Chapter 153: Shifting Anger
Chapter 153: Shifting Anger
The final line of credits rose, and the lights in the screening hall came on.
As the film’s main creative team waited with some nervous anticipation, enthusiastic applause rang out. Only when Eric led Cruise, Hanks, and several other lead actors onto the stage and smiled while making a quieting gesture to the movie fans below did the applause slowly die down.
After expressing their thanks to the fans and doing a few brief interactions, Eric and the others headed backstage at the right moment, just as some of the fans in the screening hall were gradually becoming excited. Although the fans were somewhat unwilling, they still left the screening hall in an orderly manner.
“The use of repetition was truly brilliant. You know, Nicole, many directors have their own unique style in the films they make. Leaving aside art-film directors with strong personal styles, even commercial-film directors who focus on box office results often use methods that follow the same line of thought across many of their films if you study their work even slightly. But this trait strangely doesn’t appear in Eric Williams. His several films all have completely different styles. This can only be described as bizarre, because the force of a person’s habits is very strong. Many habits naturally appear without the person even realizing it.”
George Nosen, the film critic from Premiere, walked out of the theater side by side with Nicole while gesturing animatedly and explaining things to her. He had discovered that whenever Nicole heard a topic related to Eric, she would show a little interest, unlike her cold attitude toward other subjects. Thus, he decisively stopped commenting on the performances of Cruise, Hanks, or Brooke Shields, and always shifted the topic to Eric in a very ingratiating manner.
Only when they reached the parking lot did George Nosen test the waters and say, “Nicole, there’s a decent café not far from here. Maybe we can sit there for a while first. It’s still early, and there’s nothing to do even if we go back, right?”
The woman refused coldly. “I’m sorry, Mr. Nosen. I’m going back right away.”
As Nicole said this, however, she stopped beside her car and turned to look back toward the theater.
Although George Nosen had been rejected, he noticed that the woman did not immediately get into her car and leave, so his thoughts became active again. George had never managed to seduce a cold, glamorous beauty like Nicole before, which was why he was so unwilling to give up easily. On top of that, the woman’s lukewarm attitude had only stirred his desire to conquer her even more.
“Nicole, do you like Eric Williams a lot?” George quickly came up with another topic.
The woman glanced at him and answered honestly, “Not really.”
George Nosen revealed an expression of understanding. “Heh, don’t deny it. I noticed you always seem more interested when hearing topics about Eric Williams. Nicole, do you want to meet him in person?”
Nicole raised her brows. Faced with this man’s relentless pestering, the woman was growing increasingly impatient. Unfortunately, because of the lighting in the parking lot, George Nosen did not notice the slight change in her expression and continued speaking self-importantly. “You know, I’m a film critic for Premiere. Because of Running Out of Time, Eric Williams will definitely be accepting quite a few interviews during this period to promote the movie. Given Premiere’s current influence, if we send him an interview invitation, I’m sure he won’t refuse.”
“What does that have to do with me?” the woman replied coldly.
“I have a good relationship with the editor-in-chief. If he agrees, I can request that assignment. When the time comes...” George Nosen’s expression carried some pride and showiness. “If you’re willing, you can pretend to be my assistant. That way, you’ll have a chance to talk with Eric Williams face-to-face. Maybe we’ll even have a chance to have dinner together.”
“Oh.” The woman let out a meaningless syllable, a trace of mockery hanging at the corner of her mouth. Just as she was about to clearly reject this self-important man, a young man in a neat suit entered the parking lot and ran straight toward the tall and graceful Nicole.
When George Nosen saw the young man approaching, he revealed a wary expression. Nicole also became somewhat guarded when she saw the other party walking toward her. She did not know him. She had not even managed to get rid of the one beside her yet, and she did not want another persistent pestering man to show up.
“Excuse me, are you Miss Nicole Kidman?” The young man arrived in front of the woman, looked over Nicole’s appearance again, and only then asked.
Nicole nodded. When George discovered that the two did not know each other, he relaxed.
After confirming the woman’s identity, the young man said warmly, “Hello, Miss Kidman. I’m Allen. Allen Fisman.” Seeing the woman’s puzzled expression, Allen quickly explained, “I’m Mr. Williams’s assistant.”
“Oh, hello, Allen. Just call me Nicole.” The woman smiled and extended her hand, shaking the young man’s hand. At the same time, she glanced at George Nosen, who seemed to have realized something, and introduced him with a slightly teasing tone. “This is Mr. George Nosen, a film critic from Premiere magazine.”
“Hello, Mr. Nosen.” Allen greeted George lukewarmly. People who made movies usually did not like film critics very much. In this era, film critics firmly controlled the reputation of most films, but critics who could maintain a fair attitude were extremely few. Film companies had no choice but to spend a considerable amount of public relations money on these people before every release. Otherwise, it was very difficult to receive a fair evaluation from them.
After greeting George, Allen did not wait for his response and turned back to the woman. “Here’s the situation, Nicole. Miss Barrymore asked me to tell you that she’ll be attending the party afterward with Mr. Williams, so you don’t need to wait for her.”
“Thank you, Allen. I understand.” The woman nodded.
Allen did not say anything more. He nodded to the two of them and turned back toward the theater.
“Sorry, Mr. Nosen. Could you move aside?” After Allen left, Nicole prepared to open the car door and go home, only to find George Nosen standing blankly in front of her car door.
“Oh, sorry.” George hurriedly moved aside. Watching the woman open the car door, he pulled at the corner of his mouth and wanted to give a carefree smile, but the muscles of his face seemed to have stiffened and refused to cooperate.
If Allen had only mentioned “Mr. Williams,” George could still deceive himself and pretend he did not understand. After all, there were far too many people with the surname Williams. But the following phrase, “Miss Barrymore,” completely left George no room to play dumb.
Eric and Drew’s somewhat strange relationship had always been a topic everyone in the circle discussed with great interest. Of course George Nosen could not possibly be unaware of it. In that case, Nicole’s identity was not difficult to guess either. Thinking of how the woman had been waiting here for Drew, George felt certain that she was a very familiar friend of Eric and Drew.
Remembering the things he had just said, George Nosen felt a deep wave of embarrassment. The woman clearly knew Eric, yet he had still tried to tempt her with an interview. She had probably already laughed at him a hundred times in her heart just now.
Watching Nicole drive away as though nothing had happened, George walked toward his own car in frustration, increasingly feeling that his behavior had been like that of a clown jumping up and down. When a person encountered something like this and refused to reflect on his own faults, the usual response was to shift his anger onto someone else.
Thus, George directly ignored his own rude pestering and instead felt that Nicole had played him for a fool.
Having found himself an excuse, George Nosen kicked his car tire hard and cursed with a ferocious expression, “Bitch, just you wait!”