章 31: Chapter 31: Making the First Move
"Huh, do you know me?"
Naomi Watts, whose name had just been called, showed an equally surprised expression on her face.
Born in the UK, she hadn't had much success after coming to Hollywood. For the first five or six years, she worked in a restaurant while attending every audition she could hear about. It wasn't until 1997 that she landed a leading role in an indie film with a budget of only a few hundred thousand dollars.
Although she started getting more work after that, they were all small, insignificant roles. The movies she was in had budgets that didn't exceed $3 million.
So, when Wayne recognized her instantly, she was genuinely surprised, not pretending.
At that moment, Wayne finally recalled that the woman standing before him, whose looks in her youth rivaled Charlize Theron's but, to him, lacked distinctiveness or memorability, was a bit of a late-blooming star.
Born in 1968, it wouldn't be until next year, when she starred in the thriller *Mulholland Drive*, that she would truly rise to fame, and she wouldn't become widely known until she played the female lead in *King Kong*.
Wayne racked his enhanced brain and finally remembered a recent film Naomi Watts had starred in.
"I saw you in *Dangerous Beauty*. Your beauty left a lasting impression."
Wayne pretended to admire Naomi Watts' face—although she was already 32, she looked like she was barely in her twenties—and smiled as he spoke.
"Really? I'm so happy to receive your compliment! So... can I buy you a drink?" Naomi Watts flashed a sweet smile and looked into Wayne's eyes as she asked.
Why would someone come to a bar alone to drink? Adults should all know the answer to this question, especially in a free and open place like America.
And the people who came to this bar were often looking for more than just satisfying physical needs. They might also be hoping for opportunities to advance their careers. So, the men and women here were even more forward than those in regular bars.
In fact, Naomi had only just gained access to this bar last year, no longer stopped by the bouncers outside. Since then, she had become a regular.
Even though the prices here were steep, she still spent a significant portion of her modest income here.
So, the moment Wayne walked in, she had already noticed him.
Although Wayne was young and not a star, director, or producer she could name, from his clothes to his demeanor, and most importantly, the confidence he exuded, it was clear he wasn't just another nobody like her.
Having been in Hollywood for almost ten years, though she hadn't gained much fame or raised her pay, she had been on countless sets and met all sorts of people. She was confident her judgment was accurate.
Initially, she was pondering how to approach Wayne more naturally, considering how young he seemed.
Even though she looked young, she was actually 32.
But soon, she realized she wasn't the only one eyeing Wayne in the bar.
She hadn't yet spotted anyone prettier than her, but there were certainly younger and more voluptuous women around.
After all, as an actress who had to maintain her on-screen figure, she looked even slimmer in person than on film.
So, to prevent Wayne from being snatched away by another woman, she decided to make the first move.
Since Wayne recognized her name, it meant she had a decent chance.
"Of course, but it's my good fortune to meet a beauty like you here, so allow me to buy the drink."
While speaking flattering words, Wayne openly admired Naomi Watts' stunning face.
Had it been a ugly guy, Naomi Watts might have felt insulted. Even if her smile remained unchanged, she'd have mentally given him a bad review.
But if it was someone as handsome as Wayne, that was a different story.
"Thank you for the compliment! In that case, I won't be shy! By the way, I don't even know your name yet." Naomi Watts gave him a dazzling smile, seamlessly striking up a conversation.
"Damn it, that b****!"
"She beat us to it!"
"Let's hope she ends up empty-handed tonight, just like always!"
Scattered in different corners of the bar, a few women silently cursed, having missed the chance to approach Wayne before Naomi did.
But even if Naomi knew this, she wouldn't care. After all, a woman's vanity is often fueled by the jealousy of others.
As a foreigner without any connections, the fact that she dared to pursue a career in Hollywood meant she had a strong mental fortitude.
A moment later, when Naomi learned Wayne's identity, she couldn't help but let out a gasp, mixing genuine surprise with a bit of performance.
"What? You're the owner of a production company?"
"It's just a small production company."
"That's still really impressive!"
Naomi replied earnestly, her eyes showing just the right amount of admiration.
Clearly, she was acting.
At her age, though not yet famous, she'd met plenty of production company owners, and some of them she may have gotten quite close to.
How else could she have landed roles in those low-budget indie films?
Even actresses as beautiful as Jessica and Anne had to make compromises early in their careers, often auditioning for roles without a single line.
"Were you thinking about work just now? You seemed a bit troubled," Naomi asked, seizing the opportunity, her face showing concern.
"Oh no, the day-to-day operations are handled by a professional CEO, and the films we're producing are going smoothly. I was just debating whether to bring my new girlfriend home or rent her an apartment. She just moved here from New York and doesn't have a place to stay yet."
"Uh..."
Wayne's words instantly made Naomi's expression freeze, her pupils seeming to shrink slightly.
She hadn't expected such words to come from someone who looked so handsome, refined, and princely.
But then she chuckled bitterly to herself, reminding herself that this was Hollywood.
The man standing before her was a young "big shot" who already owned a production company. Was it really surprising that he had multiple women?
If Wayne were truly a gentleman, why would she be approaching him?
She was already in her thirties, her acting was average, and though she was beautiful, Hollywood was full of women far more beautiful than her.
Without connections, the only way for her to climb higher was to rely on someone like Wayne, wasn't it?
Besides, Wayne was so handsome that even if she didn't gain anything from him, she'd still feel like she'd hit the jackpot.
In just a moment, Naomi Watts mentally prepared herself, her sweet smile returning to her face.
However, before she could speak again, someone suddenly approached from the side.
"Hey, Wayne, I've been looking for you. Who's this beautiful lady?"
Wayne and Naomi turned to see Charlize Theron walking toward them.
Charlize had changed into a fitted dark gold gown and applied exquisite makeup, looking even more stunning than she had on set earlier in the day.
With her tall, alluring figure, she stood out even in this bar full of beauties.
Of course, from Wayne's perspective, Charlize Theron was only more famous and younger than Naomi at this point. In terms of looks, the two were about the same.
Suddenly, a thought occurred to Wayne. He glanced between the two women, a playful gleam in his eyes.
If he remembered correctly, in the parallel world three years from now, these two women would compete for the Best Actress Oscar at the 76th Academy Awards.
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