"What's wrong? If Janet sees you like this, she'll probably think I bullied you," Roy said with a chuckle as he handed Laila a tissue.
Laila snatched the tissue and wiped her face in a rush. "No way. She'd only think I was the one bullying you." Seriously, who in the family didn't know how Roy treated her? There was no chance anyone would believe she was the victim.
Roy grinned and resumed his noble mission of trying to coax a smile out of their son. But no matter how many faces he made or how playfully he teased him, the little guy just kept that poker face.
"This kid's going to be a tough one when he grows up," Roy muttered. He couldn't figure it out—he was a cheerful guy, and Laila wasn't exactly stiff either, so why had their son only smiled a handful of times since he was born?
Laila gave him a sideways glance and scooped Eli back into her arms. "What do you know? This is exactly how he should be. Haven't you read those domineering CEO novels?"
"Nope," Roy admitted, starting to reflect on his cultural ignorance. He could understand the words "domineering" and "CEO" separately, but someone please tell him what the magic was when you put them together.
Laila paused, realizing how unlikely it was that Roy had ever read an Eastern CEO romance novel.
"Just look at Grandpa. Doesn't he always have that stern face too? I think Eli might be the perfect candidate to take over his work one day."
Roy laughed. "Are you hoping your grandpa keeps working another twenty years? He's probably already around sixty, isn't he?"
"So what? He's still in great shape. Don't you think people who stay active with work are more energetic?"
"So… this means you're thinking about making another movie?"
Laila looked down at the photos in her hands, her expression complicated. Honestly, she was deeply moved by everything Roy had done for her. He had gone to all those places personally—regardless of having experienced friends with him, the scratches and bruises on his body proved that the journey hadn't exactly been smooth.
What's more, after visiting every location, he wrote detailed evaluations—comments on mosquito infestations, venomous creatures and plants, and other vital considerations. This was real field data, not like the earlier scouting reports she'd received, which only judged sites based on scenery.
"You started heading out right after Eli's one-month mark… You knew I wouldn't be able to hold back much longer, didn't you?"
Roy gently patted her head. "Don't overthink it. It wasn't just for you—it was for me too. Don't forget, I want to act in it. If the filming location is too dangerous and I get hurt, wouldn't that ruin the whole shoot?"
That might be what he said, but Laila knew very well—if it weren't for her, he would never have needed to go through all that.
"So… do you have a place you'd recommend?" There were just too many notes to go through all at once. She figured she might as well get a straight answer from him. After all, he'd read the script and understood exactly what kinds of scenes she needed.
Roy sifted through the photos and pulled one out. "I think this one's a good choice."
Laila took the photo and turned it a couple of times. "This place looks familiar…"
"That's right. Remember the Golden Island where Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed?"
"You mean…" How could she forget? The moment he said it, everything came rushing back. Of course! That golden beach, so beloved by audiences, was iconic. If the island weren't private property, it would've become a tourist hotspot for sure.
"I visited all the locations you'd gathered," Roy explained. "They all had what you were looking for, but honestly, they were too dangerous. It wouldn't take much for one of the actors to get hurt, and if that happens, the whole schedule goes out the window. That's the last thing you want, right?
"So then I remembered the island we used for Pirates. There's a massive rainforest area designed for guests who like adventure. The dangerous animals and plants have been cleaned out, and the risky areas are well-managed. Best of all, the island has everything your script needs—cliffs, dense forest, even a small swamp."
Laila was swayed. If they filmed there, her family probably wouldn't object to the way they had been. The island was specifically designed to accommodate high-end guests. Back then, she'd negotiated filming rights with Naibuhani during their spat, but the island's safety standards had always been solid—she had filmed there before.
She pulled out more photos of the island from the pile. Back then, she'd mostly focused on the coastline. She had only ventured into the rainforest as a fun side trip, and the details were fuzzy. But now, with these pictures in hand, her memories came rushing back. There were tons of locations there perfect for scenes in her film.
"Roy, this is honestly the best idea you could've come up with!" she said, hugging him with delight. "I think this place is perfect! Janet won't be able to object anymore!"
Seeing her so happy instantly made Roy's exhaustion disappear. All that running around had been worth it. If helping her avoid danger meant she could still pursue her dream safely, then that was the best outcome he could've hoped for.
Little Eli, having slid off Laila's lap while she leaned forward, rolled gently into the soft grass.
Their negligent but doting parents quickly scooped him up. The lawn was soft enough not to hurt him, but when they saw the blades of grass stuck to his forehead, they both burst out laughing.
"…" The future domineering CEO, little Eli, hadn't cried at all after his tumble—but that stiff little face of his looked even more serious now.
Laila giggled and wiped the grass and dew from his head. "Sorry, Eli. Mommy just got a little too excited."
Roy leaned in, too. "That's our boy! Didn't even cry. I think he's got what it takes to go into sports—maybe American football? Just imagine: he's out there in the Super Bowl, and I'll be there in the stands with all my friends shouting, 'That's my kid!'"
Laila immediately shot that idea down. "Not a chance. I don't want my child rolling in mud and getting tackled all day!" She had her plan—to raise him into the next generation of domineering CEOs. Just thinking about it got her all fired up!