Young and Beautiful

The director, while holding a script and looking at the camera, shouted, "CUT!"

Lynette was shooting a romance movie at that time. Its title was Young and Beautiful. She was walking on the seashore by the sunset holding hands with a handsome male lead, Steve Reese. Lynette and Steve were called loveteam in the movie industry.

They were always paired together in movies, photoshoots, and even on interviews. They had been loveteam for almost two years now and because they had been together for a long time, Steve had already developed a huge admiration for Lynette.

Although they made most romance movies together, they never had any kissing scene or bed scene yet. The reason, Lynette strictly added on her contract the 'NO KISSING SCENE AND BED SCENE POLICY'. That was why Steve admired her even more.

The director walked towards the two and smiled. "If only you are allowed to have a kissing scene, this would be better," he blatantly told Lynette.

"Director, if you really want to do that, we can shoot a silhouette and have another actress do it," Lynette replied.

Actually, it was a good idea but Steve suddenly said in a firm tone "Then the actor must also be a double!"

The director clapped his hands and told them, "You two are really a perfect pair. You think alike. How could it have been better if you are a real couple~

Steve didn't let the director finish his talks, "Director, you must be tired. Take some rest!"

The director was stunned but he still followed his suggestions. While walking away, he was shouting to all the crews that they need a double for Lynette and Steve for the silhouette kissing scene. They needed to shoot now that the sunset was still there, radiantly beautiful.

While listening to the director's hoarse voice, Lynette asked Steve "Why don't you take the scene?" Steve fixed her shawl on her shoulder first then stared at her, "I can't forgive myself if I'm going to kiss another woman while you are watching."

Lynette was shocked but chuckled after a moment, "You're kidding right?"

Steve gazed at her and seriously said, "I'm not!"

Lynette couldn't say anything. She treated Steve as her big brother and this was the first time that he confessed his feelings to her. There was an abrupt quiet moment while they were strolling by the seashore. Lynette seemed to lose her voice by Steve's sudden confession.

Lynette broke the silence, "Steve you know that my feelings for you are just like a feeling for a sibling, right?"

He didn't say anything but he was glancing at the horizon while Lynette's eyes were fixed on him. He was 190cm tall so Lynette usually lifted her head a bit when she talked to him. Steve's mind was floating at that time.

He had been thinking and planning for the day that he'd confessed his feelings to her but just because of that kissing scene, he accidentally spilled it.

Damn!

What was he thinking?

When the director said that the scene was way better if they kissed, he was already thinking of how to approach her. Although he knew that she wouldn't agree, it still hurt him a slight bit when Lynette suggested having a double for that scene.

Steve was hoping that Lynette had also developed some feelings for him since they'd been called loveteam for two years and they were always together.

"Does she despise me? Disgusted?"

All of the possible negative reasons appeared on his mind. He liked Lynette a lot.

When did it start?

It was just last year and it had been six months. When they had a photoshoot together for a perfume advertisement. She was wearing a white skimpy two-piece bikini. Although Lynette wore some revealing clothes for the shoots sometimes, this was her first time wearing a skimpy two-piece. She was a walking goddess.

Even the crews in the set couldn't take their eyes off her. And what added fuel to his burning sensation was the scene where they almost kissed. Their lips were just a few centimeters apart. When Steve saw the looks of the men on the set, he just wanted to punch every one of them.

Since then Steve promised himself to protect Lynette no matter what.

After a tiring day at the sunset, Lynette and Flora, her manager, went home. She had two houses in LA. One was a two-bedroom flat in the city and the other one was a two-story house in the country.

She usually stayed in her place in the countryside if she wanted to relax and feel the fresh air from the mountainside. It may be a house in a rural area but the design was modern. Her garden had different kinds of plants both flowering and vegetables.

While her manager was driving, Lynette's phone rang. She knew the number. It was her grandpa in China.

She picked up her phone in her tote bag and answered, "Hello grandpa! How are you?"

Old Master Chen, Lynette's grandfather was a 70-year-old retired businessman. He was the chairman of Lee Group for almost three decades until he passed it to his eldest grandson, Glen Thomas Lee. "My child, how are you?" A soft and sweet voice called from the other line. Chen Lee might have been a ruthless and powerful businessman but he was sweet and soft-hearted to his family especially to his wife and his grandchildren.

"I'm doing well. I just had a movie coming and we went to the beach to shoot. Grandpa, the sunset was stunning," she giggled.

She acted like a spoiled child when it came to her elders. That's why nobody would ever believe that she was a very independent daughter with a strong but cheerful personality.

Grandpa Chen just listened and nodded to his granddaughter while she was telling all of her experiences in the shooting.

"Lynette, I have something to tell you," he suddenly said in a serious tone.

Lynette was familiar with that tone. If there's a problem in the company before, his tone was stern and domineering. It made all the directors, managers, and stockholders either bow their heads or run away from him.

That includes his eldest son, Robert Lee, Glen Thomas' father.

"Is there something wrong in the household, grandpa? Is grandma alright?" Lynette was worried.

"No, there's nothing wrong here. We're all in good health. I called you for a reason. Lynette, my child, you must come home!" her grandfather said.

He explained the reason and it took her a long time to ponder everything. She had been in the entertainment industry for six years now. She was at the top of her fame.

After the movie, Young and Beautiful, which was almost finished, she was going to have her next album. She just wrote fifteen songs and she would start recording next week.

"I have no choice but to keep this agreement," her grandfather uttered. "Although the Hansens don't really care about this, the Yaos who are always stern to their rules are different." he also added.

"I made a bet with the old Yao when we were still young. Whoever wins will be granted a request. My request was to control his business while he, was for his eldest grandson to get married to my eldest granddaughter. And for the result, you can already guess who won the bet. I'm sorry my dear Lynette. You have to sacrifice your life's happiness for that stvpid bet," he added.

While clinging on the phone, Lynette respectfully answered her grandfather, "Don't worry grandpa. I'm okay with the marriage. I will be fine. Who would dare to bully your pretty granddaughter? Huh! They wish!"

But Chen was still anxious. He knew his granddaughter well. She was an independent, optimistic, and loving child. After hanging up, Lynette sighed.

The word marriage shocked her manager who had been quietly driving.

"What? You're getting married!?" Flora exclaimed.

"No way! Lynette, if you're going to get married now, your life is over. Do you hear me? It's over!"

"Calm down Flora! No one's dying okay. Kindly focus on the road," Lynette advised.

But deep inside of her heart, Flora was right. She knew her life was over.

"Lynette, please talk to the old master again. Don't let him force you to get married. How about telling this to your grandpa in Sweden? For sure, he will not agree~

"Even my grandpa in Sweden can't do anything about it. This was an agreement made decades ago. Destroying it is the same as breaking the ties between families. Not unless, the Old Yao will destroy it himself, then everything will be fine," Lynette cut Flora's suggestion.

"Come again? Who? The Yao family? As far as I know, the Yaos have only one grandson and that is the director of Hansen Empire, Kevin Jones Hansen. An icy man!" Flora continued while opening the drawer of the car beside her and took a financial magazine and gave it to Lynette.

Lynette opened the magazine and there she saw a one-spread photo of her future husband. "Hulala! What a chest!" Lynette sighed. Kevin was wearing a suit in the photo but his two upper buttons were open.

"Shut it! This isn't funny! Are you really going to do it? Coz if you do, I'll start hunting for a new job. When you're getting married you're going to leave me, you know," Flora became emotional while fixing her eyes on the road.

She had been with Lynette for six years and she was just like an older sister to her.

"Flora, what if you come home with me? You are also Chinese. Don't you miss your home?" Lynette replied.

"You know I've also been thinking about it. I miss my hometown so much. I never visited my family for a long time," Flora told Lynette.

They kept on talking to each other, explaining everything that might happen when they get home, looking at Kevin's photos, and reading about his life and achievements when suddenly Lynette saw a beautiful woman beside the image. The caption said, 'Sandra Lei, Kevin's long-time girlfriend. He dotes on her a lot. Such a perfect match!

Lynette thought it was just nothing but she felt a little different in her heart especially the word 'DOTES ON HER A LOT! She already knew that she was going to be in big trouble but she had no idea that the trouble was bigger than she expected.

.

Lynette decided to stay in LA for two weeks before going home. She canceled all of her coming photoshoots, albums, and advertising campaign. It was a good thing that the scene on the sunset was the last shoot in her movie. If not, they were going to look for another actress and Steve might not like it. Lynette never announced to the media about her quitting. She just said something happened and she had to leave.

The industry respected her decision but as a rule, she had to pay the penalty for breaching the contracts. Indeed she paid a hefty price. Her brother, Joshua was staying with her in the flat. She had three cars. A red sports car, a BMW, and a van that she used for shooting and filming.

"Sister, these are my gifts for everyone. Take care of them," Joshua said while helping his sister pack their gifts.

"I can't believe you're getting married!" Joshua added.

"I can't believe it either," she said while folding some of her clothes.

"Grandpa must have regretted it. He's such a crazy old man," he said while shaking his head.

"Indeed he is. On the contrary, I admire him coz he kept his word," Lynette continued packing.

"I will be leaving early to the airport the next day. Flora will go with me. You take care here, okay?"

"Sure! Ahm sis! Car keys?!" while winking at his sister. Lynette tossed the keys to her brother and reminded him to be careful in driving. Joshua loved racing so she knew her three cars were going to be doomed.

"Bye babies!" she whispered talking about her cars.

"Find some tenants to stay in the big house for a while so that at least you have an allowance while studying here. Don't just depend on the Williams and the Lees billions you know," Lynette told her brother.

"Know what sister?! You are such a nagger. I wonder what my future brother-in-law's life would be when you two are together. Perhaps he will get old faster!" Joshua teased.

"Give me back my keys, you brat!" Lynette exclaimed.

"Okay! Just kidding. My sister is the best of all. I love you to the moon and back sis," Joshua said laughingly while hugging his sister from behind.

"Get off me now or you're not going to get the house keys in the countryside," she complained. Joshua let go of his sister and they continued talking while packing.

The day had come that Lynette arrived at the airport with Flora. While the officer was checking their luggage, Lynette couldn't help but look around.

She never came home for six years. She was so busy with her job that she had no time to even take a vacation during New Year. How she missed this place, her country where she was born and raised.

"Come on, let's go!" Flora tapped her shoulder.

While they were walking through the exit, a black Maybach stopped in front of them. A tall young man wearing a uniform get off the car and greeted them, "Miss Williams, my name is Zach. I'm the driver in your family. I'm here to pick you up."

"Wait, I will just call someone," Lynette replied.

After confirming that he was really here for them, they got in the car and left the airport.

Meanwhile, in Hansen Empire, the director's office was on the 35th floor. The entire 500 sq meter floor was his. It consisted of his main office, a lounge, meeting room, gym, a small canteen, and a unit that was like a home.

There was also a jacuzzi in his unit. Most of the time, Kevin Jones Hansen was busy leading the company that he stayed there all night. That's why he had his own unit in his building that was complete with everything.

While reading all of the reports in every department, His friend, Brandon Park, asked him, "Bro, aren't you going to pick up your future wife at the airport? I've heard she will arrive today."

Brandon was a 28-year-old bachelor and the CEO of Park Incorporated. Hansen Empire specialized in building towers and hotels in and out of the country while Park Incorporated was different. Their business was all about textiles and apparel. They also had some branches and factories in some countries.

"Why should I pick her up? Is she physically challenged?" Kevin snorted.

Brandon was rendered speechless but he continued, "Hey! Aren't you a bit curious about her looks? Although she appears on media a lot, we don't know if she is more beautiful in person."

Kevin glanced at him seriously, "If you are curious about her, then go pick her up!"

Brandon didn't know what to say. He couldn't read Kevin's mind whether he was annoyed that he was marrying her or his statement that his future wife was beautiful, made him suddenly grumpy.

"Your old man is really something. Why did he accept a bet from Old master Chen? The Lee Group and the Hansen Empire have been rivals in the business world for a long time?"

"My old man is rather genius to take the bet. Chen's condition was to control Hansen Empire if he won but grandpa proposed marriage for the union of the two empires. This is most likely controlling the whole Lee businesses," Kevin explained.

"Yeah, I remember you told me before that you were three years old when they had that ridiculous game and Lynette Williams was just born!" Brandon continued.

"But bro, Old Master Chen also saw this coming. I have heard from the news that his eldest grandson is coming home and he is going to take the Lee Group Brent before your engagement."

Glen Thomas Lee was Chen Lee's eldest grandson. People knew him as Thomas Young. Only his family and some close friends knew his real name. That's why Glen Thomas Lee could disguise himself to the crowd.

Except for his family, nobody in the country knew him personally for he was born and raised in London. Like the Williams, the Lees were subtle. They were low-profile people. They hated the media. Till now, no one had seen Chen Lee's grandchildren yet.

That's why when Kevin was said to be married to his eldest granddaughter and found out that this person was no other than Lynette Williams, a famous superstar, he was displeased. He thought highly of Lynette just like those sharp young ladies in the corporate world.

He always looked down on people from the entertainment industry. He thought they were cheap and pretentious. Glen Thomas Lee on the other side was said to be a genius. He graduated and had his master's degree at an early age.

Kevin didn't even bother about it. He was also a brilliant and mighty one. When it came to strategies, no one could defeat him. He was like a Viking. He devoured anyone that would block his way without even the person noticing it.