Capítulo 261: Chapter 261: It's Not Like I Can't Afford to Keep Her
Rushing back from Burbank to his place in West Hollywood, he got dressed and hurried to Beverly Hills.
Yet, he was late due to getting lost.
Finally, at a quarter past eight, he reached the mansion in Trousedale Estates. Renee Russell almost cried, fearing she might be turned away.
But that didn't happen.
A small private party was being held in the mansion. Renee was taken to the living room next to the villa's lounge, where a group of men and women were chatting on the sofa. She saw Martin Scorsese, Robert De Niro, Susan Sarandon, Jessica Lange… and, of course, that annoying little man.
Though not many, each was a familiar figure to any movie fan.
She felt somewhat inferior.
She knew everyone in the room, but likely none knew her.
Simon Westeros noticed her arrival and came over, prompting everyone to stand and look towards the door.
"Let me introduce you," he said.
He came over, not mentioning her lateness. He gently pushed her forward, and she stepped up, greeting everyone as introduced by Simon, eventually calming down.
After brief exchanges, everyone sat down again.
Renee Russell sat quietly beside Simon, accepting the red wine he handed her, listening to him chat merrily with Scorsese and others.
For over an hour, she mainly remembered them discussing Scorsese's upcoming film "Goodfellas" and De Niro's movie "The Sixth Sense," which was about to be released in late June. She was aware of this movie, written by De Niro himself, but aside from the name, the details were kept secret.
The small gathering gradually dispersed around ten.
After bidding farewell to De Niro and Harvey Keitel, Renee realized it was just her and Simon left in the mansion.
Simon led her inside, explaining, "I'm staying here to complete some post-production for 'Batman' at Warner Bros. Studios. Didn't want the commute to be too far."
Although Daenerys Entertainment's headquarters also had a post-production studio, it couldn't fulfill all the technical needs of "Batman."
This villa in Trousedale Estates was also one of Simon's properties. He realized his compulsive habit of buying properties everywhere was unchangeable, but his fortune was more than enough to cover it.
Simon started to think buying houses might be a hobby of his.
Renee felt disheartened.
She had hoped not to let him have his way tonight, but as he headed upstairs, she found herself following him. Just like earlier that night, being beside him among so many celebrities gave her a sense of security, like she had someone to rely on.
Reaching the second floor, thankfully, he didn't go straight to the bedroom but to a study.
Simon found a book and a script on the messy desk and handed them to Renee, saying, "You've met Martin. This is the novel and script for his next movie. I think you're a good fit for the lead, Helen Hill. Take these and prepare. Martin will arrange an audition for you next week. If you perform up to standard, the role is yours."
Renee took the script and novel, staring at the script cover "Goodfellas" in a daze.
Martin Scorsese.
One of Hollywood's four great directors, Scorsese's films often provided actors with ample opportunities, often boosting their careers. Robert De Niro, Harvey Keitel, and Jodie Foster, who just won the Oscar for Best Actress, all gained fame through his movies.
Thinking this, Renee doubted her capabilities.
Could she really act in a Scorsese film?
Simon, noticing her silence, asked, "What's wrong?"
Hesitantly, she said, "I'm not sure if I can do well."
"You just need to prepare," Simon replied. "I've spoken with Martin. His new film is male-centric. Although Helen Hill is the female lead, she's more of a supporting character with not many scenes. As long as you don't perform terribly in the audition, you'll get the role, and Martin will guide you during shooting. The role of Helen Hill actually has great potential; if you commit enough effort, you might even get an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. It's rare to get such chances to refine acting skills in Hollywood, especially starting late in your career. Acting in Martin's film is the best way to expand your range and move beyond being just a pretty face."
Renee nodded quietly after Simon's patient explanation.
Then the study fell silent again.
He sat behind the desk, browsing through HTML documents, while she stood opposite, holding the books, watching him.
Simon, seemingly oblivious, flipped through a dozen pages of HTML documents, and after about ten minutes, looked up again.
Renee was still standing there, a mix of vulnerability and defiance in her gaze.
"This," she seemed to be punishing herself.
After a moment, Simon asked, "Did you drive here?"
"Yes," she said, still staring at him.
"It's late. You should go home."
Surprised, she saw him approach. He reached out, his fingers brushing her cheek. Her body, well-maintained and youthful at 35, was her greatest asset. It was why he was so 'hands-on' the other night, leaving many marks.
However, his hand retracted at her neck, simply saying, "Go home. You've been drinking. I'll have Neil drive you."
He left the room, leaving her to follow.
Outside, she was still conflicted. She had barely sipped her wine and wanted to refuse the driver, but he insisted, so she complied.
Her car stayed behind, and she was driven home in his.
Hoping for some connection, she received her car the next morning at West Hollywood.
The audition was set for the following Wednesday.
With years of acting experience and ICM's help in hiring a well-known L.A. acting coach, Renee prepared diligently for four days and successfully passed the audition personally overseen by Scorsese, who praised her performance.
It wasn't mere politeness.
However, her mood wasn't great in the following days.
Perhaps having given her a role, they were even, and Simon never contacted her again.
…
Until his trip to Europe, Simon drowned himself in work. After his recent coma, he felt some unwanted thoughts in his consciousness. He couldn't tell if they were from the body's original owner or his own awakening consciousness.
Aware of the abnormality, he forcefully suppressed it.
The 42nd Cannes Film Festival opened on May 11. Daenerys Entertainment not only had Ella Doichman and Robert Lem promoting films but also showcased a series of their movies.
Cannes is more than an awards ceremony; it's Europe's largest film market.
Deciding to attend the 'Gucci Night' on May 20, Simon's European trip unavoidably expanded with additional itineraries.
Determined to prepare for the upcoming internet era, Simon easily located Tim Berners-Lee, the internet concept founder, working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Sweden. He hoped to invite Berners-Lee to North America to oversee the internet's technical standards.
Having bought Gucci, Simon also planned a visit to their headquarters in Florence.
He also intended to check on his numerous European properties.
While Ella Doichman and Robert Lem's team arrived in Cannes before May 11, Simon only left Los Angeles on the morning of May 19.
Arriving in Cannes, it was 8 AM local time on May 20.
Sofia Fessi personally greeted him, and they headed straight to his mansion in Le Cannet.
In the Spanish-style villa, Simon and Sofia quietly chatted as they entered, only to see Natasha Kinski curled up on the couch, wearing a loose white shirt and bare legs. She greeted Simon indifferently before heading upstairs, reminiscent of a cold Persian cat.
Noticing changes in the villa's decor, more feminine now, and sensing perfume in the air, Simon, who disliked servants around, instructed Neil to sweep the villa for bugs. Sitting down, he asked Sofia, "How much has she spent in the past year?"
"Around $700,000," Sofia replied, smiling.
"Gather the bills. I want to collect the debt," Simon said, recalling Natasha's Cannes jury vote last year. Lying down on the couch, he added, "And the interest too."
Sofia kneeled to adjust a cushion under his head, jokingly saying, "Then you certainly won't get it back. Natasha couldn't get alimony from her ex-husband. Although she acted in three movies last year, they were low-budget European films. Her total pay, even less after taxes, was under $200,000."
As Natasha Kinski was more of a decorative figure in European cinema, her earnings were modest. Even in commercial films, her pay was around $100,000.
"So, I should evict her," Simon pondered, getting comfortable. Noticing Jennifer standing by, he added, "I'll rest a bit. Show Jennifer to her room, then prepare lunch. Ella and Bob will join us."
After Sofia and Jennifer left, Simon thought of asking them to give the servants time off. Resting his head on his arms, he closed his eyes.
The long journey and busy days had left him tired.
Waking up over two hours later, he saw Natasha Kinski again on a nearby couch, still in the white shirt but now with pants, barefoot.
Noticing his gaze, she returned a fleeting look before focusing back on her fashion magazine.
Sitting up, Simon asked, "Where's Sofia?"
"Probably in the kitchen," Natasha replied, disinterested.
"You got divorced?"
"Yes."
"And the kids?"
"I won't raise them. Better with him."
"So, you plan to stay here?"
"I think it's nice."
"But I don't," Simon countered, seeking some control. "You spend too much. Maybe settle the account?"
"I have no money," Natasha said casually.
"So, I can kick you out?"
"Yes."
The odd standoff, or rather Simon's solo standoff, fizzled out. He wasn't good at evicting people.
Well, it was like keeping a cat, a pricey one.
As Ella Doichman and Robert Lem arrived, Simon stopped bothering with Natasha and got up to welcome them.
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