Chapter 139 — No Gain Without Giving
Morning light filtered into the villa in Hammersmith, London.
In the kitchen, Catherine Zeta-Jones stood in nothing but a white shirt, preparing breakfast.
Her graceful curves and long legs made for a dangerously beautiful sight.
"Good morning, darling."
Aaron stepped in after washing up and wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Catherine leaned back into him with a happy smile.
"Give me a minute. It'll be ready soon."
"It's ready already," he teased, kissing her cheek—then her lips.
"Mmm…"
She returned the kiss as his hands slid against the loosened buttons of her shirt.
"All right," Catherine finally breathed, pressing her forehead against his chest.
"Didn't you say you're meeting Ridley Scott today?"
Aaron murmured against her ear,
"We're meeting at noon. There's still time."
"Do you have any idea how tempting you are?" he whispered.
Catherine's eyes half-closed as she brushed her nose against his neck.
"Then… why don't you stay in England longer?"
"Or come visit me more often," she added softly.
"I always wanted a home in West London.
Now I finally have one."
Aaron smiled.
"That's a simple dream. Why stop there? Why not Kensington Gardens or Hyde Park next?"
Catherine looked up at him in silence.
"…Let me stay with you."
Aaron paused.
"You know I'm not exactly faithful."
She answered quietly, without hesitation:
"I know.
But nothing comes without a price… or without choice."
---
Noon — The Savoy Hotel, Westminster
At lunch, Aaron laid out the concept for The Mask of Zorro.
And it worked.
Ridley Scott's eyes lit up.
"A sweeping frontier… galloping horses, desert estates, gold mines, dungeons—
this will be a true epic."
He nodded more seriously.
"The early 1820s were a turning point.
Three centuries of Spanish rule in Mexico were coming to an end.
Revolutions swept through California.
It was a time that demanded a hero."
Aaron smiled and continued,
"Exactly. A new Zorro rises—leading the people against the last Spanish governor, and falling in love with the daughter of the old Zorro."
Ridley Scott studied him for a moment.
"And who do you have in mind for the lead?"
"Kevin Costner."
After Dances with Wolves, Kevin Costner had reached the height of his career.
Last year's political thriller JFK had been both a commercial and critical triumph, earning multiple Oscar nominations and nearly two hundred million dollars worldwide.
And now, he was filming the romantic action feature The Bodyguard alongside Whitney Houston.
Ridley Scott raised an eyebrow.
"Then the budget won't be small."
"It won't drop below fifty million," Aaron said calmly.
"We'll also cast a strong group of Spanish and Latin American actors to match the historical setting."
With Dawnlight Films partnering with Columbia, neither side was short of money.
Ridley Scott nodded slowly.
"It sounds promising. But I'll be busy finishing post-production on 1492: Conquest of Paradise. Once that's done, I'll head to the States and go over the script with the writers."
---
After Ridley Scott left, Catherine Zeta-Jones stepped closer.
"He'll be in America later this month for the Oscars, won't he?"
"That's right," Aaron replied.
Thelma & Louise picked up five nominations, including Best Director."
Then he turned to her and said quietly,
"For The Mask of Zorro, I want you as the female lead—opposite Kevin Costner."
Catherine froze.
"There will be fencing, stunt work, real training," Aaron added.
"But Four Weddings and a Funeral is easier to set up. We'll shoot that first."
He brushed her hair aside, studying her face.
"You have a classical beauty—sensual, elegant, timeless.
Hollywood will see it… soon enough."
Her breath caught.
"Me… the lead?"
"It's the plan," he said honestly.
"But only if you're good enough."
"I won't let you down," she said, without hesitation.
---
As they were leaving the Savoy, they ran into Samuel Goldwyn Jr..
"Aaron! Good afternoon!"
After a brief exchange, Aaron learned that Samuel Goldwyn Productions was preparing an adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, to be directed by and starring Kenneth Branagh.
Outside the hotel, Catherine explained,
"Branagh is one of the founders of the Renaissance Theatre Company.
They've toured the UK with Much Ado About Nothing, As You Like It, and Hamlet.
He's the rising king of British theatre."
Aaron nodded.
"So Goldwyn is chasing the Oscars again."
From the passenger seat he added with a smile,
"Honestly, only a few independent studios still gamble big on commercial films—Carolco, New Line, Castle Rock… and Dawnlight."
The rest? Art films and horror.
Catherine glanced at him as she drove.
"Don't you want to win an Oscar?"
Aaron laughed.
"Two of my films are already nominated for Best Picture."
"You know that!"
"Of course," she smiled.
Ghost and The Silence of the Lambs both have a real shot."
So… would Dawnlight claim its first Best Picture?