บท 43: Chapter 43: Scandal
[Chapter 43: It Was a Spell]
The bedroom felt a bit dim due to the heavy curtains. Julia Roberts, who usually maintained a pretty regular schedule, woke up groggy. She rolled over, exposing her flawless body from under the thin blanket. She raised her arm to check her wristwatch, instinctively thinking she was going to be late for work, and suddenly sat up. But just a few seconds later, she sighed, relaxing her body as she leaned back against the pillows.
Glancing to her side, she noted that the man who had worn her out the night before was no longer beside her. If not for the unfamiliarity of the room, Julia would have surely thought everything from the previous night had been a dream -- a nightmare where she was lured into the abyss by that demon-like man.
Lost in her thoughts for a bit, Julia finally got up from the bed, her bare skin gliding through the cool air of the dim room as she searched for her scattered clothes. The search only fueled her anger. Aside from her sturdy jeans, her shirt, bra, and even her underwear had been ripped apart. It was clear how intense last night's activities had been.
With no choice, she reluctantly slipped into the jeans and, glancing around, grabbed a white shirt from the man's clothes rack to put on. Pulling back the curtains, she stepped out onto the balcony, greeted by the relentless, bright Los Angeles sunshine -- bright enough to be annoying.
Taking a few deep breaths of the cool morning air, Julia turned and headed downstairs.
...
In the kitchen, she heard the clinking of pots and pans. Turning, she spied a casually dressed man busy at work, the faint smell of oatmeal wafting through the air.
Eric soon noticed Julia's presence. "Good morning, Julia."
"Morning," she replied, somewhat reluctantly. Despite her politeness, a wave of indignation rose in her. This man had thoroughly worn her out last night, yet he wouldn't even throw a simple term of endearment her way -- heartless!
"You're already rich and you still make your own breakfast?" Julia leaned against the doorframe, crossing her arms with a sly tone.
Eric raised an eyebrow at her comment. "Seems like I didn't teach you a lesson last night if you're still brave enough to talk to me like that."
"You... don't think just because we reached some... some agreement, you can do whatever you want to me. Worst-case scenario, we just..."
Eric, appearing unfazed by her rising indignation, casually lifted the pot lid, checked the contents, then switched off the burner. "What's the worst that could happen? A clean break? You'd be the one at a loss."
Julia found herself momentarily speechless, glaring at Eric, as if she wished to kill him with her eyes.
"Okay, enough with the glare. I just heard the paper delivery pass by; can you fetch today's paper for me?"
Julia stomped her foot like a little girl and turned to head toward the door.
In the kitchen, Eric peeked at Julia's alluring silhouette, allowing a slight smile to escape him. The reason he had treated Julia so intensely last night was to plant a seed of submission in her subconscious. It seemed to have worked; although she still argued, her behavior and attitude confirmed the effects of his 'teaching.' Since he had decided to elevate Julia to new heights than in her past life, he couldn't let her completely break free from his control.
Despite being a woman, Julia had a stronger-willed personality than many men after she became famous. Eric didn't want her to soar too high and then go off-script in a chaotic manner. Given Julia's character, that possibility loomed large if he didn't take precautions.
...
After gathering a stack of newspapers, Julia avoided appearing before Eric, choosing instead to sit in the living room and leaf through them alone. She flipped through several issues, finding nothing of interest until one caught her eye: the Los Angeles Daily News.
The headline made her burst into a wicked smile: "Home Alone Director Spotted Returning with Drew Barrymore Late at Night; Convenience Store Clerk Girlfriend Leads Heartbroken Departure."
Below the lengthy title was a scandalous article accompanied by clear photos.
"What're you looking at? Not pretty to begin with, and now you're making that face?" Eric entered with breakfast in hand, placing it on the coffee table.
Julia shot him a glare, knowing that this jerk was about to face a significant problem but was blissfully unaware of it. She handed over the newspaper, rising to stride toward the kitchen. "You should worry about yourself first. I can't believe you hurt such a beautiful girlfriend."
Eric glanced at the paper, his insides simmering with irritation. Those paparazzi truly were persistent -- the picture indicated they'd likely been camped outside his door for at least a day.
As he read through the piece -- laced with half-truths and exaggerations -- he contemplated the potential fallout. The detailed recounting of how Drew spent the night at his place, leading to being caught in bed by her girlfriend, felt as if the reporter had been lurking nearby, capturing the whole scene.
Finishing quickly, Eric tossed the paper onto the coffee table, thoughtfully munching on his breakfast while figuring out the mess it could bring.
Julia returned to the living room, a bowl of oatmeal and a plate of bread in her hands, noticing Eric's stoic expression. Curious, she asked, "Aren't you the least bit worried?"
Eric didn't bother looking up. "It's just tabloid gossip. If I got worked up every time, I wouldn't be able to live normally. Once you enter this world, you have to be ready to bear its consequences."
"I know that, but don't you see how the reporters are purposely dragging Drew's age into this? She's only thirteen! According to California law," Julia raised three fingers, "that's at least three years, even if the girl willingly participated."
Eric recognized the tabloid's intentions, these sensationalist outlets always aiming to stir the pot. But he wasn't worried about them; another issue loomed larger on his mind.
With such a juicy piece of gossip now circling, combined with December being the prime movie season, it was clear that the studios suffering from the box office hits of Home Alone and 17 Again would seize this opportunity to undermine those films' earnings.
Noticing Eric's silence, Julia mistakenly assumed he was feeling guilty, which made her feel smug for a moment.
"Alright, enough gloating. It's not like my misfortune is going to boost your standing. After breakfast, do the dishes; I've got matters to attend." Eric hastily finished up, grabbing his coat, and added, "By the way, if I were you, I'd quit the restaurant job for now. Just stay home quietly for a few days."
Julia protested, "Why? You can't restrict my freedom!"
Eric pointed at the paper on the table. "Because tomorrow, you'll likely end up in there too."
"Ah!" Julia found herself momentarily at a loss for words.
...
"Good morning, Eric."
At the pre-arranged real estate agency in Burbank, Eric just got out of the car when he spotted Jeffrey Hanson waiting for him.
"Morning, Jeffrey. Shall we go in?"
Jeffrey, however, stopped him. "Hold on, Eric. I need to talk to you about something."
"Hmm?"
Jeffrey pulled Eric aside, taking out a copy of the Los Angeles Daily News. "Eric, you've been a bit reckless. Though I've only met Jenny a few times, I think she's a good girl. You shouldn't hurt her. More importantly, even if you're looking for a girlfriend, it shouldn't be Drew -- she's just a thirteen-year-old girl! If the wrong person exploits this, you could be ruined. Think about Roman Polanski; after that incident eleven years ago, it's been nearly impossible for him to return to the States."
Eric knew Jeffrey genuinely cared and patiently listened to his lecture. When Jeffrey finally finished, Eric patted his shoulder. "Don't worry, Jeffrey. It's just a misunderstanding. Although Drew stayed at my place, nothing inappropriate happened."
"In any case," Jeffrey still looked uneasy. "You should be careful, Eric. You've risen too quickly, drawing attention that may not be entirely positive."
Jeffrey realized he was rambling too much and quickly changed the subject, "Alright, let's head in. The real estate agent I scheduled is already waiting for us."
*****
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