Walking out of Trump Tower, Ivanka naturally placed her hand through Duke's arm, holding onto him as they strolled down Fifth Avenue. Duke turned to glance at her. Before coming downstairs, Ivanka had deliberately changed her clothes. She was now wearing comfortable sneakers, above which was a pair of cropped denim jeans that clung tightly to her straight legs. Even without the aid of high heels, her legs looked incredibly long.
Above that, she wore a simple white T-shirt. The shirt was slightly short, and whenever she tossed her silky hair back, her flat abdomen would be exposed.
Retracting his gaze, Duke looked ahead toward Fifth Avenue. "Are you going shopping?"
"I've invested all my money into the website. I'm broke now," Ivanka said as she clung more tightly to Duke's arm. She pointed to an entrance not far ahead with her other hand. "Why don't you accompany me for a walk in Central Park?"
"Of course, no problem."
New York was far less hot than Los Angeles. After sunset, walking into the tree-lined Central Park and strolling alongside the river brought a natural cool breeze, far more pleasant than air conditioning. The park was full of people enjoying themselves, and occasionally tourists from around the world could be spotted.
Walking along the riverbank and looking at the crystal-clear water, Ivanka said, "When I was in high school, I used to come here often to row boats."
"No wonder your rowing skills are so good," Duke said, recalling the fishing incident on the lake.
Ivanka smiled and tugged him toward a square. "Hurry up! It looks like there's a music performance over there."
Ahead was a small square where a crowd had gathered. Faint drum and guitar sounds could be heard, and through the gaps in the crowd, a few performers in eccentric costumes were visible.
Dragged along by Ivanka, Duke quickened his pace. But by the time they reached the square, more people had gathered, and they could only stand on the outskirts. Fortunately, their heights gave them an advantage, so their views weren't completely blocked.
When there are crowds, there's a risk of being recognized. Thoughtful as ever, Ivanka quickly took Duke's sunglasses hanging from his T-shirt and placed them on his face.
Inside the square, a Black band was performing blues. While their skill was average, their songs and animated body language successfully roused the audience's enthusiasm.
"So cool!"
Ivanka cheered along with the crowd, her youthful energy infectious even to Duke. Gradually, he too began cheering for the band.
After staying there for about ten minutes, the two moved on to another area.
"Let's go check out the skating rink. Even though there's no ice now," Ivanka said, leading the way beside Duke. She spoke animatedly about the distance. "That was my favorite winter pastime when I was young. We used to come here to skate all the time..."
For now, Duke was content to listen. Ivanka continued, "Except for Jane, I don't keep in touch with most of the people I used to play with."
"Jane Landay?" Duke asked at the right moment.
"Yes, Eileen's younger sister."
Duke nodded at her response. "Are there others I might know?"
"There's one you definitely know. She's a somewhat famous model now," Ivanka said with a playful smile. "I remember you met her at a party—the Hilton family's daughter, Paris Hilton."
"I remember."
Indeed, they'd met once. Even if they hadn't, Duke was well aware of Paris Hilton's reputation.
When they reached the skating rink, it was noticeably less crowded than in winter. Ivanka found a bench and invited Duke to sit with her. Looking at the empty rink, she said, "Paris is a party animal now. I hardly hang out with her anymore."
Duke nodded without comment. Paris Hilton represented the typical lifestyle of the younger generation in affluent circles, while Eileen Landay and Ivanka Trump were more of exceptions.
Ivanka turned to Duke and suddenly asked, "I remember you used to enjoy parties too."
"It's just a way to relax in life."
In recent years, Duke had rarely attended parties unrelated to work. "Directing is a high-pressure job that requires tremendous energy and time. I have to find ways to relieve that stress."
Glancing at his watch, Duke reminded her, "It's getting late. Let's head back. I need to contact Anna soon to check on progress in Los Angeles."
Although he had felt a bit weary of his current lifestyle while in New Zealand, after more than a decade, it had become second nature. Changing habits suddenly was something anyone would hesitate to do.
Yes, the idea of change had crossed his mind more than once, but Duke's primary focus remained his work. His passion was entirely devoted to filmmaking, leaving little room to ponder how his life might be different.
Duke could sense Ivanka's feelings. If she were someone within the industry, he might have pursued her without hesitation. However, she had left a great impression on him. Although she wasn't his type, she was an ambitious and hardworking young woman, someone he could consider a friend.
Everyone needs boundaries.
Ivanka clearly wasn't someone seeking thrill or pleasure.
A formal girlfriend? Driving back to his home in the Upper East Side, Duke pondered the possibility and instinctively wanted to shake his head.
A serious relationship would mean mutual responsibility, which felt like a heavy burden.
Of course, Duke acknowledged that if he ever wanted to start a formal relationship, Ivanka Trump would be a very suitable choice.
However, with The Fellowship of the Ring currently in theaters and post-production on The Two Towers underway, Duke didn't have the time or energy for such considerations. Just as he had over the past few years, he quickly immersed himself back into work.
After its second weekend, The Fellowship of the Ring maintained a stable and strong performance. Although its weekday daily earnings fell below $10 million, it still held its own. Monday through Thursday, it earned $9.52 million, $9.95 million, $9.62 million, and $9.33 million respectively, bringing its four-day total to $38.42 million and its North American box office gross to $249.35 million.
The upcoming weekend was relatively quiet for the North American market, with the only major release being Universal Pictures' The Fast and the Furious.
"The Fellowship of the Ring is set to win its third consecutive weekend at the box office!"
Having witnessed The Fellowship of the Ring sweep the competition like a hurricane, Michael Ovitz's mood had gradually stabilized. After all, he was a seasoned agent.
This was the premiere of The Fast and the Furious. In the waiting room before entering the venue, Vin Diesel wore a defiant expression. "Hey, Michael, don't jump to conclusions!"
Still bearing traces of arrogance, he added, "The Fellowship of the Ring is entering its third weekend. This is The Fast and the Furious's debut. We might beat them!"
"Use your thick skull to think this through!"
When dealing with lesser-known actors, Michael Ovitz rarely showed any patience. "Do you really think The Fast and the Furious can challenge The Fellowship of the Ring?"
Vin Diesel opened his mouth but didn't dare to retort.
Paul Walker and others glanced at Vin Diesel with mocking eyes. Though their expressions didn't reveal it, they were undoubtedly gloating inside.
They belonged to the same agency, and resources were always limited. Even top agencies like CAA and ICM had to prioritize when promoting newcomers, let alone smaller firms like Artist Management Company. No one wanted to be the second choice.
In fact, outside of professional exchanges, Paul Walker never spoke to Vin Diesel. This was partly because they were rivals for both roles and agency resources, and partly because Paul Walker disapproved of Vin Diesel's background.
In this crew filled with Black and Latino actors, Paul Walker found few people to his liking.
Of course, he understood that others viewed him as a competitor and disliked him just as much.
This was a common dynamic in Hollywood crews—a group of semi-famous actors vying for attention while enacting the industry's decades-long soap opera of superficial harmony and hidden rivalries.
Some were overt in their behavior, while others used subtler tactics.
As the female lead of The Fast and the Furious, Jessica Alba was the film's most prominent actress. Supported by her sweet yet sultry looks, she drew the most attention on the red carpet and was a focus of the media's cameras.
This situation didn't escape Michelle Rodriguez's notice.
The agency was grooming two young actresses: Kate Beckinsale, the lead in Pearl Harbor, and Jessica Alba, who stood beside her.
But Michelle Rodriguez had her own ambitions. She wasn't content to remain a supporting role forever.
Thus, during filming, she cultivated a close relationship with Jessica Alba, often going clubbing together and seeing the other side of this seemingly innocent actress.
Jessica, though already dating a producer with a French aristocratic title, had no qualms about mingling with other men. Like many in the industry, she often hit it off with someone and disappeared for the night. Early in the year, when her boyfriend was away from Los Angeles, she even had a two-week fling with a visiting Yankees player.
As Jessica's so-called close friend, Michelle Rodriguez had carefully kept these secrets.
At this moment, Jessica suddenly appeared uneasy, her legs visibly fidgeting as if something unbearable was happening. Her face also looked uncomfortable, and one hand instinctively moved toward her waist.
"What's wrong, Jess?" Michelle Rodriguez immediately asked with apparent concern.
.....
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