Chapter 118: Privilege
Tom Cruise and his wife took off their sunglasses and set down their bags, settling into the VIP box on the second floor of the theater. Checking the time as midnight approached, they waited for the film that had rejected them to begin.
Compared to Tom Cruise's dark expression, Nicole Kidman looked a bit more composed. Her pale face showed no discernible emotion. She knew perfectly well that jealousy and anger solved nothing. Duke Rosenberg's rise seemed unstoppable; if Independence Day pulled in around $500 million at the global box office, it would instantly cement his status as an A-list Hollywood director.
Although he had rejected her for an audition and they had recently exchanged words, Nicole Kidman had no desire to hold a grudge. Lately, she had even asked her agent to find a way to mend their relationship. Being on good terms with a major director was far more beneficial than a bitter feud.
Unfortunately...
She shifted her pale blue eyes to her husband. He clearly had no intention of smoothing things over with Duke Rosenberg, despite Pat Kingsley's repeated warnings.
Nicole Kidman knew exactly what was going on. Ever since word got out that Duke Rosenberg had used a $5 million salary offer to veto Cruise for a role in Independence Day, her dear husband had dug up all his old grudges over The Rock and Interview with the Vampire. He hadn't taken the time to attend tonight's screening of Independence Day because he wanted to see the movie; he just wanted firsthand intelligence on his rival.
Although Tom Cruise never mentioned it, Nicole Kidman could guess he definitely had other moves planned.
Beneath the glamour of Beverly Hills, an abundance of darkness was always concealed.
About three miles west of the theater sat a mansion that paparazzi had staked out for the past year. In their articles and photographs, the once world-famous gentleman had been reduced to a piece of trash wallowing in the gutter.