"Jonas, thank you for your help."
With the door of the passenger seat closed, the truck loaded with a full load of goods wobbled away from the street. Turning around, Nathan rubbed his hands together, wearing an awkward expression, standing a couple of steps away and looking somewhat unsure. This prompted a smile from Renly. "The subway station is just down the next block after crossing the street. Or would you like me to call a taxi for you?"
"No, no need," Nathan shook his head repeatedly, but then felt it was inadequate. "I mean, I can get back on my own, so you don't need to trouble yourself." Hesitating for a moment, he continued, "I... um, the subway is fine, the subway is great!"
In truth, Nathan didn't know where to go now that he had been fired. He had come to New York with Morgan Fisher for a business trip. Now that he was suddenly dismissed, he felt completely lost. However, Nathan also knew that he couldn't trouble Renly anymore. The two of them had been abandoned on the highway earlier, with no village ahead and no store behind. If Renly hadn't flagged down a truck, he probably would have been trekking on the road for a long time, and might not even have reached the city before it got dark.
"Thank you. I haven't thanked you for your help earlier," Nathan finally realized this, and quickly expressed his gratitude. However, he then noticed that Renly's gaze had shifted beyond his shoulder, toward the back. Nathan instinctively turned his head to follow the gaze, and saw a middle-aged man in a suit and tie.
He was slightly plump, his round beer belly complemented by an amiable smile. He exuded an affable air, and despite it being the height of August, the formal suit made him appear as if he were perspiring. He pulled out a blue and white handkerchief from his pocket and wiped the sweat from his forehead. He noticed Renly's gaze and greeted him with a friendly wave.
"Your entrances are always surprising. This time it's a truck. I wonder what it'll be next time?" The portly man said with a smile, slowly approaching.
Renly chuckled softly. "Maybe a white horse."
The reference to a white horse naturally alluded to a white knight. The humor of his reply made Nathan inadvertently chuckle, but he soon realized his breach of etiquette. He and Renly were far from being friends.
Sure enough, the man's gaze shifted and he inquired, "Who is..."
"Nathan, Andy." Renly introduced them, "Andy, Nathan."
Standing before them was none other than Andy Rogers. Just like last time, he was waiting by Renly's apartment door. However, today's circumstances were evidently unique. One couldn't help but wonder how long Andy had been waiting here. It was clear he had also investigated Renly's flight information. This situation left Renly somewhat unsettled. He had thought his personal information was secure, yet now, how many people could access his details?
"Did you wait here specifically for me?" Renly took the initiative, voicing his suspicions.
Seemingly sensing Renly's wariness, Andy explained with a smile, "I've been in New York for two weeks. I just saw a photo of you with the flight attendants on Facebook, so I knew you had returned to New York. I thought I'd try my luck and come over. Maybe we can chat before you fall asleep due to jet lag."
Confident yet amiable, all his sharpness was concealed beneath his words. Though both top-tier agents, Andy and Morgan were of entirely different styles. However, it could be that Renly's initial perception was biased, and he hadn't yet unearthed another side of Andy.
"Renly, I'll be taking my leave now." Seizing the lull in their conversation, Nathan said politely, "Thank you for today." Renly smiled, nodding in acknowledgment. Nathan then turned and slowly headed in the direction of the subway that Renly had pointed out, but his shoulders felt heavy, unable to lift.
After walking a couple of steps, Nathan raised his head and looked around in a daze, heaving a long sigh. He had only been in this job for less than two weeks, and Morgan had fired him. Although he had heard before joining that Morgan was becoming more demanding, changing assistants even faster than changing beds, his predecessor had only lasted half a month. However, he hadn't expected that his tenure would be even shorter than his predecessor's.
Renly noticed Nathan's confusion. Despite their unpleasant interaction with Morgan today, Nathan was clearly taking the brunt of the blame. Nathan losing his job wasn't necessarily because of him, but he had at least played a part. "If you're uncertain, you could return to your hotel to collect your luggage, or find a nearby hotel to stay temporarily. Alternatively, you could just fly back to Los Angeles."
Upon hearing the voice behind him, Nathan realized and turned back to offer Renly a shy smile. "That's a good idea." After taking a couple of steps away, he turned back and added, "Thank you. Also, Morgan is really an asshole."
Renly couldn't help but chuckle, and as he withdrew his gaze, he noticed Andy's puzzled expression. "Morgan Fisher just came over to talk with me; he's his assistant."
A brief explanation cleared things up for Andy. However, he didn't inquire about how the conversation between Renly and Morgan had gone. Instead, he changed the subject. "I heard you just returned from Europe. How was it? What did you gain from this trip?"
"I filmed a low-budget independent movie. It took eight days of shooting with a Spanish crew." After careful consideration, Renly reached his conclusion. "The gains were far greater than I had imagined."
Andy laughed, his slightly narrow eyes forming into slits. "It seems this acting challenge left you quite satisfied. It must have been a demanding role. I'm curious."
"The director has submitted it for the Toronto Film Festival. It's currently in the review stage, waiting to see if it makes the cut. If it does, I'll be notified." Renly was more than willing to share about "Buried". It wasn't just about his first work on the big screen; it was about stepping out of his comfort zone and venturing into entirely new possibilities.
"Toronto? You should hear back by this weekend at the latest. The list of nominees will be announced next week." Award season was approaching, and Andy naturally had all the details. "The Venice list was announced last weekend. It seems you missed the deadline for Venice."
Participation in film festivals required early registration and submission of the film for review by the committee. Unless you were a veteran director like Martin Scorsese, the festival wouldn't make exceptions. Missing the registration meant missing out.
Renly nodded affirmatively, somewhat regretful. "If it were Venice, I wouldn't have come back. I would've just gone straight to Italy. Tuscany is stunning this time of year."
"Missing Venice, but there's still the Emmy Awards. Trust me, you wouldn't want to miss out on that." Andy said with a chuckle. While he had long believed in Renly's future and potential, the Emmy nomination was truly an unexpected surprise.
This year's competition in the Emmy Awards' Mini-Series and Television Movie category was especially fierce, with intense rivalries. "The Pacific" continued the trend set by "Band of Brothers", holding the advantage in technical and overall aspects, yet falling short in the acting department. Renly's ability to secure a nomination on behalf of the production team wasn't just a feat for him alone; it was a great surprise felt by everyone in the industry, including HBO.
Renly also displayed a smile. "Of course, I wouldn't want to miss it. Who knows, if I miss this opportunity, who knows how long it would be until the next."
"As far as I see it, the next opportunity will indeed require some time to come." Andy's response was somewhat unexpected, but he swiftly shifted the conversation, saying, "Because now, it might be difficult to invite you to take part in a TV series. The big screen is your domain."
Such an interpretation, crafty yet astute, brought a smirk to Renly's face.
"How about we find a place to sit down?" Andy glanced around and then at Renly's luggage. "I know you need to adjust to the time difference, and long flights can be exhausting. Right now, I'm sweating profusely and could use a place with air conditioning to sit down and avoid looking even more disheveled."
Andy was clearly hinting at something, and Renly was no fool to not pick up on it. "I thought you were pressed for time today. We could've wrapped up this conversation in ten minutes." That had been the case on their previous two encounters.
"Haha, that won't do today. It's different." Andy wiped the sweat from his forehead with his handkerchief again. "I can't afford to take this lightly when dealing with the potential superstar of the next two decades. For his sake, I need to be thorough." Unexpected yet fitting, Andy laughed heartily and looked at Renly with a serious expression. "I hope to secure your representation contract and become your agent in Hollywood, planning your future acting career. Are you interested?"
This was Andy's third visit, gradually building up momentum, never too hurried, always sincerely composed and confident.
"A superstar? That's not a level everyone can reach." Renly laughed lightly and shook his head, as though he had heard a joke.
Andy remained composed, nodding in affirmation. "Indeed. In reality, becoming a superstar in Hollywood is tremendously challenging. Maybe one in ten thousand can achieve it. Outstanding talent, suitable projects, fitting roles, perfect timing, and a little luck—all are necessary." Andy candidly admitted, "However, in my opinion, you possess all the qualifications for achieving greatness. And I believe I have the qualifications to make it happen. Let's see how our luck fares after we collaborate."
Such an explanation was truly imaginative.
Renly burst into laughter, looking at Andy's sly smile. Renly had a few questions he initially wanted to ask, but upon reflection, the genuine persistence, tactful conversation, in-depth discussions—Andy had demonstrated all the qualities he sought in an agent. Moreover, CAA behind Andy remained a heavyweight in the industry.
So, "Why not? Let's see how things unfold." The decision was made. Renly's agent had finally been determined. Andy Rogers successfully stood out and secured Renly's representation contract.
Andy lightly nodded as if he hadn't expected any other outcome. He didn't exhibit much emotion, merely pointing at the apartment building behind him. "Once we've signed the contract, the first thing we'll do is get you out of this hazardous building." Renly erupted into hearty laughter.
"At that moment, my initial thought was actually to strangle him. This damn bunny finally nodded. But at the same time, I also knew I was making a significant decision to alter the course of my career. My heart raced with excitement, betraying my calm demeanor." Years later, during an interview with Hollywood Reporter, Andy said this with a grin.