[Chapter 21: A Beautiful New Neighbor]
Charlize Theron was in a bad mood today. She had just argued with her agent over her future career plans. She was already 20 years old -- no longer the naive girl her agent had taken advantage of two years ago. After struggling in the Hollywood scene for over two years, she had seen the industry's dirty sides up close.
In those two years, Charlize had mostly landed some print ads and small modeling gigs. But she had clear ambitions: Hollywood, Beverly Hills -- that was where her future lay. Right now, she wasn't even semi-known in Hollywood.
After arguing with her agent, Charlize returned to her newly rented apartment. Frustrated, she slammed the door a bit harder than usual. After taking a shower, she poured herself a glass of red wine and headed to the balcony to relax, enjoy the night view, and let the cool breeze soothe her mood.
As she got lost in the beautiful Los Angeles nightscape, a greeting from a nearby place interrupted her rare moment of peace. Frowning slightly, she turned around.
Turning around, she saw a somewhat youthful face -- likely a teenager, she guessed.
The young man had striking black hair. He was lazily reclining in a rocking chair, holding a bunch of grapes, occasionally popping one into his mouth. The gentle rocking made her a bit dizzy as she watched -- a scene so leisurely and enviable it almost felt surreal.
"Hi there, young man," she called out, half-question, half-greeting.
---
John squinted, thinking this blonde girl looked familiar, though the dim lighting made it hard to be sure.
He stood up, gripping the balcony railing as he sized her up. Her short golden curls framed a pretty, slightly chubby face. She was a bit taller than him, around six feet. As they exchanged glances, John finally recognized her.
"Hi, I'm John Leighton, 17 years old, a resident here."
"Hi, I'm Charlize Theron, just moved in two days ago."
When Charlize introduced herself, John was stunned and almost shouted in surprise.
He thought, 'No wonder she seemed familiar. The most I've seen of her was always with straight hair and glamorous looks. And now, with a bit of baby fat, it makes sense why I found her familiar but didn't recognize her immediately.'
"Hey, Charlize, it feels like I've seen you somewhere before," John said awkwardly.
"Ha... Hey, young man, is that how you greet a girl you've just met?" Charlize teased with a soft smile.
John couldn't help but admire how this angelic Hollywood superstar came across so naturally in person.
"Hey, beautiful, I never lie. I really think I've seen you somewhere -- just couldn't place it immediately. You must be a model or an actress, probably not quite established in Hollywood yet. Likely, you're only landing commercials and such," John said, recalling her nickname "The South African Diamond" from his past knowledge, and smiled.
Charlize regarded him suspiciously. Had he really researched her, or had he actually seen her in an ad before? She herself was starting to wonder.
"See! I knew it. When I see someone once, I usually remember. You should know I'm a genius," John bragged with a playful smirk.
Charlize laughed, despite herself. Her day hadn't started well, but this unexpected chat was lifting her spirits.
"Alright, young man, I wasn't in the best mood today, but after this little chat, I'm feeling better. So, I believe you really have seen me before."
"What? Who would mess with such a beautiful girl's mood? Charlize, do you need a hand?" John jokingly rolled up his sleeves in a mock challenge.
"Ha ha..."
John was captivated by the graceful figure on the opposite balcony.
"Oh my, Charlize, don't laugh like that. How'm I supposed to sleep tonight looking at that beautiful smile?"
"Oh? What else would you do instead of sleeping?"
"Oh my, Charlize! You don't realize that after seeing someone as gorgeous as you, a pure-hearted young guy like me can hardly sleep?"
John's serious tone was actually a crooked compliment. Charlize blushed and glanced at him.
"Okay, young man, are you living alone? Where's your family?"
"Oh, just me. I moved out from St. John's Orphanage earlier this year," John said, shrugging casually as he looked out over the Los Angeles skyline.
It was sad to admit, but John's greatest regrets in both lives were never experiencing family happiness. In his previous life, he was raised by his grandfather. Now, having been reborn in Los Angeles, he woke up already in an orphanage.
"The St. John's Orphanage? The big church-run one in L.A.? Oh, sorry, John."
Apparently, St. John's Orphanage had quite a reputation in Los Angeles, being a major institution under the local Christian church.
"Yes, but it's okay. I'm used to it now. I do have a temporary guardian who lives in Apartment 01. But I prefer living on my own, so I rented this place separately. We just live apart."
"Wow, John, you're impressive, living independently at such a young age," Charlize said, her tone tinged with doubt.
It was hard to believe that he was fully independent -- after all, he looked like a teenager.
"Of course, Charlize, don't look at me like that. I've been in business since I was a kid, already worth hundreds of thousands in my teens. Now I'm worth tens of millions. Yes, a multimillionaire," John chuckled, noting her skepticism. Since she was the famous South African Diamond, he wasn't worried about revealing too much.
"What?"
"Yes, you heard right. I'm worth millions, thanks to venture investing," John affirmed confidently.
Charlize was stunned. Anyone would be taken aback by hearing such a story -- a teen orphan turned multimillionaire. It felt like a story out of a novel.
John then shared how he got out of the orphanage, and his relationship with his guardian Zach Johnson. He told her about his first day at the nearby internet cafe, where he discovered the precursor to Yahoo!.
Quickly, he and Zach went to Silicon Valley seeking out Yahoo!'s founders. He convinced them to let him be an angel investor with $500,000 for 25% of the company. Only days ago, the first round of financing was completed, valuing Yahoo! at $400 million. His shares were now worth tens of millions.
...
After hearing John's incredible story, Charlize's expression changed completely -- now filled with admiration.
"John, you're amazing. That $500,000 investment grew nearly a hundredfold in just two or three months. I have to catch my breath. You don't look like a minor at all."
"Wow, Charlize, you finally see me for who I am! Before, you gave me that kid look, which I didn't like. But for you, I forgive you. You can think of me as a mature 30-year-old man trapped in the body of a 17-year-old. I don't mind," John joked.
Charlize rolled her eyes, but John was captivated.
Even though she didn't yet have the full mature queen image she was known for later, her charm was undeniable -- and absolutely enchanting.
"Charlize, have mercy on my innocent heart -- don't seduce me like this, or how will I find a wife later?"
"Hmph..."
Charlize replied with a proud, playful smirk, like a regal peacock. Unwittingly, their connection deepened -- yet the famed South African Diamond herself didn't realize it.
They each remained on their balconies chatting casually. Charlize shared a bit about herself, and they both gained a simple understanding of each other.
Thanks to John's knowledge of the future, he kept making Charlize laugh. Their conversation grew livelier.
Watching this beautiful young woman talk about her dreams and hopes for the future, John smiled to himself. What a wonderful night.
*****
https://www.patreon.com/Sayonara816.
https://discord.gg/eKByGBSw.