Chapter 489: Martin's Song

On Monday, the crew had a flight scheduled for London to promote their latest project.

Early in the morning, Martin stepped out of his room and found Chad lingering in the corridor, his eyes red and heavy bags beneath them, a clear sign he hadn't slept well. As Chad approached, he enveloped Martin in a tight hug. His voice raspy, he exclaimed, "We're the champions of the box office, riding high on success!"

Grinning widely, Martin replied, "Absolutely nailed it, man!"

Glancing over at Louise emerging from Martin's room, Chad couldn't help but think, "Great job, Louise, but don't make it a nightly routine, my dear."

In the past few days, Chad had rubbed shoulders with the likes of Taylor Swift, Alexandra Daddario, Angela Lindworth, and, of course, Louise Meyer.

Louise cheerfully waved to Chad before retreating into her room to freshen up.

With the corridor momentarily deserted, Chad remarked, "A success like this calls for a celebration with a few ladies, don't you think?"

Playfully, Martin quipped, "Sure thing! I might even get bold enough for more hugs in the future."

Just then, the door closed, and Mene, residing on the same floor, stepped out. Chad hurried over and gave him a bear hug, expressing his gratitude, "Thanks a ton, buddy!"

Before Mene could respond, the door swung open again, and out stepped Celine Dion.

Chad stood there, momentarily stunned.

Radiant and gracious, Celine nodded at Chad, remarking, "I watched your movie, and it was wonderful."

Turning to Martin, she added, "You were fantastic too!"

Grateful for the praise, Martin replied, "Thank you so much."

Interrupting the moment, Mene asked jokingly, "Am I not cool enough?"

Celine gently kissed him, saying, "You're the coolest, dear! Your way with words is amazing!"

Martin's thoughts darted to a crucial matter: "Wait, wasn't Isabelle Huppert the president of the Cannes Film Festival jury in May? What era was she born in again?"

Enviously, Chad glanced at Martin, then at Mene, secretly lamenting his own failures as a director.

"I never quite grasp these unwritten rules and the whole 'red sofa' thing," Chad muttered in confusion.

Pointing to the elevator, Mene announced, "I'll see Celine off, we'll catch up later."

Celine waved goodbye to Martin and Chad, following Mene.

Turning to Martin, Chad commented, "Lead actors and supporting actors may have their fun, but the director's left single and miserable."

Jokingly, Martin responded, "Well, in the next film, there are a few female characters. You get the final say in casting, but remember your promises, or else no playing around."

Waving dismissively, Chad remarked, "I better find a serious girlfriend."

The duo descended the stairs together, and every encounter with crew and creatives led Chad to give hugs and express gratitude.

Over dinner at the restaurant, Chad added, "The $58.89 million opening at the box office exceeded my expectations. However, due to the film's quality and selling point, it's rated R, barring most teens from theaters."

Cutting into his omelette, Martin reassured, "Don't worry. Our target audience won't slip away. They'll be the prime consumers once the DVD hits the shelves."

Slapping his forehead, Chad exclaimed, "I've been so jittery lately, forgot about the DVD market after the theaters."

Curious, he inquired, "How many DVDs did 'The Dark Knight' sell?"

In the wake of Martin's Oscar win for Best Supporting Actor, Warner Bros. had unleashed a commemorative DVD that gained substantial attention. The sales had peaked at $400 million, with forecasts suggesting a challenge for further escalation in the near term. Martin anticipated a year's span to push the overall sales to $500 million.

Recalling "Avatar's" global DVD sales from his previous life, surpassing the North American box office, Martin contemplated the vast scope of such sales.

Chad, adhering to the Directors Guild's stipulated share in DVD sales, expressed earnest hope, "I aim for 'John Wick's' DVD to top $100 million."

Optimistic, Martin, being an investor, chimed in, "Absolutely promising. Once the promotion's done, take a breather, then gear up for the sequel."

"I'm already brewing up the sequel's plot structure and action design," Chad revealed.

Just as Martin's phone rang, he glanced at the caller ID and swiftly picked up the call.

Taylor Swift's voice echoed through the line, "Martin, my song 'You Should Be With Me' hits the charts today. Don't forget to show some love."

"Of course, I will," Martin assured her.

Basking in the glow of "John Wick's" success, Taylor's "Safe and Sound" had stormed into Billboard's top ten.

For a specially filmed MTV, the statuesque Taylor adorned herself in a long white gauze dress, wandering barefoot through serene forests, resembling a mystical elf.

The ripple effect of "John Wick" had remarkably swelled Taylor's fan base, some even anointing her as a saint among the Cola Cult members.

---

In Nashville, Taylor Swift's much-anticipated single launch unfolded.

Rumors from Big Machine Records and her publicist hinted that "You Should Be With Me" was crafted exclusively for Martin.

News of this unique dedication circulated widely, attracting immense attention across markets and online platforms.

Taylor's alliance with Martin increasingly revealed the keys to heightened exposure.

Nearly a hundred media representatives gathered at the single's press conference, alongside Taylor's fans and a contingent of hundreds from the Coca-Cola cult, sporting red shirts and banners declaring - Support the Saint of Coca-Cola!

The conference commenced with the band's melodies and Taylor's live performance of the soon-to-be-chartbuster.

Reporters and fans alike were taken aback; the song seemed to narrate a young girl's infatuation with a boy! And this song was supposedly penned by Taylor for Martin Davis - whom did he fancy, one might ask?

As the song concluded, reporters eagerly poised their questions, anticipation building in the room.

Disregarding song structures and melody, the first reporter took the microphone, inquiring, "Taylor, was this song composed for Martin?"

Taylor, wielding the power of popularity, responded, "Yes, while creating 'Safe and Sound' for 'John Wick,' Martin once sought my help in songwriting. Our collaborations in Los Angeles during the movie inspired this creation."

The media gallery erupted in confirmation, it was indeed Martin she referenced in her song!

The subsequent question was more direct, "The lyrics suggest a tale of a girl infatuated with a boy. Taylor, are you enamored with Martin?"

Taylor tactfully countered, "Who wouldn't fancy an exceptional person like Martin?"

Unfazed by the song's theme, the queries veered toward gossip, "So, do you have a crush on Martin too?"

After a brief pause, Taylor nodded, "Yes, I do like Martin."

Watching from the sidelines, Bochetta, the Big Machine Records boss, silently applauded Taylor's composed response, a masterful maneuver to seize media attention.

In this era, merely singing was inadequate for contemporary artists.

Another astute reporter, well-versed in Martin's life, posed, "I heard Martin's current girlfriend, Elizabeth Olsen, was a cheerleader in middle school. Is the cheerleader in your lyrics a nod to her?"

Taylor clarified, "The cheerleader is metaphorical, representing no one specifically."

London's bustling Heathrow Airport buzzed with activity as the architect behind "John Wick" emerged from the exit. However, his welcome wasn't typical, the British paparazzi were relentless, lining up with cameras, microphones, and recorders, creating a blockade that even airport security struggled to contain.

Mene's astonishment surfaced, "Are we this big a deal in the UK?"

Chad, recognizing the tone of their inquiries, shook his head, "Listen closely, they're aiming for Martin with some gossip."

With calm composure, Martin strode out, facing the barrage of shouted questions.

"Did Taylor Swift pen a song for you?"

"How do you feel about Taylor's public declaration of affection?"

"Did you betray Elizabeth Olsen?"

"Are you a deceitful scoundrel, Martin Day Wes?"

"Why won't you answer publicly?"

Amongst the chaotic uproar, Martin singled out a reporter from The Sun, acknowledging him.

The reporter swiftly positioned his recorder, prompting Martin's response, "I had jokingly asked Taylor Swift to compose that song. Her inspired creation surprised me; it turned out remarkably well."

The reporter probed further, "Was there something more between you?"

Martin, tactful and composed, maintained, "Taylor and I are great friends. Additionally, I'm committed to Elizabeth."

Having drawn his line, Martin declined further queries, departing with his entourage, leaving behind the airport's frenzy.

The sensationalist British tabloids spun Martin's words into a tangled mess, distorting his 'truthful' account reported by The Sun, leading to an assortment of messy narratives in other entertainment magazines.

Both British and American media buzzed about the immense popularity of "John Wick" and Taylor's new single. Even those oblivious to country music or unfamiliar with Taylor Swift were intrigued by a song depicting a singer's affection for a Hollywood luminary.

During promotional periods, songs and movies thrived on publicity.

"John Wick" continued its reign in the North American film market, while Taylor's single soared to the summit of the Billboard charts within a mere three days, a first number one single for Taylor Swift, owing much to Martin's inadvertent help.