Chapter 252: Completely Yours
Of course, the lead actor for Con Air was none other than the hugely famous Tom Cruise—one of the key reasons Jan de Bont agreed to direct the film.
Compared to Speed, which was set almost entirely on a bus, Con Air took the action into the sky, making it a far more ambitious and challenging project.
That said, Jan de Bont had some concerns—whether it might end up repeating the shortcomings of an earlier airborne action film like Passenger 57.
Aaron dismissed the worry outright.
"Our Con Air is nothing like that low-budget Warner Bros. film," he said confidently.
"Don't worry—there's no comparison. In every aspect, it's on a completely different level."
After all, Passenger 57, released a couple of years earlier, had only a $15 million budget, starred Wesley Snipes, and carried obvious imitations of Die Hard. It simply couldn't be compared to Dawnlight's large-scale production, especially one led by Tom Cruise.
---
While Con Air was progressing steadily through pre-production, Bad Boys was moving even faster.
A newcomer director—Michael Bay—paired with a rising actor, Will Smith, made negotiations smooth. Both had already signed three-picture deals with Dawnlight.
---
That afternoon, at Dawnlight's headquarters in Burbank, Aaron sat in his office reviewing current projects.
The studio was actively producing three films:
Legends of the Fall
The Mask
P2 (Parking Garage Horror)
Of the three, The Mask was still in full swing, while the other two were nearing completion.
Aaron frowned slightly.
"Is David Fincher still revising the Seven script? It's taking quite a while."
Evelyn Beckett nodded.
"He's revising the script while simultaneously preparing the production. Director Fincher seems to have a lot of ideas he wants to refine."
Aaron leaned back in his chair, thoughtful.
That perfectionism… could be a double-edged sword—but if handled right, it might also be exactly what would make Seven unforgettable.
Aaron smiled. "Let me know once David Fincher finishes revising the script."
There was no helping it—he had already promised not to interfere with Fincher's creative freedom. Backing out now wasn't an option.
Evelyn Beckett added, "Right, boss—Director Fincher mentioned that Seven could begin filming in the summer."
Aaron nodded. "Alright, that works…"
---
That evening, as Aaron drove out of Dawnlight's parking lot, he spotted a familiar figure walking along the street.
"Hey, Jennifer!"
He pulled over and rolled down the window.
"Ah—Mr. Anderson!" Jennifer Aniston looked surprised.
"Hop in. Where are you headed? I'll give you a ride," Aaron said, opening the door.
She smiled and got in. "Didn't expect to run into you here."
As a relatively unknown actress, she hadn't imagined crossing paths with him again. After all, nothing much had happened between them that night at the New York bar—aside from him helping her land a role in Friends.
"Annie… I can call you that, right?"
"Of course."
"You're filming Friends now?"
Jennifer nodded. "We're shooting the pilot. Dawnlight Television signed a first-run deal with NBC."
She added with a light laugh, "But since it's a script personally backed by Hollywood's golden boy Aaron Anderson, I doubt NBC would turn it down."
Aaron chuckled. "You've got that much faith in me?"
"Of course," she said. "Dawnlight's name already stands for quality—especially projects you're involved in."
When they reached Sunset Boulevard near the famous Viper Room, Aaron suggested, "How about a drink, Annie?"
"Sure," she agreed without hesitation. Spending time alone with him wasn't something she'd pass up.
Inside the club, Aaron casually mentioned, "Last Halloween, River Phoenix collapsed here. The place even shut down for a week afterward. One of the major shareholders of this club is Johnny Depp."
Jennifer sighed softly, taking a sip of her drink. "Such a shame. River Phoenix was incredibly talented."
"Yeah," Aaron agreed.
He'd also heard that Keanu Reeves had sworn off drugs after losing his close friend. The autopsy had revealed a lethal mix of substances—cocaine, heroin, and others—resulting in an overdose.
Aaron glanced at Jennifer beside him. She wore a blue blouse and a skirt, her long hair falling over her shoulders. A faint flush from the alcohol tinted her fair face, making her even more captivating.
"Annie…"
"Mm?"
Without warning, Aaron slipped an arm around her waist and kissed her. His hand rested lightly along her thigh.
Jennifer responded instinctively, returning the kiss with equal warmth.
After a moment, she leaned against him, her fingers brushing his cheek. "Weren't we just here for drinks?"
Aaron smirked slightly. "Aren't we still?"
She laughed softly. "Aren't you going to take me home? I've got filming tomorrow."
"Where do you live?"
"North Hollywood."
---
Not long after, Aaron pulled up outside her apartment.
"I'm here," Jennifer said with a smile, leaning over to kiss his cheek. Her hand gently rested over his.
"Want to come in for some coffee?"
Her eyes carried a hint of invitation.
Aaron nodded. "Of course."
---
Inside the apartment, she pulled him into a kiss the moment the door closed.
They moved together toward the bedroom, laughter and lingering warmth filling the space as the night unfolded naturally—two people drawn together by attraction, curiosity, and the unspoken promise of something more.