"Mr. Williams, you are so arrogant," said Elisabeth who appeared beside Eric as soon as Nicole left.
Eric turned to look at her, shrugged, and replied, "This is just a small punishment for a woman who likes to play tricks. So, Liz, this outcome teaches us that it's better, to be honest. I'm really sad that you have been speaking to me in such a distant tone. Have you forgotten the good time we had together in Venice?"
Elisabeth's face turned slightly red, but she smirked and said provocatively, "Ha, do you want to punish me as well, Mr... Williams?"
Eric held his chin as if he was contemplating something before he replied, "Perhaps, I could ask for a better offer for giving Friends to Fox, and then tell Mr. Murdoch that this was due to Miss Elisabeth's indifference towards me."
Elisabeth suddenly frowned in anger at Eric and angrily stomped her foot on the floor. Her father had told her that if she annoyed Eric he would block her credit card again. In fact, if Eric really did as he said, her father's anger would result in a lot more than just blocking her credit card.
The more she thought about it, the more angry and aggrieved she felt. Elisabeth finally gritted her teeth and barked, "Eric Williams, you are such a bastard."
Of course, Eric had only been joking, but he didn't expect that she would react in such a manner.
He quickly explained, "Liz, don't be angry! I'm just joking."
Elisabeth had wanted to turn around and leave, but her feet did not move as if they were stuck. Her angry expression didn't ease much despite Eric's explanation as she said, coldly, "Mr. Williams, my father asked me to come and invite you to talk. I don't know if you are free?"
"Of course, you... will take me there?"
Elisabeth nodded slightly before she turned around and walked up the stairs. Eric followed swiftly.
***
Elisabeth knocked on the door to a room on the second floor and pushed it open without waiting for a response before making an inviting gesture to Eric.
Entering the room, Eric glanced around.
This is a simple reception room with a row of bookshelves, a few sets of couches, and a coffee table in the middle. Only old Murdoch was in the room. Not even Barry Diller was present.
"Eric, come sit down."
Seeing Eric walk in, Murdoch quickly stood up, smiled, and motioned for him to sit down on the couch opposite him before he said to Elisabeth, "Liz, make a cup of coffee for Eric."
Elisabeth nodded and walked to the side quietly.
Eric saw Murdoch looking at his daughter, who was making coffee, with a smile, and followed his gaze on her. The red one-shoulder dress she was wearing highlighted her slender figure.
"Eric, you are 19 years old, right?" Murdoch asked suddenly.
Eric nodded. His new body's birthday is May 16th in the Gregorian calendar. Speaking of it, his 19th birthday passed during the intense filming of Running Out of Time, so there was no party, just dinner with a few people close to him.
"Liz is actually only two years older than you. I still remember how Liz was when she was a child. Unfortunately, I have been too busy and haven't had many opportunities to spend time with my children. Liz is a grown woman, but her personality is still like a child."
"Dad, how am I like a child?" Elisabeth turned her head and asked, dissatisfied.
She handed the two cups of coffee to Eric and Murdoch and then sat down beside her father. She wanted to leave, but old Murdoch had warned her severely before. Although Elisabeth sometimes liked to rebel against her father, she dared not disobey him when he was truly serious.
Old Murdoch chuckled before he said to Eric, "Look, she's so impulsive, just like a child."
Eric also chuckled lightly, however, he had become clear of the old man's thoughts. Eric had no intention of marrying Elisabeth since he had never planned to give up the forest for a single tree.
Unexpectedly, after Murdoch spoke, he changed the topic again and asked, "Eric, Sleepless in Seattle's production is going to start soon, right?"
Eric quickly replied, "Yes, it will start within a week at the latest. It's currently September, but I plan to finish both Sleepless in Seattle and the sequel to Home Alone together. Since the time is very tight, the filming and post-production of the two films will happen simultaneously."
Murdoch asked with a hint of fascination, "I do have some understanding regarding film production, but I believe it's very rare to be able to make films as fast as you, so I am very curious about how you make films."
Eric chuckled and said readily, "If possible, Mr. Murdoch, you're welcome to visit the set."
"That's highly unlikely to happen," Murdoch replied while shaking his head in regret, "I'm too busy for that, but, Eric, what do you think of Liz?"
"Hmm...huh?" Eric looked confused and thought inwardly, 'Why did he turn to her again?'
Murdoch explained, "Liz's college courses have been completed, and now she just needs to complete an internship. You must know the major Liz pursued. How about letting her be an assistant director for Sleepless in Seattle so that she can experience working with an outstanding director such as yourself."
Eric suddenly had an urge to curse out Murdoch's mother. It turned out that the old man had been waiting to trap him verbally.
Elisabeth, sitting next to Murdoch, had her head lowered and gently fiddled with her fingers, like a good daughter who allowed her father to make the decisions.
"Mr. Murdoch, the crew is going to run around New York, Seattle, and Chicago... Being an assistant director is very tedious and boring. Elisabeth won't be able to bear it."
Maybe because she had been feeling triumphant, Elisabeth immediately raised her head and retorted to Eric, dissatisfied, "Do you look down on women?"
"Umm..."
Old Murdoch saw Eric being left speechless by his daughter and immediately burst into laughter, "Alright it's decided."
Eric wanted to refute again, but Murdoch did not give him the chance as he patted his daughter on the shoulder and said, "Liz, you go out. I have to talk with Eric about something, alone."
Elisabeth nodded and gave Eric a derisive look before turning to leave.