America achieves both fame and fortune

Chapter 93 People Fear Comparison (Bonus Chapter 5 for Alliance Leader)

Upon entering the tiny apartment, which was no more than 80 square meters, Louise's eyes were filled with curiosity. The cramped space was crammed with various pieces of furniture and appliances.

"I've tidied up, but it's still a bit messy." Martin didn't shy away from saying it: "Just bear with it for now."

Louise asked, "Can I look around freely?"

Martin said, "You can go into any room, look at anything, everything here is open to you."

There are only two bedrooms, and the master bedroom is almost devoid of space after a large bed and wardrobe are placed in it.

Another bedroom was converted into a study.

Louise sat on the large bed in the master bedroom, when suddenly a rolling sound came from upstairs. It was a novel feeling she had never experienced before, as if a cat's paw had removed the black-rimmed glasses from her face.

The debauchery of alcoholics and lechers is back: "Martin, if I sing loudly here, will the whole building hear me?"

Martin stepped forward and extended an invitation: "Let's give it a try."

Actually, the sound insulation in the apartment building isn't too bad.

The singing quickly spread throughout the entire building.

Perhaps because she was in a new environment she had never been to before, her voice was particularly loud.

As it turned out, no one came to cause trouble because of the noise.

This time, the adulterous couple had a change of heart and didn't call Kelly.

After finishing, Louise lay there, not wanting to move, and said, "I'm hungry, get me something to eat."

"I've never used the kitchen, and I don't keep any food there." No bachelor wants to cook, so Martin suggested, "Let's eat out."

Louise, curving like cooked noodles, said, "I'm too lazy to move."

Martin patted her on the butt: "You wait here, I'll go out and buy it."

After getting dressed, Martin called his usual restaurant to order food and went to pick it up himself.

Waiting for them to deliver it will take too long.

Less than 20 minutes later, Martin returned with the packed dinner.

Diagonally opposite the door, Emily looked out the window and saw Martin coming from the parking lot. She called out, "Hurry, he's back!"

Jessica put away her newly bought DVD of "Zombie Dancer" and went to look in the mirror. Her fair skin, beautiful face, and long legs made her swoon.

Emily asked, "Is your plan going to work?"

"Do you know why you failed?" She didn't need Emily to answer: "Because you were too direct, you didn't understand subtlety, and subtlety is true beauty."

Emily leaned against the doorframe: "Stop talking nonsense, hurry up and go for it. We have no other chance but to go for him."

Jessica threw the ice cubes into the trash can, dried her hands, and went outside.

The timing was perfect; Martin had just arrived.

Jessica raised her hands and stretched, her thin sweater taut against her body, highlighting her two prominent nipples: "Hey Martin, I haven't seen you lately, what have you been up to?"

Martin pointed to the rooftop: "Didn't I see you guys at the party last night?"

Jessica reacted quickly: "I'm going to buy some seashells. Oh, by the way, I can't open my seashell, can you help me?"

Martin, being a very serious person, assumed she was talking about seashells: "What seashells? You can't pry them open with a screwdriver?"

Jessica subtly pulled up her yoga pants, making the already tight pants even more taut: "The seashells I bought are so fluffy, round, and soft. With each breath, they open, close, and open again... If seashells could talk, what would they say?"

Her lips moved slightly: "It's this sentence, do you want to see it?"

Martin was as determined as he had been before, and he spoke with unwavering conviction: "I don't want to."

Laughter suddenly broke out, Martin's apartment door opened, and Louise, wearing a Martin shirt, came out, leaning against the door frame and sizing up Jessica. Her words were full of flirtatious smirk: "Come on, let's get together."

The woman opposite her was clearly smiling, but Jessica felt uneasy, sensing that something terrible would happen if she went over.

"No need," she said quickly, turning back. "I'll figure something out myself."

I was in such a hurry to get back that I tripped on the threshold and almost fell.

Louise pulled Martin back to the room, laughing happily, "Living in this little apartment is so much fun, Martin. Your female neighbor is trying to seduce you, aren't you going to take advantage of her?"

This slut is so wild she's completely unreliable: "If you don't go for it, I'm going to!"

Martin unpacked his takeout dinner and said, "It's fun when they're having sex, but what do they want from me afterward? I bet Jessica isn't even 18."

Louise laughed: "I didn't expect that you, you lecher, could actually use your brain at such a crucial moment."

"Actually, these are secondary; people are afraid of comparisons," Martin said with exceptional pleasantness. "In what way does she compare to you?"

Louise was pleased, but not stupid: "Yes, I can also get you roles."

Martin grabbed her chin and forced it up: "Beautiful lady, you need to understand, without me, without new cocktail recipes, you'll never become a master."

Louise, fully immersed in her role, exclaimed, "Come on, take advantage of me!"

…………

The day after Christmas, Martin, carrying gifts characteristic of Atlanta, traveled to the east side of Sherman Oaks to visit Robert Patrick, a former member of the Marietta Theatre Company.

When "Terminator 2" was released, Schwarzenegger became a superstar and rose to fame.

Patrick, who starred in T1000, also benefited greatly.

In the meeting room, Patrick, who had grown a beard, glanced at Martin and said, "Jerome called me a while ago to tell me about your situation."

Martin switched to his original accent: "The team leader has always taken good care of me. He even gave me your contact information before we set off."

Patrick smiled when he heard the familiar accent: "I watched the DVD of your movie 'Zombie Dancer,' it was quite interesting. I heard it grossed nearly $700 million in North America?"

Martin maintained appropriate humility: "Lionsgate did a great job with the marketing and distribution."

Patrick nodded slowly: "You've had a good start in Hollywood. Have you found an agent? Have you joined any unions?"

"I joined WMA..." Martin said, picking up all the words he could.

Patrick understood: "You're trying to get the lead role in a Warner Bros. horror movie? I have some connections at Warner Bros., but that doesn't affect my ability to get the lead role in a multi-million dollar project."

In Hollywood, where every star owns a company, Patrick also has a film production company, but he wouldn't invest in it just because of Martin. Even if he helped out of respect for Jerome, there would be limits.

Martin tentatively asked, "I heard from the troupe leader that you maintain close contact with several actors from Georgia?"

Patrick looked at Martin, not understanding what he meant.

Martin said, "I don't know if you know Desmond Harrington, he's from Savannah." To avoid Patrick misunderstanding, he went straight to the point, "Harrington worked with Susan Levine, the producer of the show I'm auditioning for, and I'd like to ask her about her."

This is standard practice in Hollywood. Patrick laughed: "I know Descartes very well. I reckon he's in Malibu. I'll give him a call."

He got up and went to make a phone call. A few minutes later, he came back and said to Martin, "Wait a moment, he'll be here soon."

Martin knew he had found the right person and waited patiently.

After chatting with Patrick for about half an hour, a handsome white man entered the living room.

Patrick introduced Martin and Harrington, saying, "You two chat, I'll go to the cellar to get some wine, and we'll have a drink later."

Martin exchanged a few pleasantries with Harrington before getting to the point: "Dace, I'm here to ask you something."

Harrington said, "Robert told me, so go ahead and tell me."

Martin understood that Harrington was mainly doing this out of respect for Patrick and didn't want to waste time: "I heard from a friend that Susan Levine was the one who chose you for the role in Ghost Ship?"

"That's right, it was Susan Levine who made the decision," Harrington said simply. "I have a similar experience to her, and we can relate to each other in some ways. It's basically about being rebellious and foolish in our youth, and then getting back on the right track. In the few times I've met with her, we've talked about these things the most."

He laughed: "On that set, I had a fleeting feeling that Susan Levine had fallen in love with me. But after the crew disbanded, we quickly lost contact. She was clearly more interested in my past than in me as a person."

Martin was basically certain and said, "Thank you for your explanation."

Harrington said nonchalantly, "You're welcome. Hope it helps."

Martin exchanged contact information with him.

Patrick quickly returned with a bottle of wine, which Martin helped open. The three of them chatted and drank in the living room, and the atmosphere became increasingly harmonious.

As darkness fell, Martin invited the two of them out for dinner, and after dinner they went to a bar for a drink.

Jerome was just a bridge; he had asked Patrick for help once. The bridge was prone to breaking, so Martin not only needed to stabilize it but also widen and level it to make it easier to pass through.

When they came out, Martin was arm in arm with a drunk Patrick.

Hollywood is full of drunkards, and Patrick was no exception. Before Harrington helped him into the car, he said, "Martin, let's have another contest another day. I can outdrink Cameron, Schwarzenegger, and Hamilton combined. You can't."

Martin, drunk and looking like a super drunkard, jumped up and down when he heard it was too late: "No need to reschedule, let's go back and continue. Robert, let me tell you, I know a Robert who claims to be the best drinker in Marietta, and I knocked him out in just one hour."

Harrington shoved and shoved Patrick into the car, then asked Martin, "Do you need me to call a designated driver for you?"

"No need." Martin waved to the car as he swayed. "Next time, next time we must not stop until one person falls."

Harrington drove away and turned onto Sunset Boulevard.

Martin wasn't drunk at all. He shook his head, got into his car, took a sip of mineral water, and took out his phone to call his agent.

"Why do you always call at night?" Thomas's dissatisfied shout came through the phone as soon as the call connected.

Martin pretended not to hear: "Susan Levine can confirm it."

Thomas immediately forgot what he had just said and said, "Very good, we've grasped the key." He then informed Martin of some news: "The production team will be officially formed tomorrow."

(End of this chapter)