Chapter 62 – The Star That Belongs to the People
The sun shone brightly in the Santa Monica sky, and the salty sea breeze made the weather perfect for a day outdoors.
Jacob Stewart was back on the beach with Lucky, his inseparable Labrador, for another morning run.
Wearing black athletic shorts, a navy blue tank top, and Ray-Ban sunglasses, he strolled leisurely along the sand, throwing a frisbee for Lucky to fetch.
After a few runs and games, he decided to simply observe the sea, enjoying the peaceful moment.
But the tranquility wouldn't last long.
And, to be honest, he didn't mind.
A few meters away, a group of young people were playing beach volleyball.
There were four boys and three girls, laughing and having fun, until one of them looked to the side and his eyes widened.
—Wait… Is that JACOB STEWART?!
The others stopped playing immediately, following their friend's gaze.
"Wait, it can't be…"
"My God, it's HIM!"
Jacob noticed the stares and smiled.
He liked this kind of spontaneous interaction.
He approached with Lucky running alongside him and casually waved to the young men.
"Hey, guys. How's the game going?"
The young men were speechless for a second.
It was bizarre to see a Hollywood star there, alone, talking to them as if he were just any friend.
One of the boys, still somewhat incredulous, replied:
"Ah… Okay, I guess…?"
Jacob laughed.
"You guys seem to be having fun. Can you join the team or will I be a nuisance?"
The young men exchanged shocked glances.
One of the boys almost choked on his own saliva.
"YOU WANT TO PLAY WITH US?!"
Jacob raised an eyebrow. — Why not? I like volleyball.
That was enough to send them into ecstasy.
— OH MY GOD, THIS ISN'T REAL!
— SOMEONE RECORD THIS!
And, of course…
Someone recorded it.
The young people quickly organized the teams.
Jacob took off his tank top and was left only in his shorts, revealing his impeccably trained physique, something that made the girls exchange glances.
— Okay, now I'm intimidated. — joked one of the boys, seeing Jacob's muscles.
Jacob laughed and picked up the ball.
— Let's see if you can beat me.
The game began, and Jacob surprised everyone.
He was agile, explosive, and had incredible reflexes.
Every time he made a block or scored a point, the young people cheered.
— MAN, HE'S REALLY GOOD!
— EVEN AT VOLLEYBALL, THE GUY IS GOOD?!
— JACOB, HAVEN'T YOU GOTTEN TIRED OF BEING PERFECT YET?!
Jacob just laughed and had fun as if it were just another ordinary day.
And, while the game was going on, more people started to notice what was happening.
A man passing by saw the game and noticed the familiar figure on the court.
He pulled out his cell phone and started recording.
— Wait, wait, wait… JACOB STEWART IS PLAYING VOLLEYBALL WITH SOME KIDS ON THE BEACH?!
He posted it on Twitter with the caption:
"This guy is surreal. Jacob Stewart casually playing volleyball with fans on the beach. He's JUST LIKE US!"
Within minutes, the post already had thousands of likes and shares.
And that's when more people started showing up on the beach.
Some came just to watch.
Others wanted to play too.
And Jacob?
He welcomed everyone with open arms.
Jacob didn't leave.
In fact, he stayed on the beach all afternoon.
He played several volleyball games, took photos, chatted with fans, and even sat on the sand to have lunch with them, as if they were old friends.
One of the boys looked at him and asked, still in disbelief:
"Jacob, don't you really have anything better to do?"
Jacob took a sip of his water and replied with a smile:
"Honestly? This is much better than any Hollywood event."
The fans exchanged surprised glances.
Jacob didn't do this to make a good impression or gain media attention.
He did it because he enjoyed it.
Because he was a normal guy who never forgot where he came from.
The next morning, the internet exploded again.
All the entertainment websites and channels were talking about Jacob Stewart and his afternoon playing volleyball on the beach.
CNN Entertainment
"Jacob Stewart spends the day playing volleyball and chatting with fans on the beach – Hollywood's most approachable star?"
"While other stars isolate themselves at lavish events, Jacob Stewart prefers to be on the beach playing volleyball with strangers. This guy keeps proving he's different."
Sports Illustrated
"Besides being a shooting champion and a dedicated white belt in Jiu-Jitsu, now Jacob Stewart shows talent in volleyball? What doesn't this man do well?"
"He may be one of the best actors today, but he's also becoming a sports icon. Stewart seems to take everything he does seriously – whether in film, weapons, or even sports."
TMZ
"Jacob Stewart refuses to be an ordinary celebrity, he wants to be among the people."
"It's not the first time he's done this. Recently, he had lunch with fans on the beach, and now he spent a whole day playing volleyball with strangers. Hollywood has never seen anything like this before."
The comments were insane.
"If I lived in LA, I'd go to the beach EVERY DAY just to see if I could find Jacob Stewart."
"This man doesn't exist! Every time you think he's already amazing, he surpasses himself!"
"I think I'll start taking a volleyball with me every time I go to the beach." "Just in case, right?"
Jacob laughed at all the attention.
He opened his Instagram and posted a photo of himself and Lucky on the sand, with the caption:
"I think I'll need to practice volleyball more." 🏐
Within minutes, the post already had millions of likes.
And so, once again, Jacob Stewart won even more hearts – not with fame or money, but with authenticity.
And he knew it…
This was just another normal day.
Chapter 63 – The Met Gala and the Vogue Invitation
May 1st, 2016 – The Most Elegant Night of the Year
The night was vibrant in New York. The iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art was completely transformed for the annual Met Gala, one of the most exclusive events in the fashion world.
Jacob Stewart had always been a man of action, but lately, he had also become a men's style icon.
And it was no wonder.
He was sponsored by Giorgio Armani, one of the most prestigious brands in the world.
And that night, he would represent the brand at the event.
Jacob arrived on the red carpet in a custom black Armani limousine, accompanied by his agent Richard Calloway.
Wearing an impeccable black Giorgio Armani tuxedo, with a white turtleneck shirt and a perfectly tailored bow tie, he looked the definition of sophistication.
As soon as he stepped out of the car, the flashes exploded like fireworks.
— JACOB! JACOB, OVER HERE!
— JACOB, ARE YOU WEARING ARMANI TODAY?
— JACOB, HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE AT THE MET GALA?
He smiled slightly, adjusted his suit, and walked down the red carpet with a calm, natural confidence.
He stopped for a few photos, chatted briefly with journalists, and then entered the event.
Inside, the real social game began.
As he walked up the grand Met staircase, Jacob felt a pair of eyes watching him.
He turned and saw none other than Anna Wintour, the legendary editor-in-chief of Vogue, an absolute fashion icon and one of the most influential figures in the industry.
Wearing her traditional Chanel dress and her iconic sunglasses, Anna Wintour approached Jacob with a slight smile.
— Jacob Stewart. We finally meet.
Jacob, ever respectful, extended his hand.
— Ms. Wintour, it's a pleasure to meet you in person. She shook his hand firmly and examined his suit from head to toe.
"Giorgio Armani. An impeccable choice. You wear a tuxedo like you were born for it."
Jacob chuckled softly.
"Well, when you work with weapons and fighting on screen, it's good to know how to look sophisticated too."
She tilted her head, as if assessing something.
Then, without beating around the bush, she said directly:
"I want you on the cover of Vogue."
Jacob blinked, surprised.
Even being one of the most famous men in the world at that moment, this was still unexpected.
"Wow… That's a great honor."
Anna Wintour gave a slight smile and adjusted her sunglasses.
"We've done covers with many celebrities, but you… You're different. You're not just an actor. You're an icon of modern masculinity. You are action, elegance, and authenticity combined in a single image. And I want to capture that."
Jacob took the words in and smiled.
"This definitely interests me. I'll talk to my agent, but I'd love to be a part of it."
Anna nodded.
"Great. You'll hear from my team soon."
And so, the official invitation was made.
Jacob Stewart was going to star on the cover of Vogue.
And the world was going to go crazy about it.
After the conversation with Anna Wintour, Jacob circulated through the main hall of the Met Gala, greeting and meeting some of the most influential figures in the world of fashion, film, and music.
He spent a good part of the evening chatting with Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy, two of his close friends.
Leo laughed, holding a glass of champagne.
"So, in addition to being a sharpshooter, a Jiu-Jitsu fighter, and an Oscar-winning actor, now you're also going to be a Vogue cover model?"
Tom Hardy nodded, amused.
"I'm starting to think Jacob isn't real. He was created in a lab to be perfect."
Jacob laughed and took a sip of his whiskey.
"I'm just taking advantage of the opportunities that come my way, guys."
They continued talking, and Jacob even had long interactions with Zendaya, Margot Robbie, Rihanna, Beyoncé, and Gigi Hadid.
Every person he spoke to was fascinated by his energy and authenticity.
When the night came to an end, Jacob picked up his cell phone and texted his agent, Richard.
Jacob: "Richard, I need to talk to you tomorrow. I've been invited to be on the cover of Vogue."
Richard: "WHAT?! Okay, that changes everything. We'll meet in the morning."
Jacob smiled to himself.
The Met Gala had been an absolute success for him.
And now…
He would become the new face of global menswear.
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