[Chapter 148: Miramax Shuts Down]
As Linton just got into his car, Danny happily reported, "Boss, last night there was a huge fire at Miramax Films. I heard it was completely destroyed."
"Good, that's what you get for playing dirty."
"Too bad, Harvey Weinstein wasn't caught in it."
"No worries. We'll deal with him eventually. Besides, with the company burning down, the financial losses will be a heavy blow for him."
"Right, even if his company doesn't go bankrupt now, this will definitely hurt him bad, making it easier to handle him in the future."
"Send someone to keep an eye on Miramax, see what changes happen. But no other actions for now."
"Got it. If there are any updates, I'll report immediately."
"Also, let everyone be more vigilant during this period. Security at the company and estate needs to be tightened, including nights."
"Understood, we'll make sure it's foolproof."
...
When Linton arrived at the company, he found everyone buzzing about the Miramax fire. Although the fire department had not revealed the cause, people speculated that Harvey must have upset someone and was being targeted.
Since Linton hadn't told anyone at the company about the sabotage behind the Step Up 2 crew, nor about the Oscars incident two days ago, no one suspected their boss.
As for the Warner production lot fire, hardly anyone cared since explosions and fire scenes were common during shoots. Without official information, it barely attracted public attention.
...
Noticing Linton's arrival, everyone dropped their reservations. Office manager Megan suggested, "Boss, it seems highly possible this fire was arson. I think we should boost our own security too."
"Danny has already been told. Security measures start today. You should also coordinate with the building management to increase security there."
"Understood, thanks, boss."
"Alright everyone, back to work."
...
Unexpectedly, that afternoon, Tina, the editor-in-chief of Vanity Fair, and Hannister Dale, General Manager of the Beverly Hills Hotel, came to the company.
They apologized to Linton for the harassment of Naomi at the Oscar night party, fired those responsible for the event, and offered to compensate Naomi with $200,000.
Apparently, the severe warning worked. Although the fire department and police hadn't disclosed the Miramax fire cause yet, news damaging Miramax surfaced that morning.
The two big-budget films Miramax invested in this year -- Dance Fever High, nearly finished after two months of shooting, had all its film destroyed at the Warner lot. And The Night We Never Met also had all its footage burned in the office building fire.
These two fires didn't just burn down Miramax's offices but also obliterated two heavily funded films.
What a fierce vendetta -- it seemed like someone was determined to bankrupt Miramax.
Though no evidence pointed to arson, Tina and Hannister had felt Linton's wrath at the Oscars event two days earlier and had been clearly dissatisfied, even insisting on an explanation before leaving.
Everyone had instinctively dismissed it, siding with Harvey given his Washington connections, even suppressing media coverage.
But now, it seemed Linton was a ruthless figure -- quiet but deadly. This Miramax fire might well be his revenge.
Of course, there was no proof linking Linton to the fires, but they weren't law enforcement and didn't need evidence.
Just the suspicion made them uneasy. If Linton really was a vindictive, ruthless man, it was unwise to pick a fight with him over unrelated matters.
After hurried discussions that morning, they came to Linton that afternoon seeking forgiveness and to remove any threat.
Linton accepted their apology graciously and approved the compensation for Naomi, asking them to deliver it in person.
Since Naomi was currently on tour, Linton arranged a meeting for three days later at the Beverly Business Club, where Tina and Hannister would apologize and give compensation face-to-face.
Before they left, Linton used Soul Induction to ask why they supported Harvey so strongly, even risking their own company's reputation.
"Harvey isn't that special, but last year he got close to the president, apparently highly favored, helping many people out of big troubles. That's why we gave him some leeway."
No wonder -- it made sense now.
But in the face of real threats, distant powers you can't reach don't matter. These people were smart -- using an example to warn others clearly worked.
It was uncertain if the police would come knocking, but even if they did, without evidence, they couldn't do much.
Linton was no small fish now; he was a film company owner, famous director, big star, and had connections with the LAPD leadership.
...
That night Linton went to the Four Seasons Hotel, continuing his passionate encounters... using it to absorb Sharon Stone's star power and strengthen his own abilities.
After their rest, Sharon Stone lay in Linton's arms, saying, "Darling, have you heard? Miramax might be finished."
"Yeah, I heard there was a severe fire."
"Not just that, their two major films this year were also destroyed in the fires."
"I thought Miramax mostly backed low-budget films. How bad can losses be? And didn't they have insurance? The company shouldn't be finished, right?"
"They used to do small projects under $3 million, but this year their style changed. Those two films each exceeded $10 million investment. Plus with the office fire damage, they're in deep trouble."
"What do you think of Harvey and Miramax?"
"Harvey's a jerk, hardly anyone likes him except those desperate for fame. But Miramax itself was decent, producing many good movies in recent years. It's a shame, but Hollywood never lacks film companies."
"True. You're already a top star, unlikely to work with them anyway. If they fall, it's no big deal."
"Enough about them, darling, shall we go again?"
"Sure, I am only afraid you won't have the stamina."
Soon, their passionate duet resumed, filled with sweet melodies...
...
Unexpectedly, just two days later, the fire department officially stated the causes of the two Miramax fires:
The office fire was caused by outdated electrical wiring.
The Warner lot fire resulted from improper management of the crew, storing flammable and explosive materials unsafely.
Seeing this announcement, Linton couldn't help but appreciate the Los Angeles Fire Department's professionalism. No wonder wildfires kept spreading each year.
...
On April 4th, clearer news arrived -- Miramax officially shut down and prepared for sale.
Miramax had been a medium-sized company with annual profits of just $2 to $3 million. Recently, they paid $10 million in damages to the Step Up 2 crew, draining their cash flow.
Now, with two devastating fires destroying the company and two big-budget films, Disney, who had been negotiating to acquire shares, cut off talks immediately. There was no way Miramax could continue.
However, Miramax's copyrights and distribution networks still had value, so the Weinstein brothers wouldn't be completely ruined.
But without Miramax as a platform, Harvey's arrogance wouldn't last.
No rush. Linton had plenty of time to deal with him slowly -- maybe this was justice for the people.
That day, post-production on Speed was completed.
Also, after multiple invitations, Nicole Kidman successfully arranged a showdown with Linton at the Hilton Hotel.
Could this be considered triple blessings?
*****
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