[Chapter 148: The Premiere]
Columbia ultimately decided to go all in and release the film as scheduled. Most of the executives believed that delaying the movie would pose a greater risk than the potential backlash, and of course, the alternative promotional plan Eric had provided played a significant role in this decision.
In the Beverly Hills mansion, Eric stood before the dressing mirror, tilting his head slightly. Nicole, dressed in a casual outfit, bent down carefully to help him with his tie. Meanwhile, on the big bed, Drew lay sprawled out, dressed in a white tank top and a denim mini skirt that accentuated her well-developed figure. The tank top revealed a glimpse of her slim waist while her pale legs dangled lazily, her toes painted with black nail polish peeking out. The girl propped her chin in her hand, watching Nicole tie Eric's tie with a hint of envy. Although she wanted to be the one doing it, unfortunately... she just didn't know how.
"Eric, can I walk the red carpet with you later?" After Nicole finished tying the tie, Eric was putting on his suit when Drew cut in with a slightly whiny tone.
"No way. It's already been arranged. You'll just walk in with Nicole," he replied.
"Hmm, but what if I don't want to go with her?" Drew unabashedly voiced her feelings in front of Nicole. Ever since summer vacation started, Drew had seemed to change her demeanor. Instead of running around wildly, she had surprisingly stayed at home every day. It took Eric quite a while to realize that she was trying to keep Nicole from trying to steal him away. Just like now, since Eric needed to change clothes for the premiere, Nicole came over to help, and Drew made her timely appearance beside them.
Hearing Drew's words, Nicole couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, but Drew caught the shift in her expression right away. "Eric, Eric, look, she raised her eyebrow! She's up to something. Shouldn't we just send her away?"
Nicole finally couldn't hold back, "Drew, are you saying this to me right to my face? I don't even have the right to express my displeasure?"
"Don't call me Drew. As the maid, you should refer to me as Miss Barrymore," she retorted.
"Alright, Miss Barrymore," Nicole replied, sounding as if she was at her wit's end. If Eric weren't there, her tone would have been much more biting. Drew had truly thrown a wrench into her plans. After spending over a month together, her relationship with Eric hadn't made any significant progress. Though she kept everything in the mansion organized and took care of Eric's life meticulously, the two hadn't had much time to be alone together since Drew's summer break. This left her with no chance to take initiative.
"You seem awfully reluctant. You don't even look like a maid; Eric, we should kick her out!"
After getting dressed, Eric playfully tapped Drew on the forehead and said with a smile, "Stop causing trouble. If you keep this up, I might just send you away. Now go change clothes."
Drew exaggeratedly cried out, covering her forehead as she reluctantly left the room.
...
As Eric got out of the car, the front of the Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard was already packed with people. Alongside reporters, fans crowded both sides of the red carpet.
Eric noticed many girls holding up posters, calling out Cruise's name, which didn't surprise him at all.
Among the cast and crew, Eric's role was that of a director. Although he had gained some fame as an actor, he had completely set aside his acting career afterward, causing his notoriety to fade. Furthermore, his films lacked a unified style, and he intentionally maintained a low profile, making it difficult to accumulate a loyal following.
Hanks, who didn't have the looks but was a well-respected actor, was still on the rise, and hadn't achieved the level of influence he would in the future.
Cruise, on the other hand, was in a different league. For the past decade, he had maintained an idol persona that successfully ingrained him as a favorite in the public eye. Until his divorce from Nicole Kidman, Cruise's public image had remained impeccably polished.
Eric didn't mind the fans' reactions in the slightest; his personal goals were crystal clear. He never aspired to be a public idol, but rather aimed to be a significant force behind the scenes in Hollywood. As the premiere started, a few minor stars began walking the red carpet. According to usual red carpet protocol, the more prominent figures typically appeared midway through, so Eric made his way towards the waiting area, where quite a gathering had formed.
...
"Eric, congratulations!" Hanks remarked with a strange smile upon seeing him. When Eric looked confused, Hanks continued, "I heard Pretty Woman achieved over $210 million in North America and $530 million worldwide at the box office before it was pulled from theaters. It really shocked a lot of people! With the global total, your personal aggregate box office earnings have now exceeded $1 billion. There are only a handful of people in Hollywood who have crossed that milestone. Shouldn't we celebrate?"
"Isn't that a bit overrated?" Eric chuckled, pointing at Cruise next to him. "Cruise's movies have already crossed a billion globally."
However, Cruise didn't show his usual smugness upon hearing Eric's comment. He awkwardly chuckled, displaying rare humility. "Eric, how could I compare myself to you?" He had indeed starred in films that grossed over a billion, but compared to the immense revenue, the profits he personally received were pitiful. As of now, Cruise's personal wealth was a mere few tens of millions, while Eric was set to receive over $200 million from just two films. Seeing Eric's name in the papers filled Cruise with jealousy, which further strengthened his resolve to transition into producing. During this time, Cruise had already begun selecting scripts for the production company he had founded.
As the event's host had arranged for him, when Brooke Shields came over after Eric's arrival, she naturally moved closer to him. Hearing the conversation of a few men, the woman, who had previously given up hope after Eric had subtly rejected her, found herself intrigued again. Her gaze turned intense. Having grown up with a complex background, Brooke Shields had a peculiar admiration and obsession with wealth. If she had enough money back then, stemming from her noble blood, she might have lived the life of a genuine aristocrat instead of having to shoot nude photos at the age of ten for a few hundred dollars or appearing in R-rated films at twelve -- she definitely could have avoided those suggestive jeans commercials.
When the staff indicated that the creators could step onto the red carpet, Brooke Shields instinctively moved closer to Eric and excitedly linked arms with him. She immediately regretted wearing high heels that made her a bit taller than Eric, which didn't seem like a good match.
Eric didn't mind this at all; feeling the softness of her form against his arm was comfortable, yet he had to remind her, "Brooke, you're holding on too tightly. Can you loosen up a bit?"
"Oh, sorry, Eric. I'm a little nervous," she replied, justifying herself and loosening her grip somewhat.
Eric chuckled, finding her thoughts a bit strange. After all, she had grown up in front of the cameras, how could she be nervous? However, he didn't delve into it further as they stepped out onto the red carpet together.
*****
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