Chapter 147: Box Office Champion

On Monday morning, Thomas arrived at the company bright and early. It was still relatively quiet, with only a few people entering the building.

As Thomas stepped into the first-floor lobby, Natasha, the front desk assistant, greeted him warmly, "Good morning."

"Morning," Thomas replied. He couldn't help but notice that Natasha's smile was exceptionally radiant today, akin to the way she greeted the company's partners.

Natasha beamed happily, "Congratulations on topping the North American box office charts."

Thomas corrected her, "It's not me, it's my client, Martin Davis."

Natasha took a step closer, "But you are the one behind, contributing those clients success."

Thomas recognized that he had indeed put in a lot of effort, but he also understood that many factors, such as the film and the characters, contributed to Martin's success. Most of the resources were secured by Martin himself.

Natasha's position as a front desk assistant was considered relatively low within the mailroom management department. In the company where she started working over the summer, the front desk assistant position was not highly regarded among the various roles in the mailroom.

She took another step towards Thomas, "You've made Martin into a star client. I believe you'll have your own office soon. Thomas, if you ever need an assistant, don't forget me."

Thomas quickly moved to the side, saying, "I'll keep that in mind."

He continued towards the elevators and spotted senior partner Jim Witt. Thomas greeted him promptly.

Jim Witt nodded in acknowledgment and halted Thomas, asking, "Martin is the lead in 'House of Wax,' correct?"

Thomas confirmed, "Yes, he's definitely the lead. He delivered the company another actor this year—a box office champion."

Jim Witt expressed his satisfaction, "This young man, Martin, has done remarkably well, and so have you."

Thomas smiled, seizing the opportunity to boost his own image using the client's name, "Martin often says that he and I are the dream team."

"Keep up the good work!" Jim Witt encouraged. "Martin has enormous potential, and I'm optimistic about his future."

Thomas was initially pleased, but as Jim Witt continued on to the dedicated high-rise elevator, he suddenly felt a pang of concern.

In the cutthroat world of talent brokerage, agents often poached clients from one another, and the circle wasn't particularly large. It was common for partners in the same firm to vie for the clients of smaller brokers.

Previously, Martin was just a promising actor.

However, the success of "House of Wax" would undoubtedly attract the attention of many industry players.

As Thomas ascended to his workstation, he remembered another critical issue: Martin's contract.

Martin was a new client, and according to industry regulations, WMA could only sign a one-year contract initially.

After the first year, clients were eligible for a maximum three-year contract renewal.

Considering that it was already October, Martin's contract was set to expire in two months. Even if he renewed with WMA, he had the option to choose a different agent.

Initially, Thomas had worried about signing an unknown client. Now, he was concerned about retaining a client who had become famous.

Once again, he scratched his head absentmindedly, and a dozen hairs fell out.

"Hey, Thomas, congratulations."

A usually quiet neighbor from the partition, an agent seated in the neighboring workspace, leaned over the divider. "Your client, the male lead topping the North American box office, that's impressive!"

Pointing to Thomas's workstation, he added, "Oh, you'll probably get your own office soon."

Thomas shook his head, "It's not a big deal."

Curious, the neighbor asked, "Where did you discover Martin Davis? Share your experience with me. How come I never run into potential clients like that?"

Another passing agent chimed in, "Thomas, having the male lead in the North American box office chart, you can't hide your secrets."

The neighbor interjected again, "Tell us how you secured the leading actor in a $40 million production. I might even give you a referral."

Even the neighbor on the other side joined in, "I don't want your introduction to go to waste. I'll treat you to drinks after work today. Grapevine Manor or Ah Wallon? Your choice!"

Colleagues who had usually kept to themselves suddenly became unusually enthusiastic, making it challenging for Thomas to adjust.

However, he remained clear-headed and recognized that all this newfound enthusiasm stemmed from Martin's recent success as the lead in the North American box office.

Among these smiling colleagues, some might have already started digging their own graves, thinking about poaching Martin.

Agents were a part of the entertainment industry, and what Thomas had once advised Martin held true for him as well. Smiling politely, he declined, "I have a meeting right now. We can talk later."

In Atlanta, at the Hulk Mansion Strip Club, it was just past noon.

Vincent stretched and emerged from the restroom, only to find Hart rushing in from outside in great haste.

Hart called out as he ran, "Big news, big new"

Carrington entered the scene just as Hart excitedly called out to him, "Martin's Daddy settled as the North American box office championship. We should book a flight to Thailand now. Martin's daddy has always wanted a daughter!"

"Martin's daddy is incredible," Linton marveled at first, then turned melancholic. "Hart, we missed a golden opportunity."

Hart understood that going to Thailand had been a perfect opportunity back when they were in Atlanta, but now it seemed too late. His eyes reddened with regret as he muttered, "It's all our fault!"

Meanwhile, Vincent set aside the newspaper and dialed his stepmother Sophia to share the good news. The more successful Martin became, the more lucrative their investment in 'The Hills Have eyes' was likely to be.

At the Marietta Community Theater, a van pulled up to the theater's entrance, and Robert led a group of students to unload the cargo.

The van's driver asked, "Should we start unloading the truck now?"

Robert, striking an authoritative pose, placed his hands behind his back and motioned to a few students. "Wait a moment. These are no ordinary Cokes; they're from 2003."

One student, filled with curiosity, inquired, "Teacher, why specifically from 2003?"

Robert pondered briefly and offered a plausible explanation, "Martin Davis happens to prefer them. I bought them and kept them for him."

Another student chimed in, "Is this the same Martin Davis who just emerged from the theater and topped the box office charts?"

Robert confirmed, "That's him."

The students were motivated and, under Robert's guidance, carefully checked the production dates of the Cokes, carrying them to Robert's office while dreaming of becoming the next Martin Davis.

Half of the 2003 Coke supply was stashed in Robert's office, while the other half was dispatched to his home as strategic reserves. Martin had gifted Robert a car, and in return, Robert showered him with countless bottles of 2003 Coke.

Unbeknownst to Martin, before the release of "House of Wax," Robert had performed a solemn Coke Ceremony in his office and at home, facing west.

The results seemed quite promising.

Inside Marietta Public High School's slightly run-down basketball gym, Lily and her entourage confronted the blonde girl, Lindsay, in the dressing room.

Facing the school's resident bully, Lindsay involuntarily took a step back. "What do you want? I'll have you know..."

Lily advanced steadily, "You publicly called 'House of Wax' a terrible movie, urging people not to watch it, didn't you?"

"What I say is none of your business," Lindsay retorted as her back hit the closet, leaving her with nowhere to retreat.

Lily continued to approach, "Did you know that Martin is my neighbor and grew up with me?"

She gestured to her entourage, "Hold her down. I want to teach her a lesson about what not to say."

Six strong basketball players from the school's team emerged from behind Lily and easily subdued Lindsay.

Lily didn't go overboard; she merely issued a stern warning, shoving a smelly sock in Lindsay's mouth, and left with her entourage.

On the school bus ride home, Lily pulled out a copy of The Hollywood Reporter, specially procured from the Marietta Community Theater Group, focusing only on the entertainment section.

On the second page, there was a prominent photo of Martin and a news article.

"Hollywood's Rising Star: Martin Davis!"

Lily read attentively, recognizing many familiar anecdotes.

"In 1981, Martin Davis was born into a poor Atlanta community. Five years after his birth, his parents separated. His mother tragically drowned in a drunk driving accident, while his father struggled with addiction, dishonesty, alcohol, and drugs. Growing up in such challenging circumstances, Martin found solace in acting and made it his aspiration..."

The article detailed Martin's hardships growing up, painting a more dramatic picture than Lily had personally experienced. She knew that most of the family's suffering had fallen on Elena's shoulders, and she had felt no less of it directly.

"Martin had persevered relentlessly and never abandoned his dreams. He finally seized an opportunity last year with his debut in 'Zombie Stripper,' produced by Gray Pictures. This marked his entry into the world of film and television acting, leading to his current status as the male lead in 'House of Wax'!"

The article continued, praising Martin's resilience, independence, and hard work. It hailed him as an exceptional leading man, both handsome and talented.

People like Lily, who knew Martin well, found it all a bit much. The praise seemed overblown, making it merely a testament to the American dream.

She was one of the few who truly knew Martin's history. Moreover, Lily wasn't pleased that she and the Carter family hadn't been mentioned in the article.

Lily knew that Elena had been the one to bear the brunt of the family's struggles, so she felt only a fraction of the hardships Martin had endured.

"What Martin doesn't know is that even before 'House of Wax' was released, Robert performed a solemn Coke Ceremony in his office and at home, facing west."

The results of this peculiar ceremony appeared to be quite promising.