章節 250: Meteoric rise
As Lucas and Jennifer spent another day together, they couldn't escape the prying eyes of reporters and onlookers, who relentlessly snapped photos of them.
Fed up with the attention, they sought refuge in Jennifer's hotel room. Jennifer sighed, her expression a mix of frustration and resignation. "Things were different now, huh? We can't even enjoy our time in New York without being hounded."
Lucas's smile was tinged with remorse. "I guess I've become a bit too famous for our own good."
Jennifer chuckled, but there was an edge to her voice. "You're telling me. You should be sorry."
They settled into the hotel room, Lucas flipping on the television as Jennifer busied herself preparing their meal, both of them trying to regain some semblance of normalcy in the chaos that had become their lives.
Lucas couldn't escape the headlines: "This year's hottest new couple? Rising stars Lucas Knight and Jennifer Lawrence spotted together!" The news anchors gushed, flashing image after image of their intimate moments on the big screen.
"We're doing our best to reach out to the rumored lovebirds for a confirmation," the anchorwoman teased, leaving the public craving for more.
Lucas flipped through the channels, but no matter where he stopped, the news was the same: him and Jennifer, plastered across every screen. The reporters dissected their relationship, speculating on every detail as if it were public property.
Photos of them together flooded the screen, leaving them with no room to breathe. Lucas sighed, feeling trapped by the intrusion.
He joined Jennifer in the kitchen, his expression grim. "I think we should head to my apartment. We won't be safe here for long. It's only a matter of time before the reporters or paparazzi catch wind that we're staying here."
Jennifer turned to him, her expression mirroring his frustration. "You're right. I guess we don't have much of a choice."
After a quick meal in the hotel room, Lucas and Jennifer donned scarves to conceal their lower faces as they made their way to the lobby. They hailed a taxi and slid into the backseat, trying to blend in with the city's bustling crowd. Finally, they arrived at their destination, and Lucas led Jennifer to his apartment building.
They rode the elevator to the top floor, and Lucas opened the door to a spacious, tastefully decorated space. "Welcome," he said, ushering her inside.
Jennifer's eyes widened. "Wow, this is... impressive."
Lucas smiled, guiding her to the living room. There, two burly men—Jack and Simon, Lucas's bodyguards—were engrossed in a movie, munching on popcorn.
"I wonder how Mr. Knight is doing now," Simon sighed, shoveling another handful of popcorn into his mouth. "I hope he's doing well... even with all the attention on him and his girlfriend."
"Yeah, they're everywhere on the news and the internet," Jack agreed, shaking his head. "I doubt he's feeling great about it."
Lucas was amused by his bodyguards' concern.
"Hey, fellas," Lucas greeted them casually, startling the two bodyguards.
"Mr. Knight!" Simon exclaimed, jumping to his feet. Jack followed suit, both of them visibly surprised to see their boss. Their eyes darted between Lucas and Jennifer, who stood side by side.
Lucas's smile widened, as if he could read their minds. There was no point in hiding it any longer. "Guys, this is Jennifer. Jennifer, these are my trusty bodyguards, Jack and Simon."
Lucas's words hung in the air, and it was clear that he had just introduced her as more than a friend. The bodyguards' eyes widened, but they quickly masked their surprise with professionalism.
"Nice to meet you, Jennifer," Jack said, extending his hand. Simon followed suit, shaking her hand firmly.
Jennifer smiled. "It's a pleasure to finally meet you both. I've heard a lot about you two."
---
Back at the hotel, reporters swarmed the hallway near Jennifer's room, desperate for any information about the couple's whereabouts. Harried hotel staff tried their best to shoo them away, insisting the pair had already checked out. Eventually, the reporters relented and left, but not before getting a tip-off about Lucas's apartment complex.
In no time, news trucks and reporters flooded the building's entrance, microphones and cameras at the ready.
Lucas and Jennifer watched from the safety of his high-rise apartment, the transparent walls offering a panoramic view of the chaos below.
"Well," Lucas sighed, "I guess we made the right call leaving when we did."
Jennifer nodded, her grip tightening around her mug of coffee. "This is insane."
"At least we're safe up here," Lucas said, putting an arm around her shoulders. "For now, anyway."
Jennifer bit her lip, hesitating before she spoke up. "Lucas, my agent and manager called… They're a bit… concerned about my career."
Lucas turned to her, brows furrowed. "What did they say?"
"They're worried, but… they also think being with you might be good for my career." Jennifer sighed, her cheeks flushing. "I'm sorry, Lucas."
Lucas waved her apology away. "It's alright. I understand how this business works."
As they talked, Lucas's phone buzzed, and he excused himself to take the call, leaving Jennifer alone with her thoughts.
Lucas answered the call, "Hey, Felicity. What's up?"
"Lucas, is it true? The rumors about you and Jennifer?" Felicity's voice was casual, but Lucas could hear the undercurrent of anxiety.
He hesitated, unsure how to respond. "Well, you'll just have to wait for our official statement, alright?"
He couldn't confirm or deny anything without Jennifer's approval.
After a longer conversation, Lucas hung up and heaved a sigh, only to be greeted by another call—this time from Neil, his manager. "About time you picked up, buddy."
"Hey, Neil. What's up?" Lucas said, trying to sound casual.
"Spare me the act, Lucas. Are you really dating Jennifer?" Neil's voice was a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Lucas couldn't help but blush. "Yeah... I mean, we're... seeing each other."
"Figures. You're quite the playboy, aren't you?"
"Hey, hey," Lucas defended himself. "Jennifer's different. She's my first girlfriend, I swear."
Neil sighed dramatically. "Alright, alright. Listen, talk shows are lining up for an interview. Ellen DeGeneres's people have been hounding me. They said you turned them down last time, but now that you're single—I mean, sorry, not single—they want you on the show."
Lucas chuckled. "Can't I just say no again?"
"Not this time, buddy," Neil said, his tone brooking no argument. "You're white-hot right now, especially after that music video with Taylor Swift. Talk shows and brand deals are lockeye for a piece of the action."
Lucas sighed, resigned to his fate. "Alright, alright. I'll do it."
Neil's voice was filled with excitement as he spoke, "Good! You're booked for the Ellen DeGeneres show on August 18th. And there are several projects lined up for you, including an offer from Warner Bros. for a superhero movie."
Lucas sighed, "Not another superhero movie."
"Don't dismiss it yet, Lucas. Production for this one doesn't start until next year. They're still in the planning stages. You have time to think about it."
Lucas crossed his arms, "Well, I'll only consider it if I can do that villain movie first."
"You and your villain obsession," Neil groaned, though there was a note of amusement in his voice. "You do know they're the bad guys, right?"
"I know, I know," Lucas said with a chuckle. "But don't you think it's refreshing to see the world from the other side once in a while? Besides, a villain is made, not born... well, except for the few psychopaths who are born that way."
Neil sighed, "Whatever suits your taste. After Ellen, we have late-night talk shows lined up too, like Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert."
Hearing the list of talk shows lined up for him, Lucas raised his eyebrows, "All of them want to interview me? Interesting."
Neil smirked, "No shit, Sherlock. You're the hottest topic right now, at least in the US. Social media and news outlets can't get enough of you."
Lucas leaned back in his chair, "Well, might as well use this time to gain more wealth. How many brand deals are on the table?"
Neil chuckled, "Your music video has 34 million views in just a few days, and your Twitter account is now the most followed, even surpassing Lady Gaga. You've got plenty of offers, trust me."
Lucas rubbed his temples, feeling overwhelmed, "I suddenly don't know how to handle all this attention."
"Don't overthink it, buddy," Neil said, patting him on the back. "You're trending now, but it'll die down eventually. You'll be able to walk around NYC again without worries."
Lucas laughed, "Let's hope so."
After wrapping up his conversation with Neil, Lucas walked over to Jennifer's side. They spent the rest of the day together, savoring every moment before they had to say goodbye again. Lucas watched as Jennifer was escorted by her bodyguards and driver, hired by her manager, into the car that would whisk her away.
"Sigh," he sighed, "Now I'm off to Burbank, California. My days are about to be packed with schedules again."
As he was lost in thought, Lucas's phone rang. It was Liza. He answered, "Hey, Liza. It's been a while."
"Yeah… Your name's everywhere these days," she said, a hint of amazement in her voice.
Lucas chuckled, "I'm kind of overwhelmed by all this attention. I feel like every move I make ends up on social media and gets analyzed on TV."
Liza couldn't help but laugh, "Your still funny... You haven't changed, have you? Anyway, I wanted to thank you. My restaurant's booming! People are flocking in because they know you used to work here."
"Really?" Lucas grinned, "I'm glad my fame's good for something then."
After catching up with Liza, she invited him over for dinner, but Lucas had to decline as his flight to Burbank was leaving soon.
"Next time, I promise," he said before hanging up.
Finally, he boarded his first-class flight, covered by the Ellen DeGeneres Show.
Settling into his plush seat. The privacy, the legroom, the attentive service—a far cry from his days in economy. He closed his eyes, trying to process the whirlwind of events that had brought him here.
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