Chapter 270: Gift

On the day after Thanksgiving, Martin embarked on a special journey to visit the headquarters of the Coca-Cola Group, where he received a warm reception from the management team, led by Marketing Director Brody.

In addition to the customary visits, he also actively participated in media events orchestrated by Coca-Cola.

It's worth noting that these events had an element of promotional content.

Amidst a throng of media personnel, Brody proudly presented Martin with the prestigious copper Coca-Cola leader's badge. The two then posed in front of Coca-Cola's iconic red logo, capturing photographs with the media reporters.

Subsequently, representing the "Limitless" crew, Martin signed a substantial advertising sponsorship and marketing promotion contract with Coca-Cola, with a total value of $5 million.

Following the contract signing, the two made their way to the reception area.

Brody had always considered signing Martin a point of pride, acknowledging that Martin's recent notoriety had garnered significant attention.

Martin, feigning helplessness, explained that he hadn't sought this level of publicity and expressed the importance of safeguarding his image and the reputation of the Coca-Cola Cult.

He emphasized the difficulty in building and preserving the reputation of the Coca-Cola Cult and the need to protect it.

Brody agreed, reassuring Martin that they would take steps to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Martin declared with confidence that, with Coca-Cola's support, he had the assurance to excel in Hollywood. He cited the recent example of "Never Ending," explaining that as soon as Coca-Cola expressed support, Warner Bros. promptly greenlit the project.

Brody chuckled, acknowledging that Coca-Cola's support wasn't unwarranted; it had contributed to an almost 8% increase in sales volume in North America since the inception of the Coca-Cola Cult.

A remarkable achievement, indeed.

Offending Martin, the spokesperson and leader of the Coca-Cola Cult, equated to jeopardizing hundreds of millions in Coca-Cola's revenue. It wasn't merely Brody who would disagree, but all Coca-Cola shareholders as well.

Coca-Cola took active measures to promote a video on the internet, demonstrating Martin's victory over Pitt with a Coke. The advertising department even considered using this as the basis for a creative idea in next year's Coca-Cola commercial.

Brody aptly mentioned extending Martin's endorsement contract and suggested that Coca-Cola should discuss this with Martin's agent.

However, Martin's agent recommended not rushing to extend the contract, as it had only been signed for half a year. The agent played the role of a shield, providing stars and partners with a buffer zone.

Brody agreed to revisit the contract discussion next year, to which Martin responded with a smile and a nod.

While they conversed, Coca-Cola's reward for "Wanted" was transferred to Martin's designated account. There was a supplementary agreement in the endorsement contract, promising an additional $1 million bonus for Martin if the North American box office of his movie surpassed $100 million.

At noon, Martin attended the Coca-Cola Group's reception banquet, where he had the opportunity to meet more senior executives, solidifying his healthy relationship with the company.

In Atlanta, Martin also had the support of two other significant forces: the organization behind Kelly Gray and the Beast House Entertainment Company led by the formidable Sophia.

Kelly was away on a business trip in Washington. After his visit to Coca-Cola, Martin reached out to Sophia and arranged to meet at the Peach Tree Hotel.

Upon reaching the hotel's business floor, Martin spotted Scott guarding the door of a reception room and quickly approached.

Bruce whispered from behind, suggesting that Martin could enter the room by himself later. However, Martin insisted that Bruce accompany him, as he was uncertain about what lay ahead.

Although Bruce's nerves were on edge, he stood by Martin's side, determined to provide backup.

Scott, with a disapproving expression, guessed that Martin had spent the previous night with his daughter. Despite his initial remarks, Martin ignored Scott and led Bruce into the reception room.

Sofia was seated on a single sofa, holding a report in one hand and a gripper in the other. Her biceps flexed as she opened and closed her hand.

She gestured to the sofa, inviting them to sit wherever they preferred.

Martin settled diagonally across from her, while Bruce chose to stand behind Martin, feeling inexplicably safer with his back against the wall.

Sofia shared a report she had received from the Wanted Studio, indicating that the project Martin had introduced had not only recovered its investment through box office earnings alone but also promised substantial profits.

As the financial backer, Martin commended the project's quality, affirming his commitment to bringing only promising projects to his friends.

Sofia set aside the gripper and scrutinized Martin and Bruce, declaring herself as a fair person and suggesting that those who brought her benefits would be duly rewarded.

Bruce, reluctant to speak, merely took a step back, distancing himself from the conversation and pressing against the wall.

Martin, thinking of Scott's role, quipped that he was primarily concerned with his salary and was content to overlook other rewards.

Sophia placed the report aside and retrieved a beautiful box from the nearby table.

Martin felt a sense of relief as the box was small and square, clearly too small to contain the pink kettle.

Sophia opened the box, revealing a golden, oval-shaped egg, which she handed to Martin.

The golden egg had an uneven surface, resembling a small, unripe avocado in appearance, except for being color green it was golden in color.

Martin accepted the egg and found a stack of bills underneath. He couldn't help but ask, "Is this 24K gold?"

Sophia confirmed with a grand gesture, "I specially ordered it from a gold company, taking care of all the taxes and procedures. You can keep it."

Martin didn't hesitate and thanked her, remarking, "Sofia, you truly have a knack for grand gestures."

Sofia warmly smiled and replied, "As long as you don't forget about me and the Hulk Mansion Strip Club when you're making it big."

Martin made a solemn promise, "How could I forget! Without you, there would be no Martin Davis today."

Sofia nodded and added, "Let's hope we both stay true to our roots."

Martin emphasized the importance of his foundation in Atlanta, without which he wouldn't have had the opportunities or essential roles. He acknowledged that even if he crossed paths with a boss of Harvey's caliber, he would have had to take a step back without a strong Atlanta foundation.

Sofia complimented Martin on his skills, particularly noting his encounter with Pete in a video.

Martin explained with a touch of resignation, "In the cutthroat circles of Hollywood, if you don't step on others, you'll get trampled on."

The two engaged in a discussion about future cooperation for almost an hour and a half.

Martin declined Sofia's dinner invitation and left the Peach Tree Hotel, accompanied by Bruce.

In the car, Martin opened the gift box once more, inspecting the golden avocado closely. Despite its uneven surface, it was aesthetically pleasing.

Bruce commented, "Sofia's consistent style of opulence."

Martin, holding the golden avocado, responded, "I happen to like these opulent gifts. Let opulence overwhelm me!"

Bruce asked, "Where to next?"

Martin checked the time and replied, "Let's head to Northville Private High School. It's almost time for school to be out, and I promised Lily I'd pick her up."

Bruce drove back to Northville.

While waiting for more than ten minutes, Lily emerged from the school gate with her backpack. She sprinted towards the BMW, the Martin Clown charm on her backpack swaying with her long ponytail.

After getting into the car, Lily shared that, unlike her classmates on vacation, she had been attending sculpture classes during the break.

As a top student in a private middle school, Lily faced rigorous academic challenges, especially given her family's recent improvement in circumstances. She emphasized the importance of resources for students with strong foundations.

She proudly handed Martin her sculpting work from the previous day, which she had completed.

Martin examined it by the car window, appreciating her progress, "I may not be a professional, but this sculpture is even better than your previous ones."

Lily retorted, "I've worked hard over the past two years, but no one knows how much effort I've put in. Do you have any idea?"

Martin played the role of an unknowing mentor, "I've been away from Atlanta, so I couldn't know."

Lily revealed the extent of Martin's support, "You sent me materials box by box and asked for a similar quantity of finished sculptures in return. Do you know how I survived? It was like child labor!"

Martin acknowledged, "Without the materials I sent, how could you have developed the skills you have today?"

Lily took the sculpture back, explaining that it wasn't finished yet and needed more work.

She mentioned her college plans, expressing a strong determination to attend the California Institute of the Arts for its excellent sculpture program. She contrasted herself with Elena, who lacked the courage to venture far from home.

Martin understood Elena's perspective, stating that even if Lily went to college, there was still a family at home, which could be comforting compared to the uncertainty of a new place.

Lily agreed, recognizing the responsibilities Elena bore, "I go to school, and Elena's burden eases."

Martin advised her not to anger Elena, given her sacrifices.

Lily inquired about a weighty letter of recommendation for her college application, and Martin reassured her that he had made arrangements through a friend. He was confident in securing strong recommendation letters.

With a clear goal in mind, Lily was pleased with the support she had from Martin.