Chapter 878

It was so quiet in the study that one could hear a strand of hair being thrown, let alone a needle. The man and woman in front of the desk stared at each other without saying a word. A strange atmosphere permeated the air.

Finally, Natalie looked down and took a deep breath. "You taught me, Eide."

Adriaan didn't say anything and continued to look at her calmly. There was no fluctuation in his emotions at all, and even his movements didn't change. She could not help but feel slightly uneasy. In fact, when he spoke earlier, she could no longer capture any of his emotions, not even a little bit. This wasn't good. It meant that she couldn't judge his reaction, so she couldn't respond appropriately.

"I'm very sorry and regretful," Natalie continued, and at the same time, she revealed a calm expression. No matter what, she couldn't stop at this point. Since she had already pointed it out, and it was Adriaan who took the initiative to do so, she might as well be more honest. Hiding it would only backfire.

Adriaan still didn't say anything. He looked at her calmly without moving, as if he wanted to see through her. This feeling was terrible. Although Natalie tried her best to maintain her posture, she still couldn't help but pinch her hands twice.

"Since you don't want to talk, let's leave it at that for now." She said finally, then got up and walked to the door. At the same time, she let out a sigh of relief. As long as she walked out of this door, she would win.

When she put her hand on the armrest, a smile appeared on her face. But at the same time, Adriaan's voice rang out. "Wait."

The man who had been sitting there stood up, walked around the desk, and came to her. "Even if you don't think for yourself, you have to think for …"

He bent down and whispered a few words in her ear. Natalie, who had also remained calm, was stunned at first, then her face turned snow-white, and her eyes revealed a mixture of horror and disbelief.

"How … How can you …" Her lips trembled. Although she tried her best to control her emotions, her voice still became a little sharp. "How can you do this!"

"Why can't I do this?" Then back to the desk, Adriaan, who was leaning against the edge, shrugged and said casually. Although he still didn't show any expression, he gave off a condescending feeling.

How could this be? Natalie's body trembled slightly, and her chest began to rise and fall. This was completely beyond her plan. For a moment, she didn't know how to respond. How could this be?!

"Don't forget, Eide …" She bit her lip and stared at him. "We … We … I was only …"

"Oh? You plan to sue me? Where? "Adriaan continued shrugging." New York? California? Or Connecticut? "

(Note: Connecticut has the highest penalty in this category, with a minimum sentence of nine months.)

"Yes, you can make a scene, but so what? "I just need to form the most luxurious and huge team of lawyers. Maybe there will be a lot of lawyers who are eager to make a name for themselves through a lawsuit on your side, but I have a lot of friends in the state legislature, Capitol Hill, Wall Street. They will be happy to help me, as long as I can afford it." Even as he said this, he still didn't show any expression. "At the same time, spend some money to bribe the jury. I don't need all of them. I just need to bribe a few and mess up other people's thinking. It's all very simple."

Natalie's face was pale, but Adriaan continued. "Okay, even if everything goes in a direction that is disadvantageous to me, and I'm convicted, and the judge pronounces the sentence in New York, I can be out in three days at most. As for my reputation, after two years, when the matter has died down, they will naturally start praising me again after I produce two more art films. Because art and artists are two different things. Charlie Chaplin was like that, Roman Polanski was like that, Woody Allen was like that, and Jean-Luc Godard was like that! "

(Note: Chaplin's fondness for teenage girls was already an open secret, and Hollywood at that time couldn't be compared to the current one. Polanski escaped from the United States in the 1970s and still didn't dare to go back, so he could only stay in France. In 2009, he was almost arrested in Switzerland and extradited. His case is one of the top ten entertainment scandals of the 20th century. Woody Allen hooked up with his adopted daughter and married him is also one of the top ten entertainment scandals of the 20th century. As for Jean-Luc Godard, one of the characteristics of the French New Wave, one of Europe's staunch anti-Semites.)

He leaned forward, and an oppressive feeling immediately assaulted her. "And you, clever Miss Natalie Portman, what do you have to gain? Of course, you can choose to retire, choose to leave the entertainment industry, leave the United States, go to Israel or Europe, and become a nameless lecturer or professor after finishing college. Maybe you can write some books after a few decades, but I won't let you go so easily. I will nail you to the pillar of shame in Hollywood, and let you be remembered in another way. I will find you, and I will destroy your friends, your family, your — everything! "

The room was quiet again, and only Natalie's heavy and disordered breathing echoed. She looked at Adriaan with a pale face, and there was no sign of her usual nimbleness.

"One week." After a moment of silence, Adriaan's voice sounded again. "You have one week to think about it, starting today. Now, you can go out. "

With a click, the study door closed. Adriaan, who was sitting on the edge of the desk, didn't get up. He was still as expressionless and silent as before. After a few seconds, he suddenly smashed his fist on the desk, making a loud bang, and his face became ashen.

Adriaan maintained this posture, like a statue, motionless until Charlize's voice came into his ears with the sound of the door opening. "What happened? I just saw Natalie seemed to be in a daze … Eide?"

"This is the first time." He slowly raised his head and squinted at his female secretary. "This is the first time."

"Huh?" Charlize was puzzled.

"Out of control." Adriaan spat out a word, but as someone who had been around him for several years, Charlize instantly understood what he meant.

"This is normal, Eide." Charlize organized the words in his mind. "After all …"

"This is not normal at all. It's very strange." Adriaan shook his head. "It shouldn't have been like this. If she wanted to leave, then let her leave. I don't need such a woman by my side. However, I made the most intense reaction. At that moment, my reason seemed to be gone!"

"Eide …"

"This is definitely not a good thing. If this kind of thing happens once, it will happen again."

"Eide …"

"I have a feeling that something is wrong. I must have made a mistake or mixed up something."

Adriaan began to walk back and forth in the room. He frowned deeply as if he was caught in a strange mood and couldn't extricate himself. Charlize, who was next to him, couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"I need to study it carefully. I can't let it go …"

"Eide!" Charlize suddenly grabbed his collar and pulled it down. His grayish-green eyes were full of anxiety. "Listen to me, Eide! You are not God. You can't control everything. No matter how good your plan is, no matter how keen your insight is, there will always be changes. There will always be accidents! If you encounter an accident, you should quickly adjust your plan and move forward. Don't be fixated on how the accident happened. This is what you taught me. Have you forgotten?! "

After saying all the words that she had accumulated in one breath, she realized that she had lost her composure. She immediately put down her hand and turned her head. Adriaan stopped nagging and looked at her without blinking. There was a strange look in his eyes.

After adjusting his breathing, Charlize raised his head again. His voice was much lower and softer. "Don't think about that, okay? No matter … what kind of conflict you had with that girl, it doesn't matter now. You're just a little confused. What you need is rest. You can do something else to divert your attention … If you want, no matter … who you want to call, how many people you want to call, no matter how … you want to play, no matter what tricks you want to play, I can accompany you … Don't think about it … "

As she spoke, she reached out and stroked his face. There was firmness and tenderness in her eyes that was rarely shown.

"… No." After a long time, Adriaan finally spoke again. He gently put his arm around Charlize's waist. "You're enough."

※ ※ ※

"Nada, come down for dinner." Her mother's voice coming from the door snapped Natalie out of her trance. She looked around blankly before she realized that she was at her parents' home in Long Island.

She was in a trance for a few minutes before she remembered how she left Adriaan's mansion in a daze, how she stayed in the hotel room all afternoon, and how she boarded the plane back.

"I'll be right there, Mom." She forced a smile and tried to make herself look more normal.

"Are you really okay, Nada? I don't think you're in a good state." Sheila nodded and said with some concern.

"I'm fine, Mom. I'm just … a little tired. You know, in addition to college courses, I have … a lot of activities to participate in." Natalie gestured and then stood up. She took her mother's arm and walked out. "If you're worried, then I'll accompany you."

"Okay." Sheila smiled and touched her head. "Don't make yourself so nervous, Nada. If I had known earlier, I would have firmly refused these activities for you."

"It's okay, Mom. The effect brought about by this Star Wars prequel will soon be over. I can focus all my energy on my studies." Natalie maintained her smile and came to the dining table with her mother.

"You can give up your acting career for a while and concentrate on your studies." Avner, who was already sitting there waiting, said in a muffled voice.

"Avner!" Sheila called out in a dissatisfied tone, and then patted her daughter comfortingly. "Don't take it to heart, dear. Your father is not in a good mood today."

Only then did Natalie notice that her father's brows were tightly furrowed, as if troubled by something.

"What's the matter, Mother?" she asked her mother, who was dividing Sarah up for her.

"Two people from the tax bureau came to see your father this afternoon. They said something …" Sheila was interrupted by Avner before she could finish, "Sheila!"

"What now? Don't I even have the freedom to speak? " Sheila put down the plate in her hand with dissatisfaction. "Did you hear what those two arrogant guys said? They actually … "

"Enough, Sheila, I don't want to talk about this now!" Avner raised his voice and looked at his wife angrily. Then, he quickly glanced at his daughter.

Sheila immediately reacted and looked at Natalie, who lowered her head and began to eat the food on the plate in front of her. She immediately changed her words. "Okay, okay, let's not talk about this."

However, what they didn't know was that when Sheila said, "two people from the tax bureau came to see your father," Natalie's ears were like thunder. If it weren't for the strength in her hand, she would have dropped the fork.

"I'm done." After a few mouthfuls, Natalie put down the cutlery and stood up.

"You're done eating?" Sheila looked at the big plate of food strangely.

"Sorry, mom, I don't have much appetite. It's probably because of the jet lag from flying between Los Angeles and New York yesterday and today. I just need a good rest." Natalie forced a smile and then looked at her father. "I promise it's not because of what you said, dad."

She moved her lips as if she wanted to say something, but in the end, she turned around and left the table in a hurry.

After returning to the bedroom and locking the door, Natalie immediately searched for her phone like crazy. Then, she walked into the bathroom and began to make a call.

"This is Eide." Soon, Adriaan's voice came from the other side.

"You bastard! What have you done? You said I had a week. Why did the people from the tax bureau come to see my father this afternoon? You untrustworthy b * stard! "Natalie roared without a care in the world.

"What? Nada? What's wrong? "The person on the other side hesitated and asked. His tone was full of familiar laziness.

Natalie was stunned, but the fear and anger that welled up in her heart made her shout again.

"You said there were two people from the tax bureau looking for your father this afternoon?" The person on the other side finally understood. "That wasn't my instruction. Since I said I would give you a week, I will definitely give you a week. I think I still have this bit of credibility. Today is just the first time I go back on my word. Don't worry, I will ask people to find out the specific situation. I will call you tomorrow afternoon at the latest. That's all. "

With that, he hung up the phone, leaving Natalie standing in the bathroom in a daze.

It was a particularly difficult night. Although she kept trying to hypnotize herself, she couldn't fall asleep. The sun shone into the room, but she was still lying on the bed with red eyes. As long as she closed her eyes, all kinds of threats from Adriaan would become reality, causing her to wake up in fear.

Damn it! How could this be! Natalie covered her face and cried in her heart. For the whole morning, she shut herself in the bedroom and didn't want to do anything. Depression, decadence, regret, and even despair tightly wrapped her.

She was at a loss and in fear until two o 'clock in the afternoon. Her mobile phone, which hadn't rung all morning, finally responded. Although the sudden ringtone startled Natalie, it also calmed her down a little. She gritted her teeth and chose to answer it.

"Nada? I have asked people to find out. This has nothing to do with your father. " Adriaan's calm voice rang in her ear. "The tax bureau will look for your father because one of your father's colleagues once provided them with false documents. They need to understand the situation in all aspects. In addition, I have asked people to take care of your father through some connections. Don't worry about being implicated. "

"You!" Natalie's eyes widened in shock and anger. She, who had regained some of her senses, certainly knew what he meant by that.

"You're welcome. It's just a small favor. If there's nothing else, then I'll hang up. In addition, please allow me to remind you that you only have six days left." After that, he hung up the phone, leaving her no chance at all.

Natalie held the mobile phone and stood there blankly. Suddenly, she suddenly raised it and was about to smash it on the ground. But after holding it for a long time, she finally lost her temper and threw it on the bed.

Idiot! Idiot! You idiot! How could you be so flustered! Even if he immediately asked people to contact you after you left, it was impossible to get people from the tax bureau to come so quickly. Moreover, it was equivalent to completely falling out with them. Why didn't you think of it! Why! She leaned against the wall and slowly sat down, holding her head. Finally, tears slid down her face uncontrollably. Why did it turn out like this? It was a good plan. Why did it turn out like this?!

Although she couldn't figure him out after living with him for so many years, she more or less grasped some characteristics of his character. Adriaan had a strong desire to control and a keen insight. Coupled with his amazing talent, he could always make women throw themselves into his arms without batting an eyelid and make them do as he pleased. But at the same time, he was also very conceited. If someone rejected him, he wouldn't spend any more effort on that person. As his power increased, this became more and more obvious.

She used this to her advantage. She lowered her stance and acted very sincere. She pointed out that the main problem was with him and then she cleared her name. It was the same way. He already had too many women around him. This excuse was simply the truth.

Generally speaking, Adriaan would definitely try to persuade her to stay. As long as she insisted, he would let go even if he was unhappy. This was related to his reputation, and there was no need to be so calculative with a woman. What if he suppressed her because of this? That would be even better! Adriaan wasn't the only one in Hollywood. Although he had a good relationship with Lucas, it was impossible for him to change actors because of him. Natalie could completely package herself as a tenacious girl who wouldn't yield in the face of power. Naturally, many people would chase after her. After all, she was a Jew.

It could be said that she had already predicted his various reactions and set up corresponding countermeasures. But she didn't expect his reaction to be so intense. Not only did he directly expose her intentions, but he also made such a threat. Damn! Why did it turn out like this?! What went wrong?! What should I do now?!