Leaving the lounge, Ivanka, with slightly flushed cheeks from having had two glasses of wine, searched for Duke with her eyes. Upon spotting him, she quickly walked over, exchanged a few words with Warner Bros.' CEO Jeff Robinov, and then left the banquet hall together with Duke.
"You've been drinking?" Duke could smell the faint scent of alcohol.
"I had two small glasses of whiskey with Charlize Theron," Ivanka said, holding onto his arm as they walked.
"Sally?" Duke led her toward the hotel lobby. "Her drinking capacity is intimidating—she's said to be able to drink several men under the table."
"Duke…" Ivanka suddenly stopped walking. Duke had no choice but to stop and look at her in confusion. "What's wrong, Ivy?"
"Nothing."
Ivanka shook her head as she spoke. But just as Duke was about to continue walking toward the hotel's exit, she suddenly grew determined, tightened her grip on Duke's arm, and said, "I have something I want to say to you."
Perhaps afraid her courage would dissipate, Ivanka pulled Duke into a nearby lounge. These rooms, adjacent to the main banquet hall, were designed for VIP guests. They had excellent soundproofing, ensuring that no one could overhear their conversation.
Once inside, Ivanka closed the door and stood by it, looking at Duke.
"Ivy…"
Duke had already sensed what was coming. Just like Sofia Coppola and Irene Lauder before her, he had always regarded Ivanka as a friend.
Ivanka opened her mouth but found herself at a loss for words.
Unable to articulate her feelings, Ivanka decided to act. Though generally reserved and composed, she didn't lack courage when a decision had to be made.
Before Duke could finish his sentence, she stepped forward, intending to kiss him. Perhaps due to inexperience or her sudden movement, an incredibly awkward moment ensued.
The two were already standing very close. Taken by surprise, Duke couldn't react in time, and their noses collided with a noticeable thud. Ivanka had moved with a bit too much force, and the collision was far from pleasant.
The next moment, the two, who had almost kissed, instantly pulled apart. Ivanka clutched her nose, her blue eyes glistening slightly red.
Duke wasn't much better off. He lowered his head, pinching his nose as a sharp, stinging sensation brought tears to his eyes.
Both rubbed their noses. A few seconds later, they looked at each other. Though the situation was slightly awkward, seeing each other's red-rimmed eyes and comical expressions, they couldn't help but laugh simultaneously.
"Ivy, are you trying to murder me?" Duke joked, attempting to lighten the mood.
Ivanka lowered her hand from her nose, her voice still slightly muffled. "It's not murder, nor is it a joke."
Not giving Duke the chance to interrupt, she continued, "I'm serious, Duke…"
Looking directly into his dark eyes, Ivanka spoke each word clearly, "Will you let me be your girlfriend?"
Her blue eyes remained fixed on Duke as she stood there, waiting for his answer.
Duke couldn't possibly mishear her—Ivanka had said "girlfriend"!
To be exact, if he were to consider getting a girlfriend, Ivanka would undoubtedly be a suitable choice.
Two months ago, Duke would have rejected her without hesitation. Although he had thought about changing his lifestyle, it was akin to certain Hollywood stars attempting to quit their vices: the idea might surface occasionally, but it was never acted upon.
How difficult is it for someone to change their habits?
However, the Jessica Alba situation had profoundly impacted him. Representing a group of outwardly glamorous actresses, just how rotten could they be on the inside?
He wasn't certain about others, but Edward Newgate had uncovered shocking details about Jessica Alba while investigating Christopher Rocancourt. In their year-long relationship, the seemingly sunny and healthy actress had been involved with at least an entire "class" of men, including several Hollywood bigwigs. And who knows how many partners those men had? Only God could tell if Jessica Alba had transmitted any viruses to them, and if they, in turn, passed them on to others in the industry…
Each time Duke thought about this, he felt a wave of disgust. While he didn't have a psychological aversion to women—otherwise, he wouldn't have mingled with Hollywood actresses—he certainly didn't want to contract some repulsive disease.
Over the past two months, the desire to change his chaotic personal life, though often suppressed by his busy work schedule, grew stronger with each resurfacing.
He had promised his mother that he would find a girlfriend, get married, and build a family…
In that brief moment, countless thoughts flashed through Duke's mind, while Ivanka's emotions were equally turbulent.
Despite Duke's obvious strengths and flaws, she was confident she could bring about some change.
Looking at Duke, whose brow slightly furrowed, Ivanka said nothing more. She leaned forward slightly, tilted her face upward, and gently closed her eyes.
Back in New York, Duke had vaguely sensed Ivanka's feelings but hadn't distanced himself. Even now, he wasn't entirely sure what he wanted.
Ivanka didn't perfectly match his aesthetic preferences—a fact Duke wouldn't deny. However, the standards for choosing a girlfriend and a casual fling were entirely different. Physical appearance wasn't the top priority…
Ultimately, the question boiled down to whether he was ready to commit to a long-term, stable relationship. While such a relationship might not necessarily lead to marriage, it would represent a significant shift in his lifestyle.
Though hesitant about changing his habits, Duke wasn't one to shy away from decisive action when the moment called for it.
After about two seconds, Ivanka suddenly felt a familiar breath against her face. Then, her lips were enveloped in warmth. The unease in her heart instantly melted away. She slightly opened her eyes, seeing a pair of bright, smiling eyes looking back at her.
The dark eyes held a faint hint of amusement. Ivanka responded with the same gaze, wrapping her arms around his strong neck and closing her eyes again, savoring the sweetness of the kiss under his guidance.
It was a gentle kiss, lasting only about ten seconds before they slowly parted.
Ivanka lowered her head, burying her face into Duke's chest, erasing any distance between them.
Duke gently patted her back. "We should get going. The car must have been waiting at the door for a while now."
A hotel attendant had already contacted their driver when they left the banquet hall. Given the delay, the entrance was probably crowded with traffic by now.
"Mm, let's go."
Having gotten the answer she wanted, there was no reason to linger. Ivanka held onto Duke's arm as they left the hotel. Outside, countless camera flashes greeted them, but she didn't mind at all, watching as Duke opened the car door and bent down to let her in.
Duke got into the car, and the vehicle slowly pulled away from the hotel. The driver waited for instructions.
"To my place?" Duke asked.
After a brief hesitation, Ivanka nodded lightly. Duke told the driver, "To Malibu."
He then made a call, arranging for Ivanka's luggage to be sent to his estate the next day.
"Will this cause you any trouble?" Ivanka pointed out the window. Paparazzi were clearly tailing them, trying to see if Duke's companion would get off mid-route.
Duke shook his head, gently pinching her nose. "Sweetheart, you should be more worried about yourself. Becoming the girlfriend of a public figure means your life won't be the same."
Unlike traditional directors, Duke never hesitated to put himself in the spotlight for his films' promotion.
Moreover, Ivanka was unlike Susie Amis, who stayed hidden behind James Cameron. Her looks, background, surname, father, and potential inheritance guaranteed media attention.
Ivanka responded with a confident smile. "I've been ready for this for a long time!"
"For a long time?" Duke teased. "When exactly?"
"That's a secret…"
Ivanka initially didn't want to elaborate, but seeing Duke's persistent gaze, she relented, organizing her thoughts. "Since my second visit to Wellington."
"The time we went fishing on the lake?" Duke pressed.
"Around then," Ivanka replied, unwilling to delve into her unrequited feelings. "Duke, I'm tired and want to rest for a bit."
Compared to typical all-American girls, Ivanka was more reserved and composed.
She moved closer to Duke, resting her head on his shoulder. Duke kissed her forehead, understanding that she wasn't tired but simply didn't want to discuss those matters further, and refrained from asking.
Ivanka held onto Duke's arm with both hands, lightly closing her eyes.
Amid the paparazzi's chase, the car finally arrived at Duke's Malibu estate, leaving the relentless photographers outside its high walls.
The car stopped in front of the crescent-shaped villa. Duke stepped out, holding Ivanka's hand as they walked inside. In the spacious living room, Tina Fey was chatting with the housekeeper, Emma.
"Hi, Tina. Hi, Emma," Ivanka greeted them warmly. Duke led her to the large sofa.
Having worked for Duke for years, Tina Fey knew him well. Seeing him bring Ivanka home so late, especially with their hands intertwined, she immediately realized something significant had happened.
"Should I inform Panny and Nancy?" she asked, referring to Duke's PR manager and agent.
Duke nodded, then introduced, "Emma, let me reintroduce you. This is my girlfriend, Miss Ivanka Trump. She'll be staying here for the next few days."
After making two quick calls, Tina Fey smiled and said, "Duke, Ivy, congratulations."
She exchanged a glance with Emma before standing up. "Emma and I will move our conversation elsewhere so we don't disturb you."
....
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