King of Hollywood-Chapter 627 - 35 London Fashion Show

"Keeley? Keeley? Hey, what are you daydreaming about, Keeley?!" It wasn’t until a hand reached over and waved in front of her that Keeley Hazell jolted, waking up from her daze.

"What’s up, Lisa?" Even so, she was a bit distracted, and even glanced at the door, but unfortunately, the gentleman who had handed her his business card had already left.

"You’ve been standing here daydreaming for several minutes, looking as if someone had spirited away your soul." Lisa, who looked to be about twenty, watched her with an amused expression.

"Um..." Keeley searched for the right words, but before she could speak, a somewhat shrill voice came through, "What are you standing there, zoning out for? There’s so much left to clean up; do you plan to leave it all to me? If your shift is over, then get out of here. We don’t need people who don’t work!"

With that, a larger woman carrying plates brushed past Keeley with a look of anger in her eyes, along with contempt and hostility.

"Don’t mind her, that idiot is just jealous you got a chance to get a generous tip from that big shot." Watching the woman disappear into the kitchen, Lisa spoke with derision and then looked curiously at Keeley, "So, how much did he give this time?"

Keeley didn’t speak, just proudly pulled out a five British Pound note and flaunted it. Lisa gasped, although she quickly covered her mouth, her eyes still radiating disbelief. You see, even in upscale cafes, a one-pound tip was considered good money, let alone in their small local coffee shop, let alone five pounds.

"Oh, I’m starting to be jealous of you, Keeley. The most he ever gave before was three pounds, and this time he actually gave five. It’s good to be rich," Lisa said enviously.

"I have to thank your mom. If it weren’t for her, I couldn’t have taken the time to work part-time, nor could I have gotten so much tip from that gentleman every time," Keeley sighed.

"So, how are you going to thank me?" Lisa immediately asked, not at all embarrassed by her audacity.

"I have a question now," Keeley didn’t continue that thread but brought up something else, "What do you think... What do you think about that big shot?"

"What? Do you fancy him? Oh, come on, Keeley, how old are you now?" Lisa laughed heartily as she ruffled her hair.

"No, Lisa, it’s not like that," Keeley hesitated, then pulled a business card from her pocket, "Right before he left, he asked me if I was interested in acting in a movie, and he left his card, saying I could call him if I was willing."

"Acting in a movie?" Lisa looked surprised as she took the business card to review it, "Adrian Cowell? AC Media? Seems... I haven’t heard of them. Could this guy be a scammer?"

"I don’t know, I’m a bit worried too, but would a scammer really come by here with a little girl for coffee all the time? And... be so generous." Keeley clenched her fists and spoke uncertainly, her teeth grazing her lips occasionally, revealing her inner turmoil.

"Well... how about looking it up online? There’s a lot of information on the internet, and if this guy is a well-known director or producer or something, we should be able to find something about him," Lisa suggested after some thought.

Keeley was about to say something when the clock on the wall chimed, ringing four times.

"Sorry, I have to go back, I’ll do as you said, Lisa," said Keeley as she went to change her clothes, and then giggled, "Mr. Gary’s bakery tomorrow, my treat, you can eat whatever you want."

After a short ten-minute walk, Keeley, dressed in simple and plain clothes, returned to her cramped home and called out to her mother through the door, "I’m back," before entering her bedroom. She really didn’t want to talk to her mother, having heard enough from her arguments with her father last year, and now that they were divorced she no longer had to listen, but she had also closed herself off.

After finishing secondary school, then what? Become a waitress like her mother? Or something else? And then lead an unremarkable life forever? Keeley, lying on her back in bed, stared blankly at the ceiling, pondering. Suddenly, she stood up again and walked over to the mirror to scrutinize her reflection. To be honest, her features hadn’t fully developed yet and could only be considered average, but her figure was indeed well-developed, with balanced curves that many older schoolgirls envied.

Keeley flipped out the business card, which, although simple in appearance, felt good in her hand; it must be of high quality. Could he really be a film director or something? Her heartbeat suddenly quickened a lot, and remembering what Lisa had said, she immediately turned on her second-hand computer. Although the family was not wealthy, they could still afford internet access, and then—

"I’m going to be a movie star, Mom! I’m going to be a movie star!" Five minutes later, Keeley, shrieking and knocking on her mother’s door, was as excited as though she didn’t know where she was.

"Damn it, can’t you leave me in peace for a while!" her mother Amber opened the door irritably, "I’ve got enough trouble as it is, with those damned bastards accusing me of not doing a good job..."

"Mom, I’m going to be an actress! I’m going to be famous!" Keeley continued to shout excitedly, seemingly high, which Amber actually suspected might be the case.

"What did you do? Are you high on pot?" her mother, finally catching on, frowned and asked, even taking a closer look by grabbing her daughter’s shoulders.

"No, I’m serious," Keeley pulled away from her mother’s hands and handed her the business card, "Look, Mom, this is the business card of the great Hollywood director and media mogul Adrian Cowell, I met him today while working at the café, and he asked me if I was interested in making movies. Did you know, the internet says that anyone he takes a fancy to becomes a brilliant actor, his judgment has never been off, and now he’s chosen me! Chosen me! God, I was so dumb that I even laughed and told him you must be joking. Oh, hell, I was so stupid."

She spoke more and more excitedly, eventually spinning around in place, while Amber looked perplexed at her daughter and then at the card in her hand, still not comprehending, "What in the world are you talking about, Keeley, calm down!"

After being shouted at by her mother, Keeley finally seemed to regain some composure and then snatched the business card back from her mother’s hand, carefully putting it away and looking at her with fervent eyes, "No matter what you say, Mom, I’m going to be an actress, a star, and no one can stop me!"

------------------

This was an accident. Adrian was certain he had never expected to meet the future famous page three girl from The Sun in such a small town, even though he had seen her a few times and given her a good amount of tips. Therefore, he couldn’t help feeling like he was getting old, or else why would his memory start to fail—of course, this was self-mockery. In his previous life, Keeley Hazell was best known for her proud figure, and hardly anything else left a lasting impression. If not for the widespread internet, people in China might not recognize her. And it was normal that Adrian hadn’t recognized her at the moment since her features hadn’t fully developed.

He was now in his prime, with an unparalleled fortune, and as long as he didn’t deliberately ruin his body, he wasn’t aging that quickly. Twin flights were quite common now, and sometimes there were even foursomes, but his body was still as strong as a bull. If it weren’t for the women’s tolerance issues, he would have tried a one-versus-four or even one-versus-five already.

Honestly, he already had enough women in his life, yet Adrian couldn’t help but ask Keeley if she was interested in acting in a film. You see, not every woman had the sort of natural chest curves she had, curves that were even fuller than Scarlett’s, though Scarlett was still developing, but Keeley was developing, too, so it was hard to say who would end up bigger.

Despite Adrian’s collection of women with outstanding temperament, like Blanchett and Gwyneth, it didn’t mean he wasn’t interested in women with good figures—especially those with large breasts—otherwise, he wouldn’t think that Victoria’s Secret models were better than Vogue models. There’s no denying that the curve of a woman’s chest has an inexplicable attraction to men; women with large breasts draw attention wherever they go, otherwise Keira wouldn’t have so shamelessly asked Adrian for a massage—wondering if she would go crazy with jealousy when she saw Keeley.

As a man, and a libidinous man at that, how could Adrian not be attracted, especially when it was all-natural, all the while beautiful curves were rare. But as a collector, this kind of thrill of the hunt was normal, although he didn’t demand perfection, otherwise he would have simply let Penelope slide by, but letting her go when she was right in front of him was not his style. And besides, he could find a rival for Scarlett—he was always suspicious that she might get breast reduction surgery in the future.

Of course, the trick of playing hard to get had to be played; appearing too eager would only make the other party suspicious, so after asking, Adrian left a business card and walked away, acting perfectly on point. Nevertheless, Little Emma, who followed along, still gave him the unique "I know you are up to no good" look that made Adrian want to pinch her cheeks and knead them like dough.

As expected, about two hours later, the phone call came. It was the voice of a middle-aged woman, introducing herself as Keeley’s mother Amber, and, after exchanging pleasantries, she tentatively asked if what he had said in the coffee shop about her daughter was really true. Adrian immediately made an appointment to meet with her the following day.

"Let’s put it this way, Mrs. Amber, I think your daughter has potential—do you know what potential means?" Adrian asked Amber with a smile in Keeley’s small home.

His demeanor was very friendly, devoid of any condescending attitude so Amber, who had initially been nervously fumbling, quickly calmed down. Of course, the requisite sense of superiority hadn’t diminished at all; in fact, the other party would likely feel uncomfortable without it—such is dictated by the social status gap.

"You mean... although Keeley has potential, it needs to be developed to be useful," Amber said, carefully choosing her words.

"Exactly, you see, many great actors either start accumulating experience by playing small roles from childhood on, or they enter specialized higher education institutions for systematic study. Though I think Keeley has potential, we need time to further determine what kind of potential it is and then provide training for her, so she can perform better," said Adrian, pausing to let the information sink in before continuing, "So, if Mrs. Amber is willing, you could take Keeley to the United States, where we can conduct systematic testing and cultivation on her."

"Go to the United States?" Amber appeared troubled. She knew what Adrian was saying was true. Although she had only learned about the famous director and media mogul through the internet, she was aware that his base of operations was in Los Angeles; if Keeley wanted to develop under him, it could only be in the United States.

This should be a good thing; Hollywood is the center of the world’s film industry, a place all actors aspire to be. Going there for development and having the support of a great director seemed likely to yield commendable results. However, Amber had her concerns—they had lived here for many years, and suddenly moving to an unknown environment, let alone another country, might not be an easy adjustment, especially since it was the turf of the media mogul before them.

Although Amber was just an ordinary British woman, it didn’t mean she was witless. After confirming the authenticity of the business card Keeley had received and searching for some news about Adrian, she also realized this was an opportunity, an opportunity to escape their current life! She had read her fair share of tabloids, so she had a general understanding of celebrities’ incomes; she definitely wouldn’t let this opportunity slip away—except for one thing: Keeley had to be under her control. She had read enough about child stars turning against their parents, especially now that her relationship with her daughter was strained. Although Amber was confident she could improve it, what if external factors came into play?

It must be said that some women’s intuition is very strong, especially when it involves their self-interest. Even though Amber didn’t know Adrian’s plans, she instinctively hesitated.

Adrian didn’t continue to persuade her and stood up, "How about this, take a few days to think it over. I’m going to be in London for quite a while; whether you agree or not, please send me a message, okay?"

Then, he turned to Keeley. Although the girl had been sitting quietly next to her mother all this time, her little fidgeting never stopped, especially after Amber asked with an uncertain tone about "going to the United States," and she kept glancing at Ivanka, the trainee secretary assistant who came along with Adrian. Ivanka’s appearance, figure, and temperament that she displayed made her both envious and jealous.

Noticing Adrian’s motion, she wanted to puff out her chest and say something bold, but then hesitated, remembering certain matters.

"Additionally, Keeley, my company will be holding a fashion show in London. Perhaps you’d care to come and see?" Adrian said with a smile. "Of course, it would be even better if Ms. Amber could come along. I can have everything arranged."

Adrian didn’t take Amber’s hesitation to heart. He could clearly see what she was thinking, but she had no choice, so why bother about it? At most, after the fashion show ended, Amber would agree. Even if she were still hesitant, her daughter would compel her to accept, as one could tell from the expression Keeley wore today.

She may still have some other plans—despite the slim possibility—but to a big director and media tycoon with considerable influence in London, those little schemes meant nothing.

Since the fashion show was hosted by a company under AC Media, it was undoubtedly Victoria’s Secret. In the previous life, the Victoria’s Secret brand didn’t become truly popular until the year 2000, having previously streamed online. But things were different now. With the support of AC Media, every fashion show was broadcast on ABC—first in regular time slots, later moving to earlier ones, and then after the Super Bowl show combined with the effect of "America’s Next Top Model," from 1998 Victoria’s Secret basically became wildly popular in the United States. By 1999, it had already reached the status of a world-class brand. The Victoria’s Secret Angels rose along with the brand’s fortune, making a splash in the model industry filled with skinny beauties, attracting a unique scene.

Thus, this lingerie show in London attracted many celebrities from the fashion world, from models to actors and even those outside the entertainment industry. It seems the British quite like the name Victoria.

"They’re probably still nostalgic for the glory of the Victorian Era," Claude said half-teasingly, having made a special trip to attend the show.

Adrian chuckled but didn’t respond until Heidi Krum had walked off the stage and then said, "You surprise me, Claude, you’re not tired of it after all this time?"

"Well, so far, I haven’t found a replacement for Heidi," Claude shrugged.

"What about Kate Moss?" Adrian asked in a teasing manner.

"I have absolutely no interest in that kind of sickly beauty," Claude shook his head without hesitation.

"Maybe you could ask ’Galeries’ to introduce you to someone?" Adrian suggested again mischievously.

The "Galeries" he referred to was Chanel’s creative director, Karl Lagerfeld, who apart from this had many titles such as the "Caesar of the fashion world." He was always recognized by his white hair tied in a ponytail and sunglasses, never taking them off even indoors. However, just from the amount of clothing he designed for Chanel—eight collections a year—one knows he’s fully deserving of his titles, with countless models vying for his favor.

"Forget it, Ed. Even if I were to turn gay, I’d look for you," Claude quipped, shutting Adrian up immediately.

Lagerfeld was gay, and it seemed that fashion designers couldn’t escape this stereotype, though there were rumors that Lagerfeld only turned to men after growing tired of women. Whether this was true or not, it was known that Lagerfeld had admitted to realizing he was homosexual at the age of eleven. However, the truth of the matter has long been a topic of speculation. For a long time, Lagerfeld was constantly seen with attractive young male models... truly inspiring admiration.

And so, it was with this mind that Adrian had wanted to tease Claude, but unexpectedly, Claude turned the tables on him—really...

Watching his uncomfortable expression, Claude would have burst into laughter if they weren’t at a fashion show. Thankfully, the finale took the stage at that moment, offering Adrian some relief from his embarrassment. (To be continued. If you like this work, please visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote and give a monthly pass. Your support is my greatest motivation.)

This chapter is updat𝓮d by fre(e)webnov(l).com