"It’s just a charity event, it won’t take much ti, just endure it a bit and it’ll be over." After being dragged to the balcony, Adrian glanced at the lively inside, and said this to Natalie.
"We... we need to talk, Ed." Natalie hesitated for a mont, reached up to tuck the hair behind her ear, tilted her head and said.
But after a while, not getting any response, she looked up, and a feeling of sha and anger rushed over her, as Adrian was watching her chest with great interest. Natalie was wearing a gray evening gown with a deep V-neck today, the straps on top were sowhat loose, making it easy to see inside, especially when she bent down.
"Can’t you... be a bit more composed?" Natalie gritted her teeth after taking a deep breath, glanced at the people inside the hall, and a blush flashed across her face.
"Composed? Why?" Adrian chuckled, reached into the deep V-neck without any politeness, and grabbed firmly.
Natalie showed a shocked expression imdiately, but before she could react appropriately, he had already pushed her against the wall, not only kneading wantonly, but his other hand also reached her thigh.
"You... what are you... stop... don’t do this here." She struggled to say, but Adrian had no intention of stopping, his hand underneath had already ventured inside her skirt towards her panties.
"You should consider the occasion!" Natalie yelled in sha and anger.
"That’s why I’m doing it like this, it’s so exciting, isn’t it?" Adrian laughed lightly, then his tone turned cold, "What, I’ve done so much for you, and this little request can’t be granted?"
As he spoke, his hand inside the skirt pulled downwards, and the edge of her panties slipped to her thigh, causing Natalie to tremble fiercely, her face turning pale, and she stopped resisting, allowing him to violate her on the balcony corner just a wall apart from the bustling hall.
"Alright, let’s talk about what you wanted to discuss." The next day, in Adrian’s office, he sat lazily in a high-backed chair, smiling as he spoke.
"I want..." Natalie’s face was still pale, her eyes sowhat dark as she apparently didn’t sleep well last night: "I think... maybe you should consider... ending our current relationship."
Though her tone was strong and had a sound of determination, her eyelids were drooping, and her head was slightly tilted to one side, still not daring to et his eyes.
"Ending? Why?" Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"You... you promised ," Natalie’s hands were clenched into fists, "I’ve been honest and obedient to you over the past few years, doing whatever you asked without ever defying your wishes. I’ve already... I’ve paid a lot, and you should be tired of it too, doing this repeatedly... even the greatest interest will be exhausted, isn’t it?"
"That is true, let think about it..." Adrian leisurely tapped his head with a finger, "Alright, I’ve decided, let’s talk again in a few years."
Natalie raised her head fiercely, looked at him with shocked anger: "Why?!"
"I promised you I would consider it, but didn’t say there would be a definite tiline," Adrian spread his hands, then sat up straight, his smile slightly cold, "Think about what I’ve done for you? Four nominations for Best Actress, two nominations for Best Supporting Actress, second youngest Best Actress winner, unprecedented first actor to win Best Actress consecutively, a representative of young Hollywood actresses, a representative Jewish actress with both wisdom and beauty! Do you really think, this kind of investnt, can be dismissed in a few years?"
At first, Natalie’s face flushed red, but it quickly turned pale. She had heard similar words countless tis during this period. After the Oscars, or rather from Oscar night onwards, Adrian often kept this phrase at his lips—"I’ve done so much for you, and this little request can’t be granted."
Can’t be granted? Could he be any more shaless?! An ordinary request would be one thing, but... the ones he’s made are not only excessive but increasingly so. Making love on the balcony with just a wall separating us from the crowd isn’t even the worst. Once, he even wanted her to dress in clothes that could wrap herself up tightly, and then try it out with him in New York’s subway, what did he take her for?
Fortunately, that ti, after her desperate struggle, nothing ca of it, but after that, he beca more and more brazen, constantly pushing her boundaries yet never going too far. Whenever she refused, that sentence would linger in her ear, making her weak. This is also why she was eager to talk about this topic today, unsure of how she would end up if this continued.
After all, she had already won Best Actress consecutively, and was unique in Hollywood, she still had so leverage, Adrian has to consider the impact, right? Yet, unexpectedly, he answered without a second thought this way. Though Natalie knew beforehand that he might backslide easily, hearing it herself felt like being drenched in ice-cold water from head to toe.
"I’m not Matilda!" After purse her lips into a line for a long ti, Natalie said sowhat despairingly.
What made her more desperate was Adrian waving his hand impatiently: "You’re certainly not, I wouldn’t make Matilda do such things."
This felt like a loud slap on the face, making her extrely embarrassed and ashad, yet she trembled with her mouth unable to utter a word.
"We both know this is a transaction," Adrian rcilessly tore at her wound, "Now, you’ve got what you wanted, but I didn’t get what I deserved, or let’s say what I got doesn’t equal what I paid, not even approximately. So why should I end it?"
"What else do you want?" Natalie’s body trembled lightly, seemingly on the edge of exploding, "Just continue playing forever?"
Adrian didn’t speak, simply looked at her playfully, then burst out laughing: "How should I know?"
He raised his hands: "See, Nata, you’re so stubborn, so unyielding, always wanting to resist, always wanting to break free. Without you, where would I enjoy such a unique taste? Without you, where would I find a replacent? So, don’t bla , right?"
Natalie’s face turned red again, along with a dizzy feeling, the anger that had surged before deflated like a punctured balloon, a sense of helplessness once again enveloped her heart.
"Alright, Nata, let’s end it here today." Adrian stood up then, tidying his clothes, "I have things to do, with your wisdom, I believe you can find a solution, right?"
She looked at him once, forced herself to stand up, walked out without saying a word. Though she exerted control over her body, each step still felt like walking on clouds, as if she might fall any mont. Though prepared ntally, she hadn’t anticipated him to be this shaless, but... even so, what could she do?
Bastard! Damn bastard! She cursed in her heart, powerless. If Natalie dared to struggle once desperately, it would have been already put into action. Twice Oscar Best Actress, consecutively, made her see clearly the gap between them again, further deepening the fear within. Like that previous invisible slap, she should have jumped up to curse him out, then break it off, but she just couldn’t.
I don’t care! At such tis, the scene of Adrian on that day always surfaced in Natalie’s mind, that icy expression had penetrated into her bones. She absolutely believed that if she really dared to break it off, he would surely use all ans to ruin her, destroy everything she had, even if it ant staking his whole career! Proud because she finally had so leverage, now it seed so ridiculous.
I’m just worried about family and friends... Natalie felt sowhat lost, defending herself. Then, a glimr flashed through her mind, she was stunned for a mont then started to tremble. Looking around, there weren’t many people in the corridor, and the employees were busy in their cubicles, she took several deep breaths quickly, stepped forward into the restroom, locked herself in a stall, and started to gasp for air.
Such an obvious hint, she had never noticed, never noticed! A replacent... a replacent! Did he an, as long as she finds a replacent for him, she could escape? Natalie hugged her head, nearly curled up on the toilet seat, and after calming her intensely stimulated heart, she began to shudder uncontrollably.
No, no, no, Natalie, you can’t do this, it’s a trap, it’s another one of his traps.
No, it’s not, it’s an opportunity, an opportunity!
He didn’t specifically say to find a woman to replace yourself, you’re just imagining it.
Of course, he wouldn’t make it clear, that bastard always enjoys hiding what he wants to say in vague words to manipulate others!
Are you sure he’ll keep his promise? You know how he’s treated you! It’s not worth it, it will ruin you and her!
So what should I do? Just let him keep playing with ?! Forever play with ?! It’s not my fault! No! I can endure him playing with , but I absolutely cannot endure him blackmailing , all this was achieved by my own efforts, he was just a catalyst! I want to cut ties with him, this is mine! Mine!
With heavy breathing and a ferocious expression, Natalie suddenly hugged her head again and let out a low moan, with a sobbing tone, sowhat confused. After understanding Adrian’s intentions, she had found her own substitute, it took almost no effort, almost directly dredged up from mory, and the opportunity was right in front of her, it’s just... if she did this, how would she face her?
On May 25th, the final installnt of the "Pirates of the Caribbean" trilogy premiered amid great anticipation, and the premiere was grand and lively. Many celebrities attended, and the Weinstein brothers from Miramax were present, but the most attention was on, the young actress Natalie Portman, who was the first to win Best Actress back-to-back, and Adrian Cowell, who had won Best Director three tis in a row.
Although the two did not arrive at the sa ti, it was enough for the dia to make associations, especially as they both later attended the party held by the Weinstein brothers at the Four Seasons Hotel—also arriving one after the other—so much so that the night wasn’t over yet, various news had already spread across the internet.
Of course, for those at the party, this was not sothing they needed to pay attention to, they continued to have fun as they wished.
"Honestly, I nearly died of exhaustion, they actually shot two movies back-to-back! The longest ti was at Ikezumas Island, staying for at least a week and a half! God, though the scenery is really nice, staying too long makes one feel fatigued, not to ntion the crew was far from the town center. The only comfort was at least there weren’t those diving scenes from the first movie, though I did them personally, I was actually quite scared at heart." In the corner of the hall, Keira was chatting away, looking at the crowd in the middle.
She wore a white one-shoulder evening gown, her hair was pinned up at the back, with bangs at the front, and a few strands hanging on both sides. Coupled with her undulating, fast-paced London accent, her classic English charm was fully revealed, and her occasionally flashing small canines added a cute touch. After chattering for a while, Keira noticed the listeners were sowhat absent-minded.
"Hey, Nata, are you listening?" the young girl called out slightly dissatisfied.
"Huh? Oh, sorry, Keira, I got a bit distracted." Natalie apologized with a smile, but her eyes still wandered a bit, "Your performance in the movie is really good, especially the shipwreck island scenes, very impressive. The only downside is that it’s not quite as pretty, much less than the previous two films. I think you look better in English classic dresses."
"Oh, stop praising ." Although Keira elongated her voice, appearing embarrassed, the joyful look on her face showed she quite enjoyed it.
"You’re not bad yourself, Nata, the first actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress consecutively, oh, I don’t know how many people envy you, at least I do." She then playfully stuck out her tongue.
"You’ll surely have the chance, Keira, I believe it," Natalie smiled, instinctively glancing to the other side where Adrian was talking with Heath Ledger and others, "Ed always cos up with lots of brilliant ideas."
"That’s true," Keira nodded following her gaze, "It’s said that the overall concept of the ’Pirates of the Caribbean’ trilogy was his, I sotis really wonder what else he hasn’t thought of."
She spoke very sincerely as if she truly admired Adrian. Natalie bit her lip, hesitated for a few seconds, and finally feigned a curious, teasing look: "By the way, has he ever... um, with you?"
"Well..." Keira rarely blushed, but then proudly announced: "Of course not, although we occasionally get intimate, if he dared to get into bed, I’d give him a lesson he’d never forget."
Hearing this, Natalie’s mouth twitched involuntarily, a strange emotion spread from her heart, causing her to casually ask with a nonchalant tone: "You wouldn’t happen to still be a virgin, would you, Keira?"
"Well..." Keira showed an awkward expression but quickly recovered to her usual boldness, "Of course, I hate getting into bed with n, even Ed is no exception, maybe I like won—interested in being my girlfriend, Nata? We would be a match made in heaven."
Clearly, she was changing the subject, then suddenly asked as if rembering sothing: "By the way, Nata, when did Ed win you over? Don’t tell he didn’t, otherwise he wouldn’t have directed your movies personally two years in a row."
She revealed her small canines, very mischievous, eyes glittered with gossip, making Natalie feel a bit suffocated, her heart churning uncontrollably.
"Don’t bring that up," she tried hard to appear depressed and annoyed, "I couldn’t resist for a mont, that guy is really good at taking advantage."
"Such a pity, I thought I’d find an ally." Keira sighed deeply.
Hearing this, Natalie imdiately bit her lip hard, and her breathing beca slightly heavier. A strong jealousy suddenly surged in her heart, causing her to tremble slightly, unable to stop, unwilling to stop.
"Do you want sothing to drink, Keira?" she still casually asked, "I want to get a Manhattan."
"Oh, sure," Keira imdiately nodded, "Ask if the bartender can make a Pink lady, the one nad after that play, if not just get whatever."
Then she made a funny face: "When I drank in the United States before, I always had to do it secretly, I can’t understand why the legal drinking age in public places here is 21 when it’s only 18 in the UK and even lower at ho."
"Now you can drink to your heart’s content." Natalie smiled and then left for the bar.
After observing a bit, she chose the bar with the fewest people, and after talking to the bartender, waited a few more minutes before the bartender brought out the two cocktails she ordered. Natalie ordered a Sweet Manhattan, the liquid in the cone-shaped glass was amber, very clear, with cherries as decoration on the rim; while Keira ordered a Pink lady, also in a cone-shaped glass, the liquid shifted from pink to deep red from top to bottom, but the bottom bit was entirely pink, offering a distinct layering, with bright colors, cherries also decorated the rim, no wonder many won liked it.
After the bartender left and there wasn’t much attention from others around, Natalie took a deep breath and then tremblingly took out from her transparent bra a small paper packet she had prepared a long ti ago. Looking around guiltily once again, she quickly opened it and dumped the white powder inside into Keira’s Pink lady.
Her hands trembled violently throughout the process, and her whole body was like a taut string, seemingly ready to snap at any touch. Only after she poured everything in, rging with the liquid completely, and swiftly put away the paper packet, did she finally breathe a sigh of relief and slump onto the stool.
Then, looking at the two drinks in front of her, she suddenly clutched her head again, hesitatingly and painfully moaned softly.
(To be continued. If you like this work, welco to Qidian (qidian) to vote for recomndations and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)
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