America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 571 Marvel's Invitation

Standing in the familiar living room, Martin looked at the slightly unfamiliar photograph. It was of a burly boy in a baseball uniform, preparing to throw a baseball in a game.

Harris came over and said, "Hall is one of the best pitchers in the NCAA baseball league right now. The Warriors have been tracking and evaluating him for the past two years, and if nothing unexpected happens, he will join the Atlanta Warriors through the draft next year."

"I'm not one of the best!" Hall's voice suddenly came from the doorway. "I'm the best one."

Martin turned his head and saw the tall boy who was over 1.8 meters tall. He asked seriously, "When you're playing a game, do you dig a hole beforehand?"

Hall opened his mouth, looking constipated.

On the stairs, Lily muttered as she descended, "That brat who's best at messing with Earth!"

Hall was furious. He glared at him and said, "I'm all grown up now. Don't talk to me like that anymore!"

He curled his lip again: "A nationally renowned young artist, his mouth is full of profanity!"

Lily immediately quickened her pace, her high heels clicking loudly on the stairs.

Harris closed his eyes, unable to bear witnessing Hall's tragic end.

Lily strode up to Hall, raised her white fist, and, just like she always did, punched Hall on the head.

But Hall was much taller than her, making it very inconvenient for them to fight.

Lily said, "Squat down!"

"I'm a sports star in Atlanta now!" Hall's voice was loud at the beginning, but it unconsciously softened at the end: "Give me some face, okay?"

As he was speaking, he plopped down on the sofa next to him.

His position as the younger brother in the family has never changed.

Lily raised her fist, but didn't throw it.

On the one hand, my younger brother has grown up.

Meanwhile, Elena came out from the kitchen, stared at her, and said, "You're back and already causing trouble."

Lily protested, "I didn't, I just said Hall is good at exploiting Earth..."

She quietly moved closer to Elena, puffing out her chest, pulling in her stomach, and lifting her buttocks. Because she was wearing high heels, she stood out more than Elena.

Elena saw right through her thoughts and punched her on the head with a loud thud.

Lily instantly realized the reality and dared not refute it. She quickly shrank back, wearing high heels, and was twenty centimeters shorter than Elena.

Elena's stern gaze swept over them: "Go to the kitchen and bring out the dishes."

Lily quickly ran to the kitchen.

Elena's gaze fell on Hall again.

Holten jumped up from the sofa, very readily offering his help: "I'll go help."

Before her sister could even look over, Harris rushed to the kitchen, saying, "Me too! Me too!"

Once only the two of them were left in the living room, Martin said, "You're still so harsh on them."

"Harris is doing well; he's doing scientific research peacefully at university now." Elena has her own family system and values: "Lily and Hall are both unruly little brats; if no one keeps an eye on them, they'll cause a huge uproar."

She reminded Martin, "I've heard the art world is a bit chaotic, with a lot of people doing drugs and stuff. You have a good eye on Lily."

Martin kept Lily under bodyguards: "Don't worry, she won't touch that stuff."

Lily's voice came from the restaurant: "Dinner's ready."

Martin and Elena went over together, and just like before in Atlanta, the five of them sat around the table and enjoyed a sumptuous dinner together.

"Merry Christmas!" Elena raised her glass.

Martin clinked glasses with her: "Merry Christmas."

Lily and the other two also raised their glasses for a drink.

While eating, Martin asked Hall, "Are you going to enter the draft next year?"

Hall nodded: "I've been in contact with the Warriors, and they should draft me."

He scratched his head and said, "I need a reliable agent."

Like the CAA, the WMA has a dedicated sports department. Martin said directly, "I'll find one for you later."

Hall said, "Don't take too much of a cut, I don't have the money..."

Lily pulled out a card and tossed it to Hall: "This is the money I invested in you. When you start earning a salary, pay me back tenfold."

"Even banks aren't this greedy!" Hall said, but his hands betrayed him as he put the card away.

Elena didn't say much this time.

After dinner, Martin took out his suitcase and handed out the prepared Christmas gifts one by one.

Hall and Harris are Cartier men's watches with different styles.

Martin personally placed a flawless ruby ​​necklace around Elena's neck.

Lily glanced at the blood-red gem hanging between Elena's collarbones, and noticing that Martin seemed to have forgotten about her, asked, "Didn't you get me any Christmas presents?"

Martin said, "Yours will be shipped directly to Los Angeles."

Upon hearing about the shipment, Lily had a bad feeling: "Is there a lot?"

Martin thought for a moment: "It should be several tons."

Lily was desperate. She plopped down on the sofa and vowed not to speak to Martin for a week.

Martin handed her a box and said, "Several tons of high-quality marble. Don't let your newfound fame make you neglect your practice."

Lily opened it, glanced at it, and laughed: "I know."

After dinner, they chatted for a while longer before Elena started to ask them to leave.

Hall and Harris were quite self-aware; they grabbed Martin's gift and quickly left.

Lily refused to leave, saying, "Hey! You guys are so unreasonable! One of them lives in the school dorms, and the other has her own place. Where am I supposed to go? Stay in a hotel?"

Martin picked up Elena and carried her upstairs: "You live on the first floor!"

Elena, with her arms around Martin's neck, recalled what happened a few years ago and warned, "If you dare go up to the second floor, I'll break your legs."

Lily snorted and muttered, "It's not like we haven't seen it before!"

The following day, Martin first went to Coca-Cola headquarters to participate in a Coca-Cola cult event to continue promoting the commemorative Coca-Cola.

A year has passed since Martin became Coca-Cola's lifelong spokesperson, founded the Coca-Cola Cult, and launched the Coca-Cola God of War commemorative edition. Coca-Cola is also preparing to settle its revenue sharing with Martin.

Martin invested in the company as a personal investor. Although his stake is very limited, preliminary estimates suggest he could still receive around $3000 million in dividends.

Like his film salary and various revenue sharing income this year, Martin will divide all of it into three parts: one part as an emergency reserve, one part for enjoyment and entertainment, and the last part for investment.

In addition to Apple stock, Martin has now had investment manager Flynn purchase some Netflix stock.

He has no interest in stock trading and knows that he is insignificant in the financial market, not even a small fry. He buys stocks for long-term holding.

After Christmas, Martin did not leave Atlanta immediately. He first discussed the development of the Cult of Cola with High Priest Robert, and then visited his old comrades from back then.

He then held the second official meeting of the Cola Cult in Atlanta.

Most of the attendees were Georgia celebrities, including Senator Erica, who was back in Georgia for Christmas, and several officials, including the mayor of Atlanta, who were also present.

Of course, there were also many executives from the Coca-Cola Group.

Martin also met Kelly Gray's father and brothers for the first time at the party.

"Although you live in Los Angeles, everyone knows you're from Atlanta." Old Gray also follows a political and business line, with frequent business dealings with the Coca-Cola Group: "You are Atlanta's best calling card."

Martin said with a smile, "I've always been proud to be an Atlantan."

Old Gray was very polite: "Atlantis will also be proud of you."

Martin also exchanged a few polite words.

After old Gray left, Kelly came over and said, "Looking back now, I should have accepted your proposal back then."

"A rich woman? I'd be content with that." Martin was telling the truth: "My biggest wishes at the time were, firstly, to find a beautiful rich woman and live a life of ease, and secondly, to build a future for myself."

Kelly said, "Can't you let me regret it for a little while? Leave me with a little hope?"

Martin shrugged. "I'm worried Louise will fly all the way from Los Angeles and tear you to shreds."

Kelly covered her mouth and laughed, then quickly reminded her, "Erica is coming."

Martin stepped forward, shook hands with Erica, and exchanged a few polite words.

Erica said, "This is a good thing; it has had a huge impact across the United States."

Martin smiled and said, "It's good that it helps the senator."

This is currently the hottest topic in the United States, and Erica, as a representative of women's rights advocates, has benefited greatly from it.

The two had been working together since their time in Atlanta. Although the Cult of Cola is a pan-faith organization, it still provided Erica with a great platform to expand her social network.

The party in Atlanta was a great success, and Martin went to Kelly Gray's place afterwards.

The two focused their discussion on personnel changes at Warner Bros.

This change had a relatively small impact on Gray Film Company.

Atlanta's film and television tax rebate policy is unlikely to change in the short term. Gray Films has always been the largest film and television company and shooting base in Georgia. Most Hollywood crews that come to Georgia to shoot inevitably have to cooperate with Gray Films.

According to Kelly, after Disney completed its acquisition of Marvel, it planned to use Atlanta as the main filming location for Marvel superhero movies.

Kelly also mentioned something: "When Marvel was filming Iron Man 2 in Atlanta, I overheard Kevin Feige talking to someone about wanting to invite you to play Captain America. He felt that no actor in the world was more suitable for the role than you."

Martin asked in surprise, "When did this happen?"

Kelly recalled, "Haven't you received an invitation yet? It's been at least a few months?"

Martin shook his head: "No, Marvel didn't invite me."

Kelly said, "That's strange. I couldn't have misheard. Have they changed their minds again?"

Martin shrugged. "Who knows?"

Kelly asked curiously, "If they invited you, would you say yes? You've played the Joker."

Martin stated directly, "This year, both 'John Wick' and 'Benjamin' that I starred in were huge hits. I can ask for $2000 million for my next commercial film. If it's a superhero movie, I'll also have to add box office revenue and revenue sharing from offline sales."

He added, "While making money isn't shameful, for a Hollywood star like me, purely commercial superhero movies are at the very bottom of the hierarchy of contempt."

Things might change in seven or eight years, but they remain the same now.

Kelly said, "I'm afraid it's difficult. Iron Man 2 was filmed at Gray Center for the Performing Arts. Marvel's budget is very tight, and they are very stingy with their investment in actors."

"I can't cut my salary in half for them." Martin knew the serious consequences: "Not to mention my future salary, even the sponsors would have objections, thinking that I would damage my image and lower their brand value."

He waved his hand: "We'll talk about it when they invite us."

Martin stayed in Atlanta until after the New Year, and even accompanied Elena to see Avatar.

At the start of 2010, Martin returned to Los Angeles because Warner Bros. was holding a New Year's party.

(End of this chapter)