Although winter was gradually fading away, the temperature in Wellington in September was still a bit chilly. Duke's weekend party had to be held indoors at the villa on his estate. Parties were one of the most loved pastimes for the entire production crew and even the whole of North America. As a break from work, Duke occasionally hosted such parties at his villa at the base of Victoria Mountain.
His parties weren't exclusive, and the main staff members of the production were welcome to attend. This time, however, there were many more guests than usual, as most of the Victoria's Secret models also joined the event.
Despite attending a party, these working models maintained strict control over their own discipline.
"I've gotten used to watching others enjoy food," said Alessandra Ambrosio, sitting across from Duke in the grand banquet hall. She looked over at John Schwartzman, who was gleefully devouring a plate of roast meat, while she could only pick at a small piece of cucumber, "Meats, grains, fats, cheeses—since I started this modeling career, these foods have been completely out of my life."
Duke sliced a small piece of steak and popped it into his mouth. "Everyone in this industry is dieting, and I'm no exception. Otherwise, I would've ended up looking like John."
Over the past few years, alongside John Schwartzman's skyrocketing fame, his weight had also seen a meteoric rise.
"Roast meats, cheese pudding…" Ambrosio glanced at her vegetable salad, which lacked any dressing. "The staple foods in New Zealand are horrifying."
She pushed her vegetable plate aside. "Every time I eat a little more, I have to work extra hard in the gym to burn it off."
Since the Victoria's Secret Angels joined the crew for filming, Duke had learned a bit about their basic situation from the staff. Compared to other actresses who also dieted, the level of control these models had over their food and water intake was downright hellish.
A great body wasn't just something you're born with; it was something you worked like crazy to achieve.
"Would you like something to drink?" Duke stood up and asked as he walked toward the beverage area.
Ambrosio gave the answer that was expected, "A glass of water, please."
Passing through the lounge area, Duke walked by a group of actors and models gathered together. He overheard Elijah Wood's voice calling out, "Hey, Duke, come play Truth or Dare with us."
"You guys play without me," Duke responded.
He wasn't in the mood for that game. As a director, he mostly kept a bit of distance from the actors.
Entering the beverage area, Duke went straight to the drinks table and grabbed a can of juice. As he passed by a long oak table toward the water, a girl who was picking out fruits quickly walked up to him.
"Hi, Duke." Gisele Bündchen greeted him.
Duke picked up a cup of water and nodded at her. "Hi, Gisele."
He was heading back in the direction he came from when Gisele caught up with him in a few steps. "You, the host, aren't very active, always hiding in the corner. It looks like you were having a good chat with Colleen?"
"She just had some character-related questions for me," Duke replied.
At that moment, Billy Boyd walked up. Upon seeing Gisele, he deliberately gave Duke a wink. Duke raised an eyebrow, and Billy immediately shut up as they brushed past each other.
"Duke, I've written a song," Billy said. "I'm going to get familiar with the band now. Listen to my performance later."
Duke joked, "Billy, if you're just trying to make noise, I'll get someone to throw you out."
"He's quite the lively one," Duke muttered as he continued walking, with Gisele walking beside him.
"During our game just now, he came up with the most tricks," she added.
"Mm..." Duke nodded, though his steps didn't slow down. Gisele continued, "During Truth or Dare, I chose a dare, and he actually made me run up and kiss you."
Despite walking forward, Gisele's eyes stayed fixed on Duke.
Duke glanced at her. The nearly six-foot-tall model's eyes seemed to convey something unspoken.
"Hey, Duke," another tall figure suddenly approached.
Alessandra Ambrosio, looking a bit impatient, said, "Where's my water? I'm so thirsty…"
"Sorry, I got delayed for a moment," Duke replied as he handed her the cup. She immediately gulped it down, as if truly parched.
"Colleen, don't you usually avoid drinking water at night?" Gisele remarked teasingly as she stood beside Duke.
Ambrosio, still holding the cup, took another large sip. "I trust my body's metabolic ability."
She gestured to a chair by the table. "Sit, Gisele. No need to be shy."
Afterward, Ambrosio sat first at the small round table, while Gisele, holding her fruit plate, gave her a look and walked over to sit opposite Duke.
Throughout the interaction, their eyes never left each other's faces. Their gazes locked in the air, emanating an energy only women could understand.
Duke opened the juice, gesturing to the two women. Seeing both of them shake their heads in refusal, he poured himself half a glass and took a sip, all the while keeping an eye on Ambrosio and Gisele.
It was obvious that these two young Victoria's Secret Angels were now facing off.
Given the current situation, Duke could tell that the tension between them didn't originate in New Zealand.
Though Duke never thought of himself as the center of the universe, he understood well enough that even with his ability to attract women looking to climb the social ladder, it wasn't enough to explain the blatant animosity between Ambrosio and Gisele.
As one of the major shareholders of Victoria's Secret, Duke had representatives on the board and knew a thing or two about the internal dynamics. Much like Hollywood stars, the Victoria's Secret Angels weren't always as sisterly behind closed doors. The status of being an Angel was hierarchical, and fierce competition existed within the company. Every year, there were assessments, and those at the bottom of the rankings were often cut.
Duke vaguely remembered that after Rosie Huntington-Whiteley starred in Transformers 3, she was later dropped from Victoria's Secret, though she claimed it was a voluntary departure. In truth, she had been shown the door.
Moreover, how many models who had entered Victoria's Secret didn't want to become the headliner wearing the million-dollar diamond?
"Are you heading back to New York next Monday?" Ambrosio suddenly asked with a victorious smile. "Your shoot is already over that quickly?"
Gisele's face darkened, as Ambrosio's role in the film was the most significant among all the models. The others were merely small parts, with even their camera work being handled by the assistant director.
"Of course, I'm returning to New York," Gisele replied, as if to remind Ambrosio. "As a Victoria's Secret signed Angel, my main job is modeling. My future lies on the runway."
Duke had little interest in the dispute between these women. The moment Billy Boyd stepped up to the microphone on the small stage, he shifted his attention.
"Yesterday, I read the script's ending. Frodo and Gandalf left Middle-Earth. Pippin lost his best friend and companion."
Billy shifted his tone dramatically, from joking to sentimental, "We, the Fellowship of the Ring, came together in New Zealand, united to complete an extraordinary journey. But! Every film comes to an end, and so does our time together…"
Duke stood up first, clapping his hands. The rest of the hall followed suit, applauding together.
"The Last Farewell, for everyone."
The sound of an organ and acoustic guitar filled the hall. Though the band was new to the song, and Billy's voice wasn't very polished, the heartfelt performance moved everyone. Perhaps it was his build-up speech, or the camaraderie among the cast and crew, but the audience listened attentively.
"I watched the daylight fade as dusk approached,
I heard the wind rise, sighing in the air,
As snowflakes fell, covering my departed friend,
I whispered this final farewell…"
Those who liked humor, when they tried sentimentality, sometimes pulled it off well.
"Traveled thousands of miles,
Tasted all sorts of pain,
No regrets, no remorse, though never forgotten,
Who will stand by me through thick and thin…"
The accompaniment was already out of sync with Billy's singing, but that didn't stop the wistful, bittersweet melody from resonating.
As his performance ended, applause erupted once again. Duke clapped along with everyone, and throughout the entire performance, he had stood and listened carefully. As a dedicated fan of the series, he couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia as he thought of the Fellowship's final separation, and the inevitable passing of Aragorn. A little more emotion swelled within him.
When the applause died down, Duke called out, "Billy, keep refining this song."
Billy, understanding that the song had received Duke's approval, hurriedly replied, "I will!"
Moved by the song, the party was no longer as lively as before. Guests began to bid farewell and left one by one. Orlando Bloom, Gerard Butler, Zack Snyder, and others were seen leaving with beautiful models in tow.
The most dramatic was Elijah Wood, who seemed to be quite popular with his cute baby face, leaving the villa sandwiched between two tall models.
Duke didn't care where they went to party after that. Tomorrow was Sunday, and there was no filming for the crew.
What concerned him was the still-sitting Alessandra Ambrosio in the lounge area.
...
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