I am Hollywood

Chapter 90: Gotta Make a Few Dreams Come True



[Chapter 90: Gotta Make a Few Dreams Come True]

After hanging up the phone, Eric turned to the lady and said, "Alright, go ahead and find Kepler at UTA. He'll know what to do."

Virginia had changed into a rose-colored suit that added a touch of sophistication. With a small handbag in hand, she asked, "Aren't you coming back to the city with me?"

"Not this time. I'm waiting for my lawyer to come by. Besides, it wouldn't look too good if the paparazzi caught us together."

Virginia pulled out a keychain and handed it to Eric. "This is a spare key to the villa. If you want, you can... stop by anytime."

Eric smiled as he took the key and slipped it into his pocket. "Don't worry, I'll be around often." He couldn't resist giving her a playful pinch on her pointed chin and added, "You look really sexy in that outfit. Next time, wear it to bed for me."

Virginia shot him a flirtatious glance. "It's barely after eight; I could head out later if you wanted."

Eric playfully gave her a slap on the rear that was snugly wrapped in her suit and said, "Don't get carried away. Be careful, or I might keep you from leaving for three days. Now go on."

"Oh no, you wrinkled it!" Virginia swatted Eric's hand away and smoothed her skirt. "I should head out now."

...

Not long after Virginia left, a black Mercedes pulled up at the villa. Eric's personal lawyer carefully checked the address on a notepad before curiously pressing the doorbell. "Eric, did you buy another place here?" Edward Lewis asked when Eric opened the door. "No, it's a friend's house," Eric explained as Edward followed him into the living room. Without having to look at the feminine decor, the faint fragrance in the air confirmed to Edward that this was clearly a woman's home. He felt a twinge of envy for Eric's good fortune.

Leading his lawyer up to the balcony on the second floor, Eric pointed toward a corner of land in the distance and asked, "Edward, what would I need to do to buy that piece of land?"

Edward put on his glasses, squinted at it, and shook his head. "Eric, that's too far away. Why don't we go take a look? It's hard to say much from here."

"Sure thing," Eric said, grabbing a script that had sketches on it, and they headed out together.

Standing at the edge of the cliff on the corner piece of land, they looked down at the bare brown rocks below, surrounded by overgrown weeds, but ahead lay a breathtaking blue ocean.

Edward held a sketch in his hand. Even though it was just pen drawings, thanks to Eric's solid skills in sketching, the building on the paper looked strikingly vivid.

Edward couldn't help but admire the grandeur and luxury of the building fabric. If it were actually constructed, it would surely become a landmark in Malibu. "Eric, are you sure you want to build a mansion like this?"

"Why wouldn't I?" Eric replied.

Edward nodded, "But both sides are private villas. While I'm not an expert in construction, I can guess that this area was turned into a park because it wasn't suitable for building. Otherwise, no one would leave this acreage unused."

"As long as I can get that land, that's what matters," Eric declared. "No matter how much it costs, I will build it. If the ground isn't stable, we'll reinforce it with concrete; if it needs soil, we'll bring it in from elsewhere; and if excavation is a problem, we'll use dynamite."

Edward chuckled and shook his head.

Eric, realizing his earlier enthusiasm sounded a bit too extravagant, laughed and said, "Edward, you're not thinking 'damn rich people' are you?"

"Of course not, I just think it's unnecessary, Eric. Look at those," Edward pointed at the villas nearby, "living in those would be pretty comfortable. Here, besides rocks and weeds, there's nothing."

After saying that, Edward looked at Eric, curiosity sparking his gaze. He wanted to know what prompted Eric to have such a wild idea about building a mansion here.

"I guess it's a dream of mine," Eric answered, understanding the curiosity of his lawyer. He concocted a half-true excuse, "When I first moved from England to LA as a kid, my dad brought me here once for a visit. In my youthful imagination, I suddenly thought about wanting to build a big house on this very land. I gradually forgot about it until this morning when I saw it again. It brought back distant memories, and now that I have the financial means, why not make it a reality?"

Afterward, Eric plucked a blade of grass and chewed on it. "Over the years, I've had countless thoughts, and I've let many go. I've got to make a few come true so I won't have regrets later. Edward, did you ever have any unusual ideas in your past?"

Edward seemed to reminisce at Eric's words. "In high school, I wanted to be a rock star. I even ditched class to learn how to play, but my dad caught me and grounded me for a month. When I got out, I dutifully enrolled at Yale Law School."

Eric laughed heartily, taking a moment to size up Edward, who had a more scholarly demeanor now. "You sure don't look like someone who once rocked out."

Edward sighed, "Of course not; it's been almost thirty years. Back then, The Beatles had just formed, Elvis was at the height of his fame, and now those legends have faded."

Elvis and The Beatles were a bit far off for Eric, yet he caught the nostalgia and sentimentality in Edward's voice as he fished around in his pockets.

Noticing Eric's motions, Edward dug into his own pocket and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. "Looking for these?"

Eric grabbed a cigarette, lit it, and took a deep drag. "I thought you didn't smoke." Edward instinctively looked around before lighting one up himself. "I occasionally do. I had a severe smoking habit in high school. My dad caught me once and gave me a beating with a rattan switch -- it hurt a lot and left a psychological scar. Even after he stopped caring, I still have a habit of sneaking cigarettes. A lot of people think I don't smoke at all."

So, the two middle-aged men, both in their forties, one physically and the other mentally, smoked and chatted, letting the ocean breeze envelop them for half an hour. After Edward extinguished his cigarette, he tossed both butts into an empty pack and tucked it into his pocket. "Haven't felt this relaxed in a long time."n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Then you should come by more often."

"Too busy," Edward shook his head, then added, "Eric, get ready with a check. I'll do my best to help you secure that piece of land."

"Thanks."

"Anytime. Though, I do expect a commission," Edward joked. "But, Eric, you really should find a financial manager. This sort of thing is technically beyond my scope."

*****

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