Chapter 397: Chapter 398: That...
[Chapter 398: That...]
Women typically had smaller breakfasts, and Kathryn Bigelow soon finished her simple sandwich, sipping juice while making small talk with Eric, who was still tackling his ham sandwich.
Once Eric finished eating, Kathryn asked, "What's next on your agenda?"
He gestured toward a stack of newspapers and documents beside him. "The New York Stock Exchange opens at ten, so I should wrap up these before then."
"Take your time. I need to get going," Kathryn replied politely, giving Eric a nod before standing up to leave.
Eric didn't try to keep her; with a strong-willed woman like Kathryn, showing too much eagerness could backfire. Provoking some interest while maintaining a bit of distance was the better choice.
...
As he watched her walk away, he signaled for the waiter to clear their plates, then opened the pile of newspapers next to him. He started with the Los Angeles Times, quickly scanning the international news section. The United Nations troops were beginning to wrap up operations, and otherwise, nothing significant caught his attention. He swiftly flipped to the entertainment section.
"Disney announced a collaboration with Robert Shea to produce Cutthroat Island, slated for June 28th."
Today was certainly a good day, Eric thought to himself, a faint smirk creeping onto his lips.
He had been worried that his plan might hit a snag, but things seemed to be unfolding just as he intended. With Disney and Robert Shea both falling into this trap, it allowed Chris to accelerate acquiring Disney stocks.
Although Cutthroat Island wasn't a special effects-driven film, it was still an over $70 million production, and the five-month shoot was neither particularly short nor long. From what he read, Disney and Robert Shea had also, as he had secretly arranged, enlisted Renny Harlin and Geena Davis as director and lead actress, likely ensuring the film would maintain the 'standard' of the original.
It was quite evident that by scheduling Cutthroat Island for June 28th, they aimed to counter the releases of Firefly's Toy Story on June 21st and Terminator 2 on July 5th, though it remained unclear who would truly overshadow whom.
...
Kathryn returned to her room, quickly touched up her makeup, slipped into a pair of tan knee-high leather boots, grabbed her purse, and headed downstairs again for a friend's gathering that morning.
As she passed through the hotel lobby, she slowed her pace, glancing toward the restaurant.
Eric still occupied his usual spot, legs crossed and lips slightly pursed, deeply engrossed in reading his newspaper, exuding a calm demeanor that belied his youth. If you were not familiar with him, it would be difficult to realize that he was only twenty years old at first glance.
Kathryn continued walking, and just before her view was blocked by a wall, she hesitated, but quickly redirected her gaze and walked outside.
Stepping out into the chilly air, Kathryn couldn't help but slip her hands into the pockets of her trench coat. After waiting a moment by the roadside, she hailed a taxi and climbed inside. The warm air of the air-conditioned car made her thoughts coalesce again.
That earlier scene replayed in her mind; she suddenly realized that Eric hadn't mentioned anything about Saving Private Ryan lately.
During the shoot for Point Break, he had been quite eager for her to take on that project, and they had discussed the script at length. However, given that Point Break hadn't wrapped yet and her own hesitations about the project, she had been stalling on the decision.
Could this guy have forgotten?
She quickly dismissed this thought. He was too sharp to overlook something like that. But why hadn't he brought it up?
Or perhaps he'd simply acted on a whim, later realizing that a woman couldn't possibly handle such a large-scale project and choosing to let it lie for now, planning to give the film to a more suitable male director later.
Leaning against the car window, watching the remnants of snow along the roadside, Kathryn pondered whether this situation could tie back to Point Break.
Point Break had already left theaters, earning over $61 million at the box office. Kathryn felt rather satisfied with the film's performance; at least it had allowed Firefly to recoup its costs. The profit from subsequent VHS sales would be pure earnings. For a female director, delivering profitable films was crucial; failing to do so could significantly impact their careers, more so than their male counterparts. Regarding this $30 million budget movie, Kathryn faced pressure akin to that of any blockbuster director.
Yet, the film's box office results paled in comparison to the films Eric had previously produced. This had to be the reason he stopped bringing up Saving Private Ryan.
It had to be.
That little schemer, always chasing profit!
The taxi came to a stop, and Kathryn paid the fare before stepping out. As the brisk air swept over her, her thoughts began to clear, and she quickly shoved her scattered musings aside.
After all, Point Break had done well at the box office. As long as she found projects that interested her, securing funding wouldn't be an issue. Missing out on one film wouldn't hurt much.
She gave herself a pep talk, reflecting on unnecessary anxieties, and pulled her trench coat collar up. With her purse tucked under her arm and her hands back in her pockets, she strode toward the nearby street, her sturdy leather boots clacking against the pavement.
A gust of cold wind hit her, making her shiver slightly, and she couldn't help but think it might be time to buy a scarf.
...
For several days afterward, since both of them had a strong sense of time, they consistently met at breakfast.
"Sometimes, I can't help but think your life is so vastly different from your age, it's hard to believe," Kathryn remarked one morning as they took their usual seats.
Eric looked up at her. "What kind of life do you think I should be living?"
Kathryn made a dismissive gesture. "Anything but this -- it goes against my sense of normalcy."
Eric chuckled a bit. "Maybe I'm doing this on purpose to catch your attention. You know, I'm quite good at charming women."
Kathryn shot him an incredulous gaze, her cheeks turning slightly pink. Hesitantly, she asked, "You're not -- you're not really like what those papers say, with that... that fixation, are you? I'm, well, a lot older than you."
"What papers are you reading? Proper publications typically praise me for my youthful talent and don't dwell on that nonsense."
"I can't remember the name; it was just a profile article I happened upon."
Eric thought for a moment and explained, "Let's put it this way: I prefer spending time with women who are closer to my mental age. It gives us more topics to discuss, and as you can see, we've enjoyed our chats these past few days, haven't we?"
*****
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