Chapter 288: Damn Two-Faced People!

Martin spent a perfect night at the Victoria's Secret model house.

Adriana Lima pulled out all the stops to please Martin in bed.

Wait, no, not Martin—she was actually trying to please Legolas.

Yes, another girl caught in the spell of "elf fever."

The girl, who had previously had a one-night stand with Martin, fell deeply in love with the "Elven Prince" from The Lord of the Rings after watching the movie.

"Martin? Who's Martin? I only love Legolas!"

Thus, Martin had to spend the entire night sweet-talking her in "Elvish."

Of course, even though it left him with a dry throat, it was worth the effort—the rewards were simply divine.

The Next Day.

Martin, Leonardo, and Tobey left together.

Martin noticed that Tobey Maguire's steps were a bit wobbly—clearly, Tyra Banks had demanded quite a lot of him the night before!

As for Leonardo, his dark circles and pale complexion said it all. Gisele Bündchen must not have gone easy on him either.

In the original timeline, there were tabloid rumors that during Gisele's relationship with Leonardo, she would relentlessly "exhaust" him every time they met in an effort to curb his infidelity.

But, alas, the little blue pill ruined her plans. Ultimately, they still broke up because Leonardo couldn't keep his desires in check.

Now it seemed like Gisele's "exhaustion strategy" was very real!

Martin chuckled to himself.

Afterward, Tobey hopped into Leonardo's car, and the two drove off.

Martin got into his own car, where Gordon, who had slept in the vehicle all night, was still full of energy.

"Where to now? Back to the apartment?"

"No, head to the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. I've got plans with Scarlett."

At the entrance of the Delacorte Theater, Scarlett, wearing a mask and sunglasses, waved to Martin.

Martin, also masked and in sunglasses, easily recognized her—they were the only two people dressed like that in the vicinity.

"Why the sudden invitation to a play?" Martin asked, curious.

Today, Scarlett had invited him to watch The Seagull, a Chekhov play directed by Mike Nichols.

"A friend of mine has a role in the play, so I came to support her."

"Who?"

"Natalie Portman. When I used to live on Long Island, our families were close since we're both Jewish, so we saw each other often."

"Oh!" Martin nodded in understanding, then added, "I've seen her in Léon: The Professional, but after that, she hasn't done anything particularly memorable."

"She played Padmé Amidala in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, then went to Harvard. She's a junior now."

"No wonder she's been off the radar—focusing on her studies. I guess it's hard to balance academics and a career."

Scarlett rolled her eyes at him. "Not everyone is a genius like you—skipping school all the time and still acing every subject."

The mention of this sparked Scarlett's jealousy. She, too, balanced acting and studying, but her grades were… less than stellar.

Martin, on the other hand, despite being busier, rarely seemed to study yet always topped the class.

Martin chuckled. "Darling, don't compare yourself to a genius—it'll only hurt your confidence."

"Yes, yes, you're a genius. You're the best," Scarlett replied sarcastically.

The two chatted as they walked into the theater and found their seats.

Despite the February chill in New York, the open-air Delacorte Theater was packed. Large heaters around the venue offered some warmth, but the cold wind was still hard to ignore.

Even so, the 800-seat theater was completely full, a testament to the play's popularity.

"This cast is impressive," Martin remarked in surprise.

Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman—all veterans of the stage and screen.

"Look, that's Natalie—she's playing Nina," Scarlett pointed out as the actors took the stage.

As the performance unfolded, Martin found himself drawn to the story.

Even in the age of cinema, stage plays still held a special place in people's hearts, particularly small theater productions.

The proximity between actors and audience, coupled with the lack of retakes, often brought out breathtaking performances.

After the play ended, Scarlett dragged Martin backstage.

"I'm here to see Natalie Portman. I'm Scarlett Johansson," she told the security guard.

"Scarlett's here? Let her in!"

Natalie's voice came from inside, and the guard politely let them through.

"Hey, Scar!"

"Hello, Nat!"

"I'm so glad you came to see me."

"It's been ages since we last met. I never expected you to choose university over acting."

Natalie's expression briefly shifted before she quickly masked it with a smile. "Learning more is always beneficial. Plus, studying psychology helps me better understand characters when acting."

Lies.

Martin glanced at the seemingly serene girl, his sharp instincts sensing her regret.

She regretted sacrificing her rising career for the prestige of academia.

At this moment, Natalie turned her gaze to the masked Martin and smiled. "Scarlett, aren't you going to introduce your friend?"

"Oh, right!" Scarlett smacked her forehead, then pulled Martin forward with a hint of pride. "This is Martin Meyers, my… good friend."

As she said "good friend," Scarlett playfully winked at Martin.

Martin removed his mask as Scarlett introduced him.

The other people in the room immediately turned their attention to him. Several female staff members whispered excitedly:

"Martin's here."

"Oh my God, it's Legolas!"

"He's so handsome—I think my heart's about to burst."

Martin's appearance caused a stir among the actors, who approached him one by one to greet him.

Even veterans like Meryl Streep, Kevin Kline, and Philip Seymour Hoffman treated him with courtesy and respect.

This was the power of influence.

To Natalie, Meryl Streep had always been an aloof and proud figure. She usually dismissed Natalie with barely a glance.

But now, in Martin's presence, Meryl was warm and friendly, even offering Scarlett encouragement and support. She went as far as to promise to mentor Scarlett in acting if needed.

Remembering Meryl's indifferent attitude toward her own requests for guidance, Natalie felt a surge of discomfort.

Damn two-faced bitch! Natalie cursed inwardly, though her expression remained composed. Still, she instinctively moved a couple of steps closer to Martin, signaling her association with him.