America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

The restaurant soon quieted down, and the deputy producer took the two of them to the crew's office for negotiations.

After finishing the meal, Martin walked back and asked Blake, who had followed him, "Was she the one pulling the strings behind the scenes? So that's why you stepped in..."

Blake shook his head repeatedly, "This has nothing to do with me, Aibo and I are good sisters, and when we face the camera in the future, the four of us will definitely show love like a family. How could such a conflict arise?"

Martin was involved in the matter, and he was happy to see Aibo in trouble, giving a thumbs up, "Well done."

"Actually, I want to say thank you," Blake explained upon seeing Martin's puzzled look, "The duel with the rattlesnake made me understand a lot of things all at once; it was a huge enlightenment for me."

She turned her head and stared at Martin, "Not only are you my idol, but you're also my teacher."

Martin wore a look of confusion, "What? A duel with a rattlesnake? I was drunk at the time, lost my head, and ended up going out into the wilderness with Vogel. Luckily, I came to my senses in time."

Blake just smiled.

Martin would never change that story at any point.

Upon arriving at the hotel lobby, Eric did indeed come to apologize to Martin.

Martin could only sigh at the vast difference in children raised by the same parents.

Upon going upstairs, Bruce closed the door to the room.

Martin said, "There are just a few more scenes and then it's over. Once we finish shooting, I can go back to Los Angeles for a vacation."

Bruce specifically asked, "Aren't you going to stay here with Blake?"

"Her?" Martin was surprised, "Have I actually given you that impression? Old Cloth, her personality is actually quite dominant. After following us for a few months, she could fly high into the sky."

Bruce said, "With you, it has nothing to do with me."

As Martin was preparing to rest for a while, while heading to the bedroom, he said, "I want to be a good person."

...

On the hotel beach, the crew had laid down the camera dolly tracks.

The assistant director was giving a pep talk to a group of Mexican female players, while director Capisce found Martin and Blake.

"You both go over the scene and give it your all," he encouraged primarily, "Let's aim to get it in one take!"

Martin was very serious when working, "I'll do my best."

Blake said, "I'm fine."

With the crew prepared, as the clapperboard was snapped, the shooting officially started.

Martin led a group of female players running on the beach, shouting as they ran, "Keep up, don't fall behind!"

He turned around and ran backward, "Catch up! Pay attention to the breathing rhythm, stay with me!"

In the crowd, Blake suddenly sped up, surpassing the others and keeping pace with Martin.

Martin turned back around, and the two ran forward together,

The camera glided along the track, continuously capturing their dialogue.

The two of them ran faster and faster, leaving the others behind, and the camera caught their figures quickly turning into silhouettes.

Capisce called out, "OK, that's a wrap!"

Martin stopped first, walking slowly to regulate his breathing.

Blake, hands on hips, caught up gradually, "You're going back to Los Angeles?"

Martin said, "The crew booked a flight for me. There are no free hotels to stay in if I continue to stay here, and I'm also tired from being out for so long."

Blake went over to a rock, leaning on it, "So, where do you live?"

Martin vaguely replied, "A small apartment in North Hollywood, like you see, I'm poor, can't afford to rent a better place right now."

"Given your consecutive roles in those two movies, your income isn't low," Blake suggested, "You might as well move to Burbank; I go to school there."

Martin shrugged, "I don't plan to move just yet, the landlord is a nice person." He turned his head to glance at the crew, "I'm heading back."

The two returned to where the crew was, and Martin's scenes were all shot.

As a token of appreciation from the crew, director Capisce gave him a soccer ball, "The one you kicked away during the shoot."

Martin accepted with a laugh, "It's quite meaningful."

He high-fived the main actors and crew members one by one, exchanging pleasantries.

While the crew continued to shoot, Martin did not linger. He returned to the hotel with Bruce, packed up his luggage and the small gifts they had bought, along with a couple of mementos from the crew, and headed off to the airport.

He took a flight back to Los Angeles that very afternoon.

After getting out of the airport, Bruce went to get the car, and Martin bought a few entertainment magazines before getting into the passenger seat to flip through them.

Back in Los Angeles, Martin's attention shifted to "House of Wax," set to release in October, "Kim Kardashian unleashed a lot of dirt on Paris, even making it onto television."

Bruce specifically said, "We agreed on this—I would practice with Kim, then leverage her connection with Paris to try to create a buzz for 'House of Wax.' The film is over a month from release. I can control Kim, but I don't have the media resources. It's your turn to figure something out."

Although Martin's role was only second lead, a successful film would likewise have many benefits.

During the film's production, when Bruce wanted to practice with Kim, the two of them had discussed it thoroughly.

Martin considered for a moment, "Susan said that the crew used Paris because she could bring in funding on one hand, and on the other, her notoriety naturally attracts a bunch of viewers. The general public likes to see a scandal-ridden heiress, not a well-behaved girl from a prominent family."

Bruce expressed his true feelings, "Without the videotapes and scandals, I wouldn't bother with her."

Martin calculated, "I'm going to meet with Zomi and Susan tomorrow. Keep a leash on Kim's revelations. If she could gain promotion resources from Warner Bros., it would work even better."

Bruce nodded, then suddenly said, "We're really two pieces of shit."

Martin pointed at him and said, "You're the piece of shit, not me."

Bruce drove out of the airport area, accelerating as he said, "Yours is just crammed into your skull."

Martin put away the newspapers. "Old Cloth, do you want to go back to the past?"

Bruce said, "Once you're finished, I'll leave."

"I know," Martin said seriously, "Sophia has been waiting for you."

With that, the sky suddenly felt lifeless, and Bruce didn't want to talk to this trash anymore.

When they arrived in North Hollywood and parked the car, the two of them walked back carrying large and small bags.

Just as they were about to go upstairs, Antonio, dressed in a suit, was rolling down the stairs slowly like a ball.

Martin greeted him, "New clothes? Do you have them specially made?"

Antonio, too broad for the narrow staircase, pointed at Martin and Bruce, "Step back, you two. Don't dirty my new clothes."

Martin said, "Buddy, I've been gone almost two months. Didn't you miss me?"

Antonio's face was full of disgust, "The apartment has been especially quiet without you; no one has disturbed my sleep at night."

"Their novelty has worn off," Martin stepped down the stairs to make way, "Where are you headed?"

Antonio said, "I'm going to a community event to make a donation."

Bruce said, "You're making a donation?"

Antonio lifted his multi-chinned chin, "You guys don't have the qualifications to donate."

After he moved down, Martin and Bruce carried their luggage to the second floor, passing by the door across from theirs, which opened from the inside.

Emily came out to greet them, "Old Cloth, Martin, good afternoon. You just got back?"

Martin patted the heavy suitcase, "Haven't even entered our home."

Jessica also came out from the doorway, "Need help cleaning the room? It must have gathered quite a bit of dust."

Martin said, "No, it's not necessary."

Bruce unlocked the door, and he and Martin pulled off the covers, revealing the dust that had settled everywhere after being away for over a month.

Martin went to get the cleaning supplies, ready for a thorough clean-up.

With dust flying inside, Bruce sneezed several times in a row and quickly opened the door and windows for some air circulation, which improved the situation slightly.

The door was knocked gently, and Emily stood outside, saying, "We're all neighbors, let us help."

When Martin was in Atlanta, Elena took care of the cleaning and laundry; accustomed to being pampered, he didn't refuse this time, "Thank you, that would be great."

Emily and Jessica came in and helped with the cleaning.

Jessica took the tools from Martin's hands, "With more people, it'll be done quickly."

Martin stopped being polite and fetched a rag to join in.

The four of them worked swiftly, cleaning up one area and then moving on to Bruce's place.

After everything was cleaned, Bruce prepared to treat them, but Emily and Jessica politely declined, as they had to attend an acting class later that evening.

Martin found Bay Crocodile tooth pendants and gave one to each of them.

Seeing that his stock was running low, after sending Jessica and Emily off, Martin called the hunting club in Australia, asking them to make another batch and send them over.

Bruce was convinced, "I finally understand what true scumbag nature is."

Martin rebutted, "People help clean, offering small gifts as a courtesy—what does that have to do with being a scumbag?"

"I've got a date with Kim tonight, won't come back," said Bruce as he left.

Martin carefully packed up his luggage, placing the baseball bat and soccer ball away, took out his phone and dialed Thomas's number, "I'm back, do you have time?"

From behind the office partition, Thomas's heart raced inexplicably. Steeling himself, he replied, "I have a date tonight."

Martin loosened the reins a bit, "I just got back, nothing urgent, go ahead with your plans."

As Thomas breathed a sigh of relief, he actually found Martin to be quite reasonable, "Rest up a few days, I'll contact you later."

Martin hung up and took out his notebook to check the important things he recorded, then called Atlanta.

"You actually called me?" Harris's voice carried a surprise, "Martin, something important?"

Martin had previously asked Bruce to check the models, "Go buy me a Cadillac and send it to Robert of the Marietta Theatre Company. You've seen him, the guy with the big head."

Harris replied, "No problem."

Martin specifically instructed, "Don't deliver it to the theatre company, send it directly to Robert's house."

Harris agreed right away.

Martin had planned to gift a car to Robert before going to Mexico.

Since Robert didn't want to leave his hometown for Los Angeles, Martin didn't press him.

Martin took a shower, changed into new clothes, then called Louise, "Drunkard, I'm back, drink together tonight?"

Louise's hearty laughter came through the phone, "Shall I come over to your place?"

"No, the landlord really will shoot," Martin had a newfound conscience, not wanting to disturb the neighbors in the entire building, "I'll come to you."

Louise's unchanging response, "You can come, but don't forget to bring the new recipe."