I am Hollywood

[Chapter 1153: Planning]

In recent years, Showtime had produced one or two original series each year while also increasing the acquisition of film content. However, overall, the channel still hadn't developed the style it was later known for.

As Eric flipped through Showtime's programming schedule, he noticed two original series aired last year: one was the sci-fi show Total Recall 2070, and the other was the African American comedy Linc's. The movie content seemed more like a patchwork of whatever was available.

Yet, despite this, Showtime had already improved significantly compared to the early 90s when it had no original programming at all. However, there was still a considerable gap between what Eric expected and the current state of the network.

In his memory, Showtime gained popularity around the turn of the millennium with the gay-themed series Queer as Folk, but that later pigeonholed the network with the label of a gay channel. While attitudes towards homosexuality became more open in the West, it remained a relatively marginalized group.

A show could feature gay elements, but it wouldn't be a good thing for a network if that element became its core focus, affecting how viewers perceived the channel overall. In reality, many of Showtime's most successful series over the years didn't have much to do with LGBTQ themes.

Now that it was 1999, Eric could easily find the Queer as Folk project if he wanted to, but he didn't plan on taking Showtime down that old path. After all, as a thoroughly straight man, he had no genuine interest in shows targeted toward gay audiences.

With the network's upfront season just wrapping up in May, Showtime had already set its programming plans for the coming year. However, after a deep lunch conversation with Matthew Blank, Eric made the decision to cancel Showtime's original annual plan, scrapping the likes of Total Recall 2070, which didn't align with the channel's intended style, and re-establish a clear vision for the network's programming and identity.

With three months to make adjustments before the fall season in September, Eric felt he had enough time to reshape Showtime.

By the time they left the restaurant, it was already two in the afternoon.

...

As they stepped outside, it had started to rain heavily. Eric accepted the umbrella passed to him by his bodyguard and found himself not wanting to head toward the waiting car. Instead, he turned to the girl next to him and asked, "Where do you live?"

Carmen Kass appeared a bit distracted as she replied, "Upper West Hydee. I just moved recently."

"Is it far?" Eric asked. "What if we just walk over?"

Thinking Eric was going to leave soon, she felt a little empty inside. When he suggested walking, however, she quickly nodded, saying, "Sounds good, it's not far."

Under her guidance, they started heading west from 49th Street. Since it was still working hours, the rain-soaked streets of Manhattan were relatively empty, and Eric kept the umbrella low to avoid being recognized by hurried pedestrians.

Carmen enjoyed walking in the rain with Eric, casually discussing recent happenings. She tried to avoid glancing back at the two cars trailing them, feeling grateful for the man's consideration yet also embarrassed for being a bother.

After walking for a while, they reached Broadway. Carmen pulled him away from the crowded Hell's Kitchen and headed north. Manhattan wasn't too large; within half an hour, they arrived at Carmen's apartment on Ninth Avenue.

...

Carmen's apartment was in a thirty-story red building. Upon opening the door and ushering Eric inside, she took the umbrella from him and hung it in the small closet by the entrance. Turning back, she said, "Eric, it's fine, you don't have to change your shoes."

Looking at the spotless apartment, Eric shook his head with a smile. "Even if you don't mind, I do."

He slipped off his leather shoes and stepped onto the polished floor. Carmen quickly kicked off her high boots, rushing to find some slippers.

She hadn't anticipated him being at her place, so she hadn't prepared any slippers for him. Thinking about it, she found a pair of fluffy pink slippers, the largest size available.

However, upon glancing at Eric, who had already plopped down on the sofa, it was clear those slippers would be too small. Embarrassed, she approached him, intending to sit beside him. A pair of strong hands encircled her slim waist, and she obediently lowered herself onto his lap, avoiding eye contact as her face flushed with color.

Having been caught in the rain, although they had the umbrella, their clothes were still somewhat damp. Eric wasn't used to the feeling, planting a gentle kiss on the soft lips of the girl in his arms. After a moment of warmth, he softly asked, "Shall we take a shower together?"

She nodded, though she hesitated to bring up a certain topic. "When do you have to leave?"

"I definitely have to go back today. I'm busy finishing up my new movie's final cut," he replied.

Feeling a bit disappointed, she stood up, pulling him with her as they headed to shower together, eventually laying down on the big bed in her bedroom.

...

Time seemed to slip away.

The bedroom fell quiet. Though they were on the seventeenth floor, and the sound of rain hitting the ground below wasn't audible, they could hear the gentle patter against the glass windows.

Leaning against Eric's chest, Carmen wished time would stand still.

But things seldom went as planned.

The sudden ring of the doorbell caught both of them off guard.

"You invited guests?"

"No," she shook her head, thinking for a moment before adding, "Maybe it's some of my friends coming over to hang out."

Eric tenderly caressed the girl's smooth back and said with a smile, "What if we pretend no one's home?"

"Yeah."

Just as she had answered, she immediately shook her head. "That won't work; Kora has a key. If I don't open the door, they'll just let themselves in."

Eric jokingly complained, "I don't even have a key to your place."

She merely smiled, hurriedly slipping into a dress. Just as she was about to step out, she remembered something and bent down to plant a kiss on Eric's face. "Could you please stay in?"

Eric stroked her petite face and replied, "You're not going to introduce me to your friends?"

Rubbing her cheek against his hand, she nodded, "I won't act like them."

"Alright," Eric smiled. "I'll take a nap. Call me when you've sent them away."

"Thanks."

Eric could hear the doorbell stop ringing outside. "You should go. They might come in by themselves."

Remembering the leather shoes he had left by the entrance, she jumped off the bed.

However, once she reached the living room, it was obviously too late.

...

Several beautiful girls clustered at the entrance, like they had discovered something shocking. Karolina Kurkova was holding up the expensive custom leather shoes, and the chatter ensued.

"There's no label."

"This must be custom-made."

"There should still be a label."

"But it's definitely a man's."

"It wouldn't be Eric Williams, would it?"

"The chances are slim they are not his, but that would be the worst-case scenario. If he finds out, Carmen is going to be in big trouble."

As one girl remarked, the chatter abruptly fell silent, and all eyes turned to Carmen, who had just stepped out of the bedroom.

Some things were secrets to the outside world, yet everyone in the modeling circle was well aware of them. Like any industry, insiders typically kept quiet about the private affairs of their circle; it was a common unspoken rule.

Of course, these rules were often easier to break, especially in the current situation.

Months earlier, Carmen had suddenly risen to become one of the five Victoria's Secret angels. Amid envy and jealousy, when given the chance, no one would miss an opportunity to pull someone they viewed as above them down a peg, even if it was impossible to replace them.

If news of Carmen dating a man other than Eric Williams spread, not only would she risk losing everything she had just gained, but she could also be completely ostracized from the modeling world.

...

The group was silent for a moment, and Carolina awkwardly set down the shoes she was holding. She mustered up the courage to say, "Carmen, don't worry, we won't say a word."

"But you have to seriously consider how to keep us quiet... Wow, Eugene, you pinched me... uh, sorry."

Carmen couldn't show any particular emotion. She walked over to pick up the leather shoes Carolina had set down and carefully placed them on a nearby shoe rack before asking, "What brought you guys here?"

"Eugene and I had a leak in our apartment. It was awful," Carolina explained, watching Carmen's actions. "So, we rounded everyone up to see if we could crash here for the night. We'll leave soon."

Carmen nodded, "Alright, I can walk you out. Sorry about today; let's hang out tomorrow instead."

The girls sensed Carmen's lack of intent to entertain them, and they all prepared to leave. Although they felt reluctant, a few couldn't help but cast glances toward the bedroom.

Just then, the bedroom door swung open, and a shirt-and-pants-clad Eric appeared, saying, "Carmen, let them stay a while longer before they leave."

Initially, Eric hadn't planned to make an appearance, but after overhearing the girls' chatter from the bedroom, he didn't want Carmen to get into any trouble. So, he stepped out.

Seeing Eric, the girls who were about to exit stopped in their tracks, their faces filled with expressions of surprise, incredulity, and excitement. They quickly turned to Carmen.

Realizing he must have heard the girls' conversation to come out, Carmen felt a warm flutter in her heart and nodded obediently, saying, "Sure, everyone come in and sit."

...

There were six girls in total. Once they composed themselves, despite some inner thoughts, they put on polite smiles, greeted Eric, and upon seeing him and Carmen barefoot, they all took off their shoes to walk into the living room.

As models hand-picked by WM Company, their lack of shoes didn't hinder their impressive heights.

Eric took a seat on a single sofa in the living room, observing the girls. He immediately recognized Karolina Kurkova, but he couldn't place the names of the other five girls.

"Eric, this is Kora, Eugene, Angela, Isla, Erin, and Brigitte," Carmen introduced the girls quickly before saying, "I'll go grab some drinks for everyone. Kora, can you help me?"

"Sure."

Carolina intended to plop down on the couch and had her sights set on the spot nearest to Eric. Hearing Carmen's request, she followed her to the large fridge in the corner.

Although the girls were a bit dissatisfied with Carmen's brief introductions, they didn't feel the need to hold back any longer and settled in.

The girl named Eugene took the seat Carolina had been eyeing, angled her body towards Eric, resting her arms on the couch's armrest, and initiated conversation. "Mr. Williams, what brings you to New York?"

"I'm here for a few things," Eric said casually, picking up on the girl's accent. "Are you Russian?"

"I'm from Kazan," Eugene glanced over at Carmen, knowing she wasn't fond of Russians, and emphasized, "My name is Eugenia Volodina."

She enunciated her full name clearly, but Eric just smiled and replied, "Kazan Psychiatric Hospital, I know that place."

Eugenia chuckled in response, "Actually, it's not as terrifying as everyone says. I went there with friends when I was a kid."

Eric studied her youthful face and asked, "Oh, you don't look that old yourself."

"I'm not, I'm nineteen," she stated confidently.

Her claim opened the floodgates for the other girls to call her out. "You're lying, Eugene. You said you were sixteen last time."

"Wasn't it seventeen?"

"I think it was fifteen?"

Eugenia dismissed their teasing. "What's wrong with looking nineteen?"

Carmen returned with a few cans of drinks alongside Carolina. Seeing Eugenia in her chosen spot stirred her slight frustration; she stuffed a can of Coke into Eugenia's hands. "You don't even look that age -- you're just a kid."

"You were born the same year as me, so what gives you the right to say that?"

As Carolina distributed the Coke cans, she couldn't resist going back and forth with Eugenia. "I'm not trying to pretend I'm nineteen."

Eric characterized the group, noting that most girls were well over 5'7''. If it weren't for that lingering youthful look on their faces, it'd be hard to guess their ages.

Carmen handed Eric a can of Coke and settled beside him on the armrest, her eyes wary as she quietly listened to the girls debate their ages. The concern of inadequacy crept into her mind.

At twenty, she still felt older compared to these beautiful girls who typically began modeling at thirteen or fourteen. New York offered a bit of leniency, but in Europe, the age restrictions for models were even more relaxed.

She recalled Gisele mentioning her first meeting with Eric and felt a wave of anxiety about whether he would find these girls attractive.

Unlike Gisele and her three friends, Carmen didn't possess the outgoing demeanor that would allow her to casually cluster around Eric. If Eric desired that, she would definitely remove herself, even if it angered him.

Maybe, it wasn't an absolute.

Yet, it was something she couldn't bear.

In the living room, the girls exchanged playful banter before quickly turning their focus back to Eric, engaging in animated chatter.

*****

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