America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Opposite Warner Bros. Studios, Smoky House Restaurant.

Martin ordered a steak and looked towards the stage where the young pianist was playing jazz music, the lively tunes relaxing his mood.

Across from him, Bruce flipped through his notebook and asked, "The time and place for the event are all set. Should we inform the gossip media and paparazzi now?"

Martin shifted his gaze back, "Their interest in normal film and TV news pales in comparison to entertainment gossip. It's not too late to call them after I've made arrangements with Annie."

He was a man of high quality, always considering others, "We can't let our journalist friends make a wasted trip. We need to further improve our professional integrity; shady dealings like scams and deceit are absolutely out of the question."

Bruce, seeking revenge, purposefully asked, "No scams and deceit? Are your feelings for Annie real?"

"Of course!" Martin employed the most fitting metaphor, "My feelings for Annie are as real as diamonds."

Bruce felt there was something off about Martin's metaphor but couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

The uplifting music continued, and just as it happened, it was the type Martin liked. When the waiter brought his steak, he pointed toward the stage, "The pianist is good."

The waiter said with a smile, "His name is Sebastian, a pianist."

Martin nodded, "Send a bouquet of flowers, and put it on this table's tab."

After the piece had finished, the waiter delivered the flowers and whispered something; Sebastian nodded in gratitude towards Martin's table.

Bruce calculated the timing, "The promotional event fits with your and Annie's exposure schedule."

Martin acknowledged his words but turned his head towards the entrance as Angelina Jolie and Louise walked into the restaurant.

As they approached, Martin stood up to greet them, "What brings you two here?"

Louise smiled at him, "Without anyone treating us, we had to come and pay out of our own pocket."

Without any loyalty to Bruce, Martin said, "Lunch is on me."

Because he often visited the "Alexander the Great" crew, Jolie, having seen Martin several times, was also quite familiar with him and said, "Let's join together."

The three of them sat at another table and ordered their meals.

Louise asked Martin, "Any progress with 'Wanted Order'?"

"None," Martin said simply, "The Hills Have Eyes crew is planning a promotional activity, and I'm helping with some ideas."

He wouldn't neglect Jolie, "If the crew had a superstar like Angie, the media would scramble to cover it."

Jolie responded gracefully to the flattering words, but she wasn't swept away, chuckling, "I hardly count as a superstar; there are not many crews daring to cast me as the lead actress these days."

Martin inquired, "I heard you did an action movie."

Jolie's situation wasn't too good, "My most successful film to date is 'Tomb Raider', but the second one had a lukewarm response."

Martin complimented, "Lara is both cool and suave; everyone I know likes her."

Louise's gaze swept past Martin's face, and she suddenly recalled the discussion Martin had with Bradt, the screenwriter of "Wanted Order", about changing the comic's black female sidekick, Fox, into a white female assassin and a cool Girl.

Jolie remarked, "It's a pity there won't be a third installment."

Martin could tell that Jolie was not averse to action roles.

He didn't say much more; with his experience, he didn't have any persuasive power to speak of.

He decided to let Louise handle that discussion later on.

When the meals arrived, Martin steered the conversation towards war and refugees.

As expected, Jolie was already tuned into these issues, leaning into that direction.

Thanks to the common ground, by the end of lunch, Jolie's impression of Martin had shifted from vaguely familiar to deeply memorable.

Martin picked up the check and returned to the studio with Louise and Jolie.

Jolie left to attend a promotional event.

Martin entered Louise's office.

Louise was curious, "Since when do you care about Afghanistan and Iraq?"

Martin poured himself a glass of water and began to bluff, "Isn't this our universal values and democratic sentiments?"

Louise scoffed, "Even Americans don't buy that. Think those people whose homes have been destroyed believe it?"

Martin did not elaborate, "Who knows." He changed the subject, "I'm thinking of inviting Jolie to play in 'Wanted Order,' for the role of Fox."

"Jolie's fee isn't cheap. She got a $10 million paycheck for 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'," Louise doubted, "Whether that $10 million is worth the ticket sales is debatable."

Martin felt there was still room for Jolie's salary to decrease, with "Alexander the Great" premiering in December.

While it involved Louise's bundled funds, Martin could only watch with his current capabilities.

In Hollywood commercial films, an actor's fee is directly referenced by their last three film performances, with the most recent being the most crucial.

Martin was keenly aware that Jolie's pull was not to be underestimated in the previous success of "Wanted Order."

Since "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," Jolie's career sped up, making her one of the few actresses in Hollywood capable of holding up the box office on her own.

Compared to the commercial draw of Nicole Kidman, Charlize Theron, Kate Blanchett, and Meryl Streep, Jolie was leagues ahead.

Martin had specifically inquired about "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" releasing next May.

Louise looked at Martin, "What are you thinking? Sometimes I can't see through your thoughts."

Martin laughed heartily, "How can someone as pure as me be fully seen through by you every time."

Louise pushed her black-rimmed glasses up a bit, "I can't even be sure if the you I see is the real you."

Martin patted the area over his heart, "Do you want me to dig it out so you can take a look?"

Louise pulled open a drawer, rifled through it, found a wallpaper knife, set it on the desk, pushed it towards him, and made a 'please' gesture.

Martin picked up the wallpaper knife, pushed it upwards to the limit, but no blade emerged and said, "I knew it, you wouldn't bear to do it."

Louise threw a box of blades over at him.

Martin pocketed them as if he'd never said what he just did and smoothly changed the subject, "Let's talk about this later, even if we invite her, Jolie might not agree."

Louise understood Jolie's situation, "She's short on money lately, she'll almost certainly agree for the pay."

Seeing her reach for the blades again, Martin said, "I've got other things to do, I'll be off now, I'll come visit you at your place some other day."

Upon leaving the studio and arriving at the entrance of the film studio, Martin met up with Bruce and said, "Let's go to Paramount's studio lot, I want to see my favorite Annie."

Bruce started the car, "You have too many favorites; if they formed a favorites alliance, wouldn't you be beaten to death?"

"That wouldn't happen," Martin said earnestly, "Because you will protect me."

...

During lunch break, Rachel signed into her personal MSN account and entered a fan group she had created a while back.

The most active users from Martin's blog section had mostly joined Rachel's fan group.

She quickly drafted an announcement to inform all members that next Saturday, a fan meeting with Martin and "The Hills Have Eyes" fandom would be held at the Burbank Hotel Banquet Hall, where the first trailer of the movie would be revealed.

A male fan asked, "Boss, do we eat first before going? Or what?"

Rachel remembered this guy, a chubby little fellow, and replied, "The crew is providing a free buffet, and everyone who attends will get a gift."

Another chimed in, "Rachel, you're amazing, securing such great benefits for us!"

Rachel sent a smiley face emoji, "It was Martin who secured this for us; I only planned for a simple dinner, but after Martin heard about it, he specifically sought support from the crew, and that's how this event came about."

"Martin is so cool!"

"Love Martin the most!"

"Forever supporting Martin!"

Amid a string of enthusiastic cheers, a user named Phoebe asked, "Should we prepare a gift for Martin?"

The others quickly agreed.

Someone asked, "What should we prepare?"

Various answers were proposed, with someone even suggesting giving Martin a doll...

Phoebe asked Rachel, "You've been to Martin's fan meetings before, was there anything special about them?"

Rachel quickly remembered the most unique aspect, "Last time, Martin had us supporters write words of encouragement for him, which he uses to motivate himself to keep striving. Right, Martin still remembers the words I wrote for him."

"That's great! Martin will remember us forever!" Phoebe said, "It's more meaningful than if we all chipped in to buy Martin a watch or jewelry. I believe Martin would love it!"

Everyone swiftly agreed.

......

Inside Paramount Pictures' soundstage, the crew was on a break.

Annie quickly walked towards the rest area, her mood lifted at the sight of Martin bringing gifts again.

Laura followed behind and said, "Martin always brings you gifts; I'm so envious."

Annie laughed happily, others' envy was her contentment.

Recently, she had specifically asked her agent, Maha, to inquire about Martin, confirming he really did start a new film studio and was in the process of planning a comic-adaptation film project called "Wanted Order."

The project had even posted a director's recruitment announcement at the Directors Guild, with an investment forecast not below 40 million US dollars.

Having seen the photos in the recruitment announcement, Annie was certain she had found true love.

Hence, Annie had also prepared a little gift, "Laura, where's the thing?"

Laura handed a pink gift box to Annie.

The two approached the rest area.

Martin personally moved a chair closer and cleared the non-existent dust off it, "My princess, please sit."

Annie didn't sit but deliberately moved the chair next to hers closer, "You sit too."

Shoulder to shoulder, they sat down, one with deep affection, the other brimming with love, truly a perfect match.

Annie reached for the gift first, grabbed one of his hands, and pushed it into them, "Every time you come here, you bring me something. This is my reciprocation, and you must not refuse."

"Okay, I'll accept," Martin took it and asked, "May I open it?"

Annie nodded, "Of course."

Martin opened the box, saw a pearl bracelet, and exclaimed, "It's beautiful."

Annie specifically mentioned, "It's a memento I got from 'The Princess Diaries' crew, very meaningful."

"I love it," Martin said, taking it out and wearing it on his wrist.

Having been to numerous film and TV sets, witnessing countless props and jewelry, it wasn't hard for him to discern that this was just an ordinary artificial pearl bracelet, probably worth less than half a golden doughnut.

Martin treasured it like a prized possession, appearing to be utterly overwhelmed by the goddess's gesture of gifting, grinning like a smitten fool, all while passing the gift box he brought to Annie.