Chapter 40 - Ideal lead

Eric nodded and turned to Jeff: "Jeff, I'm hosting a party at my place tonight. I'll need a chef... and a waiter to help. So I immediately thought of you."

Catering for a party was a very profitable business. So Jeff gladly listened and said: "No problem, I'll send both Vanessa and Cindy."

"For the chef, Vanessa is not a problem. As for the waiter, how about you send Miss Julia instead?"

Julia Roberts looked at Jeff and hesitated slightly before nodding her head.

The matter settled, Eric casually chatted with his ex-boss, while writing down what he wanted on the menu tonight. He had been a waiter in the restaurant before, so he was familiar with all the dishes offered.

Once done, Jeff took the paper, looked at the girl who was still standing next to them and said: "Julia, you come and help me. Eric wait a mo, I'll be right back."

Eric nodded.

When they came to the kitchen, Julia noticed that Jeff had handed the paper to a chef and wasn't doing anything himself. She curiously asked: "Mr. Jeff, what do I need to do?"

Jeff looked her up and down curiously, wondering what Eric saw. Besides her slightly bigger mouth and a good figure, the girl wasn't particularly special.

"Julia, do you know who Eric is?"

Julia was somewhat confused: "I'm don't know him, Mr. Jeff. I only came to LA a few months ago."

Jeff didn't bother beating around the bush as he straightforwardly said: "You must know about Home Alone, right? He's the director who filmed it."

Julia's eyes instantly widened, she remembered recently seeing the young director's picture in the papers, and he really did look like him: "You're saying that… that…"

At this time, anyone in the whole of North America who hadn't heard about Home Alone and its miraculous teenage director was probably from Mars.

"Yes, that's him. When we were talking, I mentioned that you were an actress. Originally, Eric was only going to ask for a chef, but he later added a waiter and specifically asked for you."

Julia who hadn't received any film offer in almost a year heard Jeff's words and flushed with excitement. She had participated in a lot of auditions over the past year, but all ended in failure. So she knew better than anyone how important an opportunity this was.

"So," Jeff patted the girl's shoulder: "It is said that Eric will soon shoot his new movie. You play your cards right, and you might just land yourself a role in it."

"Thank you for the heads up, Mr. Jeff."

Jeff smiled and waved a hand, he was actually helping himself in his mind. After Eric rose to fame, thanks to the boy's past job in the restaurant, the paparazzi had come many times leading to the establishment gaining quite a bit of reputation in the area. If another well-known celebrity popped up from here again, the business would definitely soar to new heights.

...

"Mr. Williams, do you mind if I take your car?"

Eric had just pulled out his keys to start the car and didn't expect Julia Roberts who was supposed to be sitting in the chef's van to suddenly appear beside him.

"Not at all, Miss Roberts. Please get in."

Casually glancing at the girl already with the seatbelt on in the passenger's seat, he noticed she had replaced her waitress's uniform. She had applied some light make-up and was wearing a dark red jacket with light-colored jeans, which tightly hugged and perfectly showcased her long and slender legs. Right now Julia was only 21, and although her appearance wasn't that great, her body was exuding a youthful aura of invincibility.

"Do you know who I am?" Eric nonchalantly asked while holding the steering wheel.

Julia who was thinking of how to strike up a conversation, subconsciously nodded: "Mr. Jeff told me."

"No wonder." Eric chuckled.

Julia was startled and asked: "What do you mean, Mr. Williams?"

"Miss Julia, I hired you for 10$ an hour, however, you're not dressed like a waitress but someone who's about to attend a party."

"Ah…" Julia looked at her clothes. When she heard her boss's words she subconsciously wanted to leave a good impression on Eric and hastily changed her clothes: "Yes, I'm sorry, Mr. Williams, I… I will go back and change."

Eric smiled and shook his head: "No, It's okay. I heard that a movie of yours was released in October?"

Feeling awkward, Julia Roberts quickly replied: "Yes, it's called Mystic Pizza, it tells the love story of three waitresses and their boyfriends, it has reached the ten million dollars mark at the box office already."

When Julia mentioned Mystic Pizza's box office, her tone held a hint of smugness. But remembering the young man's achievements, it quickly vanished.

Although Mystic Pizza was a low-budget movie and the more than 10 million $ box office could be considered a good profit, when compared to Home Alone, it wasn't even worth mentioning.

"Oh, 10 million $ is not bad." Eric hadn't seen the film, nor was he interested in it. He just knew that it had marked Matt Damon's debut. He said: "Jeff told me you haven't received a role in almost a year. After that movie, someone will probably notice you."

Regarding this matter, Julia held some resentment. Once Mystic Pizza had gotten a good box office, her usually indifferent agent finally saw her potential and quickly scrambled to suggest some movie auditions. However, she had directly fired this man who hadn't fought for her interests like he was supposed to during this past year.

"Mr. Eric, I heard that you're about to shoot your next movie?"

"It's just an idea, I still have neither the script nor actors." Eric chuckled.

He couldn't help but sigh in his heart, he had just decided to shoot Pretty Woman and the original lead actress appeared in front of him.

He wondered whether to cast her or not.

Actually, Eric's favorite actress for the role was Sophie Marceau. The woman perfectly integrated both a pure and sexy attitude. She was the ideal lead actress for this role. He couldn't think of anyone who fits the role better.

However, this french beauty hadn't yet broken out of the art-oriented European film circle and wasn't well known in North America. He wouldn't really know whether she would accept his invitation until he tried.

As for why Eric had hired Julia as a waiter, he was actually thinking of ways to win her over. After all, in his past, she was a force to be reckoned with and a bonafide Hollywood icon. She was the first actress in history to be paid more than 20 million dollars per movie.

Thinking up to here, Eric asked: "Julia, do you have an agency now?"

When Julia heard Eric's question, she was delighted and quickly replied: "No, I just recently fired my agent and will be temporarily handling my matters personally."

"Then Julia," Eric said: "How about joining my agency?"

After learning from Barry Diller that Stuart Runkle had signed with the CAA, Eric had the idea of starting his own agency. He didn't want to see the people he had painstakingly made into stars turn their backs on him and earn profits for someone else.

Julia thought Eric would have her audition for the film, and once she passed, they'd certainly have to sign a contract, hence his proposition.

But Julia hadn't expected this kind of offer at all, which made her a little cautious. She didn't want to join the wrong agency and be abandoned for a year or more.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Williams, I don't plan to join any agency for now. My previous agency didn't bring me a single role for almost a year, which is why I'm currently working at the restaurant."

Eric said: "You don't have to worry about that. I can guarantee that you'll be featured in at least two movies in the next year. I can also arrange for this clause to be written in the contract."

Eric remembered that it was in 1989 that Julia got her first Oscar nomination for Steel Magnolias, a Columbia Pictures production. Although his relationship with Blount Cohen was rocky, recommending an actress wasn't a problem. This was nothing more than an exchange of interests after all.

Julia Roberts hesitated for a moment before saying: "Can I think about it, Mr. Williams?"

"Of course, no problem." Eric said, and thought for a moment before adding: "Actually, I want to invite the French actress Sophie Marceau to act as the lead, and if she refuses, you'll still have a chance."

Julia's hands shook as she pursed her lips tightly. She was really at a loss. Her parents and brother were all in the entertainment circle, so she certainly knew what a great opportunity it was to star in Eric Williams' movie. The little boy in Home Alone was now extremely famous.

However, it was precisely because her parents were in this circle that she also knew about its deceptive side. Eric's earlier promise was completely incompatible with what he just said and could just be a calculated bait.

If she hotheadedly agreed to join his agency and the latter went back on his word, she could do nothing but silently shed tears.