The Banquet Hall of Duke Manor was brightly lit, and though it was nearing midnight, the atmosphere remained lively and bustling. mbers of The Lord of the Rings crew, Duke’s close friends, and family had all left the Vanity Fair party early and gathered here in Malibu.
As the night’s biggest winner, Duke beca the focal point of congratulations—and toasts. Even though the tradition of forcing others to drink wasn’t popular here, it was hard to refuse when soone enthusiastically raised their glass to celebrate.
Among those present were lively figures like Elijah Wood and Billy Boyd, who constantly egged Duke on to drink more.
Even though Duke was drinking champagne, his notoriously low alcohol tolerance ant he already felt tipsy shortly after the party began.
However, the others showed no sign of letting him off the hook. Leading the charge were Leonardo DiCaprio and Sofia Coppola, who seed intent on taking advantage of the occasion to get Duke drunk.
"Leo, Sofia..."
Duke put down his empty glass, firmly refusing to take the next drink Sofia offered him. "I can’t drink any more. Unless you want to see pass out."
"Darling, this is the most celebratory mont," Sofia teased, refusing to let up. "After tonight, when will we get another chance like this?"
"You’ve only had four drinks in total," Leonardo added, almost mockingly.
"He really can’t take any more," Ivanka interjected.
Duke shook his head decisively, prompting Sofia and Leonardo to exchange glances and retreat from his table.
But no sooner had they left than soone else ca over. Even on this land where drinking culture wasn’t as enforced, it was still considered rude to entirely refuse a toast. As the host of the party, Duke couldn’t avoid these social obligations.
"Hey, Duke."
A familiar voice called from nearby. Scarlett Johansson, dressed in a light green evening gown, approached him leisurely. She had arrived at the manor even earlier than Duke, heading straight there with Mrs. Leah after the awards ceremony.
"Congratulations, Duke."
She raised her glass toward him and downed it in one go.
Duke, holding a glass of champagne, rely sipped lightly, which caused Scarlett to frown disapprovingly. "Hey, Duke. I know your drinking limits. Can’t you at least have one drink with ?"
"I’ll drink with you," Ivanka offered imdiately.
Scarlett rejected her without hesitation. "When I wasn’t even ten years old, I was already drinking with Duke. I know better than you how much he can handle."
Ivanka turned slightly, glancing at Duke. There were things that didn’t need to be seen to be ignored, but tonight she’d seen too much. Charlize Theron, Caron Diaz, Alessandra Ambrosio, Madonna Ciccone, Shania Twain, Naomi Watts, Catherine Zeta-Jones...
These won all passed her without acknowledging her presence, enthusiastically greeting Duke as if past events had never happened.
Not being part of Hollywood, Ivanka couldn’t comprehend why the social environnt here was so chaotic.
She was genuinely happy that Duke had won Best Director, but from the red carpet to now, she couldn’t help feeling a twinge of discomfort.
In fact, when she returned alone earlier, a thought had briefly crossed her mind. Were these won, so familiar and warm with Duke, still in contact with him privately?
Ivanka recognized how dangerous such thoughts were and quickly banished them.
"You know, Ivanka," Scarlett began with a slightly boastful tone only won would recognize, "the first ti I drank was with Duke. My first movie was also with him..."
Hearing this, even Duke, despite his intoxicated state, picked up on the odd tone in her voice. He instinctively shifted to a stern tone he often used with her over the years. "Scarlett!"
As if on reflex, Scarlett slightly lowered her head. "Alright, I’ll stop talking."
After that, she grabbed another glass of wine, raising it toward both Duke and Ivanka. "Here’s to the two of you."
Both Duke and Ivanka took small sips from their glasses, while Scarlett downed hers in one gulp before gracefully walking away toward another part of the room.
Feeling the alcohol further clouding his mind, Duke noticed soone else heading toward him and sighed helplessly. "I’m going to check if my mom has gone to bed."
"Okay," Ivanka nodded, understanding that Duke was using this as an excuse to avoid the crowd.
Leaving the banquet hall, Duke stepped into a nearby lounge. After spending so ti in the restroom, he erged, dabbing his mouth with a tissue. Though his stomach felt better, his head was still heavy.
This is just one night... He sighed, knowing he wouldn’t have many occasions like this in the future.
He had no love for alcohol and avoided it whenever possible. Were it not for occasions like this, he wouldn’t touch it at all.
Blowing into his palm, he checked his breath and shook his head before heading to the second-floor washroom to freshen up.
anwhile, back in the banquet hall, Ivanka had drawn a crowd of people eager to make conversation. Though unfamiliar with most of the actors and crew mbers, she managed to maintain polite exchanges.
Not far away, Scarlett put down her glass and quietly slipped out of the banquet hall. Having known Duke since she was a child, she was well-acquainted with his habits.
She knew that after leaving the hall, Duke would likely find a place to relieve the effects of alcohol. Furthermore, he would never return imdiately afterward, always taking ti to clean up or change his clothes to avoid any public embarrassnt.
While others might check the lounge, Scarlett went straight to the second-floor washroom. Placing her ear against the door for a few seconds, she then leaned against the corridor wall, waiting.
She was no longer the little girl she used to be. So things wouldn’t co to her unless she seized them herself.
While many n, both inside and outside the industry, had pursued her, Scarlett had no interest in young, naïve suitors. Growing up in the shadow of soone as towering as Duke had made other n seem dull in comparison.
It wasn’t the age of her admirers that mattered but the sense of maturity and gravitas they carried.
For example, the man currently inside the washroom.
As these thoughts crossed her mind, Scarlett scratched her cheek nervously but pushed all responsibility onto the man inside. If not for him, how could she have turned out this way?
Inside, Duke finished brushing his teeth. Inspecting his damp suit in the mirror, he decided to head back to his room to change before returning to the party.
Downstairs, Ivanka finally found a break in the conversation. Once the crowd dispersed, she let out a soft sigh of relief. Luckily, none of the more awkward individuals, like Alessandra Ambrosio, had appeared.
Ivanka suspected this wasn’t by coincidence. Knowing Hollywood’s dynamics, she figured Duke had arranged this intentionally.
Recalling Duke’s considerate behavior toward her, Ivanka felt reassured. Though work often kept them apart, Duke always showed her the utmost respect when they were together.
"Still not back yet?"
Checking her watch, Ivanka summoned the housekeeper, Emma, giving her brief instructions before leaving the banquet hall. She knew Duke’s low alcohol tolerance and wanted to check on him.
Entering the nearby lounge, she found it empty. Heading upstairs on the thick carpet, she moved toward the second floor.
Still feeling a bit dizzy, Duke tried to clear his mind. Although champagne wasn’t particularly strong, it was enough to make him drunk.
Opening the washroom door, he stepped out, only to see a familiar figure leaning against the wall in the corridor.
Scarlett Johansson stood there, watching him with a gaze that seed both calm and fiery.
"Scarlett, what are you doing up here?"
"You drank too much, so I ca to check on you."
Scarlett quickly approached him. Moving with surprising speed, she reached him before he could utter another word.
With deliberate motion, she grasped his arm with both hands. Standing on her high heels, she barely needed to stretch to press her lips against his.
Perhaps due to the alcohol, Duke’s reaction was sluggish. The warmth of her kiss and the soft pressure against his chest seed to awaken primal instincts. Even when Scarlett pressed closer, he didn’t resist.
Closing her eyes, Scarlett used her slightly inexperienced technique to awaken the dormant beast she believed resided in Duke.
The soft brush of her tongue against his lips introduced an unfamiliar sensation. In that mont, Duke’s foggy mind regained a degree of clarity. Opening his eyes, he caught sight of Scarlett’s golden curls.
Leaning back slightly, he made an effort to distance himself from her. "Scarlett!"
Though the sensations were pleasant, Duke managed to push her away, maintaining a slight gap between them.
Before he could say more, a figure appeared at the staircase.
...
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