King of Hollywood
Chapter 628 - 36: Eager to be First

Chapter 628: Chapter 36: Eager to be First

"It really is admirable. Did you hear those cheers, Eller? They all agree with my opinion," Adrian said as he switched on the light, wrapping his arm around Alexander Ambrosio as they entered the bedroom of their London villa.

"I think, perhaps, they just thought that lingerie was outstanding," Alexander chuckled softly, her charm irresistibly alluring, with a smile that could effortlessly captivate any man.

"Yes, that lingerie is indeed precious, worth $15 million, but without the right person wearing it, it’s just a soulless object," Adrian said as he gently pinched her chin, "but once that beautiful, radiant lady puts it on, everyone can’t help but applaud—I’m increasingly feeling that buying it for you would be appropriate, although I prefer you in another outfit."

No matter how much truth was in those sweet words, they were enough to make Alexander laugh even more charmingly.

"No need, having you is enough for me," she said as she wrapped her arms around Adrian’s neck and gave him a long, passionate kiss before asking curiously, "So, which outfit do you prefer more?"

"Definitely that angel costume, with pure white wings on the back and a few flying feathers, as if an angel had truly descended to earth, yet with three parts purity and seven parts seduction, it’s so unique, it makes my heart flutter," Adrian held the lady’s face and spoke with genuine admiration, naturally followed by more fervent kisses.

"How about we take a shower together first?" Alexander, her face flushed from the prolonged entanglement and teasing, said somewhat breathlessly.

"As you wish, sweetheart," Adrian replied with a gentle smile, pressing against her forehead, then he lifted her slightly by her hips. Understanding his intention, she wrapped her long legs around his waist, and in this embrace, they kissed and walked towards the bathroom.

Due to his intervention, Victoria’s Secret’s angel costume was launched a year earlier than planned, originally set for 1997. Initially, the costume wasn’t much, just wings on the models during the fashion show to make them look more distinctive. Initially purely white with feathers, similar to birds or the human imagination of angel wings, it was then gradually modified to various types of wings.

Only those officially signed by Victoria’s Secret as Angels were entitled to wear wings during the runway show, so in a significant sense, it was mainly a gimmick. However, when used effectively, a gimmick can reap great rewards; even with little memory about Victoria’s Secret, Adrian recalled that it became an indispensable feature of the Angels, so he brought it up early.

Now, after several years of management and the strong support of AC media, the angel costume had essentially become the hallmark of Victoria’s Secret Angels, and discussing which Angel’s costume was the most seductive had become a favorite topic among men outside the event. Yesterday, although Alexander’s angel costume wasn’t as flashy, her cultivated and rare charisma earned her the unanimous approval of the men at the venue.

However, despite the many accolades for Alexander in the angel costume, the sensation she caused during her closing show afterward surpassed it. As numerous spotlights focused on the entrance of the runway, everyone stopped their conversations. Although over the years, they’d come to know what the annual closing act was, when Alexander appeared on the runway in the glittering lingerie adorned with various gems, low gasps of amazement still erupted.

The piece was a deep red, adorned with various hand-cut diamonds and jewels that created countless patterns, dazzling especially under the deliberately dimmed lights of the runway. Alexander, already sexy and charming, was even more so in this well-tailored lingerie, causing many to stand up and lock their eyes on her. As the emcee announced that the lingerie was valued between twelve and fifteen million US dollars, the gasps of astonishment grew even louder due to its opulence and luxury. It was entitled to be called the most expensive lingerie in history.

One could imagine how Alexander’s value and popularity would soar while wearing this piece, plus, with her own qualities and the support of Adrian, her influence within Victoria’s Secret was second only to Heidi Klum. One wonder if Gisele Bundchen would regret that the glory that should have been hers was taken by someone else? Although she was still a popular model, her fame and popularity were much less than they had been around the Millennium.

Even if she had been willing to please Adrian, she might not have gotten the opportunity she has now. While her figure was good, her facial features were not as strong, especially compared to Alexander.

Adrian knew this was a statement from Alexander. By now, the women around him knew all about Penelope’s situation and its background, so any small schemes had been shelved. The smarter ones, like Alexander, who clearly knew why they had their current popularity, proved it with their actions.

So, he said nothing and continued to enjoy, seeing Penelope’s affair as a great boon.

As mentioned before, it wasn’t just Alexander making such statements. Lin Zhiling, who had just finished filming "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" and came to London to relax, did the same.

"It was really tough, especially the scene in the bamboo forest, hanging on wires all day, it makes one’s back and legs sore. But Mr. Zhou was really dedicated, and his acting was so good that even when I complained, he still asked Director Lee if he wanted to do another take," Lin Zhiling said coquettishly as she nestled against Adrian after a walk down Oxford Street.

"The effort pays off. I specifically got the raw footage of your fight scene with Jen Yu and Melisa Margaretha from Ang Lee and watched it. Even without post-production, you did quite well," Adrian laughed, then squeezed her chin and changed the subject, "I thought you would take a few days to rest first before coming here, or wait until I return to Los Angeles."

"Don’t be silly, I really said that last time because I was feeling uncomfortable with my period. Don’t you believe me?" Lin Zhiling pouted, having long figured out Adrian’s preference for her accent. So, though her voice was soft, it lacked the deliberate babyish tone of her past life and carried a comfortable coquettishness.

"Of course not, just a little regret," Adrian laughed cheerfully, then said soothingly.

Although Lin Zhiling had spent most of the past few months filming "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" on the mainland, Adrian was well aware of her whereabouts. And she was no fool; among Adrian’s many women, there were only two Asians, and she was the only Chinese - the other hardly counted. Moreover, she would only favor herself, so she would not betray a media magnate like that naive Spanish woman.

"By the way, what do you think about doing something fun a bit later?" Adrian suddenly changed the topic.

"What kind of fun thing?" Lin Zhiling asked curiously, blinking her eyes.

Even though she would agree to any of Adrian’s requests as long as they weren’t particularly excessive, she couldn’t miss any opportunity to keep him interested. Adrian leaned in and whispered something into her ear, which instantly brought a blush to the lady’s cheeks; it was unmistakably genuine.

"It sounds a bit strange," said Lin Zhiling coyly, her eyes shimmering.

"It’s just like acting in movies, no different. Haven’t you been doing well?" Adrian chuckled. Although she seemed hesitant, he knew she had already mentally agreed.

It was nothing but a role play where Ada Wong was captured, toyed with, and ultimately succumbed. Adrian had initially wanted to play Jen Yu from "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." The art direction by Mr. Ye had been impressive, and Lin Zhiling’s costume fitting photos, though simple, had an ancient charm. However, considering the film hadn’t been released yet and Lin Zhiling might not fully grasp the essence of the role without the costumes, he finally opted for "Resident Evil."

The movie version of "Resident Evil" grossed over 150 million worldwide, making it a relatively successful adaptation from a video game. Inserting the perspective from Hank not only expanded the narrative but also didn’t interfere with the upcoming development of "Resident Evil 3," pleasing both gamers and the general audience. However, there were still issues; though the movie briefly explained the situation for regular viewers, those unfamiliar with the game might still find many details bewildering; and for gaming enthusiasts, popular characters like Jill appeared too briefly and were underutilized, appearing for merely ten minutes.

Even so, the film was greatly popular, and the calls for sequels continued incessantly. Among several characters, Ada Wong, who had the most screen time, was praised for closely resembling her video game counterpart, giving Lin Zhiling a preliminary popularity in Hollywood, thus Adrian chose this role, believing it would feel exciting.

"This is your life, evil and debauched," scoffed Ivanka as she handed him the sorted company files for review. These days, she had been handling all his arrangements completely, while in Los Angeles at least half were managed by Charlize, so from Keeley to Alexander to Lin Zhiling, she was thoroughly briefed, which is why those two adjectives came up.

However, the scoff was ultimately feeble; not even Charlize could pierce his thick skin, so how could Ivanka possibly manage? Speaking of which, if she couldn’t stand it and felt helpless in enforcing justice, she would have left already —

"Thanks for the compliment," Adrian said with a smile as he browsed the documents, occasionally signing his name on crucial matters, "I think you’re doing very well, Innie. You’ve truly grown into this job now."

"Thank you," Ivanka, increasingly resembling Charlize, replied coldly, "Shall I let the agent in now?"

"Of course," Adrian gestured for her to proceed.

With Ivanka’s departure, Xilei, dressed in formal attire, soon entered the study and handed Adrian the materials she brought regarding Keeley Hazell.

Undoubtedly, after participating in the Victoria’s Secret fashion show, Keeley had completely fallen for Adrian. It should be noted that she was dressed appropriately on the day they attended, and all expenses were covered by Adrian. Given her shown character and having experienced a glimpse of gracious living — however fleeting — she would never want to go back, which is why she was constantly eager to sign the contract promptly.

Amber, although hesitant, felt that holding the sign favored by the Miracle Director of Hollywood might also allow her to find a producer in the United Kingdom who appreciated Keeley. She believed Adrian would not go back on his word. The problem, however, was that she had no connections, and even if she wanted to search, she had no idea where to begin. Moreover, she later realized that if she angered Adrian, he might not take back his words, but what if someone asked and he spoke ambiguously, with feigned praise? Furthermore, her daughter was constantly being troublesome, so she eventually agreed.

Next naturally came the matter of negotiations. This time Adrian did not appear personally; instead, he had Xilei Lin, who had accompanied Lin Zhiling to London, handle the matter with a lawyer.

"Keeley Hazell and her mother, Amber Hazell, have both signed the contract. Everything in Los Angeles has also been arranged. They can move over in a few days," Xilei Lin paused as she spoke, "Of course, if you’re not comfortable, you can ask them to wait a little longer and then come back to Los Angeles together."

"You’ve done very well, Kelly, exceptional," Adrian nodded, very satisfied with Xilei Lin’s understanding.

Having been an agent for so long, she could not say she was extremely shrewd, but her abilities were quite good. He wondered why in his previous life she had chosen to become an actress, being a sexy icon but never really popular. If she truly had the qualities and abilities she was showing now, she shouldn’t have achieved so little, right?

But then again, even though opportunities and abilities are both important in the entertainment industry, in those territories, opportunities probably play a much larger role than abilities. Although his exposure was not deep in his previous life, his experience was more than sufficient as a reference. Moreover, her current job was somewhat related to her profession. Having lived in the United States for several years and adapted to the significant pressure and strong desire to achieve, it was not strange for her to tap into her potential.

"She’s in your care now, Kelly," Adrian then added, "This time it’s not like with Amanda Seyfried; we won’t be handing her over to someone else after a while. I’ve already spoken to Michael on the phone. Regarding Jili, everything has been arranged for her. If all goes well, she could become famous in no more than two years, and during this period, you will be fully responsible for managing everything for her."

"I understand, Mr. Adrian," Xilei Lin nodded, "Do you have any suggestions about her image?"

"Nothing much, just ensure she gets enough training, then take some advertising to build up her popularity. In fact, she’s just a pretty face; I don’t expect much acting from her," Adrian said bluntly, not concerned about how his words could be interpreted. Since he was entrusting her with this responsibility, it was necessary to state his plans clearly.

"Yes, I understand," Xilei Lin nodded again, "Is there anything else you would like to instruct?"

As she spoke, the corners of her eyes slightly lifted, her face, suddenly serious, took on a hint of charm. Since everyone in the company said she got her position by sleeping with someone, and she eventually ended up in bed with Adrian, why not maintain it now? Besides, he wasn’t uninterested in her.

"That will be all for now, thank you, Kelly," Adrian said, seemingly oblivious to the disappointment in her eyes.

But then he added, "When we return to Los Angeles, maybe you would like to join me for lunch or dinner. I still miss the taste of that Chinese restaurant in Monterey City."

"No problem, sir," Xilei Lin was initially stunned, then smiled.(To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)