America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 274 Using Another's Strength to Fight Back

For now, Thomas's interests align with Martin's, and the two are now aligned.

But WMA is different. Along with CAA, they are one of the two largest entertainment agencies in the industry, and Martin is at best one of their more important clients.

It is necessary for customers to put some pressure on the service company at appropriate times. If they do not take the initiative to fight for their rights, the service company may continue to use the same package to fool them, or even secretly use up their data and reduce their benefits.

So, when Martin saw several CAA agents, although he didn't go over to greet them, he kept walking around in their line of sight, chatting and socializing with them.

Within minutes, Anne Hathaway's agent, Maha Dakshiel, approached Martin.

"Good evening, Martin." Maha glanced at the handsome man in front of her. "We've only known each other for a year, and you've gone from a small-time actor earning 200,000 yuan a month to a big star earning nearly 10 million yuan a month. That's amazing."

Martin laughed and said, "I find it incredible too; it all feels like a dream." He then specifically asked, "How is Annie?"

Maha shook his head: "She blames herself every day, saying that she foolishly ruined the most beautiful relationship and will never meet true love like you again."

She sighed again: "Annie fired me. I'm no longer responsible for her business at CAA."

Martin asked curiously, "Why? You did a great job. Wasn't 'The Princess Diaries' the project you fought for for her?"

"It's related to you," Maha said, half-jokingly. "Annie blamed me for not stopping her from breaking up with you in time and for not keeping track of your activities, so she fired me. Annie was under Brian Lord's services at the company, and I was just the executive agent in charge of her business."

Martin knew Brian Lord, an agent of the same caliber as Ali Emmanuel of WMA, and one of the co-partners of CAA.

Martin casually replied, "I'm sorry."

Maha said, "Brian has been following your development. Someone recommended you to CAA at the beginning of this year, and we have been keeping an eye on your progress."

Martin smiled and said, "It's my pleasure."

Maha beckoned to the waiter, ordered two drinks, and specially toasted Martin, saying, "Annie's matter is in the past for both of us. Let's move on."

Martin asked directly, "You're not just here for Anne, are you?"

"Two main things." Maha, hearing his directness, stopped beating around the bush: "First, it's about Pete. I'm one of Pete's co-managers, and Pete is Brian's client."

Martin reiterated his stance: "I have no personal grudge against Pete. As for what happened at Avalon that night, I wouldn't even have spoken to him if Pete hadn't deliberately provoked me."

Instead, he suggested, "You'd better talk to Pitt. He has a problem with his mindset. Don't say that I don't have problems with Aniston. Even if I do, he's still just Aniston's ex-husband."

As for Julie, he couldn't be bothered to mention her.

Maha said, "Don't let things get out of control. The circle is only so big, and there will inevitably be times when we cooperate."

Martin nodded: "Maha, for the sake of our friendship, as long as Pete doesn't mess with me, I definitely won't mess with him."

Maha stopped there and moved on to the next point: "I remember your contract with WMA still had your agent's commission at 10%, right? You're not a minor celebrity anymore, so they haven't made any changes?"

Martin didn't reply, he just smiled.

Maha then asked, "Are you a level four or level three client within WMA?"

She laughed deliberately: "Ha... It's the new century, and WMA is still using outdated client tiers. They're seriously undervaluing you! Martin, come to CAA. I can guarantee you'll get better resources and treatment than Annie, and the brokerage commission will be reduced by two percentage points."

Just a few days ago, Halle Berry, a client of Brian Lord, was poached by WMA. Although Halle Berry has an Oscar, she is not considered a top-tier actress and does not have the ability to carry a film at the box office. However, she is definitely among the top black actresses and is very popular when she plays roles that specifically require black women.

CAA had long noticed Martin, a rising star in the WMA scene.

Martin looked like he was seriously considering it.

Maha believes there's no wall that can't be breached: "The best brokerage firm in the industry right now is CAA. From management to philosophy to operations, CAA completely surpasses WMA."

Martin said, "I can't answer you right now. This is no small matter; I have to consider all aspects of the situation."

Maha shook hands with Martin again: "I hope we will have the opportunity to cooperate."

Not far from the two of them, Thomas had been keeping an eye on the situation ever since the CAA contacted Martin.

Maha is a key subordinate of Braun Lord, co-founder of CAA, and is always at the forefront when things happen.

CAA poached many of WMA's clients, and WMA did similar things quite often.

Thomas wanted to go there, but felt it wasn't quite right, much like a wife seeing her husband being seduced by a beautiful woman—she felt both annoyed and strangely proud.

If you're not outstanding, why would someone actively pursue you?

Finally, Thomas saw Martin and Maha break up and Martin wandering around alone. He pretended to be leisurely and went to find him.

Martin glanced at his agent and said, "It's getting late, I'm about to leave."

Thomas, looking particularly concerned about Martin, reminded him, "Julie has been at the door the whole time."

Martin glanced quickly in that direction and said, "It's okay, I can handle it." He then brought up what had just happened: "CAA's agent, Maha, talked to me for a while."

Thomas asked, "About Anne Hathaway?"

Martin shook his head slightly: "She's not Annie's agent anymore, and has nothing to do with Annie. She wants to poach me from CAA and has put forward a lot of conditions, especially the agency's commission, which can be reduced to seven percent."

Thomas cursed Maha's family a hundred times in his heart, thinking that these bastards were breaking the rules by lowering the percentage by three points at once. When the client becomes a top-tier or superstar, won't it drop to below five percent?

Martin wasn't finished: "She came on behalf of Brian Lord, promising me resources and treatment no less than Pete's."

Upon hearing this, Thomas's heart skipped a beat. A broker's commission of one percent could amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars. Martin, who was so generous, might not care about it, but when it came to resources, who wouldn't want the best?

Within entertainment agencies, there are significant differences in treatment between clients.

WMA is unlikely to provide Martin with superstar treatment.

Thomas, feeling uneasy like a prisoner awaiting judgment, tentatively asked, "How did you respond to her?"

"I didn't give her any response." Martin's words were a bit alarming: "Actually, top-tier agencies don't make a big difference to me. Others may not know, but you should know that I have resources to build a portfolio."

Thomas nodded. Louise Mayer, Kelly Gray, and Sofia were the three women who supported Martin, as were Asian investors. Martin was different from ordinary actors and stars.

Martin patted Thomas's arm, his tone suddenly changing: "But you're different! Thomas, we met when we were both struggling, we grew together, we went through so many hardships to get to where we are today. You trust me, and I trust you. This kind of trust can't be found in any other agent."

This was a slight exaggeration, but Thomas wholeheartedly agreed: "We are partners, we are the best team."

Martin added, "My previous agent was Thomas Lane, my current agent is Thomas Lane, and my future agent will still be Thomas Lane. I don't want to change that!"

An agent's position is closely tied to their clients. Thomas's success today is inseparable from Martin's. Without hesitation, he said, "Don't worry, I will have a serious talk with the company. Your compensation must be substantially improved; you deserve it."

Martin nodded and said, "I'll leave this to you."

Thomas made no attempt to back down: "I'll go talk to the company's senior management about this formally tomorrow."

The guests in the banquet hall began to leave one after another. Martin said something to Thomas, found Louise who had come with him that night, said goodbye to Barry Mayer and Alan Horn, and prepared to leave.

Louise said, "I just spoke with Aniston for a bit, and she seems to like you a lot. Aren't you going to invite her to come along?"

She then saw Julie near the door: "With Julie added, just thinking about it is exciting!"

Martin made her take his arm and said, "If you don't shut up, I'll drag you along!"

Louise chuckled, but said nothing more.

Upon reaching the door, Julie gave Martin a cryptic smile but didn't come over.

After leaving the banquet hall and arriving at the hotel lobby, Louise said again, "It's quite interesting that Julie and Aniston were rivals in love before, and they'll continue to be rivals in love in the future."

Martin didn't hesitate to discard him after he had served his purpose: "Darling, you can go now."

Louise deliberately released his arm: "You're so heartless."

She left the hotel through the main entrance alone and got into the Rolls-Royce that was waiting at the door.

Bruce hadn't arrived in his Escalade yet, so Martin stood behind the hotel revolving door waiting.

Footsteps sounded behind her. Aniston came to the door, stopped next to Martin, and asked, "The car hasn't arrived yet?"

Martin said, "We'll have to wait a bit."

Julie suddenly appeared by the railing on the second floor.

Aniston seemed to sense something, glanced back, and took Martin's arm, saying, "I'm going to the set tomorrow, are you coming? We really need to rehearse our lines."

Martin's principles wouldn't allow him to refuse: "I'll be going to the set tomorrow morning."

Aniston leaned closer and said, "Okay, see you tomorrow morning."

The black Cadillac Escalade pulled up in front of the hotel. Martin pointed and said, "I should go."

Aniston smiled and said, "Goodnight."

Martin walked out, but before leaving, he turned back, waved with a smile, and then got into his car.

Aniston suddenly turned around, smiled at Julie, and a thought popped into her head: If Martin were raised to be a little puppy, Julie would definitely be furious.

(End of this chapter)