Feeling the car slow down, Courteney Cox glanced forward through the car window. Outside the mansion not far ahead on the mountain road, a black Mercedes was in a bit of a chaotic situation due to being surrounded by paparazzi.
A moment later, the Mercedes finally drove into the mansion. The driver in the front also stepped on the brakes, but only parked the car by the roadside. The invitation specifically reminded that the party was very large and could not provide enough parking spaces, so Courteney had booked a luxury car for pick-up and drop-off.
The paparazzi by the road saw the Cadillac stop and all raised their cameras, gathering around again.
A strong sense of unease suddenly arose in her heart.
She even had an impulse to tell the driver to drive away.
Due to the small commotion just now, two waiters from inside the mansion proactively came out to maintain order, and the driver in the front also got out of the car.
The car door was pulled open, and she had no room to retreat.
So, slowly exhaling, Courteney Cox, holding the hem of her black dress, got out of the car. The paparazzi, who had been poised and ready, saw her appearance. Some were disappointed, some were puzzled, and some just symbolically pressed the shutter, then turned their attention to another car slowly approaching.
In Hollywood, after a movie becomes a hit, the media, always eager for news, usually investigates which celebrities were offered roles in the film but missed out on the opportunity to become famous.
'Run Lola Run' was no exception.
However, Simon was too obscure before 'Run Lola Run', and the media only dug up fragmented information that he had originally wanted to invite another girl he had once pursued to play the role of 'Lola,' but they couldn't even find that girl's name.
Courteney Cox, however, knew perfectly well that she was that girl.
The disregard she experienced after getting out of the car made Courteney Cox, who was already a bit anxious, feel even worse, and she inexplicably thought of Sandra Bullock.
A rookie who hadn't appeared in any film or television production directly rose to become a first-tier Hollywood actress, and recently signed contracts for the female lead roles in two guaranteed-hit 'Back to the Future' sequels, completely soaring to success overnight.
And all of this should have been hers.
Following behind the ushering waiter, she surveyed the Mediterranean style mansion nestled among green trees.
These should also be mine!
A strange resentment welled up in her heart.
If that guy had been more attentive back then, and formally pursued her, perhaps she would have definitely agreed.
Thinking this, she unconsciously arrived in front of the villa within the mansion.
Although there were many other people around, she still caught sight of that guy at a glance. He was personally greeting guests, chatting animatedly with a couple. Getting closer, she immediately recognized the couple's identities.
Sean Penn and Madonna.
Perhaps the couple in the car that was just surrounded by paparazzi was them.
Noticing her approach, Sean Penn and his wife politely nodded to her and walked into the villa. As Madonna left, she unceremoniously urged him to quickly write songs for her and so on, with a smile on her face, clearly very familiar with him.
Simon watched Sean Penn and his wife walk into the villa, then turned to Courteney.
Meeting the man's gaze, Courteney suddenly felt a bit guilty again.
She hadn't received an invitation to this party; the invitation was simply obtained from Jonathan Friedman. Her agent had some invitations specifically for WMA clients.
The last time they met was on the day 'Run Lola Run' wrapped. More than half a year had passed, and Simon had almost forgotten about Courteney.
At this moment, seeing the girl appear before him again, Simon smiled, extended his hand to her, and asked, "How have you been recently?"
Courteney felt Simon's greeting, which showed no hint of distance, and finally relaxed a bit. She reached out and shook his hand, saying, "Very well. I've always wanted to congratulate you, and today I finally have the chance".
"Oh, thank you" Simon released the girl's hand, gestured towards the villa, and said, "Go inside, have a good time".
Although she really wanted to talk to him a few more words, noticing that other guests were arriving not far away, she could only nod and walk into the villa.
Entering the villa, there were about twenty or thirty people in the living room, standing or sitting and chatting. Among them were big names like Robert Redford and John Travolta. Although the atmosphere seemed a bit quiet, her appearance didn't attract much attention.
Realizing that she was unlikely to break into these people's circles, she walked directly through the living room to the backyard, and then felt a sense of sudden enlightenment.
The atmosphere in the backyard was clearly much livelier than in the living room. One or two hundred men and women gathered around the swimming pool and on the nearby lawn. Orchestral music floated in the air, several buffet tables were set up by the pool, and waiters in bow ties busily moved through the crowd with trays.
Looking at the lively scene before her, Courteney felt a sense of emptiness.
There's a common unwritten rule among young men and women in Hollywood: before you become famous, unless you can hook up with a big star, it's best not to maintain too stable a relationship, because doing so will make you lose many opportunities.
Therefore, many young Hollywood actors who suddenly become famous often appear to have no past, only exposing various scandals with equally famous stars after they achieve fame.
After that small conflict at the party last year, Courteney directly told Simon that she didn't plan on having a boyfriend in the short term, which was influenced by this rule.
Now, time certainly wouldn't go back to a year ago.
Taking a glass of champagne from a waiter's tray, Courteney composed herself, her gaze sweeping through the crowd for a moment. Noticing Jonathan Friedman's figure, she perked up and walked over with a smile.
As she got closer, Courteney heard her agent, who was standing with his back to her, saying something to a sweet-looking blonde woman, seemingly trying to recruit her.
The blonde woman noticed that Courteney seemed to be walking towards them, raised her hand to point at her, and then said to the agent: "Jon, thank you for thinking so highly of me. However, Josh is actually pretty good, and I have no intention of changing agents".
Jonathan noticed the woman's gesture, turned to glance at Courteney, gave her a look to wait a moment, and then said to the blonde woman: "Meg, in any case, I still hope you'll consider it. If you come to WMA, I, well, perhaps I can get Simon to custom-write a script just for you".
The person Jonathan was talking to was Meg Ryan.
After more than two months of adjustment, Meg Ryan was no longer the dejected person Simon first met; she had basically regained the radiant glow a woman in her twenties should have.
Simon had originally asked Meg Ryan to work 'nine to five' at Daenerys Pictures until the movie started filming, but as the 'When Harry Met Sally' project progressed and related news spread, although both parties explained it was for the female lead to experience life, it still led to some media speculation.
To avoid more messy rumours, and considering Meg Ryan's recovery status, Simon also prematurely terminated her work arrangement at Daenerys Pictures.
At this moment.
Hearing Jonathan's last words, Meg Ryan actually shrunk her neck slightly and said, "Jon, let's just forget it. I'm not really interested in appearing in Simon's films."
Just one 'When Harry Met Sally' has already put me through so much; if I were to act in a script written by that guy himself, would I even survive?