Hollywood (我就是好莱坞) Part I

CHAPTER 34 - BEGGAR

"Hey, baby, do you have an evening dress ? We're going to a fancy party ...... huh ?" Eric frowned slightly: "See what TV producers ? Annie, I forgot to tell you, I have a script specially for you...... I know you want to rely on your own strength, but tonight James specifically told me to bring a female companion, if you don't come then how could ...... No I was the one who ...... I see, okay, bye."

Eric sighed as he hung up the phone, ever since Home Alone's success, his relationship with Annie had underwent a subtle change. Although she was still as unruly as a baby, it felt like she was stepping on needles every time she was with him.

He knew that it was because she had seen some comments about them in the tabloids, which had brought about her feelings of low self-esteem. Although Eric had been as gentle as possible to get her to not mind it, the anxiousness of the girl hadn't decreased.

In order to get out of this turmoil, through her father's advice, she decided to take a few hours every week to continuously participate in TV, movies and plays' auditions.

Annie's goal was very simple, she wanted to become famous fast, and shut those newspapers up.

......

In John Aniston's Beverly Hills home, Annie hung up the phone, and also let out a sigh. She wanted to join Eric at the party, and longed to star in one of his movies.

But she knew that if he did so now, the public would scorn her for relying on her boyfriend, and she would have to forever live with a label. Maybe some women wouldn't care and be ecstatic instead, but to the strong and independent Aniston, this was absolutely unacceptable.

Reading the newspaper, John Aniston saw his daughter in a daze and couldn't resist saying: "Jenny, I'm meeting up with Koster today, how about you come with me, he would definitely not mind."

Aniston shook her head and said: "No, Dad, although uncle Koster wouldn't mind, I would. It's just too unbecoming for him to give me that role."

"Jenny, Eric is a good boy, he's more mature than the average young men, I think he wouldn't mind all those things."

"But I do mind, Dad." Aniston said: "Look at what the newspapers are saying, my God ! I never thought people would view me that way."

"Annie, if you're concerned about this, you'll never happy," John persuasively said: "Eric has achieved such dazzling results at such a young age, so not surprisingly his life would be under scrutiny, and you as his girlfriend would certainly not escape from this, unless ......"

John Aniston spoke to there and quickly shut his mouth, he didn't want to plant any seed in his daughter's heart with his statement, as she might resent him for that in the future. Although his impression of Eric had changed, but because of his daughter's strong-hardheadedness, he wasn't optimistic about the two's future.

......

After Aniston had refused to accompany him, Eric started to lack interest in the upcoming reception. Late afternoon came, he put on a suit that his father had left behind, and drove towards the Hilton Hotel, where the reception was hosted.

He had just appeared in the hall, that the sharp-eyed James Brooks came up to him, but once he noticed the youth's attire, he frowned slightly. He grabbed Eric's shoulders in a friendly way, and whispered: "Eric, your identity is different now, you should pay attention to the way you dress, you should have at least put on a suit that fits you, right ?"

Eric looked at his somewhat large and cheap suit which was the only one his father had possessed. He shrugged helplessly and pulled out his wallet in front of the man as he shook it with a smile: "James, in addition to my car, this is all I have left, a total of ...... Well, five hundred twenty-one dollars and seventy-five cents. I had to mortgage the house to make Home Alone, and I still haven't gotten the ownership certificate back, I have no money to buy new clothes."