America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Standing in the small conference room, Martin took a brief look at the person sitting behind the meeting table, a middle-aged man with neatly trimmed short hair and a distinguished demeanor.

Andrew's gaze swept over Martin like radar waves, scanning his face and body.

Martin felt as though he was seeing Patrick, Craven, Zomi, and Michel from a few days earlier.

He was all too familiar with that look, the kind that only a lecher would have.

At that moment, Andrew said, "Martin Davis, a new actor." He nodded his head, very directly, "Tonight, I'm holding a role discussion meeting at the Hilton Hotel, can you make it?"

When the lecher met the lecher, Martin didn't hesitate to respond, "I have something very important tonight and cannot attend."

Andrew said, "That's a pity."

Martin didn't say anything more and turned to leave the conference room.

Neither side had any demands, one made an offer, the other refused outright, and if it wasn't a match they parted ways.

There were no hidden rules, as everything was out in the open.

As Martin left, he shook his head slightly at Thomas and made his way to the staircase.

Thomas followed him down, asking in a low voice, "What happened?"

Failure required understanding the reason behind it, so it could be avoided next time.

Martin stated plainly, "Andrew asked me to go to the hotel tonight, and I refused."

Thomas, an agent thoroughly PUAd by the company, said, "That's a great opportunity, to act alongside Nicolas Cage."

Martin shook his head, "It would finish me off, losing the support of Louise."

Thomas immediately shut up, as it wasn't worth it to lose a long-term meal ticket for a one-time resource.

The two reached the ground floor, and Martin prepared to leave.

Thomas reminded him, "Focus all your energy on preparing for the Saturn Awards ceremony. Once you get the Best Young Actor, we'll plan for new roles."

Martin, who also needed to practice dancing, replied, "Okay."

He descended the stairs to the lobby on the first floor.

Martin caught sight of the Laverley siblings again.

Eric still had that furious look on his face.

Blake recognized Martin and called out, "Hey, can you wait a moment?"

Martin stopped and asked, "What's up?"

"Can we talk for a minute?" Blake introduced herself, "I'm Blake Lively, that's my brother Eric, we just met upstairs."

Martin's gaze swept over her quickly, taking in the girl with her blonde hair cascading over her shoulders, a mature face, and simple outfit of a white T-shirt and blue jeans accentuating her tall figure.

He too introduced himself, "Martin Davis."

Blake politely smiled, "May I ask, did you succeed just now? Or…" She quickly clarified, "I mean no offense, it's just that Eric never understands."

Martin was vague, "The director invited me to the hotel tonight to discuss the role, but I refused."

Coming from a family with a background in show business, Blake was momentarily taken aback but quickly grasped the implications and said, "Thank you."

"Don't mention it," Martin replied courteously, nodding his head and leaving the talent agency.

The moment he stepped out, he suddenly remembered what he had forgotten.

He hadn't called Robert, hadn't asked Robert to set up the Coke!

Martin smacked his forehead, reminding himself not to forget next time.

In the lobby, Blake had already figured out what was going on. Their agent had pulled some strings upstairs; Andrew, having seen the people and the information, knew who their father was and didn't want to stir up trouble.

She went to Eric and briefly explained.

Eric, clearly not as sharp as Blake, said, "Should we have Dad call Andrew to secure the role for me?"

Blake felt her older brother was hopeless, "You should change careers; even the dumbest left tackle on the Burbank High School football team is smarter than you."

Embarrassed by his sister's contempt, Eric protested, "I was the one who got you started, recommended you to the talent agency, and protected you. How else would you become an actor?"

Blake covered her forehead, "Think about it, was it really you?"

Some people grasp what teenagers understand in a matter of years, while others might take another decade to figure it out. Eric insisted, "Of course, it was me who recommended you."

Blake pointed at Martin's retreating figure, "He's much smarter than you."

......

A few days later, at Louise's villa, Martin sat on the living room couch, having switched to the Warner Television Network early.

Kelly lay nestled in his arms, gently biting into grapes.

Martin waited for her to swallow before placing another grape into her mouth.

Kelly, with a grape between her teeth, murmured a question, "Is it the Warner Television Network?"

Martin turned up the volume on the TV, "The Saturn Awards this year will be broadcast by the Warner Television Network, and the nominations will be announced by them as well."

Kelly hooked her arm around Martin's neck, tilting her head up as she moved the grape she was biting into Martin's mouth.

But Martin said, "I'd like to try the other two."

Kelly arched her body upward, "You can't have them unless you lower your head."

A crisp snap came from the bar, and Louise, who was serving herself a drink, cursed, "If you two shameless wretches keep fooling around here, I'll set the dogs on you."

Kelly said, "She's on her period, just ignore her."

Louise was furious, "Slut, don't make me paint your face red."

Kelly wanted to say more, but Martin gave her butt a slap and said, "Cut it out, it's starting."

Warner Television Network officially announced the list of Saturn Award nominations.

There was no nominee luncheon nor a press conference; they simply broadcast it through the news.

This year's list featured a string of well-known movie titles like "X-Men 2," "The Lord of the Rings 3," and "Pirates of the Caribbean," among others.

Martin skimmed over the list, focusing intently on the Best Young Actor category.

Kelly, pointing at the TV screen, yelled excitedly, "There's your name!"

Martin had already seen it. Among the six names listed for Best Young Actor was Martin Davis from "Zombie Stripper."

Of the other five, the only name he recognized was Lindsay Lohan.

Martin pushed Kelly away, jumped up from the couch with a roar, and ran towards the bar, his excitement making him a bit over the top, "Ladies, you are witnessing history! You are witnessing the birth of a Hollywood superstar! When you're old and writing your memoirs, this experience could make your book sell a million more US dollars!"

Louise, uncharacteristically, didn't make a sarcastic remark but instead pulled out a bottle of champagne from under the bar, saying, "This calls for a celebration!"

Lately, Kelly had been living with Louise and Martin, and after so much partying, it had become second nature to her. Dissatisfied, she asked, "Just booze? You miserly tart, you're too stingy!"

Martin opened the champagne and poured it into three flutes.

Louise snorted coldly at Kelly, "At least I brought out a bottle of champagne, what do you have?"

As Kelly walked over, unbuttoning her clothes, she hopped up to sit on the bar, "I offer everything I have to celebrate for Martin."

Louise grabbed a white towel to gag Kelly, "Slut, this is so Martin can celebrate you."

Martin skillfully took out two of his latest custom-made flasks and placed one in front of each of them, "Let's get started then, make it intense and joyful, consider it a celebration for me."

He felt like something was missing, picked up two glasses of champagne, and poured them over the flasks, "Now they're ready to use."

Louise looked at the dripping flasks and said, "You bastard, you're as promiscuous as they come."

"You can't slander people out of thin air!" Martin responded earnestly, "Have you ever seen anyone as devoted as me?"

Even Kelly couldn't hold back then, "Is your skin made of tank armor or what?"

Martin defended himself with sound logic, "I only like women with beautiful faces and great bodies, isn't that devotion enough?"

Two flasks flew at him in succession, and Martin skipped and hopped out of the way.

He first called his agent to confirm he would perform as a guest and could bring his own backup dancers; then he called Atlanta.

There was no choice; recent investments were too high, and he needed someone to share the costs.

Attending the award ceremony was both an opportunity and a significant expense for a small-time actor without sponsors.

......

In Atlanta, at the Marietta Community Theater.

In the office of Robert, the theater's lead performance coach, several boxes of bottled and canned cola were stacked.

They were from the production batch used during the time when they filmed Ma Zhen's scenes last year.

Once again receiving a call from Martin, Robert proficiently took out a can of cola, smeared it with olive oil, and placed it on his desk facing west.

Compared to before, Robert had added a new ritual.

He murmured to the cola, "May everything go smoothly for Martin Davis!"

Jerome entered from outside, surprised, "What are you doing?"

Robert replied, "Nothing much, just a little blessing ceremony."

Jerome, not prying into beliefs as they were a dime a dozen, said, "Come with me to the House of Beast, we've got to talk about something for Martin."

The two headed straight for West Strip Street and met Vincent, wearing a cowboy hat, in the club's upstairs office.

Jerome stated their business without beating around the bush.

Vincent suddenly stood up, asking, "Are you saying Martin got a nomination for an all-American movie award for 'Zombie Dancer,' and he's also going to perform onstage?"

Jerome coolly replied, "The Saturn Awards. Counting all film and TV awards in America, it's firmly in the top ten. Warner is broadcasting the ceremony nationwide."

Vincent was a bit confused, "Is Martin taking Annie and the Model Men all the way to Los Angeles?"

Jerome nodded slightly, "Martin said the club has been of great help to him. He plans to take the Model Men for the award ceremony performance and will specifically mention the House of Beast Club and your name during his acceptance speech."

Sophia, who had been silent, took over, "That scoundrel is a smart one, but he should just come straight with his conditions."

Jerome reported truthfully, "Sponsor all his expenses for attending the award ceremony, including outfits, makeup, car rental, and the celebration party, as well as the accommodations and travel costs for Annie and the Model Men in Los Angeles—all covered by the club."

Vincent commented, "Sounds like he's not doing too well in Los Angeles."

"Actors tend to have high initial investments," Jerome downplayed, "He's about to clinch his first all-American acting award."

Sophia made a swift decision, "None of that is an issue. Tell Martin that the House of Beast wants to offer a separate thanks."

Jerome responded, "No problem."

Art that can't be monetized isn't art.