"Did it really end up like this?"
Looking at the newspaper report about Jessica Alba shooting her boyfriend, Duke felt surprised. "Things didn't completely develop as we anticipated."
However, that didn't matter; it had little impact on his plans.
Tina Fey put down the phone and said, "Sheriff Carter sent word that the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department received complaints from many people, including us, and has now detained both Jessica Alba and Christopher Rokenkort."
"And..." Tina Fey continued, "Christopher Rokenkort's accountant and lawyer are also implicated and have been restricted by the police."
Duke wasn't surprised by this. There was no way Rokenkort could transfer such a huge amount of funds on his own.
Taking the coffee Ivanka handed him, Duke thanked her and told Tina Fey, "Have lawyer Richard keep an eye on them."
Since they were involved, Duke had no intention of backing out easily.
After thinking for a moment, he said, "Tina, when things settle down, arrange for a meeting with Edward Newgate."
As his wealth grew, Duke knew Christopher Rokenkort wouldn't be the first to target him, nor would he be the last.
Christopher Rokenkort's financial accounts were temporarily frozen, and the enormous funds in them would gradually be returned to the investors after the investigation concluded. This man, one of the biggest con artists in Hollywood history, would spend a very long time behind bars.
As for Jessica Alba, even if she were lucky enough to avoid jail time, her days in Hollywood were over. Offending so many Hollywood elites, including influential figures like Frank Pierson, meant her dream of stardom was essentially over.
At this moment, the housekeeper Emma came over and told Duke, "The car picking them up is at the estate gate."
"Alright."
Duke stood up and headed toward the villa's entrance, with Ivanka Trump immediately following. Since their relationship had become official, she had been staying in Los Angeles under the pretense of choosing a company location, and Duke never objected.
Standing in front of the villa for less than a minute, a black van slowly drove in from the estate's gate and stopped. When the car door opened, the first person Duke saw was his mother, followed by Scarlett Johansson, who was accompanying her.
"Mom..." He walked over and gave his mother a light hug.
Leah looked at Duke and said, "You've lost weight."
Duke simply smiled. Unlike other directors who indulged in burgers, sandwiches, and sodas when busy, he was very particular about his diet.
After speaking to Duke, Leah turned her attention to Ivanka Trump. The two had known each other for some time and weren't meeting for the first time.
"Hi, Duke."
Hearing this somewhat unfamiliar voice, Duke turned his head. Before he could greet her, a blonde girl with curly hair had already embraced him. He had no choice but to return the hug lightly. However, her hug was strong, and he could feel her fiery figure pressing against him, almost comparable to Ivanka's.
"Scarlett, long time no see."
After they parted, Duke looked at the girl in front of him. Compared to their last meeting, Scarlett Johansson seemed to have grown slightly taller. However, her voluptuous figure overshadowed the height difference, making it barely noticeable.
This blonde girl had seemingly concentrated all her development on two areas since her teens.
"Let's talk inside."
Duke invited everyone into the villa. Scarlett Johansson walked beside him, glancing at Ivanka Trump, who was talking to Leah, and moved slightly closer.
She whispered, "So, the rumors are true?"
"What rumors?" Duke turned to her.
Scarlett gestured towards Ivanka with her chin. "I never thought you'd have a girlfriend one day."
"Is that so strange?" Duke frowned.
Even Hollywood's most playboy types had official girlfriends. Was it so unusual for him to change his lifestyle?
"It's not strange for you to have a girlfriend," Scarlett Johansson said, still glancing towards Ivanka. "But it's strange for you to be dating her."
Although the two had grown distant over time, they had once been in frequent contact. Scarlett knew Ivanka Trump wasn't entirely Duke's type.
After chatting briefly in the living room, Leah took Duke aside to a private lounge.
They weren't discussing Ivanka Trump. She wasn't a scandalous woman and had a good reputation in New York's upper society. Leah had no intention of interfering.
Her concern lay elsewhere.
"After I got off the plane, I saw in the papers that you were involved in a fraud case?"
Hearing his mother's question, Duke quickly explained, "Strictly speaking, I'm just a victim."
"So, you got scammed out of money?"
Leah was skeptical. She knew Duke wasn't skilled at business operations but was extremely cautious.
"This is what happened..."
Duke used concise language to explain the incident. "To be exact, I used his scheme to set up my own. Christopher Rokenkort wasn't my target."
He had no interest in exposing a con artist for Hollywood's sake.
"Was it necessary to create such a big stir?" Leah understood Duke's intention.
Duke sighed. "I know very well that the conservative voters, who truly influence the decision, don't like me. I started as a commercial director, was nominated for my first Oscar as a commercial director, and even now, I'm still a commercial director. Even Chicago was just a commercial film disguised as a musical."
"Their bias against commercial directors..." Duke shook his head. "I understand some of the conservatives' mentality. They know commerce is the backbone of Hollywood, but they fantasize about dressing this highly commercialized industry in the guise of art."
There were things he didn't say. In less than a week, it would be September 11, and the country's political and economic landscape would change drastically. This shift would also affect Hollywood. Though Oscar-winning films had always been politically correct, the political atmosphere surrounding the Oscars would become even more pronounced. Who could guarantee nothing would happen?
Indeed, some had conquered the Oscars with commercial success. But let's not forget, James Cameron's film was based on real events, not a fictional world.
Peter Jackson won his Oscar based on the cumulative success of a trilogy. Duke seemed to have an advantage—more illustrious credentials, Jewish heritage, and two prior nominations.
But Duke didn't believe the golden statue was a given. Even with his unique background, if he didn't actively strive for it, could success be guaranteed?
He wasn't God, nor someone blessed by Him.
Moreover, he had a major disadvantage: the critics.
While critics had little influence on the summer blockbuster season, the older generation who grew up with them still held significant sway over the Academy. Their impact on awards season was enormous.
If Tolkien were still alive, Duke felt he would almost certainly lose.
Duke was explaining his reasons to his mother in simple terms.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Scarlett Johansson was curiously observing Ivanka.
"Would you like something to drink, Scarlett?"
Like a polite hostess, Ivanka stood up, placed a porcelain cup on the coffee table before Scarlett, and was about to pour her some tea. Scarlett shook her head. "Thanks, but I don't drink that."
She then walked over to the bar in the corner of the living room, found the liquor cabinet, and pulled out a bottle of mineral water. She deliberately waved it towards Ivanka. "I was involved in this house from the purchase, through renovations, to Duke moving in. I'm very familiar with it. I'll help myself."
Walking back with the mineral water, Scarlett passed by Ivanka and said, "I feel at home here."
Ivanka blinked quickly, her smile seemingly unchanged. She responded lightly, "I understand. You are Leah's goddaughter, after all."
She glanced cautiously at Scarlett, who pretended not to notice and sat back on the sofa, ignoring the cup Ivanka had prepared. She grabbed a new one, poured herself some water, and slowly drank.
Scarlett gestured to the seat next to her. "Have a seat, Ivanka. No need to be so formal."
Hearing this, Ivanka suddenly smiled. She didn't argue with Scarlett anymore. Instead, she turned and walked towards the kitchen. "I'll check on the dinner Emma is preparing. Excuse me, Scarlett."
When Duke returned to the living room, he saw Scarlett Johansson sitting idly on the sofa, drinking water. He walked over and sat across from her.
"Don't you need to rest?" Duke asked.
Scarlett yawned. "Where's my godmother?"
"Upstairs, dealing with jet lag." Duke poured himself some tea. "You should rest too. I'll have someone call you before dinner."
"Okay." Scarlett nodded and stood up but didn't leave immediately.
Leaning on the back of the sofa, she asked Duke, "Why did you choose her as your girlfriend? She's not your type."
Duke looked at Scarlett. Before he could respond, she added, "I think being with someone you don't find attractive would be torture."
"Scarlett..." Duke's tone grew stern.
Scarlett blinked innocently. "I was just asking casually."
"If having the most beautiful girlfriend is the goal, I might as well go to the San Fernando Valley."
Hearing Duke's words, Scarlett stuck out her tongue and quickly walked away.