Chapter 491: League of Losers

As the sun ascended, Ben Affleck roused himself from a hangover, gingerly touching his throbbing head. Blinking at the wall clock, it was nearly ten in the morning.

Hurriedly, he freshened up, slung a shoulder bag over his shoulder, and headed out. Upon reaching the elevator, its doors parted, revealing a familiar pregnant woman inside, someone he encountered the day before.

Noting her cautious demeanor, Ben averted his gaze, exiting the elevator upon arrival. Driving north, he traversed from Burbank to the expansive San Francisco Valley, where the entertainment industry thrived.

Having visited before, he strolled into a valley-based coffee shop, spotting Brad Pitt, donning long hair, a beard, and a baseball cap, seated in a corner, sipping coffee.

Ben settled opposite him, apologizing for his tardiness due to traffic. Ordering coffee and dessert, he inquired, "What prompted your move here?"

Pitt, now addressed as Peter, justified, "I've grown weary of LA's complexities. I'm here for a fresh start."

Peering out the window, Ben glimpsed a nearby studio, sparking a thought, "Are you considering a career shift?"

Brad Pitt hesitated, masking his smile with melancholy, "Nothing's certain yet. I'm exploring my options."

Regretful, he elaborated on financial constraints, his shares in Fannie Mae rendered non-tradable. To revitalize his assets, he needed an upfront fee of $10 million, leaving him desperate for income.

Prompted about his own struggles, Ben recounted a challenging past six months, including divorce, compensation battles, and Hollywood's female backlash, particularly led by Me Too movement.

Observing Peter's relief at hearing Ben's trials, Ben, sympathetic yet troubled, proposed, "Have you considered a career change?"

Ben's expression darkened, struck by a realization. Unlike Peter, he had children, what would his daughter think if she witnessed his films in the future? Cheer him on?

Despite having sold a house, Ben's revelation further dampened Peter's spirits.

Yet, today's meeting wasn't for commiseration. Ben sought clarity: "Our affairs are minor in Hollywood. You were coerced into housekeeping, and I dabbled in some teaching. How's that escalated?"

Sipping his coffee, Peter lamented the shifting times, expressing shock at women's irrational behavior and recounting his own shameful betrayals and family turmoil.

The exchange between Ben and Pitt crackled with intensity, filled with frustration and a desire for retribution.

"Who orchestrated Jolie and Aniston's downfall?" Ben's query brimmed with intrigue.

"Martin Davis!" Pitt's response held biting resentment.

Ben leaned forward, his gaze intense. "I've got ties to Martin Davis, just like you."

"What?" Pete's initial reaction? "Did Martin mess with Jennifer Garner, your wife?"

Ben suppressed his anger, resisting the urge to strike. "No, no, it's nothing like that! Those issues I faced, they're not Martin's doing."

Concerned by Ben's distress, Pete probed, "What's going on?"

"Martin snatched away rights to adapt a novel I had my eyes on..." Ben narrated the tale of Martin seizing the project and stifling their endeavors.

Pitt, experiencing a tumult of emotions, felt a bizarre mixture of pleasure at the Affleck brothers' misfortunes and anger at Martin Davis.

Chugging his cold coffee, Pitt exclaimed, "Martin's playing dirty!"

Ben sought an alliance with Peter, having sold his last valuable property to brace against Martin's onslaught. "You've been a victim of Martin too. Ever thought of fighting back?"

Pete contemplated, "What's to be done without funds? I'm planning to liquidate my assets."

"I can't wait that long." Ben shook his head in dismay.

"What's your plan?" Pete inquired.

"We find Martin's weakness," Ben stated firmly, refusing to waste effort on Martin's associates but instead focusing on the man himself. "We've got to be patient or hit hard, rendering Martin incapacitated!"

Pete mulled over revitalizing his assets, not merely for money. "But Martin's too powerful for us alone."

"You've forgotten about Harvey?" Ben reminded him.

Harvey, the Football Association's true boss, had already been contacted by them. "Harvey's been trying to engage Martin, but he's ruthlessly declined every time. Harvey's seen Martin's displeasure after he snatched Wes Craven. With Harvey's backing, a targeted attack is possible if we find Martin's pain point."

Pitt was skeptical about Harvey's involvement. "What's the plan?"

"Harvey will be at Cannes in May. His film will compete with Martin's." Ben expressed confidence in Harvey, urging Pitt to leverage their connections. "Brad, you and I have industry ties. We'll unearth the key to Martin Davis, our final gambit."

Pete nodded in agreement, "Okay."

"Deal," said Ben, extending his hand.

Pete clasped it firmly.

...

In the opulent Beverly Hills, at Davis Manor, the black Escalade stood parked in Fountain Square. Lily and Bruce, attentive to their roles, handled luggage efficiently, while Elizabeth supervised, arranging for lunch in the kitchen.

Martin, however, entered empty-handed, a departure from his usual demeanor.

Presenting a gift to Lily, Martin observed her swift exit, leaving him puzzled. This behavior was uncharacteristic.

Elizabeth inquired about her presents, prompting Martin to hand over three beautifully wrapped boxes. She admired the contents, a new Hermès bag, a Chanel perfume set, and a Cartier women's watch akin to his favorite.

Martin grinned, "Specially picked for you."

Elizabeth, pleased, gathered her gifts, heading upstairs. Glancing back, she invited Martin, "Aren't you coming?"

Martin, worn out from his South Korean ordeal with the girl group, hesitated, torn between determination and the current situation's sensitivity. It wasn't the moment for stubbornness.

The allure of the Scarlet Witch was too much for the Martin to resist.

Martin didn't hesitate, employing various martial arts to coax Elizabeth back into his orbit.

Once her emotions settled, Elizabeth inquired, "Will you be staying in Los Angeles for a while this time?"

"Until mid-May," Martin replied. "First, I'll head to Cannes for the film festival, then off to Morocco to join director Nolan for his new project. I've got an itch to travel the globe."

With Elizabeth's return, the duo sidestepped the entertainment media's gossip, fostering an environment where the outside world's distractio0ns vanished, providing Martin a sanctuary of solace.

"I and Lily plan on visiting the class more often," Elizabeth mentioned.

"Sounds good," Martin nodded in agreement.

Approaching noon, they freshened up, changed attire, and headed downstairs for lunch.

Thomas, engaged in conversation with Bruce about his newfound love, extended an invitation, "I've found my true love. Victoria's moved in with me. Martin, Liz, I'll host a party at my new place soon. I've got a 'master' there."

"Count me in," Martin replied with a smile.

"Congratulations," Elizabeth added.

"Let's dine together," Martin invited everyone.

Inside the restaurant, the group engaged in conversation while eating. Bruce shared his South Korean experience, describing a peculiar condition he faced, "I suffered from prosopagnosia there. All the women looked so similar, like they were cut from the same mold. I couldn't distinguish one from another."

"That's common," Martin remarked. "I have the same problem."

Thomas shifted the topic, inquiring about Korean investment rumors.

"I'm planning a Marcus biopic with their funds," Martin explained. "I'm on the lookout for a suitable director."

Conversations veered towards "John Wick."

The film had been out in North America for three weeks, amassing a total box office of $141 million. It had also been showcased in over 30 overseas markets, raking in close to $60 million internationally. Latin America, Hollywood's backyard, would soon be included in the screenings.

Just after their meal, Martin received a call from Leonardo.

"I heard you're back?" Leonardo's voice crackled through the line. "There's an interesting event. Let's attend together."

"What event?" Martin inquired, intrigued.

"Hugh Hefner's annual pajama party," Leonardo explained. "Jack and I plan to go."

Eagerly interested, Martin asked, "Can you get the invitations?"

"Jack and Hefner go way back," Leonardo exaggerated. "Getting multiple invitations won't be an issue."

"Fantastic, grab a few more. I've got a lot of friends here," Martin requested with enthusiasm.