Chapter 271: Resentment
Chapter 271: Resentment
From the very beginning of construction, the Malibu estate had gradually attracted quite a bit of attention. After all, the estate occupied fourteen acres on Point Dume, making it undoubtedly the largest estate in the newly incorporated city of Malibu. Its location on such a special stretch of Malibu coastline made it even more conspicuous.
However, that attention had remained fairly limited until the extraordinarily eye-catching “City of Freedom” on the cliffside was completed. Only then did related reports begin appearing in some local Los Angeles newspapers. People began speculating about which tycoon had acquired such a magnificent estate, one that looked almost like a Malibu landmark.
But because information about it had always been kept confidential, everything remained speculation. It was not until early December, when someone discovered that Hollywood’s youngest major director, Eric Williams, and Drew Barrymore had begun frequently entering and leaving the estate, that the news finally exploded.
If the estate’s owner had merely been some wealthy man, perhaps it would not have mattered much. But when that owner became a Hollywood director like Eric, who had created a series of box office miracles, it meant enormous news value. After all, the public was always full of curiosity about celebrities’ private lives. Thus, in only one short week, every piece of information about this estate was dug up by paparazzi using every method imaginable.
“According to sources involved in the design of ‘City of Freedom,’ the original concept for ‘City of Freedom’ was hand-drawn by Eric Williams himself before ultimately being handed over to famous architect Frank Gehry for detailed design. After seven months of meticulous work, this dream mansion, as exquisite as a work of art, was finally completed. Eric Williams truly deserves to be called a great Hollywood director who has created a series of box office miracles. Compared to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who purchases mansions and villas all over Malibu like a Middle Eastern nouveau riche, our young director, not yet twenty, undoubtedly has far greater taste.”
“According to investigation, the total construction cost of the Point Dume estate in Malibu approaches 30 million dollars, five times the price of the previously most expensive estate in Malibu. The ‘City of Freedom,’ located on the cliffside of Point Dume, covers more than 40,000 square feet. Its interior contains more than thirty rooms, while the estate also includes a swimming pool, tennis court, helipad, and a series of supporting facilities. Although this newspaper was unable to obtain permission to interview the estate’s owner, Mr. Eric Williams, long-range aerial photography taken by hired helicopter shows that ‘City of Freedom’ resembles a gorgeous silver shell perched along Malibu’s sea cliffs. According to analysis from an architecture professor at the University of California, constructing this dream villa on the edge of a cliff was extremely difficult, and that alone may have increased construction costs by more than thirty percent. However, judging from the result now, everything was worth it. Perhaps in the future, many people who come to Malibu will be willing to take a boat out to sea just to view this dream mansion from afar.”
“So far, we have discovered that aside from Drew Barrymore, none of the actresses closely connected to Eric Williams, including Jennifer Aniston, Julia Roberts, and Virginia Madsen, have entered or exited Eric Williams’ new estate. Eric Williams has repeatedly claimed to the media that he only regards Drew Barrymore as his younger sister. Meanwhile, Eric Williams did not appear together with Jennifer Aniston until the premiere of Home Alone 2 three weeks ago, where he personally admitted their relationship. However, according to insiders, the relationship between the two is not stable. Therefore, who will become the mistress of Malibu’s most expensive estate has undoubtedly left us with an enormous suspense.”
“…”
“…”
At Disney headquarters in Burbank, Michael Eisner tossed a newspaper carrying an aerial photo of “City of Freedom” onto his desk. With a gloomy expression, he muttered a few words silently, but soon a cold smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
After a while, his assistant knocked on the office door and entered.
“Mr. Eisner, this is the latest information from IMS Detective Agency.” The assistant placed several file folders in front of Michael Eisner.
Michael Eisner opened one of the folders and first pulled out a thick stack of photographs. He flipped through them one by one. The photos were all relatively intimate shots of Eric and Drew together in public.
After going through the photos expressionlessly, Michael Eisner took several documents from the folder.
“Have you contacted John Drew Barrymore?” Michael Eisner asked casually while looking down at the documents in his hand.
The assistant nodded. After thinking for a moment, he still said, “Mr. Eisner, I think the key to this matter still lies with Drew Barrymore. If she refuses to cooperate, it will be impossible to cause too much impact on Eric Williams.”
Without even raising his head, Michael Eisner said in a flat voice, “That is not something you need to concern yourself with. You only need to do what I’ve instructed.”
The assistant heard the displeasure in Michael Eisner’s tone and quickly nodded. “Yes, Mr. Eisner.”
“You may go.”
Michael Eisner said this casually. After the assistant left the office, he opened the remaining file folders.
Although he did not know that Columbia’s former president had already used the method of attacking Eric through Drew’s underage status before, Michael Eisner was not expecting this insignificant little matter to cause Eric too much damage either. It only needed to create some trouble for that arrogant young man.
Moreover, when that day arrived, the young man would discover that he would suddenly be facing many problems at once. Michael Eisner did not believe that after a series of methods were unleashed, Eric could still stubbornly refuse to lower his head.
“Hollywood isn’t that easy to survive in.”
After reading all the documents, Michael Eisner leaned back in his office chair in a much better mood and said this softly.
…
“Eric, they’re so annoying,” Drew said inside the Malibu villa, standing beside the huge floor-to-ceiling window in the living room and pointing at several speedboats floating on the sea. “The sea looked so beautiful before, but now it looks like several pieces of garbage are floating on it.”
Eric, sitting on the sofa beside the floor-to-ceiling window and reading a book, heard the little girl’s complaint. He pointed at the party company staff preparing for tonight’s party in the living room and said helplessly, “Isn’t this your own fault? You insisted on holding a party. Otherwise, so many paparazzi wouldn’t have gathered out there on the sea.”
Hearing Eric say this, the girl immediately threw herself beside him coquettishly. “It would be such a waste not to hold a party in such a beautiful new home.”
“Stop fooling around. Go deal with your party.” Eric pretended to be angry as he pulled the little girl off him. Drew laughed and made a fuss for a while before obediently running off.
Eric was somewhat irritated by the figures walking back and forth in front of him, so he stood and headed toward his studio.
The studio was located beneath the living room. Its structure was built entirely according to Tony Stark’s studio in Eric’s memory. Of course, there was no Iron Man armor inside. Instead, it was arranged according to Eric’s study in Beverly Hills.
The entire west wall of the studio had been turned into a large magnetic whiteboard, with many documents still attached to it by magnets. Eric liked the feeling of having many matters displayed directly before his eyes. The other areas were successively furnished with bookshelves, filing cabinets, and other furniture, as well as the piano. The large work desk was placed by the window, and by lifting his eyes, he could see the sea outside.
However, at this moment, the speedboats dotted across the sea really did look like floating garbage, just as the little girl said. Although even the most advanced long-focus cameras could not possibly capture the villa’s interior, those people still refused to leave. A few days earlier, paparazzi had taken photos of Drew swimming in the terrace pool. Eric guessed these people were waiting for tonight’s party guests to go out onto the terrace.
Shrugging helplessly, Eric turned on the lights and casually pressed a button beside the window. A panel matching the color of the studio silently rose from below the window. Soon, the panel merged with the wall, leaving no trace of the window at all. The studio became a completely enclosed space.
Eric sat down at the desk in satisfaction and continued reading the book on business management.
…
On the coastal highway, a red car drove at an unhurried pace. Nicole, holding the steering wheel, glanced again at Aniston in the passenger seat. The girl rested one arm on the open window frame and looked boredly outside.
Out of boredom, Nicole casually asked, “Jennie, are you really not planning to move there? From what I’ve seen in the newspapers these days, that villa is truly beautiful.”
Aniston blinked, then shook her head. “No, I can’t move there. Um, Nicole, you don’t think living with me is bothering you, do you?”
Nicole quickly shook her head. “Of course not. I’m just a little unable to understand.”
After a short silence, Aniston said, “I told that guy there can only be one woman in the house, and he also promised me he would make Drew move out when she turns sixteen. If I compromise now, then maybe in two years, he won’t keep his promise.”
Nicole’s lips moved, but she did not speak.
She felt Aniston was far too naive. A lot could happen in two years. Who knew what things would be like by then? Because of that past experience, Nicole understood Drew’s shrewd personality very clearly. It would be strange if that girl willingly moved out when the time came. Nicole could even imagine what methods that little seductress would use.
If Nicole herself encountered this kind of thing, she would not care about anything else. Charging forward and snatching the man would be the right path. Hesitating and dragging things out would very likely leave her empty-handed in the end.
Why wasn’t it her?
Thinking of Eric’s attitude toward her, Nicole could not help feeling a faint resentment. Then she glanced enviously at Aniston.
In what way was she inferior to this stubborn little fool?