Chapter 194: I Want to Shower With You
Tom Cruise had deliberately stayed behind—most likely to gauge Aaron's opinion of director Neil Jordan.
When it came to directors without much name recognition, Tom Cruise was always reluctant to cooperate.
That reminded Aaron of Castle Rock's drama The Shawshank Redemption. Its director, Frank Darabont, had also been dismissed by Cruise as a nobody. And yet now, Darabont had secured Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman as his leads.
That evening, at the Charlie Hotel in West Hollywood, Aaron attended a reception with Salma Hayek. Ever since The Mask of Zorro, they hadn't seen each other for quite some time.
"Aaron, I received the offer for Ace Ventura," Salma said excitedly. "It's a substantial role."
Of course she was thrilled. Sleepless in Seattle had gotten her into the Screen Actors Guild. Then came a role in The Mask of Zorro. And now, a key part in Ace Ventura.
Aaron brushed his fingers lightly across her cheek. "I told you I'd help you. Believe me now?"
"I believed you from the start," Salma replied, wrapping her arms around him and nuzzling closer. "You haven't come to see me in ages. When I was filming Zorro in Mexico, I even planned to take you there on vacation."
"And now I'm here," Aaron said, lowering his head to kiss her.
With her voluptuous figure, Salma Hayek was very much in the same league as Monica Bellucci.
She leaned close to his ear and whispered softly, "Aaron… want to come back to my place later?"
Aaron nodded. "Nothing important tonight. We can leave early."
The reception itself was to celebrate News Corporation's appointment of Peter Chernin as the new chairman of Fox Entertainment Group, replacing Barry Diller, who had stepped down the previous year.
From here on, Peter Chernin would oversee both 20th Century Fox Film Corporation and the FOX broadcast network.
As they left the Charlie Hotel, Aaron glanced at Salma's car.
"You're still driving this one?"
Salma smiled. "You gave it to me. And it's a luxury car to begin with."
"It wasn't even damaged back then," she added. "It just ran onto the grass."
Years ago, on Sunset Boulevard in West Hollywood, Aaron had nearly hit her while driving that very car.
"If it weren't for this car," Salma said with a laugh, "I probably never would have met the famous Aaron Anderson."
Salma Hayek didn't so much cherish the car itself as she cherished the connection it represented—her bond with Aaron Anderson.
"Alright, let's go…"
---
New York — Bryant Park, Manhattan
New York Fashion Week had officially begun. Starting this year, the Council of Fashion Designers of America had centralized all runway shows inside several white tents erected in Bryant Park.
"Having everything in one place is actually quite convenient," Aaron remarked as he discussed Victoria's Secret—under the Limited Brands Group—with Charles Johnson of Franklin Templeton.
"Les Wexner has wavered," Charles said cautiously, "but his asking price is very high."
"How high?"
"Fifteen billion dollars."
Aaron shook his head. "That's impossible. My psychological ceiling for Victoria's Secret is around twelve billion."
"We're buying Victoria's Secret—not the entire Limited Brands Group."
Charles smiled. "Twelve billion is reasonable. I think it's negotiable."
Afterward, Aaron returned to Midtown Manhattan with Christiana Reali, heading to Dawnlight Pictures' New York office in the West Village.
"That's a yacht, right?" Christiana asked.
Aaron nodded. "Yes. Those are the specs—ordered from a shipyard in Italy."
"116 feet long… that's enormous."
Christiana sat on Aaron's lap, sighing lightly. "The lives of the rich really are something else."
Aaron chuckled. "I've also ordered a private jet—a Gulfstream IV. It's all for convenience when traveling."
Given Aaron's current status, these were long overdue.
---
That evening, Aaron received a call from Winona Ryder.
Later, at an apartment near the High Line in the West Village, Aaron helped Winona inside.
"What's going on? You don't seem well," he said gently, guiding her to sit down and making her a cup of coffee.
Winona accepted it. "Do I really look that bad?"
Aaron shook his head and lit a cigarette. "It's late February already. Reality Bites premieres next month."
"You must be extremely busy right now."
Between promoting Bram Stoker's Dracula, filming The Age of Innocence, and preparing for Reality Bites, her schedule was packed.
"It's fine," Winona said quietly. "Staying busy keeps my mind from wandering."
She looked drained as she sipped her coffee.
The breakup with Johnny Depp—and the relentless media attention—had clearly taken a toll.
Aaron sat beside her, studying her carefully. "Are you feeling unwell physically?"
"Just insomnia," Winona replied, setting the cup down. "The test screenings for Reality Bites went well. I think it's a good film."
Aaron smiled faintly. "It was made on a tiny budget."
"Dawnlight is handling several sixty-million-dollar projects now. Even if one underperforms, it's well within tolerance."
Unlike other independent studios that survived on a few lucky hits, Dawnlight could rely on a single blockbuster to cover an entire year's slate.
Winona stood up. "I'm going to take a shower."
Aaron smiled and turned on the TV.
A breaking news alert flashed across the screen:
Earlier today, an explosion occurred in the underground parking garage of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan. The attack has left six dead and over one thousand injured.
Aaron froze.
The World Trade Center?
Wasn't that supposed to be the site of the 9/11 attacks—in 2001?
It was only 1993.
A bombing already?
For a moment, an inexplicable sense of unease washed over him.
That place really is dangerous…
Better stay away from it in the future.
Without another word, Aaron stripped off his clothes and followed Winona into the bathroom.
She glanced at him. "Why did you come in?"
Aaron smiled.
"I want to shower with you…"