King of Hollywood
Chapter 444 - 166 Morocco

Chapter 444: Chapter 166 Morocco

Since Adrian had patiently listened to Jobs’s lengthy talks at various banquets, how could he appear casual and indifferent in the office? Such behavior was merely a tactic to unsettle Jobs’s emotions and profit from the situation. Jobs was smart and formidable. Just by looking at how he had returned to Apple, set a trap, and ousted Amelio, one could understand this; let alone the various deeds from the time he founded Apple.

This man was keenly intuitive, arrogant, and narcissistic, but also somewhat emotional, so this approach would enable better control of the situation. You think you’re so arrogant and self-loving? I’m investing not in Apple but in you. You like to have total control? Not only will I not vie with you for power, but I’ll unconditionally support you!

In fact, this strategy proved very effective. Although Jobs harbored some doubts about Adrian’s flattery and enthusiasm, he quickly agreed. Consequently, Adrian’s plan progressed further.

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, once the Millennium passed and Apple completely recovered and started to intensify its efforts, and Adrian played his last few cards, the connection between the two would inevitably become much stronger, and a completely new structure of a media empire would be formed. This was one reason why after acquiring ICQ, he didn’t go after MP3. After all, the American Recording Association had been in legal battles with MP3 for several years to maintain the dominance of CD records. Before this, there was no need to even think about it; after, it would be Jobs’s battle to fight—why exert oneself over an optional component?

Moreover, he also used this opportunity to trip up Microsoft. Had he not intervened, Jobs would have chosen to give up the protracted infringement lawsuit that had lasted over a decade in exchange for Bill Gates’s investment—a truly regrettable occurrence. Yet, with the influx of additional funding, Apple could continue the fight against Microsoft, and might even take advantage of an opportunity to win the lawsuit, albeit the chances were slim.

However, Adrian hadn’t anticipated what happened next. After securing the funding and reorganizing Apple, Jobs announced he would seek reconciliation with Microsoft! This was a move that surprised many. After all, these two competitors had been in conflict for years. Even though Jobs seemed to be on the decline, and even if he returned to Apple, how could he, with his temperament and character, come to terms with Gates?

Especially Adrian—if memory served, Jobs capitulated due to the need for funding and traded the drawn-out lawsuit for Gates’s money. But why now? He pondered this question for a long time and couldn’t find an answer until Jobs praised Gates, Microsoft, and their products on different occasions, and even invited Gates to join a conference via video link. When Gates’s face appeared on the screen, as it had done a decade ago, it elicited numerous exclamations from the audience. Only then did Adrian reach a conclusion based on his memories and the information he had gathered.

Jobs indeed was a genius. He sighed into his heart. To put it succinctly, Jobs’s move was akin to ’taking a step back to broaden one’s horizon.’ Probably, in his heart, he had already planned out Apple’s future path—or perhaps, not detailed plans, but his intuition had led him to the correct decision.

Adrian had once boasted that if he, not Jobs, were in charge of Apple, with a commitment to full effort and key employees in place, the outcome would have been almost as brilliant as Jobs’s achievements. Looking back now, that was nothing but bragging—at least he wouldn’t have thought to proactively seek reconciliation with Microsoft when funds were abundant, thereby paving a better path for himself.

Fortunately, he realized his mistake in time. "I will hold you in as high regard as possible," Adrian said to himself.

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"I know, Roger, I know you mean well, but I don’t have time right now. I want to spend more time with my daughter. You should... Yes, he’s there... Alright, then postpone until Saturday... Yes, it’s settled, no changes, goodbye." Kate heaved a sigh and closed her phone, leaning against the wall, she zoned out for a good while before placing the phone on the counter and heading to the bathroom.

"Alright, little miss, if you keep squirming, I won’t be nice anymore... Oh, damn, I’m soaked through, you little troublemaker!"

"Ducky! Ducky! Wet ducky! Daddy, wet ducky!"

The sounds of conversation drifted out from the door, accompanied by the splashing of water, feigned angry shouts, and carefree laughter.

Kate stood at the doorway, leaning on the frame, silently observing the two inside. Adrian, in slippers and an oversized simple shirt and shorts, was seated next to the children’s bathtub, vigorously washing his slippery daughter who was happily bouncing in the water, occasionally splashing water on her father. Adrian was drenched, his hair a tangled mess, completely lacking in any presence.

Yet, despite looking very angry, the amusement in his eyes was unmistakable, eliciting giggles from the dodging and weaving little rascal in the water.

The bastard! Kate suddenly cursed inwardly, then sighed softly, looking at Adrian with complex eyes. Anyone seeing him now would think he was a good father. Indeed, Adrian was always there for Lily, taking great care of her, often more competent than her, the mother. This was truly...

"Mama!" The little one in the bathtub had spotted Kate at the door and immediately began waving her hands gleefully.

"Hey, honey, not willing to stay still for your bath?" Kate walked over and hesitated before rolling up her sleeves to join in.

"I’ll do it," Adrian offered kindly. "Lily is quite the troublemaker; getting soaked like me wouldn’t be good for you, especially since soon..."

Before he could finish, a scoop of water was poured over Kate’s head. Lily, sitting inside, excitedly screamed and started singing a tune that no one could understand.

"You’re in for it now, Lily." Kate calmly pushed her wet hair aside and then lunged at her daughter, catching her firmly in her arms amid her shrieks.

After the commotion, once Kate was drenched and Adrian was thoroughly soaked, the little one finally had her bath. Even so, she remained restive and, after her parents had changed clothes and spent a long time playing with her, she went off to sleep led by the nanny.

"That was tough," said Adrian, walking in wearing pajamas and hugging Kate from behind as she dried her hair with a hairdryer.

"Not at all," Kate stared at him in the mirror for a while before turning around, "Actually, whenever you’re around, Lily clings to you, so you’re the one who has it tough."

Adrian smiled faintly and didn’t say a word, just kept kissing her cheeks and neck. Kate closed her eyes, feeling the touch on her skin, and held Adrian for a while before saying, "You’re going to the United Kingdom in a couple of days?"

"Yes." Adrian sensed something and stopped his actions, holding her face, "What’s wrong?"

"With those two women?"

"Of course, they are the main actresses."

A rush of irritation surged through Kate, and she suddenly pushed Adrian away, then turned and sat down on the bed.

"Hey, what’s wrong?" Adrian immediately followed, sitting behind her.

Taking a deep breath, Kate laughed derisively and then turned her head back, "I just feel... as if your greed knows no bounds. I heard there’s a new Asian maid over there, right?"

"Oh, you and Charli have gotten quite close for her to tell you that so quickly," Adrian clicked his tongue.

Kate coughed dryly, neither confirming nor denying, silently looking on.

"A Japanese singer, not some maid," Adrian shrugged nonchalantly, "I invested in a promising record company over there, and they recommended a good newcomer to progress in the United States. She stayed at my place briefly but has since moved to her own apartment."

"Why not stay a few more days? Or better yet, just live with you, that would be more convenient, wouldn’t it?" Kate couldn’t hold back her mocking tone.

"Trying something new occasionally is fine, but the meals I eat the most are still homemade," Adrian said with a meaningful smile. "Besides, that woman is quite scheming. I don’t mind if they approach me with certain motives, but they should at least be self-aware."

Kate opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something but ended up not speaking. She not only continued to stay silent but also turned her head to one side. She knew Adrian’s words included the two women who would be following him to the United Kingdom, and she was also aware that Adrian was referring to the wonderful time when they had first met. However, she couldn’t help thinking about her own motives.

No woman would tolerate her lover seeking other women, let alone a whole group of them, yet the man in front of her did just that and made it impossible for her to leave. If before she stayed by his side because of her longing for him, his sweet nothings, and his attentive care, then now it was more likely due to her own future and her daughter.

Kate curled her lips into a bitter smile. Yes, he was the Miracle Director. Whoever he took a fancy to would become famous; countless examples had proven this. She... didn’t she want the same? Then, if she proposed a breakup, there was no way she could keep her daughter—that, she saw through him, was for certain—and that was something she couldn’t bear.

"Fool, don’t think too much," Adrian’s voice suddenly rang in her ear. Kate startled slightly, only to realize that at some point, she had been swept into his arms.

"Do you think you can negate certain things like this?" He looked at her with a smile that was not quite a smile, his eyes revealing understanding.

Kate first showed a look of astonishment, then her eyes started to dart away, but they quickly turned to annoyance.

"Since when did you start avoiding these issues? That’s not the Kate Beckinsale I know," Adrian said as his hand slipped inside her bathrobe.

"It started when you began to play with me!" Kate retorted vehemently, her tone softening immediately after, "Can’t you just once be unable to see through what I’m thinking?"

"If I couldn’t see through you, how could I keep you by my side... to play with?" Adrian emphasized the word "play," his face still wearing a smile, unaffected by the pain that came from his waist.

"Jerk!"

"Oh, Kate, can’t you think of another word?"

"Fine, ’whore’ and ’dogshit,’ which do you prefer?"

"...Anyway, facing these issues isn’t that difficult, and you don’t need to always make excuses for yourself inside."

Kate reached out to gently touch his face, gazing into his eyes, "Then I can be better held in the palm of your hand, right?"

"Exactly right, my dear," Adrian said as he smiled and lowered his head to kiss her moist lips.

"But I don’t know how to do that," Kate huffed softly before saying.

"It’s simple, do you remember how it felt last time you and Charli were lying in my arms?" Adrian revealed that meaningful smile again.

He had been prepared all along! A flicker of realization surged through Kate’s heart, but she wasn’t angry. She looked at him, biting her lip, "Anyway, you won’t leave for the United Kingdom for another two days. How about tomorrow?"

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In late August, Adrian finally left Los Angeles, but he wasn’t heading for Africa, he was going to Europe instead.

"This place is really vast. What would you do if a sandstorm kicked up here, George?" Adrian said contemplatively under the shade of his hands looking at the desolate gravel-covered ground next to George Lucas.

"Unless God no longer wants me making movies, there won’t be any sandstorms here," shrugged Lucas.

"Director, everything is ready," a short assistant director ran over at this moment.

"Good, tell them to get ready," Lucas nodded and, after greeting Adrian, walked towards the cameras.

Adrian slowly followed behind. He was now in the northwestern part of Africa, in Morocco, separated from Spain by only the Strait of Gibraltar, known for its tourism, fisheries, and phosphates. This place was one of Hollywood’s favorite locations, especially for movies about the Sahara Desert, including last year’s "The English Patient."

Lucas’s "Star Wars" prequel had a scene where a young Anakin raced in the vast desert for a chance at freedom, so they chose this location. Before coming to Morocco, the crew had also shot in Italy and Tunisia, filming scenes like the royal palace. Adrian was just about to head to the United Kingdom, so he took the opportunity to check on them.

"It seems to be going smoothly," Adrian noted, seeing Lucas making final preparations. He didn’t want to disturb him and instead started strolling around the set. He had already seen the revised script. Lucas had only made minor changes based on his suggestions, which were synthesized from the views of "Star Wars" fans from his previous life. With this, the story still had many holes, but the basic logic was sound.

A few steps later, Adrian immediately noticed Natalie, who was getting ready on the set. She waved at him, even in her blue and grey clothes that lacked any distinct style she was charming with her beaming smile, waving so generously without any concern for the attention it drew.

Adrian shook his head with a chuckle and waved back as a greeting. He was mainly here for her, so a little wave wasn’t a big deal, even though her mother was also present.

"I know you’re cautious, but it’s still better to be careful," Charlize said in a low voice, still looking down at the documents in her hands she had been sorting through.

"Don’t worry, my dear, I know my limits," Adrian replied with a laugh, looking back at Charlize dressed in sandals, jeans, a white round neck T-shirt, and sporting large sunglasses. He then teased her with a voice only the two of them could hear, "Even if you wanted to, I wouldn’t do it."

Unfortunately, Charlize remained unmoved, still looking down at the documents. Even so, Adrian couldn’t help but notice her lips slightly curling down and chuckled softly.

Kate had rarely initiated such a request, and regardless of what she was thinking, Adrian wouldn’t refuse. So the next day, he brought Charlize with him. However, Charlize was Charlize after all, especially after working with Adrian for so long, she was quite sharp and quickly sensed something was off. Adrian used the excuse that it was Kate’s idea to get her to actively flirt with Charlize, but inexperienced Kate didn’t know how to proceed. Despite retaining some of her original boldness, using this tactic on another woman...

She was already nervous, and the situation only got more awkward after being suddenly kissed by Charlize once the three of them returned to the bedroom. This made her even more confused and resistant, so the atmosphere turned a bit embarrassing.

In such circumstances, Adrian naturally came in to smooth things over, then directed the conversation towards other topics the two women were interested in. After some discussion, the atmosphere warmed up, but the previous hints of desire had dissipated. In the end, Adrian once again realized his idea of having them both by his side, although they all went to sleep fully clothed. Holding two beautiful women yet being unable to do anything was the most frustrating part.

But after all, Adrian was Adrian. If it couldn’t happen at night, why not in the morning? Especially as people just waking up were groggy and reacting slower to everything, not to mention that the morning was also a time when desire surged. So, with his intentional teasing, he succeeded in getting Kate and Charlize, embracing and kissing, to lie beneath him the next morning—by the time they came to their senses, it was already too late.

Had it not been for worries about Lily, the little one, coming to knock on the door looking for mom and dad, and hanging a ’Do Not Disturb’ sign on the doorknob was useless, Adrian would have ensured the two women stayed in bed all day, especially since it had been too long since the last time. Even so, when Kate and Charlize got up, they were still in a languid state. Although the maids in the villa had signed confidentiality agreements, they couldn’t help casting surprised glances upon seeing them like that. (To be continued. If you like this book, we welcome you to vote for it with recommendation tickets and monthly tickets on qidian.com. Your support is my greatest motivation.)