Chapter 818: Not giving privileges is discrimination.

Sunset Boulevard was locked in a standstill, cars stretched out as far as the eye could see. Martin, ensconced in the plush interior of the Escalade, glanced impatiently at the unmoving line of vehicles ahead. They hadn't budged an inch for what felt like an eternity.

From the passenger seat, Thomas dialed his phone, his voice breaking the monotony. "It's temporary traffic control," he announced. "A large number of demonstrators are set to march this way."

Bruce, lounging in the backseat with Martin, raised an eyebrow. "What kind of parade? And how did they get approval to disrupt the busiest part of town?"

Martin, ever the skeptic, mused aloud. "Could it be those special interest groups?"

Thomas nodded, his expression grim. "They've been extremely active this month, almost like a privileged class in Los Angeles. My contact at City Hall mentioned that initially, they weren't going to approve it, but the pressure of discrimination accusations was too much."

Bruce exchanged a knowing look with Martin. "Pandora's box is open."

Martin sighed, his voice steady. "It's been open for a long time."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sight of a large, vibrant crowd marching down Sunset Boulevard. Rainbow flags fluttered in the breeze, and participants enthusiastically tossed promotional materials onto the hoods and windshields of the parked cars.

"Look at this," Bruce said, pointing at the spectacle. "There's a whole contingent of cross-dressers following behind."

Martin, uninterested in the spectacle, closed his eyes, trying to block out the chaos. "I've seen enough," he muttered.

Thomas, however, couldn't look away. "You get used to it after a while," he said, almost to himself. "But I think even more outrageous things are on the horizon."

His tone grew conspiratorial. "I heard there's a new school and group coming over from New York."

Bruce gestured at the crowd. "More outrageous than this?"

Thomas nodded solemnly. "Yes, they don't necessarily undergo surgery but they dress as the opposite gender. These new groups and schools are starting to define gender by what's in the heart rather than physical features."

Martin's eyes snapped open, recognition dawning on him. "This sounds like something that surfaced around 2015. But it's only 2013 now," he said thoughtfully. "It must be tied to that mess with Justin Bieber and the troublesome trio."

Bruce looked puzzled. "What does it mean to differentiate gender internally?"

Thomas simplified it. "It means if I believe in my heart that I am a man, then I am a man, regardless of my physical traits. And vice versa for women."

Bruce seemed incredulous. "That kind of thinking can't be widely accepted, can it? Imagine if I said I was a woman and started using female restrooms. Would women supporting this view be okay with that?"

Thomas shrugged. "Who knows what's going through their minds. But I've heard that some radical feminists, led by Meryl Streep and Emma Watson, are gearing up to respond."

As the noise from the parade outside grew louder, the three men fell into a contemplative silence, each lost in their thoughts about the rapidly changing world around them.

Martin interjected, curiosity piqued, "What about Jolie and Aniston? Where do they stand on all this?"

Thomas shrugged. "They support equal rights, but they aren't interested in these specific claims. I met with them last week. They prefer to stay silent on this matter."

Bruce, still processing the shifting societal norms, voiced his concern. "This world has become so confusing. I accidentally brushed against a guy's chest, and he claimed to be a woman. Does that make me guilty of harassment?"

Thomas nodded thoughtfully. "It could be a problem under the current definitions."

Martin, sensing the absurdity of the situation, chuckled. "There's an easy fix. Fight absurdity with absurdity."

Bruce raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What are you suggesting? Claim I'm a woman too?"

"Or say you're genderless," Martin suggested, a glint of mischief in his eye. "Or better yet, say you're a Wal-Mart shopping bag. After all, who could accuse a shopping bag of harassment?"

Thomas, initially taken aback, quickly pulled out his phone to jot down the idea. "That's... actually brilliant."

Bruce frowned, unsure. "Should it really come to this?"

"It's about self-preservation," Thomas said seriously. He pointed to the cross-dressing men outside the car. "Hollywood sets trends. It's almost black and white in this area. We need to protect ourselves."

Martin nodded in agreement. "Exactly. Better safe than sorry."

They sat in the car, waiting for the traffic to clear, watching the throngs of people marching with banners and slogans. Martin couldn't help but notice that while some were genuinely pursuing equal rights, others seemed more focused on demanding special privileges.

After nearly an hour, the traffic finally began to inch forward. Martin's gaze lingered on the crowded sidewalks as they moved, reflecting on the changing landscape of society.

When he finally returned to his Beverly Hills home, it was more than an hour later than expected. The house was unusually quiet, with only Lily present.

As Martin walked in, laden with luggage, he asked, "Where's Liz?"

Lily, dragging a large suitcase of her own, replied, "She went to the office. The Olsen sisters are having some issues, and she went to help out."

Martin nodded, setting his bag aside. "Is it serious?"

Lily shook her head. "Just a minor issue. Liz said she could handle it."

Satisfied, Martin asked no further questions.

Bruce entered, carrying more bags, and turned to Martin. "You should take it easy for a few days. I'll be taking a short vacation, maybe three to five days, depending on how things go."

Lily, always one for teasing, grinned. "Planning to visit the Kardashian sisters, are we?"

Bruce nodded, a smile playing on his lips. "Yes, first Kim and Khloe, then Judy. I've got a busy schedule ahead."

As Bruce prepared for his own plans, Martin felt a wave of relief wash over him. Despite the chaos and confusion outside, at least inside his home, there was a semblance of order and familiarity.

Martin shrugged, "Five days sounds perfect. There's nothing pressing on my schedule, so staying in Los Angeles with bodyguards should be fine."

Bruce gave him a serious look. "Just be cautious. Things have been a bit chaotic around here lately."

Martin waved him off. "Don't worry about me. Go handle your own business."

As Bruce left, Lily, with her usual exuberance, barreled up the stairs behind Martin like a determined bulldozer.

At the top of the stairs, Martin said, "I'm going to grab a quick shower."

Lily glanced at the clock, her eyes twinkling mischievously. "Make it quick. I want to enjoy a feast while Liz is out!"

Martin chuckled, knowing Lily's playful nature well. She was loud, cheeky, and full of mischief, always making life interesting.

Just as he finished dealing with Lily, Elizabeth burst through the door, storming upstairs with a determined look on her face. She saw Lily's guilty expression and her own face turned stern.

"Lily Carter, you cheated on me!" she exclaimed, hands on her hips.

Lily, wiping her mouth, replied, "How could I be cheating? I was eating right out in the open!"

Elizabeth fumed, "You broke our agreement!"

Lily, ever the provocateur, retorted, "Liz, remember, you started cheating with Martin as soon as you turned 18. You had years before I even joined in!"

Elizabeth couldn't help but laugh at Lily's audacity. "You weren't even part of the picture back then!"

Martin stepped in, pulling Elizabeth into a calming embrace. "Come on, there's enough for everyone. No need to argue."

Elizabeth sighed, giving in. Soon, peace was restored.

As darkness fell, the three of them made their way downstairs for dinner. The chef had prepared a sumptuous meal, and they sat down to enjoy it.

Martin, remembering Lily's earlier comments, asked Elizabeth, "Is your sister in some sort of trouble?"

Elizabeth nodded, "It's a company issue. With all these equal rights movements in Los Angeles, our fashion company is feeling the impact. We have a lot of avant-garde thinkers on staff, many influenced by these movements."

Lily glanced at Martin. "Isn't it a cross-dressing issue?"

Elizabeth shook her head. "No, most of our employees are women, but the industry attracts a lot of LGBTQ+ individuals. Some identify as men and are demanding a third-gender bathroom."

She turned to Martin, referencing the chaos stirred by the notorious trio he was part of. "It feels like you and your friends have unleashed a bunch of ferocious monsters."

Lily, ever pragmatic, disagreed. "The monster was always there, waiting for an opportunity to show itself. Even without Martin and his friends, it would have found another way."

As they continued their meal, the conversation flowed, touching on the strange and unpredictable changes in their world. Despite the chaos outside, within the confines of their home, they found a semblance of normalcy and humor.

Elizabeth thought for a moment, then nodded to Lily. "You're right."

Martin leaned forward, curiosity piqued. "How do you plan to handle this?"

"If this were the old days, I'd fire them without hesitation!" Elizabeth sighed, a hint of frustration in her voice. "But in today's social climate, that would cause more trouble than it's worth. It's simpler to invest some money and set up a third-gender bathroom."

Lily raised an eyebrow. "This doesn't seem like you, giving in so easily."

Elizabeth's eyes flashed with determination. "Oh, I've noted everyone who started this mess. When the right moment comes, they'll be out."

Lily grinned. "Wow, Liz, you're channeling a real boss-lady vibe."

Martin chuckled. "What do you mean 'like'? She is a CEO."

Elizabeth smiled sweetly. "I don't want to be a domineering CEO. The last time Martin mentioned one, she ran her company into the ground and nearly went bankrupt herself. I don't have a billionaire father to bail me out."

After dinner, the three decided to take a stroll in the mansion's garden. Martin held Elizabeth on his left and Lily on his right. The night air was cool, and the garden was serene, filled with the fragrance of blooming flowers. They walked slowly, enjoying the peacefulness and each other's company.

Two restful days later, Martin returned to his office to tackle a pile of backlogged work.

Jonathan Nolan, excitedly clutching the first draft of the script for "Split," arrived as soon as he heard Martin was back in Los Angeles.

Martin read through the script carefully, then immediately called David Fincher, who was also in town. The three men spent hours in intense discussion about the script's details.

David Fincher had already signed a contract with Davis Studio to direct the project, and after two days of brainstorming, Jonathan Nolan left with notes to refine the script further.

Fincher, on the other hand, was preparing to head to Washington to continue his work on "House of Cards" with Netflix.

Later, Martin received a video call from Ukraine. On the screen, Alexandrovich's avatar lagged slightly, but his voice came through clearly.

"Boss, I have good news. After months of preparation, the 16th Saint Girl Group Audition Competition will launch simultaneously in Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus on May 1st."

Martin nodded, impressed. "Well done."

Alexandrovich beamed. "We've already had over 50,000 sign-ups. This will be the most-watched variety show in all of Eastern Europe."

He then extended an invitation. "Boss, would you be a judge for the finals?"

Martin agreed without hesitation. "Of course. Send the schedule to Bruce."

As the call ended, Martin felt a sense of accomplishment. The days ahead promised excitement and new challenges, but for now, he was content. The garden strolls, lively dinners, and productive meetings left him looking forward to the future.