King of Hollywood
Chapter 471 - 191: Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking?

Chapter 471: Chapter 191: Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking?

"It’s quite a surprise, when did you get yourself such a beautiful and adorable girlfriend, Dennis?" Adrian’s brow lifted imperceptibly, while Dennis beside him had already covered his own eyes.

"We just got together, not even two weeks yet," Jordanna still wore a sunny smile, her eyes filled with a touch of curiosity, "Are you friends with Dennis? He’s never mentioned you to me before."

"After all, we’ve only known each other for a few days, Dana," Dennis finally broke in, his face warm with a gentle smile, showing no sign of the previous embarrassment and dejection.

"That makes sense," Jordanna nodded obediently, choosing not to pursue the subject any further, then bent down to give him a kiss on the face: "Well, I won’t disturb you guys. I’m going out to buy some stuff and I’ll make you some Brazilian dishes tonight."

Adrian couldn’t help but want to comment on their affectionate display, but thankfully she wasn’t oblivious to her surroundings and looked up at him: "Adrian, you should stay for dinner too, my cooking is pretty good."

Adrian wasn’t sure if Jordanna could actually cook, but that didn’t stop him from politely declining her invitation: "No need, I have things to do tonight. I’ll come by another time to taste your cooking."

Seeing her demeanor, he knew she wouldn’t want anyone interrupting their evening together. Why would Adrian want to be a third wheel? Once he got the answer he wanted, Jordanna’s smile grew even more radiant, and then she said her goodbyes and left. As soon as she disappeared at the doorway, Dennis slumped onto the sofa, tapping his head in distress.

"Did you two sleep together?"

"Yes."

Adrian asked bluntly, and Dennis replied just as straightforwardly. After several minutes of silence, Adrian’s smile took on a teasing quality again and he clapped his hands lightly, "Remember what I said before? You’ve got potential, Dennis!"

"For the love of God, Ed, stop making fun of me," Dennis lamented, cradling his head, "I was just trying to be nice, and it turned into this..."

"Trying to be nice? Do tell," Adrian said with a curious look.

After hesitating, Dennis went on to explain: "You know, because of that incident, Jenny and I are in a cold war. Despite my sincere apologies, she’s still very cold towards me and doesn’t want to see me. Frustrated, I had no choice but to hit the bar for a couple of drinks—don’t look at me like that, I really only had a couple. The bars nearby aren’t very convenient and are too exposed to reporters, so I went a bit farther out. But you know, places like that... well, you understand, I’m careful, but there are always those who aren’t."

"Don’t tell me Miss Jordanna Bluster got drugged by someone and you rescued her, then she had a reaction to the drug on the way back, and so..."

Adrian gestured mischievously, trailing off.

"How could that be, this isn’t a novel or movie," Dennis rolled his eyes, "Dana’s a smart girl, she spotted those guys’ intentions right from the start. But she’s not even 21 yet and was all alone in such places, so she had no choice but to play along with them. I was watching from the side and saw everything clearly, so I stepped in and helped her out."

He sighed: "She’s an actress too, had a couple of small roles, and recognized me quickly. We found another place and had a pleasant chat. Then she started asking me out, and since I was still bummed about Jenny turning me down, I agreed, and shared my current situation with her. Of course, I didn’t say anything about the engagement or what happened that night—oh damn, I should have spoken up then, at least told her I was engaged..."

"Come on, Dennis, get to the point, will you?" Adrian, thoroughly entertained, urged him.

"That’s it, just like that, and then at a time when I needed comfort the most, she barged in, I was drawn to her, and so we ended up in bed. Next thing you know, she wants to be my girlfriend," Dennis said with a wry smile, spreading his hands.

"Sounds a lot like how Jenny started chasing you in the first place," Adrian laughed heartily, "Looks like the advice I prepared for you is no longer necessary."

"What’s ’no longer needed’?" Dennis asked anxiously when he sensed something.

"I had an idea for you, considering how much you love Jenny. But now, it’s no longer needed because... if you still love Jenny and want to win her back, you could use Dana to spark her jealousy. But if you’re no longer in love with her, you’ve already got a new romance, haven’t you?" Adrian said, his tone light, yet his smile did not seem congratulatory.

"Hell! That’s impossible—using Dana would backfire! Besides, Dana and I... Oh, damn it, Ed, can you help me?" Dennis pleaded.

"You have to learn to face your own desires, Dan," Adrian said with a laugh, then placed the document bag that had been in his hands in front of Dennis, "David is preparing a new movie, did you know?"

It took a moment for Dennis to realize who "David" was. Although he wondered why Adrian was changing the subject, he honestly replied, "Yes, David mentioned it over the phone two days ago. He hopes I can play one of the characters."

"Good, take a look at the script." Adrian pointed at the document bag.

"I’ve already read the original novel," Dennis said, though he started flipping through the screenplay anyway, "A typical anarchist story, but some of its insights are pretty sharp."

"So, what do you think of the cast list I’ve decided on?" Adrian asked leisurely.

Dennis gave him a puzzled look, then quickly flipped to the back, "River Phoenix as Jack? No objections there—he’s a great actor. As for the female supporting role..."

He abruptly set down the script in his hand, staring at Adrian in shock, unable to speak for a long while. Then his face darkened and turned extremely ugly, "Noni in the role?!"

Yes, Adrian had chosen Winona as Marla—the only neurotic and decadent female character in "Fight Club." Winona was currently looking to shift from her long-standing Pure Girl image. With David Fincher directing and an invitation from the Miracle Director, she’d likely give it some serious consideration. As for persuading her, it wouldn’t be difficult for Adrian, who was familiar with the past history.

With a little scandal, Jennifer would probably not be able to sit still. If she had taken Dennis away from Winona once before, how could she tolerate Winona taking him back now? At the same time, there was also the possibility of Dennis and Winona rekindling their old flame, which would be even more interesting. Adrian had never given up on the idea of cultivating Dennis from the start.

However, unexpectedly, within just half a month, another woman had been attracted to Dennis, which made things even more intriguing and solidified Adrian’s decision to proceed.

"If Jenny wants you to reject it, you can tell her it was my order," Adrian said in response to Dennis’s myriad excuses, even using Jennifer as a human shield. Dennis was immediately at a loss for words.

Regarding the potential chaos it could cause, Adrian’s answer was, "That’s your problem," which was blatantly irresponsible because "you’ve got the potential to handle them. Good luck, buddy."

Putting aside the tragic Dennis and how he would handle this messy relationship, Adrian attended the premiere of "Armageddon," featuring the usual red carpet, flashing cameras, and lively crowds. Out of consideration for Tyler and Bill, Adrian did not appear in front of the reporters arm in arm with Liv. If it had been in the past, Liv would have complained privately, but having spent some time with her parents, she had made some changes.

"This way they can’t accuse me of dating you anymore." Liv said with a sly, giggling smile. Although she had started to consider her parents, some things had not changed at all.

The film premiere was a success, taking in $28 million at the North American box office in three days. Although it didn’t meet expectations, only ranking fourth at the box office, it still did fairly well, especially considering this year’s Christmas season was pretty competitive.

As for the critics, most praised its excellent special effects and pacing as a typical popcorn movie, good for casual watching. They then ruthlessly criticized some plot holes, the most typical being the criticized storyline of an oil worker saving the world, which Liv had previously objected to.

The domestic media in the United States still showed some respect, but merely suggested that the logic of oil workers saving the world in a matter of days was too far-fetched. European media, on the other hand, were particularly unsparing. France’s "Liberation" mocked, "A typical American heroic film; if the task of saving the world used to belong to the American president or the American soldiers, now it has been passed on to America’s oil workers."

However, no matter how much scorn and ridicule they poured on it, they couldn’t stop the movie from heating up rapidly just before Christmas. Ordinary people didn’t care about those logical inconsistencies; they just wanted to see those grand special effects, thrilling plots, or melodramatically sentimental scenes. Therefore, by the second week, "Armageddon" had soared to second place with box office takings of $79 million, still overtaken by MGM’s "Tomorrow Never Dies," but to the discerning eye, it was clear that it would be one of the top-grossing films of the Christmas season.

Michael Bay thus became an even more sought-after commercial director, basking in the glory of success. Even if some critics criticized him for being too fond of gimmicks and overly sentimental, essentially using MTV style to make movies, he didn’t take it to heart.

"I am the best; maybe I don’t make those arthouse films, but when it comes to pure commercial cinema, I am the best," he boasted at a party in his home, his tone tinged with a hint of arrogance.

Of course, even if Michael Bay had a touch of arrogance to him, he wouldn’t dare show it in front of Adrian. First, because Adrian had discovered him, and second, because Adrian was one of Hollywood’s notable directors, and now a rising media mogul. Remember, when he approached him a few years back to produce "Bad Boys," his career was only of moderate scale. In this respect, Michael Bay wouldn’t make a mistake.

Therefore, even if Adrian noticed something, he had no intention of giving a reminder. At this stage, reminding Michael Bay would be futile, and might even upset him; it would take a failure to make him understand. However, his collaboration with Brokheimer was likely coming to an end soon, as any director who gains fame would want to obtain final cut rights, and why would Michael Bay be an exception? Moreover, it’s doubtful whether Brokheimer would continue to enjoy working with an increasingly arrogant partner.

But no matter, Adrian had already invested in Brokheimer’s film production company. There were still many opportunities for collaboration between them, and although Don Simpson’s health wasn’t great, his expertise and connections were still intact, so there wasn’t a need to worry about Brokheimer getting too caught up in the commercial model.

Alright, these were minor matters. As Thanksgiving approached, Adrian eagerly awaited a date, which after several changes, was finally set.

"Hi, Nicole, it’s great to see you again," Adrian smiled and nodded to the beautiful woman who opened the door, "You’re as ravishing as ever."

"Come in." Nicole, dressed in a black long dress, indifferently stepped aside to let him pass.

"Is Tommy not here? Is this another residence of yours?" Adrian asked as he walked in, taking in the not overly large but quaint living room in the Beverly Hills villa.

"This is my house, not Tom’s," replied Nicole flatly, heading to the stairwell, "Come upstairs."

"Your house?" Adrian’s eyebrows lifted imperceptibly as he followed Nicole up the stairs, unabashedly surveying her figure, especially the curves of her derrière, which were especially captivating.

"Of course, you know we’ve separated," Nicole’s tone turned slightly cold; in fact, from the moment Adrian entered the house, she hadn’t given a single smile.

"Still, you don’t need to split into two houses, do you?" Even though he knew he was touching a raw nerve, Adrian bluntly asked anyway.

The figure in front paused but then continued on without answering his question.

"Would you like something to drink?" Nicole asked once they reached the bedroom.

The bedroom was semi-circular, with the bed, wardrobe, desk, and other furniture all well-placed. Two semicircular grid windows faced the villa’s entrance, flanked by large red curtains, and everything was very neat. Moreover, the air was filled with a faint scent of lemon, which involuntarily relaxed the mind.

"I must say, I love your boudoir, Nicole," Adrian inhaled deeply and then remarked with emotion, "It’s generous and elegant, with a hint of classic charm amidst a modern vibe. Very delightful."

Following him, she started to laugh with a hint of unspeakable ambiguity, "This is the first time you’ve invited me to your boudoir, what exactly are you trying to imply?"

Nicole couldn’t help but frown, and Adrian immediately changed the topic, "Black tea, thank you."

The beautiful girl then walked out, and although she didn’t show much expression, her reactions were all caught in Adrian’s gaze.

"I have to say, the tea you brewed is quite nice, Nicole, it would be even better if there was just a little less of it," Adrian said after taking a sip of the black tea Nicole had brought him, and then he stopped talking and just looked at her.

After a moment, Nicole, sipping her tea, lifted her head, "This is the first time."

"Oh?" Adrian raised his eyebrows, not showing any difference even though she had changed the way she addressed the situation.

"This is the first Christmas I haven’t spent with Tommy," Nicole said as she looked at him, "Likewise, it’s also the first Thanksgiving I haven’t spent with him."

"That’s a pity," Adrian shrugged his shoulders, "no wonder you invited me over at this time."

"You know why." Nicole’s tone carried a slight tint of anger, while Adrian set down his cup, crossed his legs, and propped up his chin, leisurely waiting for her to continue with a look of anticipation.

Nicole’s chest heaved a few times, and she bit her lower lip before unexpectedly bursting out, "Because of you, my life has turned into chaos! Because of you, everything is out of control! I argue with Tommy, I separated from Tommy, all because of you! You also... you violated me! Played with me! What on earth do you want from me?!"

Her cup was slammed down hard, making a resounding thump, the liquid within nearly spilling over. She breathed hurriedly, glaring fiercely as though extremely angry.

After locking eyes with Nicole for a long time, Adrian started to laugh silently, then stood up to pull his chair closer to her, leaning in to look at her invasively at close range, "It’s simple, I want you."

Nicole leaned back, turning her head as if she wanted to avoid his gaze.

"You’re known as a playboy in Hollywood, with countless beautiful women at your disposal, yet you insist that it’s me you want, this is truly laughable!" She said this, but a strange glint appeared in her eyes, "Moreover, I am someone else’s wife, don’t you think... that’s very shameful?"

"Indeed it is, a little," Adrian said while reaching out to pinch Nicole’s chin, Nicole shook her head trying to break free, but Adrian forcibly turned her face towards him.

"See, this is just too alluring," he traced her cheek with his finger and spoke with a tone of wonder, "Golden red hair, a proud nose, rosy lips, and those deep blue eyes, every bit of it so captivating, making me unable to wait to possess you. You know, I am a man with a strong desire for possession, I’ve never felt such a strong urge to possess someone like I do with you, Nicole!"

As he spoke, he got closer to her, his breath already inches away, with their lips barely apart.

"No!" Nicole, somewhat bewildered, suddenly came to her senses and lowly cried out before pushing against his shoulder, "I... I am... you can’t do this anymore!"

The unmoved Adrian chuckled lightly, slightly tilting his head to the side and blew a breath in her ear, "Do you really think I don’t know what you’re thinking?"

Nicole’s body immediately tensed up! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)