When at the secondhand furniture market, Hugo didn't think he bought much, but upon returning home, he realized the place was piled with stuff. In addition to the items in the living room, Hugo's room now had a wardrobe, a desk, a sofa, a guitar, a storage cabinet, and a shoe rack.
Hugo cleaned all the furniture once over, then unpacked the moving boxes and put everything in its proper place. Before he knew it, it was already past midnight. Looking at the messy boxes around the room, Hugo stretched lazily. It was impossible to finish organizing everything tonight. He'd still need at least another full day tomorrow. So Hugo decided to take a shower and get ready to rest.
After his shower, Hugo came out, drying his hair as he walked toward the kitchen, wanting to get a drink of water. After drinking beer earlier, he'd gone to the bathroom several times and was now feeling quite thirsty. But as he passed the front door, he heard a knocking sound. Hugo stopped in his tracks, but then there was no sound again. He suspected he might've misheard.
After pouring himself a glass of water in the kitchen, Hugo finally felt some relief. But just then, knocking sounded from the living room again. This time, it was clearly louder than the first, even echoing slightly. Hugo walked out and frowned at the front door. He had just moved in and didn't know what the neighborhood security was like. Who could be knocking at his door in the middle of the night?
After a short pause, the knocking came again this time accompanied by a raspy female voice shouting, "Hugo! Hugo Lancaster!" Though the voice was still somewhat suppressed, it was clear the woman was growing impatient. If he didn't open the door soon, she'd probably start yelling.
A woman? Who would know he lived here? Hugo thought carefully and quickly found the answer. He had very few friends in Los Angeles none of his predecessor's friends had shown up and the only one who knew he'd moved was: Uma Thurman.
Opening the door confirmed it. Uma was standing there, wrapped in a beige long trench coat, holding a plastic bag that faintly smelled of fried chicken. Her long curly hair draped over her shoulders with an irresistible charm, but at this moment, her expression didn't look pleasant. Her delicate eyebrows were tightly furrowed as she glared at Hugo with an angry expression.
Hugo knew it must've been because he opened the door too late. He had been showering, and who knew how long Uma had been waiting outside? Once again, Hugo felt the inconvenience of not having a phone. If he had one, Uma could've called ahead, and this whole mess wouldn't have happened. But there were no "ifs."
So, Hugo lowered the towel in his right hand and gave an apologetic smile. "How long were you waiting out there? Sorry, I just finished organizing things and then went to shower." But after saying that, he realized Uma was still standing at the door. Only then did it occur to him that he hadn't invited her in yet not something a gentleman would do.
Thinking this, Hugo quickly stepped aside and politely said, "Please, come in."
Uma stepped inside, taking a look at the simple and plain living room, where a bachelor's vibe permeated every corner. She had already heard Hugo's explanation earlier and She had meant to surprise him but had overlooked reality. This wasn't a movie. In real life, surprises often turned into disasters. She had been standing at the door for at least ten minutes. Though it was already March, the late-night Los Angeles air was still chilly, and Uma had barely managed to keep her temper under control.
Now that she had come to her senses, her expression eased quite a bit. She lifted the plastic bag in her right hand. "Midnight snack. I thought you'd be organizing your place much later. Looks like I miscalculated."
Smelling the stronger scent of fried chicken from the bag in Uma's hand, Hugo couldn't help but smile. "Can I take this as you making the first move?"
Just this afternoon, Hugo had seen Uma. And now at night, she had come to his place on her own—that signal was too obvious. But Hugo clearly hadn't picked up on it. He remembered his predecessor was the one who had pursued Uma before, and she'd never said yes. Why did it feel like the roles had reversed now?
Looking at the warm smile on Hugo's face, Uma's lips curled even wider. "You really know how to keep someone guessing. I can tell you've got experience chasing women. I think I need to verify for myself whether you're sincere or just playing around."
Though Uma didn't want to admit it, the truth was Hugo's strategy of retreating to advance had worked. Back in January, he had showered her with attention showing up on time nearly every day but after the Golden Raspberry Awards, he disappeared. Uma thought Hugo was too ashamed to show his face, so she gave him some time. But unexpectedly, Hugo vanished altogether. Setting aside the time he spent filming Scent of a Woman in New York, even after wrapping the shoot, Hugo had made no contact. That had certainly piqued Uma's curiosity.
That kiss when they met again was actually Uma's way of getting back at him. She wanted to see what kind of reaction Hugo would have to her making the first move. But to her surprise, Hugo's behavior was a perfect balance of gentlemanly humor and boldness, making Uma see him in a new light. And after the Final Analysis premiere, Hugo once again vanished.
If all of this was part of Hugo's plan, then not only did Uma have to admire his skill, but she also had to admit her curiosity had truly been stirred.
This afternoon's chance meeting had made Uma realize Hugo's charm the kind that genuinely moved her. Looking back on the past two months of changes in him, the embarrassment at the Razzies had made him seem more sincere. Scent of a Woman had opened a new chapter in his acting career though the result was still unknown, at least it was a start. Then at the premiere, his outstanding presence showcased his manly appeal. Uma had also heard he'd made it to the final audition round for another big production. Hugo now had all the markings of a comeback. Not to mention, his warm smile was far more radiant than before.
The Hugo in her memory was indeed handsome, but slightly sleazy and greasy, his whole aura carrying a sense of decay. But the current Hugo still looked the same, yet his temperament had completely transformed, exuding a soothing warmth that was hard to resist.
This Hugo had a deadly charm for Uma so here she was, after midnight.
Faced with Uma's challenge, Hugo didn't know how to respond. He couldn't exactly say he wasn't playing hard to get, but had actually swapped souls, which was why he'd changed. So, all he could do was smile broadly. "And what's the result of your verification so far?"
Uma took a half step closer, now just a fist's distance away from Hugo. She tilted her head up to look at the tall man before her. "I need a bit more evidence." Uma raised her free left hand and placed it on Hugo's chest. She didn't press down, just gently traced across his bare chest with the faint warmth of her palm.
Hugo's freshly showered body still held traces of moisture. That smooth, tanned skin shimmered under the soft light as if coated in a fine sheen. His firm, well-proportioned muscles rose and fell under Uma's touch. Though there was no real intimacy yet, Hugo's breathing involuntarily quickened. The heat in his breath made his freshly moist throat feel dry once again.
Uma, too, clearly sensed the change in Hugo's body. She let go of the plastic bag in her right hand. It hit the floor with a dull thud. Then she rose onto her tiptoes and gently blew a breath by Hugo's ear. "What, don't tell me… you can't?" That upward lilt in her tone carried a trace of teasing provocation, reminding him of that meaningful glance Uma had given him at the film premiere last time.
Hugo had initially planned to push Uma away, because he didn't think the fluttering of his heart was a normal reaction. But upon hearing her words no man could endure such provocation from a woman, especially in such an ambiguous moment. Midnight, moonlight like water, a man and a woman alone, skin nearly touching…
Hugo lowered his head slightly and whispered by Uma's ear, "You know, a man can never resist a challenge." The warm breath instantly flushed Uma's ears red, and the calm rhythm of her breathing fell apart.
She finally gave in. Both her hands fully touched Hugo's chest, and she pressed her whole body against his. Softness and firmness embraced tightly. The heat radiating from Hugo's strong chest warmed Uma's cold hands on this chilly March night, and it was as if flames visibly rose where their skin met.
Hugo couldn't help swallowing a mouthful of saliva to soothe his parched throat. But then Uma lifted her head, gazed at the gentle curve of Hugo's jawline, and planted a kiss right on his Adam's apple.
That single kiss burned away all reason in both of them—(deleted 300 words)—the whole room filled with springtime passion. A single red blossom pushed its way through the wall.
.....
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