Chapter 336: Hero For Woman

In Beverly Hills, Harvey Weinstein's mansion, which he purchased as a newlywed last year, was brightly lit tonight. Georgina Chapman, the hostess, stood in the villa's foyer early, ready to welcome distinguished guests. Martin arrived a bit late due to an afternoon event.

Walking into the foyer, he greeted Georgina, offered a gift, briefly admired it, and complimented her, saying, "The dress is beautiful, the person is even more beautiful, the artistic masterpiece of the Muse." Georgina smiled and responded, "No wonder Kate always mentions you. My qualities are quite appealing."

Martin playfully asked, "Didn't Kate mention my other great quality?" Georgina inquired, "May I know?" Martin replied, "Honest and reliable."

It sounded like a boast, but Georgina connected it to Martin's earlier praise of her beauty and said, "If I were to create a men's clothing brand, I'd certainly hire you as the spokesperson." Seizing the opportunity, Martin added, "Georgina, we have an agreement."

Georgina realized that Martin was not what her husband, Harvey, had described, but closer to Kate's depiction. He was undeniably an interesting guy. She glanced behind Martin and pretended to be disappointed, "Jolie and Aniston didn't come with you?"

Martin nodded, "My charm is limited, and I can't impress those two ladies." Georgina smiled and replied, "No worries. Let's plan to meet again when we have the chance."

Martin agreed, and the two chatted for a while before parting. Martin entered the mansion's lobby, observing a room filled with renowned male and female celebrities from the industry. Notably, the female stars greatly outnumbered the male stars.

Meryl Streep approached and inquired, "Jack said, what action are you planning?" Martin, keeping it secret, responded, "A confidential one." Meryl, recalling their previous fun interactions, asked, "Is it as fun as the one at Pinewood Studios? Take me with you." Martin hesitated, fearing Meryl, in her fifties, might not feel comfortable among much younger supermodels.

Comparing traditional European female models to Victoria's Secret models, he pondered. Meryl expressed her disappointment, and Martin certainly didn't consider her one of his own. Meryl had associations with Nicholson, Weinstein, and numerous directors, making her a standard Aquaman. It was challenging for any man to trust such a person.

As Meryl turned to leave, a blond woman with a glass of red wine approached. An almost collision occurred, but Martin swiftly moved Meryl out of the way to avoid it. The red wine in the blond woman's glass spilled.

Meryl thanked Martin and then observed the woman. The blond woman's unmistakable Hollywood presence was Cate Blanchett. She apologized, claiming she hadn't seen Meryl. A waiter arrived to clean up the spilled wine.

Meryl, less friendly than her public image, confronted Blanchett, accusing her of intentional actions. Blanchett, dropping her innocence, retorted, "I genuinely didn't see you, old woman." Georgina was alerted as the owner.

Blanchett then politely disengaged from Meryl and left. Meryl, looking around, noticed Martin hiding nearby. He discreetly pointed to a glass of red wine on a nearby table.

Meryl's appreciation for Martin grew, but it wasn't the time to talk. She swiftly approached the table, grabbed a glass of wine, and caught up with Blanchett. Someone warned Blanchett to be careful, but before she could react, red wine was splashed on her face. Her golden hair, exquisite makeup, and off-white dress were all drenched.

Blanchett was shocked, and Meryl confronted her fiercely. Onlookers gathered to witness the confrontation. The entertainment industry was no stranger to fights, especially among actresses. The competition extended beyond acting skills and often involved schemes and rivalries.

Amidst the escalating tension, Georgina rushed over to stand between Meryl and Blanchett, preventing the situation from getting worse.

Kate Winslet hurried over to Martin, searching for answers with her eyes. When Martin subtly shook his head, he stepped in to help Georgina restore the atmosphere.

Georgina, together with Cate Blanchett, retreated to another nearby room.

The waiter promptly cleared away any remnants of the altercation.

Kate contributed a few words, gradually mending the atmosphere in the hall.

Meryl, ready to depart ahead of time, sought out Martin before leaving. She expressed her gratitude, and Martin responded candidly, "You're welcome. Jack and I are old friends."

Meryl nodded and left without further words.

Kate slowly approached, took a seat, and inquired, "Have you been here?"

Martin nodded, clarifying, "Not solely for tonight."

Given her previous experience filming "The Reader" at Pinewood Studios, Kate asked, "Is it related to the last incident?"

Martin elaborated, "Blanchett suffered a serious fall back then, and it led to Christian Bale's to recover in bed for two weeks due to a torn ligament. She might have sought revenge this time. I saw her with red wine..."

Kate grinned, recognizing the dynamics at play: "I bet Blanchett didn't anticipate that Meryl would confront her immediately, causing her embarrassment."

Martin considered the situation. Meryl had a history with Oscar winners and top directors, not to mention her seemingly ideal family. It was a complex web of grudges.

Martin couldn't help but remark, "You're quite the heroine among women."

Kate playfully rebuked him, saying, "You and Leo have a knack for getting into trouble."

Martin defended himself innocently, "As the younger brother, I'm just following the lead of the boss and the second-in-command. Team effort."

Kate chuckled, understanding.

After a brief conversation, Georgina returned to the hall and spotted Kate with Martin. She joined them at the small round table.

Kate inquired, "Where did the others go?"

Georgina explained, "They changed and left early."

Martin glanced at the door and questioned, "They didn't meet outside, did they?"

Georgina, somewhat frustrated, responded, "As long as they step out of my house, they can tear into each other as they please. I don't care if they have a showdown."

Kate interjected, pointing at Martin, and said to Georgina, "My dear, you should thank him. If he hadn't intervened, things could have escalated into a much bigger spectacle. Thank you." Martin raised his glass for a toast, clinking with Georgina and acknowledging the gratitude.

Kate comforted Georgina, saying, "It's not your fault. They had conflicts while filming at Pinewood Studios. Just avoid putting them in the same situation in the future."

Georgina took a sip of her wine and agreed, "I understand."

Meanwhile, someone waved for Kate, who excused herself, promising to return soon.

Martin addressed Georgina, pondering the frequent industry competition for fame and fortune. Curious about Martin's history with Harvey, Georgina inquired, knowing that Martin had connections through her marriage to Harvey's network.

Martin chose his words carefully, revealing, "Harvey invited me for a film, but I had to decline due to scheduling conflicts. Maybe, how should I put it..." Georgina was well-acquainted with Harvey and offered, "He can be quite persistent and dislikes rejection."

Martin acknowledged, "That's true."

As Georgina showed continued interest, Martin divulged further, "It was also a stroke of bad luck. In a project funded by Harvey, there was an actor who used a tool called Xi S-Ledger. He was Australian, drove under the influence of drugs, and nearly collided with me and Aniston."

Georgina nodded, recalling the incident, but pointed out, "What Kate said contrasts significantly with Harvey's account."

Martin expanded, "Would you like to hear the perspective of the client?" Georgina expressed interest.

Martin recounted the incident factually, concluding, "Because of this, the shoot was delayed. Perhaps Harvey blamed me, but Aniston and I narrowly escaped harm."

Georgina found the eyewitness account more convincing than Harvey's subjective statement, given her long-standing relationship with Martin and the insights from her best friend, Kate.

It became evident that Harvey held a bias against Martin due to certain events, and his statement appeared to be overly subjective.

The conversation continued, with Martin mentioning Briony's interest in making him their brand ambassador. Georgina, an expert in the field, provided professional advice. She recommended proceeding if the endorsement terms were suitable, highlighting Brioni's high-end reputation and its potential positive impact on Martin's image.

Grateful for the insights, Martin replied, "Thank you; your advice is invaluable."

Kate returned, announcing, "Some people are leaving."

Georgina rose to see them off, acknowledging, "With the commotion tonight, Blanchett and Streep might decline my brand."

She sighed, recognizing that Harvey's influence in fashion and modeling circles was limited.