I am Hollywood

[Chapter 1059: Not Professional]

After patiently soothing for a long time, Caroline finally fell asleep.

Eric quietly left the girl's bedroom, closed the door, and returned the pair of scissors he had found in the kitchen before stepping out of the apartment.

Perhaps it was late at night, but the streetlights lining the resort seemed a bit dim, and the air carried a chill. The noise from the banquet hall had quieted down significantly, as some people may have already started to rest. Eric had no intention of making an appearance. Instead, he headed back to his accommodation.

The resort was divided into three sections. The main building area was separated by a wide concrete pathway running north and south. The eastern side was for accommodations, while the western side was for activities, including the banquet hall. On the opposite side of the accommodation area was a golf course. Eric's place was behind the row of apartments where Caroline stayed -- a single-story building identical to the other apartments in the resort. The house felt rather low, as one could easily reach up and touch the eaves. Due to the surrounding desert areas around Phoenix, this was a common architectural style to withstand sandstorms.

The film crew initially planned to stay in Phoenix for just a week, so Eric didn't have any special requests for his accommodations. The only thing he appreciated was that these buildings were brick and stone structures, not the wooden houses. Although Eric seldom had the opportunity to stay in wooden houses now, he always felt uneasy just thinking about it.

...

As Eric turned to the back row of apartments, he walked while rummaging in his pocket for the keys. As he looked up, he noticed a small red dot flashing from the eaves of the neighboring apartment.

Upon closer inspection, he found Jodie Foster sitting alone in a wicker chair under the eaves, wearing a black jacket and loose men's washed jeans, with her legs crossed and a cigarette between her fingers, casually watching him.

Eric walked over and sat down in another wicker chair beside her, greeting her. "Why are you sitting here all alone? Where's your assistant?"

"Some guy tricked her away at the party," Jodie said lightly. Seeing Eric sit down opposite her, she asked, "What about you? How's Caroline?"

"She's already asleep," Eric replied. "By the way, about this -- I need to take Caroline back to Los Angeles tomorrow, so we won't be able to hang out here in Arizona with everyone."

To reward all the crew members who had worked for months in a dimly lit studio, he gave a few days off for everyone.

"Aren't there really any fun activities in Arizona? I heard at the party that they're planning to head to Mexico or Las Vegas," said Jodie, bringing the cigarette to her lips for another puff, then offered the pack sitting on the small table beside her. "Want one?"

Eric sensed that Jodie's mood was a little strange -- not quite down, but definitely not enthusiastic, and her attitude toward him was rather indifferent. He smiled and took a cigarette from the pack, lighting it before asking, "What's wrong with you?"

Jodie shot back, "What do you mean?"

"I feel like something's off with your mood. Are you still struggling with your character?"

"No, I'm just thinking about men."

"Uh, what?" Eric coughed out a puff of smoke he had just inhaled, astonished he looked at Jodie next to him. "You're... thinking about men?"

Jodie shot him a disdainful glance. "I'm just pondering some things about men."

"Oh, I got it," Eric nodded. "So did you figure it out?"

Jodie shook her head. "Not yet."

"Maybe you could share it with me, and I can help you think it through. As a man, I obviously have a bit more experience."

"Alright," Jodie said, glancing sidelong at Eric. "Why do men have such a penchant for being indecisive, and even while pursuing one woman, they suddenly switch to another without warning?"

Eric pondered seriously for a moment, holding the cigarette. "From a psychological standpoint, a man might do it to provoke a woman's jealousy for his own secretive reasons; from a biological standpoint, it's instinctual for men to pass on their genes. Statistically, it might simply be a way to increase their chances of success in attracting women; from a physics perspective..."

Eric was about to continue rambling, but he suddenly felt a small hand grabbing his collar and pulling him forward.

With cool lips that carried a hint of smoke, Jodie pressed against him. Eric froze for a moment, adjusting his position, ready to take the lead, but the hand pulling at his collar suddenly let go.

Watching Jodie casually sit back as if nothing had happened, Eric weakly said, "Um, does this count as me being assaulted?"

Jodie nodded. "Yes, little man, you can cry and run back to your place now."

"Jodie, that's not cool; it's very unprofessional."

"What should being professional look like?"

"It should be like this," Eric said as he stood up, marched over and snatched the burning cigarette from Jodie's hands and tossed it aside. He then lifted her lightweight body off the ground, pushing through the door behind them.

Hauled over Eric's shoulder, Jodie seemed taken aback for a moment, then leaned over to coolly ask from his shoulder, "Eric, what are you planning to do?"

"Shut up. Where's your bedroom?"

"..."

"Hmm?"

Jodie's tone turned slightly petulant. "You told me to shut up."

Eric tossed Jodie onto the living room sofa and turned off the lights. "Since you said that, let's do it here."

Leaning back on the sofa, Jodie instinctively grabbed a nearby cushion, looking at the shadowy figure approaching, her voice trembling slightly with a hint of expectation as she whispered, "Eric Williams, you really are a jerk."

...

The next morning, Eric still woke up in his own bedroom.

Though she had a look of satisfaction from their earlier encounter, the woman claimed she could hardly imagine waking up next to a man, and without hesitation, she sent him packing.

After getting up, Eric checked on Caroline, then took her to the dining room for breakfast. Returning to his apartment afterward, he found Jodie again sitting in the wicker chair under the eaves, legs crossed, holding a book, looking quite relaxed. There was an empty dish on the small table beside her, clearly she had just eaten breakfast.

Eric walked over again, sitting down on the other side. "Good morning."

Jodie looked up from her book, seemingly acting as if nothing had happened, and smiled back, "Morning."

"What book are you reading?"

"Gone with the Wind."

"Oh, that's an interesting book."

"You've read it?"

"Yeah," Eric nodded. "I often think how fortunate Americans have been, having only endured a large-scale war -- the Civil War -- since the founding of the nation, and then getting to bully others at will afterward."

"You certainly have a unique perspective," Jodie smiled. "I thought you would comment on the women in the book."

"Well, honestly, there's not much to comment on; just a group of girls who elicit pity."

"Pity?" Jodie's expression clearly showed her disagreement, and she pressed on, "Do you think Scarlett O'Hara deserves pity?"

Eric stared into Jodie's slightly spirited eyes and asked, "Do you know how old Scarlett is at the end of the book?"

Though she had read it a few times, Jodie didn't have the same photographic memory as Caroline, and thus hadn't paid attention to this detail. She instinctively thought about flipping through the book but shook her head at Eric's probing look. "I don't know."

"She's 28," Eric said. "For today's women, 28 is practically the pinnacle of youth. One might have just become a happy little housewife or be ambitious to become a career woman, or maybe some are still enjoying their campus life. But by 28, Scarlett had already gone through more ups and downs than most people experience in their entire lives. That's why I dislike Rhett Butler. He always fancied himself the one who understands Scarlett best, but all along, he merely stood over her, judging Scarlett's so-called selfishness and greed, giving her 'love' from a position of superiority. He doesn't understand that when they first met, she was just a spoiled girl, and being a bit capricious was unavoidable. When they met again, she was a young woman who had to carry the weight of life on her shoulders, desperately craving the security she had lost."

Jodie had always loved the book she was holding, and like many others, she admired Scarlett's strength but despised her selfishness. For the first time, she heard an alternative understanding from Eric.

Suddenly, she thought about herself; having faced the camera since she was three and despite only being 36 this year, she had a career possibly longer than most Hollywood actors. She had certainly experienced more than enough herself.

Could this man be hinting at something about her? Ugh, she refused to be charmed by his nonsensical words.

Feeling Eric's gaze still on her, Jodie turned her face away to avoid his eyes, pouting a bit as she grumbled, "No wonder you're so good at charming women."

Eric looked at Jodie, her demeanor somewhat flustered, smiled, and leaned over the side table, saying, "Um, I need to leave soon."

"Right, to send your darling little assistant back to Los Angeles. I know."

"So, a farewell kiss wouldn't be too much, would it?"

Jodie was about to scoff at the ridiculousness of it but, seeing the expectant look on the little man beside her, she hesitated, feeling somewhat unable to refuse. She glanced around conspiratorially before reluctantly leaning in. The moment their lips brushed, she felt a powerful arm wrap around her body. She instinctively struggled a bit but soon softened, her eyes squinting as she felt the man's unwarranted advance.

Soon, the door behind them swung open, and Jodie's assistant came out with a coffee pot. Seeing the scene before her, she gasped in shock, her eyes widening, and the tray slipped from her hands, coffee pot, mug, sugar bowl, and all scattering onto the floor. Recovering, the assistant dashed to cover her face, exclaiming, "Oh my God! My eyes! What's going on here?"

Eric had no choice but to release Jodie, who was now slightly dazed, and helplessly looked at the shocked assistant. "I won't have to take responsibility for her eyes, will I?"

Jodie came to her senses, recalling Eric's earlier roughness, and shot him an angry glare, though her tone softened slightly. "You should go. I won't be seeing you off."

...

To avoid bumpy roads, Eric took Caroline back to Los Angeles by helicopter.

Around eleven in the morning, the VH-60 landed at the helipad of Liberty City Estate, where many people had gathered. The news of yesterday's incident with the crew was still circulating in the media. Even though everyone had already learned the details, they needed to see it for themselves to feel reassured.

Eric exchanged greetings with Jeffrey Katzenberg, Amy Pascal, Bill Mechanic, and other executives from Firefly, accommodating them in the villa for some rest, and instructed the maid to prepare lunch for the group before turning toward Rachel Weisz and Melanie Gleason, who were chatting quietly with Caroline. "What brings you two here?"

Rachel was crouched beside Caroline's wheelchair, pointing to the girl's injured ankle. "How can you even ask that?"

Before Eric could respond, Caroline piped up, "Rachel, it was just an accident."

Rachel affectionately touched Caroline's pretty little face. "Come to my place this afternoon. I'll be in Los Angeles until the end of the year, so I can take care of you." Turning back to Eric, she added, "So, capitalist, Caroline shouldn't have to be exploited by you anymore, right?"

Feeling somewhat guilty, Eric nodded. "She can rest for as long as she wants."

Satisfied with Eric's reply, Rachel stood and pushed Caroline's wheelchair toward the villa.

Eric and Melanie followed behind, asking, "How's it going at Firefly Electronics?"

"It's not bad," Melanie replied. "But I have to travel quite a bit."

Though he hadn't paid much attention, Eric had heard from Caroline that due to work, Melanie had broken up with her fiance whom she was about to marry. Unsure whether to offer comfort, Eric said, "Things should stabilize in Europe in a year or two. When that happens, if you want to switch positions, just let me know."

Melanie smiled in response. She was very satisfied with her current job. The sacrifices she had made in her personal life for this career were worth it in her eyes, especially considering that she was already vice president of a promising big company so early in her career -- a height that most career women could only dream of. In her case, it was just the beginning. To gain something, one must also give.

*****

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