Hugo never considered himself a gentleman at the very least, he wasn't someone who could remain composed with a beautiful woman in his arms. Still, a shred of rationality kept him grounded. He knew he was in a public setting, and a kiss this passionate under the spotlight was something he wasn't quite used to. So he raised his hands to gently press on Uma's shoulders and put some space between them.
Uma didn't resist. With just a bit of force, Hugo could feel the warmth of her lips slowly leave his. As he opened his eyes slightly, he met her gaze those beautiful, clear eyes shimmered with mischief, and the corners of her mouth curved into a faint smile, catching Hugo off guard.
Uma didn't look like someone who had just lost herself in the heat of the moment. On the contrary, her expression seemed perfectly composed, as if everything had gone according to plan.
A soft, teasing chuckle escaped Uma's lips, and her voice hummed like a melody beside Hugo's ear.
"Hugo, you're blushing like a seventh-grade boy."
The playful jab struck Hugo as ridiculous, and he broke into a smile, leaning slightly closer.
"Are you questioning my ability as a man?"
He was no clueless rookie. If he let Uma tease him like that without reacting, it would be a disgrace. Hugo's subtle advance carried pressure, which Uma clearly felt an unmistakable tension emanating from the man in front of her.
Uma looked at Hugo's bright smile. Though it seemed harmless and boyish, it radiated raw masculinity that made her heartbeat quicken.
"Who knows?"
Her gaze wandered seemingly innocent but Hugo could sense her attention wasn't lingering on his face or chest... but lower.
Yet before Hugo could respond, Uma took a step back, restoring the distance between them to something more platonic. She glanced at Hugo's hand, still resting on her shoulder, the heat of his palm burning through the white fabric of her gown.
"The reporters are still watching. Aren't you worried?"
Hugo's first instinct was to pull his hand backba subconscious move. But then he remembered her teasing words. After all, it was Uma who made the first move and then turned around acting as if he was the one causing trouble. So instead of letting go, Hugo gently tugged her toward him again and smiled.
"I think the reporters are hoping for even more than this."
This version of Hugo confident, teasing was completely different from the flustered, shy man who had just kissed her. Uma immediately felt the shift: this was the kind of assertive masculinity that was hard to ignore. Caught off guard, she blinked, then smiled.
Leaning in again, Hugo dipped his head toward Uma's ear, mimicking what she had done earlier, and whispered:
"It's the unexpected scenes like this that really get their adrenaline pumping, don't you think?"
The heat of his breath caressed her ear, his masculine aura enveloping her instantly. For a brief moment, Uma's mind went blank. Then Hugo straightened up suddenly, bringing with him a breeze of cold air. Uma shivered and immediately came back to her senses.
Looking at Hugo again, he still wore that sunny, boyish smile but now with an undertone of danger, like a character from a fairy tale with hidden fangs. That subtle threat sent her adrenaline spiking again. She laughed.
"Hugo, you've changed."
This time, her words were clearly a compliment her eyes and smile made it obvious. She was saying:
"You've caught my interest."
The reporters couldn't sit still anymore. Watching Hugo and Uma flirt like this, they were practically buzzing. Even though they were primarily film critics, not gossip columnists, their instincts as journalists couldn't ignore the story unfolding before them.
Uma might be a newcomer, but beautiful women were always a hit with the public. Scandal and rumors were the best publicity. Hugo, despite recent setbacks and skepticism about Scent of a Woman, was undeniably handsome. His warm and unique charm made him one of the most captivating figures in Hollywood.
So when a stunning woman leaned in to kiss a charming man, when their chemistry made hearts race, the entire press pool went wild.
And it wasn't just the reporters. The seated audience also began whispering and speculating:
What's the relationship between Hugo and Uma?
Was that kiss staged or spontaneous?
Are they secretly dating?
Are they going public?
The theater, which had been quiet, suddenly buzzed with gossip. Still, the noise stayed focused on Hugo and Uma and hadn't reached a fever pitch yet.
Just then, Richard Gere entered the theater only to realize no one noticed him.
Despite being the lead actor of Final Analysis, Richard had been completely sidelined. He stood awkwardly at the entrance, stunned by the crowd's indifference.
After starring in Pretty Woman, Richard's next film, Rhapsody in August, had flopped. Still, he remained one of Hollywood's top male stars in the late '80s and early '90s, with undeniable charm.
Tonight, Richard wore a sleek black Armani suit from the spring collection, highlighting his mature, upright, and witty demeanor. But to his surprise, the reaction on the red carpet had been lukewarm. At first, he thought Final Analysis just wasn't that well-received.
Then, during interviews, three different reporters asked him the same question:
"With Hugo Lancaster stealing the spotlight tonight, do you feel threatened?"
The repeated comparisons to Hugo had frustrated Richard immensely.
He had hoped the situation would improve once he got inside, but the real blow came now.
After standing at the entrance for nearly ten seconds, someone finally noticed him. Applause and cheers rang out, and Richard let out a silent breath of relief. Although annoyed, he knew this was his premiere throwing a tantrum would only hurt his own image. So he smiled charmingly and waved to the crowd as he entered.
Uma gave Hugo a playful wink, then walked over to Richard.
Hugo remained where he was, watching Uma's back as she walked away. Finally, a memory surfaced his predecessor had indeed pursued Uma for a while late last year. But Uma had never accepted his advances. After the soul swap, Hugo naturally gave up the chase… in fact, he had completely forgotten it happened.
No wonder Joseph had hesitated to bring up Uma earlier. He'd feared Hugo still had feelings for her. But when Hugo showed no reaction at her name, Joseph assumed Hugo had moved on and dropped the topic.
Hugo gave a wry smile. He'd really been clueless just now. Thankfully, he was quick on his feet otherwise, it would've been a public embarrassment.
But the kiss Uma gave him in front of all those reporters… she must've thought he was playing hard to get and got intrigued instead. Now that he thought about it, Hugo could feel a headache coming on. Please don't let this make the front page.
While he was lost in thought, the film's leading lady, Kim Basinger, arrived.
Hugo snapped out of it and looked at the stunning actress. Though Kim was already 39, her defined features and subtly flirtatious smile gave her the allure of an eternal goddess. It was no wonder that stars like Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, and Russell Crowe all regarded her as a muse.
And now, seeing her in person…
Her simple gray-blue strapless evening gown perfectly outlined her fierce and sultry aura it was no wonder that the crowd erupted the moment she appeared. A beauty, even if just a decorative figure, is always welcomed and adored.
But Hugo quickly sobered up, because Kim and Uma were actually walking toward him. Hugo didn't even know what to feel. Joseph would probably be thrilled if he saw this. Tonight's premiere was turning out to be a resounding success far beyond expectations.
Kim walked up to Hugo, still wearing that faint smile on her face. "Uma, aren't you going to introduce us?" Clearly, Kim had seen Hugo and deliberately pulled Uma over with her. She was evidently very interested in this much-discussed man. Then Kim extended her right hand. "Thank you for attending tonight's premiere. Having such a handsome man at the event really lifts everyone's spirits."
Faced with the compliment from this dazzling beauty, Hugo chuckled and gently took Kim's soft, boneless hand, giving it a light squeeze. "I suppose every man here tonight must be jealous of me having the two most beautiful women standing in front of me like this. I must have everyone's attention right now." His teasing remark made both Kim and Uma laugh.
And it was true. Standing in the front row, Richard looked rather lonely. Originally the leading man, dressed to the nines, he had now been reduced to a supporting role. Looking at Hugo, beaming with a radiant smile and strikingly handsome, Richard finally understood the point behind those reporters' questions: the brightest man tonight was Hugo, not him. That presence easily drew all the attention toward itself, making Richard feel incredibly stifled.
....
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