Chapter 339: A Wizard Is Not a Profession

Beauty came at a price. The stunning looks the Victoria's Secret angels maintained at such high cost—combined with their god-given natural assets and the right marketing—elevated them from mere brand representatives into literal angels in the eyes of the public.

Everyone appreciated a gorgeous, sexy model, but Duke always knew how to prioritize. Women would always take a backseat to his career.

From their brief conversation that day, Duke could tell that the young new Victoria's Secret model, Alessandra Ambrosio, was trying to curry favor with him. Maybe she had ambitions for the silver screen, or maybe she was just looking for a thrill.

Regardless, none of that mattered to him right now. Before the massive upcoming show co-hosted by Warner Brothers and Victoria's Secret, nothing took precedence over meticulous preparation.

Aside from a few isolated countries and regions, Duke wanted the entire world to know that The Lord of the Rings trilogy was in production!

Over the past few days, Duke and the Victoria's Secret angels had frequently appeared in newspapers and the media. The promotional campaign was already in full swing.

On Wednesday, under Warner Brothers' deliberate arrangement, Victoria's Secret's Heidi Klum and Adriana Lima walked into a New York studio. When they emerged, they publicly announced to the press that they were participating in auditions for The Lord of the Rings trilogy!

On Thursday, print media and news media were hyping the story. When Duke arrived at the Victoria's Secret headquarters, he publicly declared that he believed the Victoria's Secret angels were the most suitable for female elves...

On Friday, the New York Times and the NBC Television Network's Today show simultaneously broke the news that The Lord of the Rings Studio had reached an agreement with Victoria's Secret executives. The Victoria's Secret angels and other models closely associated with the brand would be cast as the numerous elf roles in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and they even exposed a photograph.

The photo drew massive attention, triggering envy, jealousy, and hate from countless men!

In the picture, Duke stood tall, surrounded by over a dozen gorgeous, long-legged, slender-waisted models. Many media outlets directly adopted the photographer's title for the shot—Duke Rosenberg and His Elf Angels!

Just as the smoke was clearing from the North American Summer Season, this sparked yet another frenzy of cinematic buzz!

On Friday afternoon, Time Warner and Victoria's Secret held a joint press conference at the Waldorf Grand Hotel, announcing their tight-knit collaboration on The Lord of the Rings trilogy...

"Mr. Tolkien's elves are ethereal, agile, slender, and enchantingly beautiful."

Sitting on the interview stage, Duke carried the bold presence of a man single-handedly taking on a hundred reporters. "The angels are the most suitable actors for the female elves; I have no reason not to choose them. Refusing to cast the angels whose appearances most closely resemble elves in The Lord of the Rings trilogy would, in my opinion, be a crime..."

Heidi Klum also spoke a few words on behalf of the angel models. Her popularity had skyrocketed over the last few years, and with prior coaching from public relations, handling the reporters was not difficult.

"I'm very excited. All of my sisters and I are extremely excited." She genuinely seemed excited, her voice carrying a tremor. "The Lord of the Rings trilogy is an epic masterpiece. We never imagined we'd get to appear in such a classic work. Duke is a great director, and we've dreamed of appearing in front of his camera."

"Director Rosenberg, can you reveal more information about the film?"

"Miss Klum, what specific roles will you be playing?"

"I heard Mr. Trump will be making a cameo appearance in the movie, is this true?"

Although the reporters in the press room were eager, Duke and Heidi Klum exited the stage at the right moment. Scoops were never dumped all at once.

Jamie Jensen then announced on behalf of Warner and Victoria's Secret that the Victoria's Secret angels would depart from the Waldorf Grand Hotel on Sunday, boarding a specially chartered Victoria's Secret & Lord of the Rings private jet to fly to New Zealand with Duke!

The moment the press conference concluded, the paid online shills that Penny Kalis had assembled for Duke sprang into action. Countless related news updates and photos hit major websites and forums across the country at blistering speed, spreading like a plague.

The newly established TMZ Website under Warner leaned into gossip, even launching a dedicated feature on the untold stories between Duke and the Victoria's Secret angels...

Having worked continuously for several days straight, Duke's work temporarily came to an end after the press conference. He could finally rest for a good day and prepare for Sunday's massive show.

Just as Duke returned to the lounge from the press room, before he even had time to catch up with Heidi Klum, Tina Fey came over to inform him that someone was waiting for him.

"She seems to be here specifically for you."

Taking the elevator up to the suite's floor, Tina Fey reminded him on the way, "I told her you were busy and asked her to come back another day, but she insisted on waiting for you."

Walking into the suite's living room, they saw a slender, petite girl standing with her back to them in front of an oil painting, seemingly studying it very seriously.

She was dressed in an extremely ordinary gray T-shirt and denim shorts. Her long, curly brown hair was casually tied back in a ponytail, topped with a slightly worn New York Yankees baseball cap.

"Hi, Nat."

Walking over to her side, Duke took the initiative to greet her, "How do you have the time to come over today?"

"You've been all over the media these past few days. I think your movie promotional tactics are very interesting." Natalie Portman withdrew her gaze from the oil painting and turned to look at Duke. "I recall you mentioning last time that you'd buy me a drink the next time you were in New York."

"I've been a bit busy lately..." Duke lightly tapped his forehead. "I almost forgot about that."

He made a gesture to Tina Fey, and the female assistant immediately left the suite. Duke then walked over to the living room's liquor cabinet and casually looked through it. He didn't have a clear understanding of wine, so he simply grabbed a bottle of Bordeaux red wine and two glasses, setting them down on the bar counter.

"Please sit, Nat."

Duke opened the red wine and pointed to the high chair across the bar. Natalie walked over and sat down on it. Once Duke set the glasses down and poured some red wine, she picked up her glass without a word and drank nearly half of it.

Looking at Natalie as she set down her glass, Duke frowned. He had found it strange when Tina Fey mentioned her arrival. It wasn't like last time when she wanted to fight back with words, so why did she seek him out on her own? The two of them could hardly even be considered friends.

Although Natalie appeared very calm on the surface, her actions showed that something seemed to have happened.

Picking up the red wine, Duke poured for Natalie again, poured some into his own glass, and proactively clinked glasses with her. "Cheers!"

"Cheers!" Natalie drank another half.

"Nat?" Duke said, looking at her.

Natalie tilted her head up. "Yeah?"

Duke pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you mind telling me what happened?"

"You know, Duke?" Natalie slowly swirled the glass in her hands, slightly lowering her eyes. "Ever since The Phantom Menace premiered, everything has changed."

"That's very normal," Duke said meaningfully. "You've become the world-famous Queen Padme Amidala."

"I am Natalie Portman..." Natalie then emphasized. "Not anyone else!"

Duke shrugged, not intending to dwell on this issue.

Natalie took off her Yankees baseball cap, threw it onto the bar, and adjusted her falling long brown hair. "Fame comes at a price. I've really felt that lately. Everyone treats me like Queen Amidala, thinking I've become an arrogant superstar, and has proactively distanced themselves from me, even a few of my friends."

"That's not surprising." Duke picked up his glass and clinked it with hers again. "At every stage of life, as you develop, you will inevitably drift apart from or make some friends."

"Are you like this too?" Natalie asked, taking a sip of red wine.

Duke shook his head. "I have very few friends, but friends like Zack Snyder, John Schwartzman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Aerin Lauder, and Sofia Coppola all possess the standing to converse as equals with anyone."

Those brown eyes kept darting around as Natalie seemed to be considering Duke's words. Perhaps having figured something out, she suddenly changed the subject. "I passed my Harvard University interview. I'll be heading to Cambridge City soon."

"Congratulations!" Duke took the initiative to raise his glass.

"Thanks." Natalie drank it all in one gulp.

As Duke poured wine again, Natalie continued the earlier topic. "The Harvard acceptance letter has actually brought me a lot of trouble. I didn't know who to ask for advice."

"Your parents." Duke gave this answer without even thinking.

Natalie shook her head, however. "They can't solve it, because the trouble comes from my family, from my father."

Speaking of this, Natalie's brow furrowed slightly, and she lifted her glass for another sip. "When you chose Hollywood, did Mrs. Leah not object?"

"No, Mom just warned me that this path would be very difficult." Duke's finger slowly traced the wine glass. Thinking back to his mother's seemingly cold but practically gambling-like support, an unconscious smile hung on the corners of his mouth. "And Mom secretly gave me enough support, whether it was encouragement or funding. Without her, there would be no me today."

Duke wasn't stupid. He gradually guessed a few things. Seeing Natalie fall silent, he asked, "Your father is against you continuing your acting career?"

"He told me to give up being an actress."

Rubbing her flushed cheeks, Natalie polished off the red wine in her glass once more. Her voice carried a young person's rebellious struggle and indignation. "Dad thinks I should become a doctor in the future, instead of going to that vanity fair of Hollywood. He's been pressuring me lately to give up acting and put all my energy into my studies!"

"I can't figure it out!"

Perhaps she had suppressed it for too long, and with the alcohol gradually kicking in, Natalie's calm vanished, her emotions gradually becoming agitated. "Why can't I pursue my dreams like other girls? Why did I have to be a vegetarian since I was little? Why must I be forced to follow some archaic rules? Why..."