America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

"Georgia introduced a favorable policy to vigorously foster the film industry, and since I found success, naturally another faction won't just give up on this piece of the pie," Kelly said. While she was speaking, Louise somehow produced a pink water bottle and began gesturing with it in front of Kelly.

Kelly glared at her and continued, "Tayler Perry is one of the agents they've pushed to the front."

Martin got it in one, "It's not just about revenge, it's about business competition, and even higher, politics."

Louise drilled down, "Even if that black guy wanted to do it, would others support him if there was no benefit in it?"

Kelly asked Martin, "Do you think he's targeting you?"

"It shouldn't just be my paranoia." Martin had already mentioned the incident with the driver and now specifically brought Kelly into the discussion, "The Methodist Association is an old friend of ours."

Kelly suddenly looked down, bit the straw of the water bottle in Louise's hand, and took a few sips.

Louise knew Martin well enough, "The more dirty deeds you do, the more you worry about someone screwing you over."

Martin didn't deny it, but his reply was more intriguing, "I'm your man, I would only willingly let you guys screw me over."

Kelly and Louise both started giggling.

The former wasn't just being flirtatious, she was also thinking things through, "They might see you as a breaking point."

Martin shared the same speculation and said, "They really know who to pick on, always bullying the honest ones." He looked at Kelly, "I don't understand those high-end business and political things, I can only rely on you."

Kelly wouldn't believe such nonsense, seeing right through it, "We are still as before, I handle the high-end stuff, you handle the low-end."

Martin had achieved his aim and asked, "How low exactly?"

Kelly just smiled and didn't answer. Instead, she said, "We are not isolated individuals, Tayler isn't either; without adequate preparation and confidence, he won't make a move, and you shouldn't be too eager to screw someone over and end up getting screwed instead."

She pondered briefly, "You could be bait ready to bite back at any time."

Martin got the idea, "I'll shoot the scenes where you cut the connections, right?"

Kelly smiled, "It will depend on your performance."

"Alright, we've finished talking about the worrisome stuff, now it's time for something happy." Louise threw away the water bottle, grabbed Kelly, and bit down.

Kelly turned back, a look of desperation in her eyes. She briefly struggled free from Louise's clutches and cried out, "Save me!"

The female CEO crying for help, as America's hero, even after having been through a tough battle just that afternoon, Martin still threw himself into the fray valorously.

The next morning, Martin didn't wake up on time.

Luckily, he had no scenes in the morning.

The back-to-back battles were terrifying—after all, the enemy always had one who could rest.

Martin was strong enough but ended up squeezed dry and powerless.

When going to the restaurant for a meal, he bumped into Jolie.

Jolie spoke softly, "Teacher, I have a few questions I'd like to ask, could you come to my room after we eat to teach me?"

Right then, Martin was full of confidence, immune to any temptation, and made an excuse on the fly, "I have urgent business in Marietta shortly and won't have time."

The day before, Lily had called him, asking to have dinner.

Of course, Martin had agreed.

Jolie nodded and added, "After wrap this afternoon, I'll wait for you in the trailer, let's just agree on that."

Martin turned to head for the seafood section of the buffet; oysters seemed to be on offer.

After eating, Martin rested for a while, then drove one of the crew's cars to Marietta.

Behind him, Bruce was following at a discreet distance.

Martin purposely made a couple of detours.

Bruce didn't notice he was being tailed.

Nearing school dismissal time, Martin drove near Marietta High School, parking the car diagonally opposite the school gate.

Before long, Lily emerged from the school, surrounded by a group of seven or eight girls.

"I have something on today, you guys go ahead." She found Martin's car, strode over, knocked on the passenger side window, opened the door, and got in.

Martin pointed at the school gate, "Are you the boss there?"

Lily's nose nearly reached the sky with pride, "Don't talk nonsense. Even those boys, if I want to deal with someone, I will."

"You have money to treat me?" Martin started the car, planning to go to Rosario Restaurant in Marietta's downtown.

Lily said with a smile, "I get a cut from selling stars, and those dumb boys in love are willing to pay just to get a girl's legs to part."

Along both sides of the road by the school gate, numerous cars were parked.

In one of them, Kyle couldn't help but admire, "See that? Isn't she beautiful?"

The man sitting in the passenger seat was a black actor, Shelmer, who had grown up in Atlanta and later tried his luck in Los Angeles; he couldn't help but say, "Her figure is no less than Blake Lively's, and her face is a lot prettier than Blake's."

Kyle was frustrated, "Martin Davis is a bastard!"

Shelmer, a black actor from South City, asked, "Did Mr. Tayler really decide to deal with him?"

Kyle nodded, "Are you scared?"

"Scared? People from South City don't know what fear is!" Shelmer didn't need to choose; his skin color and background already decided that Terry Perry was his backer, "Martin Davis doesn't lack women, does he really have this kind of fetish?"

Kyle didn't know that Lily had just gotten into Martin's car, he simply stated, "Martin went to Los Angeles; he's been in extremely close contact with this girl, don't forget Blake too. Tayler asked 'The Summer of Jeans' lead Aibo, and Aibo made it clear that there's something odd about his relationship with Blake."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Shelmer, "Find a way to rope him in."

Shelmer shook his head, "I'm not in the same crew as him; I can't just strike up a conversation, and he has this black friend, but the guy is not quite right in the head, hangs around a bunch of middle-aged women all day..."

Kyle said, "It's not like I'm asking you to act right now, boss will give you plenty of time."

"I'll think it over carefully, can't just force it." Compared to his brethren from South City who only knew how to smash and grab, Shelmer was much more thoughtful.

After pondering seriously for a while, he suddenly thought of someone, "There's this guy who took the same performance training class with me in Los Angeles, an actor in Martin's crew. He said he's got a pretty good relationship with Martin; maybe I can start with him."

Kyle asked, "Is he suitable?"

Shelmer remembered the guy's peculiar tastes, "I'll try to lure him into a trap first. He has a thing for young girls..."

Kyle understood, and cautioned, "Keep your cool, take it slow, don't alarm them."

"I get it." Shelmer glanced at the time and said, "Drop me off at the filming base then, lunchtime is approaching, I'll go have lunch with him."

Kyle started the car and left Marietta.

Shelmer got back to the filming base just in time for lunch.

In the restaurant, he easily found Pratt, the big fat guy.

The two sat at a table and chatted while they ate.

Shelmer steered the conversation toward Martin intentionally, "I heard that Martin and Jolie got together yesterday?"

Pratt said, "You've been around enough crews to know it's not uncommon for leads to hook up."

Shelmer said enviously, "Being a star is great. Whether sleeping with men or women, you can always find someone suitable."

"Hey, buddy!" Pratt leaned back, wary, "You're not interested in men, are you?"

Shelmer replied, "How could I be? I'm only interested in women." He sighed, "Too bad, ever since coming here, it's been a long time since I've been with a woman."

Pratt was helpless, "Me too, man. Atlanta feels so unfamiliar."

Shelmer smiled, "You're sitting in front of an Atlantan right now. When you're free someday, I'll take you out to have fun."

"Yeah, sure!" Pratt clarified in advance, "Just don't take me to some messed up places."

Shelmer reminded himself not to rush, "Of course, to a legitimate nightclub."

After eating, the two agreed to go out together after the day's shooting.

...

Rosario Restaurant.

Lily was devouring delicious barbecue and asked Martin, "Are you really giving Elena a house?"

"It's not a gift," Martin corrected forcefully, "I hired her as a part-time saintess for the Cola Cult, the house is her compensation for the coming years."

Lily swallowed the barbecue in her mouth and self-recommended, "Why did you choose Elena? I'm younger than her, more suitable!"

Martin glanced at Lily, "You just focus on school and stop thinking about all this mess."

Lily muttered, "I want to be a saintess."

Martin replied offhandedly, "We'll talk about it when you're in college."

"Whatever Elena can do, I can do too!" Lily had the words at the tip of her tongue but was silenced by more barbecue in her mouth.

She had grown up and was no longer that girl who swore all the time.

And she knew that such people were rejected by mainstream society.

As for the non-mainstream? Lily glanced at Martin. She remembered very clearly, Martin once discussed with Elena, saying he didn't like women with tattoos, piercings, and drug habits.

Martin asked, "You're pretty good at sculpting, want me to find you a sculpting teacher?"

Lily thought for a moment and said, "Not for now, I'll wait until I get into college." She inquired with interest, "Can I visit the set to see you this weekend?"

Looking at the beautiful girl across from him, and thinking of the bunch of eccentrics in the crew, Martin decisively shook his head; besides, he wouldn't have the time, "I'm leaving for Los Angeles the day after tomorrow."

Lily was quite surprised, "You're leaving so soon?"

Martin gave a brief explanation, "I starred in a movie, 'The Summer of Jeans,' and there's a premiere this weekend. According to the actor's contract, I have to attend."

The movie was already very famous due to the Burbank Middle School incident and Martin's involvement, and Lily had heard about it, "Alright then, we'll talk when you get back." Exclusive stories at m,v,l,e,mpyr

After the meal, Martin drove Lily to school before heading back to the filming base for the afternoon shoot.

The studio was mostly used for shooting interior scenes.

A few parts involving New York street scenes were also done using the increasingly popular green screens to replace backgrounds during post-production.

After the day's shooting ended, Martin and Jolie entered the same trailer, where a special kind of teacher-student relationship ensued.

Even with his stamina, Martin felt the women around thirty were overwhelming.

During this time, Jolie even encouraged Martin to call Louise or Kelly!

Martin wasn't that out of his mind and flatly refused.

As Martin prepared to return to Los Angeles, Jolie also needed to make the trip back.

Her scenes were mostly shared with Martin; without him, she couldn't film.

The two ended up taking the same flight back to Los Angeles.