Chương 30: Chapter 30: Invitation
Although the house was a bungalow, it was quite large. It seemed the owner had intended it to be used as a filming location, as the interior was exquisitely decorated and elegant. Overall, it had a tasteful appearance, with a living room, bedroom, kitchen, study, and workroom—all well-equipped. Especially in some relatively concealed areas, there were reserved camera spots that easily captured panoramic views of the corresponding rooms.
Murphy was quite satisfied with the place. After circling around, he and the real estate agent entered the well-soundproofed study.
"Mr. Wayne..." Murphy addressed the realtor as they settled into high-backed armchairs.
"If I were to rent it for one and a half months in one go, how much would the rent be?" he inquired.
Wayne's brain worked swiftly, and he promptly responded, "Nine thousand nine hundred dollars!"
"What?" Murphy furrowed his brow. "That's too expensive."
"Mr. Stanton, you can't put it like that," Wayne raised his hand, gesturing towards the outside. "That crew is renting it by the day, and the daily rent is as high as five hundred dollars. I know you're different from them, shooting a regular movie, so I offered a discount."
He continued persuasively, "I can assure you, it's not easy to find a house suitable for filming in Los Angeles. This one has ample space, complete furnishings, and almost brand-new decoration. You can shoot indoor scenes directly here. Renting a studio and setting up scenes would cost more and might not yield better results."
Clearly, Wayne was a very seasoned real estate agent.
Murphy remained unmoved. "The price is still too high."
In reality, the price offered was entirely acceptable to him, but given the current situation, he aimed to save wherever possible. The money saved could be invested in the filming and production.
Wayne pondered for a few seconds. "Nine thousand dollars. If it's any less, I won't be able to justify it to the landlord, and you'll have to look elsewhere."
Tapping lightly on the armrest of the sofa, Murphy made a decision. "Fine, nine thousand dollars."
After agreeing on the time to sign the formal contract, Murphy left the study first. Just as he and Jessica were about to walk out through the hallway, the door of the adjacent room was suddenly pulled open, and a person hurriedly walked out.
With her curly golden hair falling casually over her shoulders, and her sharply defined face still showing signs of fatigue from intense activity, she rushed out so quickly that she didn't have time to put on any clothes and simply draped a long thin blanket over herself, revealing glimpses of what was underneath as she moved.
"Mr. Stanton..." she approached them, "Please wait a moment."
Murphy turned to look at her, wondering why the female lead of the crew was seeking him out. He feigned a puzzled expression.
She seemed to have some understanding of Murphy and Jessica's background and greeted them, "Hello, Mr. Stanton. Hello, Miss Chastain."
Murphy nodded in acknowledgment. "Hello."
"I'm Jenna Jameson," she introduced herself, gesturing towards the house behind her, "the female lead of this crew and one of the investors."
This was none other than the famous Jenna Jameson, whom Murphy was well aware of. He exchanged pleasantries, "It's nice to meet you, Miss Jameson."
"Call me Jenna," she said with a warm smile, speaking directly and openly. "I heard from Wayne that you're planning to shoot a feature film here?"
Upon hearing this, Murphy understood her purpose and nodded, "Starting next month."
Jenna Jameson immediately continued, "It's impressive that someone of your age can become a director in Hollywood."
Murphy chuckled, "Just lucky."
"Is that so?" Jenna Jameson extended her hand, wrapped in the blanket, and handed him a business card. "Here's my card..."
She made a gesture as if to make a phone call but didn't leave immediately. Instead, she turned to Jessica Chastain, scrutinizing her from head to toe, her eyes lingering on her chest, before magically producing another business card and handing it over.
Jessica Chastain didn't understand her intentions but politely accepted the card.
"Your credentials are very impressive..." Jenna Jameson said in a probing tone, "If you're interested in this industry, you can call me. I guarantee you'll become famous after just one film."
Upon hearing this, Jessica Chastain was almost speechless with indignation. For a moment, she couldn't find the right words to respond.
Seeing Jenna Jameson leave, Murphy headed towards the car, and once Jessica Chastain got into the passenger seat, he started the car and drove back the way they came.
Jessica Chastain sat in the passenger seat, glaring at the business card in her hand with resentment.
Murphy glanced at her and offered a piece of advice, "It's just an invitation."
"But she's inviting me into the adult film industry!" Jessica Chastain retorted unhappily.
"That doesn't matter. She has the right to extend invitations, and you have the right to refuse them."
In the end, she was just a girl who had recently stepped out of her ivory tower, lacking experience and resilience. Murphy changed the direction of the conversation. After the Ford car turned onto the main road, he added, "Actually, this also shows that you have excellent qualifications."
Jessica Chastain thought about it and realized that he was right.
She then asked about the business card Jenna Jameson had given him, "Why did she give you her card? Was she trying to seduce you?"
"I doubt it," Murphy shook his head. "I have no interest, and I'm sure she didn't either."
In her eyes, he was a potential asset. Building connections with him might open doors for her in Hollywood if he succeeded.
Jessica Chastain realized that she lacked a lot of experience, sitting next to someone who, despite being younger, was as cunning as a fox.
She asked curiously, "Then what was her intention?"
"She simply wants to expand her social circle and make more connections, especially with people related to Hollywood," Murphy explained, pointing at himself. "In her eyes, I'm a potential rising star. By building a relationship with me, she might have a chance to enter Hollywood."
In the end, despite saying so, Murphy kept her business card, as one never knew when it might come in handy. After all, the queen of that circle wasn't just blowing smoke.
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