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Tycoon Actor C395 Another friend
🕑 Added 2024-11-06 22:29:02 +0000 UTCAfter wrapping up her player interviews, NBA sideline reporter Kristen Ledlow made her way to Lucas and Jennifer. Her professional demeanor couldn't quite hide her excitement at this unexpected opportunity.
"Lucas Knight, we're thrilled to have you at an NBA game for the first time," Kristen said, microphone ready. "What brought you out to Minneapolis tonight?"
Lucas exchanged a quick glance with Jennifer, a slight smile playing at his lips. "Well, my girlfriend's been dealing with some business stress lately, so we thought we'd unwind a bit. Plus, couldn't miss the chance to see the Black Mamba in action during his farewell tour."
Jennifer's subtle elbow to his ribs didn't escape the cameras, drawing a soft laugh from Kristen. The moment perfectly captured their dynamic, immediately going viral on social media.
Though the game had ended, the stands remained surprisingly full. Fans lingered, phones ready, hoping to catch one more glimpse of Lucas Knight. The phenomenon wasn't lost on the broadcast team, who noted how a Hollywood star had somehow become the night's biggest attraction at an NBA game.
When Lucas and Jennifer finally made their exit, they found an even larger crowd waiting outside the arena. The NBA security team smoothly coordinated with Lucas's personal detail, creating a protected path through the sea of fans to their waiting vehicles.
"Next time we want a quiet night out," Jennifer whispered as they reached their car, "maybe we skip the nationally televised sporting event."
Lucas just grinned beneath his mask. They both knew there was no such thing as a quiet night out anymore.
***
The next day, after enjoying Minnesota together, Lucas and Jennifer found themselves at an upscale restaurant, waiting for Kobe and his family.
Jennifer studied Lucas's face carefully. "Something's been bothering me - why do I get the feeling you have some ulterior motive for befriending Kobe?"
Lucas chuckled, trying to keep his tone light. "After all this time together, you think I'm that kind of person?"
"It's not that," Jennifer shook her head. "I know you're genuine. But there's something else there. I can feel it." Her intuition, as usual, was uncomfortably accurate.
Lucas smiled softly at her perceptiveness. "Well, I do have some thoughts. For one, I want to talk to him about life after basketball. He might be interested in filmmaking, you know?"
He paused, choosing his next words carefully. "And as a fan, I want to help where I can. Also... I heard he commutes by helicopter a lot. Thought that might be interesting to discuss."
Jennifer's eyebrows shot up. "His helicopter commute? That's an oddly specific interest."
Lucas felt his cheeks warm slightly. "Just thought I could learn something from his travel arrangements."
Their conversation was interrupted by the arrival of the Bryant family. Vanessa Bryant's eyes lit up at the sight of them. "Oh my god, it's really you two! The girls have been talking about nothing else since Gigi met you at the game. Would you mind if we got some pictures?"
Natalia tried to play it cool despite her obvious excitement, while Gianna just grinned, already comfortable from their previous meeting.
Kobe watched it all with an amused sigh, catching Lucas's eye with a look that said, 'See what I deal with?'
Pictures were taken, laughter shared, and soon the private dining room settled into a comfortable dynamic. Jennifer found herself deep in conversation with Vanessa and Natalia, while the men drifted toward their own discussion.
***
As the meal progressed, the natural separation allowed Lucas and Kobe to talk more privately. Over perfectly cooked wagyu, Lucas broached the subject of the future. "So, what's the plan after retirement?"
Kobe considered the question thoughtfully, cutting into his steak. "Business ventures, inspiring the next generation, and most importantly, time with family."
Lucas smiled. "Must be nice."
"Don't get me wrong," Kobe said, his intensity showing even in casual conversation. "I'll miss the game. Basketball gave me everything - my work ethic, my mindset, my purpose. I want to pass that on to the next generation, show them what it means to have that Mamba Mentality."
"Any interest in filmmaking or acting?" Lucas ventured.
Kobe's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Is that what this is about? Scouting talent before I even finish my farewell tour?"
Lucas laughed, then carefully shifted topics. "Actually, I've been curious about your commute setup too. I hear you use helicopters quite a bit?"
"Yeah," Kobe nodded. "Cuts through LA traffic, gets me from Newport Beach to practice without the stress. Gives me more time with family too."
"You should always get thorough pre-flight checks," Lucas said, trying to keep his tone casual. "And maybe avoid flying in low visibility conditions."
Kobe laughed, though his eyes showed surprise at the specific concern. "You sound like my mother. Never thought I'd get a safety lecture from Lucas Knight."
Lucas managed a smile, but his heart was heavy. He knew that in his previous life, Kobe had often pushed to fly in questionable conditions, trusting his long-time pilot and helicopter service. That overconfidence had tragic consequences. But right now, sitting across from a very alive Kobe Bryant, he couldn't say more without seeming strange. He'd have to build this friendship slowly, earn the right to be more direct about these concerns.
"After retirement, I'm actually interested in acting and filmmaking," Kobe revealed. "Been working on a screenplay for a short film."
Lucas's eyebrows rose with genuine interest. "Really? Got a draft already?"
"Yeah," Kobe nodded. "Calling it 'Dear Basketball.'"
Lucas grew thoughtful, recognizing the title from his previous life. "That sounds promising. I'd be happy to help with that." He leaned forward slightly. "Actually, if you're interested in developing a series, I've got some pull at Netflix."
Kobe considered this, clearly intrigued. "Speaking of ventures, business is going to be my main focus post-NBA. And you," he gestured at Lucas with his fork, "you're the definition of a smart businessman. People can't even pin down your net worth because of your low-key lifestyle, but your business portfolio speaks for itself."
Lucas smiled modestly. "You're not wrong about that."
"Any chance I could get some business advice? Maybe even partner on some ventures?" Kobe's competitive spirit was evident even in this different arena.
Taking a sip of wine, Lucas nodded. "Absolutely. In fact," he set down his glass carefully, "you might want to look into Bitcoin. Could be worth investing some capital there."
This was Lucas's subtle way of ensuring Kobe's family would be even more financially secure in this timeline, though he kept that motivation to himself.
"Bitcoin? Yeah, I've put some money in it," Kobe said. "Price seems pretty volatile though."
Lucas nodded knowingly. "It's always been volatile, but the long-term trajectory is upward. I got in back in 2010, sitting on about a hundred thousand Bitcoin now. Worth around 80 million at current prices."
Kobe nearly choked on his wagyu. "You're serious?"
"Completely serious," Lucas confirmed.
"So you saw the potential before everyone else?" Kobe's competitive nature showed in his intense interest.
Lucas smiled. "Not just me. Plenty of early adopters from 2010 saw it coming. Some are running successful businesses now, others are quietly wealthy."
"I'm actually expanding into the broader cryptocurrency space now. There's real potential there."
Seeing Kobe's growing interest, Lucas added a cautionary note. "But you have to be careful. The decentralized nature of crypto makes it perfect for scammers. Don't let price movements blind you to the risks."
Kobe nodded, absorbing the advice with his characteristic focus.
Their conversation flowed naturally from crypto to Hollywood and various business ventures. As the evening progressed, Kobe's guard lowered, and Lucas could feel their friendship developing organically.
"Tell me more about this studio you're planning," Lucas probed, genuinely interested.
"Looking to launch it next year," Kobe's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. "Want to create something different - not just films, but books, podcasts, meaningful content. Something that can inspire people, tell stories that matter." His intensity grew as he outlined his vision. "Think about it - we could create content that bridges sports and storytelling, shows athletes as more than just players. There's so much untapped potential there."
Lucas listened intently, recognizing the passion that would eventually create Granity Studios, though Kobe hadn't settled on the name yet.
***
After hours of conversation, Lucas and Jennifer said their goodbyes to the Bryant family. The evening had been more successful than Lucas had hoped. He'd not only formed a genuine connection with Kobe but had also laid groundwork for future business partnerships, particularly with Kobe's upcoming studio venture. Their shared interests in entertainment and business had created a natural foundation for collaboration.
Walking to their car, Jennifer turned to Lucas with a smile. "You know what's funny? I didn't expect to click so well with Vanessa and the girls."
Lucas nodded. "That's good."
"What about you?" She nudged him playfully. "How'd it go with your basketball idol?"
"Really well," Lucas smiled. "We covered everything from Hollywood projects to business ventures."
Jennifer wrinkled her nose. "That sounds so dull. No fashion talk, no gossip about the latest trends, none of the fun stuff Vanessa and I discussed with the girls."
"Oh yeah, because that's not boring at all," Lucas teased.
Jennifer's response was a dramatic pout as she slipped into the car first. Lucas hurried after her, "Hey, I was just kidding!"
She turned to him with a mischievous grin. "I know."
Lucas stood there for a moment, realizing he'd just been played. "You're getting too good at this," he muttered, sliding into the car beside her.
Comments
Navi
I loved the slice of life moments in this and last chapter.
Gamer Dya
What refreshing chapter, i love it 🤩
