Leaving the Bellevue Hospital with emotions churning, Lucas returned to his apartment. The sight of the courageous children battling illness had triggered a profound desire to help. He decided to contribute a significant portion of his earnings to the hospital.
His recent involvement in the film project, "Inception," had been a success, generating a sizable income of $570,000. Although the initial offer was $700,000, deductions for his agency, representation by Vincent, and taxes had reduced the final sum. Nevertheless, Lucas was confident in his ability to replenish these funds through upcoming projects he'd already planned to audition.
Driven by empathy, he wasted no time in contacting Vincent. He instructed his agent to allocate $200,000 from his recent earnings to the Bellevue Hospital, specifically earmarked for their pediatric cancer wing. He knew this wouldn't erase the pain, but it could offer some comfort and support to those brave young warriors.
Vincent's surprised gasp resonated through the receiver. "Lucas, are you serious? Donating $200,000?"
A beat of silence followed, Vincent likely processing the unexpected request. After all, Lucas's money was his to do with as he pleased, but this was a significant amount, especially directed towards a cause close to his heart. "Understood, Lucas," Vincent finally replied. "Your bank account details are secure with me, and I'll ensure the donation reaches the hospital swiftly."
Lucas appreciated Vincent's professionalism. "Thank you, Vincent."
Then, Vincent asked, "And under what name?"
"Let's make this our first official philanthropic endeavor," Lucas mused. "LK Charity. What do you think?"
"LK Charity," Vincent repeated, added. "Are you sure you want to go public with this?"
Lucas considered this for a moment. The spotlight wasn't something he craved, but perhaps there was power in transparency. "Maybe not now," he decided. "Let's start small. But yes, eventually, I want it to be known. This won't be the last we do, Vincent."
The conversation ended, and with a sense of purpose settled within him, Lucas set off to find Samantha at the bar where she worked.
The bar buzzed with a low hum as Lucas entered, seeking out Samantha. He scanned the dimly lit room, the scent of bourbon and laughter filling his senses. Then, he spotted her. Not behind the bar as expected, but on stage, bathed in the spotlight, her voice filling the room with a soulful melody.
He settled into a seat, drawn in by the familiar cadence of her music. It had been months since they last met, and he couldn't help but notice a subtle shift in Samantha. There was a new maturity in her eyes, a quiet confidence that seemed to emanate from the stage. Yet, her youthful charm remained.
As the last note faded, applause erupted, and Lucas smiled, catching her eye. A flicker of surprise crossed her face before recognition dawned. A blush crept up her cheeks as she excused herself from the stage, microphone passed off to a colleague.
She moved towards Lucas, her smile genuine. "Lucas! What a surprise. I wasn't expecting you to be back."
His chuckle held a hint of warmth. "And vice versa. Happy to see you, Samantha."
They exchanged greetings, a comfortable familiarity settling between them. A playful pout touched her lips. "We had a promise, remember? Recording your songs? You disappeared for months, leaving me hanging."
Lucas's laugh was apologetic. "Tight schedule, I'm afraid. But that's why I'm here. Still interested in recording?"
Her smile broadened. "Oh, definitely! In fact, I was about to ask you the same thing." Then she added, "Speaking of which, '127 Hours' had me in tears..."
A genuine smile touched Lucas's lips. They spent the next few minutes delving into the film, Samantha peppering him with questions about the behind-the-scenes process. Finally, he steered the conversation back to the original purpose of his visit.
"So, about those recordings..."
As the conversation flowed, Lucas's ears perked up at the name Samantha mentioned— "Electric Lady Studios." He knew it well: a legendary recording space steeped in history, having hosted the likes of John Lennon and Jimi Hendrix.
Lucas had initially assumed Samantha's connections were more local to the bar scene, but this hinted at something wider. Then Samantha explained, "It's not actually my connection. My aunt, Elena Rhodes, also the bar manager, have connections with the studio manager of the Electric Lady Studios."
The name "Elena Rhodes" sparked a memory for Lucas. He vaguely recalled a woman in her late 30s, the bar manager, who had approached him after a short performance at the bar several months ago. He'd almost forgotten the brief encounter, and the contact card must be still in the pockets of his pants he used that day.
Following Samantha's lead, they approached Elena, who stood by the bar, overseeing the evening's flow. Recognition dawned on her face as Lucas came closer. This was the young man with the captivating voice, the one whose song had lingered in her mind ever since.
"Young man!" After a moment, she exclaimed, a warm smile spreading across her features. "It's so good to see you again. I still remember that beautiful song you sang."
Lucas chuckled, a little flattered. "Thanks, I appreciate that. Actually, Samantha was just telling me about the possibility of recording at Electric Lady..."
As Lucas, Samantha, and Elena delved into the recording details, a slight hitch arose. "Alright," Elena announced, "I'll do my best to reach out to Studio Manager Lee and get you scheduled."
Lucas's face fell slightly. "So, no chance of recording tomorrow?"
Samantha echoed his disappointment.
Elena chuckled, understanding their eagerness. "The Electric Lady is a bustling place, with artists booked days in advance. Even with connections, the best I can do is schedule you in."
Lucas understood. "Of course," he nodded. "It's completely reasonable. The issue is, besides tomorrow, my schedule gets swamped. I might have an upcoming film project that might keep me busy for weeks, maybe even months in filming, depending on the audition results if I'm chosen to film in the project, and even if I'm not chosen, there are other projects I'm actively pursuing."
"Your auditioning? projects?" Elena was a bit confused.
Seeing her aunt's bewilderment, Samantha stepped in. "Lucas is an actor, Aunt Elena."
Elena's eyes widened in realization. "An actor, huh? Interesting..." She paused, contemplating. "Regardless, I'll still put in a good word with the studio manager. Just keep me updated on your availability by contacting me, my contact details is still the same as the contact card I gave you, and then we'll find a window that works for everyone."
Lucas hesitated, feeling sheepish. "Uh, actually, I... lost the contact card you gave me months ago."
A shared chuckle filled the air. Elena playfully rolled her eyes and handed him another card. "Here's another one. This time, try not to misplace it."
Lucas accepted the card with a slightly embarrassed smile.