belamy20

251-255

Added 2024-10-31 22:10:21 +0000 UTC

*Chapter 251: Miranda's Lament*

That evening, after the party ended, Luca was driving his car, slowly leaving Marian Bay.

"Luca, I thought you were going to take Ivanka home tonight," Miranda teased from the backseat, crossing her long legs.

"You’re overthinking it. I just danced with her; there’s nothing going on between us."

"But you two looked pretty cozy while dancing. Everyone’s saying there’s definitely something going on."

Luca wiped some sweat off his forehead. "Stop saying that! Ivanka’s dad isn’t someone to mess with. If he hears this, he might send someone to break my legs."

"Haha, you’re such a coward," Miranda joked, tapping away on her phone.

"What about you, Miranda? You seemed to be hitting it off with Orlando," Luca asked.

"Why? Are you concerned?"

Miranda blinked at him.

"No, I’m asking for Kate. She wouldn’t want someone cheating on her."

"Relax, Kate knows about it. It was Nina’s idea. She thinks Orlando has potential, and that rumors with him would increase exposure, while also covering up our situation," Miranda replied casually, still playing on her phone.

Luca shook his head. "Orlando’s not dumb. He won’t do something without getting something out of it."

"That’s fine. If it’s not him, there’s still you. We were originally going to use you as the cover-up, but you’re already surrounded by too many rumors. If we added me to the mix, you’d be completely ruined," Miranda said with a sly smile.

Ring ring~ Her phone rang.

"Hey, Kate, are you off work? Luca and I just left the party and are driving back. Haha, guess what? Luca hooked up with another beauty at the party. Guess who?"

"Stop making stuff up!" Luca protested. If Lima misunderstood, he’d be in for a beating.

"Hear that? Luca’s getting anxious," Miranda said, laughing and kicking her legs in amusement.

"Here’s a hint: she used to be a model, has a great figure, worked with CG, and has a building in New York named after her. Haha, yep, you guessed it, it’s Ivanka! Luca says they only just met, but they were all over each other while dancing. If I hadn’t been there tonight, they’d definitely be in bed by now. Yes, I agree, he’s lying. We need to interrogate him, maybe even beat it out of him. He’ll confess."

"Miranda!!" Luca yelled, his face darkening.

"Haha, Luca’s mad now. For my own safety, I better stop teasing him," Miranda said with a grin. "How’s your fashion show going? When’s it opening? The 25th? That’s next weekend, right?"

"Luca, the SUN series fashion show is next week. Want to come with me?" Miranda asked after hanging up.

Luca thought for a moment. "Let’s see next weekend. If I have time, I’ll come."

"Alright!" Miranda agreed and relayed the message to Kate and Lima.

Luca continued driving quietly, the car's headlights piercing through the darkness, lighting the road home.

Miranda kept chatting in the backseat, laughing and talking until they finally arrived at the estate. Only then did she put down her phone.

Meow meow~ As they got out of the car, they heard a few soft meows coming from the lawn.

"Oh no, the kittens must be starving!" Miranda exclaimed. She turned on the garden lights and called out softly to the lawn, finding four small kittens by the wall.

The kittens were sleeping and only meowed when they heard the noise.

"Luca, should we wake them up for a midnight snack?" Miranda asked, picking up two kittens and gently stroking their heads. The kittens closed their eyes, purring softly.

"No need. I gave them goat milk before we left, and they licked it all up. There are also plenty of insects on the lawn—they’re probably full by now."

"Kittens eat bugs?" Miranda asked, surprised.

"Yes, cats eat anything. Once they grow up, they’ll catch mice, birds, and even snakes."

"Don’t be ridiculous! Our kittens wouldn’t eat anything like that," Miranda said, handing two of the kittens to Luca.

The kittens were too small to find their way back to their shelter, so Luca had to carry each one inside.

After taking care of the kittens, it was time to deal with the bigger "cat."

"Miranda, do you want something to eat?" Luca asked.

"Whatever, as long as it’s low-sugar and low-fat," Miranda said lazily, lying on the sofa.

Luca shook his head. "And that’s what you call ‘whatever’?"

He sliced up some fruits—oranges, apples, strawberries, and blueberries—added some salad dressing, and a small cup of yogurt, making a decent-looking fruit salad. While Miranda stuck to her low-fat diet, Luca indulged in roast meat, pizza, and some fruit.

"Aren’t you worried about gaining weight eating meat at night?" Miranda asked, fork in hand, eyeing his plate with envy.

"No worries. No matter how much fat I eat, it turns into muscle," Luca said, flexing his bicep proudly.

"Ugh, not fair. Us female models have to diet and exercise constantly just to stay barely acceptable. But you male models can eat whatever you want and never have to worry about weight," Miranda complained.

"You all make more than us, though," Luca laughed, cutting another piece of meat. "Want some? Kate used to eat meat at night all the time. As long as you work out a little more in the morning, it won’t make you gain weight."

"Really?" Miranda blinked.

"Of course, a little meat won’t hurt."

"Fine!" Miranda said, gathering her courage as she stabbed a piece of meat from his plate.

"Mm, so good!" She inhaled the smell of the meat, savoring it. "Meat tastes way better than fruit. I haven’t eaten meat in so long because I gain weight so easily."

"That sounds rough."

"It is. Models, especially female models, have it tough. Before we retire, we have to restrain ourselves from so many things. We literally earn money with our youth and sweat," Miranda said, her mouth full as she enjoyed the meat. Luca chuckled at her enthusiasm.

"Tomorrow morning, I’m going to work out for half an hour longer—two and a half hours total. Luca, you better keep an eye on me," Miranda said, eyes closed as she chewed.

"Got it!"

The next day, as usual, the two got up early to work out, then headed to rehearsals and shows. Every day was busy and full.

For a whole week, Luca participated in more than ten shows—CK, Armani, Dolce & Gabbana, and other brands. It was a busy but fulfilling time.

Ring ring~ One morning, while working out in the gym, Luca received a call from Ed.

"Luca, do you have time to come by?" Ed’s voice sounded serious.

"What’s up?" Luca wiped some sweat from his brow, puzzled.

"There’s some bad news. We’ll talk when you get here."

"Some?"

"Yes," Ed sighed softly.

"Alright, I’ll be there around noon."

Luca put his phone away and shook his head, then continued working with the ab roller. His eight-pack glistened under the morning light, radiating strength and sex appeal.

"Awesome!" he thought.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 252: Luca, Your Karma Has Come*

"Good afternoon, Mrs. Lance!"

"Good afternoon, Mr. Kelly!"

At noon, Luca arrived at the branch of the talent agency, greeted the staff, and knocked before entering Ed’s office.

The office was filled with smoke, with Ed holding a cigarette, his brow furrowed, and the gray hairs at his temples more noticeable than before.

"Ed, has the world ended? Why are you so down?"

Luca opened the window, letting the thick smoke roll out with the fresh air.

"Take a look at this. After you read it, you might feel the same as I do."

Bang! Ed grabbed some newspapers and documents, tossing them on the desk.

"What’s this?"

Luca picked up a copy of The Los Angeles Times, focusing on a section highlighted in marker.

On page eight of The Los Angeles Times, in the entertainment section, there was a headline that read: Luca Kelly Returns to the Fashion World for a Cash Grab.

It talked about how he couldn’t make it in Hollywood and had no choice but to return to his old line of work, going all-out for money, accepting every contract, and participating in every fashion show. They claimed he had participated in over a dozen runway shows in one week.

Rumor had it he almost passed out from exhaustion, and they even posted a picture of him.

In the picture, his head was lowered, his face pale, looking miserable.

The article was written in a mocking tone, recounting how he had entered Hollywood with great ambition, landing three film roles at once.

But after the first movie was released, it faced overwhelming criticism, and his career suffered a major setback. He had no choice but to return to the fashion world, working like crazy to make money.

The article ridiculed his return to his "old trade," listing the brands he worked with: Armani, CK, Zara, and more.

Most of these were top-tier brands, but the paper intentionally categorized some niche brands as second-tier, trying to portray him as having fallen from grace, from a "media model" to a "commercial model."

Media models focus more on fame, often working for lower pay to accumulate social capital like prestige, reputation, and style, which they can later cash in when entering higher-end markets with better returns.

Commercial models, however, work primarily for money, catering to mid- and lower-end markets.

In the modeling world, media models are seen as higher tier, represented by supermodels like Kate, Bundchen, and KK.

Luca had once been a media model, but the article claimed he had now fallen, becoming a commercial model, cashing in on his fame and burning through the reputation he had built.

"Besides The Los Angeles Times, there's also The New York Times, The Miami Herald, The Hollywood Reporter, and many others—all reporting similar news."

Ed tapped the newspapers on his desk, his face looking a bit gloomy.

"Is that all?"

Luca set down the paper. "It doesn’t seem like this affects me much."

"No, it does. Acne Studios, Marant, and Vanessa Bruno were all interested in hiring you as their lead model or even a brand ambassador. But with all the negative press these past few days, many brands are starting to change their view of you. Just yesterday and today, I received eight rejection calls, meaning..."

Ed sighed deeply and said, "You've been blacklisted!"

"Blacklisted?"

Luca raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, maybe not entirely, but in the fashion world, making further progress will be very difficult."

Ed shook his head, then tapped on another stack of papers.

"Take a look at this. Honey has been in theaters for over half a month, and the total box office is only 35 million dollars. There are now only around 200 theaters still showing it. Media analysis suggests the total box office won’t exceed 38 million, meaning the movie barely broke even."

The media considered it a failed film.

When analyzing the reasons, they unanimously blamed you, saying if it weren’t for you, the box office numbers would have been better."

"That’s bullshit!"

Luca fumed. Even without him, the movie's box office numbers would still have been bad. He remembered that in the past, it had only grossed 32 million, so now it had an extra 6 million because of his involvement.

He had contributed to the film’s success, yet now they were making him a scapegoat. What a bunch of jerks!

"And there’s this."

Ed pulled out another set of papers. "Several crew members claimed in interviews that you acted like a diva during filming, and someone even accused you of being racist."

"They said you insulted them in a language they couldn’t understand. Is that true?"

"What do you think?" Luca said helplessly, remembering he had just cursed "idiot" in Chinese.

"Alright, that’s a small issue I can handle," Ed shook his head. Being Black himself, he knew it wouldn’t be hard to clear up that misunderstanding.

"Even though these are minor issues, they’re affecting how the film studios view you. I’ve been in touch with several film projects lately, but as of yesterday, every single one has been rejected. It’s as if..."

"I’ve been blacklisted from the film industry too?" Luca frowned.

Ed nodded heavily. "That’s about right."

"How did this happen?" Luca asked, puzzled. "Blacklisted in both fashion and film? Who has that kind of power? I don’t recall offending anyone big."

"What do you think?" Ed sipped his coffee. "You know better than anyone who you’ve crossed."

Luca rubbed his chin, thinking. Suddenly, he remembered what Brad Pitt had said to him at a party, telling him to watch his back.

"Brad Pitt?"

He shook his head. "I don’t think he has that much power. Sure, he’s a big star, but blacklisting me in both fashion and film? He’s not that influential yet."

Ed frowned deeply. "Perhaps it's not just him."

"But other than him, I don’t recall offending anyone."

"Really?" Ed smirked. "You’ve made a lot of enemies—Leonardo, Matt Damon, Jonah Hill, and all the male model agents in the fashion world."

"Now that you're down, they’re all happy to step on you. If you fall, they can rise."

"And don’t forget, Kate’s enemies are also yours. Remember Anna’s influence in the fashion world. Everyone knows about the feud between Kate and Anna, so it wouldn’t be surprising if she’s behind this too."

Ed sighed. "There’s also a rumor going around that you have conflicts with Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio, two of Hollywood’s hottest stars, and box office guarantees. Many film studios work with them."

"After the rumor spread, it wouldn’t be surprising if the studios decided to curry favor with them."

"So I’m getting ganged up on?" Luca’s face darkened.

"That’s right, but isn’t this all your own doing?" Ed said bluntly.

"Ed, what do you mean? Are you joining the gang-up too?" Luca retorted angrily.

Ed grinned, his teeth gleaming white as he said, "I warned you before, in the entertainment industry, you have to watch your image and stay clean. But what did you do? In less than a year, you’ve been linked to five or six female stars, all of them major stars—Britney, Aniston, Jessica, Bundchen, and so on. And many of them already have boyfriends, some even married."

"If you hook up with them, isn’t it reasonable for their boyfriends to take revenge on you?"

"But I was innocent with most of them," Luca stammered.

"Most of them?" Ed raised an eyebrow. "So there were a few where you weren’t innocent. Since it’s the truth, don’t feel too wronged. What you need to do now is accept it, reflect on your mistakes, and try not to repeat them in the future."

Luca snorted. "Ed, stop playing word games. Out of the names you mentioned, only Britney had anything to do with me. The others? We were just friends, or not even that. The media just made things up."

"So, I don’t think I did anything wrong, and I don’t deserve this kind of blame."

"But the blame is on you." Ed spread his hands. "Now all you can do is lay low, wait for the storm to pass, and maybe you’ll have another chance. I’ll also try to get you into some smaller projects. Hopefully, some studios will still be willing to work with you."

"Alright, after working so hard these past few days, I was planning on taking a break anyway. Looks like now’s the perfect time."

Luca patted his leg, stood up, and prepared to leave.

These past few days, he had been constantly rehearsing for shows and was truly exhausted. With no upcoming plans, he might as well treat it as an extended vacation.

Ring, ring~

Ed’s desk phone rang.

After a brief exchange, Ed’s dark expression grew even worse.

"What happened?"

Luca asked, puzzled.

"It was the assistant producer for Collateral," Ed said.

"Collateral?" Luca recalled this was Tom Cruise’s new film, in which he had a small cameo as a contact.

"Yes, your role has been cut."

"Why?"

Luca said calmly.

"Their explanation is that the film is aiming for the Oscars, and they can’t afford any flaws. They’re worried your involvement would lower the quality of the movie, so they replaced you."

Luca said calmly, "They’re saying my involvement would lower the quality of the film? Did Tom Cruise agree to this?"

"What do you think?"

".Fuck!"

*Chapter 253: Why, Why, Why Am I So Handsome?*

“Damn!”

In the parking lot, Luca slammed his fist on the steering wheel after getting into his car. He couldn't believe he was going to get some bad news, but reality hit him harder than he expected. It wasn't just a few pieces of bad news, it was a pile of them.

What troubled him the most was the news about the Collateral production and Tom Cruise.

With stars like Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio involved, they shouldn't have been able to sway the decision, yet Tom Cruise still agreed to replace him.

“Am I really that bad?”

Luca glanced at himself in the mirror. The face staring back at him was still incredibly handsome—strong eyebrows, bright eyes, a perfectly chiseled nose, and features like a Renaissance sculpture.

"With a face like this, even without much acting skill, people would still pay to watch me. How could I possibly bring down the quality of a film? They really have no taste."

Luca exhaled heavily and wondered if maybe he was just too handsome. Perhaps his looks clashed with Tom Cruise, leading to him being replaced, maybe by someone like bald-headed Jason Statham.

"Is this what they call being punished for being too good-looking?"

Luca shook his head and started the car, convinced his theory might actually be true. His extreme good looks were likely the reason for jealousy and targeting.

Being too handsome, too fit, and adding his Mr. Big reputation only made it worse, turning him into a magnet for scandals.

Whenever he was around a woman, people immediately assumed there was something improper going on.

"Should I just slash my face?"

He glanced in the rearview mirror. Maybe a scar would make him look more rugged.

But Mr. Big wasn’t easy to deal with—should he chop off forty centimeters and turn into just a regular guy?

“Sigh~”

For the first time, Luca felt that being too handsome, too strong, and too competent was a burden.

He ruffled his hair, turning his stylish look into a mess, trying to tone it down. But when he looked in the mirror, the messy hair only made him look even sexier.

“My good looks are hopeless.”

Luca drove toward Santa Monica Beach, planning to drown his sorrows at a bar.

“Meow meow~ meow meow~”

He suddenly heard a cat meowing and paused for a second before realizing it was his phone.

Miranda had changed his ringtone to something cute because she thought his old one was too lame.

Luca shook his head—he really should lock his phone. In his past life, a ringtone got him into trouble; this time, he had to learn his lesson.

"Hey, Ryan!"

It was Ryan Gosling calling. He had just gotten back to LA after filming elsewhere.

Ryan’s call was an invitation to grab drinks at a bar.

Luca thought for a moment and agreed, turning his car around and heading toward the Grizzly Bar at the base of Beverly Hills.

This was a high-end bar in a wealthy neighborhood, frequented by celebrities with some cash to their names.

By the afternoon, the bar was getting crowded and noisy.

Luca took off his cap, stuffed it into his pocket, and walked toward a booth in the back with his long legs, passing by several familiar faces. The odds of running into a star here were pretty high.

“Luca, over here!”

Ryan Gosling waved.

Luca made his way over. There were four people at the booth—two men and two women.

Ryan, Rachel, Heath Ledger, and his current girlfriend, Naomi Watts, who would soon be the lead actress in King Kong and was doing pretty well among Australian actors.

“Luca, long time no see. How’ve you been?”

Rachel stood up and gave him a light hug, her smile as bright and infectious as ever.

“Not bad, I’m just grinning like an idiot every day.”

“Haha!”

Rachel laughed, tilting her head back.

"Hey, Luca, you can let go now."

Ryan said, slightly annoyed.

"Ryan, you're so petty. I can't believe you're an actor with that attitude."

Luca let go and didn’t hesitate to tease him.

"Yeah, but I am an actor, and a damn good one too. Rarely get any complaints. Jealous?"

Ryan Gosling shot back.

Luca flipped him off and turned his attention to the other couple.

Like Ryan and Rachel, Naomi Watts and Heath Ledger were also in a relationship where she was older by eight years.

“Miss Watts, great to meet you. I love your work. Your performance in Mulholland Drive definitely deserved an Oscar.”

Luca said earnestly.

Naomi was a talented actress who had spent eight tough years in Hollywood, even being kicked out of her apartment after three months of unpaid rent, until her breakthrough role in Mulholland Drive in 2001.

Her story was truly inspiring, and Luca admired women like her.

“Thank you!”

Naomi Watts smiled warmly, sensing his sincerity. “I also enjoy your films. You’re really good.”

“Hahaha~”

As soon as she said that, Ryan and Rachel burst into laughter.

“What’s so funny?”

Luca frowned in displeasure.

“Nothing, Luca. Your movies are indeed great. We agree with Naomi.”

Ryan grinned.

“Yep, totally!”

Rachel winked and nodded rapidly.

Luca rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit awkward. All four of them were highly respected actors, while he was seen as just a pretty boy. He was clearly being teased.

This wasn’t the gathering he had hoped for—he was starting to regret coming.

“Heath, good to see you again. It’s great to meet you once more.”

Luca extended his hand with a smile.

“Hey, Luca!”

Heath Ledger smiled back, a little reserved.

“Luca, you know Heath?” Rachel asked, curious.

“Yeah, I was there too.”

Ryan chuckled. “It was in a bar in New York. Me, Heath, and Matt Damon ran into Kate Kelly and a few other supermodels.”

“Kate was there too?”

Rachel glanced at Luca and suddenly smiled. “Luca, you must’ve been pretty upset about that.”

“How did you know?”

Ryan looked puzzled.

“Haha, just a guess. Was I right?”

Rachel grinned.

Ryan nodded. “Yeah, we were just sitting there chatting.

But when Luca arrived, he had this stern look on his face, like we’d invaded his turf.

To avoid any drama, the three of us left early, right Heath?”

“Heh~”

Heath let out a soft laugh.

Luca shook his head. “You guys totally misread me. I just look serious when I’m not smiling. I wasn’t upset at all that night, right Heath?”

“Heh~”

Heath laughed again.

“Come on, don’t just ‘heh’ at everything. You should be the one clarifying,” Naomi Watts chimed in, laughing.

Heath scratched his head, glanced at Luca, and said, “Yeah, you did seem a bit upset that night.”

“Haha, see? Told you!” Ryan teased.

“Fine, fine. I was out of line that night. I’ll down a drink as an apology to you both.”

Luca poured himself a glass of whiskey and knocked it back.

“What were you guys talking about?” he asked after setting the glass down.

“We’re actors—of course we’re talking about movies.”

“Is Stay finished filming?”

This movie, starring Ryan Gosling and Naomi Watts, is a small production. The two even have a love scene together in the film, and I honestly don't know what to make of them hanging out and drinking with their partners.

“Yes, we’re discussing Heath’s new script. We heard you auditioned for it, so we thought we’d chat with you,” Ryan said with a smile.

Luca froze for a second. “Are you talking about Brokeback Mountain?”

“Yeah.”

Naomi Watts took over the conversation. “I saw the script with Diana, the writer, and thought it was really good. I encouraged Heath to give it a try.”

“Heath, how did the audition go?”

“Heh, it went pretty well,” Heath said with a soft chuckle.

Looks like it's a sure thing.

Luca sighed inwardly. If Heath got the role, there was a 99% chance he wouldn't. He suddenly felt a little empty inside.

“Luca, I heard you’ve been following this project for a while. If Heath gets the lead, can you land the second lead? Haha, just thinking about you two getting together in the movie cracks me up,” Ryan said with a raised eyebrow and a smile.

“Luca, I remember you saying in Toronto that you didn’t like playing these kinds of roles. Why did you audition for the second lead?” Rachel asked curiously.

Back in Toronto, the two of them had run into Director Ang Lee and even discussed the script.

“It’s just a coincidence. On my flight from Toronto to San Francisco, I ran into Director Ang Lee again. I read the script and thought it was really good and touching, so I wanted to give it a shot. But now, it seems like I won’t get the chance,” Luca said, spreading his hands.

“How do you know?” Ryan and Rachel were curious, and Naomi Watts seemed to be deep in thought while Heath Ledger scratched his head.

“Because Heath and I are both foreigners.”

Luca is Brazilian, and Heath Ledger is Australian.

A Hollywood movie about a gay couple wouldn’t cast two foreign leads.

If they were British or Canadian, it wouldn’t be a problem, but actors from Brazil and Australia don’t have the same influence in Hollywood. The producers would definitely consider that.

That’s why Luca hadn’t mentioned Heath Ledger to Director Ang Lee the last time. But now, they were still crossing paths.

With Heath Ledger confirmed for the film, it meant the door had closed for him.

“You two actually seem like a good fit. This is a small production, so it’s not entirely impossible that they’d use both of you,” Ryan said, though even he didn’t believe his own words.

“Hopefully!” Luca smiled, raising his glass to clink with the others. Now his only hope rested with Director Ang Lee. If he was willing to take a risk, there was a tiny sliver of hope.

"Meow~ Meow~"

Just as he was thinking that, his phone rang again, the screen showing “Ang Lee.”

His heart skipped a beat—talk about timing.

“Excuse me, I need to take this call,” Luca said, excusing himself as he stood up and moved to a quieter spot.

“Luca is quite interesting,” Naomi Watts said with a soft smile once he was gone.

“Yeah, he’s a great guy,” Rachel responded, her lips curling into a smile as she held her drink. Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her legs twisted together under the table as if she were lost in thought.

“Hey, you two are complimenting another guy right in front of me and Heath. Is that really okay?” Ryan asked, sounding displeased.

“What’s the big deal?” Naomi Watts said with a light laugh. “Ryan, Luca was right—you really are a jealous guy.”

“It’s not my fault. Luca has too many rumors surrounding him, and it makes him seem unsafe. So, Heath, you better watch out for Luca.”

“Watch out for what?” Heath asked, looking up.

“Make sure he doesn’t get too close to Naomi.”

“Haha, Ryan, you’re too insecure and lack confidence. That’s not a healthy mindset,” Naomi shook her head.

“Don’t blame me. I don’t know what charm Luca has, but girls seem to like him. Look at Britney, Jennifer Aniston, Jessica, Gisele, and so on—they’re all pretty amazing women.”

“Luca and Jennifer Aniston?” Naomi thought for a moment, then said softly, “That one’s probably not true. Jennifer Aniston is married. Neither of them seems like the type to mess around.”

“Don’t listen to Ryan. Out of all those names, probably only Britney is true; the others are just rumors,” Rachel shook her head.

“But there’s gossip that Brad Pitt doesn’t like Luca and is trying to blacklist him in Hollywood. Even Leonardo DiCaprio got involved. If the rumors aren’t true, why would they do that?” Ryan reasoned. If there was no cheating involved, why would these big stars be so upset and gang up on a newcomer?

“Well, if it were true, Brad and Jennifer would’ve likely divorced, and Leo and Gisele would’ve broken up. But their relationships seem fine,” Rachel pointed out. “It’s probably just a misunderstanding or a rumor.”

“Why don’t we just ask Luca when he gets back?”

“Yeah, let’s do that.”

“I understand, Mr. Lee. I hope we can work together another time.”

At the quieter part of the bar, Luca hung up the phone and sighed softly.

Director Ang Lee had turned him down, just as he expected. One of the leads needed to be a local actor, and the studio had chosen Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. Luca had been eliminated.

He had already braced himself for this outcome, but hearing it still left him feeling a bit down.

“Looks like you can’t rely on others too much. You’ve got to take your fate into your own hands,” Luca muttered, shaking his head. He thought the day couldn’t get worse, but bad luck kept piling on. Today was definitely his unlucky day.

Yes!

The next moment confirmed it.

As he pocketed his phone and was about to head back, he suddenly saw Brad Pitt walk in with a few others, including his assistant and some young actors.

The two crossed paths.

Luca looked at Pitt.

Pitt noticed him too, a flash of surprise crossing his face before it shifted into a cold smile.

“Didn’t expect you to still be in Hollywood?”

“Why wouldn’t I be?”

“Struggling?”

“No, enjoying life.”

“Heh, overestimating yourself,” Pitt sneered and walked past him with his group.

A few of the actors with Pitt gave Luca a glance, their faces showing odd expressions as they left.

Luca stood there for a moment, exhaled, and walked back to the booth.

“Luca, are you okay? You don’t look so good,” Rachel asked, concerned.

“It’s nothing. I didn’t get the role,” Luca said, downing his drink in one gulp.

“What movie?”

“Brokeback Mountain,” Luca said with a light laugh. “The studio decided to go with Jake Gyllenhaal. I was hoping to work with Heath, but I guess I missed the chance.”

Heath glanced at him, opened his mouth as if to say something, but stayed silent.

“Was it because of your nationality?” Ryan asked, curious.

“That’s probably part of it, but it’s not the only reason. Lately, the papers have been full of criticism about my acting, so the studio didn’t want to take a risk on me.”

“It’s okay. There are so many opportunities in Hollywood every day. Missing one doesn’t matter; you’ll catch the next one,” Rachel said gently, a soft smile on her face.

“She’s right, Luca. You’re only 21. You’re so young—you’ve got plenty of chances ahead of you,” Naomi Watts, who had only found success in her thirties, empathized deeply with his experience.

“Luca, it’s just an audition. Everyone fails sometimes,” Ryan said, pouring him another full glass of wine.

“Come on, let’s drink!”

“Thanks!” Luca raised his glass.

(End of Chapter)

*Chapter 254: A Drink of "Rat Tail" Cocktail*

"Hahaha~"

In a booth at the bar, Luca and his friends were chatting happily.

On the second floor, Pete glanced down, squinting slightly.

"This kid is really enjoying himself. Have we not put enough pressure on him?"

"."

His assistant, Wilson, looked down too and sighed softly,

"Luca has a lot of friends in Hollywood. It's hard to completely block him out, and it’s not really worth it. According to our investigation, he and Jenny haven’t had much contact in private, so you don’t need to worry too much about him."

"Of course, I know there’s nothing between him and Jenny. The reason I’m dealing with him is because I don’t like him. He’s all over the place, with no sense of decorum."

Pete sneered coldly, taking a puff from his cigar, expertly blowing a smoke ring.

"As a senior in this industry, it’s our duty to teach him how to behave, isn’t it?"

Wilson nodded. This was Hollywood’s way.

The upper class makes the rules, enjoys them, and newcomers must follow them.

Luca, in his quest for fame, had crossed some lines, even using Aniston’s name to stir up drama. That was a breach of protocol.

With a few phone calls, Pete had blocked Luca’s Hollywood career. However, others seemed to have also joined in, as there were many people in both Hollywood and the fashion industry who didn’t like Luca.

"Hahaha~"

Another burst of laughter came from downstairs.

Pete frowned, "Is that kid into drugs? Find a way to get him thrown in jail."

Wilson shook his head, "He seems to have quit."

"Quit completely?"

Pete was doubtful. Once someone touches drugs, it’s hard to quit entirely.

"Yes, according to our investigation, he leads a very healthy lifestyle. He’s never been involved with drug dealers, and he reportedly doesn’t even touch marijuana."

"That’s impossible. He’s just hiding it well. You guys should dig deeper. Even if he’s not using drugs, there’s got to be something else—gambling, prostitution, alcohol abuse, theft. Is he really squeaky clean in all of those areas?"

"No. Aside from some messy relationships, he’s actually quite clean in other areas."

"Can we use those relationships against him?"

"It’s difficult. He’s handled them very discreetly, with no obvious scandals."

Wilson affirmed.

"Heh, so you’re saying there’s no way to deal with him?"

"That’s right!"

Wilson thought for a moment and said, "But ever since the rumors started spreading, all the companies have been distancing themselves from him. He can’t make any moves in Hollywood right now. Maybe in a few days, he’ll leave on his own."

"Pete, there’s no need to waste more energy on him. Just give it some time. Once he loses hope, he’ll leave Hollywood, disheartened."

".Alright!"

Pete was busy with big projects at his company and filming a movie. He didn’t have time to focus on this for now.

He glanced at the booth downstairs, the muscles in his face twitching slightly.

"Little mouse, I hope you can keep laughing a little longer."

"Haha, Luca, you must’ve pissed someone off. The news has been so harsh on you. Some of the comments are funny, like jokes.

Just like yesterday, Hollywood Film Weekly criticized your role for not having enough screen time, saying Mekhi Phifer outshone you. They clearly didn’t even watch the movie and still think you were the lead."

In the booth, Rachel smiled as she spoke.

"Yeah, I don’t know who I’ve upset, but it feels like the whole world is against me."

Luca shrugged, looking helpless.

"Don’t you know who’s messing with you?"

Ryan raised an eyebrow and whispered, "But we heard rumors that you’ve been fooling around with both Pete’s and Leonardo’s girls."

"That’s nonsense. I have standards. I’d never get involved with someone else’s partner."

Luca said firmly.

"What about Britney?"

Ryan teased.

"Don’t bring up Britney. I’ve explained that situation a thousand times."

Luca was tired of explaining.

"Luca, if it’s just a misunderstanding, maybe you should have someone mediate."

Naomi Watts smiled as she set down her glass.

"That’s... worth a try."

Rachel nodded.

Luca thought for a moment, then shook his head.

"Forget it. A little pressure isn’t bad. Pressure creates motivation, right?"

"Haha, you’re pretty optimistic."

Rachel glanced at him, her lips curving into a beautiful smile.

"Don’t be too optimistic. You’re just a newbie, a tender sprout. Be careful not to get crushed."

Ryan teased as he wrapped his arm around Rachel.

"Don’t worry, I’m in great shape."

"Didn’t you injure your back twice?"

"..."

Luca’s face darkened. "I don’t want to talk to you anymore!"

"Hahaha~"

Everyone laughed.

"Mr. Kelly?"

At that moment, the bartender came over.

"Yes, what is it?"

Luca asked, confused.

"Yes, a guest ordered you a ‘Rat Tail’ cocktail. Enjoy!"

The bartender set down the glass.

The Rat Tail is a cocktail made from a plant called sage. It’s black, like ink.

"The person who ordered it must be a girl. Luca, your charm is impressive!"

Ryan said jealously. Even as a big star, no one had ordered him a drink.

"Hehe~"

Luca glanced up at the second floor, catching a familiar figure slipping away.

A Rat Tail cocktail?

Is someone calling me a little rat?

A ‘Rat Tail’ drink?

"Luca, why do you look upset?"

Rachel asked, curious.

"Nothing."

Luca shrugged and smiled, "I just don’t like this drink."

"I’ve had it before. It’s a bit bitter."

Ryan shook his head.

Luca pushed the glass aside and started talking about other things with the group. They didn’t leave the bar until after 4 PM.

Whew~

As the car hit the road, Luca exhaled, his face gradually darkening.

There was anger, but also a sense of helplessness.

Today felt like a slap in the face, but when it came to Pete, he had no way to fight back.

He could only swallow his pride, and that feeling was awful.

"Fuck!"

He angrily slapped the steering wheel.

Beep beep~

"Hey~ Luca, you look terrible!"

On the road to Malibu, a sports car pulled up next to him, driven by the stunning Jolie. She was wearing a black jacket, with a cigarette between her red lips, looking cool.

Luca glanced at her but didn’t bother responding, speeding up.

"Haha, Luca, wanna race? I’ll give you a head start!"

Jolie skillfully kept pace with him, no matter how fast he went.

"Luca, I heard Pete’s really messing with you. No movie company wants to work with you anymore. Need my help? I’ve still got that role as the psychotic killer open. Want it?"

Luca ignored her.

"Hey~ Did you go mute?!"

Jolie snorted and bumped her car into his.

Bang!

Luca was startled and quickly turned the wheel, almost veering off the road.

"Crazy woman, what are you doing?"

He shouted angrily.

"Kid, I was talking to you, didn’t you hear?"

"What are you saying? That I’m a mess?"

Luca, frustrated, sped up.

"Come on, how bad could it be? A grown man can’t handle a little heat? Pathetic!"

Jolie scoffed.

"..."

"Hey, it’s been a while since we played a game. Wanna play?"

Jolie bumped his car again.

Bang!

This time, Luca tried to avoid her, but there was a guardrail on the side of the road. His car scraped against it, and his head hit the steering wheel, making his mind buzz, stars flashing in front of his eyes.

He wiped his forehead—he was bleeding.

"Uh, are you alright?"

"..."

Luca took a deep breath, "Jolie, you want to play a game?"

"Forget it, you’re hurt."

Seeing his bloodshot eyes, Jolie remembered their last encounter and felt a little nervous.

"It’s nothing. This is just a scratch."

Luca wiped the blood from his face.

"What, are you scared?"

"Scared of you?!"

Jolie scoffed.

"Then let’s do this!"

He slammed on the gas.

If he couldn’t get back at Pete, he’d take it out on Jolie.

Vroom vroom~

The two cars sped down the road, flying through the air.

(End of chapter)

Chapter 255: Would You Really Kill Me?

In the darkness of the night, inside the villa, the woman slowly opened her eyes. She glanced at the demon lying next to her, her eyes filled with intense fury.

"Bastard, I'm going to kill you!"

She waved her hand, attempting to hit him, but the clattering sound reminded her that her hands and feet were bound.

Hiss~

Just the slightest movement made her body ache and itch all over. Some parts even felt numb, like her body wasn’t her own anymore.

"This damn guy! This demon!"

Remembering the torment she had endured, she gritted her teeth hard. If there had been a knife within reach, she would have stabbed it right into this bastard's heart.

Phew~

She took a heavy breath and looked toward the headboard. The belt securing her was tight, making it difficult to break free. However, the knot around her wrist seemed a little loose.

She had struggled for a long time earlier and almost escaped before passing out.

She tilted her head up with effort, attempting to bite the knot open, but her lips felt numb. Each time she bit down, she had to rest a while.

"Bastard! I will kill you!"

Determined to fight back, she steeled herself.

After half an hour, she finally freed her left hand. Though her body was already exhausted, drenched in sweat, and even weaker, freeing herself was worth the effort.

She lay on the bed for a while, catching her breath, and then carefully untied her right hand, followed by her ankles.

Seeing the sorry state of her body, her anger grew even stronger. Initially, she had only intended to stab him, but now she changed her mind—she had to do something more vicious.

The bedside lamp emitted a dim, warm glow, making the atmosphere in the room even more intimate.

The demon beside her was sound asleep, his handsome features sharp and defined like a sculpture, with strong, muscular arms exuding masculinity in the soft light.

"This bastard is really handsome!" the woman couldn’t help but lick her red lips.

"No, this guy is just a demon in human skin. I can't be swayed by him!"

With a cold hum, she raised her hands and mimicked choking his neck.

"Should I just strangle him? No, this bastard is too strong. I can't win a fight with him. Where’s my gun?"

She gently shifted her body, lowering her legs bit by bit until she finally got out of bed, breaking into a sweat again.

Phew~

She exhaled, bracing herself against the bed as she slowly stood up.

Hiss~

The woman furrowed her brows, inhaling sharply through her teeth.

"This bastard had the nerve to take his frustrations out on me today, and now he’s going to pay for it!"

Hunched over, she made her way along the wall to the vanity, opening a drawer. A silver revolver lay quietly inside a box, its sleek design as exquisite as a piece of art.

Clatter~

She skillfully spun the cylinder, producing a crisp, satisfying click.

"Heh, Luca, you're done for!"

Straightening up, her long, brown-black hair draped over her shoulders, her figure as hot and alluring as ever.

Holding the gun, she crept toward the demon still asleep.

"Hey, wake up!"

The woman sat at the edge of the bed, slapping his cheek.

"Quit messing around, Julie," the demon mumbled, turning over and falling back to sleep.

The woman paused for a moment. Was he ignoring her?

No!

She hadn’t hit him hard enough!

Biting her red lips, she raised the butt of the gun, ready to smash it into his face.

But just before she struck, she hesitated. His face was so good-looking—it’d be a shame to ruin it.

She aimed the gun at his chest instead, but that wouldn't work either. If the gun went off, she’d only hurt herself.

Thinking it over, she clenched her fist and delivered a punch straight to his sexy six-pack, right in the center.

Bam!

"Ugh~~"

Luca, having been exhausted for hours, was deep in slumber when the sharp pain in his stomach jerked him awake. He sat up, clutching his abdomen in agony, now fully alert.

"Julie, what are you doing?"

Luca frowned, annoyed, as he turned his head.

There, a silver handgun was pointed directly at his face, held by a beautiful woman with eyes full of fury and lips swollen and red.

She blinked her long lashes and coldly said, "Hands up!"

"Stop messing around. Go to sleep; don’t you have filming tomorrow?"

"Hands up!"

Click~

The woman disengaged the safety. Amid the strong, intoxicating scent of her, Luca distinctly smelled gunpowder.

"Want to gamble on it?" she said coldly. "Bet I won’t pull the trigger? If you win, I’ll take care of your body."

"..."

Luca didn't dare gamble. This woman wasn’t stable. If she really shot him, even if the police found out, he wouldn’t be able to defend himself, considering how badly he’d treated her.

Sigh~

He scratched his head in resignation, his tousled hair making him look irresistibly handsome.

"My dear Julie, what do you want?"

She bit her red lips and stared at him, replying, "You insulted me and did that to me. What do you think I want?"

"Bullshit!"

Luca snapped angrily. "You were the one who suggested everything that happened earlier. When did I insult you?"

"Don’t lie! I never asked for what you did. That was all your sick idea, you demon!"

Her face flushed as she angrily retorted.

"Fine, fine, let’s say you got too caught up and forgot. What now? Are you really going to kill me?"

"Yes, look at me. These are all the marks of your crimes. Do you think I shouldn’t kill you?"

She knelt upright on the bed, scolding him.

Luca glanced at her and felt a bit guilty. He’d had a rough day and had been in a foul mood. When Julie showed up, he had let his frustrations out on her and gone a little too far.

"Alright, go ahead and shoot—if you can bring yourself to."

Luca sprawled on the bed, shamelessly acting as if he didn't care.

The woman stared at him, her face shifting emotions. She wanted to pull the trigger but hesitated. This bastard was too formidable.

But should she let him go just like that?

No way!

Letting him off too easily wouldn’t do.

She grabbed a pair of handcuffs from the foot of the bed and tossed them onto his chest.

"Put them on!"

"What for?"

Luca asked, puzzled.

"A game! We’re continuing the game. You were the player before; now it’s my turn!"

The woman held the gun, commanding.