制霸好莱坞

César's actions paused for a moment. His eyes were like a deep blue sea, even when turbulent, only showing slight ripples on the surface. He focused intently on Jenny, as if searching for a flaw or confirming her sincerity.

After a while, he spoke, "So, you have quite an ambition."

Jenny shrugged. "You can laugh at my dreams all you want. The truth is, I don't know how to achieve it yet, but this is my career goal."

"Then you should know," César said, "to reach this peak, you'll have to pay a heavy price. Sticking to a strict diet for years, watching me indulge in food without asking to share—your willpower is strong, Miss Jefferson. But you should also know, among the first- and second-tier actresses in Hollywood, your perseverance is not rare. This is merely a basic entry-level trait."

He watched Jenny's expression as he spoke, "And even among the successful, no one has reached the height you envision. Many of them are talented and lucky, born with ambition and advantage. The level you want to reach is so high, no one can really tell you how to get there. This is not a game where you follow the rules and win in the end. There's a 90% chance that you'll give everything for this goal and still fail, never even touching the trophy. Do you understand these risks?"

Jenny sighed. "I understand."

For the first time, she let some of her emotions show. "But I have to do this. I have to give everything to try. If you're worried I'm just naïve, making empty promises, I can assure you, Mr. Vegeri, I understand how grand this dream is, how difficult the journey will be, how slim the chances of success are, and how many sacrifices it will take… But I've already made up my mind. I can't give up halfway."

She repeated firmly, "I must strive toward this goal."

César stared at her for more than ten seconds.

"I believe you," he finally said, raising his glass toward her. "Now I can say with certainty, both our luck is good. I'm the agent you want, and you're the type of client I've been looking for."

Jenny clinked her glass with his. "Here's to a successful collaboration."

"Here's to a successful collaboration," César echoed, pulling out a contract from his jacket and handing it to Jenny. "This is the standard CAA contract. I've made some edits based on your situation, with a 15% commission. No matter your status, CAA takes 15%, and for newcomers, it's very generous. You can't complain. The contract is for five years, after which CAA has the right of first refusal under the same terms."

He paused, giving Jenny a sharp look. "I'll state this upfront. If anyone at the company asks, you must say that you insisted on only signing for five years. Even though the contract is for five years, our relationship isn't based on that limit. Miss Jefferson, I hope you understand what I mean."

Jenny quickly skimmed through the contract while saying impassively, "The contract says CAA has first refusal for renewal after five years. I won't break the contract."

"You won't break the contract," César smiled courteously. "You're smart, Miss Jefferson. I like working with smart people."

He continued, "Before we sign, there are a few things not written in the contract that I want you to understand. First, as I mentioned, although the contract is for five years, our relationship is expected to last much longer. With your goal, it could last ten to twenty years."

Jenny shrugged. "If you're the agent I want and I'm the client you want, I have no problem with that."

"Good. Second," César's tone turned more professional, "there's an unwritten rule in Hollywood. I manage everything, Miss Jefferson—from the imported food you eat to the men you sleep with. If I say you can't have a relationship, you can't. If I arrange for you to sleep with someone, you will. If necessary, it will even extend to marriage and children—who you marry, when, how. It's all under my control. If you have objections, speak now."

"So, you sometimes play the role of a 'pimp'?" Jenny retorted, then added, "If you tell me I can't have a relationship, fine, I don't mind. But if not sleeping with someone will ruin my career, I can accept short-term transactional relationships. Outside of those exceptions, please be a little more restrained when making such arrangements and consider them a last resort."

"I understand," César said. "So far, I haven't arranged anything like that for any of my clients. Let's hope we never have to."

He took a sip of wine, focusing on Jenny. "Third, you need to obey, Miss Jefferson. If you want money, I will make you wealthy. If you want power, you'll have it. If you want to achieve your goals, good, because creating a star beyond a legend is also my goal. Miss Jefferson, you need to trust that our interests align perfectly. Everything I do is for your benefit, so you must obey."

"That's fine," Jenny said. "As long as you explain, I'll cooperate. Do I look like someone who acts impulsively?"

César shook his head. "You don't, but people change."

He pulled out a recorder and placed it on the table. "Before signing, please repeat your goals and these three agreements to the recorder."

Jenny gave him an eye-roll and a 'why so serious' look. César remained unfazed, motioning to the recorder.

Reluctantly, Jenny picked up the recorder and repeated her goals, determination, and the three agreements, along with her commitment to abide by them. César watched her closely as she spoke.

"Okay," he said after she signed. "Don't return the contract to me. Go see a lawyer. If you trust me, I can introduce one, but if not, find someone yourself. Once you're sure, bring it back to me, and I'll get it stamped by the company. — Congratulations, we've officially established a partnership."

The contract wasn't in effect yet. Jenny could tear it up on a whim, but she understood that César wasn't talking about the paper contract. He was referring to a relationship beyond that. Once they clinked glasses, even without the contract, he would consider their partnership established, and he would control her career.

After the toast, their relationship was sealed, and neither could turn back.

Jenny raised her glass and clinked it with his. The glasses made a crisp sound.

"Congratulations on our official partnership," she said.

César smiled with a businesslike expression. "Now, let's enjoy the food. If you don't mind, I'd like to hear about your education. You're very proficient in dining etiquette, which, considering your background, isn't something you'd usually know."

Jenny told him she had always been someone trying to climb higher, fascinated by upper-class life. For instance, she even knew that "César" was a common Italian name, while "Vegeri" was a French aristocratic surname. "Yes," César replied, "My stepfather was French, and I took his last name. As for my first name, my father was of German descent, but he was also a big fan of Cesare Borgia."

"Not for Caesar, but for vanity?" Jenny reflexively said. (Both Caesar and Cesare are derived from Cesare.)

"You're good with history," César raised an eyebrow.

It was because she had watched The Borgia Family… Jenny chuckled awkwardly, commenting, "Actually, you do resemble him. Is The Prince by Machiavelli your guide to action?"

"Oh, don't tell me you've read The Prince," César said. "Even if you haven't, your general knowledge is too broad. I'm starting to wonder how you messed up the SAT."

Surprisingly, chatting with César wasn't a chore at all. As long as she kept up with his thoughts, he was an interesting conversationalist. Chen Zhen, no matter what, wasn't a fool. They enjoyed the rest of their meal, and Jenny even forgot how hungry she was. After finishing the salad, they drank nearly half a bottle of wine.

"I have a question for you," Jenny asked as dinner came to a close.

"Go ahead," César took a sip of wine, looking more relaxed than before, his shoulders subtly easing.

"If I had told you earlier that my goal is just to become wealthy, to escape poverty, would you still value me the same way?" Jenny asked. "Would you still make a long-term partnership with me?"

César shook his head. "I would value you, but you wouldn't be my top client. Maybe I'd rank you third, but not first."

"That confirms my suspicion. My feeling is that you've always been looking for someone who wants to reach the top, someone you can craft into a Hollywood legend," Jenny said, genuinely curious. "I want to be a Hollywood legend, which isn't hard to understand. I'm certainly not the only person in the world who thinks this way. Becoming a legend also means fame and fortune. But as an agent, you could probably benefit more from managing a few very successful character actors. You get what I mean? After all, you've only arranged for a five-year contract with CAA for me."

She took a large sip of wine and leaned her head to the side, studying César. "Becoming an agent for a super-star might actually hinder your goals, but you still want to be the one who creates legends. Why?"

"Why do humans explore space? Dive into the deep sea?" César countered. "Why climb Everest? Why challenge the Guinness records?"

His eyes were as blue as a hydrogen flame. "There's no reason. It's simply because space is there, the ocean is there."

He took a small sip of wine, his tone casual. "Legends are there, waiting to be conquered."

Note: The Borgia Family is a TV series that premiered in 2010, about the Borgia family, Italy's most notorious noble family, known for their corrupt history and two popes, including Cesare Borgia, who had the potential to unify Italy. The famous Machiavelli was a fan of him, and the ideal prince in The Prince was based on Cesare. Watch the show if you can; it's luxurious, and the male lead is very handsome. Cesare Borgia himself is a historical figure—look him up on Baidu if you're interested.