Chapter 169: Surprise Gift

In Beverly Hills, Judy maneuvered her motorcycle toward the Hilton Hotel's main entrance, halting beside a flower bed.

She removed her helmet, camera in hand, and just then, she spotted Martin and Annie stepping out of a car, hand in hand, making their way into the hotel.

Instinctively, Judy clicked the camera's shutter, muttering to herself, "Don't bother coming out; the couple is spending the night together!"

These paparazzi often seemed more eager for gossip than the parties involved.

After waiting for over half an hour with no sign of Martin emerging, Judy found a spot to sit down and pondered how to frame the gossip.

Soon, she came up with a fitting headline: "Martin Davis Holds Hands with Hollywood Princess Anne Hathaway. This is What True Love Looks Like…"

Judy was an industrious and dedicated paparazzi. She didn't just capture photos but also contributed to a family gossip column on an entertainment website. When she anticipated a long wait, she'd pull out her notepad and pen, find a spot beneath a streetlamp, and start composing a short piece on the spot based on her earlier idea.

Those who worked diligently were often rewarded.

After a while, a tall figure suddenly blocked the overhead light.

Judy swiftly closed her notebook to prevent her colleagues from copying her ideas, and when she looked up, she saw Bruce's gruff countenance.

"What's up with you?" she asked.

Bruce didn't utter a word; instead, he gestured with his fingers.

Jody packed up her things and followed Bruce into a car.

During the ride, she contemplated switching on her recorder again.

Bruce remarked, "You go back; I'll find someone else."

Jody retrieved the recorder and disassembled it into its components under Bruce's watchful gaze.

Bruce opened the car door and got in.

Judy took the passenger seat.

Bruce produced a memory card and placed it on the armrest between them. He said, "These are photos of Martin and Annie in the hotel."

These were taken by him personally.

Jody nodded, picking up the memory card and stowing it away. She leaned toward Bruce and reached for the zipper of his pants.

Bruce glanced at her unremarkable rear end and felt unmoved. He pushed Jody away, declaring, "Don't try your cheap tricks on someone as upright as me. I won't be corrupted by you lot!"

Jody straightened up and regarded Bruce. In comparison to the man sitting opposite her, she felt oddly noble. "What do you want?" she inquired.

Bruce didn't demand much, stating, "One hundred dollars for my efforts, and the article you write must favor Martin."

Jody handed over all the cash she had, totaling more than eighty dollars. Bruce didn't seem to mind. "Martin won't emerge until eight o'clock tomorrow morning. Head back and get some rest."

Judy exited the car, walked over to her motorcycle alone, donned her helmet, and returned to her rented residence. However, she didn't immediately head to bed. Instead, she worked on the manuscript throughout the night and posted it to the website column, accompanied by the photos she had taken and those provided by Bruce.

She still had numerous photos left, so she contacted the print media outlets she collaborated with and sold them the pictures.

In the morning, Laura, who had risen early, picked up her camera, stood by the door, and kept an eye on Annie's situation through the peephole.

After their return from Griffith Observatory the previous night, Martin had stayed in Anne's suite.

In the middle of the night, Annie had quietly joined him, sweet but fatigued. She explained that Martin had exhausted her so much that she needed a brief rest.

Over there, movements could be heard. Laura cracked the door open slightly, extended the camera's lens, and aimed it in that direction.

She had practiced this several times last night and had become quite adept.

The door to Anne's suite swung open, and Martin stepped out of the room. Anne, wearing pajamas, followed him to the doorway.

One was inside the room, the other outside. They gazed affectionately at each other at first, then engaged in a passionate kiss.

Laura pressed the camera's shutter button and captured a photo.

Martin held Anne's hand. "I have some work at the studio. I can't stay any longer. Please take care of yourself."

Anne once again approached him and planted a kiss on Martin's cheek. "Work is important," she acknowledged.

After all, his job was crucial to her future.

"I was unprepared last night," Martin apologized. "I was in a hurry."

Anne's face blushed just the right shade. "You... you were perfect," she said.

Martin grinned. "I'll prepare a special gift for you later."

Anne couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised. "Really?"

Martin nodded. "Of course, it'll be a surprise." He checked his watch. "I have to go."

Anne leaned against the door frame and watched Martin leave. Step by step, he made his way to the elevator.

A surprise? What could it be? Annie couldn't help but wonder. A luxury car? Beautiful jewelry? Or perhaps a complete set of luxury jewelry?

The door opposite opened, and Laura popped out, camera in hand.

Anne gestured for her to act quickly.

Laura returned to the room, making calls to entertainment media outlets and paparazzi, preparing to sell the photos of Martin exiting Anne's room.

Annie shut the door, grabbed her cellphone, dialed her agent Maha's number, and briefed her agent on the latest developments between her and Martin.

Maha responded, "I'll have a direct conversation with Martin's agent."

Just like how the marriage of two people on the other side of the Pacific isn't solely about those two individuals, the union of two stars involves more than just the couple.

Meanwhile, Martin descended the stairs, dialed Lao Bu, who had just driven up to the hotel entrance. Martin entered the car and instructed, "Let's head to Warner Studios."

Bruce drove out of the hotel and commented, "There's a lot of buzz about you and Annie on the internet, especially in the entertainment newspapers, and it's gaining significant popularity."

Martin inquired, "How's the reaction on social media?"

"Your fans are discussing it enthusiastically, and they think you and Annie make a great pair," Bruce reported. "It's attracted a considerable number of Annie's fans, and it's quite lively. They seem to want you to treat Annie well."

Martin had anticipated this. Fan culture varied between the two sides of the Pacific. In the United States, celebrity relationships didn't typically have a major impact on fans, although there were some passionate ones.

Bruce added, "Thomas tried to reach you, but your phone was off, so he contacted me. He suggested that you and Annie keep up this momentum for another week or even extend it to ten days. It would be best to wait until 'The Hills Have Eyes' is released. If we can convert a portion of this popularity into market data, you'll make a lot of money."

Martin nodded in agreement and proceeded to call Thomas.

After their conversation, he briefly mentioned a significant matter: "Annie's agent, Maha, has arranged for an interview with me. She mentioned it to you." Martin stated, "Annie informed me of it last night, but I think you should discuss it with Maha."

Annie had briefly mentioned it the previous night, that as their newfound attention grew, certain matters would need to be discussed if she and Martin were to continue their relationship.

Martin fully concurred.

Right after ending the call with Thomas, Daniel, responsible for promoting "The Hills Have Eyes" at Warner Bros., reached out again. He discussed with Martin how the scandal could effectively boost the exposure of the film.

This seemingly simple relationship between the two concealed interests across the board.

Bruce sighed in exasperation, "This showbiz world is filled with nonsense."

"Essentially, it's no different from the marriages of political dynasties," Martin remarked.

Bruce pondered for a moment, "Take, for instance, Schwarzenegger marrying into the Kennedy family."

Martin inquired, "I'm thinking of getting Annie a special gift. Any ideas?"

"What does she like?" Bruce inquired. "I'm guessing she'd be interested in jewelry, luxury cars, or high-end goods. How about getting her a sizable diamond? I've heard they make lab-grown ones that are even purer and more brilliant than natural ones."

Martin shook his head. "That's too ordinary. Let me think... I've got it. How about naming a star after her?"

Bruce had had enough of this conversation with Martin.

Martin, always one to act on his ideas, immediately did what he had in mind. He pulled out his cellphone and dialed Harris' number. "It's Martin. I'd like to name a star after Anne Hathaway, the Hollywood princess. Create an elegant star chart and certificate, using the finest materials, got it? It must be high-end and sophisticated, emphasizing a sense of luxury. Please send them to me by mail."

Harris readily agreed.

Martin had solved the gift dilemma with romance and originality.

This time, he would give her a star; who knows, next time, he might give her Moon real estate. He'd even mentioned his interest in the moon project to Harris previously.

Compared to the common beachfront villas, this was on a completely different level.

Arriving at Warner Studios in "The Hills Have Eyes" studio, Martin attended a new publicity meeting for the film.

Due to the positive reception from the theater managers during the preview, Martin's popularity, coupled with the previous film's success and Wes Craven's endorsement, "The Hills Have Eyes" secured around 3,300 North American theaters.

Moreover, offline disks of "House of Wax" were set to release around January 20, 2005, and Warner Bros. intended to include an advertisement for "The Mountain Has Eyes" on the DVD being pressed.

Subsequently, Martin followed Craven and Aja into the producers' office.

Craven handed Martin some documents, stating, "Take a look; it's the latest top-secret information."

Martin settled into a chair, carefully examining the documents in his hands. The paper had a slight vintage quality, with a red "Top Secret" seal and the logo of the United States Atomic Energy Assessment Agency on the letterhead.

Aja was curious. "Is this going to cause any trouble?"

Craven smiled and assured, "No, it's just part of the plan. In fact, there's no such organization; we made it up."

Martin remembered a saying often heard in Hollywood, "As long as we're not messing with the tax bureau, we can tinker with any other department or agency."

Craven concurred, "Exactly. These are just minor details that no one will pay attention to. It's not like we're fabricating false news. Posters and front-page advertisements for the film have already been released, and when the public sees them, they'll immediately connect it to movie promotion."

Aja pondered, "Is this a form of viral marketing?"

Craven summarized, "It's a form of viral marketing, an idea from Martin. Given the recent months' focus on the Iraq weapons of mass destruction issue and the divisive politics of the election, some individuals have come forward to claim that Iraq had nothing but laundry detergent. Our crew and Warner Bros. have adopted Martin's idea and tied it to the current social climate. People are highly concerned about weapons of mass destruction, so let's add fuel to the fire."