206 Unforseen

The 68th Annual Golden Globes Awards wrapped up with "The Social Network" taking home a slew of trophies, but not everyone was thrilled about the outcome. Many journalists and industry insiders had a sneaking suspicion that the awards were rigged, and even the millions of viewers tuning in from home could sense that something was off.

As soon as the live broadcast ended, social media was flooded with posts about the event. On Twitter, some users were quick to praise host Ricky Gervais for his hilarious and scathing commentary. One user tweeted, "Ricky Gervais made this year's Golden Globes so much more entertaining! The best part? Watching him roast the most self-conscious crowd in Hollywood. They probably only laughed because their publicists told them to, but seeing those fake smiles plastered on their faces while Ricky exposed the industry was priceless! 😂"

While Ricky's roasts were a hit with many viewers, they weren't universally loved. Plenty of people, including the celebrities in attendance, found his jokes to be in poor taste and downright offensive.

Disappointment was a common theme in the social media chatter. "I can't believe how disappointing this year's Golden Globes were!" one user lamented. "The people I was rooting for didn't win, and neither did any of my family or friends' picks. It was just straight-up bad. The only saving grace was seeing Robert Downey Jr., Matt Damon, Ricky Gervais, and some of the other presenters. Everything else? Total letdown."

Another user was outraged by the winners in the TV categories, tweeting, "How the heck did 'Glee' beat out 'Modern Family'? Where's the justice in that?!"

And when it came to the music categories, one user didn't hold back their frustration: "What the actual fuck? How did the incredible original song and score from 'Inception' lose to that mediocre music from 'The Social Network'? This whole event was a shitshow. Probably just an excuse for a party anyway."

Another frustrated viewer chimed in, "Seriously, how did 'Inception' not win a single award? That's just ridiculous! And don't even get me started on the best supporting actor category. Lucas Knight was robbed!"

Lucas's fans were quick to flood social media with their own complaints. "I can't believe Lucas didn't win!" one fan posted. "His original songs were incredible, and his supporting role in 'Inception' was outstanding. Not to mention, his performance in '127 Hours' was worthy of the best actor award. No disrespect to Colin Firth, he did a great job too, but in my opinion, he didn't hold a candle to Lucas in '127 Hours'."

Another disappointed fan wrote, "Both 'Inception' and '127 Hours' were my top picks, and they went home empty-handed. It's a shame to see amazing directors like Nolan and Boyle lose out to 'The Social Network'..."

Amidst the outpouring of support from Lucas's fans, there were also some haters who couldn't resist taking jabs at the young actor. "It's hilarious to see all these Lucas Knight fans complaining when he only got his big break because of his dad," one critic posted.

Another skeptic questioned Lucas's rapid rise to fame, writing, "I had no idea Lucas was the son of Vince Knight and the half-brother of Melvin Knight. No wonder he became a star so quickly. It's pretty suspicious how he managed to build such a successful career in just two years."

One particularly snide commenter remarked, "If Vince Knight was my dad, I could easily be the next Lucas Knight."

In response to the hate, Lucas's supporters fired back. "You have to admit that even if his father is Vince Knight, Lucas is genuinely talented and charismatic. Just watch his performances! He has a unique charm and intensity that shines through in both of his movies so far. And now, with his upcoming film 'Like Crazy' set to release in March, I can't wait to see what he does next!"

"It's ridiculous that people are hating on Lucas just because his father is a director in the industry. It's not uncommon for actors to have connections that help them get started, but whether they make it big or not depends entirely on their talent and charm. In my opinion, Lucas has both in spades. There are plenty of other actors out there with way more connections than Lucas, but they haven't achieved his level of success in such a short time."

As the public continued to voice their opinions, the media also began to publish their own takes on the 68th Golden Globes Awards. Many articles focused on criticizing Ricky Gervais, while others shared their thoughts and critiques on some of the night's winners.

Meanwhile, at the Warner Bros. Building, Vince Knight sat in his office, making a call to the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. "Thank you for fulfilling my request," Vince said.

"It's no problem at all, Vince. It was easy enough to ensure your son didn't win any awards," the president replied, before asking, "But why wouldn't you want your son to win?"

"It's a family thing," Vince explained cryptically.

"I see... Well, I hope you have the bag ready," the president hinted.

"I'll send you $100,000 to your account, but I'll have to split it into $10,000 increments. My bank is strict, you see," Vince assured.

"I understand."

After the call ended, Vince sat back in his chair, lost in thought.

At the post-Golden Globes party, Jennifer Lawrence mingled with the other guests, a smile on her face. The event had been an eye-opening experience for her, teaching her that even the most deserving performances might not win without strong connections or, as Ricky Gervais had suggested, even bribery. She was particularly disappointed that Lucas hadn't won a single award, despite his incredible acting and original songs.

Lucas, meanwhile, chatted with Andrew and other celebrities before making his way over to greet directors Danny Boyle and Christopher Nolan.

"Don't be disappointed about not winning any awards at this year's Golden Globes," Christopher said, patting Lucas on the shoulder. "There's still the Oscars."

Lucas smiled, comforted by Christopher's words, which echoed Danny's sentiments. "I'm not disappointed," he insisted, before turning the question back on the director. "What about you, sir? Are you disappointed that 'Inception' didn't win anything?"

Christopher's smile was tinged with sadness. "I am a bit disappointed, but there's not much we can do about it. That's just the way the industry works sometimes. Hopefully, we'll have better luck at the upcoming Oscars."

Lucas nodded in agreement.

The conversation shifted to Lucas's father, Vince. Christopher admitted that he wasn't entirely surprised when Ricky revealed the familial connection, as he had learned about it months earlier while working with Lucas on "Inception".

"Your father has a certain reputation, and it's not a particularly positive one," Christopher cautioned. "You should be prepared to face criticism because of his standing in the industry."

Lucas sighed. "Even though he's my father, I've never once asked for his help with my career. But I doubt people will see it that way."

Christopher nodded empathetically. "You're talented, and I know that firsthand. Don't get caught up in what everyone else is saying. Just focus on doing your own thing."

Appreciative of the advice, Lucas thanked Christopher before excusing himself to approach Jennifer.

"Lucas!" Jennifer beamed, pulling him into a warm hug.

"How are you enjoying the party so far?" Lucas asked, smiling.

"I'm doing well," Jennifer replied. She then gestured towards a middle-aged man nearby. "See that? That's Harvey Weinstein and his brother, Bob. The ones I mentioned to you earlier."

Lucas's expression grew serious as he leaned in to whisper, "You need to be careful around Harvey."

Jennifer chuckled. "I know, because he's not a good person, right?" She paused before continuing, "But there's nothing wrong with building connections. He promised he could help further my career, and if that's true, I don't see the harm in it."

Shaking his head, Lucas insisted, "No. Definitely not. You should stay away from him."

Jennifer frowned, her brow furrowed in confusion. "What's wrong with you?"

"I already told you the reason," Lucas said, a hint of indignation in his voice.

"Lucas, why are you so concerned about me?" Jennifer asked, her frown deepening.

"Because you're my friend—" Lucas began, but Jennifer cut him off before he could finish.

"Is that really it?" She stared into his eyes, a glimmer of hope flickering in her own.

"Well..." Lucas hesitated, unsure of how to respond.

Unable to hold back any longer, Jennifer blurted out, "We're friends, but you're acting like a jealous boyfriend. You're not my boyfriend, my manager, or my agent. You can't tell me what to do."

Lucas met her gaze, a thought forming in his mind. "If I were your boyfriend, would you listen to me?"

A slight blush crept onto Jennifer's cheeks. "Perhaps..." she admitted softly.

As Lucas pondered the situation, he couldn't help but wonder, 'Is entering a relationship with her the only way to make her listen to me?'

Jennifer, taking his silence as a sign of disinterest, started to walk away. But Lucas, acting on impulse, reached out and gently grasped her hand, stopping her in her tracks.

"Jennifer..." he murmured, his eyes locked on hers. "If you're willing... Do you want to enter a relationship with me?"

Jennifer's heart raced, her nerves getting the best of her. "What- what do you mean? What kind of relationship?"

"You know... Lovers?" Lucas clarified, his voice barely above a whisper.

Her eyes widened, cheeks flushing an even deeper shade of red. "Are you drunk right now?"

"No," Lucas shook his head, his gaze unwavering.

"Why? Do you even have feelings for me—" Jennifer started to ask, but Lucas interrupted her.

"Yes... During the shooting of 'Like Crazy', I developed feelings for you," he confessed, his voice low and sincere.

Glancing around to ensure their privacy, Jennifer took Lucas by the hand and led him to a quiet area, away from the prying eyes and ears of the other celebrities at the party.

"Are you serious, Lucas?" she asked, her voice a mix of hope and uncertainty.

Lucas nodded, then hesitantly asked, "Do you have the same feelings for me?" His tone trembled slightly, betraying his fear of rejection and the possibility of being relegated to the dreaded "friend zone."

Jennifer was quiet for a moment, gathering her thoughts. "I..."

Lucas watched her intently, his eyes filled with anticipation.

"I do..." she finally admitted, a smile spreading across Lucas's face. In a moment of pure joy and relief, he leaned in and captured her lips in a tender kiss, catching Jennifer by surprise.