Chapter 38: Tenfold
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
The next few days were very ordinary. Adrian toured around Berlin with Kate while enjoying food, and occasionally being asked about ‘Memento’. It was as though he was really there for vacation.
Although the attention on ‘Memento’ decreased quite a bit because various films such as ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ were screened in selected theatres during the film festival, it was already known to many. Besides, the movie critics praised Dennis and Joe’s acting more than they criticized them—it was half-half for Kate instead, as they either thought that she was great or terrible—on top of Laverne’s capability, so there was no need for Adrian to worry about the film’s publicizing work.
Therefore, Adrian left everything to him since he did not expect to win any award at the Berlin Film Festival. Despite that, reality usually exceeded one’s expectations. Two weeks later at the awards ceremony, ‘Memento’ actually won the Special Jury Prize!
“Thank you, juries, for awarding this to me…” While Adrian thanked a bunch of people when he received the award on stage, he mumbled and wondered to himself if the juries were out of their minds.
Though the Special Jury Prize at the Berlin Film Festival and the Best First Work award at the Venice Film Festival were of the same property, they both meant that the film gained the juries’ approval. They may be from different places all over the world, but filmmakers from Germany and the areas around it were the ones who could really make the call during a key moment. It was the same for other film festivals in Venice, Cannes, San Sebastian, and so on, as well as the Oscars.
These film festivals or film awards had their own theme, thus they would not award films that did not fit. As mentioned before, the Berlin Film Festival’s theme was politics, yet ‘Memento’ had nothing to do with that at all. Moreover, the Best Director award was already awarded to Jonathan Demme—’The Silence of the Lambs’ more or less had some political elements inside, for example, the senator’s daughter who was kidnapped—thus there was no reason for them to present a consolation award to an American film. Why did the juries award Adrian with the Special Jury Prize then?
Adrian was puzzled until he spoke to Laverne and linked it to his acknowledgment. The present Berlin Film Festival was far from how it would be 10 years later. There was a great disparity between it and the ones at Venice and Cannes due to many reasons, and its title as one of the “Big Three” film festivals in Europe was a doubtful one. The fact that Germany had just reunited further increased the disparity, and furthermore, Adrian happened to have won the Best First Work at the Venice Film Festival.
There was not a single director who produced two high-quality films in a few months as Adrian did. One of his films became quite reputable and had remarkable box office sales, and the other one received great reviews from movie critics, such that it surpassed the first. As such, it made sense the Special Jury Prize was awarded to him. In any case, it was a consolation prize, and there were two of them, so he should at least achieve the same result he did at the Venice Film Festival. ‘Memento’ definitely deserved an award.
Frankly, a film festival was just an event that gave out cake slices, whereby those who were deserving and lucky would get one. After figuring this out, Adrian was no longer disturbed. Needless to say, Laverne would also utilize the award to advertise the film.
The Berlin Film Festival that was also stretched across two weeks came to an end after the awards ceremony. Adrian sent Kate back to London where he stayed for two days, then returned to Los Angeles.
Naturally, the next thing for him to do was to wait. The Berlin Film Festival began on February 4th and ended on the 18th, whereas the first Gulf War ended on February 28th.
Nevertheless, Adrian had not been idle. He continued on his next project again once he appointed Universal to be in charge of the distribution work of ‘Memento’ in North America. When he was still in London and Berlin, Kate asked him about ‘Tomb Raider’ from time to time, and he also added ‘Philadelphia’ to his plan.
It was overall still a pleasant moment, unlike the stressful times he spent in the editing room over a month ago. His only regret was that Kate was not with him, especially whenever he thought about her hot body and her tenderness. Ever since Kate’s previous trip to Los Angeles, she had been completely immersed in the countless tricks in bed thanks to Adrian who was exceptionally experienced, so much so that she became an expert both on and off the bed.
This was also why Kate complained about Adrian that night in Berlin. However, she still had an enjoyable time. After all, one who was deep in love always lacked rationale.
Finally, February was over. Following the announcements on the 28th from many armies of different countries at the Persian Gulf to stop the attack, which ended the ground warfare that lasted 100 hours, the Gulf War that went on for over a month came to an end. Subsequently, it was time to make an inventory of the spoils of war, whether the army and the financial predators earned or lost.
Without warning, the phone rang, which shocked Adrian who was deep in thought. He picked it up after a moment of hesitation. “Hello, who’s this?”
“Eddy, it’s me.” Claude’s voice was heard, which was accompanied by heavy breathing.
“Hey, Claw, you finally called. You really have the nerves of steel, I thought you escaped with my money.” Although Adrian’s heart skipped a beat, he made fun of Claude. Apart from February 20th when he told Claude about the date, the 28th, through the phone, they had not spoken to each other since.
“Do you know… Do you know… How many funds we invested in the beginning?” Claude’s breathing was becoming heavier, and the sound of him removing his tie could be heard.
“Other than my 65 million dollars, you invested over 10 million dollars, which makes a total of slightly more than 80 million dollars. “Adrian recalled. “Alright, stop beating around the bush, just get to the point.”
“… Tenfold!” After gulping hard, Claude uttered.
“Ha, that’s not bad, it actually increased ten… What did you say! Tenfold!” Adrian almost threw the phone away. He widened his eyes as he tried to control himself, and he could not help but grit his teeth.
“Yes, that’s right, tenfold! You heard me right! It’s tenfold! I f*cking made a tenfold increase with the money! It’s an earning of 800 million dollars!” Claude instantly laughed crazily as if he was a poked balloon that was releasing its air inside.
Adrian opened his eyes widely and pressed his forehead while he took deep breaths. He was breathing as heavily as Claude did earlier. It never crossed his mind that this would be the result. He initially hoped that it would increase two to threefold, so he could earn 200 to 300 million dollars, yet the 80 million dollars became 800 million dollars in the end! He thought to himself. ‘This is indeed a f*cking high profit! Claude that fella…’
“Claude, you little fella…” Adrian also removed his tie as though it would make him feel more comfortable. “You’re f*cking amazing!”
“Haha, I love that. Say it again, say it again!”
“You’re too f*cking amazing! Extremely, extremely amazing!”
The two of them took turns to curse at each other, and they punched the table occasionally to express their excitement. A long time after, they finally calmed down.
“I really can’t believe it, how did you do it, Claw?” Adrian asked as he was leaning against his armchair. Even until then, his chest was still undulating.
“I don’t know, I didn’t care about anything else, I just focused on the buying and the selling. The funds were simply numbers to me. By the time I checked on it again, I was also dumbfounded,” Claude replied, and Adrian could tell from his tone that he was elated.
“You’re incredible, Claw. Although I told you many times already, I must say that you’re incredible,” Adrian said sincerely.
“Yes, of course.” Claude laughed out loud. “Do you know, Eddy, when I told the old man about this, the look on his face was wonderful. He probably didn’t expect me to pull it off.”
“I have to remind you,” Adrian chuckled as he said, “that the old man you’re talking about is your dad and my godfather.”
“I know, I know.” Claude sighed in an exaggerated way. “I’m only proving myself, is that wrong?”
He later added, “Of course, without your intelligence, I couldn’t have done it—are you okay? Did anyone from the Securities and Exchange Commission look for you?”
“Why? Do you want them to?” Adrian mocked.
“Hehehe, I was just worried about you,” Claude quickly explained.
“Alright, I know. Are you free tonight? I think we should discuss in detail,” Adrian mentioned seriously.
“No problem. Lossata’s, your treat,” Claude answered.
“Okay, my treat.” Adrian burst out laughing.
After Adrian hung up, he walked toward the window, then pulled the curtains apart, allowing the bright sunlight in Los Angeles to shine brightly in his study. He stretched, then squinted his eyes at the beautiful sky.
‘I really didn’t expect to gain so much. Not only the funds increased more than I thought they would, but Claude… Very well, I can decide on a plan now among the few that I prepared, and I’ll see how I can convince him!’
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