Chapter 628: A Strange Coincidence

[Chapter 628: A Strange Coincidence]

In a villa in Santa Monica, early in the morning, a little girl named Nina couldn't wait to run to the kitchen with the help of her nanny, Jennifer.

"Mom, good morning," the little girl greeted, leaning close to her mother.

Kelly Haynes, busy at the counter, leaned down to kiss her daughter's cheek and replied, "Good morning, honey."

Jennifer stepped forward to help and, seemingly casually, glanced at the rosy cheeks of her boss, a sign of residual joy from the night before. She naturally remarked, "Mrs. Haynes, you look lovely today."

Kelly Haynes knew that since the nanny had woken up last night, she couldn't hide the fact that Eric had come over. However, having gone through everything that happened the night before, the initial anxiety and shyness had disappeared. As a grown single woman, bringing a man home for the night was nothing to be ashamed of. She simply nodded at Jennifer and said, "Thank you, Jenny."

However, it was clear that this matter would not end so easily. As Kelly started to serve breakfast onto plates, her daughter tugged at her sleeve with a mysterious expression, whispering, "Mom, I think I heard a cat meowing last night."

Kelly nearly dropped the frying pan at those words. Jennifer, who had been preoccupied with certain thoughts, turned her head sharply, stifling a laugh behind her hand.

Kelly took a discreet deep breath, smiling at her daughter as she responded, "Honey, you must have misheard."

"Definitely not," Nina shook her little head confidently but had no intention of arguing with her mother. "Mom, can we get a little kitten?"

"Sweetheart, not right now. Mommy has to work, and you need to go to art class. After summer break, you'll be back in school! Even Jenny has her own things to do. If we get a kitten, we wouldn't have anyone to take care of it. We'd just have to leave it alone at home."

The kind-hearted little girl pictured her mother's description and shook her head, a little disappointed. "Then forget it."

Kelly divided breakfast into four portions, carrying three over to the dining table. She said to her daughter, "Come on, eat up. After breakfast, Jenny will take you to your class."

Nina nodded obediently but unexpectedly pointed at the fourth plate left on the counter. "Mom, why is there an extra breakfast?"

Kelly calmly found a quick excuse. "Mommy plans to take it to work for lunch."

Jennifer noticed her boss's fluster and Nina's lingering confusion, suddenly realizing this was an opportunity. She spoke up, "Nina, you mentioned drawing a beautiful picture in class yesterday. Why don't you show it to your mom?"

Nina's eyes lit up, and she quickly hopped off her chair, racing to her room for the drawing.

Kelly sighed with relief, saying to Jennifer, "Thank you, Jenny."

Jennifer tried to make her smile more genuine as she pointed at the remaining plate. "Mrs. Haynes, do you need me to take this over?"

While Kelly thoroughly enjoyed her time with Eric, she also knew that nothing serious would come from their relationship. Concerned about Nina's reaction, she had asked Eric to wait until Nina left for her class before he left. Eric had kindly agreed.

Reflecting on the wild night, Kelly felt her cheeks flush as she realized Eric must be starving. Hearing Jennifer's suggestion, she hesitated but ultimately nodded in agreement.

Seeing Kelly agree, Jennifer got up and grabbed the remaining breakfast, steadying her feelings as she headed outside.

Though this young woman, part-time renter and part-time nanny, had been introduced by a friend, Kelly had done her homework. Like many young people in Los Angeles, Jennifer was an aspiring star, a Hollywood dreamer. However, compared to the many others who were desperate and aggressive, Jennifer seemed much more composed. A twenty-two-year-old, she had recently graduated from Denison University with a good education and upbringing. After arriving in Hollywood, she took acting classes, appeared in stage plays, and found this nanny job to make ends meet. If it weren't for these circumstances, Kelly certainly wouldn't have let a Hollywood dreamer care for her daughter.

As Eric's assistant, Kelly certainly was among the elite. While she had been preoccupied with her daughter earlier, she suddenly noticed Jennifer's stiff posture as she held Eric's breakfast. In that instant, it all clicked. Still, Jennifer hadn't made any mistakes while looking after Nina these past few months, and Kelly had a good impression of her. If she could provide some assistance, Kelly wouldn't hesitate.

Thinking along those lines, Kelly called out to the young woman, "Jenny."

Jennifer froze in place. Being a smart woman, she sensed that her employer might guess something. She turned her head with great effort, her eyes wide and showing a strained smile. "Mrs. Haynes..."

Kelly offered an encouraging smile. "This really is a good opportunity. But if you want to seize it, you'd better relax a bit."

Jennifer, whose heart had been in her throat, finally felt it settle back down, gratefully nodding. "Thank you, Mrs. Haynes."

...

The unique fragrance from the woman's bedroom always lifted one's spirits. Eric lounged in a leather chair near the floor-to-ceiling window, enjoying the warm morning sunshine. His fingertips still felt the soft caress of his assistant's touch. If it weren't for a bothersome news article in the Los Angeles Times in front of him, this day would have been perfect.

Jennifer entered, catching sight of the man in a white shirt lounging comfortably in his chair. Before she had the chance to gather her nerves, he had already turned toward her. Caught in a dilemma, she grappled with whether to pretend she just recognized Eric, missing the fleeting look of surprise on his face.

They held each other's gaze for a moment, and Eric spoke first. "You're the nanny from last night?"

Though Eric's tone was casual, Jennifer felt an innate pressure emanating from him as someone of higher status.

"Yes," Jennifer nodded but quickly added in a fluster, "I... I'm just a part-timer. My name is Jennifer Garner."

Eric felt that this bizarre coincidence was quite amusing, prompting him to chuckle. But this light chuckle caused Jennifer Garner to panic further, thinking she had messed something up.

Quickly pointing to the food she was holding, Eric asked, "So, this is my breakfast?"

Jennifer Garner nodded urgently. "Yes, Mr. Williams." She handed him the plate that held scrambled eggs and sandwiches, but noticing that Eric seemed unsure about how to handle it, she awkwardly averted her gaze toward the vanity but found Eric seemed uninterested in moving.

Eric used a free hand to pat his right knee, propped on his left leg. "Could you grab me a few napkins?"

"Of course, that's no problem," Jennifer Garner replied, nodding hurriedly. She grabbed a tissue box from the vanity and approached him.

Eric's chair was low, while Jennifer Garner was tall. She first bent over but immediately felt that this elevated position might displease him and instead squatted down. However, that position felt even less dignified. After a moment of hesitation, she decided to kneel beside Eric like a dutiful maid, carefully laying the napkins across his knee.

Eric observed Jennifer Garner's series of actions in silence, feeling the weight of the power wealth brings. Yet, this sensation was quite pleasurable. It explained why so many people spend their lives chasing fame and fortune.

After laying the napkins down, seeing the plate placed in front of him, Jennifer Garner glanced up at Eric. Noticing a change in his expression, she suddenly abandoned the thought of getting up, quietly staying at his side. She even contemplated helping Eric hold the plate to make it easier for him to eat. But Jennifer Garner was not without some pride; this arrangement was already pushing her boundaries. Though those boundaries were fragile, unless Eric spoke first, she felt she should hold her ground... at least.

Eric, however, showed no intention of asking her to do anything further. He cut the eggs and sandwiches into small pieces, picked up a fork, and casually ate while not neglecting Jennifer beside him. "Since this is a part-time gig, I guess you're beautiful and want to get into Hollywood, right?"

"Um," Jennifer pondered carefully before responding, "I... envy that kind of life, so I want to give it a try."

Eric nodded. "At least you didn't say you've wanted to be an actor since you were eight. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to enjoy my breakfast. In fact, many stars didn't anticipate this path when they were young. But destiny has a way of surprising people; some find themselves sudden Hollywood stars overnight, with their worth skyrocketing. The more you chase after something, often, the harder it is to achieve."

Jennifer Garner realized she had hit the nail on the head and smiled brightly in agreement.

Jennifer Garner was a typical beauty with high cheekbones and full lips, but she clearly wasn't Eric's type. Still, he didn't mind offering some insights. "Since you want to break into Hollywood, do you know what your strengths and weaknesses are?"

Jennifer Garner's mind spun, but she momentarily couldn't answer Eric's question. She had only been in Hollywood for a few months; how could she understand these things?

Eric didn't expect her to respond. "You're beautiful, but in Hollywood, that isn't an advantage; it's more often a disadvantage. Pretty faces are everywhere. If you watch movies, you'll notice countless attractive women with roles primarily as ornaments in party scenes. Your physique and looks are just the type that could easily fade into the background. If you can't pinpoint your niche, there's a good chance you'll end up being dismissed as just another pretty face."

Jennifer Garner listened intently, wishing she could take notes. Even the top Hollywood stars wouldn't get Eric's direct insights so easily. The savvy young woman knew this opportunity was far more valuable than winning a role in one of Eric's movies, as today's advice could save her a lot of stumbling in her future career.

Eric lounged as he chewed on his food, leisurely continuing, "Since beauty won't give you an edge, what else do you have? Acting skills? Ha! Like beauty, they're abundant in Hollywood. You can't go without acting skills, but you also can't treat them as your currency -- especially for someone as pretty as you. Even with outstanding acting talent, it can often be overshadowed by your looks."

Feeling as if Eric had focused entirely on her flaws without revealing her strengths, she couldn't help but ask, "Mr. Williams, what should I do then?"

Eric smiled at the woman still kneeling by his side. "You're smart; that counts as an asset. Many in Hollywood fail due to a lack of smarts. Even if they come across opportunities, they don't know how to seize them."

Jennifer Garner smiled, lowering her gaze slightly.

Continuing with a hint of implication, Eric said, "Now, another crucial factor in breaking into Hollywood -- opportunity -- isn't a problem for you anymore. However, if you can't identify your direction, you'll likely end up as only a second-tier actress. As you age, even if you realize what path to take, competing with the new generation of actresses will become increasingly difficult."

Realizing Eric was about to reveal something crucial, Jennifer Garner raised her face.

"Your beauty lacks sweetness or naivety, giving it a more fierce edge. This indicates you are definitely not suited for roles of any innocent lead characters. The only acting route fit for you is as an action star."

Though she had only been in Hollywood for a few months, Jennifer Garner had been lucky enough to attend a few auditions; none yielded any calls back. Now, understanding why her auditions for those roles had fizzled out, she asked, "Mr. Williams, do you mean like Ms. Nicole Kidman, an action star?"

Recalling that in the real world, Nicole's career declined steeply after winning the Oscar, mainly because she could not find the right path, Eric shook his head. "Nicole is not an action star; her roles are much broader. But for you, this is your ideal path. Stick with it. Before you turn thirty-five, you might just become the go-to leading lady for action films in Hollywood."

Indeed, Eric was thinking of Angelina Jolie at the moment. In his eyes, Jolie wasn't particularly beautiful nor charming; her figure was average. Yet, through countless media replays of 'Jolie is beautiful, Jolie is captivating,' even those who despised Jolie might find themselves thinking, 'Okay, she's not bad after all.' Moreover, from the start of her career, Jolie had consistently followed a path that suited her style. Because of this, in a Hollywood where other actresses rise and fall and new generations appear, Jolie had consistently maintained her top-tier status.

Eric remembered that Jolie had a top-notch manager. In the real world, Nicole couldn't endure the downslope of her career anymore and eventually left CAA to seek representation with Jolie's manager.

Jennifer Garner absorbed Eric's words and, feeling somewhat unfulfilled, asked, "What happens after thirty-five?"

Eric had finished his breakfast, glancing at the girl's expectant gaze, and smiled. "Being too greedy isn't good. By the time you're thirty-five, you'll have made enough money. After that, it's about taking care of yourself, getting married, having kids, and enjoying life. You might even try to vie for an Oscar."

In fact, after thirty-five, if she were still relevant, the next step would be simple -- play villains. Wicked witches or Evil Stepmothers, for example. Even Meryl Streep, known for having the most Oscar disappointments, later took on some 'bad' roles.

Jennifer Garner wisely refrained from asking more, sweetly taking Eric's plate from him but not getting up immediately, adopting a wait-and-see attitude like a little maid waiting for instructions.

This clever maneuver made Eric unable to resist caressing her chin, admiring this young face, as if appreciating a new piece of art. "I actually love the name Jennifer; it means a charming woman."

Feeling the cold fingertips brush against her face, Jennifer Garner shivered slightly and quietly replied, "Mr. Williams, I... I'll be staying here with Mrs. Haynes for the time being."

"Great! If I have time, I'll give you a call. I hope you won't refuse my invitation," Eric laughed. "But right now, you need to hurry and take Nina away, or both Kelly and I will be late for work."

*****

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