[Chapter 456: Gathering at the Farm for Christmas]
Before they knew it, it was Christmas.
This year, Linton had granted himself and his women a generous ten-day vacation, planning to take the whole group to his farm for a holiday getaway. He wanted everyone to experience the charm of his new estate and enjoy the scenic beauty of the gardens.
Upon receiving the notice, except for Sophie Marceau, Monica Bellucci, Cristiana Reali, and Noriko Sakai -- who were out on promotion tours -- the rest of the women returned to the mansion by December 23rd.
There were so many people, but their private jet could only seat fifteen passengers at a time and couldn't accommodate everyone in one trip. Unfortunately, the two brand-new Gulfstream V private jets they had ordered at the end of last year wouldn't be delivered for another six months.
Linton considered that with the group growing larger, and assistants often joining the women, he would eventually need to invest in a bigger plane. Luckily, the airport on his farm was fully capable of handling any plane landing or takeoff.
With this in mind, he turned to Winnie and said, "Winnie, get in touch with Boeing and order a Boeing 737. Keep at least 50 seats, and I want you to handle the interior layout and design."
"Got it. Should I put the purchase under a company name?"
"Use UPN Television Network's name. That way, they can save some on taxes."
Linton's film studio had already secured a two-year tax exemption, but since UPN's profits were massive, it made sense to find legal ways for them to reduce their tax burden.
For now, though, they had no choice but to fly in two groups. Aside from Madonna and her daughter, the rest drew lots to decide the boarding order.
---
On Christmas Eve morning, Linton took Winnie, Madonna and her daughter Lina, Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Connelly, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Winona Ryder, Naomi Watts, Shania Twain, Heidi Klum, Vivian Chow, Charlize Theron, Izumi Sakai -- and two assistants, Meena and Li Xiaoran -- on the first flight bound for his farm in Montana.
Upon arrival at the farm's private airstrip, their butler Erika and Carter awaited them with a luxurious 19-seat Ford Transit minibus and three Mercedes SUVs.
Following Linton's instructions, the team had fully equipped the estate with all necessary living facilities, including transportation. They had purchased a luxury Transit minibus, four Mercedes SUVs, and ten cars of various brands, with the security team doubling as chauffeurs.
Linton and the women boarded the minibus, handing all luggage over to Carter who promptly loaded it into the SUVs.
Though supplies for daily life weren't an issue, personal belongings were another matter, as each woman had brought an enormous suitcase.
At this time of year, Montana was blanketed in heavy snow, transforming the farm into a winter wonderland. This starkly contrasted with the perpetually mild climate of Los Angeles, offering a completely different scenic experience -- though the temperature was very low.
Thankfully, all of them wore quartz pendants gifted by Linton, which regulated body temperature, providing warmth in winter and coolness in summer. Whenever the outside temperature dropped below 41°F (5°C), the pendants emitted a gentle heat that kept the cold at bay.
Despite the chilly farm air hovering around -4°F (-20°C), the women only wore down jackets, confidently showcasing their figures and leaving others shivering -- especially the two assistants, who could hardly contain their envy.
However, since little Lina was still young, Madonna had bundled her up tightly before disembarkation to keep her warm.
The young girl, already full and content from the plane ride, was delighted to see the snowy landscape. Nestled in Linton's arms, she moved her limbs excitedly, her wide eyes darting around while she pointed at the snow, giggling in a way only a child could.
Amid Lina's innocent laughter, Linton and the group happily drove through the swirling snow toward the gardens.
...
Meanwhile, Meena and Li Xiaoran returned by plane to Los Angeles to pick up the remaining four women -- Michelle Reis, Akina Nakamori, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet -- and two nannies.
---
The minibus rolled past fields, through two-meter-high fences, into a small farm area, then into a vast orchard where the view suddenly opened up again.
Ahead lay a modestly sized, well-kept farmland. A small town stood in the distance, and behind it, a magnificent castle enclosed by a towering 8-foot wall came into sight. Above the grand entrance hung a huge plaque that read Anderson Manor.
The vehicles continued through the gates. Inside the vast compound, however, it wasn't a castle but an enormous landscaped garden.
Except for Winnie, all the women were visiting the gardens for the first time. Though seasoned celebrities accustomed to luxury, they were still stunned by the massive grounds, the grandeur, the elegance, and the beauty of the estate.
The garden's lavishness far exceeded their imagination, but knowing each of them was a mistress of the estate sparked a wave of excitement within them.
The vehicles pushed further forward. It became clear that this grand outer courtyard was the service area for staff living and working there. The inner courtyard beyond the walls was where the owners lived.
Since the outer area was already so extravagant, everyone's curiosity about the inner estate grew even stronger.
...
Crossing another two-meter-high fence, they entered the inner courtyard. The scenery, layout, and architecture were far more magnificent -- an imposing aristocratic atmosphere filled the air.
At the heart of the estate was a massive courtyard with multiple courtyards within, surrounded by five intricately decorated three-story mansions adorned with dragon and griffin carvings, exquisite and breathtaking.
Features included lakes, rockeries, corridors, pavilions, perfectly placed trees, assorted flowers and greenery, as well as swimming pools and a variety of fitness and entertainment facilities, all reflecting the estate's luxury and convenience.
Especially thrilling was the news that fifty elegant villas scattered around were for the private use of the women, allowing each to choose her own sanctuary -- a fact that enchanted them all.
...
The vehicles stopped at the main courtyard. Linton, holding little Lina, led everyone on a tour of the sprawling estate.
The heating system was already on, and entering the estate felt like stepping into springtime warmth, prompting everyone to shed their jackets and return to beautiful, stylish attire.
Each courtyard covered over 65,000 square feet with more than 35,000 square feet of building space.
Every courtyard's center housed a stunningly landscaped garden.
The first courtyard contained the kitchens, dining rooms, and offices for the butler and staff.
The second housed living quarters for the butler and inner courtyard staff with over fifty rooms. Meena, Li Xiaoran, and the nannies joining later would stay here.
The third courtyard was designated for the women's offices and libraries, with forty large offices featuring reading rooms and meeting spaces.
The fourth and fifth courtyards were for the children's residences, featuring seventy suites.
The sixth courtyard was where the women stayed, with forty rooms. Linton invited each woman to select a room to decorate later with the help of the butler.
The seventh courtyard was essentially a massive suite. The master bedroom alone spanned over 4,300 square feet, accompanied by a 3,200-square-foot walk-in closet and a 1,600-square-foot super bathroom, plus a study, tea room, lounge, entertainment room, and gym.
At the center of the master suite was an enormous 16-foot by 16-foot square bed, and in the ultra-luxurious bathroom, a more than 400-square-foot bathtub awaited.
At the sight of such grandeur, the women's hearts all fluttered with excitement.
"All right, it's already noon. Go pick your rooms and get your luggage settled. We'll meet in half an hour for lunch."
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/HjHHhUXPn7.