Chapter 235 Climbing into Ernst's Bed
Chapter 235 Climbing into Ernst's Bed
Chapter 235 Climbing into Ernst's Bed
There's no one in Hollywood who doesn't envy Jennifer Connelly, and the line of people who want to be like Connelly could stretch from the east side of Los Angeles to the west side.
Ernst is now basically seen as a tempting target by female celebrities in the entertainment industry; everyone who sees him wants to flirt with him.
However, this "Tang Monk's Flesh" (a metaphor for someone highly sought after) rarely appears in entertainment industry social activities. He is nowhere to be seen at banquets, parties, or award ceremonies.
This has greatly worried a group of female celebrities who aspire to marry into wealth and status; they possess all the skills to seduce men and charm, but can't find anyone to use them on.
But as the saying goes, there are always more solutions than problems, and the entertainment industry is never short of quick-witted people.
The six degrees of separation theory is demonstrated to its fullest extent here: you are no more than six people away from any other stranger in the world, a fact that Hollywood firmly believes in.
"Charlize, you must seize this opportunity. As long as you can get Ernst's protection, your career will be smooth sailing and bright."
John, the agent, sounded anxious and determined, as if he could already see Charlize Theron climbing onto Ernst's bed and soaring into the sky.
At this time, Charlize Theron was not yet the Hollywood queen with a commanding presence who was later revered by fans as "Queen Theron." She was just a newcomer who had only recently entered the industry.
Like all girls who dream of becoming stars, she was full of expectations for this glamorous industry. Every day, she worked hard to climb the ladder in the entertainment circle, fantasizing about standing on the highest stage and holding up the Oscar statuette that symbolizes honor through her acting skills and hard work.
She still believes that as long as you have the ability, you will eventually be recognized.
Upon hearing John's words, Charlize Theron's smile froze instantly. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she stared at her agent, as if she had heard something utterly absurd. "John, you—you want me to seduce him? Get into his bed?" Her voice trembled slightly, clearly unable to accept the other party's ridiculous statement.
In their early twenties, they still harbored a glimmer of hope for the world.
"Otherwise what?" John ruthlessly crushed her illusions, his tone carrying a chilling reality.
"You think you can succeed in Hollywood just by working hard and having dreams? Don't be naive, that's a fairy tale for kids."
Charlize Theron took a deep breath, her eyes becoming incredibly serious. "John, I believe in my acting skills. I don't think I need anyone's help. Give me a chance, and I'm sure I can prove myself."
Her tone was firm, like a stubborn warrior unwilling to bow to reality.
John was taken aback for a moment when he heard this, then suddenly burst into laughter. His laughter was full of mockery and sarcasm, as if he were looking at a child who didn't know any better.
"Acting skills? Charlize, you're too naive."
"If Hollywood were fundamentally about acting, then half of the Oscars would have to be re-selected. Do you think those who win awards are solely based on acting skills? There's a lot more to it than you imagine."
John sat up straight, staring sharply at Charlize as if trying to pull her out of her reverie. "You really think you're somewhat famous now because of your acting skills? Don't be naive."
"Your career has progressed so smoothly because the company believes you have investment value. Every role you have played is secured for you by the company using its resources. It's not because you are so outstanding, but because you can show the company the potential for the future."
"And then?" He paused, then asked again, before giving his own answer without waiting for Charlize's reply.
"Do you know what the rules of Hollywood are? Everything here has a price. It's the fairest world, where it's about equal exchange, not hard work or talent. You get what you pay for."
At this point, John's tone became more direct, even somewhat harsh: "How far you can climb isn't determined by your acting skills, but by how many men you can sleep with and how many resources you can secure for yourself. In this industry, chaste and virtuous women don't go very far."
"The Devil's Advocate will be the company's last investment in you. It's just a horror movie. Do you really think it can amaze the world like Titanic? Do you want to become the next Kate Winslet? Don't dream."
John mercilessly shattered Charlize's confidence: "So what if it's Kate Winslet? She still had to get into Ernst's bed. Her luck is that there are very few people in Hollywood who would make her willingly go to bed with them these days."
John gradually unveiled the darkness beneath Hollywood's glamorous facade to Charlize, presenting her with the most authentic and brutal reality: "These are the rules of Hollywood. Everyone has to follow them; no one is exempt. No matter how talented or hardworking you are, if you don't follow the rules, you'll be eliminated."
Seeing Charlize's silence, he threw out another message: "If you can't give what you're supposed to give, I guarantee that 'The Devil's Advocate' will be your first and last movie as the female lead."
"After that, the company will no longer provide you with any resources. You will slowly disappear from this industry, just like those forgotten newcomers. Your dream of becoming a star will come to an end."
"It's not that the company wants to do it this way, it's just that this is the only way they can do it. The first resource might be chosen out of kindness, but it's not like that every time. That's Hollywood."
Finally, John's tone was slightly suggestive: "So, if you want to show your nobility, you have to sell yourself at a high price. Ernst is the best choice now. This is a golden opportunity; if you miss it, you may never have another chance."
Charlize Theron sat there, silent for a long time.
Her mind was in chaos, and her heart was filled with a mixture of emotions—shock, nausea, anger, and helplessness.
She couldn't believe that Hollywood, the place she had always longed for, was such a chaotic and corrupt place. She couldn't believe even more that her agent, whom she considered a benefactor, would say such things to her.
In 1994, Charlize Theron was just a girl drifting in Los Angeles with little money, living entirely on checks sent by her mother.
Once, she went to the bank to cash a check sent by her mother, but the bank teller refused to cash it for various reasons, and the two got into an argument.
Just as Charlize was feeling anxious and helpless, John Crosby, who was behind her in line, noticed her.
John Crosby not only helped resolve the conflict and cashed her check, but also recognized her potential and invited her to study acting at the Allerne School of Performing Arts.
He then went to great lengths to help Charlize get into a prestigious performing arts agency and drama school.
It's fair to say that without John Crosby, there would be no Charlize Theron, who is now making steady progress in her acting career.
In Charlize's heart, John has always been her benefactor and her guide in Hollywood.
She was grateful for John's help, trusted his judgment, and even regarded him as family in this unfamiliar city.
But she never expected that John would use such a blatant method to make her do something she had never even considered before.
As night falls, the streets of New York are ablaze with lights, and crowds throng the entrance to Paradim nightclub. As the largest nightclub in New York, it attracts celebrities and thrill-seeking young people every night.
Charlize Theron sat in a corner of the huge VIP box, a glass of juice in her hand, her eyes somewhat vacant, her mind replaying the words her agent John had spoken that afternoon.
Those words were like thorns, piercing her heart, leaving her both angry and confused.
However, when she thought of her mother, her career which had finally started to take off, and the rules John had mentioned, she succumbed to reality.
"Hey beautiful, it must be so boring to just sit here all alone. Why don't you go dance?" A slightly flirtatious male voice interrupted Charlize's thoughts.
She looked up at the man who had spoken. He was wearing a flashy shirt, his hair was slicked back, and his eyes were clearly appraising her.
Charlize glanced again at the so-called dance floor in the middle of the box, where a group of people were wildly twisting their bodies to deafening music, their movements exaggerated and chaotic.
Those excessively intimate physical contacts between people, and the occasional groping hands.
Charlize knew perfectly well that the man's invitation to dance wasn't simply about wanting to dance; if she agreed, he would definitely take the opportunity to grope her on the dance floor.
If the conversation goes well, the other party will most likely make even more outrageous demands.
"Sorry, I'm waiting for someone." Charlize Theron forced a polite smile, gently shook her head, and declined the invitation.
Her tone was gentle, yet carried an undeniable firmness.
Upon hearing the refusal, the man frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes. He gave Charlize a deep look, as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent and turned to leave.
Charlize watched the man's retreating figure, secretly letting out a sigh of relief, but feeling even more anxious inside.
Her gaze fell on the door of the private room, and she couldn't help but wonder: Could John have been tricked? The party had been going on for over an hour, and the man she needed to seduce still hadn't shown up.
John said he spent three thousand dollars to buy this information, which is why he used his resources to get himself in, but now it seems that the other party has no chance of showing up at all.
"Hey, beautiful," that familiar voice rang out again, interrupting her thoughts.
She looked up and saw that the man who had invited her to dance was back, and this time he brought another man with him.
The new man was dressed in an expensive suit, his hair was meticulously styled, and he looked more sophisticated than the previous man, with a scrutinizing and arrogant look in his eyes.
"We're all here to have fun, so we should all have a good time. You're just sitting here by yourself, which is really spoiling the fun for everyone," the man who brought her said, his tone tinged with displeasure, as if Charlize's quietness was affecting the atmosphere of the entire party.
Charlize Theron recognized the man as Brett Crosby, the organizer of the party.
It was because of this person that John believed the informant's words and thought Ernst would appear today.
"Excuse me, I'm really waiting for someone." Charlize Theron stood up this time, leaned forward slightly, and was very respectful, giving Brett a lot of face.
She knew Brett's status was different and she couldn't afford to offend him easily.
Upon hearing this, Brett Crosby frowned deeply, his eyes filled with doubt as he thoughtfully examined Charlize.
But the lackey next to Brett who had previously invited Charlize to dance failed to see through Brett's caution and immediately exploded, "Waiting for someone? Are you kidding me? The party's almost at its peak, everyone's here, tell me who you're waiting for? Don't push your luck."
This man had long been captivated by Charlize's beauty, and his desires grew wildly like weeds; he was determined to possess her.
He was never short of women around him, nor was he the type to force others. But today, firstly, being rejected by Charlize made him feel embarrassed, and secondly, the encouragement from his friends and the influence of alcohol made him completely lose his patience. He just wanted to regain face by being forceful.
However, he also knew that the host of the party was Brett Crosby, so he made a point of greeting Brett before coming over.
On the one hand, he was following the rules; on the other hand, he knew in his heart that Brett would definitely stand up for him, as they had been good brothers for many years.
But Brett Crosby had a completely different idea, because there was indeed a heavyweight guest coming today, and that was Ernst.
However, due to Ernst's special status and unpredictable schedule, Brett didn't dare tell too many people. He was afraid that if Ernst couldn't come due to other matters, his publicizing it would become a laughing stock, which would be too embarrassing in the industry.
So when Brett heard Charlize say she was waiting for someone, her first thought was: Could she be waiting for Ernst?
If that's the case, then what is her relationship with Ernst?
How did she know Ernst's itinerary?
After Ernst arrives, will he be willing to see her?
In an instant, countless questions swirled in Brett's mind, leaving him with no time to worry about his brother's reputation.
But his brother next to him was completely unaware of Brett's thoughts. Seeing that Brett didn't speak, he assumed that Brett had tacitly agreed to his actions. As he spoke, he reached out to grab Charlize's arm, trying to force her to comply and regain his lost face.
Charlize Theron was startled when the other person suddenly attacked, and instinctively took a step back to avoid the other person's hand.
Just as she was about to warn the other person not to act recklessly, she, who had been keeping an eye on the door of the private room, suddenly saw the door open again, and a familiar yet unfamiliar figure appeared in the doorway.
It was the man she was waiting for, Ernst.
Charlize's eyes lit up instantly, all her fear and confusion vanished. She left the man who was still about to attack with the words, "The person I've been waiting for has arrived."
Then I couldn't wait and ran towards the door.
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