"This is a great idea, but we can't rush into it," Leon said.
"Rush? Leon, every publisher in the world is scrambling to reprint your book!"
"Everyone's asking about the movie rights! We've got to stake our claim now!"
"That's exactly why we need to stay calm," Leon replied coolly, as if discussing someone else's project.
"First, hype is a double-edged sword. If we launch now, all eyes will be on us. Expectations will skyrocket, and any tiny flaw will be blown out of proportion.
Second, The Princess Diaries is at a critical stage. I can't split my focus to juggle two major projects. Quality comes first."
He paused, then continued, "Tell everyone asking that the movie rights are in my hands, but there's no concrete plan yet.
Our public stance is that I'm honored to have caught the eye of the British Book Awards judges, and my full focus is on shooting The Princess Diaries."
"Keeping an air of mystery and anticipation is worth more than a hasty announcement."
Greg was silent for a few seconds on the other end of the call, processing Leon's strategy.
"Got it… you're right. Hunger marketing. Keep it classy."
"But, Leon, this is a once-in-a-lifetime shot…"
"Opportunities only come to those who are ready," Leon said evenly.
"Right now, we need to nail The Princess Diaries.
At the same time, let Girl with a Pearl Earring ride the wave of the British Book Awards. Let it reach more readers, spark discussions, and sink in.
When the time's right, we'll bring it out, and its impact will be even bigger."
"Alright, you win," Greg said, his tone tinged with admiration.
"You always see the bigger picture. I'll handle the media and keep things low-key and polished. Oh, and one more thing—remember when you agreed to a cameo on Friends during the Final Destination promo? They're asking about your availability again."
"Schedule it for next week," Leon decided quickly. The Princess Diaries was on track, and a day or two for a cameo wouldn't throw things off.
"Work out the details with my assistant."
After hanging up, the villa fell quiet.
Leon stood by the massive floor-to-ceiling window, gazing out at the twinkling lights of Los Angeles.
A strange feeling washed over him.
The book he "wrote," a story from another timeline, was earning its rightful—and even unexpected—glory in this one.
And he, the thief of fate, stood calmly behind the curtain, pulling the strings.
He picked up his phone, scrolled to Scarlett's number, and hesitated before setting it down without calling.
Share the news with her? As what—someone sharing the joy of success?
Now wasn't the time.
Maybe, at the right moment, this movie could be the perfect opportunity—a role tailor-made for Scarlett.
The thought brought a slight smile to his lips.
He set the phone down and picked up his whiskey glass.
His body was still tired, but his mind buzzed with a quiet excitement from the progress of his plans.
The Princess Diaries would keep moving forward.
As for Girl with a Pearl Earring, though paused for now, its foundation was rock-solid.
He murmured softly, "Griet, be patient. Your time is coming soon."
---
The next morning, Leonardo burst into Leon's Donaldson Films office like a whirlwind, the gloom on his face replaced by near-frantic anticipation.
He skipped the small talk, his eyes locked on Leon.
"Where's the script, Leon? You said I'd see Catch Me If You Can today!" he said, words tumbling out fast.
Leon couldn't help but grin at his enthusiasm.
He loved this kind of raw passion, sparked purely by creativity and story—far more satisfying than any flattery at a glitzy party.
He pulled the prepared script draft from his drawer and handed it over.
"Here it is. First draft, still needs polishing."
His tone was calm, but his eyes carried the quiet confidence of a creator in his work.
Leonardo snatched it, sank into the office's plush sofa, and was instantly lost in the pages.
The room filled with the rustle of turning pages, punctuated by his occasional chuckles, tense lip-smacking, and the odd muttered "Cool!"
Leon left him to it, focusing on The Princess Diaries emails and documents.
Time slipped by quietly.
About an hour later, Leonardo's head snapped up, his eyes blazing with the fire of an actor who'd found the role of a lifetime.
"Leon! This is freaking incredible! Frank Abagnale!"
"My God, this role! It's like it was written for me!"
"Smart, vulnerable, cocky, lonely—building a world of lies to fill the void inside."
He jumped up, pacing the office, clutching the script tightly.
"I have to play this role, Leon. You get it, right? It's gotta be me. No one else!"
Leon smiled, unsurprised.
"I knew you'd love it, Leo. The core of the character—that sadness from trying to patch a broken family with lies—is powerful stuff."
"Powerful? It's more than that!" Leonardo rushed to the desk, leaning forward, hands planted on the surface, his gaze intense.
"Tell me the rights are locked down. When do we start?"
"Relax," Leon said, gesturing for him to chill.
"The story's based on Frank Abagnale's real life, and we've secured the adaptation rights."
Leonardo exhaled, relieved, but his urgency kicked right back in.
"Awesome! So what's next? Find a director? A studio? How much funding do you need? I can—"
Leon raised a hand, cutting off the rapid-fire questions.
"Leo, slow down. Sit. Let's talk."
"For this to work, the director and the two leads are critical."
He stood, walked to a safe in the corner, punched in the code, and pulled out a thick, neatly bound folder.
He placed it in front of Leonardo.
"This is the full project proposal," Leon said, his tone shifting to serious and businesslike.
"Dreams are great, but making them real takes careful planning and realistic steps."
Leonardo flipped open the proposal, and the first page made his eyes widen.
Project Title: Catch Me If You Can
Genre: Biography/Crime/Drama
Director: Proposed – Steven Spielberg
Lead: Proposed – Leonardo DiCaprio as Frank Abagnale
Lead: Proposed – Tom Hanks as Carl Hanratty
…
Lead: Proposed – Amy Adams as Brenda Strong
(Braces look good, huh?)
Budget: Estimated $50,000,000
Announcement : Starting today
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