Made In Hollywood

As soon as Duke entered the bar, he noticed a woman sitting diagonally across from him, alone. She had clear yet melancholic, mesmerizing brown-green eyes. Her deep brown curly hair cascaded down over her shoulders, which were draped in a V-neck gray sweater. Her face was extremely delicate, and her slender, sexy figure caught attention even while seated.

Though she wore light makeup and looked slightly different from her on-screen appearance, and despite being less famous in North America than even second-rate Hollywood actresses, Duke recognized her immediately. After all, the *Braveheart* crew was staying at a hotel near the bar.

"Is that her?" Zack Snyder suddenly asked.

"Are you interested?" Duke raised an eyebrow at his assistant director. "I always thought you liked men."

Zack Snyder almost spat out his drink, wide-eyed. "Duke, that's slander!"

He turned to glance at the woman again before reluctantly turning back. "Why is this a movie without any major female roles?"

In truth, Duke knew his team members were no saints. Within their sphere of influence and as long as it didn't cross his bottom line, they often gave women opportunities to appear in films. But that was just the way things worked. If you wanted people to go all out for you and offered them nothing in return, it wouldn't fly, not in Hollywood or any other business circle worldwide. As long as it stayed within reasonable limits, Duke wouldn't interfere.

"You're really interested in that woman?"

Sophia Coppola asked as she returned from the restroom and sat next to Duke. Zack Snyder took a sip of his drink and replied, "I doubt there are many men who wouldn't be interested in Sophie Marceau."

"You should give it a try," Sophia encouraged him. "I've spent time in France, and I hear she's like most French women—romantic and uninhibited."

"Zack, you're too late. Someone's already gone over," Sophia signaled with her eyes towards the woman Duke and Zack were observing. "And it's someone we know."

The man approaching had a head of silver hair and a gleaming forehead, but his fit physique and well-groomed beard gave him a charismatic look. For a man in his sixties or seventies, he was easily one of the most attractive older gentlemen around.

Upon seeing Sean Connery, Duke's eyes briefly flashed cold but quickly returned to normal. Though there was no hard evidence, he suspected Connery had played a role in the extreme backlash from critics toward *Independence Day*.

"Zack, aren't you going over there?" Duke asked.

"Compared to Sean Connery, my charm..." Zack Snyder shrugged. "I'll leave it to you, Duke. Don't let our enemy steal the beauty."

"You two are so childish," Sophia remarked without holding back.

"Don't you think it's a good way to unwind?" Duke shot back, standing up and walking towards the opposite side without hesitation. What he didn't expect was that Sophie Marceau seemed somewhat agitated when Sean Connery sat down, as if she didn't welcome his company.

"Sorry, Mr. Connery, I'd like some time alone."

Just as Duke approached, he overheard their conversation.

"Sophie, I just wanted to exchange thoughts on our characters," Connery insisted.

"It's after hours, and our characters don't seem to interact..." Sophie replied.

"Don't be like that, Sophie. You've always wanted to break into Hollywood, haven't you? I can help!" Connery offered.

At this point, Sophie noticed Duke approaching and gave him a questioning look. Sean Connery, facing away from Duke, continued to speak.

Duke smiled warmly at Sophie and pulled out a chair, sitting directly beside her.

"My dear, your charm is incredible. I was only gone to the restroom for a moment..."

He focused entirely on Sophie, ignoring the now-stunned Sean Connery. "Shall I ask him to leave?"

Sophie looked from Duke's kind face to Connery's increasingly sour expression. She said nothing, but instead, she smiled.

"Duke Rosenberg!" Sean Connery's words were forced through clenched teeth.

"Hey, Sean, long time no see."

Thanks to his recent discussions with Tom Hanks about acting, Duke felt his own acting skills had improved. With a calm expression, he said, "I'm glad to see you've bounced back so quickly from that media storm."

Though Duke's tone wasn't sarcastic, Connery's face grew darker. "Everyone has their rough patches, and most of Hollywood enjoys seeing the arrogant suffer."

"That's true," Duke agreed, nodding. "When Fox News sent their broadcast truck to your house, it was way over the line!"

Connery's hand on the table slowly clenched, the veins on his dried-out hand bulging.

Duke turned his head and stared at Connery, his gaze growing colder. Connery might have played old heroes on the screen, but he shouldn't be so deluded as to think that was real life.

Though Sean Connery had a fiery temperament, he wasn't entirely out of touch with reality. He glanced coldly at Sophie before standing up and leaving.

"Will this cause you any trouble on set?" Duke asked Sophie with genuine concern in his voice.

"He still has some influence," Duke continued.

"It's fine," Sophie shook her head, clearly unfazed by Connery.

After all, Sean Connery wasn't the same force he was years ago, and his status on the set might not even surpass that of the lead actress.

"Let's introduce ourselves properly," Duke extended his hand. "Duke Rosenberg, but you can just call me Duke."

Sophie briefly shook his hand. "Sophie Marceau."

Zack Snyder sighed as he watched from across the bar, sipping the last of his drink. He shook his head in resignation.

"They got familiar pretty quickly."

"Isn't he always like this?" Sophia said as she sipped her cocktail. "He knows how to play to his strengths."

"That's true," Zack agreed. "A successful director can attract any actress."

Sophia added, "Especially a successful director who also looks good."

"Seems like I need to step up my game," Zack said, feeling inspired.

"Let's head back to the hotel," Sophia picked up her handbag and stood. "We probably don't need to wait for Duke."

On the other side, Duke and Sophie Marceau appeared to be having a pleasant conversation. But aside from discussing films, they had little common ground. Even their perspectives on movies were worlds apart.

When Duke thought of Sophie Marceau, what stood out to him was that she was the quintessential French woman—bold, uninhibited, and unafraid to take risks.

Of course, if she weren't willing to bare it all, she wouldn't be a European actress in a European film.

"Although my agent convinced me to take on this French princess role," Sophie said, sipping about a third of her whiskey, "I wasn't too keen on accepting it at first."

"Because it's just a decorative role?" Duke asked.

"That's part of it, but it's also because of my family," Sophie explained.

Duke blinked in surprise. "Family?"

"You didn't know?" Sophie smiled mysteriously. "I'm married. I have a husband."

"This is the first I've heard of your marriage."

Though Duke had read about her bold personality and eventful love life online, he didn't know she had married so early. "Your husband must be the envy of all of Europe."

Sophie looked puzzled by his comment.

Duke smiled and explained, "I mean, who wouldn't envy the man married to Sophie Marceau?"

Though Duke's compliment wasn't particularly clever, it still made Sophie smile, though her smile carried a hint of sadness. "Some people might not see it that way."

She took another sip of her whiskey, her words tinged with the influence of alcohol. "Marriage isn't always as happy as it seems."

"I absolutely agree!"

Duke waved to a waiter, ordering another round. He handed Sophie her drink and clinked his glass with hers. "Which is why I've never even considered stepping into the trap of marriage."

Back when he was still a carefree bachelor, Duke had no attachments. In his first few years in North America, after witnessing his mother's failed marriage and working in an industry with one of the highest divorce rates, he found it difficult to entertain thoughts of marriage.

Marriage wasn't just about signing a contract. It came with responsibilities. As long as he remained single, he could pursue beautiful women without anyone being able to criticize him. But once he got married, things would change entirely.

Of course, looking at the entertainment industry in both Europe and America, it wasn't uncommon for people to continue messing around even after tying the knot.

"Enough of this depressing talk. Let's drink!"

Duke took a small sip of his whiskey, while Sophie downed half her glass. "Cheers!"

Duke ordered a whole bottle of whiskey and poured them both more.

After another drink, Sophie seemed to have drunk too quickly and started coughing softly, politely refusing the tissue Duke offered her. She touched her smooth cheek and, with a hint of drunkenness, looked warily at Duke.

"Are you trying to get me drunk?"

Duke spread his hands with an innocent look. Given his alcohol tolerance, he'd probably be under the table before Sophie got tipsy.

"Don't think I can't tell."

Perhaps feeling more comfortable, Sophie spoke more openly. "Every man who flirts with me only has one thing on his mind. What about you, Duke?"

"No one can resist Sophie Marceau," Duke said, staring intensely at her.

.....

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