Alan Ryder Jr., president of 20th Century Fox Pictures, grinned from ear to ear.
The quality of the finished film assured him that it would perform well at the box office.
"Martin, congratulations!" he said, not forgetting to acknowledge the major contributor to the film. He immediately walked over to shake Martin's hand.
Martin smiled and replied, "No, it's congratulations to all of us."
"Ha ha!" Little Alan Ryder laughed, "Yes, congratulations to us."
Then, the main creative team took the stage to answer reporters' questions and interact with fans.
....
The movie wrapped up just after ten o'clock, and guests and the audience began to disperse.
Martin also left, heading to his car.
"BOSS, the paparazzi are gone," Gordon said.
Martin looked back and smiled. "Take us to Malibu."
At the small villa, Nicole had been waiting for a long time.
Martin unlocked the door with the spare key, and immediately noticed rose petals scattered across the floor. The petals formed a trail, guiding him through the living room, up the stairs, and into the master bedroom.
On the large bed, Nicole, dressed in a transparent pink and blue mermaid gown, lay waiting. The sight of her made Martin's heartbeat race, his desire intensifying.
"Come on, little bastard!" Nicole teased with a smile, beckoning him with a finger.
Could he resist?
Of course not!
Martin used the "golden cicada escapes its shell" technique, rushing toward her with an exaggerated cry, "That monster, look at me, old sun. Come and surrender!"
Nicole didn't understand Martin's cryptic dialect, but she got the message loud and clear. She giggled and turned over on the bed, revealing her smooth, curvy back.
And then, Martin was surrounded.
The "dark clouds" descended.
...
Martin left in the early hours, in high spirits.
This amount of exercise was nothing for him.
Staying up late? No problem. Succubi are nocturnal and far more energetic at night than during the day. Though his body wasn't fully transformed, staying awake all night had no effect on him.
But don't imitate Martin; you're not a succubus. Go to bed early and get up early—good kidneys and a healthy appetite are all you need!
When Nicole returned to the Beverly Hills mansion, Tom Cruise had also arrived and was eating lunch at the dining table.
Seeing her, he asked coldly, "You didn't come back all night?"
Nicole shot back, "Aren't you the same?"
Tom Cruise nodded, his expression unchanged. "I was busy filming Mission: Impossible 2. So, why were you gone?"
Nicole replied flatly, "I went to my house."
"Ha!" Tom scoffed. "That secluded cabin of yours in Malibu?"
Nicole nodded calmly. "Yes."
Tom's mockery intensified. "With whom? It's not that country bumpkin Russell Crowe, is it?"
Tom knew Nicole owned a small villa in Malibu, though he didn't know its exact location. Since she hadn't told him, he hadn't bothered to ask.
As for Russell Crowe, the Australian movie star, he and Nicole had been friends since they were both young. Their frequent rumors of an affair bothered Tom greatly.
Nicole didn't want to answer. "I'm tired and need to rest."
Tom sneered. "Of course, you're tired. You didn't spend the night with that country bumpkin, right?"
Finally, Nicole was fed up. She walked up to Tom, stood in front of him, and stared into his eyes with her striking blue ones.
Tom instantly regretted his words, but he didn't bow his head. Instead, he met her gaze coldly.
Nicole then spoke, her voice sharp. "Tom, I swear on my acting career and all my family that I didn't meet Russell Crowe last night. So, do you dare swear on your acting career and all your family that you didn't sleep with that old bitch Shirley Lansing while filming Mission: Impossible 2?"
Tom Cruise was known for being superstitious, and Nicole's challenge immediately made him hesitate.
(As a side note: Many in Hollywood are very superstitious.)
Nicole didn't wait for his response. She turned and walked upstairs, heading for the bedroom.
This was where Nicole showed her intelligence—she didn't push things too far. She gave her husband a little taste of revenge without cornering him.
Tom watched her leave, a rare feeling of guilt creeping in.
He didn't realize he'd just been emotionally manipulated by his wife.
In truth, there was no real relationship between Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman anymore—if there ever had been one of substance.
Tom Cruise was an undeniable heartthrob, which was clear from the women he attracted. Nicole Kidman, with her striking beauty, was a perfect match in his eyes.
Tom met Nicole at a party, and immediately pursued her. To win her over, he didn't hesitate to use his connections, landing her the lead role in one of his movies.
That film was Thunderbolt, a big success.
But the true reason behind Tom's marriage to Nicole wasn't love—it was practical. Tom's first marriage, to actress Mimi Rogers, ended without children. Media reports began to question whether Tom might be sterile. Some speculated that the marriage was a cover for his supposed homosexuality.
So, Tom insisted Nicole Kidman bear a child to prove he wasn't sterile and to hide rumors of his sexuality.
At his insistence, Nicole had to undergo a fertility test in front of the cameras, a humiliating experience. However, she refused to get pregnant out of wedlock, so Tom had no choice but to marry her.
One year later, Nicole became pregnant, but tragically suffered a miscarriage.
Looking at it now, it seems that Tom may have used Nicole to secure a child with a perfect appearance, one that would align with his own high standards.
Could this marriage have been an elaborate cover for his rumored homosexuality?
Hollywood is rife with such rumors, and many have been confirmed.
Tom and soccer star Beckham have been rumored to have had a close relationship as well. The two were good friends, and Beckham frequently stayed at Tom's mansion during his time in the U.S.
As for Nicole, her reasons for marrying Tom were similarly practical. As a newcomer in Hollywood, her beauty made her a target, but marrying Tom offered protection.
In an interview, Nicole once admitted that she married Tom Cruise at a young age not for love, but for protection. She felt that a marriage to a powerful man would shield her from harassment in the industry.
So, the union between Tom and Nicole was about finding a cover and a backer, not about love.
Finally, a bit of gossip:
Nicole has been rumored to have had an affair not only with Russell Crowe but also with another famous Australian beauty—Naomi Watts.
Nicole and Naomi had been close friends for nearly a decade. Their friendship would last over 20 years, a rare example of sisterhood in the entertainment industry.
In 2017, at Nicole's 50th birthday party, she revealed that she and Naomi had once been romantically involved. Naomi didn't deny it, instead, she embraced Nicole in front of their friends and family.
In 2022, during an internet interview, Nicole confirmed the rumor, admitting she didn't regret it.
Some netizens were skeptical at first, but many accepted it as true. "This is too beautiful to be false," one wrote. "It must be real!" another commented.[TL/N: Here is it, just search it on Youtube. Naomi Watts Makes Out With Gal Pal Nicole Kidman on Stage!]