Chapter 126: The Unexpected
At the Savoy Hotel, Aaron led Catherine Zeta-Jones back to his suite.
Steam curled softly through the marble bathroom, and the dim lighting turned the air gold.
In the warmth of the jacuzzi, Catherine leaned back against Aaron's chest, her dark hair clinging to his shoulders.
"So," Aaron murmured, brushing a hand through the water, "when does Christopher Columbus: The Discovery hit theaters?"
"Warner Bros. is planning for an August release," she replied, her voice smooth as the rippling water.
Then, with a teasing smile, she turned her head to kiss him. "Why? Don't tell me you're following that film too?"
Aaron chuckled. "Of course I am. When I was in France, I ran into Ridley Scott —
he's directing another Columbus film, 1492: Conquest of Paradise.
He mentioned yours, actually. You both shot in Spain, right?"
Catherine nodded. "Yes, that's right. The crews even crossed paths a few times."
Two films.
One Anglo-American production, one a grand European collaboration.
A quiet competition between continents — and visions.
Aaron studied her face in the mist.
"Has anyone ever told you," he said softly, "that you have a kind of wild beauty?"
Catherine tilted her head, eyes gleaming.
"Do you like that?"
He grinned. "I'd be lying if I said no."
"Tell me something," she asked suddenly. "Do you think I could make it in Hollywood?"
Aaron considered the question seriously.
"You could," he said at last, "but right now you don't have much experience.
At first, you'd probably just be cast for your looks — a beautiful face in someone else's story."
Catherine shrugged lightly. "Then I'll just keep working.
The Darling Buds of May is still doing well here —
and they've already renewed it for another season. It's good practice."
Aaron nodded.
She had the ambition — and the beginnings of real charm on screen.
He knew that one day, films like The Mask of Zorro and Entrapment would make her a global star…
but for now, she was still learning how to shine.
"Don't worry," he said finally. "You're young. You have time."
Her lips curved. "Aaron… would you ever cast me in one of your films?"
He smiled faintly. "That's not so easy."
"Oh?" She leaned closer, mischief in her eyes. "How hard could it be?"
And with that, she slipped beneath the surface of the steaming water,
leaving Aaron laughing quietly as the ripples spread around him.
---
Aaron stayed in London for three more days —
long enough to make sure Catherine had met the right executives at PolyGram.
Then, he flew back to Los Angeles,
just as awards season was reaching its fever pitch.
---
The Golden Globe nominations had just been announced:
both The Silence of the Lambs and Ghost had earned multiple nods.
At a lavish industry banquet at the Beverly Hilton,
Aaron clinked glasses with Kevin Costner, who looked both exhausted and elated.
"So, Kevin," Aaron asked, "what have you been up to lately?"
Costner smiled. "Promoting JFK. It's just opened.
And I've got another project with Warner Bros. coming up — an action drama called The Bodyguard."
Aaron's eyebrows lifted slightly. "The Bodyguard?
The one with Whitney Houston as the lead?"
Aaron knew The Bodyguard all too well —
it would go on to become one of the biggest box-office hits of its decade.
And Kevin Costner, already riding the wave of global fame,
was both producer and leading man.
Costner grinned, catching Aaron's knowing look.
"Sounds like you've been keeping tabs on everyone's projects, Aaron."
Aaron raised his glass, smiling. "Comes with the job."
---
A short while later, Nicole Kidman arrived — radiant, breathless, and unmistakably the center of attention.
Her star had exploded after the runaway success of Ghost,
and now she had her very first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical.
"Darling," she said, looping her arm around his, her voice almost bubbling with joy,
"Dawnlight has so many nominations this year!"
Aaron chuckled, letting her lean against him.
Both The Silence of the Lambs and Ghost were up for multiple awards —
one competing in the Drama category, the other in Comedy or Musical.
"And you," Aaron said, brushing a strand of hair from her face,
"you've got your first major acting nomination. Tonight, we celebrate — properly."
Ghost had landed nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best Supporting Actress in its category —
an impressive haul by any standard.
But Kevin Costner was the evening's titan.
He'd been nominated twice — once for Ghost in the Comedy category,
and again for JFK in Drama.
Nicole smiled sweetly. "Then it's settled — I'm all yours tonight."
"Good," Aaron said softly. "Now go mingle a bit. There are plenty of producers and directors here who should know your name."
He patted her arm gently. "I'll come find you when we're ready to leave."
---
After Nicole drifted off into the crowd, Aaron found himself face-to-face with Al Pacino.
Their upcoming film, Scent of a Woman, had been officially locked for production right after the Golden Globes.
Pacino seemed energized, his voice rich with that familiar New York rhythm.
Just yesterday, his latest project — the mob biopic Bugsy — had premiered to strong attention.
Originally, it had been a Warren Beatty vehicle,
but Beatty's scandals had made the studios nervous.
In the end, Samsung Pictures had replaced him with Pacino —
a choice that now looked smarter by the day.
"Evening, Aaron," Pacino said with his trademark grin.
Aaron nodded warmly. "Good to see you, Al."
---
Not long after, Demi Moore appeared, elegant in a black gown that shimmered under the ballroom lights.
"Ghost," she said, smiling as they clinked glasses, "was unforgettable. Truly."
Aaron smiled back. "Thank you. Though I have to hand it to Disney —
nominating Beauty and the Beast for Best Picture in the Musical/Comedy category was a bold move."
Demi raised an eyebrow. "An animated film competing against live-action?
That's… unexpected."
"Exactly," Aaron said, amused. "But it's also our biggest competition tonight."
She laughed softly. "A horror film in Drama, an animated film in Comedy —
the Golden Globes are really trying to keep us guessing this year."
He smirked. "Guess so. Keeps things interesting.
"By the way," he added, "how's Indecent Proposal coming along?"
Demi's eyes lit up. "We've been shooting in Las Vegas — it's going well.
I didn't expect we'd end up working together so soon."
Aaron smiled at the memory. They'd first met through director Edward Zwick,
back when Demi was still producing Mortal Thoughts.
He'd joked then that their paths would cross again —
and now, they had.
"Credit goes to CAA," Aaron said, swirling his drink.
"Indecent Proposal was their packaged project.
Even without Dawnlight, some studio would've jumped on it."
As he spoke, his attention drifted toward a woman approaching from across the room —
poised, sharp-eyed, and radiating authority.
Sherry Lansing.
The veteran producer from Paramount Pictures,
and one of the few women powerful enough to challenge the studio boys.
Aaron knew why she was here.
She wanted international distribution rights to Indecent Proposal.
And with that, he smiled faintly.
Hollywood's award season might have been a celebration —
but for producers like him,
it was also the start of the next round of negotiations.
--