制霸好莱坞

Dave Jensen had been frequenting Hollywood Star for three consecutive days before Jenny Jane truly noticed him. Every afternoon at precisely two o'clock, he would arrive, order a coffee, make a few phone calls, occasionally glance through some documents, and then disappear into the building across the street.

He was in his thirties, slightly overweight, and already balding. His attire was casual—always a jacket paired with different styles of flannel pants. He had the look of a struggling Hollywood agent, the kind who couldn't even afford a decent suit. Jessica, another waitress at Hollywood Star, didn't have a good impression of him. Dave had once clumsily tried to flirt with her, but she had rejected him without hesitation.

Jenny Jane and Jessica had discussed him once during their break.

Jessica had gone into the alley to smoke, and Jenny followed. Jessica offered her a cigarette, which Jenny toyed with but didn't light.

"He's probably a small-time agent trying to get roles for his actors," Jessica remarked, exhaling a smoke ring while nodding toward the six-story building across the street. There was a tinge of envy in her voice, though not without some bitterness. "Something big is happening over there again—lots of girls going in and out."

In Los Angeles, the entertainment industry was a major economic driver. The office building across from Hollywood Star housed a division of Time Warner's television production unit. Most of the time, foot traffic was normal, but during certain seasons, the place became lively, leading to a small business boom at Hollywood Star.

That particular season was the casting period for new TV series, usually between May and June, when networks prepared for the fall lineup. Once the script outline was approved by executives, production teams started assembling. While main roles were often pre-selected, numerous supporting roles still required auditions. The area around Hollywood Star was close to Hollywood but had relatively lower rent, making it an ideal spot for casting offices.

"The auditions must be starting," Jenny said casually, slipping the cigarette into her pocket. "Are you going to try your luck?"

Jessica had taken the job at Hollywood Star precisely because of its proximity to Time Warner's casting office. She saw it as a stepping stone to her big break. But after a year of working there, she had only managed to sleep with a few security guards across the street—none of whom had the power to get her a role.

Without knowing a casting director personally, it was nearly impossible to be considered for a role. Barging into an audition room with a résumé would only get her thrown out by security. After wasting a year trying to break into TV, Jessica had started applying for modeling gigs instead. She had even reached out to a modeling agent recently.

Jenny's comment about auditions struck a nerve. Jessica's expression darkened. "Are you smoking that or not?"

"My shift is about to start," Jenny explained.

Jessica ignored her reasoning. "If you're not smoking, give it back."

Jenny shrugged and handed the cigarette back. "I have to get back inside. Hey, Jess?"

Jessica raised an eyebrow, still looking annoyed.

"I know you have an audition next week. Good luck." Jenny raised a fist in encouragement.

Jessica's expression softened, and she bumped her fist against Jenny's. "You too, girl."

Jenny smiled and went back inside. About five minutes later, Dave walked in. Seeing him, Jenny immediately stepped in to take over from Jessica.

"Hey," she greeted.

Dave looked around, clearly searching for Jessica. His response was absentminded. "Hey."

Jenny handed him the menu. He flipped through it several times without focus, but she didn't mind. The longer she stood there, the more she could read from the documents in his folder.

Even though they were upside down and only partially visible from his open briefcase, Jenny—or rather, Chen Zhen—had a special talent for reading text at odd angles.

She had perfected this skill thanks to her ex-husband. In an effort to catch him cheating, she had trained herself to read his text messages discreetly whenever she caught a glimpse of his phone screen. Eventually, she became so good at it that she could read upside down text effortlessly.

Now, her talent was paying off in an entirely different way.

Jessica had overlooked a golden opportunity. Jenny reread the lines she had managed to decipher: "May 13th Audition Schedule, Office 1, Vampire Slayer B…"

She didn't need to see the full text to know that this was for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a flagship series for the WB Network. Based on production schedules, filming was set to begin in July, which meant casting was happening in May.

If Dave had access to these documents and was showing up every day, he wasn't just a small-time agent. He had to be a casting director for Buffy, or even higher up—perhaps a writer or producer on the show. If she could establish a connection with him, landing a guest role in a TV series would be easy.

Jenny wasn't fond of the idea of networking this way, but she had a goal—to dominate Hollywood. And for a waitress like her, an opportunity like this couldn't be ignored. Even if she wasn't interested in TV, she could use his connections to find an agent or even secure a small movie role at Warner Bros.

So, she started paying attention to Dave. Over the next few days, she discreetly gathered more information. She learned his full name and confirmed his identity through his phone conversations.

She had done extensive research on Joss Whedon, the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, after The Avengers became a hit in 2012. And in Dave's phone calls, he had repeatedly mentioned "Joss."

This was a valuable connection. Whether it was fate or simply the result of her own efforts, Jenny had positioned herself in the right place at the right time. Many aspiring actors hung around Hollywood hoping for opportunities, but only those who could recognize and seize them made it.

She didn't rush to ingratiate herself with Dave. Instead, she took the casual, friendly approach—something common among restaurant staff aiming for good tips.

For the first few days, she just greeted him. By the fifth day, she casually chatted about the weather. On the sixth day, they talked about Dave's dog. By the seventh, she mentioned her own (fake) audition experience.

By the eighth day, Dave was comfortable with her. That day, she told him her audition had gone terribly. "They already found the airhead they were looking for," she said with a sigh.

"Oh," Dave said sympathetically.

Jenny gave him a brave smile. "If you want to make me feel better, tell me I'd make a great airhead."

Dave laughed. "Honey, you're much more than just a pretty face—"

Jenny put her hands on her hips, pretending to be offended.

Dave raised his hands in surrender. "Okay, okay! You'd make a great airhead."

They both laughed. That day, he tipped her 30%.

On the ninth day, she asked if he was staying in town for good.

Dave shook his head. "I live in New York. This is just a short gig—I'm leaving next Wednesday."

He still hadn't revealed his exact job.

Jenny didn't push. She wasn't desperate enough to cling to every opportunity.

On the tenth day, she took a well-earned day off.

On the eleventh day, Dave arrived half an hour earlier than usual, looking a little anxious. When he saw Jenny, his face lit up.

"Hey," she greeted as usual. "The usual?"

Dave blurted, "Yesterday, Jessica served me."

His tone was almost accusatory, as if he hadn't been the one flirting with Jessica in the first place.

"I had the day off," Jenny said with a smirk. "Hope you weren't too traumatized."

Dave made a noncommittal face. Jenny chuckled and returned with his coffee—along with a complimentary muffin.

"On the house, to make up for yesterday," she said, winking. "Let me know if you need anything."

That night, Dave finally asked for her number.

Jenny pretended to hesitate. "Should I say, 'I'm so glad you finally asked,' or 'Oh my God, I never saw this coming'?"

Dave was adorably nervous. "Definitely the first one. Please, let it be the first one."

Jenny laughed and scribbled her number on the receipt. "Call me if you need anything."

That night, Dave called to ask her out to dinner.