In truth, Alexandra Daddario's manager wasn't all that bad a person.
He merely tried to persuade her—and not too insistently at that.
In Hollywood, some managers of lesser-known actors would go to any lengths to get the beautiful women and handsome men under their care into bed with the so-called "big shots."
Drugs, threats, even poison to control them… nothing was off-limits.
Many managers also kept a roster of attractive young actors under their wing—not just for personal enjoyment, but also as "gifts" to be offered to industry power players in exchange for connections and favors.
So in this circle, struggling actors with no backing had it rough.
Those stars you see who seem polished and glamorous on the surface—if they rose without any background or support, you can be sure they've passed through the hands of countless "older men" or "older women" behind the scenes.
Of course, there were exceptions—those lucky enough to cozy up to a big shot or someone with connections early on, like Tom Cruise with Sherry Lansing, or Brad Pitt with Jennifer Aniston. Or those blessed by fate, whose otherwise forgettable roles or films suddenly turned them into overnight sensations.
But the latter type was rare—so rare the author couldn't even find a proper example.
...
After hanging up with her manager, Alexandra Daddario sat brooding, a little disheartened.
Because she knew he was right: without giving something, you get nothing in return. That's just how this industry works.
But she truly didn't want to sleep with some "old man" or "old lady" just to get a part.
Sigh, if only the person trying to sleep with her for a role were Martin Meyers—young, handsome, wildly capable, and best of all, her idol.
As she was lost in thought, Alexandra suddenly froze.
"Wha—Martin?"
At first, she thought she was hallucinating and even rubbed her eyes.
But after confirming that the tall, handsome guy in front of her really was Martin, she nearly dashed over to ask for an autograph.
Still, her youthful caution helped her suppress the impulse, while her girlish scheming came up with what she believed was a smooth and subtle way to approach Martin. And her spur-of-the-moment impulsiveness made her decide instantly to act on the plan.
And so—that was the scene just moments ago.
...
"Wow, you really know this city well!" Jessica said excitedly.
"Of course. My great-grandmother was from Prague. This is actually my first time here, but I've heard all kinds of stories about this city from my mom."
At that, Alexandra suddenly remembered something and introduced herself. "Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Alexandra Daddario, an actress. Nice to meet you."
Jessica smiled. "What a coincidence! I'm an actress too—Jessica Alba. You can call me Jessy or Jessica."
Alexandra giggled. "Actually, I recognized you right away. I really liked your character Gabriel Montez in High School Musical. You can call me Alexandra or just Lex."
Her soft laugh was charming, her eyes bright and captivating.
At that moment, Martin finally spoke. "Ladies, if we want to catch the sunset over Wenceslas Square, shouldn't we get going?"
Only now did Alexandra properly turn to him, feigning surprise. "You—you're Martin Meyers."
"Ah~ yes, I am." Martin gave her a smile so dazzling it nearly knocked the wind out of her.
Dear god, how can anyone be this handsome? Those eyes! That nose! That mouth—ah, imagine kissing it… no, stop it. Stop thinking nonsense… keep it together, Alexandra. Stay calm, stay cool. You've got this…
She kept desperately reminding herself.
"A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Meyers."
Though she kept her composure well enough, the slight tremble in her hand betrayed her.
"You can just call me Martin." He smiled gently at her.
Ahhh—he said I can call him Martin! No, no, stop staring, you'll pass out… I'm going to faint…
Alexandra was thrilled inside but kept her eyes slightly averted. Her long legs crossed gracefully as she replied, "Okay."
"Martin, let's get going then."
"Alright, let's go!" Martin grinned again.
Alexandra quickly turned her head and didn't dare look back. Inside, her mind was a whirl of: I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die…
…
The streets of central Prague were paved with ancient blue-gray cobblestones. Now and then, one could even spot deep green moss clinging to the stones, adding a sense of timelessness to the atmosphere.
Alexandra and Jessica walked ahead, arm in arm, with Martin trailing behind them. All three wore sunglasses.
The two women chatted animatedly, occasionally bursting into laughter like old friends enjoying a carefree day out.
Female friendships are strange like that—one moment you're practically strangers, and the next you're best friends swapping shoes. But they can also fall apart just as fast over something as silly as wearing the same jacket.
Behind his sunglasses, Martin unabashedly admired the two beauties in front of him—studying their figures, their necks, their backs, their waists…
Their curves were simply mesmerizing—irresistibly alluring.
He noticed the lovely curve of Alexandra's waistline, accentuated just above the low-rise jeans she wore. You could even see the twin dimples on her lower back.
Her skin was fair and delicate, far smoother than the average Western woman. No wonder she'd later be known as an ice-cold beauty.
"Jessy, Martin, we're here! Look—that's the famous astronomical clock!"
Martin and Jessica looked up.
The old city hall building before them was made of weathered stone. Its design was simple yet imposing. Mounted on the wall were two giant, gleaming, metallic astronomical clocks.
Alexandra's face lit up with excitement as she explained to the other two.
"Did you know? Behind these two beautiful clocks lies a rather tragic story."
"In 1410, after the clocks were completed, the ruling authorities—afraid the designer would make something even more magnificent for someone else—had him blinded. In despair, the designer threw himself into the very clock he had built. He was caught in the gears and hanged to death, ending his own life."
"Whoa, that's terrifying!" Jessica gasped. She glanced at the beautiful timepiece again, and it almost seemed as if she could see a faint trace of blood hidden in the shadows.
Alexandra went on, "These two astronomical clocks are over 600 years old. They're based on the old geocentric model. The top dial completes a rotation once a day, while the bottom one rotates once a year."
Martin listened intently, fully absorbed.
A beautiful tour guide like this could brighten anyone's day.