Chapter 539: Huge Sacrifice

Over the weekend, Martin orchestrated an exclusive gathering of the Coca-Cola Cult at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club, thanks to Coca-Cola's extensive network and resources. A select group of well-known figures who had registered on the official website received his personal invitations.

The scene was bathed in opulence, with the evening sun casting a warm glow over the lush golf course. As guests arrived, the air was filled with a palpable sense of excitement and anticipation.

Among the attendees were not only Leonardo and Nicholson but also several heavyweights from the entertainment industry, including the influential opinion leaders of Me Too movements, Jolie and Aniston, the charismatic Robert Downey Jr. with his wife, and long-time collaborators Martin and Louise, joined by Daniel and many others.

Notably, the gathering drew attendees from various walks of life, including those from outside the entertainment industry. Martin generously covered all their expenses using the proceeds from his commemorative Coke portrait. Among them were Neves from the FBI and McClain from the LAPD, individuals who may have joined out of curiosity or due to their connection with Martin.

As the guests mingled, they realized that this was more than just a playful gathering. It was an unparalleled networking opportunity, bringing together fashion and film industry magnates, renowned critics, Hollywood stars, directors, producers, influential figures from official violent organizations, liberal opinion leaders, and even state legislators.

Some guests even approached Martin, the leader of the Coca-Cola Cult, expressing their desire for more such gatherings across the United States in the future. During the event, Martin received a call from White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel, who expressed interest in the gathering and invited Martin to host the next Cult gathering in Washington.

Amid the festivities, Martin had a conversation with two old friends, Neves and McClain, who had previously collaborated on the famous Russian espionage case, reaping significant profits. McClain harbored ambitions of becoming the next chief of the Los Angeles Police Department.

The Coca-Cola Cult, initially a loosely-knit organization, was evolving into a powerful platform for networking and influence.

After the party, Martin had a one-on-one discussion with Daniel from Warner Bros., focusing on matters related to the Inception crew and the rights to The Hobbit. The conversation veered towards Harvey, who bore the brunt of the blame for the copyright disputes surrounding The Hobbit.

Daniel remarked, "If Harvey had any sense, he would willingly relinquish the copyright instead of trying to wrest it from Warner's grasp."

Martin added, "Regrettably, Harvey has never been known for his discernment."

Daniel smiled knowingly, "Not only is he lacking in wisdom, but he also possesses an insatiable desire for control."

Martin understood that it wasn't merely Harvey's ignorance but the immense stakes involved in The Hobbit's copyright that fueled the conflict.

Daniel continued, "Harvey has alienated every Warner executive, including me, the distribution producer of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Barry Meyer and Alan Horn share my sentiment – if murder weren't illegal, Harvey would have met his end at their hands a hundred times over."

Martin concurred, "Harvey's arrogance may have carried him thus far, but there's a reckoning on the horizon."

Daniel nodded, fully comprehending Martin's implication, "He better face that reckoning swiftly and never rise again!"

"Believe me, Martin, Warner's speeding car will surely crush him," he warned Martin as he was about to depart.

He added, "I forgot to mention, Warner plans to transform The Hobbit into a trilogy, and I'll still be the distribution producer."

Martin had long been aware of this development, so he simply congratulated Daniel.

Daniel responded, "The copyright issue remains unresolved, and all preparations may be in vain."

Martin countered, "There's always a solution."

...

New York, outside a hotel.

Inside a sleek car, Lukaku sat, monitoring a screen and recording simultaneously.

Courtois inquired, "Any significant news?"

Lukaku shook his head deliberately, "Sienna Miller has invited a group of female models to a party. Nothing too big. However, they did mention Martin Davis, and it appears that Angela Lindvall mentioned a mandatory test for joining the fashion supermodel group."

The car door swung open, and Azar entered, burger in hand, asking, "What are the criteria?"

Lukaku explained, "The sole requirement for joining the fashion supermodel group is to be intimate with Martin Davis. That's what Carolina claimed, and everyone seems to be in agreement. They've even placed bets on whether Georgina Chapman can meet this condition this year."

Courtois sighed, "Why isn't their condition to be intimate with me? I could easily meet that requirement!"

Azar handed him a burger and pointed out, "Isn't Georgina Chapman Harvey Weinstein's wife, whom we investigated before?"

"Yes, that's her," Lukaku added, "She's also a fashion brand designer. According to Sienna Miller and Angela Lindewald, it seems Martin introduced her into the American fashion scene."

Courtois remembered, "I recall Xavi and Martin were on good terms, and Xavi's wife had a close relationship with Martin. The entertainment and fashion circles are certainly chaotic."

Azar munched on his burger, saying, "Considering the information we've gathered, it pales in comparison to Harvey's actions."

Suddenly, a stranger knocked on the car door. Courtois lowered the window and asked, "What do you want?"

The man handed him a business card, saying, "I'm a reporter from TMZ, and I'd like to buy some information from you."

As he began to close the window, the man slipped a check halfway through.

Harnessing their financial prowess, Azar said, "Your ability to uncover this information is impressive. We did uncover a lot, but the editor-in-chief at our headquarters prevented us from publishing it, and all the hard evidence was deleted."

The reporter inquired, "No backups?"

Azar shrugged helplessly.

The reporter produced the check again and placed it on his lap.

Courtois contemplated speaking up, but Hazard intervened, "That's accurate."

The reporter nodded and presented the check once more, asking, "You're holding onto it because you want to sell it, right? What's your asking price?"

The three exchanged glances, reaching a silent agreement. Azar set down his burger and declared, "We'll double the price. Not only will you receive videos and recordings of various incriminating material, but we'll also provide you with phone numbers and contact information for several victims willing to come forward."

The reporter extended his hand, sealing the deal, "Agreed."

Azar shook hands firmly, "Deal!"

These three reporters were exceptionally professional, and even while Azar was engaged in negotiations, Lukaku remained firmly planted in his seat, eavesdropping and recording Sienna Miller's party.

He overheard Georgina Chapman remark, "I'm returning to Los Angeles to host a fashion soiree and invite Martin as a guest."

Lukaku couldn't help but inwardly worry; Martin was walking on thin ice.

Shortly after Ivan purchased their information and returned to Los Angeles, Bruce received the notification and immediately dialed Jody's number.

The two friends convened in Bruce's car, a familiar setting from their past meetings.

Jodi had adorned herself with exquisite makeup, radiating a captivating beauty despite her somewhat modest figure.

"It's been a while since you visited, Bruce," she remarked, a touch of inexplicable resentment in her voice. "Have you forgotten your old friend now that you're wealthy?"

Bruce responded sincerely, "Never, Judy. I always remember our friendship. I'm here today with something big, no less."

Judy, who had taken over much of Bruce's news and business endeavors, couldn't help but tease, "You media folks always love to hype things up."

Bruce reassured her, "No hype this time." He handed her a USB flash drive, saying, "Old friend, I'm offering you a golden opportunity to win the Pulitzer Prize."

Judy remained skeptical, cautioning, "It might be a massive pitfall."

Bruce pointed at the USB flash drive, urging, "Take a look first."

Judy inserted the drive into her laptop and played a video. It featured an unknown actress narrating her account of Harvey Weinstein's assault on her.

Her expression turned grave, "Is this it? A Pulitzer Prize, Bruce? Are you serious?"

Bruce insisted, "Keep watching."

Judy proceeded to the next video, which was less than two minutes long but depicted Harvey Weinstein's inappropriate actions towards a young woman. The uncomfortable nature of the footage was palpable.

Then, there was another recording with a voice that closely resembled Harvey's.

After listening, Judy inquired, "Is that all?"

Bruce extended his little finger and said, "These are just a few."

Judy, inclined to chase news, initially thought about exposing it immediately, but she was pragmatic. Realizing the complexity of the situation, she expressed her concerns, "This is Harvey Weinstein we're talking about! My future could be in jeopardy!"

Bruce assured her, "If your future is at risk, I'll provide you with a substantial sum of money to ensure you live a comfortable life without the need to toil."

This offer alleviated some of Judy's doubts. Ultimately, many dilemmas revolved around money.

"Consider this, Judy," Bruce continued persuading her, "The Pulitzer Prize is the pinnacle of journalism awards. With your current career trajectory, it's unlikely you'll ever win it. Harvey Weinstein is undeniably influential, but precisely because of that, once his true identity is exposed, the rewards will be immensely lucrative, albeit with proportional risks."

He mentioned a specific example, "Look at Helen from Warner TV. I witnessed her success firsthand. She fearlessly pursued stories, even in the face of danger, always alongside me and Martin."

Judy still had lingering doubts, "TMZ might suppress the story and not publish it."

Bruce had considered this and wasn't easily dissuaded, "Your boss, Harvey Levin, may not want to cover it, but I can sell it to others. Plus, I've bribed the paparazzi from the News of the World. The Sun's headquarters is in the UK. If no one reports it for too long, they'll expose Weinstein as well. Do you think they'd hesitate to take down Weinstein?"

Judy closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and made her decision, "Alright, give me everything. I'm now the deputy editor-in-chief with editorial independence. I can publish news and put it on TMZ's front page, but I won't do it right away. This is too explosive. I want to view the videos and meet the individuals involved in person to ensure a devastating blow!"

Bruce agreed, "No problem."

Judy then added one more condition, gazing at Bruce, "Brother, you must spend the night with me!"

For the sake of their future endeavors, both Martin and Old Bruce were willing to make significant sacrifices.