168 Chapter 168: Driven by Life

Simon felt Madonna's fiery gaze and moved closer to her, whispering in her ear, "Second floor, turn left, fifth room. Sneak over later, and remember to wait for me naked."

Madonna did not expect Simon to be so straightforward, and for a moment, she was at a loss.

It wasn't until Simon walked away nonchalantly that Madonna quickly caught up to him, slowing down to walk beside him and said, "Simon, you were just playing with me, weren't you?"

Simon, reaching the buffet table and picking out food on a plate, replied, "Why would I play with you?"

Madonna was taken aback, then looked at him disdainfully, "Then you really are a jerk. I thought you considered Sean a friend."

"Sean is a great actor and indeed a guy worth befriending," Simon commented lightly, "But what does that have to do with you?"

Madonna said discontentedly, "I'm his wife."

Simon glanced at her, "If you don't care yourself, why should I?"

Madonna was at a loss for words, stuttering after a moment, "Sean and I have lost our feelings for each other, and sometimes, he even hits me."

"I'm sorry to hear that," Simon shrugged, "But that's your private affair."

Madonna looked at Simon for a moment and said, "I suddenly realize, West, you really are a cold-hearted guy to the core."

Simon responded indifferently, "Hmm."

Madonna felt inexplicably angry and was about to say something when Robert Redford approached with a fair-skinned, oval-faced woman, "Simon, oh, and Maggie, did we interrupt you?"

"Of course not, Bob," Simon smiled and shook his head, then looked at the woman beside Redford.

Robert Redford gestured to his side, "Let me introduce her to you. Simon, this is Melanie Griffith, the female lead of my movie."

Simon had actually recognized her, Melanie Griffith, one of Hollywood's famous actresses from the 80s, coming from a Hollywood acting family herself. Her mother, Tippi Hedren, became famous overnight with Hitchcock's "The Birds." If history does not change, she would later have a daughter, Dakota Johnson, the lead actress of the "Fifty Shades" series.

Hearing Redford's introduction, Simon extended his hand politely, "Nice to meet you, Ms. Griffith."

Melanie Griffith shook hands with Simon, using her natural baby voice, "Hello, Simon, call me Melanie. I saw your 'Pulp Fiction' yesterday, it was fantastic. It's a pity I didn't get a chance to play a role in it."

Simon politely said, "Your performance in Brian's 'Night of the Pink Panther' was also outstanding. We might have a chance to work together in the future."

Melanie Griffith, hearing Simon say this, sounded a bit excited, "Really? Simon, I'll take your word for it."

Simon nodded, "Of course."

Robert Redford saw the two chatting and lifted his cup, "Then, chat away, I'll go greet Miller."

As Robert Redford left, Melanie Griffith naturally moved closer to Simon, twirling her wine glass and staring at him, "How's the preparation for 'Batman' going? Do you think there's a role for me?"

Simon picked up his plate again, shaking his head, "The script is still being written. If there is, I'll have someone contact you."

Melanie Griffith noticed Simon picking food and snatched his plate, "Simon, how about we take a walk to the back? It's really nice here. Hmm, I'll hold the food for you," she then glanced at Madonna, who was obviously displeased at being left out, "Maggie, want to join?"

Madonna glanced at Simon, who was alternating between aloofness and sociability, and said defiantly, "Of course."

Before Simon could express his opinion, he was pulled towards the backyard.

The mansion, spanning over 1.5 hectares, had its main and secondary villas occupying only about 2000 square meters, less than one-seventh of the total area.

Because of the guests, all the lights in the mansion were on.

The three walked down the villa steps, and in the light, a twenty-meter-long white marble path appeared in front of them, flanked by open lawns and bush barriers. Moving forward past the path, they encountered a set of curved steps extending to either side. Descending the steps hidden by bushes, their view suddenly opened up.

Madonna, looking at the huge pool at the edge of the mansion that overlooked the entire Cannes area, couldn't help but exclaim despite her experience, "This place is amazing."

Thinking of the little man beside her who bought such a mansion just for the Cannes Film Festival, Madonna's displeasure due to Simon's indifference turned into eagerness, thinking how great it would be to catch such a man.

Simon, eating food from his plate, stopped near the pool with the two women, letting them admire the city's night view from the other side of the pool for a while before suggesting, "Ladies, shall we go back?"

Melanie Griffith approached Simon, who was still eating, and snatched the plate again, somewhat displeased, "Simon, are we not more attractive than these foods?"

As Melanie Griffith spoke, Madonna also moved closer.

Simon, feeling the gentle rubbing of two bodies against him, inexplicably felt like he was being hunted. Both women beside him were definitely the types to play the field.

Taking a step back, Simon put his arms around the two women with a slight force, watching them cling together. Melanie Griffith, thinking Simon wanted to play some other kind of game, giggled and kissed Madonna.

Simon took his plate back from Melanie Griffith, watching the two women embrace, "I think you two can comfort each other. I'll go over there and keep watch for you. Enjoy."

Madonna watched Simon walk towards the villa, not believing his excuse of keeping watch, and muttered discontentedly, "What a jerk."

Melanie Griffith also looked disappointed.

The little man who just left, with last year's "Run Lola Run" making Sandra Bullock a star, Easter's "When Harry Met Sally" boosting Meg Ryan, and the recently premiered "Pulp Fiction" bringing the unknown Australian actress Nicole Kidman into the public eye, was practically a star-making machine. Not to mention the teenage stars made famous through "The Butterfly Effect" and "Final Destination," Simon West was a rarity in boosting stars' careers. Even directors like Woody Allen, who attracted actresses for their style and nominations, could only bring their stars prestige, while Simon West could significantly increase their net worth.

Actresses like Sandra Bullock and Meg Ryan, who had only been in the industry for a few years and got lucky with roles in "Run Lola Run" and "When Harry Met Sally," shot to A-list status, with salaries easily reaching the two to three million dollar range. Melanie Griffith, despite having acted in over twenty films and TV shows, including works by Brian De Palma, Jonathan Demme, and Robert Redford, had not encountered a blockbuster hit and was worth only a tenth of Sandra Bullock, even receiving only fifty thousand dollars for her role in Redford's "Battle of Beanfield."

Unfortunately, this little man seemed not so easy to approach.

Perhaps, the timing wasn't right.

She was too eager.

With that thought, Melanie Griffith casually nodded to Madonna, lifted her skirt, and followed. Having the chance to meet Simon West through Robert Redford, she at least wanted to get his personal contact information.

Inside the villa.

Janet, who was chatting with Natasha Kinsky on the sofa, saw Simon return to the living room with his plate and immediately tapped Natasha Kinsky's waist, triumphantly saying, "See, you lost, oh, ten thousand dollars, hand it over."

Natasha Kinsky checked her watch, "He and those two women have been gone for five minutes, how can you be so sure they didn't do anything?"

Janet pouted, "If you want to default, just say it earlier. My man definitely lasts more than five minutes."

"Who's defaulting?" Natasha Kinsky pinched her handbag, hesitated, and then confessed, "I don't have money right now, I'll give it to you when I do."

Janet was displeased, "Then why did you bet with me?"

"I, I just wanted to make some money, okay? My husband even stopped my credit cards."

Janet was even more displeased, "I considered you a friend, and you actually wanted to make money off me."

"Driven by life," Natasha Kinsky leaned on the sofa nonchalantly, "Also, I can only stay here tonight."

"If you're so unhappy with that, um, that Egyptian businessman, why not just divorce him? Then take on some roles at will, support yourself, live freely, how nice."

Natasha Kinsky gestured towards Simon, "Would you break up with that guy if you were unhappy?"

Janet immediately said, "Simon and I are different."

Natasha Kinsky didn't argue, glanced around, "Hey, you'll leave after the film festival, right?"

"Hmm?"

"Let me stay here, I want to separate from him for a while."

"No."

"Really stingy."

"I've already been a friend by sheltering you for a night or two, I don't want to get involved in the cold war between you and your husband."

Natasha Kinsky glanced at a figure being entangled by women again, "If that guy agrees, can I stay here?"

Janet looked in the direction of Natasha Kinsky's gaze and nodded, "Yeah, try to convince him."

After ten o'clock, the guests gradually left.

George Miller, having suddenly engaged in an interesting conversation about the sequel to the "Mad Max" series, didn't leave until nearly eleven. Simon personally saw him off. When he returned to the villa, the chefs and waiters from the nearby restaurant had also left, and the living room was back to its original state.

Then, Simon saw Natasha Kinsky, like a lazy Persian cat, lounging on a sofa in the corner of the living room, boredly flipping through a magazine, her face showing obvious tiredness, her beautiful eyes half-closed, seemingly completely unaware of Simon's gaze.

After a moment, Simon was about to leave when a voice spoke up, "Can I stay here?"

Simon stopped, confirming the voice came from Natasha Kinsky, and smiled, "You finally realize you should ask the host's opinion on such matters?"

Natasha Kinsky didn't respond, repeating, "Can I?"

Simon shrugged, "You must sleep in the guest room."

Janet and Jennifer came out of the kitchen just then, and Natasha Kinsky, getting Simon's response, immediately looked at Janet, "He agreed."

Janet also heard their conversation and smiled at Simon, "Natasha wants to continue staying here after we leave Cannes."

Simon realized, then shook his head, "Sorry, that won't work."

Natasha Kinsky sat up, staring at Simon, "You just agreed."

Simon didn't argue, shaking his head again, "Unfortunately, I've changed my mind."

Natasha Kinsky paused, "West, don't forget, I'm a juror for this competition."

Simon unscrupulously changed his stance, "Oh, I'll think about it for a few days and get back to you after the festival."

Natasha Kinsky defiantly, "So, should I consider giving my vote to you next time I'm a juror?"

"That's your freedom," Simon nonchalantly nodded, walked over to Janet, lifted her up and kissed her cheek, then headed for the stairs, "Baby, I've thought of a very interesting bedtime story to tell you."

"Hehe, you little devil, you must be unable to resist those women's flirtations, right? Always bullying me."

"It's really a bedtime story."

"Ah, spit."

Jennifer, hearing their shameless conversation, blushed slightly and waited for them to go upstairs before turning to Natasha Kinsky, "Ms. Kinsky, should I prepare a guest room for you?"

Natasha Kinsky nodded, stood up, and followed Jennifer upstairs, her expression still carrying a hint of trouble.

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