Chapter 253: The Magic Bible

"I'm sorry, sir, the event has already started. You can't enter now."

Due to an unexpected incident on the way, Duke arrived late at the show venue located in Westminster Palace. He was stopped habitually by a Victoria's Secret staff member at the entrance. However, upon recognizing who he was, the staff member quickly corrected themselves and said, "Director Rosenberg, could you please go in through the left corridor of the venue?"

No one appointed as reception staff outside such an event would be foolish. Recognizing him as one of the major shareholders of the company, they promptly allowed him through.

Duke nodded and chose not to enter through the main entrance. Instead, he headed towards the side door along the outer corridor.

"Tina, remember to notify Nancy later," he turned and instructed Tina Fey. "Do not work with that car rental company anymore."

The car he had rented broke down on the way.

"I've noted it down already," Tina Fey replied, understanding her boss's nature well. "I'll look for a more reliable company later."

"Also," Duke recalled something he had thought about on the way but forgotten to mention due to the car breaking down, "tell Nancy and Panny to notify Catherine Zeta-Jones and Vivien Leigh to move out of Malibu as soon as possible."

Such work was best handled by agents. He could see that Zeta-Jones harbored unrealistic ambitions, but someone like Nancy, a textbook utilitarian, wouldn't give her any chance to realize them.

Before reaching the side door, Tina Fey reminded him, "When we came to London, Nancy and Panny were already working on it. The agreement's timeline is almost up, and it should be completed before we return."

"That's for the best," Duke nodded in approval.

At the side door, the staff opened the entrance, and Duke, accompanied by Tina Fey, quietly walked to the front row near the runway along the edge passageway. Taking a quick glance, he immediately spotted Mrs. Leah. He hurried over and took two adjacent seats beside her.

"Mom..." Duke greeted his mother.

Mrs. Leah nodded. "You're late."

"The car broke down on the way," Duke explained, noticing her concerned look. He quickly added in a low voice, "Just an engine issue."

Mrs. Leah relaxed upon hearing this and nodded towards Tina Fey, who also greeted her politely before focusing her gaze back on the stage.

Duke's eyes passed over his mother and landed on the person sitting next to her—Scarlett Johansson. The once golden-haired little girl had lost most of her childishness. Seemingly oblivious to his arrival, she was engrossed in a book, showing no interest in the supermodels who had once fascinated her.

Shaking his head, Duke shifted his attention to the runway. The Victoria's Secret Angels were in the middle of their show.

After years of experimentation and refinement, Victoria's Secret's annual show had become increasingly extravagant. Familiar faces that frequently appeared online were becoming more common.

After watching for just ten minutes, Duke spotted two somewhat familiar faces among the new models. If he wasn't mistaken, they should be Adriana Lima and Gisele Bündchen. Judging by their attire, it was clear they were only peripheral models for Victoria's Secret and hadn't signed official contracts yet.

Over the years, with continuous promotion, the reputation of Victoria's Secret Angels had grown significantly, even becoming synonymous with supermodels. Signing an official Angel contract not only promised overnight fame but also an annual income of millions of dollars.

Especially the iconic angel wings, which many models dreamed of. Nowadays, Victoria's Secret Angels' wings had become a status symbol.

In Victoria's Secret shows, the wings were not only an aesthetic consideration but also a representation of the model's status. Not every model in the show had wings; only a select few, like Heidi Klum, who was gradually becoming the leading Angel, wore them. These were the company's contracted models, the true Angels.

Most models worked with Victoria's Secret in a temporary capacity before signing an Angel contract. The difference in status and income between them and the Angels was vast.

Each annual Victoria's Secret show featured heavyweight guest performers. After several years, inviting popular singers to perform on the runway had become a tradition.

This year's show, held in London, naturally featured the most popular British singers. In 1997, the most popular British singers were a group—The Spice Girls.

The five flamboyant women appeared on stage wearing Victoria's Secret's pink sleepwear, performing their hit song Wannabe.

Although the group was renowned, Duke only recognized one member. Frankly, Victoria Adams held a relatively low position among the five. This was evident from the amount of solo lyrics she had and her usual placement in the fourth or fifth spot during performances, rarely making it to the front.

The leading positions were occupied by the lead singers—a Black woman and a blonde "Persian cat." However, much like Chicago and Star Trek, winning early didn't mean winning overall. In just a few years, everyone in the world would know who the smartest member of the group was.

In fact, in a few years, who would even remember the other members' names? The group would practically become synonymous with one person.

After enduring the long shoot of Chicago, Duke had learned a thing or two about music and dance from Lily Fred. Though his musical aptitude was still limited, it had improved somewhat, allowing him to appreciate the performance from an outsider's perspective.

Compared to North American stars like Madonna, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, and Shania Twain, The Spice Girls' style could be summed up as "garish." Whether in appearance, singing, or music, there was no semblance of elegance or sophistication.

The five women were average-looking, their dance moves mediocre, and their singing skills subpar. Among them, even the best singers were merely passable. Their only strength lay in their energetic and vibrant performances, appealing to the masses with their extremely accessible style and catchy, almost hypnotic pop songs. This might explain their rapid rise to fame and equally swift downfall.

After Wannabe, they performed Who Do You Think You Are with evident enthusiasm.

Their effort was understandable. This event was being broadcasted live across the U.S. by ABC, clearly aimed at breaking into the North American music market.

Compared to the nearly impenetrable television and film markets, pop music was relatively open to foreign artists.

Duke suddenly wondered, "Did David Beckham come?" Victoria's Secret shows often invited numerous celebrities and stars. If he remembered correctly, David Beckham should have already become famous, especially with next year's World Cup red card incident looming.

This pair of golden lovers was a prime example of mutual infidelity.

Shaking his head, Duke dismissed these idle thoughts. He wasn't any better himself. In the entertainment industry, these things were too commonplace.

After The Spice Girls' performance, the runway show resumed following a brief intermission, during which guests had a chance to take care of personal matters. Scarlett Johansson, sitting on the other side of Mrs. Leah, put her book into her bag and stood up.

"Hi, Duke," she greeted politely.

"Dear..." Duke smiled. "Didn't expect you'd only notice me now."

"Sorry, I was a bit engrossed in reading," she replied with a forced smile before turning to Mrs. Leah. "Godmother, I need to go to the restroom."

"I'll go with you," Tina Fey said, standing up as well.

The two women, one young and one older, headed out. Duke, puzzled, asked his mother, "Mom, did something happen?"

Mrs. Leah knew Duke was referring to Scarlett Johansson. She sighed and said, "The Johnsons are preparing for a divorce. They've turned against each other and are fighting over assets. Scarlett has called me crying a few times, so I brought her here. Situations like this hurt children the most. I can feel that her personality seems to be changing."

Family matters are difficult for outsiders to intervene in. Duke merely consoled his mother with a few words before dropping the subject.

Indeed, when families fall apart, it's the children caught in the middle who suffer the most. Not everyone had a unique experience like his, remaining unaffected by family divisions. For ten-year-olds, the damage could be particularly severe.

Younger children might not understand much and feel less impact, while older ones could be more mature and resilient.

"Duke..."

Perhaps reminiscing about the past, Mrs. Leah suddenly asked in a low voice, "What were you thinking back then?"

"Come on, Mom. I was just a clueless little kid back then."

Duke couldn't admit that he'd been mentally mature at the time, so he simply said, "I was only three years old. What could I have thought? As I grew older and understood more, I realized I was already incredibly lucky to have the best mom in the world."

Mrs. Leah didn't say anything but smiled faintly.

When Tina Fey and Scarlett Johansson returned, the show resumed. The enthusiastic Angels on the runway continued interacting with the audience, winking and blowing kisses, pushing the atmosphere to a climax.

The final act featured an extravagant bra made of diamonds, rubies, and platinum. The leading Victoria's Secret Angel, Heidi Klum, wore it as the show's grand finale. As in previous years, the $3.5 million bra had already been purchased by a billionaire for $5 million before the show ended.

After the show concluded, a grand party was held. On their way back to the hotel, Duke joined his mother in her RV. After the car started, Scarlett Johansson, sitting opposite him, was once again engrossed in her book.

"Hey, kiddo," Duke couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's got you so hooked?"

Without even looking up, Scarlett replied, "It's my magic bible, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, which I just bought here in London."

.....

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