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Chapter 51: Naomi Watts' Struggle
🕑 Added 2024-09-11 17:14:46 +0000 UTCThe celebration party was crowded, with many people coming and going, offering toasts. Gilbert had already drunk quite a bit. Although he could hold his liquor, the sheer number of people toasting him made it hard for him to keep up, and he was starting to feel a bit tipsy.
"You should go back and rest," Sheena Boone suggested.
Gilbert nodded, but when he stood up, he felt a bit unsteady. His assistant, Anna Singh, helped support him as they prepared to leave.
"I'll go tell Robert Iger and have Michelle take you home," Sheena said. She needed to stay behind to socialize and build connections with the high-level executives of the film companies.
Cameron Diaz was also busy networking. Since the success of *Final Destination*, her popularity had skyrocketed. In this environment, if she didn't leave a good impression on the executives, they wouldn't think of her when future projects came up.
So Gilbert waved his hand and said, "No need, this event is important for her. Let Anna take me home."
"I'll do it," Naomi Watts suddenly offered. "I'll take you home."
Seeing that it was Naomi Watts, Gilbert nodded in agreement.
Sheena Boone was relieved, knowing that Naomi Watts and Gilbert seemed to have a close relationship.
Naomi Watts and Anna Singh helped Gilbert out of the Hilton Hotel. Just after Cameron Diaz finished talking to a producer, she looked around for Gilbert but couldn't find him. She asked Sheena Boone, "Where's Director Gilbert?"
"He had too much to drink, so Ms. Watts and Anna took him home," Sheena replied.
Cameron Diaz frowned slightly.
She didn't have much time to say anything before another producer approached her. "Ms. Diaz..."
Cameron Diaz had to return to socializing, unable to leave, allowing that little shorty to take advantage.
Anna Singh was driving, with Gilbert and Naomi Watts sitting in the back seat. Seeing that Gilbert looked like he might throw up, Naomi Watts said, "My place is nearby. Why not come to my place instead?"
"Is that okay?" Anna Singh hesitated.
Naomi Watts replied, "Director Gilbert is feeling unwell, and if we keep driving, he might get sick."
Knowing that her boss had a tendency to get carsick, Anna Singh agreed.
When they arrived downstairs, the two women helped Gilbert up to Naomi Watts' apartment and onto her bed.
Naomi Watts wiped the sweat from her forehead. Gilbert was surprisingly heavy, and it had taken a lot of effort to get him up there.
Seeing that Anna Singh was also out of breath, Naomi Watts said, "You should go home. I'll take care of him."
Anna Singh hesitated. "Is that really okay?"
"There's nothing to worry about. Come back tomorrow morning to pick him up. I promise he won't be missing a single hair," Naomi Watts reassured her.
Considering the ambiguous relationship between her boss and this woman, Anna Singh agreed.
After sending off the assistant, Naomi Watts struggled to help Gilbert out of his coat. By this time, Gilbert was quite intoxicated, half-conscious. Smelling the scent of perfume, he instinctively pulled Naomi Watts into his arms.
Naomi Watts tried to pull away, but when she couldn't, she softly said, "Gilbert, let me wipe your face first. Let go of me."
Perhaps hearing her words, Gilbert actually released her, allowing Naomi Watts to take off his coat.
She then went to the bathroom, filled a basin with water, and used her own towel to wipe Gilbert's face.
While cleaning his body, she inevitably saw a certain part of Gilbert, which made her think of Cameron Diaz. However, she quickly finished wiping his face.
Finally, Gilbert could sleep comfortably. Exhausted, Naomi Watts collapsed on the sofa, breathing heavily. Taking care of him had been quite tiring.
But seeing Gilbert sleep peacefully, Naomi Watts felt that everything she had done was worth it.
As for taking advantage of his drunken state, Naomi Watts never considered that.
She wanted them to be together when Gilbert was sober so that he would recognize who she was.
The next morning, the sunlight filtered through the windows, and Gilbert groggily woke up, realizing he wasn't in his own room.
He could faintly smell the aroma of toast, fried eggs, and bacon. He sniffed the air and then noticed the neatly ironed clothes on the bedside table, confirming his suspicions.
After getting dressed and leaving the bedroom, Gilbert found Naomi Watts preparing breakfast.
"You're awake. Go wash your face and brush your teeth. Breakfast is ready," Naomi Watts said with a smile when she noticed Gilbert standing there, arms crossed, watching her with an appreciative look.
After washing up, they sat down at the table to eat the breakfast Naomi Watts had prepared.
"You were feeling unwell after drinking too much last night, and my place was nearby, so I brought you here," Naomi Watts explained, addressing the unspoken question of why Gilbert was in her apartment.
"Thank you, Naomi..."
"You're welcome. It was the least I could do."
After finishing breakfast, Naomi Watts started cleaning up the dishes while Gilbert took in his surroundings.
The place wasn't big; the living room and kitchen were connected, with a separate bathroom and bedroom. Despite the modest setup, the rent for such an apartment in Los Angeles wasn't cheap.
After tidying up the dishes, Naomi Watts told Gilbert, "Anna will be here soon to pick you up, and I need to head to the restaurant for work."
"Wait," Gilbert said, grabbing Naomi Watts' hand. "Why are you still working at the restaurant?"
Naomi Watts smiled. "Where else would I get the money to rent this apartment?"
Living in Los Angeles wasn't easy, and many aspiring actors were in the same situation as Naomi Watts.
But those people had nothing to do with Gilbert, and right now, Naomi Watts was his friend.
"I'm sorry I didn't know about your situation. I even made you pay the bill the last time we had tea," Gilbert apologized.
Naomi Watts brushed it off with a sweet smile. "It's not your fault, Gilbert. It's my own choice, and I was prepared for it."
Based on what had happened the night before, Naomi Watts hadn't taken advantage of his drunken state, which made Gilbert like the petite woman even more. He said, "I'll talk to Sheena and see if she can find you some small roles with lines. At the very least, it'll cover your living expenses so you don't have to work at the restaurant or bar."
Naomi Watts didn't refuse and thanked him instead. "Thank you, Gilbert. You're a good person."
Apparently, Naomi Watts' previous agent wasn't very competent. After six months in Los Angeles, Naomi Watts hadn't landed any significant opportunities.
The agent had even suggested that Naomi Watts attend some silver parties, claiming that big Hollywood figures would be there. Naomi Watts was so angry that she fired the agent, even though it meant paying a penalty.
The amount wasn't much, but for Naomi Watts, who was struggling financially, it was still a burden.
But if Gilbert asked Sheena Boone to help, at least the penalty would be covered by Sheena Boone's talent management company.
Soon after, a car horn sounded from downstairs.
Before walking out the door, Gilbert thought for a moment and said to Naomi Watts, "Naomi, I have a role in my new project. It's not a lead role, but it has lines and screen time. If you're interested, get ready for an audition. I'll let Annie know."
Annie was Gilbert's assistant director, usually in charge of casting for minor roles.
Naomi Watts was delighted and accepted Gilbert's offer immediately. "Thank you, Gilbert."
She even stood on her tiptoes and gave him a peck on the cheek.
Gilbert patted Naomi Watts' golden hair and waved goodbye. "I'm off..."
Naomi Watts smiled as she watched Gilbert's tall figure leave, as if watching her husband go to work.
She wasn't sure how far her dreams were, but she knew that Gilbert was very close...
