talk to me," Link said, putting down his phone with a smile.

"What does he want to talk about?" Ivanka asked as she speared a strawberry with her fork.

"That's what I'm curious about too, so I agreed. Compared to Harvey, who's arrogant and hot-tempered, I prefer dealing with a shrewd businessman like Bob."

"According to Catherine, after the success of 'The Gossip Plan,' 'Bridesmaids' is also a huge hit. Many production companies now want to work with Palm Beach Pictures. Maybe the Weinstein side has the same idea," Ivanka guessed.

"Could it be?" Link thought for a moment, unsure, but decided to put work aside and enjoy the meal with Ivanka. Looking at her cold, elegant face and alluring red lips, he couldn't resist cupping her face and giving her a kiss.

"Stop it, we're eating," Ivanka said, giving him a frosty glare.

Link chuckled, took out a box, and placed it on the table in front of her. It was a fairly large box, indicating it wasn't a ring but a watch.

"Why buy such a boring thing?" Ivanka asked, glancing at the box.

"I thought about getting you a ring, but it didn't seem appropriate or romantic in this setting. So, I got you a watch instead. Don't be so cold; I spent a long time in Zurich picking this out for you. Take a look," Link said.

Ivanka opened the box and saw a classic, elegant gold watch that looked very expensive.

She put it on her wrist, which made her arm appear even more delicate and beautiful. The watch complemented her elegant hand perfectly, like a piece of art from Versailles.

"Your taste in gifts has improved a bit since last year," Ivanka said, her lips curling into a slight smile.

"Learning from you!" Link said, raising his juice glass for a toast.

Ivanka smiled softly and, batting her eyelashes, asked, "Do you get angry when you see the newspapers saying you got your start because of me?"

"Of course not. You are like a princess: beautiful, intelligent, noble, and magnanimous, unparalleled in the world. It's my honor that you can tolerate my flaws and accept me as your boyfriend. From the media and public comments, I can feel their strong envy and jealousy. Not only am I not angry, I think it's pretty cool," Link shrugged with a smile.

Ivanka looked at him and smiled, then leaned in to kiss him.

Feeling it wasn't enough, Link wrapped his arms around her waist and kissed her passionately. Her lips tasted sweet and moist, like strawberries, more exquisite than the finest vintage wine.

But every time she asks me do I look okay

I say

When I see your face

There's not a thing that I would change

Cause you're amazing

Just the way you are

As they kissed, a pleasant melody played in the living room—it was Ivanka's phone ringing, her ringtone set to Link's version of "Just the Way You Are."

"Let go, someone's calling," Ivanka said, her face flushed as she pushed him away, covering his lips with her soft hand to stop him from kissing her neck.

Reluctantly, Link withdrew his hand from her waist. "Maybe we should ignore it; it can't be that important."

"We can't do that. We are responsible for the company and need to oversee everything. Small matters won't reach us," Ivanka said, giving him a quick peck before smoothing her dress and leaving to take the call.

Watching her graceful figure, Link felt a bit helpless. Having been with many excellent women, he prided himself on his understanding and appeal to women. Most women would eagerly give everything to him with just a hint of his interest.

Few women could stay calm and rational when being intimate with him, even strong women like Marion Golria and Beyoncé. No matter how strong and mature they appeared, they eventually turned into putty in his hands, willing to cross their own boundaries for him.

The only exception before had been Taylor, who, even when her body turned to jelly under his advances, kept her mind clear and rational, never fully yielding to his wishes. Sometimes, even when she couldn't move, she maintained control, as if her body and soul were separate.

Now, he encountered another similar woman. Ivanka, though she would get deeply involved and become as soft as a feather during intimate moments, would snap back to rationality and deal with external interruptions or crossed boundaries immediately.

Link thought that if they got married, their life together might be a prolonged battle.

"It's a call from Catherine. Guess what it's about?" Ivanka walked back into the dining room, her lips slightly curled.

"Is it good news?"

"Yes!"

"Let me guess. At this moment, Catherine should be preparing for a press conference at the company. Could it be that other victims have contacted her to support us?" Link asked.

"It's related to Warner Bros., but not other production companies supporting us. Warner Bros. President Toby Emmerich just called Catherine and agreed to our previous conditions. They want to negotiate compensation and hope we cancel the press conference," Ivanka said with a smile.

"That's indeed good news."

If they took Warner Bros. to court, it would likely result in mutual destruction. To be precise, Palm Beach Pictures would suffer more.

Warner Bros. is a large company that can withstand the turmoil. After this incident blows over, Warner's board would just need to fire a few involved executives and use their media resources for positive publicity to restore their reputation.

Palm Beach Pictures, on the other hand, would lose millions and gain a formidable enemy, which is not ideal for a new company.

Now that Warner Bros. has offered to settle and compensate for the losses, Palm Beach Pictures can recover its losses and establish a tough image in the industry. Other companies would think twice before trying to take advantage of Palm Beach Pictures.

The credit for this goes mainly to Ivanka and Catherine. In the era of independent production companies standing alongside major studios, many independents and producers have been shortchanged by the major studios, losing their rightful earnings due to ticket manipulation. Often, it was cheaper to stay silent than to fight a costly legal battle.

However, Ivanka and Catherine were resolute. They were willing to spend money to investigate and demanded fairness and justice, showing a strong stance. This attitude likely contributed to Warner Bros.' decision to compromise.

Link thought for a moment and realized something odd. "Earlier, Catherine and I speculated that today's sudden surge of gossip about you was Warner Bros.' doing, trying to disrupt our plans. But now, Warner is offering to settle. Their attitude changed too quickly."

Ivanka nodded, "When I saw the news this morning, I also thought it was Warner's doing. But on second thought, it doesn't add up. If they were trying to cover up the ticket fraud, they wouldn't expose the negotiations or use such tactics to stir up gossip and escalate the situation. This seems more like the work of another party, possibly Warner's competitors aiming to tarnish their reputation."

Listening to her analysis, Link considered another possibility. The main target of the gossip seemed to be his and Ivanka's relationship, as if someone wanted to see them break up and tarnish his reputation. Based on this, the prime suspect would be his rival, Little Kunis, who stood to gain the most if he and Ivanka separated.

Meanwhile, Pam Abdi, attending the aftermath meeting at Palm Beach Pictures, had different thoughts. He watched as Palm Beach Pictures President Catherine Becker carefully reviewed the contract. It was drawn up by Warner's legal department just over two hours ago, agreeing to pay the 56 million shortfall and 2 million investigation costs.

This was the first time Warner Bros. issued such a contract, marking a dark spot in his career. They had no intention of compromising with Palm Beach Pictures, prepared to fight in court for years without admitting anything.

But Palm Beach Pictures cunningly arranged to secretly photograph the negotiations and used the gossip incident to create a public uproar, applying pressure on Warner Bros. Given the media's interest in Ivanka, any small incident involving her could become a major story. Facing such intense scrutiny, Warner's higher-ups decided to compromise.

Reflecting on the entire affair, Pam couldn't help but marvel at Palm Beach Pictures' clever handling. They sensed Warner's reluctance to escalate and turned the tables by making it a major issue, showing no mercy.

"Mr. Abdi, I suggest adding a time limit to this compensation agreement. Warner Bros. should pay the first batch of box office revenue within 15 days after 'Bridesmaids' ends its run, with the rest settled within six months. The 2 million investigation fee should be paid upon signing the contract. Do you agree?" Catherine asked.

Pam Abdi sighed inwardly and agreed. He didn't feel ashamed of the ticket fraud, only helpless. Major studios often moved independent companies' earnings, a common practice. This time, the mistake was underestimating 'Bridesmaids' potential, coordination issues within Warner, and facing a formidable opponent in Link and Ivanka.

After signing the contract, Abdi requested Palm Beach Pictures destroy all documents related to the case to avoid leaks. Catherine agreed, emphasizing their company's integrity.

Leaving Palm Beach Pictures, Abdi couldn't shake off the feeling of defeat. Despite Warner's efforts, they couldn't cover up the publicized scandal. The media speculated Warner had reached a compensation agreement with Palm Beach, avoiding further exposure.

In the industry, the focus wasn't on Warner's ticket fraud but on 'Bridesmaids' and Palm Beach Pictures. With 'Bridesmaids' grossing $228 million globally in a month, even after the fraudulent reduction, the buzz around Palm Beach grew, making them a sought-after partner in Hollywood.

In no time, Palm BeachPictures was flooded with offers from various major studios and independent producers. The film industry was buzzing with talk about the company’s sudden rise and the scandal that had amplified their reputation.

Link and Ivanka were now at the heart of Hollywood’s gossip columns. Despite the troubles, their relationship and the success of 'Bridesmaids' made them the most talked-about couple in the industry. They navigated the challenges with confidence, using their newfound influence to secure future projects and collaborations.

As for Warner Bros., while the settlement was a blow to their pride, they were determined to recover their image. They focused on moving forward, learning from the experience, and ensuring better practices to avoid similar controversies in the future.

Back at Palm Beach Pictures, the mood was upbeat. The company’s hard-fought victory over a major studio had set a precedent, showing that even independent companies could stand up to industry giants. Link and Ivanka celebrated their success with their team, knowing that their combined efforts had turned a potential disaster into a triumph.

Their strategy had paid off. They had not only secured compensation but also strengthened their position in the industry. Palm Beach Pictures was now seen as a formidable player, one that wouldn’t back down from a fight and had the ability to turn challenges into opportunities.