King of Hollywood

"Alright, Mom, I said it's just a small role, at most it'll take two or three days. I'll take care of myself, I'm not a little kid... Okay, okay, I'll be careful... Bye, I love you." Catherine hung up the phone, staring blankly at the phone on the hotel counter for a long while before taking a deep breath. She clenched her fists and ground her teeth, casting a hateful glance around before leaving the counter and heading upstairs.

Just thinking about the afternoon made humiliation flood her heart, like she had been stripped bare in front of everyone, left for them to mock. Catherine's lips were tightly pressed, her face cold when she returned to her room, looking in the mirror at herself as her chest heaved. That feeling was absolutely awful! Just like... when her father passed away.

"Damn bastard, I just slightly questioned his opinion, never thought he would react like this… Bastard! Narrow-minded bastard!" Catherine paced back and forth in the room, cursing under her breath and taking deep breaths, "I knew it! I knew it! How many people actually officially sign a contract with a temporary actor! I was so stupid, I should have seen it back then..."

After a long breath and rubbing her cheeks with both hands, Catherine finally calmed down. Clearly, Adrian used this tactic to trap her, making it impossible for her to just leave, determined to "repay" her properly. If that's the case, then just wait and see, don't think I'm easy to bully! Catherine said fiercely in her mind.

As she had expected, the next day's shoot continued with Adrian constantly giving her a hard time. Catherine didn't say a word from start to finish, hanging her head like she was saying, "I'm sorry," "It's my fault." Perhaps Adrian felt that was enough, as he finally passed two shots and then announced they would move on to other scenes, telling Catherine to reread the script to capture the character's essence.

Catherine still said nothing, obediently going to a corner to read the script, as if she had been tamed by Adrian. After a few staff members came over with some comforting words, most people immediately focused on the next shoot. If anyone thought Catherine was giving up, they were sorely mistaken. She had been carefully observing from the start and had a plan in mind by the third NG; now she was just waiting for an opportunity.

Finally, the opportunity came. After shooting a scene involving growing marijuana, Adrian announced a 10-minute break. Glancing around, Catherine nonchalantly stood up and leisurely walked over to a small table near the camera, picked up the coffee pot on it, and walked away.

Out of sight from the crew, Catherine strode to the restroom door, once again cautiously looking around before quickly opening the door and walking in. Pouring the remaining coffee from the pot into the sink and washing it out, she carried the pot with a cold smile into a stall, locked the door, and ensured no one else was inside before placing the coffee pot on the ground and lifting her skirt.

This was the director's special coffee pot; Adrian drank one to two pots of coffee or black tea every day, naturally making it Catherine's target. She was just under 20, a young girl who wouldn't overthink or fear consequences, so acting on impulse and emotion was perfectly normal.

After handling everything and stifling a bit of nausea, she wiped the coffee pot and added some prepared items to cover it up. Catherine took a deep breath and swaggered back to the set. It just so happened that Adrian was talking with the cinematographer and assistant director, and everyone else was busy with their tasks, so she smoothly returned the coffee pot to its original place.

Feeling a sense of pride and schadenfreude, Catherine returned to her seat, waiting to see this bastard get his comeuppance. However, to her frustration, Adrian seemed entirely absorbed in the filming and, over the next hour or so, didn't even touch the coffee pot.

You'll drink it sooner or later! Catherine thought resentfully. Unfortunately, this mindset couldn't make Adrian drink the coffee immediately, and it led to her NGing several times in the next shoot, drawing further ridicule from Adrian.

Patience, she had to be patient; soon he would suffer. Catherine mentally encouraged herself, obediently listening to Adrian's scolding. Finally, despite several interruptions and breaking for several more NGs, they got through two or three shots.

"Let's call it for now, take a fifteen-minute break, and we'll film scene 55 in Act 34." Adrian announced after another shot, then waved at Catherine, "Miss Bequina, could you come here for a moment?"

Catherine blinked in confusion but quickly walked over, as she saw Adrian heading to the small table searching for a cup. What could be more satisfying than watching her plan succeed right before her eyes?

"Do you know where your problem was earlier?" Adrian spoke without turning his head.

"Uh… too stiff. Long-term marijuana use would cause… apathy, sluggishness, lack of concentration, etc., but not… rolling your eyes like a dying fish." Catherine carefully considered before responding. Although Adrian had his back to her, she could tell what he was doing, and her heart leapt to her throat.

"Good, that shows you're at least using your brain to observe. Ha, today it's black tea—I hope you keep it up, don't make me keep reminding you, understand?" Adrian turned around, holding two cups.

"Yes, I understand… What is this?" Catherine stared blankly at the cup offered to her.

"A drink for you, as encouragement, and then we can call it even," Adrian said in a sincere tone.

"This…" Catherine's face turned slightly pale; she hadn't anticipated this turn of events at all.

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?" Adrian noticed her hesitation.

"No… it's nothing… just… unexpected." Catherine explained, gritting her teeth internally, and reached out to accept the cup. The rippling brown liquid inside made her hand tremble slightly.

"Unexpected?" Adrian chuckled softly. "Do you find me different from how I was at the start?"

"Uh… this…" Catherine didn't know what to say, continuously grinding her teeth in her mind.

Luckily, Adrian didn't continue the conversation, shrugged, and raised his cup. "You'll know why."

Catherine relaxed slightly, forcing a smile as she raised her cup as well. She thought this was enough, but hadn't anticipated Adrian staring at her unblinkingly, clearly intent on watching her drink.

Damn it! Damn it! Catherine furiously cursed internally; she never expected it to end up like this. If it weren't for a persistent thought, her face might have turned colors.

If it were someone else, they'd likely sense something was off, but Catherine, being just a teenage girl, impulsively overlooked things. Chewing her cheek, she lifted the cup to her lips, holding back the nausea and closing her eyes. Though she only let the liquid touch her lips, the sensation nearly made her convulse.

As long as he drinks it! As long as he drinks! Catherine forced herself to endure the humiliation, her eyes locked onto Adrian. Everything she did was for this one purpose!

Then Adrian chuckled, casually tossed aside his cup's liquid, and with Catherine's stupefied gaze, retrieved an identical coffee pot from a pile of newspapers.

"You didn't really think I'd drink it, did you?" Adrian placed the two coffee pots together, speaking to Catherine in a mocking tone.

Catherine stared at Adrian, her face instantly turning white as snow, her lips quivering, unable to speak a word. Adrian said nothing, simply looking at her with amusement.

An indescribable, unutterable wave of humiliation surged through her; her beautiful eyes brimmed with mist as she stared at Adrian with hatred and despair. With a loud crack, Catherine smashed the cup against the wall and turned to dash down the corridor.

Adrian shrugged, then waved at the people who had turned at the noise. "Alright, nothing to see here."

He had never let up on observing Catherine; since this girl dared challenge him from the outset, it was inconceivable that she would allow herself to be berated during filming so obediently. Catherine thought she had pulled off her move without a trace, but everything was in Adrian's sights. Since she dared to be so bold, how could he not deal with it thoroughly?!

While everyone averted their eyes, there was still some inevitable whispering. Adrian rubbed his chin, casually picking up the coffee pot and cup as he walked in the direction Catherine had fled. He had expected her to throw the cup at him, even made a slight evasive move, but she just smashed it against the wall. In that respect...

After searching a few rooms, Adrian finally heard soft sobbing outside a storage room. Carefully peeking through the crack, he saw a girl sitting against the wall, face buried, quietly crying, seemingly forcing herself to endure it, only making sounds when she couldn't hold back.

Adrian shook his head, then pushed the door open, "If you want to play tricks on people, you have to be prepared to get tricked yourself."

"What are you doing here?!" Catherine whirled around, eyes red, glaring at Adrian with resentment. "Fuck you! Bastard! Jerk! Fuck you!"

"Okay, calm down, it's no big deal."

"If you're here to gloat over your victory, then let me tell you, you've seen it! So get out! Get out!"

"I said, calm down. It was just a cup of black tea, don't make such a fuss."

Catherine, about to hurl more curses, froze. After a few seconds, she stammered, "Wha… what?"

"Just black tea," Adrian replied with amusement, raising the coffee pot in his hand and giving it a shake, "Not your… well… gift. I'm not a weirdo."