Chapter 109

"Does Tom know about this place?" Martin asked suddenly.

Nicole blushed and replied, "No, he doesn't know. In fact, I rarely come here myself. I only come when I really need to be alone." Martin smiled, pretending to be surprised, and said, "So, it's just the two of us having dinner tonight?"

"Yes, just the two of us," Nicole's face turned even redder.

The atmosphere became more intimate.

Nicole didn't know what was happening to her. Am I seducing Martin?

Yes, I am seducing Martin!

She thought to herself. Although she knew this wasn't in line with societal morals, nor was it illegal, she just couldn't control herself.

After her phone call with Martin to arrange their evening meeting, Nicole felt something stirring within her—excitement, anticipation, longing, and even thoughts of more shameful fantasies. The clothes she wore, the location, even the food had all been chosen with him in mind.

"So many oysters?" Martin exclaimed, surprised when he saw the food on the table.

"These are French Bellon oysters. You said you liked oysters the most, so I bought more," Nicole explained.

"There are lobsters too, caught in the waters near Tasmania, Australia's most famous island. The meat is incredibly tender."

"And these are scallops…" she continued describing each dish.

"Did you make this yourself?" Martin asked, impressed.

"Yes, I cooked it myself. Try my skills," Nicole replied.

"Then I must taste it! I never imagined you could cook, Nicole!" Martin said, genuinely surprised.

Nicole laughed. She could indeed cook, but since winning the Australian Film Institute's Best Actress Award for her role in the TV series Vietnam at the age of eighteen, she had never had to cook for herself. Even her husband, Tom Cruise, had never tasted her cooking.

This was one of the reasons she'd chosen seafood—since she hadn't cooked in so long, her skills were a little rusty. Seafood was simpler to prepare, making it an ideal choice.

Nicole was about to guide Martin to a seat when she suddenly stopped, surprised. "Martin, have you grown taller?"

They hadn't seen each other in a few days, but Martin seemed to have grown a few centimeters taller.

Martin smiled and nodded. "I'm not sure if it's growth, but my height's been increasing pretty fast lately."

Nicole measured him with her eyes. Martin's head was already taller than the tip of her nose. She, herself, was 1.82 meters tall. After a quick calculation, she exclaimed, "You've grown so fast! You were barely 1.6 meters tall when we were filming The Island, but now you're over 1.7 meters, right?"

Martin nodded. "I'm 1.71 meters now. My parents were worried, so they had me checked at the hospital."

Nicole was concerned. "So, what was the result?"

"No problem," Martin smiled.

They continued chatting as they ate.

"Martin, try this abalone," Nicole said, offering him a piece.

"It's great!" Martin replied.

"Martin, try this chrysanthemum sunflower fish," Nicole urged.

"Hmm, it's delicious!" Martin responded.

"Martin, try the fattest middle breast meat of this lobster."

"Yeah, yeah, it's amazing!" Martin said enthusiastically.

After the meal, both were satisfied. They each took a glass of red wine and sat on the sofa.

Nicole was already a little tipsy, and she leaned slightly to one side, half resting against Martin.

Martin could smell the faint scent of her perfume, and he felt the softness of the couch against his arm.

Nicole, like a little girl, picked up a piece of cake with her fingers. A strand of platinum blonde hair brushed against Martin's ear, and he chuckled. She casually remarked, "Martin, The Island is going to be a huge hit. Help me celebrate. You're my box office lucky charm. How should I thank you?"

Martin swirled his red wine and looked at Nicole through the glass. The reflection of her figure in the wine was slightly distorted, but it only added to her charm and allure.

"Nicole—" he began, but she pressed a soft finger to his lips.

"Don't speak," she whispered.

Then, her delicate, rose-like lips brushed against his, carrying the fragrance and sweetness of red wine.

Martin, his arms around Nicole's slender waist, felt the magic coursing through him. He did a quick internal check: his magic had fully enhanced her body, her organs now much stronger than before. He didn't need to rely on magic to simulate it anymore.

He set his wine glass down, took the one from Nicole's hand, and placed it on the coffee table. A dark cloud seemed to drift over the night sky, obscuring the shy moon.

What happened next... well, let your imagination run wild.

Two hours later, Gordon arrived to pick up Martin.

In the villa, Martin carefully carried a sleepy Nicole to the bed, gently placed her under the thin blanket, kissed her cheek, and whispered, "Good night," before leaving with satisfaction.

As Martin stepped out, Nicole's eyes fluttered open briefly. She murmured, "Martin…" before falling back into a peaceful sleep.

Martin, taking advantage of the quiet night, made his way home.

It was truly like the old saying, Come with the sunset and return under the starlight. And the starlight shone bright, as it was his night.

The following week, The Island continued its strong performance, earning an additional $25.8 million at the box office.

Two weeks after its release, it was no longer a question of whether the movie would make a profit.

By the third week, the box office decline remained minimal, once again garnering praise from the media:

The Los Angeles Times wrote, "'It seems Martin's films always have this charm, making people want to watch them. Looking at all the films he's been involved with since his debut, the box office decline is far lower than average, and the endurance is impressive…'"

The New York Times noted, "Nicole Kidman has finally shed the 'box office poison' label. She owes it to Martin. His script, his score, his involvement—it's all been key to the success of this thriller."

The Washington Post remarked, "For Martin, it's another success. But for Nicole, she still has more to prove. A single success doesn't guarantee the next one."

Just as Martin had predicted, the media credited the film's success to him, while Nicole was still being doubted.

This didn't bother Martin—in fact, it worked to his advantage. He knew that in time, Nicole would fully depend on him.

This was the way of the succubus: manipulating a person's body and mind with just a touch of magic.

It was how he'd done it with Paris Hilton.

He had already given her the script for Horror House of Waxwork. This time, though, Paris was not playing a minor tragic role but the lead heroine.

After receiving the script, Paris couldn't wait to go home and seek the investment money.

The total investment for the film was just over $20 million.

Martin's company, Meyers Films, invested $7 million for the drama and soundtrack, holding a 50% stake.

The remaining 40% was secured by Warner Bros., who invested $8 million for distribution.

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𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧