Chapter 17: Poaching

With Leonardo's looks and his meteoric fame, picking up girls should have been a breeze. However, there are always exceptions. No matter how big a star, there are always women who won't be impressed.

To some women, the handsome Jack might just be a pretty boy.

Michael observed the woman and could tell that she genuinely didn't enjoy Leonardo's company. The growing look of disgust on her face was unmistakable.

Leonardo, seemingly oblivious, continued to flaunt himself, radiating confidence like a peacock showing off its feathers. This Leonardo was very different from the more mature version people would see years later.

Michael had no interest in provoking this peacock. The slender woman was indeed beautiful, but he wasn't interested in playing the hero.

But sometimes, events have a way of unfolding unpredictably.

Leonardo spotted Michael and instantly remembered being publicly rebuffed by him previously.

A year ago or two years later, Leonardo might have just felt irritated and moved on. However, right now, he was at the peak of his career, and his ego had been inflated by endless praise.

"Michael Davenport!" Leonardo exclaimed, glaring at Michael with eyes as large as saucers, brimming with a sharp intensity. "I can't believe you're here!"

Seeing Leonardo's trademark angry expression, Michael sized up his black suit, and a name popped into his head—Black Cat Sheriff.

"Good evening, Leo," Michael said, acting as if they were old friends.

The slender woman looked between Leonardo and Michael, surprised. Who was this man?

Was he charming? He had managed to divert Leonardo's attention from her just by walking past.

Her agent had once told her that any man who could catch Leonardo's attention had to be someone of James Cameron's caliber.

However, the woman quickly realized she was overthinking it.

Leonardo left the tall, blonde beauty behind and walked up to Michael, saying, "I heard your new film is hiring?"

Michael smiled and nodded. "Yes, we're looking for directors and actors."

Leonardo shook his head continuously. "Are you determined to squander the Davenport inheritance?"

"You don't need to worry about that," Michael replied coolly.

"You're a disgrace!" Leonardo scoffed, "If you don't have the talent, just stay put. Trying too much will only end in disaster!"

Michael, a fan of Leonardo in his previous life, now felt annoyed but knew there was nothing he could do. He couldn't exactly punch Leonardo into submission at a formal event like this.

Suppressing his urge, Michael turned to the slender woman and asked, "Good evening, miss. May I have the honor of knowing your name?"

The slender woman looked into his eyes and smiled subtly, seemingly understanding his intention.

Leonardo's incessant pestering had clearly annoyed her, and she might have guessed Michael's plan.

"Michael Davenport!"

Leonardo's frustration grew as he watched Michael engage the woman he had been trying to woo.

"Carmen, Carmen Kass," the woman introduced herself, ignoring Leonardo. "You are Michael Davenport?"

"Just call me Michael," he said.

"Good evening, Michael," Carmen Kass replied, also ignoring Leonardo.

Michael, ever the gentleman, invited her, "Carmen, would you like to find a quieter place to chat?"

Carmen Kass, annoyed by Leonardo's persistence, saw this as an opportunity to get away. "Sure," she said, taking Michael's arm.

Michael made a polite gesture, and Carmen Kass followed him towards the resting area of the banquet hall.

Carmen Kass was still in her twenties, and while she lacked experience in social interactions, she saw this as a good opportunity to rid herself of Leonardo.

"Jack's gone to find Rose," Michael remarked, seeing Leonardo approach Kate Winslet.

Carmen Kass laughed. "The media was right about him. He's just a childish brat."

"Kids seek comfort from their mothers," Michael observed. "But Rose isn't Jack's mother."

He lowered his voice and suggested, "Shall we take another route?"

Perhaps due to their shared annoyance with Leonardo, Carmen nodded. "Let's."

They changed direction slightly, walking along the side of the banquet hall near the terrace. Carmen glanced back and saw Leonardo leaning against Kate Winslet, who seemed to be comforting him.

"Let's go," Michael urged, leading Carmen away. She followed, asking, "Do you think there's anything between Jack and Rose?"

"I don't think so," Michael replied, entering the quieter resting area.

"You seem to know a lot about them," Carmen said curiously. "What do you do?"

"I'm the owner of a small movie company, making direct-to-video films," Michael said honestly.

He then asked, "What about you?"

"A model," Carmen replied simply.

Michael nodded, then asked, "Your accent doesn't sound American."

"I'm Estonian," Carmen said. "I'm in Los Angeles for a brand event. I often travel between the UK and the US for shows."

As they walked around the small round tables, Michael saw a familiar figure—a burly man with a beard. It was the same man he'd seen before entering the banquet hall, Kate Winslet's boyfriend, Jim.