[Chapter 76: The Wolf's Den]
Orlando was having a pleasant chat with Jennifer Connelly. Gerard Connelly, pleased with the success of the event, didn't want to hang around like a third wheel after Frank left.
He smiled and said, "You two keep talking. I'll go grab a drink with James."
Once everyone else had left, Orlando smiled at Jennifer Connelly and asked, "Is this all we're going to do -- just chat? How about a drink together?"
"But... I'm only twenty. You look even younger than me, and we're both underage..." she protested.
"Come on," Orlando laughed. "There's no cop around. Don't tell me you've never had a drink before!"
Jennifer also laughed.
"Look, there's a bottle of Bordeaux right here. The organizers put it out, so guests can drink without worry."
Orlando went to the wine cabinet, picked up a bottle, examined the label, then turned back to Jennifer with a smile. He grabbed two wine glasses and a corkscrew, came back, casually opened the bottle, poured the wine, and handed a glass to Jennifer, who pursed her lips.
"By the way, Orlando, I haven't congratulated you yet. Congrats on your artist Shania's hit single! I heard you wrote sixteen songs for her in just half an hour. That's incredible talent!"
"Ha, I could write sixteen songs for you in the same time -- but Shania's got a great voice. A natural. She's already made me millions in just over a week."
This was very different from when Orlando had Daisy backing him.
Shania Twain's contract with Orlando Records followed the industry's usual playbook. The signing fee was staggering, but the artist saw very little from the sales share. Although the single sold nearly 100,000 copies so far, along with numerous commercials, endorsements, and performances, Shania barely earned one-fifth of her signing fee.
Even legends like MJ and Madonna were exploited by their labels early on. Only after years of grinding could they turn the tables and take control.
Through this kind of "exploitation," Orlando Records had already made back its investment on Shania -- and more. Just finding one or two fresh talents could make a label rich overnight.
"Being a singer probably earns you more than acting," Jennifer Connelly said softly, surprised. "Over the years, my film salaries have never hit a million."
Don't underestimate today's Hollywood stars. Some are already earning $20 million per film. Think of Julia Roberts, Sylvester Stallone, or Schwarzenegger, whose Terminator 2 payday was $15 million.
But truly mainstream stars' salaries hovered more around $4 to $5 million -- even less for actresses. Usually, it was about $2 million for women.
Julia Roberts was an exception, a powerhouse who could carry chick flicks and guarantee box office gold.
Other women weren't so lucky.
These pay rates applied only to top-tier male and female actors. A young, mid-level actress like Jennifer Connelly could only expect $200,000 to $300,000 per film as a lead.
Naturally, there was no comparison to the overnight success of new singers like Shania.
"How's your singing? Want me to write some songs for you? You could join my label as a singer," Orlando joked.
"I'd love to," Jennifer replied, knowing the truth, "but I'm tone-deaf."
"That's too bad."
After that, the two got along naturally -- mostly because both were interested.
---
When the party finally broke up, even Gerard Connelly left early.
That left Orlando to take Jennifer home -- you don't leave a beautiful 20-year-old wandering the streets alone at night.
The party ended early, before nine PM. Just going home to sleep wasn't an option.
Hitting a bar was tricky -- the drinking age was still an issue, and Orlando's rising fame would attract paparazzi. Jennifer was also a target, too, especially after her role in Once Upon a Time in America.
Neither wanted that kind of unwanted press.
Finally, Jennifer bit the bullet and suggested, "How about coming to my apartment for a few drinks? My folks aren't home, and I can invite some good friends."
"Sure," Orlando agreed. "I'm bored, and I don't know many people here. It'd be great to meet some new faces."
Orlando, a mind reader, smiled knowingly.
Jennifer thought she came across as in control, acting like she was on top of the Hollywood social ladder.
So she planned to bring some friends together, form a group, and get to know Orlando better.
Jennifer was close with Winona Ryder.
Winona had fallen for Johnny Depp during the filming of Edward Scissorhands the previous year, and the two were reportedly engaged.
Winona was also friends with Diane Lane.
Diane had a small rise to fame a few years back with her role in The Godfather, but her career had stalled lately, and she'd faded from the spotlight.
Several other beautiful actresses Jennifer knew were also in similar ups and downs.
She wanted to bring them all out to hang with Orlando -- it felt safer to be in a group.
Orlando read all this telepathically.
He couldn't help but marvel: Women in Hollywood were on a whole other level compared to those in music.
Don't fall for the myth that Hollywood actresses were easy -- they were only so after everything was negotiated clearly.
It was like doing business: no clear understanding, no deal -- even if you're a millionaire.
Hollywood was packed with beautiful women chasing fame and opportunity.
Industry insiders called them "couch girls" -- called up by powerful insiders for a chat on a fancy sofa, and after pleasant conversations, sex was implicit.
Jennifer wasn't an exception.
---
About an hour later, Orlando was amazed by the beautiful group Jennifer had quickly assembled.
Jennifer Connelly, Winona Ryder, and Diane Lane were three he recognized instantly.
The other four strangers were all stunning too.
Based on their voices and energy, Orlando suspected he'd really stumbled into a den of she-wolves that night.
"Jennifer, you have a lot of friends! You are Winona Ryder! I saw you in Edward Scissorhands, and isn't it true you and Johnny Depp are engaged? And you are Diane Lane! I heard you live in North Hollywood now, too?"
Winona was roughly at Jennifer's level of fame. Diane Lane was different. Orlando remembered her as a bit of a second-tier actress with great looks and figure. Surely good enough to move to Beverly Hills.
Hollywood was divided into North and South.
South Hollywood, including Beverly Hills and Bel Air, housed the elite.
North Hollywood was home to extras, third- and fourth-tier actors, and newcomers chasing the Hollywood dream.
Close to Beverly Hills was pricey; Jennifer's apartment straddled North and South Hollywood -- already a sign of moderate success.
Orlando's words weren't meant to offend; just curious. After all, moving to Beverly Hills was a common goal among actors.
Anyone with a bit of fame tried to get there.
Otherwise, Beverly Hills properties wouldn't be so sought after.
Seeing Diane Lane look a bit embarrassed, Jennifer quickly stepped in.
"Times are really tough now; lots of people are losing money on investments. Diane even split with her boyfriend over it and moved back home. Hey Orlando, your singles are selling so well -- how much did you make just from Old Town Road?"
Orlando sat between Jennifer and Winona, so close he caught their perfume.
What gentleman's distance?
Winona was already ready to tie the knot with Johnny Depp?
This is Hollywood!
"Because I have a distribution deal with Warner and own my label, I get about 55-60% of the cut. So far, it's nearly $40 million."
His words turned the Hollywood she-wolves' eyes green with envy, matching what media and financial journals like The Wall Street Journal had reported about Orlando's staggering earnings.
Since they were talking money, Jennifer jumped back in.
"So, Orlando, haven't you bought a place in Beverly yet?"
Orlando nodded casually. "I haven't, since New York was my base at first. But now I'm here making a movie, and I plan to buy soon. I want a big house, with a recording studio and workspace -- makes creating easier. If you know a realtor, send them my way."
Diane Lane, who'd lost heavily in real estate over the past two years, suddenly perked up.
Smiling, she leaned in and breathed, "So, Orlando, how big a house are you looking for? What's your budget?"
Orlando glanced at her, reading the playful flutters in her mind.
"About 10 to 20 million dollars. Like I said, I want something big!"
When he mentioned "big," he deliberately cast a glance at Diane's chest.
She was the oldest among them, a seasoned beauty by any measure.
"Twenty million bucks?!" Diane puffed up, looking majestic and alluring. "That means over 95% of Beverly Hills homes are open to you."
"Well, if you're buying, get the biggest and best."
Soon the group was chatting and drinking, Orlando glowing from being surrounded by gorgeous women.
He happily answered their questions, playing along with Jennifer's and the others' routine queries.
He even "accidentally" bragged about starting an investment company and making over 10 million dollars playing the stock market.
Yes, he was fishing -- trying to attract Hollywood's female predators.
After his half-truths, the other actresses responded enthusiastically.
No wonder Jennifer had called them.
Add the news about Madonna craving his jeans, and they saw he was a tough nut to crack.
You couldn't just win him over with a fling.
Someone like Orlando had no shortage of women.
"I know a lot of luxury real estate agents from my investments," Diane said, edging Winona out and leaning on Orlando. "If you really want a house, I can hook you up."
"Okay," Orlando agreed easily.
The main thing was that Diane wasn't wearing anything underneath. From his elevated viewpoint, he could see it all. She really knew how to play the game.
So he slid his hands onto her beautiful legs, feeling her warmth and sensing that she didn't resist his boldness.
Playing it cool, he continued chatting openly with the group: "Here's a secret: You know what Cameron's filming after Terminator 2?"
"What's it?"
"A shipwreck story. The story doesn't matter -- it's the budget, over $150 million."
Hearing $150 million, the second- and third-tier beauties gasped.
"But the huge budget means investment might fall short. That's why I'm investing in his new flick. Took the T-1000 villain role in Terminator 2 just to get in on it."
Cameron hadn't told Orlando about any new projects.
Years ago, Cameron had the idea to shoot Titanic, and his last sea-themed movie foreshadowed that.
But the idea hadn't been announced yet.
This was Orlando's own speculation -- combined with the telepathic whispers from Hollywood's she-wolves.
He spun the story to impress and seduce.
Sure enough, when movie talk came up, Jennifer edged closer to Orlando.
When toasting, she smiled, and the wine dribbled slowly from her mouth, dripping onto her cleavage.
Her white T-shirt soaked by the wine, with her barely concealed bra showing, made her look irresistibly sexy.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/eKByGBSw.