*Chapter 203: Are You Eighteen?*

In the afternoon, the sun shone brightly over Los Angeles, the sky was a clear blue with the occasional white cloud drifting by.

In the backyard of the hillside villa, the pool's waters sparkled. Richard swam a few laps, cleaned his ears, then lay down on a lounge chair, basking lazily in the sun, feeling quite content.

He turned on the outdoor speakers, picked up some documents he had taken from the company, and began to review them.

In the past six months, BAA had developed quite well, with the total number of staff exceeding forty. Among the artists under its management, apart from one who terminated their contract and another who switched to being a manager, the remaining eight were progressing nicely.

First and foremost was Naomi.

"Chronicles of Riddick" had been in theaters for five weeks, grossing $68 million in North America, far exceeding media expectations and becoming a surprise hit.

Thanks to this movie, Richard solidified his position as an action star and was recognized as a true expert in the eyes of many.

Naomi Watts had gained even more. She went from being a D-list actress to a B-list one. In "Chronicles of Riddick," her acting was acknowledged by many professionals. Some said that the film's success was due to two major factors: her acting and beauty, and Richard's action scenes.

After Naomi became popular, she landed two more good roles, both as the lead actress, and her future looked even brighter.

Apart from Naomi, James Franco's newly released "Trapped" and "Whatever It Takes" also performed well at the box office, making him a standout among the new actors.

Then there was Piper Perabo, who, after playing two supporting roles, secured the lead role in "Coyote Ugly."

The other new actors were considered to be in the second tier, continuing to play minor roles.

Among the artists, Jessica was somewhat unique. Since last year, she had been filming "Dark Angel." Since it was a TV series by renowned director James Cameron, once it aired, she would likely become the fastest-rising star in the company, possibly surpassing Naomi to become the top actress.

With several artists doing well, the company had also turned a profit, albeit a small one, but this was still a positive sign.

Richard felt reassured; perhaps he could hand the company entirely over to Anthony.

"Mr. Brad, Miss Jessica Alba is here," Mrs. Fatina said as she approached.

"Let her in," Richard replied.

"Okay!"

Mrs. Fatina left, and after a while, a tall girl walked in. She had honey-colored skin, red lips, wore a T-shirt and shorts, and a pink baseball cap with cartoon sunglasses. She was dressed very fashionably.

"Hi, Richard!" Jessica greeted him with a smile.

"Jessica, come and sit," Richard said, pointing to the seat next to him.

"Sure!"

Jessica smiled, swaying her slim waist and toned, athletic legs. After half a year of training in combat and dance, her figure had become even more fit and sexy, and her smile sweeter.

"What brings you here today? Are you done filming?" Richard asked.

"Yes, we just finished the first season, so I can take a break for a while," Jessica replied with a smile.

"That's good!"

At that moment, Mrs. Fatina placed two glasses of iced juice down before leaving the backyard again.

"What are your plans for this time? If you want to do a movie, you can have your agent arrange it," Richard suggested.

Jessica took a sip of juice, then shook her head. "After filming for a few months, I'm really tired. I want to rest for a bit and then see how things go after the series airs."

Jessica stretched, mimicking Richard as she lay back on the lounge chair.

"Smart move. Once the series airs, you'll be a big star, and things will be different," Richard said with a smile.

Jessica laughed and looked around. "Richard, is it just you and Mrs. Fatina here?"

"Yes."

"It was just you last time too. Do you enjoy being alone?" Jessica asked, turning slightly to face him.

Richard shook his head. "I like having company too, but no one likes coming here. They all think it's too quiet, even if I invite them."

"Haha, no way! If you invited me, I wouldn't mind the quiet," Jessica said with a smile.

Richard glanced at her and smiled. "If you want, you can stay here. I don't think you'll last long."

"Really?!" Jessica blinked in surprise. "You're letting me stay here?"

"There are plenty of empty rooms. If you don't mind the quiet, you can stay here for a few days. I happen to be free these days," Richard said nonchalantly.

"Okay, you said it! Then I'll stay," Jessica said happily, standing up.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm going back to pack."

"No need. If you need anything, you can buy it down the hill. This card has $100,000 for spending money. Consider it a reward for your good performance on set," Richard said, handing her a bank card.

"A reward?"

Jessica blinked and then suddenly smiled. "Boss, I heard that rich men give allowances to their mistresses. Are you...?""Stop with the nonsense. Do you want it or not? If not, forget it!" Richard withdrew his hand.

"Wait, I want it!" Jessica lunged forward, grabbing his hand with a smile. "This is your reward for me. Why wouldn't I want it?"

"Smart girl. You can ask Mrs. Fatina to help you prepare a room."

"Alright, see you in a bit!" Jessica kissed him on the cheek before quickly leaving the backyard.

Richard shook his head and continued reviewing the documents.

After a while, Jessica returned, now wearing a sexy bikini. Her slender waist, long legs, and honey-colored skin were quite dazzling.

"Richard, do I look beautiful?" Jessica asked with a playful smile.

"Beautiful. You'd definitely be one of the most beautiful faces in the world, without a doubt," Richard replied, looking her over.

"Haha, thank you!"

Jessica chuckled softly and gracefully jumped into the pool, adding another mermaid to the water.

"Richard, there's something I want to ask you," Jessica said as she swam a few laps, then leaned against the edge of the pool.

"What is it?" Richard looked up at her.

"What kind of girls do you like?"

"Pretty and sexy ones," Richard shrugged.

"Really? I thought you might prefer older women," Jessica said with a teasing blink.

Back in school, she had a large group of admirers, and even after entering the entertainment industry, there were many who pursued her. But with Richard, he seemed entirely unfazed. At first, she thought it was because of company rules, but then she heard about his close relationship with Naomi, which was a bit disheartening.

Richard smiled lightly and pulled her out of the pool.

"What are you doing?" Jessica asked nervously.

Richard grabbed a towel and began drying her hair. "You should know I have a girlfriend."

"I know, but I like you too," Jessica said, hugging his waist.

"Alright, you can stay up here for a few days and train with me. How does that sound?" Richard asked, touching her cheek.

"Okay!" Jessica replied with a sweet smile.

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(End of Chapter)