The celebration banquet was packed with people, and many came over to toast, so Gilbert drank quite a bit.
He held his liquor well, but with so many people toasting him, he was overwhelmed and started to feel a bit tipsy.
"You should go back and rest now!" said Sheena Boone.
Gilbert nodded, but when he stood up, he was a little unsteady. His assistant, Anna Singh, helped him up and they started walking towards the door.
Sheena Boone added, "I'll tell Robert Iger to have Michelle take you back."
She still needed to stay and network, building connections with these movie studio executives.
Cameron Diaz was also busy socializing. After Final Destination, her popularity had soared.
In this setting, if she didn't leave a good impression on the executives of major companies, they wouldn't think of her for any good projects in the future.
So, Gilbert waved his hand and said, "Forget it, this occasion is very important for her. Anna can just take me back."
"I'll do it," Naomi Watts' voice suddenly chimed in, "I'll take you back."
Gilbert saw that it was Naomi Watts and nodded in agreement.
Sheena Boone also felt relieved, as Naomi Watts and Gilbert seemed to have an unusual relationship.
Naomi Watts and Anna Singh helped Gilbert out of the Hilton Hotel.
Cameron Diaz had just finished dealing with a producer when she looked around for Gilbert but couldn't find him. She asked Sheena Boone, "Where's Director Gilbert?"
Sheena Boone replied, "He drank too much. Ms. Watts and Anna took him back."
"..." Cameron Diaz frowned.
She didn't get a chance to say anything more when another producer approached: "Ms. Diaz..."
Cameron Diaz had no choice but to socialize again. She couldn't get away, leaving things open for that short woman.
Anna Singh drove while Gilbert and Naomi Watts sat in the back.
Seeing Gilbert looking like he was about to vomit, Naomi Watts said, "My place is closer, why don't we go there?"
"Huh? Is that okay?" Anna Singh asked hesitantly.
Naomi Watts said, "Director Gilbert isn't feeling well right now. He might throw up if he stays in the car any longer."
Anna Singh clearly knew her boss had motion sickness, so she agreed.
The car pulled up downstairs, and the two women helped Gilbert to Naomi Watts' apartment, then onto her bed.
Naomi Watts wiped sweat from her forehead. Gilbert was a bit too tall for her, so getting him up there was quite an effort.
She looked at the equally breathless assistant and said, "You can go back now. I'll take care of him."
Anna Singh was clearly uneasy: "Is that really appropriate?"
"What's inappropriate about it? You can pick him up tomorrow morning, and not a single hair will be out of place," Naomi Watts said.
Thinking about the ambiguous relationship between her boss and this woman, who often had afternoon tea together, Anna Singh agreed.
After sending the assistant away, Naomi Watts laboriously helped Gilbert take off his coat.
By this time, the alcohol had gone to Gilbert's head. He was hazy, and when he smelled perfume, he reached out and pulled Naomi Watts into his arms.
Naomi Watts struggled for a bit but couldn't break free. She then softly said, "Gilbert, let me wipe your face first. Let go of me."
Perhaps he heard Naomi Watts' words, as Gilbert actually let go, allowing Naomi Watts to finish taking off his coat.
Then she went to the bathroom, got a basin of water, and used her own towel to wipe Gilbert's face.
While wiping his body, she inevitably caught sight of a certain part of Gilbert. Thinking of Cameron Diaz, Naomi Watts finished wiping his face.
Now, Gilbert could have a good night's sleep. Naomi Watts collapsed onto the sofa, panting heavily. This was quite exhausting.
However, seeing Gilbert sleeping soundly, Naomi Watts felt that everything she did was worth it.
As for taking advantage of Gilbert's drunkenness to force herself on him, Naomi Watts hadn't considered it. She hoped that when they eventually got together, Gilbert would be sober, so he would know exactly who she was...
---
The next morning, the sunlight streamed through the window, and Gilbert woke up groggily, realizing he wasn't in his own room.
The subtle scent of toasted bread, fried eggs, and bacon wafted through the air. Gilbert sniffed the aroma, then saw his clothes, already ironed, on the bedside table. He already had a hunch.
After getting dressed and leaving the bedroom, Gilbert saw Naomi Watts making breakfast.
"You're awake! Go wash up and brush your teeth, then have breakfast!" Naomi Watts said. A moment later, she saw Gilbert standing there with his arms crossed, his eyes full of appreciation.
After washing up and brushing their teeth, they sat at the dining table, eating the breakfast Naomi Watts had prepared.
"You drank too much yesterday and weren't feeling well. My place is closer, so I brought you here," Naomi Watts explained why Gilbert was there.
"Thank you, Naomi..."
"You're welcome, it's what I should do."
After breakfast, Naomi Watts cleared the dishes while Gilbert looked around her apartment.
The place wasn't big. The living room and kitchen were connected, with a separate bathroom and a single bedroom.
Even with such modest facilities, the rent for an apartment like this in Los Angeles was still quite expensive.
After clearing the dishes, Naomi Watts told Gilbert, "Anna will be here to pick you up soon. I have to go to work at the restaurant later."
"Wait a minute," Gilbert took Naomi Watts' hand and asked, "You're still working at a restaurant?"
Naomi Watts smiled slightly and said, "How else would I afford the rent for this apartment if I didn't work at the restaurant?"
Living in Los Angeles was tough, and there were countless aspiring actors in the same situation as Naomi Watts.
But those people had no connection to Gilbert, while Naomi Watts, for now, was his friend.
"I'm sorry, I didn't know your situation. I even let you pay last time we had afternoon tea," Gilbert apologized.
Naomi Watts said it was fine, her smile still sweet: "It has nothing to do with you, Gilbert. It's my own choice, and I was prepared for it."
Based on last night's events, Naomi Watts hadn't taken advantage of his drunkenness or tried to coerce him.
This made Gilbert feel a little more favorably towards the petite woman. He said, "When I get back, I'll talk to Sheena and ask her to arrange some small roles for you, ones with lines.
At the very least, enough to support yourself so you don't have to work at restaurants or bars anymore."
Naomi Watts didn't refuse; instead, she thanked him: "Thank you, Gilbert, you're a good person."
Clearly, Naomi Watts' previous agent wasn't effective. Naomi Watts had been in Los Angeles for half a year and hadn't gotten any opportunities.
That agent had even told Naomi Watts to attend some "silver parties," claiming that big Hollywood figures would be there. Naomi Watts, in a fit of anger, fired the agent but then had to pay a breach of contract fee.
Although it wasn't a large amount, it was still more than the financially struggling Naomi Watts could afford.
But if Gilbert asked Sheena Boone to step in, at the very least, Sheena Boone's Super Artists Management would help resolve the breach of contract fee.
A moment later, a car horn sounded downstairs.
Before leaving the door, Gilbert thought for a moment and said to Naomi Watts, "Naomi, there's a role in my new project. It's not the lead, but it has screen time and lines.
If you're interested, get ready for an audition. I'll talk to Annie."
Annie was Gilbert's assistant director, usually responsible for casting less important roles.
Naomi Watts' face lit up. She didn't refuse Gilbert's help and immediately agreed: "Thank you, Gilbert."
Saying this, the petite woman stood on her tiptoes and gave him a kiss.
Gilbert patted Naomi Watts' golden hair and waved, "I'm off..."
Naomi Watts smiled as she watched Gilbert's tall figure walk away, as if watching her husband leave for work.
She didn't know if her dream was far away, but she knew that Gilbert was very close...