Made in Hollywood

With brisk footsteps falling on the thin snow and faint footprints, Duke held the snow that occasionally fell from the sky, crossed the square in front of the villa, and ran into the garden of his home, just from New Zealand in summer Back in New York, he was somewhat uncomfortable with the severe cold in winter, feeling that the air in his lungs seemed to freeze his internal organs.

However, Duke insisted on running forward, just like he has been moving forward all these years.

After a lap in the snow-white garden, the dark clouds in the sky gradually disappeared, and the sun was shining down. The sun in the winter seemed to narrow the distance with people, and it was exceptionally clear and dazzling, but the temperature of the sun was not As if it had been cooled by ice and snow, it couldn't get hot.

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

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

"You can relax when you get home."

Picking up the skim milk, Duke took a big sip, "It feels better. When I was in New Zealand, I felt like I was pressing a ∠↙, mountain, and the thought of working in my head, as if the whole person had changed. It has become a computer's cpu, only knows to run, but can't stop for proper rest."

"You put too much pressure on yourself."

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

"So, Mom..."

Duke lowered his head to deal with the fried eggs on the plate. There was a rare relaxed smile on his face, "I fled New Zealand and hid home to recharge myself."

Mrs. Leah didn't eat much, Duke ate faster, and breakfast ended soon.

Mrs. Leah asked as she 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 into the car, he said, "I stay at home for a few days and stay clean. I don't want to do anything now."

"Well, Duke."

Just getting on the bus, Mrs. Leah turned her head and said, "There is a banquet in the evening. It is not an ordinary party, but a New Year's dinner in the upper class in New York. You accompany me to attend."

"no problem."

Duke directly nodded in response.

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

This is not a serious newspaper like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, but the most gossiping tabloid on the streets of New York. It's full of love affairs of celebrities, including himself. That was a picture of Kate Beckinsale walking into a Western restaurant in Wellington. The eloquent tone of these gossip newspapers confirmed that he had a new love again.

For these gossip scandals, true or false, Duke has never cared about them. He just wanted to relax himself completely by looking at these things. Stop thinking about work in New Zealand.

Reading, lunch break, gym, a day's time passed quickly, when his mother returned home in the evening, Duke put on a neat dress, and the relaxation and laziness disappeared. The whole person has returned to a shrewd and capable state.

This New York celebrities’ New Year’s dinner was held at the Waldorf Astoria. When Duke walked into the banquet hall with his mother, there were already quite a few people sitting in them. Some of them were familiar, or they were seen in the financial media. The business elites who arrive are either descendants of certain business families.

Regardless of the usual relationship, in this kind of formal occasions, whether it is those in the business world or their descendants, they will greet them politely and warmly.

The people who can appear here, even if there are people who are not sober-minded, but those who accompany him are definitely sober enough.

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

There may be such fools, 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. This caused Sony Columbia Pictures to stop the series and made Michael Ovitz's new The company's first packaged project suffered a major setback, coupled with the conflicts accumulated in caa before, it is inevitable that this wealthy broker has an idea for him in his heart.

But the two people, like old friends, greeted each other with a warm handshake, as if all the contradictions did not exist.

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

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

By his mother's side, Duke met many New York celebrities. This party can be described as a microcosm of New York's upper class society.

In fact, the purpose of holding such a dinner party is very clear. The celebrities in the business community also need to communicate and expand their network and capital circle. This is an opportunity. Some businesses and investments may start at the dinner party.

"Director Rosenberg..."

"Please call me Duke."

What my mother just introduced was a Goldman Sachs investment director. He looked at Duke and seemed to be looking at green dollar bills. "Duke, your own film is not only a guarantee of profit, but the investment in "Titanic" And "Mission: Impossible" are all big sellers. How much revenue did that big ship bring to you last year? At least $300 million, right?"

Duke just laughed, but didn't answer.

"When will we cooperate?"

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

"If you lack funds, I will definitely call you." Duke said politely.

The two exchanged business cards just now.

The other party seemed unwilling to give up, and said, "The film industry is a high-risk industry, but Goldman Sachs has always been very optimistic about you. Are you not going to make the Duke Studio bigger? Goldman Sachs can give you financial support."

"The acceptance of foreign funds requires the advice of Warner Bros."

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

After finally getting rid of the entanglement of the people of Goldman Sachs, Duke returned to his mother, greeted others, and walked to the banquet area. In the huge banquet hall of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, there are nearly a hundred oak round tables. There is also a wide enough passage between the table and the table to facilitate the communication of people to move back and forth.

"Hey, Duke, this way."

As he walked towards their table, Duke heard a familiar voice from nearby, said to his mother, and walked over to say hello, "Hey, Irene, I didn't expect to see you here."

"You always hide at home these days." Irene Lauder stood up and greeted him, and shook hands with Duke. "Not used to the cold weather in New York?"

"I'm just tired and want to rest." Duke smiled, looking at her short blue evening dress and said, "You are beautiful tonight."

"Thank you."

Irene Lauder motioned to Duke behind him, "I'll introduce it for you."

"Okay."

Duke followed her over.

"This is Jane, my sister."

"This is Robert, my cousin..."

Under Irene Lauder's introduction, 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 on the surface.

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

"When will your new film come out?"

Jane Lauder looked like an ordinary fan, leaning close to Duke, and whispered, "What about the sequel to The Matrix?"

"As planned, the new film spring meeting..."

Just as he said something, Duke felt Irene Lauder gently pull him, "Aunt Leah is waving here."

Duke looked back and said, "I'll talk some other day, I'll go there first."

When Duke turned and walked away, Irene Lauder and Jane Lauder returned to their table, and the two sisters got together and chatted in a low voice, the topic always revolving around Duke.

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

"The return on investment is definitely high..."

Originally I just wanted to deal with a few words, but seeing my sister's curious and persistent appearance, Irene Lauder had to say, "I heard Duke mentioned that as of Christmas, his 50 million US dollars investment, from the "Titan "Nick" received a return of more than 380 million U.S. dollars in the box office and all its surroundings, and there will be future income, but it will not be as scary as the year of release.

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

Even if she was born in a commercial family like Lauder, Jane Lauder was still stunned, "This is horrible."

"Horror?" Irene Lauder said of course, "What did he do in the movie that are not scary?"

On the other side, Duke walked to the table where they were and sat on his mother's left hand, "Is there anything wrong, Mom?"

"I will introduce you to a few people."

Mrs. Leah looked to her right hand. It was a middle-aged man with short golden brown hair. Next to him was a young girl with long golden 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 pair, and they were familiar. (To be continued...)

ps: The codeword was too devoted, and I almost forgot to update it.