Chapter 273 — Your Performance Was Impressive
Early morning, at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York.
Jennifer Connelly slipped out from under the covers and rested against Aaron, her voice soft but energetic.
"Hey… the Houston Rockets are up 3–1 against the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round. They've already advanced, right? Next round should be against the Phoenix Suns?"
Aaron smiled.
"Yeah. The Suns swept the Golden State Warriors, and the Utah Jazz beat the San Antonio Spurs."
"Though the biggest surprise? The Seattle SuperSonics got upset by the Denver Nuggets as an eighth seed."
"If the Rockets get past the Suns, they'll probably face the Jazz in the Western Conference Finals."
---
Jennifer clearly followed the NBA more closely than Monica Bellucci.
"You've got great instincts," she said with a smile. "Buying the Rockets last year—perfect timing."
"They've been playing really well this season. The key now is whether they can beat the Suns."
Aaron rested a hand along her side, speaking casually.
"To beat Phoenix, they'll have to contain Charles Barkley. They dominated the first round—3–0."
---
Meanwhile, Dawnlight's plans were accelerating.
After issuing $500 million in convertible bonds on Wall Street, the acquisition of the Houston Post moved forward rapidly.
At the same time, Dawnlight acquired several small publishers and officially established its own publishing division—focused primarily on novels and children's books.
---
On the film side, My Best Friend's Wedding premiered across North America, opening with $16 million in its first weekend.
Both Jennifer Connelly and Catherine Zeta-Jones—who had gained momentum from earlier successes—delivered performances that met Aaron's expectations.
---
At the Cannes Film Festival, Quentin Tarantino arrived with Pulp Fiction.
The film's premiere created a sensation.
Blending romantic comedy, thriller, dark humor, crime, gangster elements, and even western influences, Tarantino crafted a bold, genre-defying work—both experimental and reverential toward classic cinema.
Compared to his earlier film Reservoir Dogs, which had limited reach in North America, Pulp Fiction was clearly designed as his breakout masterpiece.
---
That evening, at the Met Gala held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Aaron attended with Sophie Marceau.
At this time, the event was still co-hosted by Vogue and Harper's Bazaar, not yet dominated by a single publication.
Originally intended as a fundraiser for the museum's Costume Institute, the event had already begun transforming into a glamorous fashion spectacle—often dubbed the "Oscars of fashion."
---
"This year's theme," Aaron said lightly, "Oriental Influence: Eastern Inspiration in Western Fashion."
They stepped into the grand hall—fortunately, far from the exaggerated chaos such events would become in later years.
Sophie squeezed his hand slightly.
"It's a bit dull, honestly. Didn't expect you to be interested in something like this."
Aaron smiled.
"Think of it as a break. You'll be heading to Scotland soon for Braveheart, right?"
"You'll be there for two or three months."
Sophie shook her head.
"My role isn't that big. It's mainly a male-driven war film."
"I'd guess… maybe eight weeks at most."
She shrugged slightly.
"As for my role—the French princess—my main job is to look beautiful."
---
Aaron leaned in and kissed her cheek.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "When I get the time, I'll find you a script that truly showcases your acting."
"In Hollywood, that's just how it works. Male stars with box office draw get the spotlight—actresses are often supporting roles."
Sophie smiled faintly.
"It's fine. As long as I keep it in mind."
"Taking on commercial films right now will help build my reputation—both in Hollywood and internationally."
As long as one had enough box office pull, it didn't matter whether it was commercial cinema or arthouse—roles could be chosen freely.
"By the way, Braveheart will mainly be shot in the Scottish Highlands—places like Fort William and Edinburgh. The scenery there is incredible."
Leaning closer, Sophie Marceau asked softly, "Will you come visit?"
Aaron didn't answer directly. Instead, he pulled her in and kissed her, pressing her lightly against the wall as their lips lingered.
After a moment, Sophie laughed breathlessly, looping her arms around his neck.
"Alright, this isn't exactly the place for that."
Aaron grinned, his hand tightening slightly at her waist.
"Then maybe we should head back early?"
She rolled her eyes, half amused.
"You're the one who insisted on coming here."
---
At the gala, Aaron spotted Anna Wintour, the formidable editor-in-chief of Vogue.
"I hear she's basically the godmother of fashion now," he remarked.
"And quite close to Karl Lagerfeld."
Sophie nodded.
"Karl Lagerfeld—the 'Kaiser' of fashion. Creative director at Chanel. His runway shows are always… unexpected."
Aaron smiled faintly.
"I'll be back—going to the restroom."
He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek before heading off.
---
Near the restroom entrance, several celebrities stood around smoking, greeting Aaron politely as he passed.
"Hey—mind if I borrow a light?" he asked casually.
A woman leaning against the wall, cigarette in hand, immediately pulled out a lighter.
"Of course."
Aaron lit his cigarette, exhaling slowly before studying her face.
"You're Sandra Bullock, right?"
She looked pleasantly surprised.
"Mr. Anderson… you know who I am?"
He nodded.
"You had a role in Demolition Man last year—alongside Sylvester Stallone and Wesley Snipes."
Sandra smiled modestly.
"It wasn't a big role."
Aaron flicked ash from his cigarette, then stubbed it out.
"Still—you did well."
With that, he turned and walked away down the corridor.