[Chapter 381: Threatening Letters, P. Diddy]
Six days before finishing filming for The Rock, Link received an anonymous letter. It had no signature, no sender address -- just his name, delivered directly to the film crew's location.
Monica opened the letter and screamed, dropping the contents onto the ground. Inside was a Time magazine featuring his photo. Someone had used red paint to draw an 'X' over his face, and the photo was marred with numerous scratches that made it look disturbing.
Link glanced at it and instructed his bodyguard Wallace to call the police and turn over the letter. He had dealt with similar situations before since rising to fame.
...
For example, there was the time a female fan trailed him to his hotel, intending to seduce him for a role. Link also received a package containing bullets during the release of Se7en, warning him to turn himself in or he would be killed.
Then there were the crazed fans who attempted to sneak into his mansion to spy on his private life, while some male fans of Monica, Jennifer, and Brooke Shields vandalized his car with graffiti, cursing him with insults like 'scumbag,' 'leave my goddess,' etc.
The incident that left the biggest impression on him was during the release of The Blair Witch Project when someone sent him a creepy doll with his birthday and zodiac, telling him he was under a mysterious curse and had to transfer $10 million to a designated account or else he would be cursed to death.
After encountering such incidents, Link typically left the handling to his management team and the police. Initially, the police weren't very proactive, but as his fame quickly ascended and connections were made within the political and judicial circles, their attitude changed and they began taking these minor cases seriously.
...
"Link, why would someone send such a scary poster? What do they want? Are you in danger?" Monica appeared alarmed, clutching his arm, her face filled with concern.
"It's nothing, I'm a celebrity. It's common to encounter such things. Don't worry; it's all trivial." Link waved his hand, asking the crew members to return to their posts so they could continue shooting the next scene.
...
After taking the evidence, the police started their investigation. Three days later, it was discovered that the letter had been mailed from San Francisco, but the identity of the sender remained unknown.
There were no suspicious fingerprints on the letter or magazine, and the handwriting was also quite indistinct. The red 'X' was drawn with spray paint, and the scratches on the magazine were made with a sharp object like a knife or dagger.
The police had not found any additional evidence at that time. The San Francisco police alongside the FBI stated they would continue the investigation and provide him with results.
Link expressed his gratitude but didn't let it weigh on his mind.
...
However, just a day later, due to the chatter among the crew, the media reported that Link received a 'threatening letter' while shooting in San Francisco, with some even suggesting someone was plotting to murder him. Other media outlets claimed Link was too wealthy, making him a target for kidnapping.
While shooting, Link received calls from Quentin Tarantino, Steven Soderbergh, Sam Haskel, and others.
Steven inquired about his safety and condemned the person who sent the letter.
Jackie Chan urged him to be cautious and increase his personal security.
Only Quentin sounded excited when he called, saying that if Link was truly kidnapped, he was ready to write a screenplay inspired by this event, assuring it would be something great.
Link chuckled. After the latest release of the annual box office rankings and the Forbes Billionaire List, many called to congratulate him, but Quentin hadn't called at all. Now that he heard Link was in trouble, he was the first to call.
Link couldn't resist teasing him, asking how preparations for his new movie were going. With The Rock to be wrapped up soon, Link was gearing up to film his second movie in June. He advised Quentin not to be too lazy; laziness was a disservice to life.
Quentin cursed in frustration, blaming Link for pushing too hard, claiming it disrupted his rhythm.
Link laughed heartily, hanging up contentedly.
...
"Link, someone's looking to kidnap you, and you can still laugh?" In the directing area, Jodie Foster put down the director's script, glancing at him sideways, scolding him for being heartless.
"It's nothing. It's probably just a prank. You've been famous for over ten years; it should have happened before."
"I used to deal with something like this almost every year. It had gotten less frequent in recent years; I guess I'm getting older and losing charm."
"Who says so? Don't you think you look younger and more attractive? Your allure is even greater now. I've been completely fascinated by you, sometimes wishing I could be lost in you forever."
Link lightly brushed her cheek with his finger.
Jodie blushed, pulling his hand into her embrace. "Don't be too relaxed; while the person sending the magazine might not take action, once you're famous and wealthy, there will be more malicious intent around you. Being cautious is definitely safer."
"I understand. I will."
With his rising wealth, his personal security detail had gone from a Level A to a Level S -- his protection nearly equaled that of the President.
Additionally, after multiple enhancements, his physical abilities had attained superhuman levels, including strength, speed, explosive power, reaction time, endurance, skin and muscle resilience, as well as resistance to viruses and toxins, far surpassing that of an average person.
If anyone wanted to kidnap him, they would surely fail.
---
"Threatening letters?" At Miramax in Los Angeles, Harvey put down the newspaper, his face grim as he called Michael Ovitz and the others, asking if they were behind it, warning that such actions would alert Link and allow him to prepare.
Michael Ovitz and the others denied it, claiming they weren't so bored. Besides, Link had many enemies in the industry; there were plenty wishing to take him down, so this could have been done by someone else -- it was just a coincidence.
"Harvey, after these days, have you come up with a way to take down Link?" In the office, Ovitz asked over the phone.
"I'm working on it. Link has a delicate nature; he often carries two or more bodyguards when going out and even has them check for surveillance before using the restroom. Our people have a hard time getting close to him; taking him out won't be easy," Harvey said in a deep voice.
"Don't rush; take your time. The key is to keep it secret and not let Link find out."
"I know."
Harvey hung up the phone and returned to reading the newspaper.
...
Today's headlines included the threat against Link, alongside reports of him attending interviews with several film companies.
During an interview with the editor of Vanity Fair, Link expressed his openness to collaboration with other companies, stating he was willing to share profits so everyone could benefit.
Harvey huffed in discontent at Link's comments.
Though Link appeared generous, stating he would share profits, he was essentially positioning other companies as subordinates to Guess Pictures, merely surviving on the scraps.
As an ambitious man, Harvey absolutely didn't want this outcome; he aimed to sit at the Hollywood table, enjoying the biggest cuts of the pie, seeing anyone who opposed him as his enemy.
...
Ding~ling~ling!
Seeing the caller ID, Harvey frowned and answered the call. "Sean, what's up?"
The caller was Sean Combs, known as P. Diddy, a once top music producer whose career suffered setbacks due to jail time. Last year, he released a new single, Can't Nobody Hold Me Down, that topped the Billboard charts, bringing him back into the spotlight.
He also ran a record label, Bad Boy, home to famous rappers like B.I.G., Jay-Z, and Mary J. Blige, and had produced records for the pop diva, Mariah Carey.
Sean was a well-known figure in the music scene and had deep connections in the entertainment world. He enjoyed throwing wild parties at his mansion, inviting numerous celebrities to drink, gamble, and party hard.
Harvey had known Sean for more than two years, having been invited to two of his parties.
"Harvey, I met this gorgeous girl named Jennifer Lopez at an event yesterday. She is stunning, with a super sexy figure, a big butt, long legs, and a beautiful caramel skin tone. Wow, she fits my taste perfectly. I heard she's an actress -- have you worked with her? Can you hook me up?" Sean asked, smacking his lips.
"Jennifer Lopez?" Harvey didn't immediately recall who she was and called his secretary for confirmation.
The secretary informed him that Jennifer Lopez was a contracted artist under William Morris Agency, a Puerto Rican actress who had notable roles in films like My Family, Money Train, and The Butterfly Effect.
In addition to acting, she was also a singer with a successful album, ranking as a second or third tier singer in the music scene, and she frequently made appearances in the fashion world, developing on multiple fronts.
Moreover, she was Link's girlfriend; while not the most prominent in Link's circle, she was indeed one of the publicly acknowledged partners.
"Link?" Harvey frowned; the very name stirred discomfort within him.
After the secretary left, Harvey told Sean that Jennifer was taken -- her man was Link, a billionaire and a significant figure in the entertainment industry. He advised Sean not to mess with Link's girl, or he'd face Link's wrath.
"Damn! He has so many women; why does he have to take the one I like?" Sean cursed Link on the phone, filled with anger, jealousy, and a touch of apprehension.
Harvey chuckled, "Link is worth several billion; he has a company valued in the billions. If he wanted a starlet, no one could refuse him. You can let go of Jennifer; you'd best stay out of Link's business."
"Hmm! What's so great about being rich? I could easily blow his head off and see what his money is worth then." Sean boasted over the phone.
"Oh, dear Sean, please don't do that. Link has bodyguards; no one can harm him. If you genuinely like that Jennifer, consider earning more money. As long as you have enough, Jennifer might just kick Link to the curb and run into your arms."
"You're right; aside from his wealth, Link is lacking in many aspects compared to me."
Harvey laughed heartily, continuing to provoke Sean.
Sean had a history of drug dealing and was associated with gangs, implicated in multiple criminal cases, including shootings in November '94 and last June.
If he could be turned against Link, he could become another powerful tool in Harvey's arsenal against him.
*****
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