Chapter 108: Supermodel
"Director Rosenberg…"
A reporter stood up and directly asked the most concerning question, "We all saw in the halftime advertisement that you destroyed the White House…"
"It was in the movie," Duke reminded.
"Yes, in the film 'Independence Day' where the White House is destroyed." The reporter seemed to be recalling as he spoke, "Although previous Hollywood movies also had shots targeting the White House, none featured such a large-scale explosion. Can you tell us what considerations led to that?"
"First, I want to clarify that it was the invading aliens who blew up the White House, not me!"
This statement elicited a burst of laughter. Once the laughter subsided, Duke continued, "'Independence Day' is a science fiction film about aliens invading Earth with the intent to destroy it. The aliens blow up the White House, but it's not just for show. In the film, the destruction of the White House will ignite the fighting spirit of the American people, highlighting our great spirit to fight for freedom and the hope of saving all humanity."
Duke spoke these shameless lines without any embarrassment, "Although the White House was destroyed in the film, the American people will establish an indomitable spirit and lead the world to victory."
As a Hollywood director, Duke's primary obligation was to please the North American audience; everything else could be set aside for now. These words, accompanied by Warner and Fox's publicity campaigns and the Super Bowl advertisement, were enough to spark more interest among American viewers.
As for whether he would be criticized by media from other parts of the world? Duke hardly cared about criticisms from North American media, let alone others.
After leaving the press conference, Duke reunited with his mother and Scarlett in the backstage area. They drove to a nearby hotel where Victoria's Secret was hosting a thank-you party.
The party was a typical business affair, and naturally, it featured the supermodels who had just walked the runway. As Duke entered the banquet hall with his mother, Naomi Campbell and Claudia Schiffer, two top supermodels, were surrounded by admirers, their charisma making them the center of attention.
After his mother mingled for a while in the banquet hall, Duke prepared to explore on his own, but a little tail seemed eager to follow.
"Scarlett?" Duke frowned.
"Why can't I follow you?" Scarlett stood there, looking at him with big eyes, "The godmother has been discussing business, and I can't understand anything. It's so boring."
"I get it," the little girl pouted, "You must think I'll slow you down while you're chasing women, humph…"
She wrinkled her nose and turned to walk toward Mrs. Leah
"Is being slightly nice to her going to make her overly clingy?"
As Duke made his way toward the center of the banquet hall, he pondered this. It seemed that when he put on a poker face, Scarlett Johansson would behave herself, at least on the surface.
He casually grabbed a glass of champagne and occasionally took a sip while chatting with others, but his eyes never drifted toward the two supermodels. Naomi Campbell's dark skin might attract others, but he had no interest, and Claudia Schiffer's somewhat unusual features didn't align with his aesthetic. Even under the influence of Western beauty standards, he wouldn't deem her as beautiful.
The models of this era were too distant from Duke's memories. Apart from a few famous ones, he barely recognized any. After wandering around the banquet hall for a while and finishing half a glass of champagne, Duke finally spotted a familiar face. If he wasn't mistaken, she would definitely become a prominent model in the future.
She had just finished mingling, and when she turned around, their eyes locked. Duke raised his glass toward her; she clearly recognized him and smiled back, her red lips brushing against the rim of her glass.
Taking a light sip of champagne, Duke approached her, subtly observing her.
She was a blonde woman, about five feet ten inches tall, with golden hair, blue eyes, and a high forehead. Her eyes weren't particularly large, and she had distinct Nordic or Germanic features. Based on her beautiful and sexy appearance, she seemed to be in her early twenties, which was typically the best age for women of this type.
It was well-known that these blondes were usually early maturing. Between sixteen and twenty-five, they were in their prime physical condition. After twenty-five, they often aged rapidly.
Especially for models and actresses, who used various foundations filled with unknown elements and had irregular lifestyles and work hours, many of them struggled with alcohol, drugs, and a vibrant nightlife. If they didn't take care of themselves, after twenty-five, many of them would look unrecognizable without makeup or cosmetic procedures.
In fact, comparing forty-year-old blonde actresses with those of other ethnic backgrounds was quite telling; they tended to age more quickly.
However, the blonde beauty in front of him clearly radiated beauty at the peak of her youth.
"Hello, beautiful lady."
As Duke approached the blonde woman, he lightly grasped her hand. "May I ask for your name? I wonder if I have the honor."
"Heidi, you can call me Heidi." She displayed a radiant smile, "Heidi Klum, from Germany."
"Nice to meet you, Heidi." Duke raised his glass again. "You can call me Duke."
Neither of them was naïve; after a drink, they had already started chatting, especially since they had several common topics related to the recent runway show.
"I participated in a beauty contest last year and then entered the modeling industry."
As they walked toward a nearby terrace, Heidi Klum shared some of her background. "Although my career has seen some progress over the past year, I'm still a newcomer. It took my agent a lot of connections for me to join this show."
"I heard that the company organizing this event is your family's company?"
Reaching a resting table, she turned to Duke, who helped pull out her chair with a gesture for her to sit. He then said, "It's my mother's company, and I have little to do with it. I don't have shares or a voice in the company."
Sitting across from Heidi Klum, Duke signaled for the waiter to bring two glasses of champagne, and they toasted again, each finishing half a glass.
"But they say the halftime show came from your suggestion." Heidi Klum looked at Duke with eager eyes. Duke shrugged, "It was just a suggestion. I'm not an expert in advertising planning; my mother handles all that. I'm just a director."
"A big director who can attract over a 100 million dollars in investment!" she complimented at the right moment.
"You're not bad either." Duke gazed at her meticulously made-up face, saying, "This runway show could be the launching point for your career. You'll become a top supermodel."
"Thank you."
Heidi Klum's expression seemed a bit gloomy, hesitating slightly before saying, "Things aren't as rosy as they seem. The Santa Fia Advertising Company is going to form a professional Angel model team for Victoria's Secret, and newcomers like me are the focus of their evaluation, but I heard from my agent that I might be excluded."
"Losing such an opportunity," her hand slowly moved closer to Duke, "would really be a pity."
Though he hadn't heard his mother mention it, with the runway show already taking place, it seemed the Angels would be as well. Duke wasn't surprised. Heidi Klum, with her hand dancing near his, had eyes as bright as the summer sun, seemingly wanting to draw out all his passion.
"Perhaps I can help a little."
In fact, the Angels' requirements were more about body and facial features; runway skills were secondary. Duke believed that if he called his mother's assistant, Martha, he could likely resolve the issue, "But I can't guarantee success."
"Thank you so much!" Heidi Klum immediately grasped Duke's hand.
"No need to thank me."
Turning his palm over, Duke's fingers gently slid across her soft palm. "Heidi, perhaps we can find a different place to discuss this further."
"I think it's very necessary."
Heidi Klum leaned forward, moving a bit closer to Duke and blowing a soft breath toward him, clearly understanding that one must give to receive.
Duke stood up, took her hand, and they left the terrace, heading toward the banquet hall exit.
"Godmother, look over there!"
Just a short distance from the exit, Scarlett Johansson tugged at Mrs. Leah's sleeve, "Duke seems to be leaving."
Turning her head, seeing Duke leading a blonde beauty out of the banquet hall, Mrs. Leah simply shook her head. The Rosenberg family wasn't a conservative traditional Jewish family; she had no intention of interfering in Duke's private life.
Seeing her godmother show no reaction, Scarlett seemed displeased, her cheeks puffing up in a sulk. She felt like her best toy had been taken away.
"Bad Duke, I'll definitely spit in your cup next time!"
With her toy gone, Scarlett exchanged a few words with Mrs. Leah, then walked to a corner, sat in a chair, and sipped her juice, plotting how to take revenge to feel better.
After exiting the banquet hall, Duke called for a hotel room and took Heidi Klum upstairs. Within a few minutes, all their clothes had fallen onto the thick carpet.
If Naomi Watts and others could be considered bed partners, then these female models were truly one-night stands. Duke had no intention of being polite, and after a brief foreplay, he pressed Heidi Klum onto the carpet.
These models, who have undergone rigorous body training, possess remarkable flexibility and can almost be folded in half at a 90-degree angle. Duke naturally wouldn't hold back.
Heidi Klum was also very cooperative, and since Duke was only employing ordinary tricks, she essentially accepted everyone's advances. The two of them moved from the living room of the suite to the bedroom, then to the bathroom, and finally stood on the balcony, facing the highland evening breeze of Atlanta, like birds in mating season spreading their wings to fly.