For Hugo, the Four Seasons Hotel was far from a place of pleasant memories. Around this same time last year, after enduring the humiliation of the Golden Raspberry Awards, he had come here the next day for an audition for A River Runs through it—only to be rejected outright. A year later, he had avoided the Razzies and even earned double Golden Globe nominations, yet things didn't seem much different; a new wave of trials was about to begin. The cycle continued.
Accompanied by Joseph, Hugo returned once again to the Four Seasons. Inside, Anthony Stewart was holding a press conference, and Hugo was walking straight into the lion's den.
Joseph glanced at him with concern. "Are you sure this is okay?" In situations like this, most people would avoid confrontation. Even if they wanted to clarify matters, they wouldn't voluntarily walk into the crossfire—they would usually issue statements through the media instead.
But today, Hugo was not playing by the rules. He had come to the journalists' gathering point voluntarily, intending to confront Anthony face-to-face. In the past year, Joseph had known Hugo to be warm and friendly, always polite and approachable. Today's rebellious and bold act was completely uncharacteristic, and Joseph was utterly shocked.
Hugo smiled calmly at Joseph. "Why not? I'm ready. Are you?"
Joseph took a deep breath, nodded firmly, and prepared himself, as if he were about to enter a den of lions. Together, they walked toward the ballroom where Anthony's press conference was being held.
As Hugo appeared, many employees inside the hotel were stunned. The city's hottest topic of the morning had arrived, and he was heading straight for the instigator. It was as if they had witnessed Harry Potter bravely approaching Voldemort, or Frodo walking straight into Sauron's lair. A tense, epic confrontation was about to unfold. Judging by the staff's expressions, Hugo seemed more like the dark force in this scenario.
By the time the tense energy reached the ballroom, it was as if the room had reached a boiling point.
With a clatter, all thirty-some journalists on their seats jumped to their feet, and even Anthony at the podium was taken aback, rising instantly. No one had expected Hugo to show up—not even Anthony.
Soon, excitement surged through the room. Especially among the gossip-hungry reporters, Hugo's arrival signaled a direct confrontation between the perpetrator and the victim. Originally, reporters had planned to interview Hugo after the press conference, but now they could cover both sides simultaneously and witness the showdown firsthand. The thrill was undeniable.
The journalists lined the sides of the central aisle like soldiers forming an honor guard, but instead of respect, their eyes brimmed with curiosity and anticipation.
Nicholas, standing in the front row, could hardly contain his excitement. He admired Hugo and was eager to see how he would respond. From any perspective, Hugo did not seem the type to take matters into his own hands physically. Even during his reckless years—marred by substance abuse—there had been no record of fights. Yet today, Nicholas's assumptions were overturned. While Hugo's appearance disrupted expectations, it also pushed the event into an entirely unpredictable territory. Nicholas's gaze shifted slightly, an expression of fascination crossing his face. "This is going to be very interesting," he thought.
Hugo, facing the journalists' staring eyes, remained unmoved. From the moment he appeared, his gaze was fixed on Anthony at the podium, unwavering. Anthony's unease began to grow but then he realized something: he was the victim here. There was no need for pretense; his bruises were proof. It was Hugo who should be feeling guilty. Straightening his back, Anthony's hawk-like eyes locked onto Hugo, his mind racing with schemes.
Yet this time, Anthony could not pretend ignorance. Time was running out—Hugo had reached the podium.
Seeing Hugo ascend, Anthony panicked and instinctively took a step back. He bent his waist as if startled, almost kneeling, imagining Hugo's fist could strike him at any moment. "Hugo… what… what do you want to do? Don't hit me… please… Hugo, I know I was wrong. I really understand… just don't hit me again… please don't hit me."
Hugo and Joseph froze. Wait—he was the one who was supposed to hit someone? It wasn't Joseph?
They had arrived at the Four Seasons directly from waking up that morning, unaware of the news earlier in the day. Yet Anthony had somehow shifted all the blame onto Hugo. Clearly, he understood the difference: if he claimed Joseph was the one who struck someone, the damage was less severe. One is a agent; the other is an artist. A physical assault by an artist carries far greater moral and reputational consequences.
Anthony's plan was shrewd. If Hugo clarified that Joseph had acted, Anthony could insinuate that Hugo was shifting responsibility to protect himself. In the entertainment industry, such things are rarely secret, and it would severely damage Hugo's reputation. In short, Anthony could manipulate the situation to remain undefeated.
No wonder Anthony hadn't called the police or filed a lawsuit against Joseph. His real target was Hugo. Had authorities intervened, it would have quickly become clear that Joseph—not Hugo—was responsible, foiling Anthony's scheme.
Hugo and Joseph had not anticipated this. Joseph instinctively stepped forward, intending to angrily confront Anthony for his lies. But Hugo's calmness made him raise a hand to stop Joseph.
Hugo was composed because he knew that acting impulsively would only forfeit any advantage. He had to keep his mind clear. Sharp as ever, Hugo noticed that Anthony had already told the journalists that he was the assailant. If Joseph now stepped forward to claim responsibility, it would appear that Hugo was dodging accountability, pushing his agent to take the fall. Without witnesses or evidence, such a move would only worsen the situation.
Moreover, even if Joseph successfully proved that he had been the one to strike, it would be futile. Anthony had already taken the initiative; in the court of public opinion, the fault would still fall on Hugo and Joseph. Joseph, as Hugo's agent, would be seen through the lens of first impressions, amplifying the perception that Hugo had orchestrated the attack. In the end, the blame would circle back to Hugo.
Most importantly, Hugo knew that without Joseph's intervention, it would have been him who struck Anthony last night—there was no doubt about that.
Hugo's mind was sharper than ever, rapidly organizing his thoughts. He knew that if Joseph assumed responsibility, the outcome would only worsen.
So Hugo stopped Joseph. He immediately felt the surge of anger radiating from him, and Hugo himself felt the tension. With no time to spare, Hugo locked eyes with Joseph and communicated a single, urgent message: "Leave this to me!" He could only hope that their year of working together had built enough understanding for Joseph to grasp his intention.
Joseph understood but he could not act as Hugo instructed. Just the thought of apologizing to Anthony had already chafed him, and now to shift his own mistake onto Hugo was unbearable. Only a fragment of his reason remained intact, kept alive by the lesson from last night: as Hugo's agent, he could not act impulsively. Still unsure of exactly what had transpired, Joseph closed his eyes, bracing himself.
Hugo glanced at him, not having time to consider whether Joseph fully understood. Time was critical. He quickly withdrew his gaze and followed the rehearsed plan he had worked out with Joseph—only this time, he would execute it himself.
Hugo took two steps forward, stopping five feet from Anthony without advancing further. He drew a deep breath and, in full view of the astonished audience, bowed toward Anthony. "I'm sorry!" The words landed firmly, echoing throughout the ballroom.
Joseph opened his eyes and saw Hugo's bowed back. In that instant, his eyes grew wet. For the first time, his mind cleared completely. He understood everything. Joseph was not foolish—far from it. Earlier, he had simply been caught off guard, but now the scene before him made everything crystal clear.
Joseph understood why Hugo had assumed responsibility according to Anthony's narrative. He also realized that Hugo's bow was an acknowledgment of fault; the weight of public criticism would now rest squarely on Hugo's shoulders, while he, Joseph, would face no repercussions for the physical altercation.
Thinking this through, Joseph again closed his eyes, afraid his tears would overflow. Without hesitation, he, too, bent at the waist and bowed. Clenching his fists, he forced down his anger and frustration. He gritted his teeth, letting reason imprint the lesson: he was Hugo's agent, and mistakes would ultimately punish Hugo.
In his mind, Joseph silently repeated Hugo's words from before they had approached the press: "If Anthony wants to act, then we'll let him play the part fully. Remember, I am a professional actor."
To return the favor in kind.
....
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