Chapter 212: So It’s Settled
Chapter 212: So It’s Settled
“Mr. Williams, you really are quite overbearing,” Elizabeth’s voice sounded beside Eric just after Nicole left.
Eric turned around, stared at Elizabeth’s exquisite face, and shrugged. “That’s just a small punishment for women who like playing little schemes. So, Liz, this story teaches us that it’s better to be honest as a person. Ever since we met today, you’ve been talking to me in such a distant tone. It truly hurts my feelings. Have you already forgotten the wonderful time we spent together in Venice?”
As if recalling something, Elizabeth’s cheeks warmed slightly, but she let out a fake laugh and said provocatively, biting each word, “Ha, are you also going to punish me for that, Mr. Williams?”
Eric rubbed his chin as though thinking it over, then said, “Perhaps I could raise the licensing conditions for Friends, then explicitly tell Mr. Murdoch that this is punishment for Miss Elizabeth Murdoch’s cold attitude toward me.”
Elizabeth immediately revealed an expression of frustration. Her beautiful eyes glared at Eric as she recalled her father’s earlier warning that if she kept acting stubbornly, he would freeze her credit cards. If Eric really said something like that, the consequences would probably go far beyond simply suspending her cards.
The more the girl thought about it, the more wronged and furious she felt. Finally, she gritted her teeth and said, “Eric Williams, you really are a bastard.”
Eric had only been joking this time, but he had not expected such a strong reaction from her. A faint trace of tears had even appeared at the corners of her eyes from agitation, so he hurriedly explained, “Liz, don’t be angry. I was only joking.”
The girl looked as though she wanted to turn and leave, but her feet seemed glued in place. Her expression did not soften much despite Eric’s explanation as she coldly said, “Mr. Williams, my father asked me to invite you over for a talk. I wonder whether you have the time?”
“Of course. You’re… taking me there?”
Elizabeth gave a slight nod, then turned and walked toward the staircase first while Eric quickly followed behind her.
Arriving at a room on the second floor, Elizabeth knocked lightly on the door. Without waiting for the people inside to respond, she pushed it open and gestured for Eric to enter.
After stepping inside, Eric swept his gaze around the room. It was a simple reception room with a row of bookshelves, several sofas, and a coffee table in the middle. Only old Murdoch was inside. Even Barry Diller was absent.
“Eric, come, sit,” Murdoch said as he stood up at once upon seeing Eric enter, smiling warmly as he gestured for Eric to sit on the sofa opposite him. Then he instructed, “Liz, make Eric a cup of coffee.”
The girl nodded toward Murdoch and walked to the side with an indifferent expression.
Eric noticed Murdoch smiling as he looked at his daughter’s back while she prepared the coffee, so he also glanced over. The red one-shoulder gown Elizabeth wore perfectly accentuated her slender figure.
“Eric, you’re nineteen this year, right?” Murdoch suddenly asked for no apparent reason.
Eric nodded. The birthday of this body was May 16 according to the Gregorian calendar. Thinking about it, his nineteenth birthday had happened right in the middle of the intense filming schedule for Running Out of Time, so he had not even held a party, merely eating a meal with several close acquaintances and calling it done.
“Liz is actually only two years older than you. I still remember what Liz looked like when she was little. Unfortunately, I was always too busy and never had many opportunities to grow close to my children. It feels as though in the blink of an eye, that somewhat introverted little girl has already grown into a young woman. Unfortunately, her personality is still like a child.”
“Dad, how am I like a child?” Elizabeth finally turned around unhappily as she handed cups of coffee to Eric and old Murdoch respectively before sitting down beside her father. She wanted to leave, but Murdoch had sternly warned her earlier. Although Elizabeth sometimes liked opposing her father, when old Murdoch genuinely became angry, she still did not dare defy him.
Old Murdoch laughed loudly a few times and said to Eric, “See? So easily impulsive, yet she still says she’s not like a child.”
Eric laughed awkwardly along with him. This old man’s intentions were becoming increasingly obvious. Eric had absolutely no desire to marry a “princess.” Otherwise, would he still have any peaceful days left?
Who would have expected Murdoch to suddenly change the subject again after speaking.
“Eric, Sleepless in Seattle is about to start filming, right?”
Now this is a good topic, Eric sighed inwardly and quickly replied, “Yes. Filming will begin within a week at the latest. It’s already September, and I need to complete both Sleepless in Seattle and Home Alone at the same time, so the schedule is very tight. The filming and post-production may have to proceed simultaneously.”
Murdoch spoke leisurely, carrying a faint sense of longing. “I actually know a little about movie production, but someone who makes films as quickly as you do is still quite rare. So I’m very curious about how exactly you make movies.”
Although he had cheats enabled, Eric still found this sort of subtly flattering remark very pleasing. Laughing openly, he said, “Haha, if possible, Mr. Murdoch is welcome to visit the set anytime.”
“That definitely won’t work,” Murdoch said with a regretful expression. “I’m also very busy. But Eric, what do you think of Liz?”
“Mm… huh?” Eric looked confused. Why has the topic turned back to Elizabeth again?
Murdoch calmly explained, “It’s like this. Liz has already completed all her university courses and just happens to need an internship. You certainly know Liz’s university major as well. So how about letting her work as your assistant on the Sleepless in Seattle set? It would also allow the girl to gain experience under such an outstanding young man as yourself.”
An urge to curse instantly surged up inside Eric. So this is the trap waiting here.
He looked toward Elizabeth sitting beside Murdoch. The little girl had lowered her head and was lightly fiddling with her fingers, looking exactly like a good daughter obediently leaving all decisions to her father.
“Mr. Murdoch, the production crew will be constantly traveling between New York, Seattle, and Chicago. Being my… assistant director would definitely involve tedious and exhausting work. Elizabeth surely wouldn’t be able to endure that hardship.”
Whether because of competitiveness or not, although Elizabeth had originally been reluctant herself, after hearing Eric’s words, she immediately raised her head and glared at him unhappily.
“Why are you saying I can’t handle it? Are you looking down on women?”
“Uh…”
Old Murdoch burst into laughter upon seeing Eric rendered speechless by his daughter’s single sentence.
“Hahaha, see, Eric? Then it’s settled.”
What exactly did you prove? Eric immediately wanted to object again, but Murdoch did not give him the chance to refuse. Instead, he patted his daughter on the shoulder.
“Liz, go out for a while. I need to discuss some matters privately with Eric.”
Elizabeth nodded, shot Eric another provocative glare, then turned and left.