America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Sherman Oaks, inside Louise's villa.

Kelly lay sprawled on the couch, pinching a sticky note between two fingers and waving it at Louise, "Master Mixologist, want one? Honey, Martin sure can pick names."

Louise shed her work jacket, rolled up her sleeves, and turned her gaze towards Martin, "What do you say?"

Martin sat on the edge of the bar, pulled out two water bottles, and tossed one to each of them, "Start fighting! I'll record it for you."

Louise caught it, one hand gripping the neck of the bottle and the other the bottom where two egg-shaped ends were joined. She smiled at Martin and began to bend it with force.

The uniquely shaped water bottle actually began to bend, as if it was going to break in two.

Martin felt a chill throughout his body and said, "This is your battle, what does it mean dragging me into it? Drunkard, don't scare me; with that little strength, you truly can't break it!"

He made a welcoming gesture, "Get on with the brawl!"

Louise exchanged a glance with Kelly, and the two wild women, who were just now fighting tooth and nail, simultaneously inverted their bottles and turned towards Martin.

Martin stood up and said, "Good, very good, learning to gang up on men now?"

Kelly rose and joined Louise, eyeing Martin up and down as if they were female lechers about to commit an act of violence.

Facing such peril, Martin decisively chose to lie flat, jumping onto the spacious bar and lying across it, "Will you come at me one by one, or together? I suggest you team up."

He raised his finger and wagged it, "Because you're no match for me!"

What happened in the villa turned indescribable.

In the meantime, tempted by the new cocktail recipe, Louise Mel, master of the International Bartenders Association, shifted to Martin and Kelly's side.

The night breeze was brisk as the three changed clothes and sat on the villa's terrace under the moonlight, drinking and chatting together.

Martin asked with concern, "Kelly, did you manage to get any business this time around?"

Louise was still bearing a grudge, "Apart from clinging to you, what else can she do? I brought her the business."

"You were the one in the middle just now, you wild woman! It was you!" Kelly retorted, "You're quite agile, it seems Martin trained you well."

Louise unabashedly embraced her licentiousness, "I learned it all from you. Those few times you were in the middle taught me a lot."

Seeing the conversation veer off course, Martin placed a glass of drink in front of each person and reminded them, "We're talking business here!"

Louise picked up her drink and took a sip, "Considering human history, what could be more serious than this?"

Kelly, slightly more serious than Louise, nudged her chin towards Louise, "She helped out, and I've secured 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' with Warner Bros. The entire shooting will be completed at the Atlanta Gray Studio."

Martin inquired, "Tim Burton's project?"

"Don't even think about it; I have too much capital tied up in 'Alexander the Great', and I didn't join in on that deal," Louise said directly to Martin, "Tim Burton will only work with his buddy Depp; the other roles don't fit you, and there's no point going for small parts.

I don't have any package deals coming up in the next few months, so you'll have to figure out something on your own during this time."

Martin heard Alexander's name again and asked, "Drunkard, how much did you invest in that film?"

Louise vaguely replied, "Over twenty million US dollars."

Kelly teased her on purpose, "I really hope that film flops and the female pervert like you goes bankrupt and has to resort to hustling."

"Even if it fails, most of the losses will be borne by the package deal's funds," Louise said with a hint of worry, "Of course, I won't get away unscathed..."

She suddenly looked at Martin, "Will you be willing to support a bankrupt old woman when the time comes?"

Martin replied earnestly, "I could support you for two lifetimes with no problem, whatever I have, you'll have."

Louise smiled, "Your words are getting sweeter by the minute, but I know they're not true. If I really go bankrupt, I'll just become a bartender and sell drinks."

Martin did not argue but changed the subject, "Kelly, you're the producer of 'Zombie Stripper'. Here's some good news: my agent has settled an agreement with Lionsgate Films, and I have already been submitted for this year's Saturn Award for Best Young Actor. I might even get a nomination."

Kelly replied, "The film's global rights have all been sold; there's nothing I can do to help you with that."

Louise took the conversation up, "You only want a nomination? You don't want to win?"

"Winning would be best," said Martin, after detailing the competing films and their actors, "Apart from Lindsay Lohan in 'Freaky Friday', I've never even heard of the other actors; their credentials can't be much better than mine."

Louise raised her glass, signaling for both to drink together, "This matter is hard if you say it's hard, easy if you say it's easy. The Science Fiction and Horror Film Academy isn't as united as The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences; it's relatively scattered. Currently, the most influential figure in the horror academy is Wes Craven.

If you can win over Wes Craven, a small award like Best Young Actor can easily come your way."

Martin knew whom she referred to, "The screenwriter, producer, and director of the 'A Nightmare on Elm Street' series and the 'Scream' series."

"It's more appropriate to call him the godfather of modern Hollywood horror films," added Louise.

"How can I deal with him?" Martin asked Louise and Kelly directly, "Would you guys mind if I went and sold my ass?"

Louise warned viciously, "I'll have you encased in a concrete pillar and dumped into the Pacific to sink to the bottom!"

Her tone softened, "Even if you sold yourself, he wouldn't want it. Wes Craven has been famous for so many years, he has money, women, men, and even trans people at his disposal. What do you have that could sway him?"

Martin asked, "What's his biggest hobby?"

"Throwing wild parties, quite famous in the industry," Louise said briefly, "He likes to play those large-scale, crazy, and thrilling party games, but it's been less in recent years, probably because he's played too much and lost the novelty."

Martin began to ponder carefully, "Do you know him?"

"The kind where we nod and greet each other when we see each other," Louise said with a smile, extending her hand, "Anything more than that…"

Kelly told Martin, "I warned you earlier that this slut would milk you dry and then kick you to the curb."

Martin wouldn't let her get away with it that easily, "Give me some time, and I'll be able to come up with a new recipe."

"Fine, I'll keep tabs," Louise likewise dangled the bait, "I'll check around and see how we can forge a connection."

Kelly, seeing this pair of shameless man and woman making deals right in front of her, was immediately discontent, "Martin, you haven't given me any ideas for a long time."

After thinking for a moment, Martin said, "The gay movement is heating up here in California, and I think it might spread; Georgia won't be able to escape. Wait for the right moment, Kelly, and you could launch a new version that combines gay rights."

"Bisexuality?" Louise, after a drink, brimming with a promiscuous aura, pulled Kelly over for a hot kiss, and her hand climbed up High Ground. She turned her watery eyes towards Martin and raised her long eyebrow, "Is this the kind of new version you're talking about?"

Martin could not endure it and stood up to down his drink, "I'll let you two get a real taste of what a new version is."

The next morning, Kelly was full of energy, going to talk to producer Brad Grey about collaborating on "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory."

Martin accompanied Louise to the LA Freedom Association.

Louise was one of the many directors.

Chairwoman Caroline was a blond woman in her forties, a person capable of influencing the political landscape of Los Angeles.

Louise introduced, "Chairwoman, this is Martin Davis, the inventor of the Water Jug. He and Kelly are the true leaders of the movement in Georgia. You asked me to lure him to Los Angeles, and it took me a while to do it."

Caroline shook hands with Martin lightly, "You've done well in Atlanta. I know Kelly Gray; she doesn't have the capacity. The real mastermind behind it all is you, right?"

Since Martin had credited Kelly with the success, he would not change his stance in any setting, "Most of the work was done by Kelly. I just offered a few minor suggestions, and Kelly turned my unreliable ideas into reality."

Caroline invited Martin to sit down, "Plan on staying in Los Angeles long-term for your career?"

Martin said, "I'm an actor, this place is best for my development."

"Ultimately, Atlanta is a small place," Caroline said with a hint of regret, "If the Water Jug had been launched in Los Angeles, the impact would have been several times what it is now."

Louise interjected, "My Life, My Call also comes from Martin."

Caroline looked intently at Martin before formally inviting him, "Would you be interested in joining us?"

"This is what I've always been hoping for," Martin said seriously, "Just like what I did in Atlanta, I am willing to contribute to this great cause."

Caroline said, "Don't underestimate yourself. You have a certain fame and prestige among the Freedom Associations across the country, and everyone fighting for this cause recognizes you as an important ally." your-chapter-source-MvLeMpYr

Martin said, "It's an honor."

Caroline then told Louise, "Take Martin to handle the paperwork later, so he can be an official social investigator."

She dangled the carrot, "Martin, as long as you contribute, when the committee holds its next meeting, I'll recommend you to be the eighth male committee member in history."

Martin replied politely and then followed Louise to complete the formalities for joining.

The salary and benefits in Los Angeles generally exceeded those of Atlanta; Martin as a social investigator only needed to submit a report every month, yet his weekly salary was 600 US dollars.

For a normal life, that amount of money was more than enough.

When leaving the headquarters, Martin recalled the topic discussed the previous night and said, "Sot, if you really go bankrupt, a director's salary can still ensure a basic living."

But Louise laughed, "Do you think I could still hold the director position if I went bankrupt?"

Martin quickly changed his tune, "No worries, I'll support you by that time."

Louise said, "If the movie really fails, I'll first tear Kelly's damn mouth to pieces!"

Hearing about a 'damn mouth,' Martin thought of another person with an even worse mouth.