As night fell around 8 o'clock, a car pulled into Sean's villa. The door swung open, and a woman in a white dance dress stepped out, guided by Norris.
Sean's eyes lit up when Elizabeth entered. He hadn't expected her to wear the dance dress for the evening's event.
Norris was certainly not a decent person! In ancient times, he would have been considered quite the talent!
"Beautiful Miss Deborah, it's a pleasure to meet you," Sean quickly interjected, feeling a strange surge of emotion as he spoke.
"Thank you for your compliment, Mr. Sean." Elizabeth blushed shyly, lowering her gaze. Despite having seen many handsome men in Hollywood, she found that among the executives of major film companies, they were often either old or overweight.
Elizabeth's agent had not accompanied her, leaving Norris to complete his task successfully. "Boss, I apologize, but the company requires my attention. If there are no further orders, I'll take my leave," he said with a witty smile.
"Thank you for your hard work, Norris. Let's wrap it up for tonight," Sean replied with an approving nod.
Norris turned to Elizabeth and said, "Miss Deborah, I'll take my leave now."
Once he was out the door, Norris let out a triumphant punch in the air. It had been his idea to suggest Elizabeth change into her costume, and the agent had spent the afternoon searching for it. Clearly, Sean appreciated the effort.
With the door closed, Sean turned to Elizabeth with a smile. "What would you like to drink?"
"Coffee?"
"Sorry, no coffee here," Sean shrugged.
"How about black tea?"
Sean shook his head again, smiling. "I'm in the wine business, so all I have is wine from around the world. I think a margarita would be perfect for tonight."
"Really? Do you know how to make drinks, Mr. Sean?" Elizabeth asked, surprised.
"You don't need to call me Mr. It sounds too formal," he said, his gaze warm. "Just call me beautiful Deborah."
After washing his hands, Sean skillfully prepared the margaritas, explaining, "There's a trick to it. Boiling the lime enhances the flavor of the juice."
He cut the boiled lime, prepared the cocktail glass with a salt rim, and mixed the ingredients with flair. "Instead of the popular orange liqueur, I prefer blue curacao. The intoxicating blue is the taste of love."
Sean poured the vibrant blue margaritas into two glasses, garnishing one with a lime slice, and brought them over to Elizabeth.
With drinks in hand, they quickly fell into easy conversation, sharing amusing stories from the filming of Once Upon a Time in America.
As the night progressed, they grew closer, unaware of the effects of the drinks. Eventually, Elizabeth leaned against Sean, her cheeks flushed and her body relaxed, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Lowering his head, Sean kissed her softly.
The dance dress proved to be a fitting choice. As they danced, Elizabeth playfully jumped into Sean's arms, and somehow, the dress ended up scattered across the living room floor.
...
Today marked the sixth day of their rendezvous.
Norris arrived at Sean's villa in the afternoon and glanced at the untouched script lying nearby. He suspected it had not been opened since his last visit.
Elizabeth, her complexion rosy and unable to walk straight, looked at the ever-energetic Sean. Norris secretly gave him a thumbs up for handling things so well.
Sean, ever the gentleman, helped Elizabeth to her car. After a deep kiss, he bid her farewell, and Norris understood; the casting was complete!
In the afternoon, Sean had more plans. He asked Mr. Huang from Chinatown to help arrange a meeting with someone from Hong Kong Island, knowing he had to stand up for his roots in Hollywood, where local film practitioners often looked down on outsiders.
Upon arriving at the company, Sean met the filmmaker he had admired in his previous life: Mr. Yuan Heping.
At 43, Yuan still had long hair and a thin frame, but he exuded energy and confidence.
"Mr. Sean, let me introduce you…" Yuan began, but the language barrier meant he had brought his apprentice along to assist him.
"No need for introductions. I know the esteemed Yuan family well," Sean interrupted with a smile, speaking in fluent Mandarin.
The members of Yuan's crew were taken aback; Sean's command of the language surpassed their expectations.
"Nice to meet you. Please call me Yuan Heping," Yuan replied, slightly bending forward as he extended his hand.
In Hong Kong, he was often referred to as "Ba Ye," but here in Hollywood, he was still relatively unknown and wanted to maintain a low profile.
"Alright, then I'll call you Yuan in American fashion," Sean said with a grin, then turned to the group behind Yuan. "This is the famous Yuan Jiaban Most of them were familiar to Sean, but he couldn't recall everyone's names. Yuan Heping introduced each member one by one, until they reached a young man who was just Sean's height.
"I know him—Donnie Yen," Sean said, recognizing the 22-year-old martial artist.
Donnie smiled back, clearly pleased to be acknowledged by someone like Sean. The atmosphere shifted to one of camaraderie as they exchanged pleasantries.
As the introductions continued, Sean felt a sense of excitement. He had admired many of these filmmakers and actors from afar, and now he was in their company, ready to collaborate.
"Mr. Sean, I've heard great things about your work," Yuan Heping said, his eyes brightening. "The industry needs fresh talent."
"Thank you, Mr. Yuan. I've always believed in the power of storytelling," Sean replied, feeling a rush of inspiration. "I'm eager to bring new perspectives to the screen."
The conversation flowed easily, with Sean sharing ideas for potential projects that could bridge Eastern and Western cinema. The group listened intently, intrigued by his vision.
As the meeting wrapped up, Sean felt a sense of accomplishment. He had made connections that could prove invaluable, both for his career and for future collaborations.
After everyone had left, Sean reflected on the day's events. He had successfully navigated the complexities of Hollywood and built relationships with some of the industry's most respected figures.
As he prepared to leave the office, he couldn't help but smile at the thought of what lay ahead. With the right connections and a clear vision, he was ready to make his mark.
The evening was still young, and the possibilities were endless. Sean headed home, energized and excited about the future.