Chapter 101: Taking It Too Far
Chapter 101: Taking It Too Far
“Eric, you’re really smart. I noticed that assistant’s suit didn’t fit properly too, but I never would’ve thought of all the things you mentioned.”
“It’s nothing. You just need to develop the habit of observing and thinking in everyday life. Besides, I quite like reading Sherlock Holmes novels.”
“Then,” Virginia leaned against him and lifted her chin slightly, “Mr. Holmes, did you notice any changes in me?”
“I noticed it a long time ago. Your dyed hair looks very pretty. I like it a lot.” Eric stroked the woman’s newly dyed golden-brown hair.
“How insincere. You sound so reluctant saying that. It took me several hours to dye my hair.”
Eric kissed the girl on the cheek and soothed her, “Alright, let’s not talk about that anymore. How’s your preparation for the script of The Others going?”
“I’ve been seriously reading the script these past few days, but Mr. Kapoor doesn’t think too highly of me. He feels giving me this script is somewhat wasteful. If it were another Oscar-level actress, like Meryl Streep or Jodie Foster, maybe they could interpret this story even more brilliantly. I’m also worried about whether I can play this role well. Eric, aren’t you preparing a new movie? How about letting me play some female role in your film first?” After speaking, the woman looked at Eric expectantly.
“Alright then, you won’t act in this one,” Eric said with a faint, almost imperceptible smile at the corner of his mouth. “There just happens to be a female Interpol officer role in my new film that suits you.”
Virginia had only been testing the waters and hadn’t held much hope to begin with. She never expected Eric to agree so easily and asked again in disbelief, “Really?”
Eric nodded. “Of course. But let me make this clear first. My next film is a completely male-centered movie. The two roles that barely count as female leads don’t have much screen time. They only appear in a few scenes.”
“Ah…” Virginia parted her lips slightly, too stunned to speak.
She had overplayed her hand!
Perhaps for those Hollywood actresses still struggling at the bottom, even a role with only a few scenes in Eric’s new film would be worth fighting for at any cost. After all, it meant working with two A-list superstars, Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks. Even Virginia from half a month ago would have been ecstatic if she had received the promise Eric had just given.
But things were different now. She clearly had a much better opportunity in front of her, playing the absolute number one lead in an excellent script, yet she had voluntarily given it up in exchange for a decorative vase role with only a handful of scenes. The realization instantly made Virginia feel like crying without tears.
What should she do now? Tell Eric that she already regretted her decision and wanted to act in that horror film again? With the little man’s shrewd and domineering personality, if he realized she had been playing tricks in front of him, he would very likely turn hostile.
Smack—
The crisp sound startled the woman out of her dilemma. A burning pain spread across her backside. Virginia raised her head and discovered that Eric already wore a teasing smile on his face. Instantly, she understood that her little scheme had never escaped Eric’s notice. Fortunately, judging from his expression, he wasn’t angry.
“Regretting it already?” the man asked.
“Eric, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I won’t dare do it again.” While speaking submissively, Virginia swiftly slid off the sofa and knelt on the carpet beside Eric’s legs. She raised her charming little face, full of ingratiating expression. She knew Eric liked women posing like this, so she did it without hesitation.
Eric reached out and pinched the woman’s smooth cheek. “If your little head isn’t smart enough, then don’t go around playing tricks. Being content is best. You’re already foolish, yet still greedy. The ending will be miserable. And also, don’t really treat me like some eighteen-year-old brat you can coax. That’s wrong. Even though your physical age is ten years older than mine, my mental age is more than ten years older than yours. Even Jeffrey and Kapoor always feel like I’m the same age as them.”
“Mhm, mhm.” The woman nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking rice.
“Since we’re talking about this, there are some things I should make clear to avoid you doing something stupid,” Eric continued. “The two of us are impossible in terms of having a future together. If you’re willing to be my woman, then I’ll continue helping your career as much as I can. If one day you become tired and want to find a man to marry or something, tell me in advance, and I’ll let you leave. But before that, if you secretly get involved with another man behind my back, then to me, that’s a very serious betrayal. It’s a humiliation. So don’t do that.”
Although Eric did not directly say what the consequences of betrayal would be, Virginia caught a fleeting chill in the man’s eyes. For a moment, she could not think of any better wording and could only clumsily promise, “Eric, I absolutely would never do something like that.”
“As long as you understand your boundaries, that’s enough.” Eric pulled the petite woman back up and placed her on his lap. He leaned toward her fair neck, inhaling the enticing feminine fragrance, then softly instructed beside her ear, “Prepare the script for The Others properly. With your acting skills, if you work harder, you’re more than capable of carrying this story. If you manage to break out a little, it’s not impossible to campaign for a few nominations in the future.”
“Mmm…” The woman let out a seductive syllable.
Gradually, the two stopped talking altogether. Having become familiar with Eric’s personality, Virginia completely yielded and passively allowed him to take control of everything.
Eric lifted his foot and kicked the coffee table farther away from the sofa, clearing enough room to move around before pressing the woman facedown onto the table.
The two of them did not even eat dinner and continued until late into the night. Only then did Eric fall asleep first, always seeming more exhausted than the woman. Under the dim bedside lamp, Virginia lay sideways on the bed, staring at the little man before her with open eyes. She extended a finger, wanting to trace Eric’s tall nose bridge, but hesitated and withdrew her hand. If she woke this little devil star, who knew what new tricks he would come up with to torment her again?
“What kind of person are you exactly?” Only after a long while did Virginia sigh those words. Then, as though suddenly thinking of something, she revealed a smug smile. “And you still claim you’re not some brat. Hmph.”