Chapter 209: Plotting Against

The balconies of the adjoining suites were aligned side by side. Julie, despite her adopted son running over to request a hug, rushed to the neighboring balcony, concealed in the shadows, and peered next door.

To her dismay, no one occupied the adjacent balcony.

Even when she strained her ears, Julie couldn't detect any kind of sound.

Many industry folks enjoyed being out on the balcony, didn't they? Julie was feeling the urge to leap over there. She didn't just want to join in but yearned to snatch him away.

Just like when I was 16 years old, I stole my mother's boyfriend, and later I stole John-Lee Miller, who was engaged, and last year I stole Aniston's husband, Brad Pitt.

It wasn't about taking them from other women, and it didn't feel good at all.

Julie saw herself as a daring woman who dared to seize and use.

Just across the wall was Louise's suite.

The audacious couple used games as an excuse to deceive the unfortunate female producer.

Louise was bound to a single sofa with a rope by Kelly.

"You two shameless women!" She cursed, "How shameless!"

Martin appeared entirely innocent: "It's none of my business."

Saying that, he didn't waste any time.

Kelly disarmed quickly, humming as she said, "You have the audacity to call me shameless? Where did you leave your dignity when you called me in Los Angeles?"

Louise was almost furious: "You could have chosen not to answer the call or hang up."

Kelly retorted, "You could have closed your eyes and ignored it, getting a peaceful sleep."

Louise did shut her eyes, but she couldn't block her ears. Before long, Knight Kelly's soprano-like singing woke her up. She opened her eyes in astonishment and gazed at the two people in front of her.

She said bitterly, "How can people be as shameless as you!"

Martin seemed to ignore her, concentrating on playing the trombone. The trombone emitted a melodious tune.

Kelly smiled triumphantly as she sang.

But her triumph was short-lived.

Louise was utterly shameless and started counting the beats: "1234, 2234..."

At this point, Kelly's rhythm faltered. Unconsciously, she followed Louise's beat, realizing she couldn't control it and attempting to change it forcefully.

Louise laughed heartily, hoping to make Kelly uncomfortable by preventing her from seeing or touching her.

Before long, Kelly couldn't bear it any longer and untied Louise, and the three of them devolved into chaos.

At some point, Louise had Kelly tied to the chair, and Kelly ended up being the one injured again.

To ensure Kelly wouldn't close her eyes, Louise even found some tape and placed it over Kelly's eyelids.

Fortunately, Martin had a conscience and promptly removed the tape.

He knew Kelly would never close her eyes, just like every time she called, making a lot of noise but never hanging up...

In the morning, Milton arrived at the Methodist Church headquarters.

Everyone who saw him respectfully stepped aside and greeted him with "Chairman."

Milton maintained a composed smile, nodded discreetly, and proceeded into the office.

Since the pink kettle incident more than a year and a half ago, Milton had become increasingly reserved, refraining from expressing opinions and focusing more on taking action.

The negative fallout from the past had gradually dissipated, and he had successfully promoted several commercial and entertainment projects, regaining the support of the Methodist Church's elephant party and ultimately ascending to the position of Chairman of the Atlanta Methodist Church.

Upon entering the office, Milton first perused the mainstream newspapers of the day to gauge societal trends.

Opening a copy of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the headlines in the entertainment section immediately grabbed his attention.

"American hero Martin Davis returns to his hometown of Atlanta for the filming of the new movie 'Wanted.'"

There was also an interview with Martin below.

"After extensive negotiations with Pacific Pictures and Warner Bros. producers, I finally brought this $65 million project back to my hometown of Atlanta. I hope it will create more jobs in Atlanta and elevate its recognition in the entertainment world..."

Milton didn't recall ever meeting Martin, but the man had left an impression on him.

One and a half years had passed since the pink kettle incident, and Milton had uncovered numerous insider details. For instance, Kelly Gray may have been the public face of the incident, but many of the schemes had originated from Martin Davis.

In the so-called hero video exposed by Warner TV some time ago, Milton had also spotted a familiar face.

The same man who had taunted him at the bar regarding an affair with his ex-wife.

Could such a coincidence truly exist? Martin Davis's manager and bodyguard having an affair with his ex-wife?

Milton couldn't bring himself to believe it.

His assistant knocked on the door and entered, saying, "Mr. Perry is here."

"Let him in."

Half a minute later, Tyler Perry entered the office, pulled up a chair, and sat across from Milton, greeting him with a smile, "Good morning."

Milton inquired, "What brings you here?"

Tyler replied, "I visited yesterday. After touring Gray Film and Television Base, it's clear that Kelly Gray has taken a significant lead. Catching up won't be easy for us."

Just like Clayton Community and Elena, the Methodist Church wielded a distinct influence in impoverished communities due to its free training and food distribution programs, including the impoverished Nancheng.

During Taylor's upbringing, he received an abundance of financial support from the Methodist Church, forging a long-standing, unbreakable bond between the two parties.

The Perry Studios, an establishment of his creation, not only gave birth to "Diary of a Mad Woman" but also had ambitious plans for erecting a film and television production center. The lion's share of the funds for this venture stemmed from the Methodist Church and its influential backers.

The impactful lesson from the Pink water bottle incident captured Milton's attention, prompting him to focus on Kelly Gray and her enterprise, eventually spearheading investments in the film and television industry. Conservatives, too, possessed considerable financial resources, making the film and television sector an attractive avenue for investment.

Milton retrieved a document and handed it over to Taylor. "There's an abandoned industrial park in Union City spanning over 300 acres. It's currently undergoing the process and should suffice for your needs." Taylor perused the documents and photos carefully before remarking, "The buildings are in dire disrepair, and most of the warehouses need to be demolished and rebuilt, which means a slow return on investment. Additionally, with competitors like Gray Film and Television Base, once we finish construction, they'll have left us far behind." Milton got straight to the point, "What's your plan?"

"Besides a few studios and post-production facilities, the Gray base is essentially complete," Taylor, a Black man, stated. Despite his comedic persona, those who found success in comedy were seldom light-hearted individuals. He continued, "Can you think of a way to take over Gray Base? Not only would we eliminate our competitors, but it would also save us time and money, while teaching them a valuable lesson."

Milton inquired about any breakthroughs regarding Kelly Gray, to which Taylor responded by pointing at Martin in the newspaper, saying, "The two largest shareholders of Gray Company are Kelly Leigh Gray and Louise Meyer, the head of Hollywood Pacific Pictures. I have some Hollywood connections. These two individuals have a close relationship with Martin Davis, especially Kelly Gray, who was involved in the Pink Water bottle incident. Martin had a hand in it."

Taylor explained, "I plan to deal with Martin first, using him as a means to crack open Gray Films' shell."

Milton leaned back and said casually, "I'm not particularly fond of Martin - Davis, Kelly Gray, or even Martin's manager and bodyguard." He then shared, "I've learned a few things about South City." Taylor added, "I'll need support, not just financially, but in other aspects as well. Once I make a breakthrough, we're likely to face backlash from the forces behind Gray Company."

Milton reassured, "This is Atlanta, Despite our previous setback, conservative forces still hold sway."

Taylor nodded, promising, "You'll hear from me soon."

Milton added, "Keep pushing forward, and continue with the Union City land acquisition process. Also, you initiated preparations for your next movie this morning, and there are many people awaiting their paychecks."

Taylor understood the implication and affirmed, "I've got it covered."

As Taylor departed the office, Milton acknowledged that any unexpected developments would fall on Taylor's shoulders. He ruminated briefly on the challenges faced by Black individuals.

Minutes later, Taylor exited the office building and climbed into his Lexus car.

His driver, a white man, asked, "Boss, where are we headed?"

Taylor advised him to remain composed and inquired, "Kyle, you mentioned last time that you and Martin worked together, right?"

Kyle recalled, "Yes, Gray Entertainment's late-night scenes had people from the city. On his first day on set, Martin bullied me and even threatened me with a gun, claiming he was connected to a gang. He called himself 'Drug dealer.'"

Taylor inquired further, "Was he really connected to a gang?"

Kyle quickly shook his head, "I don't know, but my cousin Adam Smith, the lead actor for the late-night show, got into trouble because of Martin. I visited Adam in jail, and he said Martin framed him with 'Drugs.'"

Taylor sought confirmation, "You're sure about this?"

Kyle swore, "That's what my cousin told me. They were competing for the lead role in 'Zombie Stripper',I was just an extra. If he hadn't framed him, Martin wouldn't have gotten the lead."

Kyle lowered his voice, "Some say that it was through this leading role that Martin met Kelly Gray and entered Hollywood."

Taylor absorbed this information and, after careful consideration, decided, "Let's head to South City."

Kyle started the car, and they left the Methodist Church.

Taylor hailed from South City, and through inquiries, he found Betty, Boyette's wife, the owner of a Black bar. While Betty had a strained relationship with Boyette and limited knowledge of Boyette's bar business, she was certain that Martin Davis had shot Boyette, leading to his arrest by the APD.

Through Kyle's contacts, Taylor connected with Lynn, the casting director who had worked for Gray Films. Lynn provided further confirmation that Kelly Gray had maintained a lengthy association with Martin Davis and was deeply involved in Gray Films' project operations.

This solidified Taylor's belief that targeting Martin was the right approach.

As for national heroes, didn't they often end up falling from grace?

Using his Methodist connections in Atlanta, Taylor gathered comprehensive information about Martin and his connections.

In doing so, he stumbled upon something intriguing.

While Martin Davis was in Los Angeles, he had repeatedly sent valuable gifts to Lily, Elena's sister, who was just an ordinary middle school student.