Chapter 128
“Sorry, sorry, sorry.”
Renly muttered apologies as he made his way past the rows of seats, finally finding the dark red seat with his name on the backrest. The awards ceremony was set to begin in less than five minutes.
Earlier outside, Renly had unexpectedly run into Hugh Laurie, and the two hit it off immediately. Both were British, both alumni of Eton College, and both graduates of Cambridge University. Hugh had majored in archaeology and anthropology before venturing into Hollywood, gaining worldwide fame through ‘House’. Their shared background provided plenty of common ground.
Renly was especially enthusiastic when he mentioned Hugh’s talent as a singer, praising his raspy voice and its ability to deliver soulful blues. Their lively conversation made them lose track of time.
Once inside the Nokia Theatre, Hugh, being a seasoned actor, had a seat assigned closer to the front. Renly, a newcomer, was placed further back in the middle section.
After sitting down, Renly peeled the name tag off the backrest. Rami, sitting to his right, leaned over with a half-joking remark, “Did you hook up with someone? You’re late!”
On Rami’s right, James leaned in as well, his face brimming with curiosity. Renly couldn’t help but chuckle, replying, “I was chatting with Sophia until now. How about that?” James immediately rolled his eyes and muttered something along the lines of “Good looks always win,” slumping back in his chair with a frustrated expression. It seemed his attempt at striking up a conversation with Sophia earlier hadn’t gone so well.
Rami hesitated, unsure if Renly was joking. Renly offered a faint smile and gestured to the front. “The ceremony is starting.”
Turning to his left, Renly greeted Merritt Johnson, the writer of the TV movie ‘Temple Grandin’. Merritt nodded back politely, and the two then focused on the stage as the house lights dimmed, signalling the start of this evening’s Grand Event.