Chapter 28: Storms Rise and Fall Quickly
Beverly Hills, North Sunset Boulevard.
In the sprawling mansion, Buddy Ackman basked in the afternoon sunlight, folding his newspaper as he remarked, "I recall the company’s involved in a project featuring Robert Downey Jr.?"
His daughter, lissa Ackman, replied from behind him, "The $10 million investnt in The Singing Detective."
"Will it affect the project?" Buddy asked.
"The film is scheduled for a fall release," lissa said softly. "There’s still about six months to go. Hollywood will churn out new scandals long before then, and people will forget. By the ti it’s released, the impact should be minimal."
Buddy, a man of the old guard, scoffed. "An actor having an affair with a producer’s wife—that’s audacious and bad business."
lissa added, "The company won’t work with Downey again. Other producers will likely hesitate to collaborate with him too."
Buddy pressed further, "How is Bro taking it? Will it affect his work?"
"Probably not," chid in Barack Bernan, an old friend of Bro Derek. "Bro worships his wife. If Sarah sincerely apologizes, he’ll cave without question."
Buddy, ever the realist, observed, "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. A leader’s true talent lies in leveraging strengths. That makes a person valuable."
lissa knew this was directed at her. "I understand, Father."
With a wave, Buddy dismissed her and turned to Barack. "The dical team suggested younger blood packs yield better results. It’s ti for the foundation to act—renew the inventory entirely."
Barack, prepared, responded, "The foundation plans to launch overseas charity initiatives, targeting the Middle East, South Asia, and Southeast Asia for candidates."
Buddy nodded slightly. "Make it quick."
Sherman Oaks, A Red Bentley Parked Outside a Hillside Mansion.
Inside the car, Sarah Parker hesitated, reluctant to go inside.
Turning to the passenger seat, she said, "I never wanted to be with Downey. I stopped having feelings for him ages ago. I just… wanted to have so fun. I never intended to hurt Bro or our family."
Caroline, ever blunt, said firmly, "You have two choices: sincerely apologize to Bro and beg for his forgiveness, or divorce him and let this blow up publicly."
"No, I won’t divorce him!" Sarah exclaid. She couldn’t bear to lose Bro, who treated her so well. "I’ll apologize. If he truly loves , he’ll forgive ."
Even Caroline, used to dealing with drama, was montarily stunned by Sarah’s brazenness.
Regaining her composure, Sarah started the car and drove into the mansion.
Caroline, fiddling with the pepper spray in her Chanel bag, wondered, Is this going to end in dostic violence?
The sound of the car startled Bro, who ca to the door holding a copy of the National Enquirer.
Sarah parked, hesitated for a mont, then braced herself and stepped out.
Bro approached her imdiately. "Darling, where have you been? I was so worried."
"I…" Sarah’s tears flowed automatically, a skill honed from years of acting. "I’m sorry. I made a mistake."
Bro, often mocked by his friends as being a pushover for his wife, imdiately embraced her. "It’s okay. It’s okay. I’ve got you."
Caroline stood dumbfounded. Is this man too forgiving?
Bro’s next words left her utterly speechless: "Next ti, invite . I won’t mind."
Sarah froze montarily, but as the idea settled, she found it oddly thrilling. After all, the reason she sought out Downey in the first place was for the excitent.
The couple retreated inside for a private discussion.
Caroline, left in the courtyard, quickly gathered her wits. After all, most of her clients were Hollywood players, and the industry was rife with scandals.
On-set romances were par for the course. Male, female, sa-sex, throuples, trades—it was all standard fare.
Producers like Bro could summon n, won, or anyone in between with a re gesture. What made soone like him settle down?
Caroline shook her head, puzzled.
Ten minutes later, Sarah erged and called Caroline inside.
Bro got straight to the point. "You’re Sarah’s publicist. Handle this scandal quickly."
Caroline considered the situation carefully. "The key is your… united front. I’ll contact the dia. You two will appear in public, hand in hand, expressing your commitnt to your marriage and family. I’ll arrange an interview where Sarah can show remorse, and Bro can forgive her. We’ll release statents emphasizing the importance of family and love. Then, we’ll redirect public outrage toward Downey. Trust , that druggie is unstable and bound to cause a scene."
Holding hands tightly, Sarah and Bro agreed. "Make it happen."
Caroline quickly exited, muttering, Even the air here is suffocating.
Despite their unique preferences, she suspected their relationship was entangled in a web of mutual interests.
Hollywood, the pinnacle of Arican depravity.
anwhile, in Brentwood, Hawk stood among the throngs of reporters camped outside Robert Downey Jr.’s ho, waiting for Bro Derek to confront him.
Speculation ran wild among the press.
"If Bro shows up, ask provocative questions. Push him to lose his temper—maybe even start a fight with Downey."
"Better yet, hope for a shootout," soone quipped.
"One dead, one injured," another added, drawing laughter.
"We’d strike it rich!"
Hawk silently agreed but said nothing.
Having sold his photos on the condition of publication, he hoped to witness Derek and Downey tearing each other apart.
But as the afternoon dragged on, Bro never appeared.
Instead, a source from a major studio shared new intel.
"Fresh news on Downey," soone announced.
"What is it?" Hawk asked.
"The Phantom n project—co-produced by Sony and Warner with Ackman Pictures as an investor—just declared Downey unsuitable for the role."
"Downey’s been blacklisted," soone deduced. "He slept with a producer’s wife. No studio will touch him now."
"Who’d risk their wife for a film?"
Exhausted from the fruitless wait, Hawk returned ho and flipped on the TV.
At 6:30, Channel 11’s entertainnt news covered Downey and Sarah’s scandal, followed by a surprising clip:
Bro Derek and Sarah Parker, hand in hand at the Beverly Shopping Center, smiling as if nothing had happened.
Sarah, tearfully apologizing during an interview, was forgiven by Bro, who declared her his one true love.
Both expressed a renewed focus on their marriage and family.
Watching this spectacle, Hawk thought, Is this what Hollywood calls love?
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