America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 172 Worried to death

On Christmas Eve, most of the remaining tenants went to the rooftop for a party. Bruce made a special trip to several male groups and found that quite a few people were discussing Nevada's dirty secrets.

Menne spoke eloquently: "Based on my twenty years of experience following Washington, there is definitely something fishy going on here."

He glanced at Martin and Antonio, then said, "Boss, Antonio, here's what I'm thinking: could the Pentagon be conducting biological weapons experiments there? Creating humanoid weapons that have no sense of pain and only know how to kill insanely?"

Martin picked up his glass and said, "It's such a waste that you're not a screenwriter."

Menez laughed sheepishly, "I've been helping Bradley adapt 'Wanted' lately, and I've been influenced by him quite a bit."

Antonio patted his basketball-sized belly and asked Martin, "You're going to be the lead actor again?"

Martin nodded: "Pretty much. A new movie will be released in early February next year, and another movie is about to be filmed. I'm the lead in both."

"Now that you're a big star, it's not appropriate for you to stay here anymore." Antonio was thinking of himself: "It's not that I'm kicking you out, but if a paparazzi offered me a six-figure sum to install a hidden camera in your room, I couldn't refuse."

Menez said, "You're very direct."

Antonio turned to Bruce, who was walking back: "I want to make money, but I'm also afraid of perverts."

Martin took a sip of his drink and said, "Don't worry, Old Brooks won't blow someone's head off."

Antonio shifted his position, thinking to himself that he wasn't afraid of being shot in the head. He said, "If you're looking to move, you can come to me, and I'll help you find a place."

Martin asked curiously, "You have property to sell?"

"No," Antonio said, lifting his head. "But I know a lot of rich people."

He stated a fact: "Don't forget, when I was a millionaire, you were all a bunch of paupers."

Menez looked at the obese Anthony, then at his own handsome self. Society is so unfair. Why are the rich always these greasy old men?

Martin shared a drink with Antonio: "No problem, I'll contact you when I need to buy a house."

Bruce is back.

Jessica and Emily followed, clinking glasses with Martin: "Merry Christmas!"

Martin raised his glass: "Merry Christmas!"

After finishing her drink, Jessica said, "There's a package from Atlanta that I'll receive for you."

Martin nodded: "I'll come get it in a bit."

Around 10 o'clock, Menez prepared to return to his residence.

Before leaving, he said to Martin, "Boss, you'll pay my fine. No matter what, if you ever need me, just say the word, and I'm yours for the taking!"

Martin shoved him: "Go back now, what am I supposed to do with you?"

Bruce put his arm around Menne's neck and joked, "Just your mouth."

Menez said seriously, "I'll lick whoever you tell me to." He glanced at Antonio, "Even the fat landlord is fine."

Martin waved his hand and said directly, "When I need your help, I won't be polite."

Menez was the first to leave the rooftop.

After a while, Martin and Bruce went downstairs together.

Jessica and Emily followed.

Martin went to get the package and stood at the doorway while Jessica went into the living room to get it.

The petite Emily stood in the entryway, looking up at Martin, and suddenly asked, "Martin, don't you have a date tonight?"

Martin casually replied, "No."

Emily lowered her voice: "You can stay here, Jesse won't object."

Jessica came over with the package, heard what was happening, and neither agreed nor disagreed.

Martin shrugged: "Annie drained me dry when she went back to New York."

He took the package from Jessica and went back to his apartment.

Emily closed the door and asked, "He doesn't think much of us?"

Jessica, though younger, was more quick-witted than Emily: "Your and my work at The Hills Have Eyes studio came from his recommendation; strictly speaking, we were his employees."

Emily didn't understand what he meant.

Jessica sighed and patted Emily's chest: "Is your brain all in here?!"

Meanwhile, Martin returned to his apartment.

Bruce asked in surprise, "You're back?"

Martin found a utility knife, opened the package, and then said something else: "You're my manager, and you're just a slacker."

The first sentence sounded pleasant, but the second sentence made Old Bu want to draw his gun: "Because you're a rotten person who always does rotten things."

"So, I need an assistant to manage the blog, communicate with fans, and handle day-to-day tasks," Martin asked. "This position is very important. Who do you think is suitable?"

Bruce thought of Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton; the former was glamorous after her betrayal, while the latter was in a very embarrassing situation.

He thought for a moment and said, "I feel Jessica is more suitable. She has simple social relationships, is somewhat intelligent, and is easy to control."

Martin said, "She went to art school, worked in Hollywood, and is quite clever, which is better than hiring a stranger."

"Keep a proper distance, especially in relationships between men and women." Bruce suddenly thought of something painful.

Isn't that what happened to him? He got drunk by his former boss, and then... he left immediately.

He was a good person, and Vincent had treated him well, so he didn't target his former employer.

Martin opened the package, which contained gifts mailed by Harris: crystal stars, a star map inlaid with rhinestones on copper plates, and a high-end certificate.

Making this set, plus shipping, will cost at least $100.

Bruce came over and looked through them, finding them increasingly interesting: "Give me a set, I'll give it to Kim."

Martin said, "She got so excited that she dragged you into making a film?"

Bruce said with a serious expression, "It'll be soon. I've decided to film with her, and then we'll say goodbye."

"You're going to be a world-class celebrity." Martin had no doubt about it; the awakened Kim Kardashian was definitely a master of self-promotion. He exclaimed, "Maybe even more famous than another Bruce, a top celebrity renowned worldwide."

Bruce said, "Of course I'll be in control. I won't show my face."

Martin lost all interest: "Not showing your face? No fun."

Bruce asked Martin to get him a star as a gift, and then said, "You get some rest, I'm going to find Kim for Christmas."

Martin tragically discovered that he had become a complete loner.

Fortunately, just before going to bed, I received a call from Louise: "Thank you for the Christmas present."

"Don't mention it, it was prepared especially for you." Martin said specially, "A master bartender can not only create originals, but also improve existing recipes. These are improved recipes for three classic cocktails, more suitable for modern tastes."

Not only Louise, but also his friends in Atlanta, such as Kelly Gray, Elena and Lily, as well as his business partners, including Vincent and Sofia, all received Christmas gifts from him.

Louise realized she hadn't prepared a Christmas present for Martin. Thinking about all the heartwarming things Martin had done after the failure of "Alexander," she said softly, "I'll take over all the pre-production work for 'Wanted,' so you can focus on preparing for your role. Leave all the miscellaneous tasks to me... Um, we're leaving for Hong Kong the day after tomorrow, and all the expenses are on me."

Martin laughed: "It feels so good to be kept like this."

Louise said, "Not just you and me, but also Angelina Jolie."

Martin asked in surprise, "What's she doing at the Bartenders' Association annual meeting? Does she want to be a bartender too?"

Louise simply said, "Julie is going to Cambodia, transiting through the port city."

Martin vaguely remembered that some of the children Julie adopted were from Southeast Asia. After thinking for a moment, he said, "Since you're personally in charge of the wanted poster, it's a good opportunity to invite Julie to star in Fox. You've read Bradley's script outline; Cool Girl is perfect for Julie."

Louise asked in surprise, "You still dare to invite her? 'Tomb Raider 2,' 'Taking Murder,' and this one—all of them have only received lukewarm market reception. Are you sure she can turn things around?"

Strictly speaking, Jolie has botched three movies in a row, and if "Mr. & Mrs. Smith" fails, she'll basically be finished in Hollywood.

But Jolie managed to turn her career around using her scandal with Pitt.

What's even more frightening is that Jolie didn't have any public relations efforts; all the responses came from her own actions.

Martin said, "Her salary will definitely have to go down, right?"

Louise said, "I was confident I could get her for $500 million and make her grateful to me, but her influence..."

"I heard that Jolie was having an affair with Pitt while filming 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith'," Martin could only say. "A scandal isn't necessarily a bad thing. If Jolie exposes it herself and works with the production company to generate hype... audiences often only care about the buzz, regardless of whether it's a scandal or not."

Louise said directly, "You're gambling."

Martin, however, said, "Actually, I'm the main character. If she becomes famous, it's icing on the cake. If she doesn't, she won't be a burden."

He considered things further: "Besides, if she doesn't expose it, we can expose it for her."

Louise had seen plenty of this kind of scumbag and despicable behavior. Thinking in Hollywood terms, she thought, "If Jolie steals Pitt, and then you become a third party and steal Jolie away, wow..."

She got excited: "Just thinking about it makes me excited. The movie is bound to be a blockbuster."

Martin asked, "Do you think it's feasible?"

After careful consideration, Louise felt it was indeed feasible and said, "I will have a good talk with Julie when I see her."

…………

Meanwhile, at a party in Century City.

Thomas met Anne Hathaway's agent, Maha.

The two of them took the initiative to find a quiet place to chat.

Maha stated directly, "Anne and Martin are now linked together, they receive a lot of media attention, and they are both quite young, so we need to safeguard their privacy in certain matters."

Thomas thought to himself that his wife was more clear-headed than anyone else, but he agreed with Maha's words: "I've spoken with Martin, and he's agreed to cooperate."

Maha was relieved: "Annie too." She emphasized, "Annie is still very young, and so is Martin. They are both in the prime of their careers. You must make sure Martin takes precautions. I don't want Anne to get pregnant."

"Martin will handle it." Thomas has faith in Martin: "Next, we'll discuss the pace and plan for their public exposure, ensuring they stay in the media and public eye without causing offense."

The two agents went to great lengths to help their client with his love life.

(End of this chapter)