Chapter 149: Plaything
Chapter 149: Plaything
Amid the cheers of the fans, Eric passed through the crowd. Across the barriers lining both sides of the red carpet, he smiled and hurriedly signed a few 17 Again, Home Alone, and Pretty Woman posters that had been thrust toward him. Then he called over Brooke Shields, who was also signing autographs for fans, and the two of them headed together toward the media interview area ahead.
“Eric, are you confident about Running Out of Time’s box office?”
“Brooke, you and Mr. Williams are so close. Are you two dating privately?”
“Eric, over here! Over here!”
“Mr. Williams, what do you think of Batman’s box office trend?”
“……”
Amid the frenzy of flashing cameras, Eric wrapped an arm around Brooke Shields’ waist and smiled for the reporters’ photos, but he had no intention of answering any questions.
Once he opened his mouth, those reporters would definitely ask sensitive questions regarding Running Out of Time and Batman. With Ghostbusters 2 serving as a cautionary example, no matter how Eric answered, it would not be appropriate. If he acted too confident and the film later failed to meet expectations at the box office, he would certainly be mocked heavily. If he showed even the slightest hesitation, it would become even more troublesome. If even the director lacked confidence in his own film, how could the media possibly say anything positive? Even if he tried to give vague, neutral answers, people with ulterior motives could still twist his words at this critical moment. Therefore, the best strategy was simply not to respond at all.
Hearing even louder cheers erupt from behind him than when he himself had walked past earlier, Eric knew Cruise and Hanks had stepped onto the red carpet together. This had been arranged beforehand. Glancing back, he saw the two men smiling as they slowly passed through the fans. Eric knew it was time to move inside and make room for the two superstars. He signaled to Brooke Shields, and the woman once again linked her arm through his as the two entered the theater together.
Outside the roaring sea of fans, Nicole and Drew had just gotten out of the car and were watching the scene not far away.
Drew wore pink heart-shaped sunglasses with pink frames, chewing gum with both hands stuffed into the pockets of her small jacket as she casually watched the frenzied fans and Cruise and Hanks on the red carpet.
The outfit was something the girl had picked up after watching Kubrick’s Lolita. She firmly believed that an older man’s soul with a Lolita complex was hidden inside Eric, so she occasionally dressed like this and suddenly appeared before him. Eric really had been stirred by the girl’s playful appearance. Sue Lyon’s classic Lolita look paired with Drew’s doll-like face made it impossible for Eric not to be tempted. From then on, Drew had become fond of dressing like this because she knew Eric liked seeing her this way.
Tilting her head, she glanced sideways at Nicole standing beside her. Although she disliked the woman, Drew had still driven over together with her according to Eric’s instructions. Seeing the longing look Nicole revealed while watching Cruise and Hanks receive the adoration of fans, the girl curled her lips disdainfully.
“Hey, you really envy them that much?”
Nicole froze briefly before realizing Drew was speaking to her. Slightly surprised, she still answered, “Of course. If not for things like this, why would anyone come to Hollywood? Don’t you envy it too?”
“What’s there to envy? Once Sleepless in Seattle comes out, you’ll definitely receive this kind of attention too.”
“Oh?” The woman became even more surprised. She lowered her head and looked at the girl beside her. “That doesn’t sound like something that would come out of your sharp little mouth. I never thought you’d compliment me.”
“Ha.” Drew glanced at her contemptuously. “Which ear heard me complimenting you? I just have confidence in Eric’s script. Pull any pretty woman off the streets of Hollywood and let her become the female lead in Eric’s script, and she could become a big star too. Just like Julia Roberts. Eric picked her up from some little restaurant. You’re just another lucky woman he happened to choose.”
“Oh? Then what about you?” There was a trace of sarcasm in Nicole’s tone.
The girl raised her chin proudly without the slightest concern. “I’m Eric’s.”
“Wow,” Nicole truly did not know how to respond and could only let out a meaningless syllable.
“I am Eric’s,” Drew emphasized again. “And Eric knows I’m his. So the way he treats me is different from how he treats women like you. Even Aniston can’t affect my place in his heart.”
“But the way it sounds to me, you’re more like…” Nicole glanced at Drew and trailed off. Although Drew had spent this entire period ruining her little schemes, she still did not want to completely offend the girl. After all, Drew and Eric were very close.
Drew, however, did not care and immediately continued, “A pet, right? Haha, how ridiculous. I didn’t expect you to have the same idea as that little idiot Aniston. And even if I am a pet, do you know what women like you are?”
Although Nicole knew Drew was not about to say anything pleasant, she still could not help revealing a curious expression.
“A plaything,” Drew said quickly. “Want to know why I asked that question the first time we met? Because if the answer had been yes, then Eric might’ve had some feelings for you. You might’ve become his lover. But the answer was no. That means Eric simply doesn’t fancy you at all. He just treats you like a plaything, a beautifully dressed doll. He dressed you up like that and kept you in the villa simply because he thought it was fun.”
Nicole’s expression immediately turned ugly. Her lips trembled as she retorted, “That’s impossible. It definitely isn’t like that. He… he gave me the female lead role in a movie.”
“Hmph. It’s just a female lead role in one movie. You’re thinking too highly of yourself. Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. You’ve been trying to seduce him this entire time. You want to become Mrs. Williams, don’t you? That’s hilarious. He doesn’t even have the interest to get you into bed, and you still fantasize about him marrying you?”
The woman suddenly lifted her head and glared fiercely at Drew. “I understand now. You’re trying to force me away with these words. Little girl, don’t even dream about it. If everything you said is true, then why have you been trying every possible way to stop me this whole time?”
Drew shrugged. “I just don’t want Eric to be put in a difficult position. Some of his views are different from other people’s. If you really climbed into his bed, and with a scheming woman like you on top of that, it wouldn’t be easy for him to get rid of you later. So until you leave my house, I’ll be keeping a close eye on you, Nicole Kidman. You’d better give up on this idea early.”
“Then we’ll just wait and see, Miss Barrymore,” Nicole replied mockingly as she walked toward the theater entrance.
Drew adjusted her sunglasses and followed behind her. After Cruise and Hanks left the red carpet, another celebrity guest stepped onto it. Drew once again could not resist chattering beside Nicole.
“Look. Those actresses getting even louder screams from fans? Actually, if Eric wanted to, he’d only need to crook his finger slightly and most of those women would willingly strip naked and crawl into his bed, raising their asses on their own. So even though those actresses are getting far more screams than Eric just did, people like Eric are the real controllers of Hollywood.”
Although Nicole angrily pretended not to care about Drew’s words, deep down she had to admit the little girl was actually telling the truth. Just for a single role, she herself had willingly run to Eric’s house and put on a sexy maid outfit to please him. With the status Eric had accumulated through the success of several consecutive films, there truly were not many actresses in Hollywood trying to climb upward who would refuse some of Eric’s requests.