Chapter 63: The Test

[Chapter 63: The Test]

In the '80s, Hollywood had not yet conquered the world, and the Walk of Fame was not as famous as it would become in later years.

As night fell, the Walk of Fame looked no different from other streets in Los Angeles, filled with bustling shops, pedestrians weaving in and out, and small groups of scantily clad women on the corners.

An unremarkable car parked on the side of the street, and in the passenger seat, Eric watched with interest as Julia Roberts, often approached by few passerby.

At that moment, Julia sported heavy makeup. Even those who knew her well would struggle to recognize her. She leaned against a streetlight, exuding a blend of casual charm and allure, her eyes dancing as she played coy. Eric had designed her look based on his memory of Vivian, which highlighted her exquisite, youthful face and showcased Julia's enviable figure.

Within half an hour, the number of men trying to chat with Julia had already exceeded Eric's expectations. Just as he contemplated whether to continue, he noticed three or four oddly dressed young men surround Julia. He quickly turned to the sturdy driver in the front seat, saying, "Tony, drive. Time to intervene."

"Sure thing, boss," Tony replied as he started the car, pulling up beside Julia. She wore a strained smile, managing a polite exchange with the group, but upon seeing Eric's car approach, she peeled away from one young man's probing hand. "Hey, fellas, my main guy is here to pick me up. I told you I was waiting for someone special -- someone willing to shell out the big bucks."

The young men glanced at the inconspicuous vehicle and scoffed, continuing to hound her. "C'mon, babe, what do you think a clunker like that can throw down? How about $200 for the night? The other girls on this street don't charge more than $70."

At nearly six and a half feet tall, Tony stepped out of the car, his massive frame looming over the young men. His fierce glare made them pause for a moment, realizing they might be outmatched by even one of his arms. They exchanged nervous glances, chuckled awkwardly, and scurried away.

"Miss Roberts, please get in," Tony said, dropping his intimidating act as he opened the back door for Julia.

"Thanks," Julia said as she climbed inside. Her assistant, Allison Green, quickly draped a jacket over her shoulders; the nights in Los Angeles could still be quite chilly this time of year.

"Eric, how did I do?" Julia anxiously asked from the backseat once settled in.

"I was quite satisfied," Eric replied. "If I hadn't called Tony in, things might have gotten a little dicey tonight."

"Boss, it's all part of the job," Tony responded with a friendly grin as he started the car.

Tony was a security guard hired by Firefly Films. This gentle giant, who stood a towering two meters tall, claimed he had never gotten into a fight in his life. Working as an escort was genuinely a dangerous line of work; there had been cases where women were abducted and later found dead in dumpsters. To mitigate risk on this particular night, Eric had made sure to call Tony to keep an eye on matters.

"Tony, you live around here, right? Pull over up ahead, you can head home. I'll take Miss Roberts back."

Tony nodded, stopped the car where they agreed, and bid them farewell.

Julia's assistant, Allison Green, opened the door and chimed in, "Mr. Williams, there's a bus coming right now that goes to my place. I'll be getting off here too. See you later!"

Soon, only Eric and Julia remained in the car. Eric started the engine, while Julia curled up in the back seat, both of them falling into a contemplative silence.

...

Half an hour later, the car stopped outside Julia's apartment. The actress looked down as she stepped out, but after waiting a moment, Eric didn't follow. Instead, he leaned out of the window and called, "Julia, do try to find a new place as soon as possible, preferably in Beverly Hills. Once filming starts, the news about your starring role is going to leak, and the paparazzi will become quite a headache. I'll make sure Jeffery advances you some of your salary."

"Okay, Eric. Don't you wanna come in for a bit?" Julia asked softly, her gaze a bit unfocused.

With a playful wink, Eric replied, "Not tonight. While I took some precautions, I can't be sure we gave the paparazzi the slip completely."

Julia felt a mix of happiness and disappointment, mumbling a couple of deliberate sounds before giving him a small wave and turning to head inside her apartment.

Eric watched her disappear into the building before rolling up the window and driving off.

...

On New Year's Day, Al Pacino flew from New York to Los Angeles and settled into his villa in Beverly Hills. Soon, he threw himself into the preparation for Pretty Woman.

Because of this, the film held its first meeting with the main cast, allowing everyone to chat for the entire morning and gain a bit more familiarity with one another. Eric took advantage of the occasion to discuss and revise the script with a few of the stars. After all, the male lead had changed to Al Pacino, whose acting style differed significantly from Richard Gere's; Eric couldn't simply recreate Richard's character from memory.

Seizing the moment, Eric invited both Al and Julia to perform a few scenes together. Al Pacino, to support the somewhat inexperienced Julia, toned down his acting. However, during the performance, he still unintentionally overshadowed her.

Since Al measured around 5'7", and Julia in her heels stood close to 5'11", Eric had initially planned to have Julia switch to flats and suggest Al wear lifts if height discrepancies arose in the audition.

However, after the tryout, Eric discarded that idea; Julia's height was her only advantage, and if he diminished that, it would be hard for her to shine amid Al Pacino's brilliance.

...

Having sponsored Pretty Woman with a million-dollar investment, Lamborghini and its parent company Chrysler took this collaboration quite seriously.

On the grounds of a driving school in Los Angeles, two small container trucks stood by while staff carefully unloaded two sleek Lamborghinis.

"Wow, what a cool sports car!" Drew exclaimed, standing beside Eric, gazing at the shiny silver and purple Lamborghinis, her eyes sparkling with excitement. She took a step forward, only to have Eric gently pull her back.

"Eric, I want the purple one; it's so beautiful."

Eric playfully pinched Drew's nose, laughing, "It's not a doll, you can't just claim it."

Nearby, Ian Blister, a Lamborghini staff member, saw Drew's reaction and smiled, proudly explaining, "Miss Drew, you truly have an eye for detail; purple represents nobility and mystery, a color often favored by women. But this is a concept car specifically built for Mr. Williams' film shoot, so it isn't available for purchase yet."

As they chatted, staff led Julia and Al to the cars, carefully explaining the controls. Although both had driver's licenses, neither had driven a Lamborghini before -- especially Julia, who had never even touched a sports car.

In Pretty Woman, the Lamborghini would make several appearances in the first twenty minutes, and during the filming, both would need to drive extensively. According to Lamborghini's representatives, the latest model would include some innovative maneuvers.

To ensure there were no mishaps during shooting, Eric arranged a three-day training period for Julia and Al. Lamborghini was more than happy to oblige, dispatching a technician named Ian Blister to assist throughout.

*****

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