Made In Hollywood

"So, your stock swap is complete?"

Sitting at the dining table, Mrs. Leah handed the sliced turkey to Duke. "That's good, cooperation is always beneficial for future development."

"I'm now the largest individual shareholder of Warner Bros." Duke tasted the roasted turkey and praised, "Mom, your cooking is as excellent as ever."

Then, he turned the topic back. "I'm still thinking of ways to increase my shares in Warner to have more say in the future."

Mrs. Leah nodded. "That's a good thing. What about the funding?"

"It's not an issue for now," Duke said, thinking of the upcoming revenue. "If I need help, I'll definitely ask you, Mom."

As usual, Mrs. Leah didn't eat much at dinner and soon put down her knife and fork. "Are you still increasing your shares in Victoria's Secret?"

"Yes..." Duke swallowed his juice. "I believe their market share will grow further in the future. However, I only managed to get a small portion in this round of equity financing. I heard from David that many people on Wall Street are eager to get a piece of the pie."

"They only care about investment profits and rarely interfere in operations."

Hearing her words, Duke couldn't help but smile. "I'm the same. As long as the stock price continues to rise and I get dividends, I'm fine. I'm an outsider when it comes to business operations."

Duke didn't eat much either. After finishing the meal, he left the dining room to the servants for cleaning and accompanied his mother for a walk in the garden.

This was a villa his mother had purchased during the summer. Although it wasn't particularly large, buying a villa with a garden in the Upper East Side wasn't easy. It showed that his mother's wealth and status were steadily rising.

The garden wasn't big, less than half an acre. Now, in New York's cold weather, aside from some evergreen plants, it appeared a bit desolate.

"It's fine," Mrs. Leah said, shaking her head at him. "I'm used to taking a walk after dinner."

"How is your project in New Zealand going?" she asked again.

"Overall, it's fine," Duke said, holding his mother's arm as they walked. "Since Warner invested in Duke Studios, they've sent capable people there, which makes things a bit easier for me."

"Life's pressures are everywhere."

Stopping in front of a tree almost bare of leaves, Mrs. Leah suddenly patted his shoulder. "Three hundred and fifty million dollars isn't a small number, but I believe your shoulders are strong enough."

Duke smiled but said nothing. If The Lord of the Rings trilogy flopped, even with Warner Brothers' investment, it would still be a severe blow to him.

After discussing work, the topic gradually shifted to personal life.

"I visited George's Star Wars crew last month."

A withered yellow leaf drifted down in front of Mrs. Leah. She caught it and said, "I heard some rumors."

"About me?" Duke was prepared.

"Yes."

Walking past a trash can, Mrs. Leah threw the leaf in. "Are you pursuing Hershler's daughter?"

"Hershler?" Duke was puzzled.

Mrs. Leah clarified, "The lead actress in George's new film. They say you're close to her."

"Mom, I have nothing to do with her." Duke sighed. With so many people in the crew, gossip spreading to his mother was no surprise. "I've only talked to her a few times, and she's only sixteen this year!"

"Is age a problem for you?" Mrs. Leah gave him a cold look. "I don't know what you're thinking, nor do I want to interfere in your private life. But Duke, if you're serious about finding a girlfriend in the industry, I think someone Jewish would be more suitable."

"Don't worry, Mom."

Duke understood his mother's concerns. He wasn't a rebellious youth who didn't know better. "I will have a stable partner in the future, and I will get married. I promise she won't be a scandal-ridden woman."

Although the Rosenberg family was down to just the two of them, carrying that surname meant he had to consider the family's reputation.

After walking in the garden for half an hour, Duke accompanied his mother back to the villa, changed into a coat, and prepared to go out.

Before leaving, Duke said to his mother, "Mom, I've arranged to meet Irene for a drink. I'll be back before eleven."

Seeing his mother wave him off from the sofa, Duke left the villa. He chose not to drive and walked to a high-end bar they had agreed on.

It wasn't far from Irene Lauder's residence, and the bar was located between their homes. After a ten-minute walk, Duke reached his destination. Under the streetlights, he checked the bar's sign to ensure it was the right place before pushing the door open.

Due to Thanksgiving, the bar wasn't crowded. Soft piano music played in the background. Duke found a seat by the window, ordered a soda, and waited patiently.

Before long, Irene Lauder, with her long brown curls, walked into the bar. Duke stood up and waved, and she smiled brightly, striding over.

"You look thinner," she remarked, looking at Duke.

Duke pulled out a chair for her and shrugged. "Maybe it's because my new clothes are too big."

Work had been hectic lately, and the inevitable pressure made weight loss unsurprising.

Once Irene sat down, Duke said, "You seem to have changed a lot."

"Gotten older?" she teased.

"You've become more beautiful, wiser, and shrewder," Duke replied bluntly, as he always did with her. "More like a strong businesswoman."

"Business is like a battlefield." Irene Lauder sighed. "If you're not strong enough, you wouldn't see the current me but a failure."

Duke asked with concern, "How's your brand creation plan going?"

"It's in preparation." Irene frowned slightly. "It might take years to launch. Establishing a cosmetics brand isn't easy and requires substantial promotion."

"I can recommend a few suitable endorsers," Duke joked.

Irene Lauder playfully shrugged. "If needed, I'll call you."

"Alright, let's not talk about work." She changed the subject and asked gossipily, "Your recent scandals seem to have lessened."

"Been busy lately," Duke replied casually. "And I haven't met anyone who moves me."

"How's Anna doing on your end?"

Time and distance are the biggest killers. From Irene's tone, it was clear their contact had dwindled. "The person I recommended didn't disappoint you, right?"

"She's okay."

In terms of ability, Anna Prince was competent as an assistant director, but she couldn't compare to Zack Snyder or Sofia Coppola.

"Watched any movies recently?" Duke asked.

"Last night," Irene replied, taking a sip of water. "I watched Titanic with Jane—my sister. I'll introduce you sometime."

"Sure," Duke nodded.

"I didn't expect the final cut to be so impressive," Irene continued. "Honestly, I thought your $50 million investment was a loss."

"You have so little faith in me?"

"It doesn't matter if I trust you." Irene shook her head. "Didn't I tell you on the phone last month? Everyone around me doubted your investment. As a normal person, I was influenced by them."

Duke raised a hand and lightly pointed at her from a distance. "Wait and see, Irene. Judging by the film's unconventional market momentum, Titanic will create a commercial miracle."

"A miracle?" Irene raised an eyebrow. "Independence Day or Jurassic Park? $300 million in North America or $400 million?"

"What about at least $500 million domestically and $1.5 billion globally?" Duke said, half-jokingly.

"Great!" Irene pretended to be serious. "With that kind of profit, I'll be short on funds for my brand. Can I count on you for investment?"

"It would be my honor," Duke laughed.

Irene didn't take it seriously and returned to discussing the film. "Jane cried her eyes red during the movie. James Cameron is so sentimental—even I felt sorry for Jack."

"Tragedy often leaves a deeper impression." Duke thought for a moment and added, "Jack's death not only earns countless tears but also incredible box office numbers."

"That's true." Irene nodded. "I've seen Leonardo at your parties before and didn't find him that handsome. But..."

She shook her head. "Many women in Lauder's offices are completely smitten with him. Some have seen the movie multiple times just for him."

"Of course, many more are captivated by the poignant love story," Irene added.

"Because reality lacks such pure and beautiful love," Duke said with a sigh. "Audiences seek this kind of love and affection from the screen."

"That's clear." Irene gave him a knowing smile. "The women approaching you often have ulterior motives."

"And you?" Duke asked.

"About the same." She sighed. "Those who approach me either care about my last name or the inheritance rights I have in Lauder Group. Some are so complicated that even I can't figure out their motives."

"Maybe that's our kind of people's tragedy."

Seeing Irene glance at her watch, Duke stood up and said, "Countless people envy and yearn for that kind of tragedy."

"It's late; let's head back."

Leaving the bar, Duke first sent Irene Lauder home, then strolled back to his own house along the Upper East Side streets. Thanksgiving was nearly over, and Titanic's trajectory would soon become even clearer!

...

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