Chapter 276: Four People

Exiting Warner Studios, Martin hopped into his Escalade with Jennifer Aniston and drove straight to the Hotel Marmont on Sunset Boulevard. In the rearview mirror, Martin noticed a familiar Volkswagen following them, driven by Bruce, his loyal bodyguard and manager. There was another car trailing them, which Martin recognized as Angelina Jolie's, indicating that she was quite enthusiastic about the whole situation, perhaps even resorting to tracking.

Jennifer Aniston couldn't help but notice the Volkswagen behind them and commented, "That car has been tailing us since Burbank."

Martin reassured her, "That's Bruce, my bodyguard and manager. After the incident at Burbank High School, he's been keeping an eye on me wherever I go."

Jennifer Aniston glanced at Martin, marveling at his charismatic presence. It seemed like he was the city's hero, now with an added layer of intrigue.

Upon their arrival at the Marmont Hotel, Martin parked his car in the underground lot and escorted Jennifer Aniston to the second floor. Jennifer Aniston instinctively took Martin's arm, fostering the image of a genuine couple, as she had resolved to cultivate that relationship during their rehearsal in the afternoon.

Once inside the restaurant and seated at their reserved table, Martin handed a menu to Jennifer Aniston. They both placed their orders, and Aniston insisted, "I'll treat you tonight."

Martin graciously accepted, saying, "Alright, I won't argue with that."

Aniston, with a long-term perspective, added, "You can treat me next time." She recognized that their interactions, from preparation to filming to release, would span over a year, offering numerous opportunities to connect. Dining with Martin just once was not in her plans.

Returning the menu to the waiter, Martin waited until they were out of earshot and then shared a sentimental remark: "Dining with my goddess was something I could only dream of before."

Aniston playfully asked, "Do you really like me... I mean, Rachel?"

"Of course," Martin replied, overwhelmed with admiration. "You've been with me since my adolescence." There was no need to think twice. He candidly added, "The house I lived in, back in Atlanta, was plastered with posters. Your posters adorned every wall. It filled my entire bedroom. When I woke up, I saw you, and when I closed my eyes, you were still there. Even in my dreams, it was you."

Jennifer Aniston, a married woman, let a cheeky question slip, "Tell me, have you ever done anything to my poster?"

Martin simply grinned, leaving the question unanswered. In reality, there were no Rachel posters in his Atlanta home.

"You little rascal!" Aniston decided to tease the young pup, "Come clean! If you don't tell me, I might just torture you!" She reached for a knife and threatened, "The consequences..."

Martin, with a grin, raised his hand in surrender, saying, "No, I never did anything to your poster. I'm not a pervert."

Aniston leaned closer and teased, "Are you sure?"

Suddenly, Martin's smile vanished, and his expression turned serious.

Aniston, puzzled by the abrupt change, leaned in and asked, "What's wrong?"

In a hushed voice, Martin confided, "Brad Pitt is here."

Aniston, somewhat relieved, followed Martin's gaze to discover that Pitt and his manager had entered the restaurant and were seated at a table roughly ten meters away.

Martin suggested, "Jen, how about we change to another hotel? Not because I'm afraid of him, but I'm concerned he might come and bother you, potentially ruining your evening."

Aniston lamented her misfortune at encountering Brad Pitt once again. However, when she heard Martin's considerate words, she realized that he was genuinely looking out for her and admired him even more. She playfully responded, "Why should we leave? Are we going to hide every time he shows up?"

Martin clarified, "That's not what I meant. He attacked me last time because of the tabloid rumors. Jen, I just don't want to create any trouble for you."

Aniston, pleased with his thoughtfulness, patted Martin's hand and reassured him, "I divorced him, and whatever we have has nothing to do with him."

Martin warmly clasped Aniston's hand with his own, saying, "Alright, I'll listen to you."

Aniston took another glance at Brad Pitt, who was now gazing at her and Martin, fixated on their table. She held Martin's hand and contemplated apologizing for the turmoil caused by the Avalon Bar incident but was interrupted.

In the distance, a woman took a seat at a dining table, all alone. It was Angelina Jolie. She seemed to be engrossed in her conversation with the waiter, paying no mind to her surroundings. Aniston mentally berated her ill-fortune in having to encounter both Jolie and Pitt on the same evening, having just invited Martin out to dinner.

Observing the situation, Martin whispered to Aniston, "Jen, shall we consider moving to a different restaurant?" His consideration for her was evident, "I'm not afraid of him, but I worry he might disturb you and sour your mood."

Aniston lamented her unfortunate luck at running into Brad Pitt that evening. However, when Martin revealed his concern for her, she found his thoughtfulness rather endearing.

Aniston, realizing that Jolie was a distance away and that Martin may not have noticed her yet, decided to test the waters. She candidly shared her apology with Martin for the trouble caused by the Avalon Bar incident. Yet, her words were cut short as she noticed Jolie, who had become aware of her presence and was looking their way.

Jolie raised her glass in a customary display of victorious superiority.

Aniston's extensive acting experience allowed her to maintain a composed façade. She continued her engaging conversation with Martin, intertwining her fingers with his and occasionally tracing her nails along his palm.

Martin couldn't help but sport a delighted smile, resembling a contented pup that had just lapped up a bowl of milk.

As the meal arrived, Jolie had no intention of savoring her food. Her eyes constantly darted towards the couple, dining intimately, her countenance contorted, as though she were being roasted over an open flame.

She endured this torment, the internal flames churning, twisting her face to the point of deformity. Simultaneously, she muttered silently, "Is this game amusing? It's downright abnormal!"

Aniston noticed the transformation on Jolie's face, setting her cutlery aside. She suspected that the bitterness coursing through Jolie had become so intense that it physically distorted her expression.

In a room teeming with celebrities, Jolie was trapped by her image and self-esteem, restraining her emotions and preserving her facade.

Amidst this, Jennifer Aniston felt a heightened sense of comfort and an almost irrepressible desire to giggle.

She reached for her glass, and Jolie mirrored the action, their hands accidentally connecting. Aniston gazed up at Martin but secretly directed her smile toward Jolie. The wily move went unnoticed by Martin.

Noticing Martin's preference for meat, Aniston skillfully cut a tender piece of lamb chop and fed it to him. Martin accepted her gesture and took a bite, his eyes locked on her like a besotted fan.

Seizing the moment when Martin momentarily lowered his head, Aniston sneaked a glance at Jolie. She witnessed the further distortion of Jolie's face, as though a tempest threatened to sweep her away.

Jolie's solution was to down her chilled red wine in a single gulp, attempting to suppress the inner turmoil.

On the other side, Brad Pitt had not touched his food. His grip on the knife and fork had grown white-knuckled, and the veins on the back of his hands bulged from the pressure.

Before his eyes, Aniston took the initiative to feed Martin!

Making matters worse, they didn't even acknowledge his existence. They utterly disregarded Brad Pitt.

His manager attempted to reason with him, "Don't act impulsively. She's just your ex-wife; you're divorced."

Brad Pitt growled, "But I want her back!"

"If you don't do anything right now, there may be hope." The manager strained to persuade him, "If you take any action, there's no hope at all."

Brad Pitt's eyes widened as he observed the brazen pair growing even more intimate. Aniston even allowed Martin to kiss her cheek.

"Idiot!" he muttered to himself, feeling weighed down as he struggled to lift his head.

The manager had also taken note and proposed, "Let's leave now."

Brad Pitt shook his head but suddenly found Aniston and Martin gazing at him in unison. Martin smiled and nodded, extending a polite greeting to Brad Pitt.

Upon seeing Pitt, Aniston's countenance changed, her warmth replaced with icy detachment.

Brad Pitt said to his manager, "I'll leave later."

The two settled the bill and exited the restaurant. Pitt trailed behind them as they moved to the hotel lobby.

Then, Pitt noticed Aniston securing a hotel room and entering the elevator with Martin.

He knew exactly what would transpire next.

He walked to the sitting area within the lobby and sank into one of the sofa chairs.

The manager contemplated speaking but, after assessing Pitt's dejected state, decided it was best to remain silent.

Pitt, in a daze, caught sight of Jolie entering the hotel lobby. She procured a room key at the front desk, appearing as if she were avoiding someone. After a brief wait, she entered the elevator.

Brad Pitt was baffled by this turn of events. Was Jolie here to catch someone in the act? No, that didn't fit the situation. Martin Davis was publicly associated with Aniston, not Jolie.

Jolie's demeanor suggested something entirely different.

Brad Pitt knew Jolie better than Aniston did, and her visible excitement was quite evident.

As Martin and the couple approached, Jolie began to follow them.

Brad Pitt considered a possibility and initially stood up, only to slump back into his seat, muttering, "They... How can they be so shameless?"

The manager, catching on to Brad Pitt's thoughts, opted to remain silent.

Eventually, Pitt saw Jolie. She arrived at the hotel lobby's front desk, checked in, and appeared to be evading someone. After waiting for a while, she too entered the elevator.

Pitt felt a pang of frustration and confusion. What was happening here? Was Jolie playing a part in catching someone in the act? No, it didn't seem to make sense in the current context. Something was amiss.

Jolie's absence was puzzling.

All the while, Jolie's demeanor seemed to suggest she was engaged in a thrilling plot.

Unable to bear it, Brad Pitt stood up, sat down again, and muttered to himself, "They... How can they be so shameless!"

The manager decided not to intervene as Pitt vented his frustrations.

Before Brad Pitt could strike the car tire again, his cell phone rang. He answered, stating, "This is Brad Pitt."

"Stay away from me from now on!" Aniston's voice sounded urgently through the phone. Her words came rapidly, with a hoarse tone, "Don't let me see you again. We have nothing to do with each other. Meeting you was the biggest mistake of my life!"

In response to Aniston's stern words, Pitt smashed his phone to the ground, its impact accompanied by his thunderous roar.