America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 168 Leaving North America

The Volkswagen sedan sped past on the road and turned into the Sherman Oaks South Hill area. Martin slowed down slightly. A girl walking a golden retriever ahead was waving at him.

Elizabeth Olsen spotted Martin's car approaching from a distance.

The Aston Martin pulled over to the side of the road and rolled down the passenger window: "Want a ride?"

Elizabeth shook her head and said with a smile, "Thank you. I didn't see you again when I woke up from my afternoon nap that day."

"You're welcome." Martin waved his hand. "I have to go now."

The golden retriever suddenly started barking at the car.

Martin sped away.

Irasha held the dog on a leash and waved at the car.

Martin's car arrived at Louise's house. The automatic door opened, and he drove the car to an open space on the side of the villa.

Mary was waiting at the door when she saw Martin rushing over, and a hint of relief flashed in her eyes.

Martin asked, "And her?"

Mary pointed inside: "They're still drinking, and I can't stop them."

Martin nodded slightly, glanced at Mary quickly as he passed by, and strode into the villa.

Louise, dressed in a well-fitting dark business suit and wearing black-rimmed glasses, leaned on the bar, pouring herself a drink.

After finishing her drink, she reached for the bottle, but a large hand pressed down on hers.

Martin glanced at the two empty bottles, one large and one small, beside him and said, "Stop drinking."

Louise hiccuped, grabbed Martin's clothes, and pulled him to her side: "You've come at the right time, drink with me."

Martin picked up the bottle, walked around the bar, went inside, took out two new glasses, unscrewed a bottle of mineral water, and poured it into the glasses.

Louise rested one hand on the bar counter, propping her chin up, and stared at Martin: "What brings you here?"

"Mary called me." Martin placed a glass of water in front of Louise. "I was worried something had happened to you."

Louise picked up her glass, but couldn't smell any alcohol, so she put it down again: "Bad seed, I'm really going to go bankrupt."

Martin reiterated his previous stance: "If you go bankrupt, I'll support you."

Louise used to take it all as a joke, but now that Martin said it, she was puzzled.

Martin drank a glass of water.

"I need a drink. I feel terrible without one." Louise pushed her glass back, half-jokingly saying, "Do you know how many investors have called me since this morning, asking to end our partnerships? Fifteen! Do you know what that means?"

Martin didn't take out the wine, and asked softly, "One failure has broken you? This isn't the kind of female alcoholic I know."

He pulled up a chair and sat opposite Louise. "Can things get any harder than they were in Atlanta? I, a nobody from the slums, made a millionaire. You can't possibly have it harder than I did, can you?"

Louise stared at Martin: "People always chase success."

Martin chimed in, "There are others who cherish friendship just as much as I do."

Louise suddenly burst into laughter, laughing so hard she leaned on the table. She had been feeling down all day, but Kelly and Martin had cheered her up a bit.

When people are going through difficult times, even a ray of sunshine can feel incredibly bright.

Martin pushed the glass back: "Drink some water to sober up."

"Carry me upstairs." Louise opened her arms directly.

Martin walked around her, picked up Louise, and carried her upstairs.

Louise leaned on his shoulder and suddenly let out a hiccup.

Martin was startled and said, "Wait until we get upstairs, then go to the bathroom to throw up."

Louise whispered in his ear, "Don't worry, I get carsick and seasick occasionally, but I never get airsick."

Feeling down? Then take a thrilling flight!

Louise used to think Martin was both good-looking and useful, but now she finds it's even better looking and more useful.

…………

Century City, Starbucks.

Thomas was waiting for his target.

Ron Armas, the top assistant to Martin Scorsese's producer Graham King.

Thomas was an alumnus of Graham's and had known him for many years. After learning that he had become Graham's assistant, he kept in touch with him.

Ron pulled out a chair and sat opposite Thomas, saying, "So eager?"

Thomas said, "There are countless people watching Martin Scorsese's project." He then asked, "Any more specific information?"

"I attended a meeting with Graham this morning. There were two screenwriters and directors from Hong Kong." Ron opened his briefcase and took out a box of discs. "This film is a huge hit in East Asia. Director Scorsese is very interested in it and is preparing to adapt it for the United States."

Thomas took it; the disc was called "Infernal Affairs," a crime thriller.

Ron explained, "The story will be set in Boston, and the characters will be based on the gangsters that Scorsese is best at. The two main characters are both undercover agents: one is an Irish mob agent infiltrating the police force, and the other is a police agent infiltrating the Irish mob. The latter is the absolute protagonist, and Leonardo DiCaprio is confirmed to star in it."

Thomas's gaze immediately fell on the undercover agent in front of him: "Would a supporting male role suit my client?"

"First, he needs to have excellent acting skills," Ron stated bluntly. "Second, he needs to have a certain level of fame. In recent years, Scorsese's crews have rarely used unknown newcomers; he prefers to work with established actors."

He stated bluntly, "Excuse my frankness, but your client, Martin Davis, isn't famous enough. Scorsese's projects, once word gets out, never lack star actors."

Thomas knew this, but he didn't really have many connections with near-A-level projects. Scorsese's projects not only promoted people but also broadened Martin's acting range and the types of roles he could play.

Similarly, the competition will be extremely fierce.

"Martin has a new film coming out after the New Year, a horror thriller by Craven, his fame will skyrocket then." Thomas felt that wasn't enough: "Ron, you were involved in 'Gangs of New York' and 'The Aviator,' you're familiar with Scorsese's film crew operations. If Martin wants to get a major supporting role, is there any way to increase his chances of winning?"

Ron said the simplest and most direct way: "As long as his acting skills are good enough, he can bring his own investment to the production, or get the support of the main producers and investors, his chances of winning will naturally be greater. Scorsese's gangster films have high investment, and the returns... the return on investment is actually not high. Most of the profits come from long-term operation, and the investment pressure is relatively high. Faced with a large investment, even an artist will compromise."

Thomas asked, "Is this how Leonardo established a long-term partnership with Scorsese?"

Ron nodded: "Titanic had a huge impact worldwide. It completely changed Leonardo DiCaprio's career. So many overseas funds are willing to invest in Leonardo DiCaprio. He can always easily attract tens of millions of dollars in investment, and he has a strong appeal. What director wouldn't like a leading man like that?"

Thomas frowned: "An investment in the tens of millions?"

"At the very least, don't forget the prerequisite: solid acting skills." Ron said with a smile, "Look at me, I almost forgot the simplest way: if we can get Graham, Scorsese, or Leonardo on our side, everything will be OK!"

Thomas found it extremely difficult; Scorsese was not a WMA client, and although Ali Emmanuel had tried to poach him several times, he had not succeeded.

He asked, "You have no voice?"

"At most, I'm an assistant producer and assistant director on set," Ron said, quite self-aware. "If it's just a small role, I guarantee I'll have no problem, but for a top ten role, I have no say."

Thomas thought about how Martin hadn't abandoned him even when facing a top-tier director like Ridley Scott's A-list production, and he hardened his heart: "Of those three, whoever likes men, I'll go find him!"

Ron had seen Martin's video footage; he was handsome, sunny, and had a fantastic physique. He said, "You want the client to..."

Thomas shook his head: "No, it's me! I'll do it myself!"

Ron glanced at Thomas's receding hairline and shiny forehead and said, "Don't be ridiculous. Investing at this level isn't something you can solve by just selling your assets."

For the first time, Thomas felt utterly useless.

Ron cautioned, "The script hasn't been written yet, and the production team won't be recruiting actors anytime soon. Not many people know about it yet, so let's act quickly, or we'll really miss out on all opportunities."

After his meeting with Ron, Thomas rushed off to his next engagement, inviting a Warner Bros. production executive to lunch.

From this executive, he received confirmation that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's Plan B Pictures had reached an agreement with Warner Bros. to invest in Scorsese's new project, with its investment second only to Warner Bros. and Leonardo DiCaprio's Appian Way Productions.

Thomas was jumping around like crazy, he was practically ready to sell his ass.

There is still hope if we try.

If you don't take the initiative, you won't have any chance.

…………

Meanwhile, in Sherman Oaks' luxurious villa.

Martin was fast asleep, his head resting on Louise's full breasts. His breath tickled Louise, waking her up prematurely.

Louise stirred, and Martin woke up as well.

He checked the time and said, "Let's go out for dinner."

Louise was too lazy to move: "I'll have the kitchen prepare it."

Martin said deliberately, "You're bankrupt, and I'm supposed to support you? Let's go out to eat."

"You're such a mood killer. I just got rid of some work-related troubles," Louise said. "It's just some investors ending their partnerships; it's not like we're going bankrupt."

Martin, recalling the project Thomas had mentioned, said half-seriously and half-jokingly, "I was originally thinking of coming up with some new formulas to cheer you up so I could get a good role in Martin Scorsese's project."

Louise sighed deeply: "There's no hope. I can't afford such a big pie in the bag right now."

Martin looked up, gave her a long kiss, and then said, "Then let's get this wanted poster project done well. If it's successful, it can help you recover your losses."

Louise, however, had other ideas: "During the New Year holidays, you'll come with me on a vacation to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia."

Martin considered one possibility: "You could try to attract investment overseas?"

"The headquarters of the International Bartenders Association is in Hong Kong, and there will be an event there," Louise said roughly. "My father used to do business in the Philippines and Malaysia, where many wealthy people are willing to invest in North America."

Martin understood: "Step outside of North America, where Alexander the Great's influence was greatest."

There's a third chapter coming, I'm writing it now.

(End of this chapter)