Chapter 51: Chapter 51: To This Damn Pressure
"Miss Twain, I hope you can manage your phone!"
Hearing Duke's cold words, Shania Twain's agent snatched the phone from her hand, quickly removing the battery cover. "Sorry, Director Rosenberg."
Duke's eyes remained fixed on Shania. She was not inexperienced, and after revealing a slightly embarrassed smile, she said, "I'm really sorry…"
Although he had come close to a breaking point, Duke managed to control himself. He understood that his anger should be directed at CAA, not at anyone else.
He never liked to let himself lose control.
"If I hear another phone ringing on set," Duke said hoarsely, ignoring Shania Twain, who had moved to apologize to other crew members, "I promise to nail that device to the wall!"
"Want some water?" Sophia promptly handed him a glass of cold water. Duke took a big gulp, feeling the heat in his chest cool down a bit. "Thank you."
"I thought a volcano was about to erupt," Sophia looked at him incredulously.
"Losing my temper doesn't solve problems," Duke shook his head slowly. "I don't want to lose control."
Taking on the role of a director brings pressure along with it; even the calmest person can become irritable, and Duke was no exception. However, he didn't want to become a tyrant on set like James Cameron.
"Sometimes you don't seem like someone in their twenties at all," Sophia said, taking the cup Duke handed her. "My father once said he could control his temper only after turning forty."
"If losing my temper could solve our current issues and guarantee the film's success, I wouldn't mind exploding ten times a day," Duke joked, trying to lighten his mood. "But anger often makes things worse. Should I turn into a high-powered hairdryer for the film to shoot smoothly?"
After delaying for over ten minutes, filming resumed. The crew's improved state was not interrupted, and after three continuous takes, this scene finally concluded.
Despite some hiccups in the following shots and unexpected problems arising, Duke felt his temper rising again, his voice growing louder. Still, he managed to control his emotions, ensuring the crew continued to operate under challenging yet normal conditions.
Even with a decent level of self-control, this constant dance on the edge of exploding anger was uncomfortable.
"That's it for today."
After announcing this, Duke changed into his already dried shoes, sat behind the monitor, and started reviewing the shots from today, showing no intention of leaving.
"You need a break," Sophia approached him with her handbag. "Come on, I'll take you for a drink."
Duke knew he needed to relax. Burdened with immense economic and mental pressure, if he didn't find a way to relieve it, he could snap one day.
Turning off the monitor and tidying up quickly, Duke and Sophia left the studio. They hopped onto a golf cart and, instead of switching to a car at the studio entrance, walked to the left side of the Warner building, finding a small bar just a thousand feet away.
It was still early, and the bar was not crowded, playing soothing music instead of loud heavy metal. Duke walked straight to the counter and sat on a high stool, while Sophia took a seat to his left.
"One dark beer, please."
Duke knew his alcohol tolerance was low and didn't want to try any strong drinks.
"Cheers, workaholic."
Sophia clinked her whiskey glass against his. Duke smiled helplessly and took a sip, saying, "Am I really that kind of image in your eyes?"
"Isn't it?" Sophia tilted her head playfully. "That's how most people in the crew see you."
"Let them think what they want," Duke said indifferently. "As long as I know who I am, that's enough."
"Extremely self-centered," Sophia shot him a glance.
"That's confidence," Duke raised his glass and took another sip. "If I really cared about others' opinions, I'd never survive in this industry. Just the critics' reviews could drown us."
"We're not discussing films," Sophia changed the topic. "How's your relationship with Naomi Watts going?"
"Relationship?" Duke was taken aback; he hadn't thought about the Australian woman recently. He held up two fingers in a gesture to Sophia, saying, "We've only been to bed together twice!"
"Then I wish you two a speedy breakup," Sophia said teasingly.
Shrugging, Duke didn't bother to respond to Sophia's playful remark. He and Naomi Watts were never actually in a relationship, so there was nothing to break up.
As they finished their drinks, Sophia's phone suddenly rang from her handbag. She took it out to answer and gave Duke an apologetic look.
"It's my mom." She stood up. "I have to go home for a bit; see you."
Duke waved her off and ordered another beer, preparing to finish it before leaving. By then, the bar was getting busier as people began to arrive for the end of the workday. Among them were a few familiar Warner employees, indicating that this bar was a regular spot for some Warner folks.
"Hey, Duke."
"Hey…"
When greeted by someone, Duke would wave back, even if he couldn't remember their name.
Slowly sipping the slightly bitter dark beer, Duke's thoughts naturally drifted back to the film, considering how to adjust the shoot to make the schedule tighter and more efficient...
"A martini, please."
The spot where Sophia had just sat was taken by someone else. "Hi…"
"Hi…" Duke instinctively nodded.
"What are you thinking? You look lost in thought," the other person, who seemed to know him, said with a bright voice, "You're not still angry about this afternoon, are you? I sincerely apologized."
Hearing this, Duke turned his head to the left. Shania Twain had her brown hair tied back, wearing a fitted jacket that highlighted her neck and large, smooth, white skin.
Her height was comparable to Naomi Watts, but her figure was even more curvy and sexy.
"Is it strange that I'm here?" She pointed towards the Warner building. "Warner Records is just next door."
"I accepted your apology," Duke raised his glass towards her. "That means this matter is behind us."
"Should I say thank you?" She downed half her drink in one go.
Duke shook his head. "No need."
"Do you enjoy drinking alone?" Sienna Dunn turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow. "Or is the pressure too much?"
"You can tell I'm under pressure?" Duke turned to look at her.
"Don't forget, I've been to your set twice, although no one would welcome me for a third time…" She revealed a self-deprecating smile before straightening her face. "I know what it feels like to be under pressure, feeling suffocated with no one to share it with."
"So…" Duke acknowledged her sentiment. "You've experienced that feeling too?"
"Always experiencing it," Shania Twain clinked her glass against Duke's, finishing the remaining martini. "That's why I came here to drink alone."
"To this damn pressure!" Duke finished his beer.
"To this damn pressure!" Shania Twain smiled brightly, snapping her fingers at the bartender. "Two whiskeys!"
"I've heard Warner people mention you."
She pushed a glass of whiskey in front of Duke and turned to face him. "Some say you're a genius, others say you just got lucky, but everyone agrees you're a fortunate one."
"So I need to keep succeeding," Duke said, turning slightly, putting the afternoon's unpleasantness behind him, as he faced a standard hot beauty. "Then they'll only say Duke Rosenberg is a genius."
"For success!" Shania raised her glass.
"For success!" Duke clinked his glass against hers.
"But you are indeed a lucky one," Shania put her glass down and, seeing the confused look on Duke's face, placed her hands on her thighs, clad in tight jeans. "Even if you fail this time and can't make it in Hollywood, with your background, you'll still have a good life."
"According to your logic…" Duke thought for a moment before slowly nodding. "I really am a lucky one."
"I'm different," she lightly tapped her full chest. "If I can't succeed, if my first album fails, Warner will drop me, my agent will abandon me, my landlord will take my house, and I'll have to go back to Canada…"
"Oh, I'm Canadian," perhaps due to the alcohol, Shania Twain spoke a bit too much. "I have five younger siblings to support; if I don't succeed, I'll have to return to the bars in Canada to sing, earning only $25 a night, and maybe even stripping to make ends meet."
"So…" she pointed her finger at Duke. "My pressure is greater than yours!"
"You will succeed."
If what she said was true, this future diva could be considered a typical example of a young woman rising from adversity. "Maybe by this time next year, I would have left Hollywood because my movie failed, and you would have become a popular singer."
"Not maybe." Shania's wild eyes displayed determination. "I will succeed!"
"I don't allow myself to fail!" she added.
Hearing these words, which felt like a declaration, Duke looked at her with newfound respect. People who strive to change their fate deserve that respect.
Duke even recognized some of his own qualities in Shania. They were both the kind of people who, once they set a goal, would work hard to achieve it.
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