Chapter 354: Hollywood Accounts

Upon spotting Martin, Scott's curiosity remained unprovoked. He approached and straightforwardly stated, "Idiot, come with me."

Meanwhile, Bruce stood his ground at the front desk, having no intention of moving. He planned to allow Martin to visit Sophia on his own terms.

However, Martin had other plans. He seized Bruce's arm and gently urged, "What are you afraid of?"

Scott, now wearing a wry grin, turned around and chuckled, "At most, just like me, with each enduring experience, you'll come to realize this is a mistake. It's an unusual kind of enjoyment."

In response, Martin patted Bruce's shoulder in understanding, saying, "I see why you're always nervous and scared. You've had too few of these experiences."

Bruce chose silence, knowing all too well that resistance only heightened Martin's enthusiasm.

For Elena's sake, Scott offered a gentle reminder, "You know what's most important to Sofia is reliability and safety."

Martin nodded appreciatively, and Scott proceeded to open the door, leading them into the reception room.

Inside, Sofia was seated on the couch, and with her characteristic brevity, she welcomed them, saying, "Martin, Bruce, feel free to sit wherever you like."

Martin opted for a single sofa, and Bruce leaned against the wall, effectively turning himself into an unyielding barrier.

Sofia, ever the pragmatist, glanced at Martin and Bruce and dove straight into the matter at hand. "This morning, someone from Warner Pictures came by and invited me to invest in the fourth installment of Terminator."

Martin chimed in, "They extended an offer for me to be the lead actor, which I declined."

Sofia inquired, "Is there a lack of optimism about this project?"

While Martin held reservations, he chose his words carefully, explaining, "In recent years, the film projects I've been part of haven't solely represented my interests. It's been a collective effort involving you, Louise, Kelly, and you, Sophia."

He continued, emphasizing the significance of commercial success. "I'm not just considering myself; I'm also thinking about the profitability of your investments. The more profit we can generate and the greater your support, the further I can go."

Sofia considered her previous investments.

"Louise declined this opportunity, and so did I." Martin refrained from delving into details like the role or the Terminator franchise, recognizing their irrelevance to Sofia. He added, "Without an industry veteran like Pacific Pictures, I wouldn't even consider investing, let alone involve you."

Everything Martin said held true. "The most significant lessons I've learned since coming to Hollywood revolve around deception and manipulation, particularly in ventures outside the industry."

Sofia responded, "It's not limited to a single industry."

Martin nodded and offered a straightforward example. "Sofia, you've surely heard of 'Saving Private Ryan,' right? It was a commercial success and garnered numerous awards. But did you know it resulted in losses for investors?"

Sofia expressed surprise, asking, "Losses?"

Martin proceeded to explain how profits were diverted through legal but intricate means.

Sofia questioned "are these practices not amounted to financial scams".

Martin shook his head, "they were legal but intricate methods of profit allocation they have shell company to incorporate the profits in cost of operation".

Sofia grasped the complexities and investors' reluctance to pursue legal action.

Martin reiterated that their investment through Pacific Pictures ensured equitable returns. Sofia had reinvested her earnings from "The Hills Have Eyes," a venture that had proven lucrative.

Their conversation continued, and Martin shared that Pacific Pictures and Davis Studio would also invest this year. Stability and manageable risks were what Sofia sought, so she instructed Martin to keep her informed.

After a discussion about Atlanta's history, Martin and Bruce bid their farewells and departed.

Sofia promptly contacted her highly paid entertainment lawyer and professional accountant, sharing the news and the business card she had received that morning.

Meanwhile, Lauren, sipping coffee in a café, contemplated her next move. She answered the phone with a furrowed brow.

Just hours after their morning conversation, Hulks Mansion had rejected Warner Pictures' investment offer in the afternoon.

These outsiders...

Lauren couldn't help but shake her head. If Hollywood weren't in such dire need of funds, why would Warner Pictures extend an investment opportunity?

If they can't make it here, they'll try elsewhere.

Lauren decided to explore opportunities in Asia.

Bruce drove over, and Martin hopped into the car, promptly calling Louise, Kelly, and even reaching out to Wu Maoting.

While the future was uncertain, Louise and Kelly weren't ready to abandon Martin just yet. Kelly's advice echoed in Martin's mind: "Enjoy the good times while you can, and savor them for a few more years."

With preparations on Sofia's end in mind, Martin put down his phone and turned to Bruce, inquiring, "Brother, is Ivan still in Los Angeles?"

Bruce had a clear understanding of Martin's concerns and reassured him, "He's been keeping tabs on Brad Pitt's matters."

Martin considered the situation further, asking, "Can Ivan stay in Los Angeles for an extended period?"

Bruce quickly grasped Martin's worries and explained, "Even if Sofia chooses to cooperate with Warner, it's strictly a business arrangement."

Martin emphasized the importance of risk management, to which Bruce nodded, saying, "Rest assured, I'll handle it. Ivan hasn't had ties to Atlanta for a long time. We were partners in other ventures."

As Martin contemplated offering Ivan a stable income, Bruce interjected firmly, "No! Ivan is under my employment and has no connection with you."

A playful exchange followed, with Martin pointing at Bruce and teasing, "Brother, your head is quite stubborn."

Bruce responded with a grin, "I learned from the best."

Martin then proceeded to make a phone call to Thomas, instructing him, "Keep an eye on any updates regarding Warner Pictures' Terminator project."

Turning his attention to Bruce, Martin directed, "Let's head over to Pacific Pictures."

After some reflection, Martin decided to contact Cody Horn using a phone number she had provided during their last golf outing.

"Hello, Martin," her familiar voice greeted him.

Martin found a reason to reach out, saying, "Cody, you mentioned teaching me golf the last time we met. I've been looking forward to your guidance. When could you make time?"

Cody expressed her regret, stating, "I've been preparing for the Oscars lately and am not in the best shape for golf."

She tentatively proposed, "Martin, can we schedule it for after the Oscars?"

Martin readily agreed, "Certainly, we'll arrange it then."

Cody laughed and sealed the deal, saying, "It's a plan."

As Martin ended the call, he noticed Bruce's inquisitive look.

Bruce playfully remarked, "You always have an elaborate story ready."

Martin responded, "I just wanted to stay informed and be prepared for any developments."

With the Oscars approaching, they made their way to Pacific Pictures, where Martin held a careful discussion in Louise's office about recent events.

Their hands and voices synchronized as they discussed the matter in detail.

The day before the Oscars, Martin received news from Thomas that Christian Bale's agent, Parker, was in preliminary talks with Warner Pictures about the Terminator project. It appeared that Christian Bale had a strong chance of landing the lead role.

Martin remembered that Christian Bale had portrayed John Connor in the film, emphasizing that, apart from Batman, his commercial appeal wasn't particularly strong.

Despite the seeming orderliness of events, Martin remained vigilant, knowing that Bale had set him up in "The Prestige." He harbored thoughts of settling the score.

Martin was exonerated of any involvement in the Sponge tearing incident at Pinewood Studios, with British media and police confirming that it was the work of Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.

Thus, the matter remained unresolved.

Both Martin and Christian Bale had a clear recollection of the accounts.

The last weekend of February 2007 had arrived, and the 79th Academy Awards commenced on time at the Kodak Theater.

The spotlight was on whether Martin Scorsese could finally achieve his long-standing dream, a prospect with a high probability.

Despite Martin's knowledge that he was destined to be a fugitive, he walked the Oscar red carpet. He wouldn't repeat the mistake Leonardo made in his youth.

During the era of "Titanic," Leonardo had declined to walk the Oscar red carpet, as he wasn't nominated for Best Actor. He publicly stated he didn't want to steal the limelight.

The Hollywood insider knew the backstory well and have been biased against him since than.

On the day of the awards, Martin arrived in a Cadillac flagship car, wearing a meticulously crafted Brioni outfit. He raised a Coca-Cola bottle on the red carpet alongside the Coca-Cola Cult members.

Meeting Nicholson and Leonardo in the media area, they entered the Kodak Theater together, forming a formidable trio.