Then the doorbell rang, and Jay went to answer it, with me following behind.
"Hi, hi, hi, hi! How ya doin'?" Jay greeted warmly.
Hey, I thought, outraged. That is for flirting (without the 'g' at the end). I’ll talk to Joey about how we have heretics here.
"Hey, Gramps," Alex greeted.
"Hi, beautiful," Jay responded.
... 2025-09-22 10:49:38 +0000 UTC View Post“I mean, and you, son? You and Scarlett?” Mom asked me.
“Yeah. But she’s moving to Europe in April for a new movie, so we both know not to get too involved.”
Mom nodded without saying anything.
“But I think I should tell her the truth about Marshmello. I was thinking about inviting her on Saturday, when I’ll be re...
2025-09-21 11:33:08 +0000 UTC View PostI sat down at the piano and began to play:
You Are The Reason (Calum Scott)
♪There goes my heart beating
'Cause you are the reason
I'm losing my sleep
Please, come back now♪
♪And there goes my mind racing
And you are the reason
That I'm still breathing
I'm hopeless now♪
♪I'd cl...
2025-09-19 10:29:07 +0000 UTC View Post"Oh great, another one," I could hear Claire mutter.
"J-money!" Phil greeted enthusiastically.
"Phil!" Claire snapped, then turned toward me. "Hi Jake," she waved with one hand while holding her coat with the other.
Glancing at more people around them (apparently acquaintances), and already understanding the situation, I remark...
2025-09-18 10:31:06 +0000 UTC View PostI picked Scarlett up at the airport.
The number of paparazzi had dropped significantly after a few serial maniacs melted or glued camera parts onto their bodies. They woke up naked in busy public areas.
To make it worse (or better, depending on who you ask), tabloids even published those photos. Karma at its finest.
Th...
2025-09-17 10:33:24 +0000 UTC View PostI was calling Scarlett.
“Hey Jake, what’s up?” she answered the phone.
“Hi Scarlett. Are you gonna go to the Oscars with anyone?” I asked.
“Are you asking me out?” she asked with a mischievous tone.
“I am. Would you accept?” I asked without hesitation.
“You know, I’m flying to LA tomorrow. I’...
2025-09-16 09:36:42 +0000 UTC View Post"I already have four, including mom. Two more tickets available," I murmured.
"Congratulations, Jake," Pippa said with a sweet smile, though there was still astonishment on her face.
"Thanks, Pips."
---
During the break, I saw the messages lighting up on my phone:
Laura: Oscar??! Wooow
February 12th, 2002
I was sleeping peacefully when my phone rang.
I woke up, groaned and looked at the clock: it was 5:45 AM.
"Who the hell is calling me so early..."
I looked at the phone and saw it was Pepper.
"Morning, Jake," she greeted as soon as I answered.
"Pepper, it's still the middle of the night. What jus...
2025-09-14 12:18:19 +0000 UTC View PostSam said she had something to do and that she’d see us later at Regina’s party. Freddie took advantage of the ride to go as well, to meet Cara
“All done. Now I’ll only make changes toward the end of the year—unless something completely shifts the stock market,” I murmured.
In my family’s portfolio (Harper Fund), the ret...
2025-09-12 09:43:36 +0000 UTC View PostBritney was still holding my arms, eyes wide like a kid about to enter Disneyland for the first time.
"I can’t believe it. My own cosmetics brand..." she whispered, then looked at me dead serious. "You’re not just playing, right?"
I leaned in with a smirk. "Brit, I’m putting millions into this. Do I look like I’m playing?" 2025-09-11 10:41:36 +0000 UTC View Post
"Man, it is not only about trusting you, but we think you are a very good money maker," Freddie said. "Basically, all the money I have was your idea. And it's not like I really worked hard for it..."
"Besides," Carly added, "we know you’re incredibly generous with your friends. Apart from the 'Paranormal Activity' bonus, our iCarly contr...
2025-09-10 09:01:52 +0000 UTC View PostA few days had passed since the Jingle ceremony (which we didn’t attend). Britney and I were in my room.
Ever since Britney joined JDS, we kicked out — one by one — every single leech, bloodsucker, incompetent, and dimwit from her team. Which means… basically everyone.
To be her manager, we hired a young (30-year-old) Guy Ose...
2025-09-09 09:31:48 +0000 UTC View Post"Did we just walk into a treasure cave?" Uncle Charlie remarked, eyes wide. "And you hid this from me?"
"Obviously," I replied dryly. "Otherwise, my collection would be long gone."
He glared at me but kept inspecting the labels.
"Romanée-Conti and Louis XIII," Heidi noted. "You guys are really wealthy."
"Take whatever yo...
2025-09-08 09:54:45 +0000 UTC View PostAfter talking to Heidi, Lindsay returned.
"She had another call, that’s why I took longer. Heidi agreed, but only as a friend."
I gave a slight nod.
"Lindsay, I’ll be upfront. I almost never do this with girls I go out with, and I don’t want you to get the wrong idea," I began, holding her hand. "I want to give you a few ...
2025-09-07 11:07:18 +0000 UTC View PostAfter the supermarket, I was back in Malibu, kissing Lindsay on the deck.
We stopped for a while, she was admiring the view, and I was admiring her (she really is a beautiful model), while I wrapped my arm around her waist.
"I really miss a view like this. NYC beaches are kind of ugly..." she murmured.
"Kind of?" I said, amused...
2025-09-05 09:59:46 +0000 UTC View PostSarah drove to the Bristol Farms in Malibu.
Yeah, we pay an overpriced premium for the products just to get personalized service—well, my family does, since I basically don’t go to the grocery store (I had started ignoring small amounts of money entirely).
In the parking lot, we met up with Uncle Charlie and Dad. Other cars with ...
2025-09-04 11:58:35 +0000 UTC View PostAfter chatting more (I had no classes this afternoon), I went back home (Malibu again).
When I arrived, Uncle Charlie and Dad were still having lunch.
"Good afternoon!"
"Hey kid," Uncle Charlie greeted.
"Hello son. What is that graphene your mother was talking about?" Alan asked.
"It is a 2D carbon structure. Nothin...
2025-09-03 09:27:02 +0000 UTC View PostAfter long discussions, we settled on an initial project budget of seventy million dollars. Gordon and I each contributed twenty-five million, JD and Henri added ten million each, and Caltech agreed to provide the facilities and infrastructure.
The intellectual property would be split accordingly: thirty percent to Caltech, ten percent to ...
2025-09-02 09:11:56 +0000 UTC View PostIn one of the conference rooms at Caltech, I sat in a regular seat near the center of the table. Pepper was to my right, flipping through her handwritten notes.
Siebert sat across from me with a thick book filled with printed research. Paige was beside him, jotting quick thoughts into her notebook, occasionally glancing my way. Harvey lean...
2025-09-01 10:27:50 +0000 UTC View PostI still had my hands on Paige’s shoulders.
"Heh, since we’re already here, let’s take a walk around Cowtech. Paige, I already know it, but maybe you can show the others.
"She got excited. "Come on Carly and Sam, let’s go!"
"Freddie, you can leave the camera with my bodyguard and grab it later. You can do your tour as a ...
2025-08-31 13:24:15 +0000 UTC View PostPaige and Leslie walked out of the lab as if they had just seen a ghost.
"What just happened?" Carly asked, looking at the two in shock.
"I showed them something incredible," I said, then turned to Sam. "Remember that prank you pulled with some tape and pencil dust?"
"Yes," she nodded, raising an eyebrow. "But heh, not one of m...
2025-08-29 10:16:37 +0000 UTC View PostTwo days have passed since the Patriots won Super Bowl XXXVI.
Yesterday was Freddie's 16th birthday. He wanted a simple celebration without much noise. So it was just a small gathering of close friends, with his mom organizing everything (with Cara's help).
I respected his wish and didn’t throw any flashy surprises. Even though I l...
2025-08-28 09:59:38 +0000 UTC View PostI woke up with a 'slight headache'. "What a rookie mistake..." I murmured and took some pills.
Leaving the room, a voice came right beside me.
"Good morning, Jake."
"For God’s sake, Sarah, want to kill me of a heart attack?" I said, placing a hand over my heart after the scare she gave me.
She just gave me an amused smi...
2025-08-27 09:13:08 +0000 UTC View PostAs the applause slowly faded, the stadium remained hushed for a moment longer
Chester gave a small bow, nodded toward me, and then quietly exited the stage.
Then I exhaled.
A soft chime in my earpiece snapped me back to the moment. "Jake, you're clear. Get ready for the next set," Pepper’s voice came through.
I turned t...
2025-08-26 12:29:23 +0000 UTC View PostFinally arriving at our destination, Louisiana, everyone was sent to their respective hotels. With such a large group, tighter organization was inevitable.
A few people were assigned responsibilities, and George Cooper was put in charge of the football team. Despite the headache, nothing could wipe the grin off his face—he was just...
2025-08-25 12:20:22 +0000 UTC View Post2002 February 3th, another Super Bowl was about to happen. I’ve always had a special feeling about them. It all began with bets in Football, after all.
But this time, there would be none— I owned the Patriots now. Club owners were strictly forbidden from betting, even if it was in favor of their own team winning.
Besides, betting...
2025-08-24 12:49:29 +0000 UTC View PostIn addition to the strict curation of licensed product quality, we had another clause imposed on manufacturers of products aimed at children: a prohibition on exorbitant profits (the price can't be much different comparing to the similar ones).
Adults, on the other hand, should know what they're doing. If they're willing to pay a premium p...
2025-08-22 13:31:18 +0000 UTC View PostI was with Pepper inspecting another idea I had (stole) last year. Earlier, we had gone over everything again about how things would unfold during the Super Bowl.
Beats by Mello
The idea is straightforward: an over-ear wired headphone called Beats One. The brand uses a minimalistic logo — a "b" inside a circle — placed o...
2025-08-21 13:52:14 +0000 UTC View Post"And I don't go after girls who are taken. So, forget it." I finished
Just then, Judith walked up with two dessert plates in hand, looking slightly amused.
"Should I even ask what’s going on here?" she asked, handing me one of the plates.
"Your son is too charming. Now even the mother is pushing her own daughter," I said.
... 2025-08-20 12:01:37 +0000 UTC View PostJay’s voice rang through the house. “Knock, knock, we’re here!”
Mitchell turned slightly toward me, lowering his voice to explain, “My dad, uh, my dad isn’t completely comfortable with this. He still does this thing... where he announces himself before walking into any room we’re in.”
I nodded to him. That reminded me...
2025-08-19 12:39:17 +0000 UTC View Post