Chapter 117: King of Hollywood

[Chapter 117: I Am the Man Who Will Become the King of Hollywood]

"Jennifer Connelly, that girl sure was lucky to get cast in Sergio Leone's film at just thirteen. A little naivety and pride are only to be expected. But once she hits thirty and still hasn't made it in Hollywood, she won't have any persistence left," Virginia said thoughtfully as she leaned closer to Eric, clearly reminded of her own experiences after listening to him recount the situation.

Eric could only comfort her with a hug while thinking about something else. Jennifer Connelly's pride wouldn't last until she turned thirty; at twenty, she had rushed into the limelight, choosing to expose herself to achieve career breakthroughs. That was a major risk for a star who had always adhered to a pure image, and many actresses had met their downfall taking similar chances.

Nonetheless, that gamble did lead to some turning points in her career, and before long, she landed a leading role at Disney. Unfortunately, that film ended up flopping. Since then, every big project she had joined had failed at the box office. Though those failures weren't primarily her fault, Hollywood producers were notoriously superstitious, leading to Jennifer Connelly disappearing from the public eye for the next five years.

Virginia looked up at Eric and suggested, "Eric, getting her attention really shouldn't be that hard for you."

"Hmm?" Eric turned to the woman in his arms.

Virginia continued, "You have your own film company now. Whenever you have a new movie project, just dangle an offer in front of her as bait. For a girl eager to make it in Hollywood, just a few temptations and she'll come running."

"Wow, who knew I was holding a beautiful snake that escaped from Eden," Eric said with a sly grin, giving her a playful slap on her rounded bottom. "Looks like I should teach her a lesson."

"Mmm, you're not frustrated, are you?" Virginia snuggled deeper into his embrace, her thigh gently lifting and brushing against his excitement.

"Of course not," Eric flipped her onto her back and spread her legs apart; he entered her. "I'm the man who will become the king of Hollywood. What's a little setback? I'm aiming to reach heights even beyond those of Howard Hughes in his prime. Whenever I express interest in a woman, someone will clean her up and bring her right to my bed."

Virginia gasped under the vigorous thrusts, crying out but refusing to yield. "It's not the golden age of films anymore; no one can fully control Hollywood. And calling yourself the king is just ridiculous."

"It's simple," Eric said as he flipped her over again, putting her in his favorite position. "All I have to do is bring Hollywood back to the golden age."

"You... you're so arrogant!" she exclaimed, hugging a pillow and lying there, snorting in sarcasm. "When you achieve that day, don't forget to have someone bring me a message from heaven."

Eric flashed a mischievous smile and slipped out to open her soft cheeks apart, shifting higher. "I'll send you straight to heaven right now."

"Ah, no! That hurts! You little rascal, don't go in any deeper. Ugh... this isn't heaven; it's more like hell!"

...

Despite staying up late the previous night, Eric woke up early. A man who wanted to get ahead needed a good routine.

He kissed the cheek of the woman sleeping beside him and dressed before heading downstairs. After doing some light stretches in the yard, he prepared breakfast for two. The woman upstairs still showed no signs of waking, so Eric didn't call out to her. Instead, he stepped outside to check the mailbox and found today's newspaper. He read while eating.

Virginia didn't subscribe to many papers, but Eric still found news about himself in the well-known entertainment section. Although it wasn't the headline, it occupied a prominently featured spot.

"Eric Williams Seen with Girlfriend; Box Office Impact in Question - Last night, young director Eric Williams was spotted in Beverly Hills on Wilshire Boulevard, driving a purple Lamborghini and appearing intimate with former child star Jennifer Connelly.

At just thirteen, Connelly had the fortune of starring in a classic film, but her journey hasn't been smooth. She's struggled to find any notable projects in recent years. With her seen with Eric Williams, does this suggest the rise of another 'Hollywood Cinderella'?

Coincidentally, Williams is currently selecting a lead actress for his new film. According to reliable sources, Jennifer Connelly also auditioned for this role, raising speculations that she might have been chosen already, likely disappointing the hundreds of hopefuls who auditioned.

The two of them exited the Lamborghini but did not shop; instead, they headed directly to a cinema to watch Richard Gere's latest film. Upon leaving the screening, Eric Williams appeared somber. After spotting the press, he hurriedly took Jennifer Connelly out through the back exit, without saying a word throughout.

It seems the pressure is weighing heavily on Eric. Richard Gere had praised the script of Road House and was eager to work.

This movie, directed by rising action filmmaker Rowdy Herrington and starring Richard Gere, boasted a whopping $20 million budget, promising a thrilling blend of fight scenes, car chases, gunplay, and explosions. Following its screening, critics and audiences delivered unanimous praise, promising to deliver a pulse-pounding visual feast this Easter."

It looked like the executives at United Artists put a lot of effort into promoting this film. Getting a write-up like this was no small feat. Even if the film's investment didn't hit $20 million, it likely came close, meaning they faced significant pressure to recover costs.

Eric didn't mind too much about the second half of the article taking advantage of him to promote the film's quality. After watching it the night before, he had heard audience reactions that either fixated on petty details or expressed outright criticism; the article would surely end up like a slap in the face.

However, the references to him and Jennifer Connelly in the first half made Eric frown. While the wording was vague, everyone could see it hinted at some unfair dealings in the selection for the lead actress in his new film.

In Hollywood, it wasn't uncommon for actresses to sleep their way to roles, trading favors with producers or directors. Everyone knew it, and it was accepted as a mutually agreed transaction.

But such matters were supposed to remain private; once the media caught wind, involved parties would find themselves facing public scrutiny and ridicule, damaging their reputations.

To turn the tide, the simplest method would be to publicly declare their relationship, as many directors in Hollywood announce their romances with leading ladies when filming. This could earn them a reputation as a playboy but wouldn't usually lead to scandalous associations.

However, Eric didn't plan to do that, and the girl who turned him down last night wouldn't cooperate.

After some thought, Eric decided to let things run their course. Speaking out against such speculation would only make it worse. Besides, Connelly had already declined the role, and once the cast list was finalized, the rumors would take care of themselves.

He wasn't like the stars who depended on their fame and public image to make a living. Many top directors in Hollywood had less-than-stellar public images, yet they still went on to win awards and generate box office success.

He would just take note of this slight against himself for future reference, remembering to settle the score later.

*****

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