Chapter 36: I am rich
AN: WOW!!! Rank-2. Thanks, you all.
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[One Week Later – Wilson Studios] [Morning]
Alex sat in his office, sifting through the final contract details. His dark blue shirt sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, and his tie loosened just enough to signal exhaustion, but his sharp focus remained.
Across from him, Rachel, his assistant and the only person who could wrangle his chaotic mess, stood with her arms crossed, waiting for him to sign off on the last of the documents.
"Alright, boss, say it," Rachel smirked, tapping her manicured nails against a thick folder.
Alex sighed, rubbing his temples. "Say what?"
"That I was right. That handling the music rights first was a genius move. That without me, you'd be drowning in lawsuits and copyright hell."
Alex leaned back in his chair, smirking. "I would never say that, because it would make you even more unbearable than you already are."
Rachel rolled her eyes but grinned. "Fine. But admit that getting Air's 'Alone in Kyoto' was a stroke of genius."
Alex chuckled. "That, I will admit. The soundtrack is perfect. Now, are we set?"
"Scripts sent, contracts signed, locations on standby," Rachel listed off, flipping through her iPad. "Tom Hanks and Scarlett Johansson are locked in. The studio is covering everything. And your dumbass hasn't bankrupted us yet."
"Yet," Alex muttered, signing the last contract with a flourish before sliding it back to her. "Alright. Time to scout the locations."
Rachel's eyebrows raised. "We're really doing this, huh? You're actually flying out to Tokyo yourself instead of sending a crew?"
Alex shrugged, standing up and stretching. "If I'm directing this, I need to feel the city myself. It's the soul of the film. Plus, I need to make sure we get the permits without any bullshit delays."
Rachel sighed, already pulling out her phone to book their flights. "I swear, working for you is like babysitting a billionaire with an artistic death wish."
"You love it."
Rachel didn't deny it.
[Tokyo, Japan – Shinjuku District]
The moment they stepped out of Narita Airport, Tokyo greeted them with neon lights, bustling crowds, and the rhythmic hum of a city that never truly slept. His contract there already arranged a car and place for them to stay.
As their black sedan weaved through the narrow streets of Shinjuku, Rachel scrolled through her notes.
"Okay, our first stop is Park Hyatt Tokyo. That's where most of the film's central scenes will be shot." She glanced at him. "By the way, you do know you could've sent a location scout instead of dragging me halfway across the world, right?"
Alex smirked. "And miss out on you butchering Japanese phrases while trying to negotiate with local officials? Absolutely not."
Rachel huffed. "I studied Japanese for this trip, thank you very much."
"Right. What's 'nice to meet you' in Japanese?"
Rachel blinked. "Uh… Konnichiwa?"
Alex laughed. "That's just 'hello.' We're doomed."
Rachel groaned, shoving her iPad into her bag. "Just let me do the logistics. You do the 'charming director' thing."
"Deal."
[Park Hyatt Tokyo – Rooftop Bar]
The moment Alex stepped into the bar, he knew this was it. Well, to be precise, he remembers it from his past life. This is where the OG movie was shot. Floor-to-ceiling windows framed a breathtaking view of the Tokyo skyline, the endless sea of lights stretching beneath them. The atmosphere was moody and intimate, and humming with the soft jazz of a live band was exactly what he needed for the film's signature scenes.
"This is the one," Alex murmured, walking toward the bar counter.
Rachel, who had been deep in conversation with the hotel's location manager, turned to him. "You sure? We still have three more hotels to check out."
Alex leaned against the counter, watching the way the light reflected off the whiskey glasses. "I'm sure. This is where Scarlett's character will meet Tom's. This view, this lighting... it's exactly what I had in mind."
Rachel sighed but nodded, making a note on her tablet. "Alright. I'll finalize the paperwork."
The hotel manager, a middle-aged man with slicked-back hair, approached with a bow. "Mr. Wilson, we'd be honored to accommodate your film, but we must discuss the conditions. Filming hours, guest privacy, fees..."
Alex waved a hand, cutting off the hotel manager mid-sentence. "How much to buy the entire hotel?"
The manager blinked, clearly stunned. "I… I beg your pardon?"
Rachel, who had been flipping through her tablet, nearly dropped it. "Oh, no, no, no... hell no. Not again!"
Alex leaned against the bar, unfazed. "I don't want to lease it, rent it, or negotiate time slots. I want to own it. Name your price."
The manager's lips parted in shock. "Mr. Wilson, this is one of Tokyo's most prestigious hotels. It is not for sale."
Alex simply pulled out his phone. "Everything is for sale. What's the number?"
Rachel slapped a hand to her forehead. "Alex, for God's sake..."
He ignored her. "I assume the building is owned by a parent company. Who do I talk to?"
The manager swallowed hard. "The property is currently under the ownership of the Nakatomi Group. But I assure you, they have never entertained selling."
Alex was already dialing. "They'll entertain me."
Rachel dragged a hand down her face. "You cannot just buy..."
"Shh," Alex muttered, holding up a finger as someone picked up. "Yes, this is Alex Wilson. I'd like to speak to the chairman regarding an acquisition. No, not shares—full ownership."
Rachel watched, horrified, as he nodded along to the conversation, then gave a short, "I'll be there in an hour." He hung up, slipping his phone into his pocket.
"They'll see me."
The manager was pale. "You… you can't possibly mean to..."
"I do," Alex said simply, standing. He turned to Rachel. "Stay here, get the paperwork started. When I get back, this place will be mine."
Rachel exhaled sharply. "I need a huge raise."
Alex smirked. "Buy yourself something nice."
And just like that, he walked out, ready to claim Tokyo's most iconic hotel as his own.
...
An hour later, Alex stepped into the Nakatomi Group's towering glass headquarters in Marunouchi, the financial heart of Tokyo. The receptionists, clearly expecting him, bowed politely as they led him into the executive boardroom.
The room was all wood, with floor-to-ceiling windows. At the head of a long, polished table sat Hideo Nakatomi, the chairman himself—an older man in a tailored navy suit, his sharp eyes scrutinizing Alex as he approached.
To his left, a younger executive, possibly his son, whispered something in Japanese. Alex didn't need to understand the language to know what was being said. He got a default System translator. 'This arrogant foreigner thinks he can buy us out.'
Alex took a seat, unbuttoning his suit jacket. "Let's not waste time. I want the Park Hyatt. Name your price."
Hideo steepled his fingers. "Mr. Wilson, we do not sell our properties. The Park Hyatt is one of Tokyo's crown jewels. It is a symbol, not just a business asset."
Alex smiled. "Everything has a number, Mr. Nakatomi. You just haven't heard the right one yet."
The younger executive scoffed. "You insult us by assuming we would give up such a legacy."
Alex leaned back, unbothered. "I'm offering ten times its market value."
The room went silent.
Hideo's fingers twitched, the first sign of hesitation.
Alex continued smoothly, "I've done my research. The Nakatomi Group has been struggling with liquidity after your failed expansion into European markets. The recent downturn in tourism hasn't helped either. Selling to me... quietly, at a ridiculous premium... Well, that would solve a lot of your problems."
The younger executive's face darkened. "We are not struggling."
Alex tilted his head. "You're not flourishing either."
Hideo studied him for a long moment, then finally spoke. "What is your offer?"
Alex slid a piece of paper across the table.
The younger executive snatched it, his eyes widening before he slammed it down. "This is—"
Hideo held up a hand, silencing him. He picked up the paper himself, reading it carefully.
Alex waited.
After a long pause, Hideo finally exhaled. "This is… generous."
Alex smiled. "It's a win-win. You get an easy exit with a very comfortable cushion. I get full ownership."
Hideo set the paper down and nodded once. "We will need to draft the agreements."
"I already have my legal team waiting. How about we go to the hotel and finalize the deal?" Alex suggested.
Alex's inner thoughts, 'Fuck! That felt really good. It's like one of those young rich master moves from those Chinese novels. Hahahaha! Wait! Fuck young master. It's like Bruce Wayne. Yeah, let's go with the Bats.'
...
[Park Hyatt Tokyo – Hotel Lounge]
Rachel sat at a table near the window, phone pressed to her ear as she rattled off instructions to their legal team. A nearly empty cup of coffee sat beside her, long forgotten.
"No, we need this expedited. I don't care if it's late over there. Triple the fees if you have to. Just get the contracts ready in the next two hours," she snapped, rubbing her temple. "Yes, I'll send over the preliminary agreement once I—hold on."
She pulled the phone away as Alex strode into the lounge, looking entirely too pleased with himself. Behind him, Hideo Nakatomi followed with the quiet grace of an old-money businessman who had just made a deal he never thought he'd consider.
Rachel covered the receiver. "Tell me you didn't just strong-arm a centuries-old Japanese business empire into selling one of their most prized properties."
Alex smirked, slipping into the seat across from her. "I didn't strong-arm anyone. I merely presented an opportunity they couldn't refuse."
Hideo took the seat beside him, folding his hands neatly on the table. "Mr. Wilson is… persuasive."
Rachel muttered a curse under her breath before putting the phone back to her ear. "Yeah, scratch that last order. We're going full ownership transfer. Send over the revised documents. Now." She hung up and gave Alex a hard look. "You're insane."
Alex leaned back, stretching his arms across the chair. "And yet, here we are."
Hideo cleared his throat, his expression unreadable. "Our legal team will be joining us shortly. There are, of course, formalities to address before the transition is complete."
Alex nodded. "Naturally. Let's make this quick."
Rachel pinched the bridge of her nose. "Jesus Christ, you just bought a luxury hotel like it was a goddamn cup of coffee."
Alex grinned. "You should see what I do when I'm actually trying."
She groaned, signaling the waiter for another coffee.
[Conference Room]
Two hours later, the hotel's conference room was a flurry of quiet but efficient movement. Papers rustled as the legal teams from both sides worked through the final contracts, laptops open, documents being scanned and reviewed.
Rachel, arms crossed, stood behind Alex as he reviewed the final agreement. "You know, this is where I should be reminding you about financial prudence and how even billionaires should have limits."
Alex signed his name with a flourish. "And yet, you're not."
Rachel sighed. "Because I know you'll just ignore me."
Hideo signed his part of the documents and set the pen down with a quiet exhale. His son, who had been brooding silently in the corner, shot Alex a sharp look but said nothing.
With a final exchange of documents, the lead lawyer cleared his throat. "Congratulations, Mr. Wilson. As of this moment, you are the new owner of the Park Hyatt Tokyo."
Alex leaned back, a slow smile spreading across his face. "Pleasure doing business with you."
Hideo gave a small, respectful nod. "May it prosper under your care."
Rachel, watching this unfold, threw her hands in the air. "I need a drink."
Alex laughed. "Good thing we own a bar now."
[Bar]
Rachel swirled the amber liquid in her glass, watching the ice shift and crack. Across from her, Alex leaned back in his seat, legs crossed, completely at ease—as if he hadn't just bought an entire five-star hotel like it was an impulse purchase at a duty-free shop.
"You know," Rachel mused, taking a sip of her whiskey, "most directors focus on things like cinematography, casting, maybe even wardrobe. You? You just straight-up buy the filming location."
Alex smirked. "Control the environment, control the outcome."
Rachel rolled her eyes. "You sound like a villain."
He raised his glass. "But a successful one."
She scoffed, shaking her head. "Okay, so what happens when we wrap filming? You gonna flip it for a profit? Turn it into a personal vacation home?"
Alex took a slow sip before setting his glass down. "Nah. I'll just hire someone better to run the place."
Rachel arched a brow. "You mean you're actually going to keep it?"
He shrugged. "Why not? It's a good asset. Plus, I like it here." His gaze drifted toward the floor-to-ceiling windows, where the Tokyo skyline stretched endlessly, shimmering with neon life. "Might be nice to have a place in Japan."
Rachel snorted. "Right. Because what you really needed was more international real estate."
"You will have free access to this place?" He smirked. "Free holidays, free food, drinks... Everything here will be free for you."
"Why do I think you are bribing me?" She raised an eyebrow.
"I would never..."
"Last time you bought me a car..."
"It was your birthday..."
"No, you missed it and came with a Lambo two days later," She took a sip of her drink.
They kept talking and enjoying their drinks and each other's company...
Finally after a little banter...
Alex simply grinned, lifting his glass in a silent toast. "To expanding the empire."
Rachel clinked her glass against his with a smirk. "To my inevitable burnout."
As they drank, the jazz band in the corner shifted into a slow, smoky tune. The city pulsed beneath them, and for a brief moment, all the chaos of contracts, acquisitions, and film production faded into the background.
[Next day] [Shibuya Crossing]
The next stop was Shibuya, specifically the world-famous Shibuya Crossing—an intersection flooded with thousands of people every minute, moving in perfect chaos.
"This is the essence of being lost in translation," Alex murmured as he stood on the sidewalk, watching the waves of people move in unison.
Rachel took a sip of her vending machine coffee. "So, we're filming here?"
Alex nodded. "One of the key moments. Tom's character standing here, lost in the sea of strangers. The feeling of being alone despite the crowd."
Rachel sighed, checking her notes. "Getting a filming permit here is going to be a bureaucratic nightmare."
"That's why you're here," Alex said with a grin.
Rachel rolled her eyes. "I hate you."
"You love me."
"I tolerate you."
"Same thing."
[Senso-ji Temple]
As the day wound down, their final stop was Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa. The glowing lanterns, the scent of incense in the air, the soft murmur of prayers... It was peaceful.
Rachel exhaled, finally slowing her pace. "Okay, I get it now. This city is magic."
Alex smiled, watching a few monks walk along the temple grounds. "It's a film in itself. Every street, every shadow tells a story."
Rachel nudged him. "You sound like a poet. Next thing I know, you'll start writing haikus."
Alex smirked. "Lost in Tokyo… Whiskey glass on rooftop bar… Where is my damn script?"
Rachel burst out laughing. "Wow. Truly moving."
Alex chuckled, stretching his arms. "Alright, we've got our locations. Now we just need to wrap up permits and start scheduling the shoots."
Rachel nodded. "And then you get to deal with your actors."
Alex grinned. "Tom's a legend. Scarlett's brilliant. This film is going to be perfect."
Rachel snorted. "Nothing is ever perfect, Alex. But it'll be damn good."
He looked up at the Tokyo skyline, the weight of his vision settling on his shoulders. "Yeah. It will be."
And with that, Lost in Translation was one step closer to reality.
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