Chatting with a beautiful woman is always a pleasant experience, especially when she makes you the center of her attention, looking at you with eyes that twinkle with adoration.
This kind of charm was simply irresistible to Gilbert.
Initially, because of Mel Gibson, Gilbert was indeed wary. But as their conversation deepened, he let his guard down.
This was the perfect moment for Sophie Marceau to make her move.
She pretended the banquet hall was stuffy and suggested, "Let's go to the small garden and find somewhere to chat!"
The banquet hall was bustling with people, and guests kept approaching Gilbert for a chat, making it difficult for Sophie Marceau to act.
Gilbert suspected nothing and readily agreed: "Sounds good..."
A beautiful woman inviting him to a private place probably meant she was interested in a one-night stand or something similar. Gilbert wasn't about to refuse; opportunities to get into bed with Sophie Marceau didn't come along every day.
Of course, the same went for Sophie Marceau.
If she could use this chance to get close to Gilbert, at the very least, she'd gain his favor.
But unfortunately, Sophie Marceau was there on a mission.
Sophie Marceau proactively linked her arm through Gilbert's, a sweet smile on her face, making her look absolutely stunning.
The seasoned veterans in the banquet hall saw this and exchanged knowing smiles. It seemed their talented director had found his prey for the night.
Sophie Marceau specifically ordered two drinks, handing one to Gilbert.
They moved to a bench in the small garden to continue their conversation. Since there were no interruptions to distract Gilbert, Sophie Marceau didn't have much of a chance to slip the drug into his drink.
Just then, Mel Gibson appeared like a phantom.
"So, here you are!" Mel Gibson sneered, as if he'd caught them in the act. "Gilbert, are you having such a pleasant chat with the leading lady of my film?"
Gilbert wasn't flustered at all. "I'm having a very pleasant chat with Sophie Marceau. What? Are you not happy? Miss Sophie Marceau isn't your toy, you know."
"Of course not," Mel Gibson still sneered. "I don't have the power to interfere with Miss Sophie Marceau's freedom."
While Gilbert turned to speak with Mel Gibson, Sophie Marceau seized the opportunity, slipping the pill into the drink Gilbert was holding.
She was incredibly nervous, terrified that Gilbert would turn around and discover her little trick, which would ruin everything.
But thankfully, Gilbert was still engrossed in his verbal sparring with Mel Gibson and hadn't turned back yet.
When she heard the line, "Is Sophie Marceau your toy?", Sophie Marceau couldn't help but flinch.
At that moment, what was the difference between her and Mel Gibson's "toy"?
But Gilbert was different. Although his eyes held that common male possessiveness towards her, there was also more appreciation and respect.
Gilbert was unlike the crude Mel Gibson; this difference in treatment made Sophie Marceau start to regret her actions.
But what could she do? The photos were in Mel Gibson's hands. If she didn't obey, she was finished.
Due to her nervousness and worry, Sophie Marceau began to sweat profusely, and her makeup started to streak from the perspiration.
Meanwhile, Gilbert and Mel Gibson concluded their confrontation, with Mel Gibson retreating once again. However, Gilbert didn't notice the triumphant smirk on Mel Gibson's face.
Gilbert then turned back to chat with Sophie Marceau.
Seeing how nervous she seemed, Gilbert chuckled, "It's alright, I've driven the annoying person away."
Sophie Marceau forced a smile, unable to genuinely cheer up.
As Gilbert was about to raise the drugged glass to his lips, Sophie Marceau grew extremely tense. At that moment, she wished the glass would suddenly shatter, or some other unforeseen circumstance would prevent Gilbert from drinking it.
Sophie Marceau began to struggle internally. If there were a hole in the ground for her to crawl into, she would've jumped in without hesitation and never come out.
But unfortunately, there wasn't.
Looking at Gilbert's handsome face, Sophie Marceau hardened her resolve, snatched the glass directly from his hand, and chugged its contents.
Gilbert was stunned. What was happening? Was Sophie Marceau playing some kind of game?
Feeling a rush of heat, Sophie Marceau knew the drug was taking effect. In her last moments of clarity, she told Gilbert: "Mel Gibson... made... made me seduce you. That... that drink has an aphrodisiac in it.
He told me to take you to a private place. He's already set up to... take videos and photos to blackmail you."
After saying this, Sophie Marceau collapsed into Gilbert's arms.
Gilbert frowned after hearing her. Seeing Sophie Marceau's unconscious hands begin to wander over him, he knew it was true.
That was a close call! He had almost drunk it. Sophie Marceau had somehow changed her mind.
Gilbert quickly called Heena Boone to discuss a plan.
On the other side, after creating the opportunity for Sophie Marceau, Mel Gibson left the banquet directly and went to a pre-arranged private room, patiently waiting for his prey to arrive.
After today, Gilbert, the talented Hollywood director, would be at his beck and call.
Mel Gibson felt a surge of excitement thinking about that scenario. And then, picturing Gilbert's beautiful rumored girlfriends screaming beneath him, Mel Gibson involuntarily showed a twisted, perverted smile.
But what Mel Gibson didn't know was that Sophie Marceau had already betrayed him. Even with those photos in his hand, Sophie Marceau still betrayed him.
Gilbert helped Sophie Marceau into an empty lounge, and Heena Boone quickly arrived.
Seeing Sophie Marceau's state, Heena Boone instantly understood: "This is a trap Mel Gibson set for you. He considered you his prey."
Having lived two lives, this was the first time Gilbert felt danger so close.
Heena Boone had warned him before to minimize contact with strangers. At the time, he only thought that he was somewhat familiar with Sophie Marceau, but he hadn't considered whether he could trust her.
Gilbert said sheepishly, "I'm sorry, Heena, I didn't expect it to turn out this way."
"There's no point talking about that now," Heena Boone, instead, comforted the somewhat flustered Gilbert. "It's a good thing Sophie Marceau drank the wine herself for some reason, otherwise, we'd be in serious trouble today."
Looking at Sophie Marceau, who was trying to kiss him and pull at his clothes, Gilbert said sympathetically, "I wonder what kind of struggle Miss Sophie Marceau went through? She must have been agonizing."
Heena Boone rolled her eyes. They were almost in big trouble, and Gilbert had time to worry about Sophie Marceau?
Ignoring that, Heena Boone asked, "Do you know where they were planning to take you?"
Gilbert recalled what Sophie Marceau had told him and said, "It sounds like an apartment building not far from here, on the sixth floor, the third room. Mel Gibson set things up there."
"Right now, Mel Gibson must be waiting for you there, but you can't go." Thinking that Gilbert's assistant, Anna Singer, was at the banquet, Heena Boone quickly decided: "Have Anna take you both back, directly to Cantaloupe Manor."
"Sophie Marceau is coming with me too?" Gilbert asked, surprised.
"Of course. Usually, this kind of drug is very potent. It takes at least four to five hours for the effects to wear off, or else... sexual activity.
Sophie Marceau must have been blackmailed by Mel Gibson to do something so dangerous; she couldn't possibly have been unaware of the risks.
She did save you, after all. We also need to figure out Mel Gibson's movements, and it's best to have Sophie Marceau under our control right now."
Heena Boone's analysis made Gilbert nod repeatedly. He agreed: "Alright then, but what about Mel Gibson?"
"Don't worry, I'll call the police and have them send officers to check it out," Heena Boone said.
"Okay, let's do as you say."
The two split up. Gilbert helped Sophie Marceau, and with Anna Singer's help, they got into the car and quickly headed back.
Meanwhile, the celebration banquet was winding down, and everyone looked for Gilbert, but couldn't find him.
Jeff Robinov even chuckled, "It seems our talented director is having quite a wonderful night."
This remark made everyone in the room laugh. Being experienced people, they naturally understood what he meant.
Gilbert was indeed having a great time now, but if Sophie Marceau hadn't changed her mind, he would have been having a different kind of "great time."
Sophie Marceau was incoherent and started touching Gilbert right there in the car. Gilbert didn't want to take advantage of the situation, but at that moment, facing an aroused Sophie Marceau, he couldn't resist.
So, the two engaged in an earth-shattering battle in the car. Gilbert launched a fierce offensive, and Sophie Marceau, affected by the drug, didn't hold back at all.
Fortunately, Gilbert's Rolls-Royce had enough privacy, with a partition between the driver's seat and the back, otherwise, assistant Anna Singer would probably have witnessed quite a show.
Heena Boone, on her end, contacted the police.
Thanks to Speed, Gilbert had a very good relationship with the Los Angeles police; some media even criticized Gilbert as a "garbage director" who only sang praises for the LAPD.
Being criticized for it also indicated that Gilbert indeed had a good relationship with the Los Angeles police.
Heena Boone contacted the police, gave them the location, and soon a team of officers in a patrol car went to the scene to investigate.
Mel Gibson was in the next room, watching the monitor, waiting for Gilbert and Sophie Marceau to appear. But instead of Gilbert and Sophie Marceau, he was met by a team of police officers breaking down the door.
Mel Gibson immediately realized things had gone wrong and cursed under his breath, "That damned woman! She betrayed me! I'll make sure she loses everything!"
But this wasn't the time for revenge. Mel Gibson had to find a way to escape quickly; the police would soon trace the setup back to this room.
However, leaving now would certainly expose him; a famous Mel Gibson appearing here would be impossible not to notice.
So, Mel Gibson came up with a plan. Conveniently, the sixth floor didn't have security bars on the windows. Mel Gibson used his agile action-movie skills to climb out the window.
Right next to it was a drainpipe. Mel Gibson climbed onto the drainpipe and then slid down it.
However, about seven or eight meters from the ground, Mel Gibson's strength gave out. He lost his grip and fell directly.
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