America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

The evening breeze was gentle, and Martin walked with Annie and the two others out of the Avalon Bar, laughing and talking along the way.

Annie and her companions had drunk a little extra, their faces flushed.

"You came with the film crew, staying at a hotel?" Martin had already inquired and knew that the three were about to participate in the filming of "Flirting Scholar." He asked, "You've had some drinks, shall I drive you back to the hotel?"

Annie smiled with pursed lips and said, "It feels a bit bad to have you go out of your way."

Martin replied, "I can't possibly let you call for another car. If that gets out, people will say I lack gentlemanly manners." He kidded on purpose, "Annie, you have to consider my reputation."

The three of them let Annie take the lead, she pondered for a moment, and nodded slightly, "Martin, then we'll trouble you."

The bar entrance was crowded, and Martin very chivalrously shielded Annie as they walked toward the car.

The Avalon is a nightclub frequently visited by Hollywood stars; photographers and paparazzi are bound to be stationed there at night.

Martin faintly heard the sound of camera shutters and immediately advanced his gentlemanly manners, moving a bit closer to Annie to block the people on the side.

Annie, seeing Martin actively blocking for her, nodded with a smile.

He indeed had a lot of class.

When they reached the car, Martin opened the passenger door and shielded the car top with his hand.

As Annie was about to duck into the car, two paparazzi rushed over to take close-up photos.

Martin waited for the flash to go off, promptly closed the car door at once, then quickly walked around to the driver's side, and hurriedly drove away.

He trusted in the professionalism of Los Angeles paparazzi.

The paparazzi didn't disappoint him, as a few motorcycles casually trailed behind at a safe distance.

Annie seemed more affected by the alcohol compared to when they were at Avalon, growing somewhat silent.

Arriving at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Martin parked the car and escorted the three of them to the hotel lobby.

Behind them, more camera shutters from paparazzi could be heard.

Just before entering the elevator, Annie took the initiative, "This is far enough, you should go back and get some rest too."

Martin was all class, "Sweet dreams and good night."

Annie nodded with a smile, and, along with her companions, entered the elevator.

Martin checked the time, didn't leave immediately, wandered over to a nearby clothes shop to browse around, deliberately bought a sporty hoodie and a new coat to change into, and donned a baseball cap.

With time to kill, Martin chatted on the phone with Louise and Kelly in turn, and texted Bruce, telling him he would go straight back to the apartment.

Almost two hours later, Martin, with his cap brim pulled low, slipped out of the Hilton Hotel, and then was appropriately snapped by the paparazzi.

Jody, an online entertainment reporter who had been following Martin recently, continued to photograph until Martin drove away, then she packed up her camera.

She specifically noted the time, Martin had returned to the hotel with Annie, he left two hours later, having changed clothes, and even purposely wore a hat. What did that imply?

For a gossip journalist, these details were enough to write a 30,000-word feature.

Jody was sure that Martin and Annie had a special relationship, and it was likely they were involved with each other.

The combined gossip of two people attracted even more attention than that of one.

Jody mounted her motorcycle, saw Martin drive back to the apartment, and immediately went home to rush her story.

At almost the exact same time, photos of Martin and Annie-Hathaway began to appear frequently in the gossip news trade market, with several paparazzi trading newly captured shots for amounts varying from dozens to hundreds of US dollars.

Who knows how many text journalists began to write articles based on the photos.

...

At the Hilton Hotel, Laura, Annie's best friend, accompanied her back to her room.

"What a pleasant night." Laura had a very good impression of Martin, "Didn't expect to meet such an interesting and handsome guy."

Annie was also in a good mood; she kicked off her high heels, sat on the sofa, opened her phone to look at missed calls, and labeled one number with the name Martin Davis.

Laura came over and sat beside her, "Have you noticed, he seems interested in you."

Annie tilted her head but didn't answer directly.

Laura asked bluntly, "How do you feel about him? If you're not interested, then I'm going for it."

"He's handsome, and very gentlemanly. Spending time with him tonight... how to put it?" Annie reflected for a moment, "It's just especially comfortable, a good man should be just like him."

Laura got along well with Annie, and she clearly understood her position, "Looks like I don't stand a chance."

Annie didn't hide much from her friend, "Actually, his flaws are quite obvious."

Laura didn't understand, "Obvious flaws? Too handsome, no sense of security?"

Being from New York, Annie naturally observed some details that ordinary people might not focus on, "Didn't you notice, he drives an ordinary Volkswagen sedan, wears general brand clothes, the watch he wears is just an ordinary American brand... "

At that point, Laura understood, Martin Davis wasn't wealthy.

Annie was still pondering this, a good man but not a lot of money.

Laura said, "He's just recently become famous."

"Let's talk about this later," Annie had roughly figured out her strategy, hanging on without making a stand, without making promises, without giving up.

......

In Century City, as soon as Thomas entered the company, the receptionist Natasha came up to him.

She handed Thomas several newspapers: "There's news about Martin, take a look."

Thomas thanked her, took the newspapers upstairs, and began to read them at his desk, noticing they were all entertainment gossip newspapers with a substantial circulation in Los Angeles.

These newspapers were reporting on yesterday's wax museum film crew's celebration party.

It was perfectly normal, given that the wax museum had been a big hit and was still ranked in the top three on the North American weekend box office charts. It would have been strange if the entertainment media had not paid attention.

But when Thomas opened the celebrity gossip column in one of them, he widened his eyes and thought to himself, No way, that was way too fast!

"Annie-Hathaway's romance revealed, the man suspected to be Hollywood's rising star Martin Davis!"

Below was a series of photos of the two laughing and leaving the bar together, the man protecting the woman, the woman getting into the man's car, and then the man visiting the woman's hotel and staying for two hours before coming out with a changed outfit.

Thomas didn't look at the small articles written by journalists; just seeing these photos, what would one think? Martin and Annie definitely had an affair!

That swift in action?

Thomas continued to look and found that several gossip newspapers had similar stories.

From the reader's perspective, they would also make such assumptions, and he knew that the gossip journalists' articles would be even more exaggerated without having to read them.

Thomas admired it, Martin that damn guy really was fast.

He suddenly covered his face, thinking that just yesterday he wanted to teach Martin how to pick up girls, talk about overestimating himself...

Thomas picked up the phone and dialed Martin's number; when it was answered, he heard heavy panting and immediately had some unpleasant associations: "Martin, are you with that princess?"

On the other end, someone laughed: "What are you thinking about? I'm at the gym, just had a match with Old Cloth."

Thomas asked directly, "What's going on with you and Annie-Hathaway?"

Martin said, "Met her at the bar yesterday, drank a few drinks together, I drove her back to the hotel."

"Her 'The Princess Diaries 2' was a big hit this year, and although the reaction and reviews were not as good as the first part, she's still at the top among female stars born in the '80s," Thomas was not concerned about the truth, but about the profit: "For you, a female star of her ranking is enough. Martin, don't let her slip away!"

Martin was dissatisfied: "Hey! Hey! Buddy, what are you saying!"

Thomas was surprised, What's wrong with what I said?

Martin said, "I'm a fan of Annie, I really like Annie, yesterday's encounter may have been destiny! It's fate, nothing else, understand?"

Thomas understood, you really are shameless!

He added, "You're more knowledgeable in this area than me, handle it yourself, and give me a call if you need anything."

"Hang up."

In the gym, Martin hung up the phone.

Bruce had already taken off his protective gear and was stretching.

Martin put away his phone and began stretching as well, asking, "Did Zomi score last night?"

"Started a conversation, but he drove off alone," Bruce sometimes admired Martin, that piece of shit: "I really wonder, it's one thing for Mene to attract middle-aged and older women, but why can't someone like Annie-Hathaway smell the stench wafting off you?"

Martin patted his chest: "Because you're blind, I'm a good person, and a good person with a bright future at that."

Bruce sarcastically said, "Why didn't you make a move and go straight to her room last night?"

Martin rebutted, "Old Cloth, show some professional ethics, will you! Stars need to have morals and a bottom line, and ought to consider the journalists and paparazzi friends following them every day. If the story progresses too quickly and reaches a climax all at once, it becomes dull for the readers, and our journalist and paparazzi friends will lose their jobs!"

Even though Bruce was stunned by the stench of this piece of shit, he was still taken aback by this novel theory.

Martin came over and slapped Bruce on the shoulder: "See, I'm an actor with real morals and professional integrity."

Bruce found himself speechless.

Their fitness coach Susie entered from outside and seeing them wiping sweat, she said, "I've prepared something to drink for you in the resting room."

Martin politely responded, "Thank you."

Susie deliberately lingered behind, walking with Bruce and took the initiative to invite him: "Old Cloth, free for lunch? There's a new Japanese restaurant nearby, I'll treat you."

Martin decided to create an opportunity for Old Cloth: "I'm heading to Louise's place at noon, then I have to meet with Wes and Aga at the studio in the afternoon, so you're free to do as you please."

Bruce, already prepared to say goodbye to Kim, immediately accepted Susie's invitation: "Sure, I'll treat you at noon."

Susie was delighted: "No need, I said it's on me, so let it be on me." She thought for a moment, "How about this, next time you treat me."

Martin noticed that Susie had a plan; the current date hadn't even started, yet the next one was already being arranged.

Bruce said, "Let's talk about next time later."

Martin went to the changing room to shower and change, came out to say goodbye to Bruce, and drove off alone to Sherman Oaks.

He hadn't contacted Annie-Hathaway again for the time being; he would wait for a free day to ask her out for lunch.

As his car was close to the hillsides of South Mountain, someone waved to stop his car on the roadside.