Chapter 219: Testing People

Upon entering the suite at the Palm Tree Hotel, as Elena was organizing her luggage, Lily discreetly approached Martin.

"I have something to tell you," she whispered mysteriously. "I'll help Elena repay the money you lent for the house."

Martin inquired casually, "You? You're still in school. What will you use to repay?"

Lily stood tall with confidence. "Don't underestimate me. I've earned a decent amount selling collectibles, and I can still work part-time when I start college."

Elena emerged from the room and called out, "What are you two mumbling about over there? Finish packing your luggage."

Martin grabbed two bags and entered the suite's master bedroom.

Hall moved swiftly toward the second-largest bedroom. However, before he reached the door, Lily caught up to him and raised her fist, playfully tapping her brother on the head.

With the assertiveness of a protective sister, she said, "Silly, be considerate and take the smallest room!" Being the youngest in the family with unreliable parents, Hall couldn't even fart without fear of consequences. Thus, he obediently entered the smallest bedroom.

Lily soon grew impatient as Martin and Elena entered the master bedroom, closed the door, and didn't reappear for quite some time.

"Shameless!" She complained while packing her luggage outside, deliberately making a ruckus. She muttered, "You're not even having dinner; are you not afraid of cramps?"

After nearly an hour, Martin and Elena finally emerged from the room. Elena's face was flushed, and she had changed her clothes, dispelling her earlier unease.

Lily voiced her dissatisfaction, "Are you two that impatient? I'm starving!"

Martin checked his watch. "Let's go. I'll take you all out for a big dinner."

Over the meal, the family discussed the type of house they planned to purchase.

The median price of single-family homes in middle-class neighborhoods in the Atlanta metropolitan area was approximately $200,000. Including less affluent areas like Clayton would naturally lower the median price. The current property tax rate was less than 1%.

Martin promptly called Robert, who resided in a community with good neighborhoods. He agreed to accompany Elena and the others to visit houses the following day.

...

The bustling metropolis always had interesting places to explore.

African American actor Shermer and Pratt exited a bar, feeling unlucky as they hadn't had any success with women that night, but they had consumed quite a bit of alcohol.

Alcohol has a way of warming the spirits.

Pratt felt a flush in his cheeks and didn't want to return home in that state. "Shall we go somewhere else? Find a place where I don't feel fat?"

Shermer patted his belly. "It's only been two days, and you're already giving in?"

Pratt, who had been working tirelessly on the set, tried to explain, "Every day, I have to lower myself to please the big shots, hoping for an opportunity that may never come. You have no idea how frustrated and stressed I am. If I don't release it, I might go crazy!"

"We're all in the same boat," Shermer, a small-time actor as well, replied. The difference was that he had Tyler Perry as a patron. "That's why we need suitable ways to relieve stress."

Pratt lamented, "Women would be perfect. Unfortunately, I'm not exactly a ladies' man due to my less-than-ideal appearance."

Shermer sensed the night was still young. "I know a great place, especially for unwinding. Want to check it out?"

Pratt had been tagging along with Shermer around Atlanta lately, so he didn't hesitate to agree. "What are we waiting for, then? Let's go! I can't spend the night alone; otherwise, when I have to hold Martin's stinky feet tomorrow, I might throw up." Shermer guided him to his car.

As they drove south, Pratt remarked, "Don't you think Martin is something?"

Pratt chuckled, "How could he not be? If I could have Julie every day, I'd be content! If he's willing to support me and give me a shot at the top, I'd even kneel down and praise him. The issue is, after licking his boots for so long, what have I gained? Nothing."

Shermer kept a smile on his face but had different thoughts inside.

What did Pratt do? To climb higher, he risked going to jail to help Tyler Perry.

Without exceptional skills or good fortune, reaching for distinction often demanded a high price.

"Director Leterrier is two-timing. If I were better looking, I'd have taken the path he paved," Pratt admitted. He didn't mind going the extra mile, but the problem was that overweight individuals were overlooked, and there was no demand for what he had to offer.

Shermer remarked, "We're all in the same boat. Climbing up is never easy."

Their car soon pulled up in front of a lavish nightclub near Nancheng, an obvious upscale establishment.

Pratt questioned, "Isn't this place quite expensive?"

Shermer exited the car and waited for Pratt to follow. "It's okay; my friend manages it, so we get a discount."

Pratt, eager for some fun, tagged along. Upon arriving at the nightclub, they were greeted by a bouncer who escorted them to a private room on the second floor.

The bouncer inquired, "What would you like?"

Shermer gave Pratt a pat on the back. "They're my guests; treat them well."

Pratt, now burping from the drinks earlier, requested, "Girls, beautiful and sexy girls."

Shortly after, several beautiful women entered the private room. They appeared young, but it was hard to discern their precise ages, given the early development of white and Latina girls.

Shermer lounged on the couch, arms around the women.

The remaining three were exactly Pratt's preferred type.

After spending so much time together, Shermer had figured out the kind of person Pratt couldn't resist.

A bouncer entered the private room, closed the door, and nodded at Shermer. "Wake him up." Shermer walked over and slapped Pratt's face a few times. When he saw Pratt was still conscious, he grabbed a beer bottle and poured it over his head.

With a startled cry, Pratt sat up, ready to get angry. But before he could react, a swift slap from the bouncer struck him in the face and sent him back down.

"My name's Fred, the security manager here," Fred said as he wiped his hands, which were stained with beer foam, using a tissue. In his left hand, he held a remote control with a crooked little finger and ring finger. "Chris, I need you to do a little favor." Just as Pratt attempted to rise, he noticed Shermer pulling out a pistol, pointed directly at him. He froze in place.

Pratt had sobered up in an instant. No matter how slow his mind was, he knew he had walked right into a trap.

Fred didn't beat around the bush. He pressed the remote control, and the screen in the private room played back the previous one-on-three scene, which had looked quite exciting.

Pratt tried to reason with Shermer, "I thought we were friends..."

Fred interrupted him, "As for them, they won't even turn sixteen until the second half of the year. You're over 25, and you won't be covered by the Romeo and Juliet Act. I can have them call the police and accuse you anytime."

Pratt remained silent.

Fred then tossed several certificates related to the girls onto the table in front of Pratt. "You can choose to go to jail or do something for me, but I won't force you." Pratt believed that Shermer wouldn't dare to shoot, but he also knew that once the girls called the police, he'd be in deep trouble.

Pratt finally asked, "What do you want me to do?"

Fred, who had a broken finger that reminded him of an incident over two years ago, replied, "Don't worry, I won't put you in a difficult spot. I've heard you have a good relationship with Martin David on the set, and you just have to bring him here to have some fun."

"You must be out of your mind!" Pratt exclaimed, surprised. "He's an American hero now..."

Fred cut him off, "If he did what you did, would he still be considered a hero? Without the hero's aura, he'd just be another small Hollywood star."

Pratt shook his head, "No, I won't do it."

Fred nodded, dialed 911 on his phone, and placed it on the coffee table in front of Pratt. Then he retrieved a bag from behind and set it beside him.

The bag was filled with money, three thick stacks of it.

Fred said, "This is your upfront payment, and you will receive double once the job is done. The three girls will keep you company until you're satisfied."

Pratt fell into silence, feeling that he was being tested in an impossible situation.

A few minutes later, Fred headed upstairs and met a bespectacled black man in an office on the top floor. "Boss, it's been arranged."

On the other end, Tyler Perry nodded. "Excellent, the simplest approach is often the best. Prepare a private room for me; I want Martin Davis to find my offer irresistible."

...

The filming crew hadn't wrapped up for the day, but Martin and Jolie had completed their scenes.

The two actors entered Martin's makeup trailer.

It's always challenging for committed actors to leave their roles behind, so Martin and Jolie took their passionate scenes from the set into the makeup trailer to release their pent-up emotions. The trailer creaked in protest to their emotional commitment to their roles.

As the crew wrapped up for the day, Jolie asked, "Would you like to come over to my place tonight?"

Martin began packing his belongings. "I'm going to visit Louise and Kelly tonight."

At the mention of these two names, Jolie's backache vanished, her tired legs regained their strength, and the extinguished spark reignited. "Can we go to the balcony tonight?"

Jolie's suite was adjacent to Louise's, and the balconies were side by side.

However, Martin wasn't as daring as she was. He shook his head and said, "They're quite cautious and won't agree to it."

Jolie was disappointed.

Martin then suggested, "Hurry and get dressed; it's time to leave."

Once Jolie was dressed, Martin exited the makeup trailer and found Pratt waiting for him.

"Martin, do you have some free time tonight?" Pratt inquired.

Martin asked, "Is something the matter?"

Pratt smiled and said, "You've been really good to me on set, and I've been wanting to buy you a drink. There's a place with excellent wine."

However, Martin had already made plans with Louise and Kelly. Since Pratt was his sponsor, he couldn't break the commitment. "I don't have time tonight. Let's plan it for another day."

Pratt didn't push the issue. "Alright, another time then."

Martin joined Bruce, and they both rode an electric car together. As they departed, Martin asked, "Did we help that guy?"

Bruce shook his head. "No, except for his own initiative, we haven't provided him with any assistance." Martin then decided, "Let's head back to the hotel."

As they traveled back, Martin looked at his watch and grabbed the thermos cup from Bruce's side. He opened it and took a sip.

Inside the thermos, he had soaked goji berries and salajit, which he had purchased from apstocary. He understood the importance of maintenaing his health; after all, he aspired to lead a life similar to Wes Craven when he reached his sixties or seventies.