Chapter 26: With Gal Gadot
Tel Aviv, Bat Yam district. A Cadillac slowly pulled up in front of an apartment building.
Though not a long journey, Chen Xing drove for a full hour, yet managed not to make it seem like he was deliberately delaying. His skill had improved.
As for Bar Refaeli, Eric naturally wasn't foolish enough to chat and laugh with one girl in front of another.
Moreover, Judy was clearly more interested in her, so he simply let the two of them share a car. This could be considered creating an opportunity for that little vixen; she should even be thanking him.
He chatted with Gal Gadot the whole way. They didn't talk about work; besides complimenting her beauty, they simply discussed hobbies and local customs.
Gal Gadot had a bold and generous personality; most of the time, she was talking and Eric was listening, and they got along very well.
"My apartment is here. It seems our pleasant conversation must end, Mr. Cooper."
"Then get some good rest. Oh, by the way, this is my first time in Jaffa. I wonder if you'd mind being my guide for a day and showing me this beautiful city?"
Gal Gadot thought for a moment, then nodded: "No problem, I happen to have tomorrow off."
Eric opened the car door for her, and after she walked a few steps, he watched her enter the apartment building. He didn't make the outrageous request to stay the night; only an idiot would do that.
Just as he was about to get back into the car, a burst of laughter suddenly rang out from behind him: "Mr. Cooper, you're an interesting man."
After she finished speaking, the apartment building door closed, and Eric also returned to his car.
After returning to the hotel, in the early hours of the morning, there was a sudden knock on the door. Judy stood at the entrance, reeking of alcohol.
Eric frowned: "What are you doing? Why are you so drunk!"
Judy mumbled, her eyes hazy with intoxication: "I don't know. Refaeli and I were drinking, and then I came back to the hotel."
He sighed, helped Judy inside, took off her coat, placed her on the bed, and then covered her with a blanket.
"It seems this Bar Refaeli is quite a handful. Have you ever considered that she might not be a lesbian at all? Don't waste your efforts."
"Of course she isn't, but I like a challenge. Haven't I 'bent' enough women?"
"Haha, then suit yourself. But Refaeli is no easy target. Like Gal Gadot, she's only 17, even a few months younger than Gadot, yet she can charm an old hand like you in the game of love. She's got some skills."
Unfortunately, Judy couldn't hear these words; she was already blowing bubbles and emitting a slight snore.
The eastern sky gradually lightened. At ten in the morning, Eric arrived punctually downstairs at Gal Gadot's apartment building.
A few minutes later, a vibrant girl appeared, wearing a khaki-colored mid-length coat, jeans, and sneakers.
"Wow, I thought you only looked so beautiful on the T-stage. I didn't expect you to be even more beautiful in everyday life."
Gal Gadot immediately burst into laughter: "Then you'll have to observe carefully; I'm even more beautiful when I dance."
"You can dance too?"
"Who are you looking down on? I've been studying dance for 12 years: ballet, hip-hop, modern, and jazz. Actually, when I was little, I wanted to be a dancer."
"Why did you become a model then?"
Gal Gadot shook her head: "I don't know either. It just seems like I ended up here."
"Life, right? It unconsciously guides you in directions you never imagined."
"That's right, perhaps it is!"
"Have you ever considered becoming an actress?"
"Haha... I really don't know about that. Oh, by the way, where do you want to go?"
Eric made a gesturing motion: "You're the guide, you decide."
"How about Jaffa Old City first? Every visitor to Tel Aviv must see Jaffa Old City; it holds the history of the past."
...On the mottled streets, old brick houses stood on both sides as Eric and Gal Gadot strolled through a scene filled with the charm of Europe from several centuries ago.
"This place is really beautiful, but I have a question: are these buildings really from several centuries ago?"
Gal Gadot chuckled: "How could that be? While there are genuine ancient buildings, they are all key protected sites. These streets have almost all been renovated by the government."
"If you want to see the glory of that era, I recommend St. Peter's Church, which is a 17th-century relic, as well as Simon the Tanner's House, Tabitha's Tomb, and the Oslo-era clock tower."
Eric looked around: "If I were making a movie, this would really be a great setting. It reminds me of a French film called 'Perfume'."
"What kind of movie is that?"
Crouching down at a roadside stall, Eric picked up an exquisite small bottle engraved with carnations: "The plot portrays human desires and weaknesses. A man is born with an astonishing talent for scent, and he discovers that the best scent is the body fragrance of a young girl when she dies."
"So, in order to create the perfect perfume in his heart, he murders more than a dozen young girls, but at the same time, his crimes are exposed."
"And when he is sent to the gallows, the perfume he created drives everyone mad, leading to his release."
"Ultimately, the man sprinkles the perfume on himself, and the maddened people pounce on him, tear him apart, and devour him."
Gal Gadot shivered: "Who came up with such a disgusting plot?"
"Patrick Süskind, a German writer. But that's not important; what's important is that I also want to give you a bottle of perfume."
Eric handed the carnation bottle to Gal Gadot.
She smiled: "So, you want to tear me apart and eat me too?"
"Of course not. The language of the carnation is a passionate and unrestrained woman. I see its characteristics in you."
Gal Gadot immediately smiled, took the perfume, and sprayed some on herself: "How is it?"
Before Eric could speak, the boss spoke first: "This gentleman has excellent taste, beautiful lady. It will help you unleash your charm."
Giving the boss a thumbs-up, the two walked into a cafe... Unconsciously, the sun had already begun to set. Gadot scattered food into the air, immediately attracting a flock of pigeons to scramble for it.
"Woo... ah..."
An exaggerated roar immediately scared the pigeons, who were scrambling for food, into flight, followed by her loud laughter.
Seventeen years old, freshly graduated from high school, exuding youthful charm from head to toe.
After jumping around for a while, Eric finally seized the opportunity to take a photo. A 2002 camera was truly inconvenient to use.
"Quick, let me see!"
Their heads unconsciously drew closer.
"Your technique is terrible; my legs look so ugly in the photo."
"You can't blame me; I'm not a professional photographer. Besides, don't you think this authentic feeling is even more beautiful than on the T-stage?"
In the afterglow of the sunset, the two looked at the photo in silence.
"Eric, I had a very happy day today."
After a moment of silence, Gal Gadot broke it; she was naturally a passionate and unrestrained person.
"I'm also very happy, but I wonder if this happiness can continue?"
"What do you mean?"
"By noon the day after tomorrow at the latest, I have to return to Los Angeles. There are many things waiting for me there; I can't stay in Tel Aviv indefinitely."
Gal Gadot pouted, then smiled again: "Yes, you're a Vice President, managing a big company like MGM, and you have to make movies. You're truly a busy person."
Eric took the opportunity to ask: "So, I hope you can come back to Los Angeles with me and develop in Hollywood. Help me make movies, and I'll make you the leading lady, making you a world-class superstar!"
"Of course, you don't need to rush to answer. Take your time to consider it."
Waving into the distance, Chen Xing immediately jogged over. He always appeared within Eric's sight, yet never in the way.
"This is for you."
Looking at the exquisite box in her hand, Gal Gadot, however, pulled out the carnation perfume from her pocket: "Eric, you've already given me a gift."
"No, this is for your grandfather. It's a wristwatch worn by Oscar Schindler. I think he'll definitely like it."
Opening the box and looking at the old watch lying inside, the girl felt something stir in her heart.
"Eric..."
"Don't rush, and don't overlook the stack of papers underneath. That's a contract. Read it carefully after you get home. I'll await your reply."