Chapter 783: Gossip Queen!

In the hospital ward, the Latin nurse, Maria, busied herself helping Bruce pack his belongings. She cast a reluctant glance at Bruce, her eyes hinting at an unspoken desire for him to stay a bit longer under her care.

Just as Bruce was about to leave, the door creaked open, and Martin breezed in, a flurry of papers in his hands. "The discharge procedures are all sorted," he announced, swiftly tucking the documents into Bruce's bag.

Bruce shrugged into his coat and reached for his suitcase, ready to make his exit.

Seizing the moment, Maria slipped a note into Bruce's pocket, her touch lingering for a brief moment as she whispered, "My contact information."

Martin's eyes lingered on Maria a moment longer, admiring her voluptuous figure and undeniable allure, characteristic of a fiery Latin beauty.

Bruce, feigning obliviousness, motioned for Martin to hurry. "Let's go, what's keeping you?"

Martin grabbed a bag and followed suit, trailing behind Bruce.

As they stepped out of the ward, they were met by a stunning blonde woman standing in the hallway. Jody's Hollywood-worthy appearance belied her presence in the hospital.

With a casual greeting to Martin, Jody turned her attention to Bruce, chiding him lightly, "You could've at least called when you were discharged."

Bruce brushed it off, insisting, "It's nothing serious, you've got your own responsibilities."

Taking charge, Judy relieved Bruce of his suitcase, concern evident in her actions. "You're still recovering, let me handle the heavy lifting."

Martin scratched his head, unsure of how to react to the unfolding dynamics.

Jody took charge of the suitcase, Martin grabbed another bag, and Bruce descended the stairs unburdened.

Arriving at the underground parking lot, Judy paused, addressing Martin, "I think Bruce should stay with me for a while longer until he's fully recovered, then he can resume work with you."

Martin deferred to Bruce on such matters, unwilling to make decisions for him.

Bruce maintained his stance, asserting, "I'm fine now, no need for special treatment."

Judy's gaze shifted pointedly to Martin, silently urging him to intervene.

Martin feigned ignorance, hoping to avoid getting involved.

But Bruce caught on to Jody's intentions, clearing his throat awkwardly.

Softening her tone, Judy made a heartfelt plea, "Can I at least take care of you for one night?"

Realizing the awkwardness of the situation, Martin swiftly made his exit, tossing his bag to Bruce as he left.

Left with no choice, Bruce followed Judy to her car.

As they drove off, Martin watched from his brand new Escalade, realizing he had inadvertently stumbled into a romantic drama.

Bruce shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "Alright, I'll stay at your place for one night."

Judy flashed him a mysterious smile. "Hay Bruce, you're in good hands with me."

Bruce felt a sense of unease creeping over him. "I'm injured, you know?"

"You don't need to lift a finger," Judy reassured him as she pulled out of the parking lot. "My recent workouts have been all about squats."

Bruce glanced skeptically at her from the passenger seat. "I don't see any results."

Judy huffed in frustration. "It's hard to look good when it's this big!" she lamented.

Bruce couldn't help but chuckle. "At least your pelvis won't be sore."

Judy fell silent, her annoyance palpable. How many people would kill for her figure?

---

Meanwhile, after leaving the hospital parking lot, Martin received a call from Thomas and headed straight to the WMA headquarters in Century City.

As he entered Thomas' office, he was greeted not only by Thomas but also by a stunning woman with long, sleek black hair.

"Hi, Martin, I'm Clara," the woman introduced herself, her figure accentuated by a vibrant red dress that left little to the imagination. "I rushed to Los Angeles right after signing with WMA."

Martin nodded politely, shaking her hand. "Welcome to Los Angeles."

Thomas' former assistant, Natasha, interjected, "I'm Clara's agent now."

Martin turned his attention back to Clara. "Can you sing and dance?"

Clara nodded eagerly. "Singing and dancing are my specialties. They're essential skills for artists over there." She couldn't contain her excitement after signing with WMA. Compared to contracts back home, this one felt like a dream come true.

Martin turned to Natasha. "Take her to Disney Studios tomorrow morning. The La La Land crew needs a casting director and some minority actors who can sing and dance."

"Got it. We'll head there early tomorrow," Natasha replied, giving Clara a knowing look. "Let's go."

Despite being seasoned in the entertainment industry, Clara held back her excitement and followed Natasha out of the office.

Natasha checked the time. "We still have a lot to do. Do you need accommodation? A physical examination, perhaps?"

Clara, fluent in English from her previous studies in the States, replied confidently, "I've already arranged accommodation. Shall we go for the physical examination first?"

In the world of entertainment, such routines were commonplace.

Back in the office, Martin and Thomas delved into discussions about the Joker project, their conversation buzzing with excitement.

Both Martin and Thomas braced themselves for potential twists and turns, knowing that dealing with Warner Bros. management could be a rollercoaster ride.

Ten minutes later, Georgia, the marketing director of Cadillac in Los Angeles, strode into Thomas' office with purpose.

After exchanging handshakes with Martin and Thomas, Georgia produced a stack of documents. "There are two main tasks at hand," he began. "Firstly, we need to finalize the handover procedures for the new fleet of cars. Cadillac has graciously provided Martin with three bulletproof vehicles this time: two Escalades and our latest flagship sedan, all stationed in Beverly Hills."

Martin had already received reassuring calls from Lily and Elizabeth confirming the cars' impeccable condition and upgraded bulletproof features. This reassurance solidified his decision to opt for Cadillac over a potential Tesla endorsement, considering the latter's battery safety concerns.

After Thomas meticulously reviewed the contract, Martin swiftly penned his signature.

Georgia then brought up the second matter. "Additionally, Cadillac is interested in repurchasing the Escalade involved in the shooting incident..."

Martin waved off the concern. "No need for buybacks. The car is currently in LAPD custody for evidence. Once they're done, you can retrieve it at your convenience."

Georgia nodded, impressed. "We'll coordinate with LAPD to expedite the process. This incident has inadvertently become a powerful marketing tool for our high-end vehicles."

The real-world tests of the Escalade's bulletproof capabilities only further solidified Cadillac's conviction in Martin as their global ambassador.

With Martin's annual endorsement fee of $16 million, Cadillac was already contemplating a lifetime partnership akin to Coca-Cola's iconic spokesperson deals.

After Georgia departed, Martin bid farewell to the office.

Outside the door, he spotted Blake Lively, impeccably dressed and engrossed in her phone.

Taking a seat beside her, Martin inquired, "What's keeping you busy?"

Blake flashed a grin, flipping her phone to reveal her social media prowess. "Just about to share some selfies on Twitter. I've got over 5 million followers on both Twitter and Instagram."

Impressed, Martin offered a thumbs up. "You're killing it."

Blake shrugged modestly. "Funny thing is, when we were together, my career was booming. But post-breakup, it's been a bit stagnant. After Gossip Girl, I've struggled to find substantial projects and relied more on gossip and fashion for attention."

Martin teased, "Well, sounds like you've got a solid plan there. Why not assemble a team to dominate social media with fashion, fitness, and gossip content? You could become the reigning queen of gossip in the States."

The accidental suggestion from Martin piqued Blake's interest. She blinked playfully and remarked, "Gossip Queen? That's actually not a bad idea."

Slipping her arm around Martin's, Blake pleaded with a hint of sweetness in her voice, "Take a selfie with me, just one. Pretty please?"

Martin chuckled softly. "Don't push your luck."

With her phone's camera activated, Blake positioned herself half-leaning on Martin, flashing a radiant smile. "Say cheese!"

Martin obliged with a smile of his own.

Reviewing the shots, Blake shook her head in dissatisfaction. "Not quite there yet. Let's try again."

After a series of attempts, Blake finally captured a satisfactory shot. Swiftly uploading the photo, she tweeted with a playful caption: "My ex-boyfriend gave me a new nickname, the Gossip Queen. Should I embrace it?"

Turning to Martin, Blake requested, "Help me retweet it."

As Martin obliged, Blake simultaneously posted the photo on Instagram, eager to see the reactions pour in.

Within moments, her notifications flooded with responses.

Ignoring the flurry of replies, Blake turned back to Martin. "Care to come over tonight? I'm flying solo at home."

Martin shook his head, declining her invitation. "I'll head home soon."

Understanding his refusal, Blake hinted, "You'r girlfriend's away, so it's just me."

Martin raised an eyebrow. "You seem well-informed."

"Elizabeth and I go way back, all the way to Burbank Middle School," Blake reminisced. "I always thought she'd dive into entertainment, but she surprised everyone by making a name for herself in the business world. She's a major shareholder in The Row and The+Mannei."

Martin mused, "Maybe she prefers to keep her distance from my world."

"Out of sight, out of mind, right?" Blake shrugged, swiftly changing the subject. "Last time we spoke in Boston, you mentioned helping me find a suitable role."

After a moment's thought, Martin suggested, "Hold tight a bit longer or consider a cameo in 'John Wick 3'. There are two strong female characters, one's a dog lover like Jonathan, and the other's a badass. Maybe you'll fancy it. You know Chad; you could swing by Disney Studios for an audition."

"I'll check it out tomorrow," Blake nodded, already planning her next move. "But what are you waiting for?"

Martin gestured towards her iPhone. "Get your social media game on point. Once you've built a solid fanbase, finding the perfect female lead won't be a challenge."

Blake mulled over his words, finding them remarkably sensible. Rising to her feet, she declared, "I'll speak to my agent and assemble a professional social media team pronto."

As she took a few steps away, Blake suddenly leaned in close to Martin, whispering, "How about a quick detour to the restroom?"

Martin gently pushed her back, meeting her gaze with a firm resolve. "Another time. Let's stay focused for now."