Martin leaned heavily on Scarlett, forcing her to press tightly against him to offer support as they moved. Gordon watched with a knowing smile, certain that Martin was destined to be quite the ladies' man.
Once Martin was seated, Scarlett hurried over to her pink bicycle, setting it aside before joining Martin, her cheeks flushed with a mix of excitement and embarrassment. The delicate scent of her perfume wafted between them.
"What's your name?" Martin asked with feigned innocence.
"Scarlett Johansson," she replied, her voice tinged with nervousness at being so close to her idol.
"So, Miss Johansson, do you have any plans?" Martin teased, playing coy.
"Huh? Oh!" Scarlett's face fell slightly, "I just wanted to chat. If you're not interested, I—"
"No, no, you've misunderstood," Martin interrupted gently. "I was just wondering if you're free to join me for some dessert. There's a lovely shop not too far from here."
Scarlett's expression brightened instantly. "I'd love that! You can call me Scarlett, or Carly."
"Are your legs okay?" Martin inquired, glancing at the bicycle. "It looks like it might be a bit of a challenge. Could you give me a ride on your bike?"
"Of course!" Scarlett beamed, thrilled that her idol wanted to ride with her.
Martin settled on the back seat of Scarlett's bicycle, and with determined effort, she pedaled them out of the park, albeit a bit unsteadily. Gordon trailed behind, keeping a leisurely pace.
At the dessert shop, they found a cozy booth. Gordon took a seat nearby, ensuring he was close enough to keep an eye on things.
"Order anything you like; it's on me," Martin offered generously.
"Thank you!" Scarlett eagerly chose her favorite dessert.
Martin picked something for himself as well. As they ate, they engaged in light conversation.
"Are you from New York? Do you live in Manhattan?" Martin asked.
"No, I live on Long Island. My mom had a meeting in Manhattan today, so she brought me along," Scarlett replied.
"Will she be picking you up later?"
"Yes. So, Martin, what brings you to New York?" Scarlett quickly shifted the topic, not wanting to delve into family matters.
"I just wrapped up filming my new movie and came here to work on the soundtrack at Columbia Records."
"Wow, that's amazing! A new movie and you're scoring it too!" Scarlett exclaimed, genuinely impressed.
"You're quite talented yourself, Scarlett. I saw your film 'Manny & Lo' and thought you were fantastic."
"Really?" Scarlett's eyes widened with delight. "You saw the movie I was in?"
"Of course. Your acting skills are impressive," Martin complimented, causing Scarlett to blush with pride.
Suddenly remembering something, Scarlett asked, "Martin, my new film 'The Horse Whisperer' is coming out this month. Could you come to the premiere?"
"Absolutely. Have your agent send an invitation to mine," Martin agreed, looking forward to it.
Scarlett leaped from her seat in excitement, her joy contagious. Though still young, her enthusiasm and developing presence made Martin take notice.
After finishing their desserts, Scarlett checked her watch, a hint of reluctance in her expression. "Martin, I have to go. My mom's coming to pick me up."
"Where should she meet you?"
"That's quite a distance. Let me drive you there. My car is nearby, and we can fit your bike in the trunk."
"Really? That would be wonderful!" Scarlett responded happily.
"Of course," Martin chuckled, "it's my pleasure."
"Gordon!" Martin gestured to his bodyguard.
Gordon understood and went to fetch the car.
"Who's that?" Scarlett asked as they walked.
"My bodyguard," Martin explained.
"Has he been following us the whole time?"
"Yes, security in New York can be unpredictable."
Scarlett's mind raced with thoughts of Gordon witnessing everything that happened. But then she reassured herself—there was nothing inappropriate between her and Martin.
Meanwhile, Melanie Sloan was having a tough time. Since moving to New York, her family had struggled. Her husband's unemployment had forced them to rely on welfare and food stamps. Though they had managed to survive, the constant arguments had worn down her marriage, leading to their divorce last year.
With four children, two grown and working, Melanie took Scarlett with her, supporting her daughter's dream of becoming an actress. As a Jewish producer, Melanie had connections in Hollywood, which helped her manage both work and family life.
Lately, Melanie worried about Scarlett's rapid physical development, especially her chest, which was affecting her ability to land roles. Scarlett's sudden growth spurt left her looking too mature for girl roles, yet too young for adult ones. Melanie was also concerned about Scarlett's height, as a recent check-up suggested she wouldn't grow much taller than 5'2".
These physical changes limited Scarlett's casting opportunities, adding to Melanie's anxieties about her daughter's future in acting.
Just as Melanie was lost in thought, a sleek black Mercedes-Benz pulled up. Scarlett's head popped out of the window, waving enthusiastically.
𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧
✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.