Leah sat tensely in her chair, a continuous stream of voices echoed from outside without anyone entering, putting pressure on her. She looked around the room, a minimalist living area carpeted with two sofas and two chairs, a cabinet in the corner, and floor-to-ceiling windows facing the garden. Pulling back the curtains revealed the lush greenery outside, a small space that nonetheless felt light and sophisticated.
Though it seed ordinary, Leah knew that neither the simple curtains nor the plain sofas before her were affordable to her. Recalling the lavish and classically decorated fountains, living rooms, chandeliers, and hallways she had passed on her way in, she realized that if her fate hadn’t changed, she’d never afford such a mansion.
Each ti she thought about it, the young girl unconsciously bit her lip.
"Sorry to have kept you waiting," a man’s voice suddenly reached her ears, startling her, and then Adrian appeared in front of her.
Despite seeing him rarely since that night, his image was crystal clear in her mind—imposing, oppressive, impossible to resist. Thus, Leah’s breathing quickened slightly, despite his gentle deanor as he brought a drink and poured her a cup of tea.
"Xilei said you didn’t have a particular favorite drink, so I just picked one. If it’s not to your taste, I can have it changed," he said in a calm tone as he sat down in front of her.
"No, this is... fine," Leah quickly picked up the cup and took a sip, forcing a smile. Although the past year had boosted her confidence in life, in front of this man, she still felt like the scared, crying girl from that night, waiting to be dealt with under his intense gaze.
"Did Xilei tell you why I wanted to see you?" Adrian smiled and then continued.
"Um... Miss Lin just ntioned... that you needed to see ," Leah carefully replied, but her mind couldn’t help but revisit the words Xilei had said to her on the way.
At the ti, after getting into the car, Xilei didn’t start driving imdiately. Instead, she sat in silence in the driver’s seat for a long while. When Leah couldn’t help but speak up, Xilei finally took off her sunglasses and placed them below the car window. "You’re a smart girl, Leah. You should know what you’re facing, right?"
Her tone was detached, her gaze fixed ahead as if she weren’t really speaking to Leah—a far cry from polite behavior. Yet Leah could feel she was perhaps reminiscing about sothing.
"Yes... yes," the girl softly replied.
She certainly understood. If she had been sowhat unclear after coming out from Las Vegas, it was crystal clear when Xilei, acting as her guardian, warned her to understand her limits and what actions were acceptable. After all, she was born and raised in Las Vegas, her divorced parents both croupiers, and she was acutely aware that nothing cos without a cost.
Having snuck into his suite to steal and unintentionally witnessed the Miracle Director with Julia and Zetajones, though he was displeased, he’d let her off easily, even bringing her to Los Angeles to provide her opportunities for education and work. What he expected in return was unspoken, Xilei’s caution rely lifting the final veil.
"Life is such, mistakes co with consequences," Xilei continued, "but although you often have no choice, you can still strive to maximize your benefits, understand?"
She turned to look at Leah with a stern yet encouraging gaze. Leah shrank slightly, nodding without a word, acknowledging she understood. Xilei spoke the truth, and Leah had no other options. Plus, her months working across various studios had given her so understanding of Adrian. Her fate seed sealed. Even so, despite having witnessed many similar situations in the Gambling City, as a young girl she wasn’t ready to fully commit. But Xilei didn’t press further, her expression observed keenly by Leah, and she then drove directly to the coastal villa in Malibu.
"Relax, Leah, don’t be so tense. Look, I’m not wearing a red and green striped sweater, nor do I have a brown and black top hat, let alone sharp iron claws," Adrian’s voice beca gentler.
Leah was first baffled, then felt a bit amused. Although Adrian always seed oppressive and intolerant of disobedience, how could he possibly be connected with Freddy Krueger? Without realizing it, her thoughts began to relax, especially after Adrian had casually talked about so everyday topics and made a few well-placed jokes, Leah started to think, "This man is quite amusing."
Not particularly handso, but very charming, and that mature man’s deanor was very appealing... Suddenly, Leah was jolted, and her smile stiffened. What was happening to her? Why did she suddenly...
"Alright, let’s talk about why I asked you to co here," the man across said suddenly.
"Hmm? Oh, yes, sir." Leah was a bit dazed and panicked, and it took her a mont to respond. Growing nervous again, seeing this, Adrian furrowed his brow but presumably not wanting to pressure her further, didn’t tell her to relax again.
"You know, I have a private jet, a large one," he started in a strictly business-like tone, "Normally, the plane is always staffed with four flight attendants, but one of them recently resigned and I need to find a suitable replacent. Leah, although we haven’t had much contact in the past year and a half, I have always been keeping an eye on you through Xilei."
He paused here, his piercing gaze resting unrestrained on the young girl. Leah couldn’t help but lower her head, beginning to feel a little uneasy.
"You have passed the test, Leah," Adrian’s voice rang out again, "So, I hope you can join my team of private jet flight attendants, are you willing? Of course, you will need to undergo training beforehand."
"I..." Leah’s throat bobbed, but she couldn’t speak. She knew she could only agree, but... but... Just then, her heart trembled, passed the test? What if she hadn’t? A chill rose from inside her, and the hands resting obediently on her thighs clenched into fists. The previous feelings of fondness for the man before her evaporated completely, and that overpowering sense of helplessness surged again in her mind.
"If I can’t choose, then I should strive for the greatest benefit." The words of Lin Xilei echoed in her ears once more, and not just that one line.
"Powerful won are always in the minority, and they still need n’s support. It’s the way things are naturally."
"Understand what you can do and then strive for it, even if it’s hard to accept initially."
"We should be closer ethnically, I want you to trust ,"
These were the words Lin Xilei had spoken to her long ago, resurfacing in Leah’s mind. There was no doubt that this well-known female agent was one of Adrian’s won as well. Thinking of her accomplishnts in Hollywood, thinking of the respect she received when she ca to the studio, Leah suddenly felt it was not so hard to accept. She didn’t have grand ambitions. Her life in Las Vegas and her experience working in the studios had dulled her interest in the forr glaring spotlight. Being able to comfortably live out her life without returning to Gambling City was her utmost wish.
So, the choice seed already clear. However, as a girl who had lived over a decade in Gambling City, despite having no actual experience, knew how to please these important figures. Therefore, Leah glanced at the man sitting steadily there, waiting for her answer, took a deep breath, and stood up. Silently, she began removing her clothes. She was not wearing much, and it was simple, her makeup was also light, but her youthful vibrancy was appealing.
Soon, piece by piece of clothing was thrown to the floor, including her bra, until she slipped off her panties and kicked them to the side. Her body was wholly unveiled before Adrian only then did Leah place her hands modestly below, and with a voice trembling with both shyness and firmness, she said, "I am willing!"
"To make sure people rember you and don’t just forget after a fling, the first impression must leave a striking performance." That’s what the pretty girls who make a living in Gambling City would always say.
Adrian was initially surprised, but quickly collected himself and began to appreciate Leah as she undressed, not sparing his admiring gaze in the end.
As the girl spoke, he stood up, approached her within a few steps, circled around her, and then moved behind her, placing his hands on her pert bottom, and then upwards along her waist to her chest and then neck, finally bending down to deeply inhale the scent of her hair. Although Leah’s body couldn’t stop trembling and her breathing beca more rapid, she remained where she was, letting him do as he pleased.
"Such a fresh lemon scent, so light yet lasting. Is it Tsing Yang shampoo?" Adrian chuckled, retracting his hand, "I really like you, Leah. Put on your clothes—no other plans tonight?"
"No, sir," Leah answered, relieved, trying to keep her voice steady.
"Call Ed—then join for dinner." Adrian said as he picked up her bra and helped her put it on.
The rest needn’t be ntioned; though Leah was quiet throughout the dinner, Lin Xilei’s presence made a pleasant atmosphere, and with Adrian adept at setting the mood, the girl was able to relax a little. Under such circumstances, coupled with the foreplay Adrian provided after getting into bed, her concerns did not materialize—she had thought that Lin Xilei staying the night ant that Adrian planned for a threeso right off the bat.
Thus, when Adrian entered her, it wasn’t very painful, and after she got used to his size, she soon started to reciprocate, until he brought her to a climax, after which she fell into an exhausted sleep.
Kissing her smooth back, Adrian covered her with a blanket and quietly got out of bed, put on his robe, and left the room. He went to another guest room, knocked, and as the door opened, a pair of arms wrapped around his neck, then the woman wearing a thin silk nightgown inside embraced and passionately kissed him—it was, without a doubt, Lin Xilei.
Normally, if Adrian wanted to please himself, he could just recklessly take what he wanted from Leah’s delicate body, her obedience such that even if it reduced her to tears, she would hardly dare to complain. However, Adrian was never that kind of man. Whether with Kate in the beginning or more recently with Amanda, he was extrely careful when taking their virginity, making their first ti feel as beautiful as possible.
This, however, made it difficult for Adrian to be satisfied, leaving him sowhat frustrated each ti. But this ti, with Lin Xilei by his side, he didn’t have to hold back, and after mulling it over, he found her and without a word, they fought a fierce battle.
"Since I ventured into Hollywood in the ’90s, I’ve made many decisions, most of which I am proud of, but very few stand out as being the most satisfying, having you as my agent being one of them," Adrian, comforting the body in his arms, sighed in reflection.
This was indeed the truth—in a simple example, Lin Xilei had actively chosen to stay overnight, aning she had anticipated and prepared for what might happen.
"Choosing to be an agent was my own decision, boss," Lin Xilei said coquettishly as she lay on his chest.
Of course, this was her being coy, so Adrian just smiled, "I rember you once said that your family advised you to beco an actress, stating you had the qualifications and it would be a waste otherwise. Luckily I made a move early. Although I also thought about letting you try acting, being an agent clearly suits you better."
"I think so too," Lin Xilei laughed softly, "even though you’re a detestable man, boss, I still feel fortunate to have t you."
Although her smile was as charming as ever, her tone carried a rare earnestness. Indeed, she could be considered a leading figure in the rged talent agency that now rivaled CAA and WMA in dividing Hollywood into three. For a Chinese-Arican woman to achieve this stature in the United States and to do so at such a young age was truly rare.
"I feel the sa way," Adrian embraced her with equal sincerity.
Frankly speaking, if it weren’t for certain reasons, she would have been an outstanding secretary assistant. However, her current role was also satisfactory; many tasks that Ivanka couldn’t conveniently handle due to her status were entrusted to her, and she never disappointed, just like when she trained Leah.
"By the way, Xilei, although Asia is important, sotis you should also pay more attention to the United States," Adrian suddenly ntioned.
Others might think he was reminding himself not to expand too quickly in Asia or worried that she was becoming too powerful in the seemingly unreachable regions of Asia. However, Xilei wouldn’t think that way but rely slid her hand seductively down his abdon. She knew Adrian was hinting that, as long as she could maintain her montum in the United States, sooner or later she would take Ovitz’s position.
"Coming again?" Adrian raised his eyebrows.
"Suddenly, I felt like having so milk. It’s rare to have the opportunity to enjoy it alone without sharing," Xilei chuckled and then bent down to gulp it down.
Although Adrian had a great ti with Xilei, he still returned to hold Leah as they fell asleep. He was very satisfied with her performance, so he didn’t treat her differently. However, according to Xilei’s analysis, although Leah was diligent, her capabilities were quite average. Therefore, after much thought, Adrian decided to station her on his private jet to take over Parineeti’s shift.
This job should not be difficult for her, and later she could even take over as the chief stewardess to manage the entire aircraft after Ali retires. Although Elisha and Geri were also good, they enjoyed playing too much, and comparatively, Leah could be trusted or, more accurately, was easier for him to control.
Of course, Leah would still need to undergo training before officially starting on the plane, and to excel would take several months. However, it was not a concern since having three flight attendants was enough. Thus, he arranged for Parineeti’s advanced training and Leah’s training, shifting his focus back to daily work. He didn’t expect any major issues until around Christmas, but plans often change unexpectedly, and just as October began, the news of Old Paltrow’s passing spread.
As Adrian appeared at the doorway, in an instant, dozens of eyes concentrated on him. However, he didn’t show any signs of surprise or shock but straightened his collar, nodded solemnly at the room’s occupants, scanned the living room, and finally his gaze rested on Blaise Danne, Gwyneth’s mother, whose expression was quite unfriendly.
But before he could speak, Gwyneth, already red-eyed, crashed into his arms and hugged him tightly, bursting into loud cries in front of all the guests.
"Condolences, Gwyneth," Adrian, unconcerned about how others might see, comforted her softly and repeatedly in her ear, his deanor no different from any loving couple.
Whispers started imdiately, and the looks they received beca significantly aningful. Although Blaise maintained a pleasant expression, it didn’t last long, soon turning into helplessness.
It took several minutes for Adrian to calm the emotional Gwyneth and help her sit back on the couch, then he respectfully dipped his head to Blaise and whispered, "My condolences, Mrs. Danner."
Blaise nodded reluctantly, not saying much. However, Gwyneth kept a firm grip on Adrian’s arm, following him everywhere he went, as if she might lose him at any mont, as if without him she couldn’t survive. Seeing this in her eyes, Blaise’s helplessness turned into a wry smile, no longer caring about the looks from others, as the affair between her daughter and the Miracle Director was no secret in their circles.
As for Adrian, he focused solely on comforting Gwyneth, paying no attention to anything else. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, please visit qidian to vote and support , your backing is my greatest motivation.)
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