A black Bentley stopped in front of the red carpet, and as Duke stepped out of the car, he linked arms with his mother and strode toward the theater. This was the premiere of Star Wars, and he was merely an invited guest, with no intention of interacting with the fans around him. He moved quickly toward the interview area at the end of the carpet.
As one of Hollywood's top directors, the media waiting there wouldn't just let him leave without a few words.
Duke understood that his mother disliked dealing with the media, so he stepped forward and spoke a few lines.
"Star Wars is a great series; it has opened a new era for science fiction films."
Since he was standing there, Duke couldn't help but praise George Lucas a little. "The world George created is both wonderful and unique. Star Wars is not just a movie; it's a global cultural phenomenon. I'm a Star Wars fan, and I've been waiting for this day for a long time."
When asked about his new film, Duke deflected the question—this was someone else's premiere, after all. He found his mother waiting near the theater entrance and, under the guidance of the staff, headed toward the VIP lounge.
As they walked to a quieter area, Leah suddenly asked, "Why did you decide to invest in Marvel Comics?"
"I believe in the future of comic book movies."
Knowing his mother was concerned, Duke briefly explained, "Mom, the speed of development in film special effects is incredible. It won't be long before those scenes and special abilities that exist only in imagination or on paper can be easily brought to the big screen with special effects."
Leah nodded without saying more. She had a vague idea of Duke's real wealth and understood that the significant funds for this investment came from stock market transactions. Even if the investment failed, it wouldn't hurt him financially.
Besides, Duke had already signed the investment agreement with Marvel Comics after returning home yesterday, securing a 25% stake. Any further discussion was pointless now.
Duke had come back to New York partly to attend George Lucas' Star Wars premiere and partly to finalize his personal investment agreement with Marvel Comics.
After months of protracted negotiations, Marvel, strapped for cash and unable to secure a new copyright-backed loan from the bank, finally reached an agreement with Duke's representatives.
However, even after signing the agreement, Duke didn't foolishly announce that superhero films would be a massive success in the future, as if he were some kind of prophet.
This was the business world, governed by data and tangible benefits. Even with his current status and reputation, empty promises wouldn't convince many. Once X-Men and Spider-Man proved their worth, Marvel's executives—unless they were utterly clueless—would know what to do next.
At that point, he could suggest something like a superhero ensemble film, and it would be much more impactful than bringing it up now.
Since reclaiming the rights to X-Men and Spider-Man was impossible, Duke decided to let those projects wake up Marvel's leadership.
Entering the VIP lounge, neither Duke nor Leah was in the mood to socialize. As soon as they found a quiet spot to sit, a young girl accompanied by a middle-aged woman approached them.
"Hello, Leah."
"Hello, Sherry."
Leah greeted the woman warmly. After the brunette girl respectfully greeted her, she nodded and said, "Hello, Nat."
"Hi, Duke."
Seeing his mother and Leah engrossed in conversation, Natalie had no choice but to sit beside Duke. Duke lightly shook her outstretched hand. "It's been a while, Nat."
The girl sitting across from him seemed taller, though her slender, delicate frame remained unchanged beneath her dark cocktail dress. Her brown hair was casually tied into a loose braid. At first glance, her appearance seemed effortless and laid-back.
Their last conversation had ended unpleasantly, making the atmosphere between them somewhat awkward.
Leah then turned her attention toward Duke. "I'm going to see a few friends with Sherry."
Soon, only Duke and Natalie were left in the lounge.
"What brings you here?"
Looking at Natalie, Duke curiously asked, "Shouldn't you be on the red carpet, taking group photos with the cast and giving interviews?"
Natalie Portman was the only Star Wars cast member in the lounge.
"I don't want to face the media."
After a brief hesitation, Natalie softly explained, "I don't want the media to trouble me. I'm about to take the SAT. If George hadn't insisted, I wouldn't have come today."
Hearing this, Duke could only admire George Lucas' patience. If one of his actresses pulled such a stunt, he would have deducted part of her remaining salary without hesitation.
Thinking about Natalie Portman's past experiences, Duke suddenly became intrigued. He deliberately asked, "Why take the SAT? Are you not planning to stay in Hollywood?"
"I plan to apply to Harvard," Natalie replied without hesitation. "Acting won't be my main career. I want to study clinical psychology at Harvard."
"What a shame," Duke sighed, as if genuinely regretting it. "Hollywood is about to lose a talented actress."
Suddenly, Natalie turned to look at Duke, staring straight into his eyes. "Do you really think so?"
Duke shrugged without saying anything.
Their conversation was far from smooth. Truth be told, neither Duke nor Natalie Portman was remotely close to being the kind of simple, kind-hearted person they could easily trust.
"Nat, we haven't interacted much."
After half a minute of silence, Duke finally spoke directly. With someone as shrewd as Natalie, beating around the bush was pointless. "But my interest in you hasn't diminished—in fact, it has only grown."
"Why?" Natalie couldn't understand and asked bluntly, "I'm not beautiful. Compared to the actresses you've been rumored with, I'm just an ugly duckling."
"Because we're alike," Duke said, pointing at his face and then his chest.
Natalie's expression darkened. "You might be two-faced, but I'm not!"
"Nat, are you really not interested in Hollywood? Are you going to Harvard to become an academic? Do you truly plan to become a clinical psychologist?"
Perhaps Natalie was still less experienced than adults like Nicole Kidman, but Duke believed she surpassed them in scheming at the same age. "If that's true, why not quit acting altogether? Starring in Star Wars will only disrupt your academic plans."
"Why are you saying all this?" Natalie's voice softened. "We're not even friends."
"Because I'm interested in you and like you."
Taking off the mask of a complex girl like Natalie Portman was undeniably entertaining. Duke stared into her eyes and deliberately said, "I want us to communicate more honestly instead of speaking meaningless lies and dancing around the point."
"You like me? You're interested in me?" Natalie's lips curled in a fleeting sneer. "Are you going to formally pursue me?"
Duke thought for a moment. "No."
"How honest." Natalie's mocking smile flashed briefly. "Typical playboy."
"Would you leave Hollywood?"
Ignoring Natalie's sarcasm, Duke asked seriously, "If you really intend to be a scholar or give up acting, I'll pursue you with everything I have."
"Why should I quit?" Natalie tugged the corners of her mouth into a small smile, keeping her voice low. "I vowed a long time ago to succeed as an actress! I won't give up on Hollywood!"
"So, going to Harvard is just to add a layer of prestige to yourself?"
After so much probing, Duke finally got Natalie to admit her intentions. "Let me guess. After you enter Harvard, you'll probably avoid the media but occasionally release stories through classmates or professors about how you're trying to adapt to school life as a regular student. You might even create some self-deprecating narratives to make yourself more relatable."
"Right, Nat?"
The girl next to him faltered for a moment, and Duke suppressed his amusement, maintaining a serious demeanor. "If possible, you'll collaborate on some papers with your professors. When they're published, you might have the media conveniently omit their names, creating the image of an actress who balances intelligence and beauty without being dazzled by Hollywood fame."
"I..."
Duke wagged a finger, cutting her off. "You're a traditional Jew. I assume you've got a plan. Let me guess again—how can you win over the Academy and Hollywood's Jewish community? Hmm... After graduation, instead of returning to Hollywood, you'll study in Israel. Not for long—just six months or a year will suffice."
"By then, all of Hollywood—no, all of America's Jewish community—will know," Duke said, leaning slightly closer, "Natalie Portman comes from Jerusalem."
Natalie Portman pressed her lips together, neither confirming nor denying it.
She merely looked at Duke, her gaze growing more complicated. Some of the things he mentioned had never occurred to her, but others were indeed part of her plan—like why she chose Harvard!
Even her mother and agent didn't know these details, yet he had figured them out.
Suddenly, Natalie remembered what Duke had said earlier. Could it be true that they were alike?
"Duke," she finally spoke, "Why are you telling me this?"
She didn't believe he genuinely wanted an honest exchange.
"Why?" Duke furrowed his brows, pondering for a full minute before answering, "Because I find it fascinating to see through the mind of a very clever, well-disguised girl."
With that, Duke stood up. "It's almost time. Let's head to the screening hall. Nat, I really enjoy chatting with you."
....
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