King of Hollywood
Chapter 486 - 207 Almost Forgot

Chapter 486: Chapter 207 Almost Forgot

It must be said, the power of the media is quite formidable. Within just a few days of learning Naomi’s name, many details of her life were revealed, such as her birth in the United Kingdom and growth in Australia, as well as her past as a model in Japan and starting to act in various films and TV shows as a teenager, yet she never left a memorable impression in any role. She had become the most watched actress outside the Oscars.

Simply by taking on the lead role in the Miracle Director’s new work, she had garnered such extensive media attention, enough to make many actresses envious. With the same level of attention, it’s either orchestrated hype by the production side or the actress herself has a resonant reputation. Yet before this, Naomi could be considered completely unknown. Despite Adrian not instructing his media subsidiaries to publicize, she still drew so much attention, which showed that Adrian’s influence was on the rise.

"Don’t pay attention to those guys. What you need to do now is to focus on performing well in this movie. Don’t think about the rest," Adrian told Naomi on set.

In the last few days, reporters had already begun seeking interviews with her. Fortunately, they had arranged another place for her to stay before filming started. As for the previous landlord, Adrian had people handle that situation too, just to make her understand the consequences of leaking information. To tell the truth, if she had been another actress, even with just a bit of fame and renown, this situation wouldn’t have happened, but who could blame the media for their wild speculations? Even though they spoke in veiled terms, they didn’t shy away from conjuring stories about their relationship.

The best counter to such talk was to deliver an outstanding performance of her role, which is why Adrian said these words to her. In fact, without his emphasis, Naomi, who had experienced too many setbacks, also knew what to do. She was more eager than anyone for this chance, to prove herself, so what truly worried her now was overexertion.

"That last take was not bad, but you were a little too exaggerated. You need to rein in your emotions a bit," Adrian suggested after finishing the last shot.

The scene they filmed told the story of Diane, who ordered a hitman to kill her lesbian lover Betty and, upon opening a blue box that proved Betty’s death, saw her aunt and uncle emerge, clawing at her threateningly, leading to her psychological breakdown and eventual suicide by gunshot. Naomi captured the hysterical feeling well, but her desire to perfect the scene made her performance seem a bit forced.

"I understand, sorry, Ed. I’ll adjust," Naomi nodded, always maintaining proper distance from Adrian on set, smart, wasn’t she?

"You don’t need to right now, um... we can reshoot that scene later, and..." Adrian’s words trailed off as one of the assistant directors came running over: "Mr. Adrian, Miss Nicole has arrived."

"Ha, that’s actually what I was about to talk about," Adrian smiled, then gestured to Naomi with a request, "Come on, let’s go over. I’m sure you two haven’t seen each other for a long time."

Nicole arrived unassumingly, with just one assistant, sunglasses on, her hair dyed dark. She was dressed simply and headed straight to the changing room to do makeup and change her clothes upon arrival.

"I’ve said it before, you still look very beautiful like this." After patiently waiting for a moment and seeing her emerge, Adrian teased, then pointed to Naomi, "I don’t need to introduce her, do I?"

"Hi, Nicole!"

"Hi, Nami!"

To Adrian’s surprise, the two women greeted each other enthusiastically, hugging without any sense of distance, and then chattering away. Adrian couldn’t even get a word in; they were truly like close sisters. Although he could distinctly perceive their thoughts and knew they had both guessed the nature of their respective relationships with him, Adrian couldn’t help but mentally applaud the axiom that women were born actresses.

Ignoring their conversation, Adrian immediately began arranging the next stage of work. Since the media could dig up Naomi’s history, the fact that she and Nicole were classmates and originally had a good relationship would certainly not escape their notice. Add to that Nicole’s ongoing divorce from Cruise, which was attracting much attention, and it was inevitable that reporters would seek out more news in this regard.

Among the rumors, one was that Naomi was recommended to Adrian by Nicole. This seemed somewhat convincing; Nicole knew Adrian, and Nicole was a good friend of Naomi’s, so it was only logical that if Adrian asked Nicole for a suitable actress, she would recommend her.

But on closer consideration, something didn’t seem right. Why did Adrian not invite Nicole to play the lead actress, instead insisting on choosing Naomi? When it came to beauty, both women were on par with each other; when it came to acting, one had not played any significant roles, while the other was simply a standard vase. More importantly, why would Adrian go to Nicole to ask about suitable actresses?

Look at these guys; truly, they’re masters of manipulation. As early as last year, when "Eyes Wide Shut" was released, there were speculations about Adrian’s relationship with Nicole, and with Nicole and Cruise’s cooling relationship leading to a divorce, there were many who brought up the past. Now with Naomi’s involvement, they were subtly questioning again. Even if Adrian was discontented, he couldn’t really complain, and no matter what he said, they would find something to write about.

"Pretty clever fellows," Adrian praised upon seeing these reports.

Consequently, it would not be wise for him to bring Nicole and Naomi together for an on-location shoot. With the reporters hot on their heels, if it was discovered that they were both acting in this film, there was no telling what stories would be concocted. Adrian didn’t really care what they wrote, but Nicole was still in the midst of divorce proceedings with Cruise and was maintaining her independence and victim status in the media. If this affected anything, it wouldn’t be disastrous, but it would still be a hassle, and Nicole wouldn’t like it. One of the reasons he could wrap women around his finger, apart from numerous other factors, was that he considered their feelings.

Fortunately, Nicole’s role didn’t require many outdoor scenes; most of them were indoors and could be completed in the studio.

"Here, you need to remember that Rita has lost her memory. She’s panicked and scared, but she can’t show it too obviously—it has to be subtle, like a puppet, wooden. It could be seen as a consequence of the car accident, or as if there’s more to the story. As for Betty, just maintain an ordinary person’s demeanor, similar to when she came out of the airport, mixing concern for her current predicament with the care for Rita’s memory loss. Understand?" Adrian explained the upcoming scenes to the two women who were ready to perform.

He had originally planned to start with the intense scene where Rita/Betty visits Betty/Diane after getting the role, triggering an outburst from Betty/Diane. But on second thought, he abandoned the idea. Despite their apparent closeness during their meeting, who knew what they were thinking? Adrian only had a rough idea, so it was best to start with simpler shots.

"I have a question," Nicole suddenly spoke up, "I remember when you discussed the plot with me, you said it was all a dream, suggesting that it might be a dream Diane had after being betrayed by her lover, so why now does Rita need to act out of the ordinary while Betty doesn’t?"

"It’s not entirely a dream. Ed and I didn’t stress that point when discussing the plot. It can be taken as a dream, or simply as a series of illogical fragments. Saying it’s a dream is just a way to help us understand, so there’s no need to overemphasize it in our performance," Naomi answered before Adrian could respond.

"Oh?" Nicole responded non-committally, her lips curled into a smile, but her eyes were narrowed as she looked at Naomi. Naomi just shrugged her shoulders, meeting her gaze with her arms crossed.

Thankfully, they both remembered they were on a film set, not making their discord too apparent—only Adrian could sense that faint spark in the air.

How amusing, he thought to himself with a silent chuckle. Then, with a cough to attract their attention, he rephrased his instructions, "So, after the car accident, because Rita has lost her memory and can’t be sure of anything, she appears wooden to others."

"No problem," Nicole nodded with a slight smile.

Not too bad. Naomi certainly wanted to take this opportunity to prove herself, and wasn’t Nicole the same? She could have her own career without that absurd man; she wouldn’t be a vase, not Mrs. Tom Cruise, but Nicole Kidman! Just needed the chance... So the first time the two women acted together was quite perfect, passing in one take, and then they reshot it twice more.

"Brilliant!" Adrian gave them two thumbs up in praise, "Keep it up, let’s continue!"

Regarding Nicole’s hidden agenda, Adrian was utterly indifferent. The deeper the contact, the more confident he was of having her in the palm of his hand. In fact, as long as they harbored desires, and he could satisfy those desires while controlling his own emotions with enough rationality, no matter how clever they were, they would fall into his grasp.

Moreover, with Adrian’s personality, if he devoted himself wholeheartedly, he would gain more than if he were overly contemplative. For instance, during the following shoots, Naomi consistently maintained her state while Nicole was sometimes good, sometimes not; sometimes passing after two or three NGs (No Good takes), other times needing a pause to adjust her feelings to continue.

Of course, the two did not spare each other verbal tests and jousts, less intense than the exchanges between Gwyneth and Blanchett but happening quite frequently. Sometimes watching their tit-for-tat was an interesting affair in itself.

"You really have her spinning around you, completely lacking the shrewdness she used to have," Nicole said to Adrian in private, her dislike for showing weakness as evident as ever, while Adrian just smiled it off.

In front of Naomi, he didn’t hold back and asked directly, "Was it the same between you two initially?"

"No, not really. We used to keep in touch before, but in the past two years, we’ve barely even had a phone call. She’s changed a lot," Naomi answered, then looked into his eyes and swallowed the words that had reached her lips.

"There you go again, just how far do you need to go?" This was Charlize’s teasing. There would have been some sarcasm in the past, but now there was only a hint of resignation.

"I have no idea what you’re talking about," Adrian, after instructing the driver to start the car, denied with an expression that said "I’m telling a white lie", before changing the subject, "Is there anything you need today?"

Generally speaking, if they were in Los Angeles and there were other women around him, Charlize wouldn’t need to follow him to the set; the company still needed her for contacts.

"We’re already here, same as usual. On the left are the documents for review, and on the right are those that need signatures, with the most important ones on top," Charlize handed him a small briefcase with a combination lock.

"Thanks, Charli. You’re always the best," Adrian laughed heartily, leaning in to give her a kiss on the face, not minding that the driver was right in front.

Charlize did not dodge, simply rolling her eyes at him in response.

The car quickly returned to the mansion in Beverly Hills. As they entered the living room, Yukie had been waiting there. She bowed slightly, took the briefcase from Adrian, helped him off with his coat, and to everyone’s surprise, Ayumi Hamasaki was also there.

"Hi, Ed," Ayumi greeted as she came out with Yukie.

"Hi, Ayu," Adrian nodded, smiling and pinching her chin, but Charlize, who had come in with Yukie, greeted Yukie and then ignored Ayumi completely as she went straight upstairs to her room.

Ayumi didn’t mind and focused all her attention on Adrian, answering his question, "I’m playing a game with Yukie. Namco just released ’Tekken 2’ for home consoles."

"Oh? How many rounds has Yukie beaten you?" Adrian asked teasingly.

"Ha, why do you assume it’s Yukie who’s beaten me, not me beating Yukie?" Ayumi asked with feigned dissatisfaction.

"In fighting games, you can only tie me, so how could you beat Yukie? If it were a shooting game, you might stand a chance, but forget it in fighting games," Adrian laughed heartily.

"I’ve told you before, Ayu, don’t think Ed has forgotten your track record," Yukie chuckled behind her hand, then added, "Ed, why don’t you play a couple of rounds with her later, and give her a rough time, what do you say?"

"Oh?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, glanced at Yukie, then at Ayumi, "No problem, I’ll come after I finish the rest in the study. Same rules as last time, the loser..."

He dragged his footsteps upstairs, with Yukie following close behind, carrying the code-locked briefcase and clothes. Ayumi Hamasaki trailed behind, calling out, "Don’t underestimate me—I’ll surprise you when the time comes!"

They arrived at the study, and after Yukie placed the briefcase on the desk and hung the coat on the rack, Adrian carried her in a bridal hold to the sofa amidst her exclamations of surprise.

"Now, can you tell me what this is all about?" Adrian asked with a mischievous grin, kissing her neck after he spoke, recalling how Yukie had covertly signaled him with her eyes while saying that sentence.

Shyly snuggling into his embrace, Yukie looked up with some surprise, "You really forgot?"

"Um... give me a hint. You know, I’m involved with a lot of things. I remember them all, but to pick out certain things can take quite some time," Adrian replied.

"It’s about Ayu," Yukie whispered softly.

"Ayu? Let me think..." Adrian stroked his chin, "Is she going back home?"

"Yes, her one-year study period is almost over, and she’s going back. You’ve said before that if she only wants to sing, it’s better for her to develop her career in Japan," Yukie nodded, adding quickly, "Actually... Ayu still really likes you, so I was thinking... you wouldn’t blame me for deciding on my own, would you?"

Liking him? Adrian couldn’t help but laugh silently to himself. Naturally, she did. He had provided her with such generous conditions, had the patience to sweet-talk women, and could engage her with conversations about Japanese topics. It would be strange if she didn’t like him, especially since he had often taken her to realms beyond ordinary experience in bed. However, for a woman who thirsted for fame and fortune and wanted to change herself and her family’s situation, these weren’t all she desired.

If Adrian could have made her successful in the United States, Ayumi Hamasaki wouldn’t have minded being a pet by his side. Therefore, it was quite normal for her to leave after the study period was over. Adrian had been clear about this from the start, so he had treated the whole thing as nothing more than a bit of fun. Nonetheless, since Yukie had brought it up, he would naturally agree.

"Why would I blame you? It’s a very normal thing. Alright, I’ll take care of it, don’t worry," Adrian assured her with a kiss on her cheek before setting her down, "I’ll be there soon."

"Okay, then I’ll leave first," Yukie bowed slightly and then made her way out.

Perhaps because the profound impact of him taking her virginity, Yukie always seemed quite reverent in front of him. With her delicate features, she wasn’t extraordinarily beautiful but possessed a distinct quality, bolstered by her long black hair and tranquil demeanor that surprisingly gave her an air of Yamato nadeshiko. But she also had a lively side, like when she would get excited while playing games, screaming with enthusiasm. If Adrian played against her or in doubles, and cheated to win or killed her partner character, she would throw herself at him, scratching and biting without restraint.

Considering it, how could a girl always so demure achieve success in comedy? Even the few episodes of "Friends" that she guest-starred in ranked high in viewership within the series, with an average reception among audiences despite some cultural differences.

But after each game session, she would apologize profusely time and again. Although the same would occur next time, Adrian never took it to heart; still, a small punishment was inevitable—regarding what form that punishment took...

"Oh right, Yukie," Adrian suddenly called out to her as she reached the door.

"Hmm?" Yukie turned around.

"I’m thinking about producing a horror movie with a Japanese style. You know, Eastern horror is different from Western, focusing more on psychological thrills. I want to introduce Japanese-style horror to the United States. Would you like to play the lead role?" Adrian asked with a smile, almost forgetting—if not for Naomi.

(To be continued. If you like this work, please visit qidian.com to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)