Chapter 35 – Tom Cruise's Fury
Listening to Nicole calmly twist the narrative in her favor, William couldn't help but admire her.
But then again, anyone who managed to rise in Hollywood had to master that skill.
Strictly speaking, what she said wasn't entirely accurate. However, the Top Gun production team didn't know the full details either. Even if reporters went back to question them, they wouldn't be able to uncover the real sequence of events.
"Wow," Samantha Voss said with a knowing smile,
"it seems Mr. Blake's Before I Go to Sleep must be incredibly compelling—otherwise, Miss Kidman, you wouldn't have given up the chance to work with Tom Cruise, would you?"
Her tone remained sharp and probing.
Nicole, however, handled it effortlessly.
"If a project speaks to you artistically," she replied smoothly,
"sometimes that matters more than anything else."
After that, the conversation shifted fully toward Before I Go to Sleep. They discussed the psychological elements, the suspense-driven structure, and Nicole's more mature, emotionally complex role.
It became an impromptu promotional segment—an early wave of publicity.
When the interview wrapped up, all three parties were satisfied.
William had successfully promoted his film.
Nicole had publicly announced her artistic transition.
And Samantha had secured exclusive material.
A win for everyone.
"Thank you both for your time today, Miss Kidman, Mr. Blake," Samantha said warmly, shaking their hands before leaving with Larry.
As they watched the two reporters walk away from Umbrella's second studio, William folded his arms.
"I'm guessing once that segment airs tonight, Hollywood will be flooded with rumors about the two of us."
He had no illusions about journalists.
In America—where media was fully privatized—no outlet reported anything purely objectively. Every network had interests. Every narrative had a slant.
William didn't know E!'s exact position or affiliations. But as an entertainment gossip channel, there was a ninety-nine percent chance they wouldn't air the interview in a straightforward manner.
They would spice it up.
And if there was something to exaggerate—
they absolutely would.
They would inevitably twist certain facts—just enough to give the public a juicy celebrity story to chew on.
"So what?" Nicole raised a brow at William. "Is it such a hardship for you to be linked to me in the tabloids?"
William shrugged lightly.
"Not at all. As long as you're fine with it."
---
That Night – Beverly Hills
Inside Tom Cruise's mansion in Beverly Hills, he lay alone on the couch, watching the evening news.
Though already a rising star, he remained intensely invested in his career. The report on Top Gun was playing when the phone suddenly rang.
He got up, walked to the landline, and picked up the receiver.
"Tom! Turn on E! Channel—now!"
It was a close friend of his. Just days earlier, Tom had vented to him about Nicole Kidman.
Truthfully, the first time he saw Nicole, he'd been captivated by her stunning beauty. Even though he hadn't finalized his divorce from his current wife, Rogers, he couldn't suppress the restless spark she'd ignited.
Everything had seemed certain. He'd assumed the opportunity to work with him was irresistible.
Yet somehow, she had turned it down.
And that refusal only made her more intriguing.
"What's going on? Why E!?" Tom asked, confused.
"It's Nicole—she's on air. Big news. Just watch!"
The line went dead.
Tom frowned, grabbed the remote, and switched channels.
The moment E! loaded, there they were—Nicole and William, exchanging subtle glances that lingered just a little too long.
Tom's brow tightened.
"Who the hell is this pretty boy?" he muttered.
As the edited segment played—expertly cut for maximum intrigue—it looked less like a film promotion and more like something intimate.
On-screen, Samantha Voss smiled at William.
"How would you describe your relationship with Miss Kidman?"
"If I had to put it simply," William replied calmly, "I'd say we're good friends."
Good friends.
A phrase so common in Hollywood it practically meant the opposite.
Voss turned to Nicole.
"Miss Kidman, would you agree?"
The camera zoomed in tightly on her face.
Tom stared at the screen, unblinking.
"I think," Nicole said with a soft smile, "that 'good friends' doesn't quite cover it. We're very, very good friends. Wouldn't you agree, William?"
That was enough.
Tom switched off the television.
An outsider might not catch it—but he lived in this world. He knew the subtext. Knew the tone. Knew the glances.
They were involved.
Which meant that after he had made his interest clear—after they'd met face to face—she had chosen someone else.
His jaw tightened.
"Who is this guy? What the hell is Before I Go to Sleep anyway?"
He began pacing across the living room.
Moments later, he poured himself a drink and downed it in one go.
His mood had darkened considerably.
---
Meanwhile – Sunset Boulevard
Back at Nicole's apartment on Sunset Boulevard, things were unfolding very differently.
William had originally planned to have dinner with Catherine Zeta-Jones that evening.
Instead, Nicole had firmly redirected him here.
Once inside, he looked at her helplessly.
"So what exactly did you drag me over here for?"
"Oh?" Nicole's tone carried a sharp edge. "In such a hurry to coach your promising new actress?"
Before William could craft an excuse, she gave him a firm push onto the couch.
"Sit. Wait. I'm taking a shower."
With that, she turned and walked away, her movements deliberate.
William swallowed, loosened his tie, and exhaled slowly.
Moments later, the sound of running water filled the apartment.
He sat still for a second—then stood.
Passive waiting wasn't his style.
He walked toward the bathroom and gently pushed the door open.
Inside, steam lingered in the air. Nicole reclined in the bathtub, water cascading over her shoulders. The dim lighting and rising mist blurred the edges of her silhouette.
William drew in a slow breath.
This woman truly knew how to test a man's restraint.