Chapter 811: Martin's Mission

"Keep them in sight, Bruce, don't lose them," Leonardo urged from the passenger seat as they navigated through the bustling streets of Manhattan.

Bruce, focused behind the wheel, nodded in assurance. "They won't slip away."

Martin, sitting in the back, attempted to ease Leonardo's tension. "Bruce knows what he's doing."

Leonardo leaned back, eyes fixed on the Mercedes ahead through the windshield. Soon after leaving the bar, he witnessed Gisele Bundchen and Justin Bieber boarding the car firsthand.

The Mercedes clearly aimed for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel.

Relaxing a bit, Leonardo inquired, "Have you arranged for the plane?"

Martin affirmed with a nod. "I spoke to Elizabeth. Jack will be here tomorrow and can depart whenever needed."

Leonardo gratefully patted Martin's arm. "I appreciate this, Martin."

Martin playfully jabbed Leonardo's shoulder. "It's payback time! Remember when you helped me out? You didn't hesitate then."

Leonardo grinned, saying no more.

Ahead, the Rolls-Royce halted at the Waldorf Astoria entrance.

Bruce maneuvered into a roadside parking spot.

Martin and Leonardo peered towards the hotel. Gisele Bundchen and Justin Bieber stepped out of the car, entering the grand entrance together.

Leonardo frowned slightly, muttering, "Why? Just why..."

Martin shrugged, baffled. "Maybe it's the blonde hair and tattoos that do it for some women?"

The Mercedes-Benz pulled away from the entrance but didn't leave, stopping nearby.

Leonardo's frustration eased slightly as he continued muttering, "Come on! Get out already, you bastard!"

Thirty minutes passed, and Justin Bieber hadn't emerged from the hotel.

"I don't get it," Leonardo sighed. "Why's he such a bastard?"

Martin tried to console him. "Maybe they're just talking inside."

Leonardo shook his head, unconvinced. "Do you really believe that?"

"Even if something did happen," Martin reasoned, "it's Tom Brady who's affected, not you, Leonardo DiCaprio."

Though logical, Leonardo couldn't accept it. "This isn't about who I am or Tom Brady. If it were some regular guy with Gisele, even you or Jack, I could understand."

"Don't go there," Martin interjected firmly. "I've never thought of Gisele that way."

To be precise, the world's number one supermodel didn't fit his aesthetic taste.

Leonardo voiced his displeasure, "What I can't accept is Gisele being with a jerk like Justin..."

Martin empathized with Leonardo's frustration. Not only was Justin Bieber flaunting himself in front of him, but now he was also sharing the same space.

The former was annoying, the latter a devastating blow.

Leonardo gazed silently at the hotel entrance.

Martin sighed inwardly and suggested, "Let's head back for now."

Leonardo checked his watch, "Give it another half-hour."

Martin nodded, falling silent as they waited together.

Thirty minutes passed without Justin Bieber emerging from the hotel.

Frustrated, Leonardo clenched his fists, thumping the seat. "Bruce, let's go back."

Bruce started the car and drove off.

Martin tried to reassure him, "Jack will be here tomorrow, hang in there."

"I know it's not about me," Leonardo admitted, "but I just can't stand it!"

He closed his eyes, confessing, "I admit Gisele is my true love!"

"In the name of true love," Martin declared, "let's teach that bastard trying to take advantage of my brother a lesson."

"Do you have any ideas?" Leonardo inquired.

Martin pondered for a moment. "Let's gather intel first. Once we have enough, we can plan with Jack when he arrives."

Leonardo nodded resolutely, "Tomorrow, when Jack comes, I'll meet you at the Brooklyn Studios."

---

Monday morning, Long Island, New York.

Ryan Reynolds drove solo to Latin Town on the North Shore and entered a quaint morning tea spot.

Seated by the window was Jon Berg, former Hollywood powerhouse producer and CEO.

Ryan settled in across from him, accepting the black tea offered. "Met Martin Davis at Club 54 last night, quite a forceful guy."

Thinking of Blake Lively, whose allure had captured him instantly, Ryan added, "I'm not fond of Martin Davis."

Jon Berg lifted his teacup, remarking, "No one likes him. He's just an asshole."

Ryan took a sip of tea, recalling, "When we last met in Los Angeles, you mentioned leaving Warner Pictures because of Martin Davis. What happened?"

Reflecting on the past, Jon Berg looked at Ryan Reynolds and inquired, "Did you have a falling out with him?"

Ryan Reynolds sighed, "He grabbed a girl's arm, she asked for my help. I stepped in, trying to be a gentleman, but Martin and Leonardo put me in my place."

He shrugged helplessly, "Can't do much against those two together."

Jon Berg wasn't entirely convinced by Ryan's story. A seasoned insider in Hollywood, he knew better. "Martin and Leonard they command respect even among the heads of the Big Six."

The memory of last night's incident flashed through Ryan's mind as a woman passed by, momentarily distracting him. He glanced at his hand, recalling how the evening had pained him.

"Martin Davis didn't even spare me a glance," Ryan mused aloud, his voice tinged with bitterness. "He shoved me aside so blatantly. If I hadn't steadied myself on the table, I would've made a scene."

Ryan turned to Jon Berg, frustration evident. "Are we just going to let Martin Davis keep running things?"

Jon shrugged resignedly. "What else can I do? I'm not the Warner Bros. president."

Ryan sensed an underlying meaning in Jon's words. "Martin Davis is more than meets the eye, isn't he? You've had your share of run-ins with him."

Jon admitted, "My predecessor at Warner Bros., Alan Horn, was close with Martin Davis. I didn't realize it at first, so I took Martin's private advice on many big projects 'Pharaohs and Gods', 'Dark Places', 'Jack the Giant Slayer', you name it."

Ryan nodded knowingly. Hollywood gossip often linked Martin Davis to Warner Bros.' major flops.

"Not just me," Jon continued, meeting Ryan's gaze. "Even DC Films followed Martin's advice. Remember 'Green Lantern'? That debacle was under his influence."

Ryan's heart sank. "Martin recommended 'Green Lantern'?"

Jon confirmed, "Warner and DC initially wanted Martin for the role. They offered him a hefty paycheck and even convinced Blake Lively, his close friend, to consider the lead. But Martin declined, convinced Blake to step back, and put your name forward instead."

Ryan struggled to digest this. "Martin Davis recommended me?"

Jon shrugged, offering a half-hearted justification. "I didn't know you then. If Martin hadn't suggested you, why else would they pick you?"

Ryan frowned, feeling perplexed. "I've never even met Martin Davis."

Jon looked uneasy, realizing he hadn't prepared for this line of questioning. Finding an adequate response wasn't easy.

Fortunately, his long tenure in Hollywood had left Ryan Reynolds with deep impressions, especially concerning Martin.

Jon Berg paused briefly before speaking, his tone measured. "He knew there could be issues with that project, yet he still put your name forward to me. Clearly, he had ulterior motives."

He continued, a hint of warning in his voice. "Back in late 2004, Martin Davis and your ex-wife Scarlett Johansson had a close relationship. You must have come across reports about it."

Ryan Reynolds recalled, "Scarlett mentioned they met on the set of the first season of 'Entourage'."

Jon Berg poured a cup of tea, his demeanor thoughtful. "Your brief marriage with Scarlett Johansson ended bitterly, didn't it?"

"We were both driven," Ryan mused, voicing an explanation that even he found hard to believe. "Our careers kept us apart for long stretches, and the distance eroded our relationship..."

Jon Berg interjected cryptically, "Women who've been involved with Martin Davis tend to stay connected. Think of Jolie, Aniston, they come together when needed. Martin takes special care of these connections, and they try to keep him happy."

"I asked Scarlett," Ryan countered. "She denied any deeper relationship with Martin."

Jon chuckled softly. "Do you believe her? Remember Pitt, Jolie, and Aniston insisted they were just friends with Martin."

"Damn it," Ryan cursed inwardly, thinking of Martin Davis's notorious reputation with women Jolie, Aniston, Charlize Theron, Taylor Swift, all supposedly close to him. His expression soured.

Jon Berg's tone turned contemplative, almost to himself. "There have always been whispers in Hollywood about Martin's peculiarities..."

Ryan's face darkened further; he was well aware of those rumors.

Martin Davis had a penchant for getting involved with other men's wives or fiancées!

During his marriage to Scarlett Johansson, many had found it hard to believe she chose Martin. Was it all part of Martin's manipulative game?

Ryan Reynolds couldn't shake the suspicion that he'd been betrayed during their marriage.