Made in Hollywood

With brisk footsteps, they landed on the thin snow and made light footprints. With the occasional snowflakes falling from the sky, Duke crossed the square in front of the villa and ran into the garden at home. He had just returned from New Zealand in summer. Back in New York, he was somewhat unaccustomed to the severe cold of winter. He felt that the air in his lungs seemed to freeze his internal organs.

Still, Duke kept running, just like he's kept going over the years.

After running around in the snow-white garden, the dark clouds in the sky gradually dissipated, and the sun fell. It was as if it had been cooled by ice and snow, and it couldn't get hot.

After another run in the garden, Duke returned to the villa, took the hot towel from the servant, wiped his flushed face, changed his running shoes covered with snow, and entered the restaurant wearing cotton slippers. After reading today's newspaper for a while, my mother came in from outside, sat across from the dining table, and the servant brought the breakfast.

Mrs. Leah looked at it and said, "Your spirit is much better than a few days ago."

"Go home and relax."

Picking up the skim milk, Duke took a sip and said, "I feel much better. When I was in New Zealand, I felt like a mountain was on my body, and I couldn't stop thinking about work. The CPU of a computer only knows how to run, but it cannot stop and take a proper rest.”

"You're putting too much pressure on yourself."

After swallowing the food in her mouth, Mrs. Leah stared at Duke for a while, and said, "Honey, don't force yourself too much."

"So, mom..."

Duke looked down at the fried eggs on the plate. With a rare relaxed smile on his face, "I fled New Zealand and hid at home to recharge myself."

Mrs. Leah didn't eat much, Duke ate quickly, and breakfast was over soon.

Asked by Mrs. Leah as they walked out of the restaurant. "What are you going to do today? Or hide at home?"

"I don't want to go out."

Duke sent his mother to the door of the villa, and before she got in the car, he said, "Hide at home for a few days to clean up, I don't want to do anything right now."

"That's it, Duke."

Just about to get into the car, Mrs. Leah turned around. Said, "There is a banquet in the evening, it is not an ordinary party, it is a New Year's dinner in the upper circle of New York, you will attend with me."

"no problem."

Duke nodded directly in response.

Watching the mother's car drive out of the house. Duke returned to the villa, sat crooked on the sofa in the living room, picked up today's newspaper, and flipped through it.

This is not a serious big newspaper like The New York Times or the Wall Street Journal. It's the most gossip tabloid on the streets of New York, full of celebrity affairs. Among them was himself. It was a picture of walking into a Western restaurant in Wellington with Kate Beckinsale. The gossip newspapers used a firm tone to confirm that he had a new love.

For these true or false gossip scandals. Duke never cared, and looking at these things, he just wanted to relax completely and stop thinking about work in New Zealand.

Reading, lunch break, gym, the day passed quickly, and when his mother came home in the evening, Duke put on a straight dress, the ease and laziness of his body disappeared, and the whole person returned to a state of shrewdness and ability.

The New York Celebrity New Year's Dinner was held at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. When Duke walked into the banquet hall with his mother, many people were already seated. The business elites who arrived are either descendants of certain business families.

No matter how the relationship is in normal times, on such formal occasions, whether it is those influential figures in the business world or their descendants, they will greet people politely and warmly greet people.

The people who can appear here, even if there are people who are not very clear-headed, but the people who accompany him are definitely clear enough.

Even if you have a mocking face, no one will jump out and ask for trouble. It is not your own face that will be lost, but the face of the entire family and even the entire group company.

There may be such idiots, but the chance of encountering them here will not exceed 0.1%.

For example, Duke saw Michael Ovitz here, "Godzilla" was hit by "The Matrix", and the box office was far less than expected, causing Sony Columbia Pictures to stop the series, making Michael Ovitz's new The company's first packaging project suffered a major setback. Coupled with the conflicts accumulated in CAA before, it was inevitable that this wealthy agent had thoughts on him.

But the two of them were like old friends, shaking hands and greeting each other warmly, as if all contradictions did not exist.

And the rich people on the east and west coasts are famous for not dealing with them. Duke saw the famous madman Larry Ellison. Even if he was as arrogant as he was, he was facing the New York rich people who privately ridiculed him as a nouveau riche. A standard civilized person.

These rich people, or their descendants, have done countless jerk things in private, but no one will throw away their face in public.

With his mother, Duke met a lot of celebrities in New York. This party can be said to be the epitome of New York's high society.

In fact, the purpose of holding such a dinner party is also very clear. Celebrities in the business world also need to communicate and expand their network of contacts and funds. This is an opportunity. Some businesses and investments may start at the dinner.

"Director Rosenberg..."

"Please call me Duke."

What my mother just introduced was an investment executive from Goldman Sachs Group. He looked at Duke as if he was looking at green dollar bills, "Duke, the film you directed is not only a guarantee of profitability, but the investment in "Titanic" And "Mission Impossible" are also all sold, how much income did that big ship bring you last year? At least $300 million, right?"

Duke just laughed, but didn't answer.

"When will we work together?"

His words gradually turned to investment, "Goldman Sachs intends to invest in your film, or we invest in your favorite film together. I heard that you are preparing for the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy? If you lack funds, don't forget Goldman Sachs."

"If there is a lack of funds, I will definitely call you." Duke said politely.

The two exchanged business cards just now.

The other party didn't seem to give up, and said, "The film industry is a high-risk industry, but Goldman Sachs has always been very optimistic about you. Don't you plan to make Duke Studio bigger? Goldman Sachs can give you financial support."

"Accepting outside funding requires consulting Warner Bros."

Without even thinking about it, Duke pushed it to Warner, "I can't make a decision alone."

After finally getting rid of the entanglement of Goldman Sachs people, Duke returned to his mother, greeted people, and walked to the banquet area. In the huge banquet hall of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, there were nearly a hundred oak round tables. There is also a passage that is wide enough between the tables to facilitate the movement of social people.

"Hey Duke, this way."

When walking towards their table, Duke heard a familiar voice next to him, said something to his mother, and walked over to say hello, "Hi, Irene, I didn't expect to see you here."

"You've been hiding at home these days." Erin Lauder stood up and greeted Duke, shaking hands with Duke, "Not suitable for the cold weather in New York?"

"Just tired and want to rest." Duke smiled, looking at her short blue evening dress. "You're beautiful tonight."

"thanks."

Erin Lauder gestured to Duke behind him, "I'll introduce you."

"OK."

Duke followed her.

"This is Jane, my sister."

"This is Robert, my cousin..."

Under the introduction of Erin Lauder, Duke shook hands with the direct descendants of the Lauder family one by one, but except for Jane Lauder, the enthusiasm for him was only superficial.

After the introduction, only Sister Lauder stood beside Duke at the end.

"When is your new movie coming out?"

Jane Lauder, like an ordinary movie fan, leaned beside Duke and whispered, "And what about the sequel to The Matrix?"

"As planned, the new film will be held in the spring..."

As soon as he said a word, Duke felt Irene Lauder gently pull him, "Aunt Leah is waving to this side."

Duke looked back and said, "We'll talk another day, I'll go first."

When Duke turned to walk away, Erin Lauder and Jane Lauder returned to their table, the two sisters gathered together to chat in a low voice, the topic kept revolving around Duke.

"Didn't he invest in "Titanic"?" Jane Lauder asked curiously. "Irene, you have always had a good relationship with him. Do you know how much he made from this investment?"

"The return on investment must be high..."

Originally just wanted to deal with a few words, but seeing her sister's curious and persistent look, Erin Lauder had to say, "I heard Duke mention that as of Christmas, his $50 million investment, from "Titan" Nick's box office and all the peripherals made more than $380 million in return, and there will be more revenue in the future, but it will not be as scary as the release year."

"Nearly eight times the return on investment ratio..."

Even if she was born in a business family like Lauder, Jane Lauder was still stunned, "This is too scary."

"Horrible?" Erin Lauder said as a matter of course, "Which thing did he do in the movie that wasn't scary?"

On the other side, Duke walked over to the table they were at, and sat on his mother's left, "Anything, Mom?"

"I'll introduce you to a few people."

Mrs. Leah looked to her right. It was a middle-aged man with short blond-brown hair. Sitting next to him was a young girl with long blond-brown hair. Although she was sitting, the girl still looked unusually tall.

Duke glanced at them and immediately confirmed that they were a father and daughter, and they looked familiar. (To be continued ~^~)

PS:  The code word is too devoted, I almost forgot to update it, and it was a little late.