Chapter 165: Chapter 165: Borrowing Money
[Chapter 165: Borrowing Money]
Late at night, in Nicole's bedroom on the second floor of the villa, she looked at the packed suitcase and suddenly felt as though her experiences over the past two months were like a dream.
Seven years earlier, she received her first opportunity to act in a music video, and it was that experience that made her realize her life could be more dazzling. Ambitious women often seek more. So she quickly dropped out of a girls' high school, searching for opportunities while studying at a drama academy. Over the years, she landed supporting roles in several films and television shows and even won an award for Best Actress from the Australian Film Institute. However, that was far from enough to satisfy her; her gaze had never settled in the small pond of the Australian entertainment industry. She longed for Hollywood.
Earlier in the year, she auditioned for a Hollywood film in Australia. Although she had gone in with confidence, she ultimately did not land a role. She realized she was already 22 and couldn't afford to wait any longer. So she packed her bags and ventured alone to Los Angeles.
Soon after arriving, she quickly faced the harsh reality: her experience and awards in Australia didn't help her much in her career. She was essentially a newcomer and could only manage to snag small parts in some unknown films or TV shows. Then, two months ago, her career finally took a significant turn. A rising young director in Hollywood, Eric Williams, had his eye on her. He offered her a chance to work as his maid for a few months, after which she could play the lead in his new film.
"How could anything be this good?"
As she walked out of that office, the voice echoed in her mind. Over the next few days, she struggled with her emotions; she desperately craved the opportunity, yet she feared that agreeing would lead her into a hellish existence, possibly turning into a lifelong nightmare. She wasn't an inexperienced girl; she had heard plenty of stories about women being toyed with and abused.
A few days later, she ultimately succumbed to temptation and made the move. However, the horrifying scenarios she'd imagined did not materialize. She wasn't stripped and locked in a basement, nor did she suffer any form of abuse. Instead, he simply dressed her up beautifully and had her do laundry, cook, and make the bed for him every day. His life was healthy and orderly, with no bad habits, and even without the frivolity that often followed fame. At just eighteen, he was as composed as a middle-aged man who had seen it all.
He was young, wealthy, talented, and handsome. Most women would have deemed him the total package, possessing nearly every admirable quality in a man. Even though she rationally told herself that this situation was unlikely to lead anywhere profound, she found herself developing a mild crush on this younger man.
In the early days, she even attempted to flirt with him, but to her disappointment, it only led to awkward situations. He found her attempts amusing and treated them like a performance, watching her with great enjoyment. If she hadn't known he had a girlfriend and a mistress, and that he kept a little minx at home who sometimes spent the night out, she might have wondered if he was gay, considering how high the percentage of gay men seemed to be in Hollywood.
Lost in her thoughts, Nicole changed into her pajamas, neatly hanging her sexy maid outfit in the closet. After closing the wardrobe, she climbed into bed, turned off the bedside lamp, and tossed and turned in the darkness for a while.
"Perhaps, just one more try."
Thinking back to the conversation she had overheard between Eric and Drew after dinner, she couldn't shake the idea. While being unable to be this man's girlfriend or wife wouldn't save her ten years of striving, at least she could make a lasting impression. From what she gathered from their discussion, she figured this could only help her career.
After some time, she finally devised a decent excuse. It wasn't so much an excuse; she had intended to bring it up that evening, but that little minx Drew had been there, and she didn't want to be mocked. So she decided to wait until tomorrow to mention it, and now the perfect opportunity had come.
...
She fumbled to turn on the bedside lamp, sat up, thought for a moment, then opened her suitcase, pulled out a bottle of perfume, and sprayed it on herself a few times. She rarely used this particular scent lately, as after trying it once, Eric had said it was too strong for his liking, prompting her to stop using it to please him.
But perhaps it would have some effect this time. The perfume was rose musk, known for its supposed aphrodisiac qualities. Checking her watch, she sat on the bed for a bit, and when the hands pointed to midnight, she quietly opened the door and carefully made her way down the hall to Eric's room.
She lightly knocked a few times and took a deep breath, patiently waiting. She knew he could hear her; he typically worked in his study until after eleven and surely wasn't asleep yet.
After a moment, the door opened, revealing Eric in his pajamas, looking puzzled at Nicole, his eyes subtly flickering. "Nicole, it's late. What's up?" he asked.
"Eric, this is a bit awkward to bring up, but I don't know many people here in Los Angeles, and I don't have anyone who can really help..." Nicole initially appeared calm, but her demeanor turned anxious.
"Yes?" Eric still hadn't moved aside to let her in.
"I'm saying... could I borrow some money? Didn't you mention the rent for that apartment is... is four thousand dollars a month? But I don't have much left." Her voice wavered slightly; it wasn't an act. She had stuttered as a child, and even though she had overcome it while growing up, she still stumbled over her words when she was nervous.
Eric leaned against the doorframe and nodded. "I see. Wait here for a moment while I grab my checkbook." He turned, and just as he realized he ought to remind her of something, she followed him into the bedroom. He had no choice but to let her; thankfully, he had forced that little minx into the closet or it could have turned into a real hassle.
"Will one hundred thousand be enough?" Eric asked as he found his checkbook and looked up at her.
Nicole quickly nodded. "That's plenty! I... I'll pay you back as soon as I receive my paycheck."
"No need to rush. Just pay me back whenever you have the money. I believe you'll be rolling in it once your first movie hits theaters. Remember, Julia was still renting a place earlier this year, and now she's bought herself a mansion in Beverly Hills and hired a bunch of assistants and bodyguards. She's bigger than I am," Eric casually mentioned Julia's rise, focusing on filling in the check.
*****
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