As the sky turned completely dark, Ivanka finished her bath, changed into loose-fitting loungewear, and sat at the small desk by her bed. She turned off the main light, adjusted the desk lamp to a slightly brighter setting, opened her laptop, and, as the system booted up, rested her chin on her hand and tilted her head, staring blankly at her desktop wallpaper. Her gaze became unfocused, as if lost in thought.
For some reason, the first thing that came to her mind was the urge to change the wallpaper to another person's image, but she suppressed the thought. After all, though they could be considered friends, their relationship was more about a workplace hierarchy.
Shaking her head vigorously as she had often done recently, she tried to throw off certain thoughts, though with little success.
"In his eyes, you're just a fat girl."
She muttered under her breath, gritting her teeth, as if swearing to herself. Then, Ivanka forced herself to think about the vague concept that had popped into her head earlier that afternoon when she'd heard Duke's words.
Although she wasn't an IT professional, Ivanka, a Wharton Business School graduate, was well aware of the unstoppable rise of the internet. She also kept an eye on the stock market and knew that Cisco, a company specializing in network equipment, was creating miracles and legends, poised to become the most valuable company in the world.
Even though she sensed there was a bubble in all of this and the legend would inevitably collapse, she believed the development of the internet was an unstoppable trend.
While she wasn't entirely clear on all aspects, she understood the internet's unparalleled flow of information and timeliness compared to other media. If she had an opinion on something right now, she could log into forums or websites to share her thoughts with others.
As Duke's only personal assistant after Tina Fey stayed in North America to handle more critical business, Ivanka had gained access to more of his operations and network connections. She discovered that Duke was ahead of not just Hollywood but most of North America in leveraging the internet.
The success of The Matrix was, in part, a triumph of internet marketing.
The later imitator, The Blair Witch Project, had showcased the internet's power over public opinion even more vividly.
The miracles created by the internet in everyday business marketing were endless.
Ivanka's thoughts grew clearer: instant sharing!
The internet's freedom and speed in information dissemination far surpassed traditional media. Anyone could express their opinions online, and if those opinions resonated, they could quickly be shared and spread to a larger audience, even influencing others.
This was something traditional media could never achieve. Though the U.S. claimed freedom of speech, Ivanka, given her background, knew that mainstream media didn't truly serve the public. The internet, however, provided a freer platform for voices to be heard.
Her mind wandered back to the Sony home video camera she used that afternoon. Since breaking into the North American market, this compact device had become immensely popular, allowing countless people to capture personal and family moments. She even knew a few classmates who had filmed intimate moments with their boyfriends...
"Here I am in New Zealand in autumn, and I'm thinking about spring... Ivanka, your spring hasn't arrived yet!"
She lightly patted her cheeks, trying to bring herself back to reality.
Ivanka, who enjoyed recording snippets of life, understood the mindset of those who loved selfies. Such people didn't just shoot videos for private enjoyment; they wanted their creations to reach a wider audience.
A soft knock on the door interrupted her thoughts. She walked to the door, looked through the peephole, and opened it.
"You've been busy all afternoon. How can you skip dinner?" Duke stood outside, holding a paper bag containing bananas and apples. "I got these from the catering truck."
He followed Ivanka into the trailer, which had limited space, with the bed and bathroom occupying most of it. Duke sat by the small desk while Ivanka sat on the bed, casually placing the paper bag beside her.
"I'm dieting lately," she said.
"Dieting?" Duke adjusted his chair to face her. "If I remember correctly, you diet every single day of the year."
"Because I need to maintain my figure." Ivanka shrugged playfully. "I want to lose weight."
Duke stood up, ready to leave. "Your figure is perfect."
"Really?" Ivanka raised her left eyebrow. "I recall someone calling me broad-shouldered and bulky."
"Hey, Ivanka." Duke raised his index finger as a reminder. "I've already apologized, and we've made up."
"Alright, you get some rest." Duke headed to the door. "Tomorrow, we're going fishing with Ian and Billy."
Ivanka stood to see Duke out. Late January in New Zealand brought a cool night breeze. She crossed her arms, watching Duke as he walked away. Suddenly, she asked, "Am I thinner now?"
"Hmm?" Duke turned back, puzzled.
"I've lost ten pounds since last year," she said.
"Congratulations." Duke smiled. "You're getting more beautiful."
"Still not your type," she muttered.
Duke crossed his arms. "Do you know my type?"
"Don't forget, I'm your assistant." Ivanka thought for a moment before saying, "Blonde or brunette, tall and slim, long legs, narrow waist..."
"See you tomorrow."
Shaking his head, Duke walked off toward his trailer.
Ivanka felt an urge to flip him off, then glanced at her ample chest before shutting the door with a loud bang.
Turning off her laptop, she lay down, grabbed an apple from the paper bag, and took a bite. The mix of sweetness and tartness seemed to reach her heart, just like her current emotions.
The night could not prevent the dawn, and soon the sun rose again. The crew enjoyed a rare weekend off, and many planned outings to appreciate New Zealand's pristine landscapes.
Two black SUVs left early, heading toward a small nearby lake. Ivanka, looking at her faint dark circles in a mirror, sighed.
"Didn't sleep well?" Duke asked, gesturing for her to buckle her seatbelt.
Ivanka put down the mirror and fastened the belt. "I ate an apple and worried about gaining weight, so I couldn't sleep."
Duke glanced at her. Truthfully, Ivanka wasn't fat at all; she was at the peak of a healthy physique. Her large frame, common among white women, made her appear taller and larger no matter how much she slimmed down.
"I'll take a nap," Ivanka said, adjusting to a comfortable position. "Wake me when we arrive?"
"Of course."
The lake was about twenty miles away, with no proper roads leading to it. Fortunately, a herder's trail offered a relatively smooth path. Duke's off-road vehicle handled the journey well.
After roughly twenty minutes of driving along a stream, they reached the lake.
"Here already?" Ivanka opened her drowsy eyes.
Duke nodded, stepped onto the soft grass, and retrieved the fishing gear from the back. He waved for Ivanka, who carried snacks and drinks, to follow Billy Boyd and Ian McKellen toward a small dock.
The dock was old, with a wooden cabin on it. Several freshly painted boats were moored nearby.
"We'll rent two boats," Billy Boyd said to Duke. "The lake has delicious trout, but they're hard to catch near the shore. We need to head into deeper waters."
Duke turned to Ivanka for her opinion, and she nodded lightly. "I'll go with you."
Hearing this, Billy Boyd, out of her sight, winked at Duke, who ignored his antics.
They rented the boats quickly, and after loading the fishing gear and supplies, Duke rowed one boat while Ivanka sat nearby.
"Hey, Duke, we'll leave you two alone!" Billy Boyd called from his boat, rowing past them with a grin.
Duke was capable of rowing but wasn't skilled, so his movements were cautious, keeping the boat at a slow pace. Ivanka tidied the small cabin before suggesting, "Let me try."
"You know how?" Duke asked.
"I used to row in Central Park during high school."
With that, the two carefully switched positions, keeping the boat balanced. Ivanka, indeed more practiced, soon sped up their pace, taking them farther from the shore.
After reaching a spot about 100 feet from the shore, Ivanka adjusted the boat's position while Duke prepared the fishing gear. He baited a hook and cast his line, ready to see if he could catch anything worthwhile.
...
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