Chapter 217 Martin's Advantage

May in Los Angeles sizzled with heat, but the scorching gossip news in Hollywood outshone it all.

Following the Burbank High School incident in April, another bombshell in Hollywood made headlines, capturing the attention of people across the United States.

The newly released "People" magazine was the first to unveil Brad Pitt's decision to divorce Jennifer Aniston and pursue a relationship with Angelina Jolie. The magazine's cover featured a photo of Brad Pitt and Jolie's family.

The accompanying cover story, ostensibly in the name of children and family, pinned all the blame on Aniston for not wamting to have children.

The producers of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" discreetly seized the moment and pushed the narrative further.

On the increasingly influential internet, gossip articles abounded.

"Child! Child!"

"Throughout their five-year marriage, Pitt had always wanted children, but Aniston was unwilling. She sacrificed her family for her career, ultimately leading to the dissolution of their relationship..." The media, at this point, had no integrity, no principles, and no sense of justice. They were ready to exploit any sensational story.

This wasn't a political incident; it was the kind of entertainment gossip the public couldn't resist.

For a movie, the buzz generated by its lead actors' personal lives and relationships could significantly boost its commercial success. Fox, which had heavily invested in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith," leaned toward portraying Pitt and Jolie in a favorable light.

Jolie was depicted as a devoted mother, and Pitt as a family man who loved his children. Aniston was, inevitably, the one who suffered the most.

Aniston didn't waste any time; she promptly announced her divorce from Pitt and made a now-famous statement about their marriage.

"What I wanted was the deepest, most unwavering commitment, but he had the right to choose a different path, so he chose to part ways."

Despite Aniston's graceful exit, the public frenzy showed no signs of calming down.

This sensational gossip had even spread to Europe and beyond, becoming a topic of discussion on the other side of the Pacific.

The hottest couple in Hollywood seemed to have parted ways, and their roles in "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" garnered immense attention.

"Have you seen the online forums?" Martin asked Jolie, who was pacing back and forth in their Four Seasons Hotel room. "There's a movie poll, and the number of people wanting to watch 'Mr. and Mrs. Smith' has skyrocketed compared to last week. Based on my limited experience, I can tell you the film's box office won't be disappointing."

Jolie turned to face Martin as she approached, her demeanor sultry. "Teacher, you taught me well, or should I say you taught me things others couldn't."

Martin, knowing well that establishing a normal relationship with someone like Julie was impossible, replied straightforwardly, "Classmate, how do you plan to repay your teacher?"

Jolie knelt in front of Martin and reached for his belt buckle, but she didn't proceed further. Instead, she said, "Teacher, can you call Louise, Kelly, or Blake? Maybe even Annie, please! Please call them for me!"

Martin, an honest man, wouldn't engage in such perverse behavior. He responded, "Your affairs are for you to decide."

Julie answered a call on her cell phone, glancing at the screen. The caller was Peter.

"Teacher, it's Brad pitt. Should I answer it?" She glanced at Martin seductively.

A straightforward man like Martin would never engage in such perverted actions. He replied, "Handle your own affairs."

Julie picked up the call, saying, "It's me. Are you alright?"

Pitt's voice came through, "I'm at your door. Why aren't you home?"

Julie, a loving mother, explained, "The paparazzi were bothering the child too much. I moved to a hotel temporarily, and I'll stay there until I return to Atlanta."

Pitt asked, "Which hotel are you in? I'd like to come see you."

In Jolie's eyes, Pitt held no appeal anymore, and she remarked, "Do you really want to attract reporters and paparazzi here? The children have been traumatized by the reporters recently..."

Pitt still remembered Jolie's love for their children and replied, "Alright, we'll wait until you return from Atlanta."

After the call ended, Jolie couldn't contain her excitement and lunged at Martin like a predator.

Honest man Martin quietly endured the advances of this perverted woman.

It was no easy task to navigate the Hollywood circle!

The following day, public opinion continued to bombard the media, and the popularity of "Mr. and Mrs. Smith" continued to soar.

Martin attended the final promotional event for Jeans and met Bruce, along with the two bodyguards selected by WMA.

The two bodyguards, named Duke and Murphy, were in their thirties with unremarkable appearances and spotless backgrounds. They were professionally trained and excelled at detecting stalkers, making them highly sought-after in the Hollywood scene.

Typically, what celebrities loathed most were stalkers like paparazzi and overly zealous fans.

While the former could be tolerated, the latter was often quite unsettling.

In the depths of love, bloodshed was never far off!

Duke and Murphy's daily duties involved discreetly trailing Martin to ensure there were no irregularities.

Before returning to the Atlanta film set, Martin made a detour back to his North Hollywood apartment.

Antonio, a portly figure, lounged beneath a sun umbrella on the rooftop, leisurely sipping a cold Coke through a straw. Before him, a tenant handed over the keys.

As the tenant departed, he walked with an air of confidence, resembling Scott.

Martin patiently waited until the tenant descended the stairs before approaching Antonio.

Antonio slid a can of Coke towards him. "Please enjoy, Master."

Martin cracked open the Coke, took a refreshing sip, and remarked, "I envy your daily enjoyment of life."

Antonio chuckled, "You're not doing too bad yourself. By the way, did you use the business card I gave you?"

Martin hadn't utilized it yet, and he confessed, "Not yet."

Antonio grinned and pointed to the stairs. "The guy who just left went to visit the proctologist numerous times but got no relief, so he had to leave Los Angeles."

Martin understood the reference to the anorectal doctor. "I also spent a pretty penny, and no billions were involved."

Antonio remembered the two women who had visited the apartment to sing songs and suggested, "If you haven't received gifts in the billions, you might as well have a drink to celebrate."

Martin raised his Coca-Cola can and clinked it with Antonio. "I'll be earning several million dollars soon. I want to buy a house. Can you recommend one?"

Martin had struck a deal with Coca-Cola. Besides the endorsement fee, he would receive $15 million over three years in installments of $4 million, $5 million, and $6 million.

Real estate was Martin's immediate need. Being an honorary citizen of Los Angeles, he felt the urge to own quality property in the city. Additionally, he planned to purchase an independent house in Marietta for Elena.

Antonio, a well-established millionaire in Los Angeles, possessed an extensive network. He inquired, "What are your specific requirements?"

Martin detailed his preferences, "I'm looking for a single-family villa with a small garden, preferably in a secure community with a reliable community committee and neighbors. Security is crucial."

Los Angeles had its security issues, not to mention potential threats from Russian adversaries. Martin added, "Regarding location, I'm considering North Hollywood, Sherman Oaks, Malibu, Burbank, or Brentwood, among others. But let's start with Sherman Oaks."

Antonio jotted down all the details. "I'll keep an eye out for you. We don't want a house with a sordid history or anything left behind by traffickers; that would be troublesome."

"Perfect, I'm leaving it to you." Martin stood up, prepared to head downstairs. "I need to grab something before I go."

Downstairs, Bruce had already collected some crocodile tooth pendants, and Jessica was engaged in conversation with him.

Martin invited Jessica into a room and discussed their upcoming responsibilities. "Over the next two months, you and Emily have an important task."

Jessica, having gained experience, had given up her acting ambitions and had been working diligently. "Just tell me what you need."

Martin elaborated, "Organize the fans who frequently leave messages on the blog, categorize them by cities, contact the active ones under the Los Angeles Fan Club banner, and identify suitable candidates to establish local fan clubs."

Jessica understood and committed, "I'll get started right away."

Martin added, "Begin with major cities first."

Just like brand consumers, celebrity supporters required management and training. As long as the core group maintained a certain size and with strong works and market competitiveness, more fans would naturally follow.

The task was somewhat tedious, but Jessica was already putting her mind to it.

With the load-bearing responsibilities handed off, Martin summoned Bruce, and together, they exited the apartment.

That afternoon, Martin and Jolie both arrived at the airport simultaneously.

Martin had been waiting near the security checkpoint.

With Jolie's arrival, the entire airport seemed to erupt in chaos as a swarm of paparazzi descended upon her, frantically snapping pictures from a distance.

Jolie appeared unfazed, cradling one child in her right hand and holding the other with her left. She presented a loving motherly image to the media, without much consideration for whether the children were being frightened.

Later, Jolie met Martin, passed through security, and entered the VIP channel.

Reporters continued to take photos, but no images captured any overtly intimate or inappropriate moments between the two.

One curious reporter asked, "Why didn't we see Pitt come to see her off? Is something wrong between Jolie and Pitt?"

Another speculated, "These two are at the center of the storm; how could they appear together?"

Some paparazzi pondered, "Could it be that Jolie is pursuing a relationship with Martin Davis?"

The entertainment reporters present collectively shook their heads. "Why would Jolie leave Pitt for Martin Davis? Pitt has fame, money, and status. Even if there's any connection, it's just a fleeting encounter. What does Martin Davis have that's so appealing? Looks?"

Amidst the discussions, one reporter remarked, "There's something off about Jolie's behavior. It's hard to figure out."

The entertainment reporters soon lost interest in the discussion and hurriedly returned to their work, penning articles to attract more readers.

Jolie's psychological quirks were often found in men rather than women.

One advantage Martin had was his abundant female companions.