[Chapter 774: IMAX]
Candace Bushnell was undoubtedly the woman who knew Manhattan like the back of her hand.
Instead of heading to the popular tourist spots, she took Eric and the others through several key areas of Manhattan all afternoon. They visited the quaint galleries in SoHo, the craft shops in Greenwich Village, the small bars where underground rock bands played in downtown, among other places.
Of course, they also stopped by so of the countless luxury brand stores scattered throughout Manhattan. While these high-end items may have seed outrageously expensive to the average person, to Eric, they were equivalent to the price of a few lollipops. Thankfully, the three won were smart enough to just look and not buy. Eric, however, voluntarily purchased a few bottles of perfu at a Dior store for the three won, knowing that when a woman wore perfu, it was often for a man's enjoynt.
In the end, Candace Bushnell even mysteriously led them to an old apartnt building in the Upper West Hydee, where they were supposedly visiting a famous psychic from Manhattan.
Eric wasn't exactly an atheist; he believed that there were too many unknowns in the world. However, he also had no desire to engage with those unknowns. So, he stayed in the car instead of entering the apartnt with the three won.
After waiting for over twenty minutes, the three won finally walked out. Candace had her usual deanor, but the two young ladies shot Eric so strange looks.
Once they all got back in the car, Eric asked, "What did the psychic tell you?"
Candace shrugged, laughing, "I didn't ask anything at all. I just brought Gisele and Alessandra along to have a look. What they asked, I don't know."
Eric turned to Gisele and Alessandra, but both girls shook their heads simultaneously.
"Well, then I won't pry," Eric replied, not wanting to pressure them. He then asked Candace, "Where to next?"
It was still before five in the afternoon, but with shorter days in winter, it was already getting close to evening.
Candace pointed to the street on the left, "That way is Central Park. We don't have too much ti left today, so let's go take a quick stroll."
Eric nodded and signaled the driver to proceed east along 82nd Street until they reached Park Avenue on the outskirts of Central Park.
...
After getting out of the car, while they debated whether to go boating in the park, Alessandra tugged on Eric's sleeve, pointing excitedly toward a nearby building with a statue outside. "I know that place! It's from Night at the Museum, um, you know, the stuff inside."
Eric looked over, realizing it was the Arican Museum of Natural History, and laughed, "If you're curious, let's go take a look. It shouldn't be closing soon, right?"
Candace replied, "Nope, we still have about an hour."
The four of them arrived outside the museum and were about to head up the steps when Eric's attention was caught by a poster hanging outside. It advertised "Amazon Adventure: An IMAX Sensory Experience."
Seeing Eric suddenly stop, Candace looked in the direction of his gaze and said, "This is a docuntary currently showing in the IMAX theater. I ca to see it with so friends before, and it's incredible; the screen is huge -- about five stories tall! But unfortunately, I heard this technology can only show educational docuntaries of up to forty minutes. If it could show films, it would definitely feel more shocking."
Eric nodded, "Let's check this out."
"Alright, but let's hurry," she replied.
The four of them bought tickets and entered the museum, quickly finding the IMAX theater. They were just in ti for the last showing of the day.
As it was nearing closing ti, there weren't many visitors, and they easily found great seats in the center.
Once the lights dimd and the screen lit up, a sweeping aerial view appeared, showcasing the vast Amazon rainforest as if it were right in front of them, invoking an imrsive sense of
awe.
Eric had experienced this feeling more than once, and Candace wasn't overly surprised either. However, Gisele and Alessandra, who were seeing this kind of stunning visual scene for the first ti, both let out soft gasps of amazent.
Gisele had just claid a spot next to Eric and leaned in slightly, seemingly regretful as she said, "I didn't expect the Amazon rainforest to be so beautiful. It's a pity I live in southern Brazil and have never been there."
Eric caught a pleasant whiff of her perfu, which was leftover from their earlier stop at the Dior store, and replied, "The most beautiful places are often the most dangerous. I just went to the tropical rainforest in northern Australia recently, where they say there are hundreds of deadly snakes. One slip could cost you your life. The Amazon rainforest is definitely more perilous than the Australian tropics."
Although Gisele was captivated by the IMAX visuals, she wanted to chat with Eric more. She casually asked, "Australia, huh? That's just like my hotown; it should be sumr there now. Eric, why did you go to such a dangerous place in the Australian rainforest?"
"I was visiting a film shoot," Eric said while absorbing the IMAX imagery, yet still managing
to chat with Gisele. "I'm quite curious about Brazil too, but I don't dare go." Gisele replied skeptically, "You, Eric? Is there anywhere you're afraid to go?"
"Sure, I went to xico a while back and don't plan on going back anyti soon."
Gisele had been following the news about the troubleso events in xico, remarking, "I think my hotown must be safer."
Yet as she spoke, her voice dropped slightly, revealing her lack of confidence. She recalled leaving her small town in southern Brazil over half a year ago, arriving in Rio de Janeiro, where her re fifty dollars were stolen the very sa day.
Noting her expression, Eric asked, "Did sothing unpleasant cross your mind?"
"Yeah," Gisele nodded, recalling her experience, "That was all the money I had. I felt like the sky was falling. I cried for a long ti on the street, then I begged a passerby for so change to call ho, only to be scolded by Dad for being so careless."
Eric quietly listened, feeling a sense of sympathy. Few successes were achieved easily. Those who faced hardships yearned for success even more. Without their struggles, there wouldn't be a 'Gisele,' who long held the title of supermodel.
"Speaking of which, these experiences might not be bad for you. When you achieve success in the future, these chapters will surely make for good material in your biography," he
encouraged.
Upon hearing Eric's words, Gisele recalled what the psychic had told her just half an hour
earlier.
At that ti, the sowhat witch-like woman had asked what she wanted to know. Naturally, Gisele's main concern was her career; having worked hard to leave Brazil, she never intended to return defeated.
The psychic had murmured to a crystal ball for a mont, then told her that she recently t soone who would disrupt her life's path, leaving her future uncertain.
Gisele had sincerely pressed to know what to do, but the psychic could only shake her head, claiming it was too taxing to see.
Always a smart and decisive girl, Gisele had imdiately handed over the last few hundred dollars in her wallet, which was the budget her agency had advanced her for clothes to et Eric. She had only been in the industry for six months, had hardly landed any jobs, and relied on her agency for living expenses.
The psychic was clearly thrilled to see cash, and after more murmuring into the crystal ball, she told Gisele that she saw two people, but everything else remained a blur.
Two people?
Now, in the IMAX theater of the Arican Museum of Natural History, Gisele leaned forward, glancing past Eric and Candace at Alessandra.
Since Eric had recently found them both, it must be her.
Alessandra Ambrosio had been subtly watching the situation between Eric and Gisele, seething with a sprinkle of jealousy and disappointnt. As Gisele looked over, she was about to shift subtly when she rembered sothing and nodded slightly back at Gisele.
...
After their docuntary viewing, it was nearly closing ti for the museum. The four of them quickly left, following Candace's suggestion to eat dinner at a nearby restaurant. Eric first dropped Candace at her nearby residence, then got directions from the two girls to their apartnt, before instructing the driver to head downtown.
Gisele and Alessandra's apartnts, arranged by their agencies, were in the East Village downtown. After their car arrived at their destination, Eric noticed the area was filled with old, closely packed red-brick apartnt buildings. The vehicle halted outside an apartnt, which was Alessandra's place, while Gisele's was conveniently nearby.
Once the car stopped, Gisele and Alessandra exited, and Eric stepped out as well, curiously scanning the dimly lit street. Even though it had grown dark, he could spot the difference between this street and others in New York.
A notable characteristic of Arica is the abundance of cars. In Manhattan, most streets were lined with various vehicles. However, this rundown street appeared eerily empty at a glance, seemingly inhabited by a low-inco population who couldn't even afford a car, which
usually ant the area was quite chaotic.
Watching the figures swaying in the shadows of the dim streetlights, Eric asked, "Are you safe
living here?"
Having anticipated that Eric might ask, Gisele and Alessandra hadn't expected him to escort
them ho.
Throughout the day, Eric's mature and steady deanor, combined with his gentle and
considerate nature, had unknowingly earned the girls' affection. Instead of feeling tense or anxious, they felt faintly excited about sothing.
Standing on the now-familiar street corner, both girls were slightly dazed, simultaneously sensing sothing was missing.
Hearing Eric's question snapped them back. Alessandra looked around in the direction of
Eric's gaze and reassured, "It's alright. The agency told us not to go out at night, but...." Hesitating for a mont, she gathered courage, "Eric, would you like to co upstairs?"
Eric replied, "You must have other roommates, right?"
"Yeah, we all live together, but it's fine, they'll definitely welco you."
"Let's skip it," Eric smiled. "I wouldn't want to intrude on you girls. Just head on up."
Alessandra nodded in disappointnt and reluctantly walked toward the apartnt. Eric watched her go inside before turning to Gisele. "Let's get back in the car."
Gisele pointed toward the intersection ahead. "It's just down that street; we can walk there."
Eric had two bodyguards in the car, so he wasn't worried about encountering any trouble. He
nodded, "Alright."
The two of them walked side by side, and Gisele moved a bit closer to Eric. After a mont of hesitation, she cautiously slipped her hand around his arm, relieved when he rely smiled at her. "Eric, I'm alone in my apartnt tonight."
Eric chuckled, "Your agency is pretty generous to give you a place all to yourself."
"That's not it; my roommates are... in Milan," Gisele explained.
Eric realized it was nearly February, pri ti for fashion weeks. Due to different legal
regulations, New York wouldn't hire models under sixteen, but in the more open European fashion scene, models as young as fourteen could walk. This was why many famous models began their careers in Europe.
If he guessed correctly, Milan Fashion Week would likely be Gisele's debut stage. Unfortunately, she was suddenly called back to the States.
"I just wanted to et you two; I didn't an to interfere with your work. Um, Milan Fashion Week hasn't started yet, so flying back tomorrow wouldn't be too late, right?" "It's fine," Gisele shook her head. "I want to stay in Arica, focusing on the film." "Ha, your role doesn't really need much prep work," Eric countered, shaking his head. "So
just go to Milan. If anything cos up, I can talk to the higher-ups at your agency." Gisele seed like she wanted to say sothing but eventually nodded obediently. They reached the intersection, turned a corner, and soon arrived outside Gisele's apartnt
building.
"Eric," Gisele began to speak but rembered how he'd turned down Alessandra's invitation
a mont ago. Hesitating, she leaned in closer to him and whispered, "You could stay over tonight, and I, well, actually..."
At that point, she suddenly stumbled over her words. Embarrassed, she realized she didn't even know how to say a particular English word.
In Portuguese, he probably wouldn't understand.
Eric sensed what Gisele was trying to say and, seeing her stumble, quickly understood. A smile
crept across his face as he gently lifted her chin and leaned in to give her a soft kiss. "Let's
save that for another ti, but since we're on this subject, keep it in mind for later."
*****
spatreon/Sayonara816.
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