Chapter 342: A Loser

The cool sea breeze from the west brought a refreshing sensation. Gal Gadot, hand in hand with Murphy, walked out of a stair-laden corridor towards the dorm building where Murphy still had memories. Although it was late at night, most of the windows facing their direction in the dormitory were lit, revealing the figures of men and women moving about.

The University of California, Los Angeles, maintained strict regulations: this particular building was exclusively for female residents, and male overnight stays were restricted. However, like most schools in the United States, there was often a gap between policy and enforcement. As long as one wasn't caught by the black woman who managed the building directly at the door, there generally wasn't an issue.

"This person is very greedy," Gal Gadot commented as they approached the building's entrance, looking around cautiously before speaking to Murphy, whose hand she was holding. "But she never admits it, always putting on a facade of decency. If you deliver it yourself, she will definitely refuse. It has to be through a third party with no vested interest."

Peering through the glass door of the entrance, Murphy curiously asked, "Does she think that by doing this she is absolved of any involvement?"

Gal shrugged. "She probably thinks so."

As they were speaking, a couple walked past them with confidence, entered the building as someone inside opened the door, and was led in. From where Murphy stood, he could see another person come to a large glass window inside, hand over a paper bag to the dark-skinned woman, who glanced inside briefly. The couple passed by as if they were air, easily entering the building.

Murphy looked around and asked, "Can we find someone to cover for us?"

"It's too late for that," Gal replied with a shake of her head.

"Then let's just go in," Murphy suggested, pulling Gal towards the entrance. Suddenly, he noticed someone approaching from another path carrying a bag. He paused and told Gal, "Hold on a moment."

He approached the person, who was wearing a hat, and asked, "Hey, could you help us out?"

The person looked over, quickening their pace before tilting their head to glance at Gal behind Murphy, and quickly grasped the situation. "You want to get in, right?"

She removed her baseball cap, standing across from Murphy. He recognized her face under the brim of the hat, vaguely familiar but couldn't place where he had seen her before, certain she wasn't from his known circle with Middle Eastern heritage.

"Yeah," Murphy nodded.

"Okay, I'll go in first," the young woman with apparent Arab heritage said. "Then you and Gal can follow."

Murphy was puzzled. "You know Gal?"

"I live across from her," the Arab girl reminded him, "We've met before. I'm Mesa Mohammed…"

"Oh…" Murphy remembered, "When I dropped Gal off here."

He looked back at Gal, who was still standing there without any sign of greeting her neighbor.

"Thank you," Murphy said politely.

Mesa Mohammed smiled slightly and then walked into the dorm, directly approaching the black woman and magically pulling out two chocolate bars from her bag. Murphy turned back, took Gal by the hand, and strolled into the dorm just like the couple had earlier.

They reached the floor where Gal's room was located and stood waiting by the door for a while as Gal joined him.

It took just over a minute for Mesa Mohammed to appear from around the staircase corner.

"Thank you," Gal said with a smile, initiating the gratitude this time.

"No problem," Mesa replied cheerfully. "We're neighbors, after all; we should help each other."

Gal nodded but said nothing more, waiting for Murphy to exchange another polite word with Mesa before she finally opened her door and pulled Murphy inside.

"You guys…" Murphy gestured toward the door, and Gal just shrugged slightly. "I haven't really interacted with her."

Murphy sighed quietly but decided not to comment further. By the standards of his college days, not interacting with a direct neighbor was unimaginable, but it wasn't so strange for Gal.

People's worldviews are largely shaped by the education and environments they experience from a young age. Although Murphy had never been to Israel, in his impression, this country made up predominantly of Jewish people, due to its history and the hostile environment surrounding it, would definitely conduct intensive and impactful indoctrination, evident from the nation's conscription policy.

Jews and Arabs are sworn enemies; it was completely normal for Gal, given her personality, not to mingle with Mesa Mohammed.

Although deeply in love with Gal, Murphy occasionally wondered what kind of people the Jews really were.

Eventually, he left these thoughts unresolved, and as time passed, he seldom considered such matters anymore, nor did he think it wise to encourage Gal to improve her relationship with Mesa.

Why trouble oneself over matters that had no real impact on their relationship?

"What are you thinking about

?" Gal noticed Murphy zoning out and spoke with a tinge of displeasure. "Are you thinking of going home?"

Her words snapped Murphy back to reality. He quickly moved over, embraced Gal, and kissed her forehead passionately. "Would you really be that cruel?"

Gal pretended to turn away, about to speak when she felt Murphy's hands on her slender thighs. Her intended words turned into a soft moan, her eyes narrowing into long, thin slits.

Murphy, growing bolder, lifted her in his arms and kicked open the bedroom door, casually proposing as they walked, "How about we go to the balcony?"

"Are you crazy!" Gal snapped, biting Murphy's shoulder. "The dorm across can see the balcony!"

"Then here is fine."

Murphy set her down, embracing her from behind as he experienced a campus first...

The following morning, Murphy first took Gal to shop in Beverly Hills at Kara Faith's suggestion, then headed to Century City to discuss a new contract with Bill Rossis.

As years passed, Murphy's agency contract with CAA was nearing its expiration. CAA was keen on renewing, offering conditions that even top directors would envy.

Murphy had no plans to switch agencies; the services provided by Bill Rossis and CAA had alleviated many concerns, allowing him to focus more on his directorial career.

To date, his collaboration with CAA had been immensely satisfying.

Approaching the Death Star building, Murphy called Bill Rossis, who directed him to CAA's office on the lowest floor.

"You're just in time," Bill sounded pleased over the phone. "Come over here for a show, it's quite a spectacle."

Bill Rossis was no longer the junior agent he once was. Although not yet a partner at CAA, he was a standout among his peers. With his elevated position and experience, he had become more composed, rarely showing such expressive emotions, especially towards Murphy, his most important client.

After parking, Murphy entered the Death Star building, taking the elevator up to find Bill Rossis near the CAA front desk. He stood by a large window, gazing down a hallway at a mixed-use office.

"What's up?" Murphy joined Bill, looking in the same direction. "Nostalgic for the old days?"

That office was where Bill Rossis had worked long ago.

"Nostalgic?" Bill shrugged, then shook his head. "I don't miss a place for losers."

He continued, "Someone whose project tanked big time and who was too cozy with our main rival, William Morris, is about to pay the price."

Understanding Bill's implications, Murphy didn't ask further, merely watching the office at the end of the hallway.

Within ten minutes, the office door opened, and a man came out carrying a box, his face so gloomy it was unmistakable from afar. Two security personnel followed, escorting him like a criminal, pressing him onwards.

"It's him," Murphy noted without much concern, but Bill was deeply interested. "Mike, a loser."

The man was Bill's former friend, an agent who had once eyed Murphy for his roster.

With his arms crossed, Murphy watched with interest, guessing Bill's thoughts. Betrayal by a friend hurts far more than that by a stranger.

Bill and Mike had been close, once recommending Jessica Chastain for Murphy's film—a stark contrast to his later schemes to poach Murphy using shady tactics.

Murphy, indifferent to Mike's downfall but pleased to see him in disarray, listened as Bill, in a better mood, elaborated.

Mike had first leaped into the disaster of "Kingdom of Heaven," losing several promising clients thereafter, then got busted for liaising with William Morris, planning to take some potential clients with him...

But those clients showed scant loyalty to Mike; a mere announcement from CAA had them eagerly distancing themselves.

As Mike lost his last bit of value, his fate was sealed—swept out the door.

Carrying his box, Mike approached, the large window offering views both inside and out. But Bill Rossis stood firm, his gaze fixed on Mike, with no intention of avoiding him.

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