Chapter 751: Mr. Big

[Chapter 751: Mr. Big]

"So, what were you all just talking about?" After sitting down, Eric casually kicked off the conversation.

Elizabeth Hurley leaned casually against him, her excitement palpable. "Candace just mentioned Manolo Blahnik. He's having a product launch at the Gramercy Park Hotel next month! I just love that shoe brand. Lately, so many brands have been producing heels that look so bizarre. Only Manolo Blahnik manages to maintain such elegant designs consistently. I need to find a way to attend this launch next month! Oh, by the way, Candace, when did you say it is?"

"November 3rd," Candace Bushnell replied with a smile.

Elizabeth pulled out a notepad from her purse, documenting it seriously, and turned to Eric. "Eric, do you know who Manolo Blahnik is?"

Eric had certainly heard of him. He recalled that the shoe brand frequently came up in episodes of Sex and the City, where the character Carrie was obsessed with it, but he only knew the name.

Casting a sideways glance at Anne Sweeney and Candace Bushnell, who sat across from him with their characteristic smiles, Eric couldn't help but feel that Elizabeth seemed a bit juvenile in comparison to these two intelligent women. A woman with keen insight wouldn't drone on about fashion brands in front of men, as most men would likely find it dull, if not a little annoying, considering how these brands often came with a hefty price tag.

Seeing that neither woman was stepping in to change the subject, and instead seemed to be fanning the flames, Eric began to piece things together.

After some casual chit-chat, Eric turned to Anne Sweeney and Elizabeth Hurley. "Anne, Liz, could you give Candace and me some time? I'd like to discuss the script with her."

Anne Sweeney stood up and said, "Of course, you two go ahead. Oh, Liz, come with me; the snacks here are really good. I'll take you to try some."

Elizabeth thought to herself that having the lead actress around for the script discussion would make more sense, but she didn't oppose Eric's wishes and followed Anne away.

...

Once Anne and Elizabeth departed, Candace Bushnell moved closer to Eric, crossing her left leg elegantly and smoothing her skirt. "Eric, is there something wrong with the script I submitted?"

Eric looked at her with interest. The common notion was that women tend to show their age more easily, but the women around him seemed to defy this belief. Kathryn was stunning, Joanna was too, and now Candace Bushnell and recently departed Anne Sweeney were in their late thirties, yet they maintained a youthful appearance that complemented Elizabeth's in some ways, adding a touch of maturity.

Instead of answering her question directly, Eric took a sip from his champagne, leaned back against the sofa, and made it easier for himself to admire the intelligent beauty beside him. "The script isn't majorly flawed, just a few small details. Why don't you start by telling me about the lead character?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Candace's face, realizing that Eric had picked up on some subtlety from their earlier conversation. However, she quickly regained her composure. "Eric, I don't think Miss Hurley is suitable for the role of Carrie Bradshaw."

After saying this, Candace maintained eye contact with Eric, determined not to let her nerves show. Yet, she unconsciously tightened her grip on her wine glass.

Her longing for that big-city life had led her to New York alone at nineteen, but settling down in Manhattan had been harder than she imagined. Initially, she made ends meet by writing children's stories for newspapers; just in recent years, she had managed to get her own column in the New York Observer. Even so, her life wasn't comfortable. The character Carrie Bradshaw, who often flirted with financial ruin in pursuit of the latest fashion, was really a reflection of her own reality.

The fact that Eric Williams had personally chosen the rights to Sex and the City made her realize this was a pivotal moment in her life. She valued this TV series more than anyone else could, and as she feverishly revised the script over the last few weeks, the pressure became overwhelming, leading to mild anxiety.

Upon hearing that Lifetime had confirmed Elizabeth Hurley for the lead, Candace dug into her collection of the model's previous films and found her not to fit the image she envisioned for the lead role.

The casting was decided by Eric Williams himself, and she knew she didn't have much room to fight it. She had secretly prepared herself to accept this choice, but in her discussions with Anne Sweeney, it seemed the A&E Networks president was also slightly dissatisfied with the lead selection. That prompted their current conversation.

As Eric listened, he quietly scrutinized Candace Bushnell, who seemed to be forcing a confident facade despite being significantly older than him. After a few seconds, he noticed the slight tremble of the glass in her hand and decided to intervene. "Go on, persuade me."

Having just put herself in a difficult position, Candace felt the burden of Eric's multiple roles weighing down on her. Regret washed over her for voicing her opinion; she scolded herself internally hundreds of times, realizing what a golden opportunity this was to collaborate with Eric Williams. Surely, she could ascend into the ranks of well-known writers, with future works becoming highly sought after. Yet, if she messed this up...

Oh God, what have I done?

Eric, barely aware he had just pulled her back from the edge of despair with a casual joke, watched as Candace's mind raced. She suddenly felt a chill down her spine, realizing she had broken into a sweat in her rented gown, which made her worry about returning it in less than perfect condition.

"Candace?" he asked, noticing her darting eyes without a word.

She snapped her attention to him. "Yes, oh... I want to persuade you."

Eric almost retracted his earlier compliments about Candace's intelligence and emotional insights. He rolled his eyes, "So, go on?"

Feeling a tinge of impatience in his tone, Candace took a deep breath. "Mr. Williams, firstly, Miss Hurley is British, and her identity doesn't align with Carrie Bradshaw's character."

"That's not a reason," Eric countered, unaffected by her change in his formality. "You should have heard Liz's American accent; it's pretty flawless."

"Of course, I have to concede that," Candace replied before realizing her previous doubts about Elizabeth's identity were unfounded.

But Eric couldn't help but chuckle at Candace's response. "Candace, you have to understand; you're trying to persuade me."

"Oh," Candace said, feeling a bit embarrassed. "So, the most important point is, I think Miss Hurley is just too beautiful."

"And?"

Candace continued, "If this show was aimed at male viewers or a broader audience, Miss Hurley would be suitable. But this is a show specifically for urban fashion-forward women. Most women in the real world don't look like her. If she plays the lead role, ninety percent of potential viewers won't relate to her at all. Furthermore, an important theme of this show is fashion, showcasing how various brands can transform women's lives. If the lead character is too stunning, it makes it difficult to convey the character development whose appearance and personality are enhanced by fashion, and this could negatively impact the show tremendously. In summary, I believe the lead should reflect the average urban woman -- slightly plain, yet, at times, striking."

Eric nodded, "Good points. Anything else?"

Noticing the change in Eric's expression, Candace felt more relaxed. At least he was actually considering her arguments.

However, there was an additional reason she held back -- the one that Anne Sweeney had whispered to her earlier. Anne had believed Elizabeth Hurley's audition was also lacking in talent. While Anne hinted that it could be included in their discussions, Candace didn't want to overstep.

Shaking her head, she said, "Mr. Williams, that's all. I have nothing else."

Eric nodded, smiling. "You really like calling people 'mister,' don't you?"

Candace's face turned awkward. She recognized it was a sign of her insecurity but wouldn't admit it outright. "Why do you ask?"

"In your novels, I keep seeing Mr. Big. Come on, does he have a real-life counterpart?"

Candace realized Eric was smoothly transitioning the conversation but lacked the courage to push for an answer. "Yes, he does. Mr. Big is based on Ron Galotti, a publishing executive at Newhouse, who managed many magazine publications. I've collaborated with him in the past."

"Oh," Eric nodded, but for some reason, another Mr. Big from a certain Disney animated film popped into his mind, making him chuckle. Traditionally, Mr. Big implies a powerful figure, akin to a godfather. "Forget about Ron Galotti. Since I don't know him, what about your male lead? I found his character sketch somewhat ambiguous while reading your outline and episodes one and two. Was his character development unclear?"

Candace thought about it for a moment. "Well, he's a very successful man in his career."

"That much is apparent," Eric interjected. "What about his character?"

"His personality... tends to be somewhat indecisive. Therefore, he doesn't appreciate strong and independent women." Candace explained. "That's the main reason they keep breaking up. Ultimately, I don't think they're likely to end up together."

"Do you find that setup realistic?"

"Why wouldn't it be?" Candace questioned. "Mr. Williams, everyone has flaws. A person can be successful in their career yet still struggle in their personal life."

Eric felt a disconnect with the character, perceiving him as the classic handsome but emotionally inept CEO archetype -- too familiar for comfort.

Shaking his head slightly, he decided not to pursue that line of questioning further. "Alright, as long as female viewers enjoy it, that's what matters."

Candace raised an eyebrow but chose not to respond.

Eric changed the subject, offering his thoughts and suggestions for her script. "Regarding the script, I'm not too well-versed in fashion. That's your realm. But concerning the storyline, I want you to make a few adjustments. First, I need more narration. Although you have deep insights into topics surrounding sex and fashion, it doesn't mean viewers will glean everything solely through visuals. I'd like to hear more explanatory narrations..."

As the discussion moved easily into script revisions, the two lost track of time, engrossed in their conversation.

Half an hour later, with most issues smoothed over, Eric added, "One more thing -- this is just my personal preference: don't always portray male characters as too weak and passive in relationships. While it resonates with certain audiences, I think women with a bit of life experience would find it unrealistic, don't you think?"

While discussing the script, Candace had unknowingly downed several drinks. With her wine glass empty, the blush creeping into her cheeks, she mischievously looked at Eric and boldly asked, "Mr. Williams, don't men generally dislike being passive?"

Eric narrowed his eyes and chuckled, "Are you coming on to me?"

Candace's heart raced a few beats at his teasing, realizing she might have crossed a line. Although she'd heard rumors about this young tycoon's preferences, she didn't dare nurture any grand ambitions. But after a few drinks, Eric's straightforwardness flustered her; she mumbled, "You're such an annoying man."

Despite the din around them, Eric caught her whisper and laughed, "Oh, so it's true."

"What do you mean?" Candace asked, confused.

"Weren't you the one who said, 'If you tell a man, 'I like you,' you might never see him again; but if you say, 'I hate you,' you'll have the best sex of your life'? That's a classic theory."

Candace blinked in surprise. She had just been taken aback by Eric's deep understanding of her script and hadn't expected him to recall segments of her novel with such ease. Her face turned even redder, and she tried to steady her racing heart, staring intensely at Eric in defiance. "So, even if I'm being assertive, what are you planning to do about it, little boy?"

"Wow, are you trying to provoke me?"

*****

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