Chapter 827: I'm A Celebrity!

Two days later, Thomas arrived in Atlanta, his arrival marked by a sense of urgency. He joined forces with Martin's attorney, Hamlin, to gather comprehensive evidence and file a lawsuit in the Atlanta District Court. Atlanta, being Martin's hometown, was a strategic choice, and with the backing of the Coca-Cola Group and influential city and state legislators, the court swiftly accepted the case.

The moment the subpoena was issued, the story erupted into the media spotlight. In the opulent office of the Gray Film and Television Center, Kelly Gray scanned a gossip tabloid with a mix of incredulity and fascination.

The article began, "Our sources have confirmed a sensational story involving a renowned superstar hailing from Atlanta. During his high school years at Marietta High, known for its diverse student body, including white, Latino, and African-American students, this superstar was infamous for his numerous relationships."

The piece went on, detailing an African-American girl who had become pregnant during this period. She gave birth to a boy named Paul, who, inheriting his father's exceptional talent, had shown remarkable prowess in the performing arts from a young age.

Accompanying the article was a photograph of a teenage African-American boy with a resemblance to the superstar in question, raising eyebrows with his striking similarities.

Kelly, who was well-acquainted with Martin, immediately recognized the superstar in the story as him.

Louise Mayer, recently arrived and engrossed in her phone, was absorbed by a trending anonymous post on a popular forum. The post read, "I was a classmate of Martin Davis at Marietta High. There was a memorable incident at a school party when five of the most beautiful girls disappeared. It turns out they had been taken by Martin himself! At that time, Martin was notorious for his charm and prowess with women."

The post continued, "When we finally found him, Martin was surrounded by these girls, showcasing his skill. He had a diverse group, including blonds, African Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Arabs. It was as if he felt he had conquered the world."

"This incident had a significant impact. Some girls transferred schools, and years later, I encountered an African-American woman with a teenage boy named Paul. The resemblance to Martin was striking."

Though the post never explicitly claimed Paul was Martin's son, it heavily implied it.

Louise, noting the professional tone of the post, commented, "This essay is well-crafted, only a pro could write something like this."

Kelly, placing the newspaper down, remarked, "They do look similar. Could he really be Martin's son?"

Louise scoffed, "Seriously? A black woman? You think Martin could be involved?"

Kelly shrugged, "He was just a teenager then."

Louise shook her head, "Perceptions formed during adolescence often stick with a person. His views on race were likely shaped long before he met us. It's unlikely he'd have a child with a black woman."

Kelly's disappointment was evident as she sighed, "If this is true, it would be quite a spectacle. Martin... haha... It would be poetic justice to see him mocked after riding on others' coattails for so long."

Louise added, "Martin's lawyer may have filed the lawsuit against Paul, but I suspect the other side is waiting for this moment to capitalize on the publicity."

Just then, Martin strode into the office, flanked by Thomas and Bruce.

Louise couldn't resist a jibe, "Congratulations on becoming a father."

Ignoring the remark, Martin snatched the mouse from Louise and clicked on a YouTube link. The video of his alleged son, Paul, had surged to the top of trending searches.

Louise reclaimed the mouse, and both she and Kelly gathered around to watch the video, their curiosity piqued by the unfolding drama.

The rap video featuring Paul was an immediate sensation. Clad in flashy red attire, he danced energetically among a crowd of glamorous women, all while sipping on Coca-Cola. The beat was quintessentially black rap, with lyrics steeped in raw emotion and unfiltered anger directed at his estranged father.

As the video concluded, Thomas was quick to comment, "This track is blowing up. It's trending on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram."

Martin's face tightened into a frown. "Why does this make me uneasy?"

Kelly, ever the perceptive one, replied, "Because Paul's using you as a launchpad. He's leveraging your fame to push his own narrative."

Martin mulled over this for a moment, then said, "I don't share any resemblance with that kid, and I certainly won't pretend to be someone's absentee father." He glanced at Kelly and Louise. "I've made it here thanks to my own efforts and the support of loyal friends like you."

Louise murmured, "Although sometimes that support can feel like a double-edged sword."

Kelly chuckled softly, finding a wry humor in the situation.

Martin, seemingly finding some solace in the truth, nodded. "It takes real strength to pull off something like this."

At that moment, Thomas's cell phone rang. He stepped outside for a brief conversation, returning moments later with news. "Turn on Channel 6. That kid's being interviewed by the TV station."

Kelly sprang into action, grabbing the remote from a drawer and flicking the TV to Atlanta Channel 6. On screen, a lively variety show was in progress, featuring a cheerful, chubby black female reporter interviewing Paul.

"There's been a lot of buzz around you lately," the reporter began, "Is it true you're the son of a superstar?"

Paul responded with a rap-infused cadence, "I grew up in a single-parent African-American household in the South. I never met my father. I used to ask my mom where he was, but she never answered. All I had was my mother; the absence of my father didn't matter."

The reporter probed further, "How has this situation impacted your life?"

Paul, his voice steady and mature beyond his years, answered, "It's changed me completely. I'm driven to prove myself and reclaim what was lost during my childhood. After enduring many hardships, I'm ready to announce publicly: I'm a homosexual!"

The reporter, impressed, said, "It takes courage to be so open. Not many would do that."

Paul, clearly rehearsed and confident, continued in his rap style, "As I grew older, I faced numerous challenges that troubled me deeply."

The reporter asked thoughtfully, "Can you elaborate on these challenges?"

Paul pointed to his Adam's apple and declared, "I identify as a woman. My soul feels female, but my body is male. This inner conflict started before I turned ten. Alone in my thoughts, I'd wonder why I wasn't born a girl."

With unwavering determination, he added, "I'm saving up for surgery. As soon as I have the funds, I'll proceed."

The reporter embraced him warmly, "I hope you achieve your dream soon."

Paul's response was resolute, "It will happen. Despite facing discrimination and obstacles, I won't retreat. We all have the power to choose who we are."

As the show wrapped up with applause, Thomas immediately checked his phone and said, "The interview's already on YouTube."

"Not just YouTube," Bruce chimed in, showing his phone. "It's trending on Twitter and Instagram too."

Louise remarked, "This was clearly a well-orchestrated media play."

Kelly eyed Martin with a blend of curiosity and concern. "This situation is getting pretty complicated."

Martin focused intently on the image of Paul frozen on the TV screen. "This is the kind of trick I've used to stir the pot, layering strategies to manipulate public perception. I didn't anticipate someone would pick it up and use it against me so quickly."

Louise leaned in, a hint of mischief in her voice. "It's only fair that those who play dirty get a taste of their own medicine."

Kelly's eyes lit up with a mix of amusement and realization. "You've unleashed a Pandora's box of trouble. Now, do you see the fallout?"

Martin shrugged nonchalantly. "Even if I hadn't, someone else would have. We're talking about racial issues, sexuality, and personal grievances. It's a complex mess."

Bruce seized the moment. "Don't sweat it. Just counterattack by embracing the most outlandish comparison. You're one step ahead, use that advantage to your benefit!"

Kelly and Louise exchanged puzzled glances. "Rice cooker and shopping bag?" they both asked.

Bruce gave a brief, bemused explanation.

Kelly and Louise looked at Martin with newfound curiosity. Louise quipped, "So, all this time, I've been using a Walmart shopping bag as my strategy?"

Martin, maintaining his serious demeanor, replied, "Let's not get sidetracked. The priority is resolving this issue."

Kelly interjected, "If we pursue legal action, Paul's current hype will only increase. He'll garner even more support, and you'll end up being cast as the villain."

Martin turned to Thomas. "What's Attorney Hamlin's take?"

Thomas replied, "We're likely to win, but the result will probably be a public apology, removal of content, and a compensation payout of up to $50,000. Similar cases have followed this pattern, where celebrities and their stories are exploited for attention."

Louise added, "The most notable recent case was when a screenwriter accused James Cameron of plagiarizing 'Avatar.' Cameron won the lawsuit, but the compensation didn't even cover legal fees."

Martin asked, "So, in essence, even if we win legally, the other party still achieves their goal of gaining attention?"

Thomas confirmed, "Exactly. Paul is already trending on YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram. The father-son rap song has gained significant traction."

He cautioned, "With the ongoing equal rights movement, Paul's narrative has substantial support and impact."

Bruce chimed in, "Didn't you say that magic can only be countered with magic?"

Kelly, struggling to contain her laughter, suggested, "Why not hold a press conference announcing something outrageous, like coming out as a microwave oven or a shopping bag, and set a new trend?"

Louise, embarrassed, pulled Kelly aside. "Be quiet."

Kelly nodded, her amusement fading as she watched Martin pace the office, deep in thought.

Martin's contemplation was clear; while dealing with stacked buffs was challenging, he wasn't one to back down easily. He understood the complexities of the situation but knew that addressing it head-on was crucial.

He stopped and asked, "From the research, it looks like Paul's support base is from South Atlanta?"

Bruce nodded. "Yes, he hails from a rather turbulent black community."

Martin asked the crucial question, "I get that rap is a strong suit in that community, but where's the financial backing coming from for such extensive online promotion?"

Everyone in the room knew the cost of creating such viral content. To launch Paul as a star with this level of internet buzz would require significant financial investment, which seemed implausible without a major backer.

Martin's mind was racing. "This isn't just about local talent and community support. There's a lot more to this."

Given that, if this situation were backed by a large corporation, they wouldn't rely on stacking buffs and leveraging hard tactics.

Kelly, ever the pragmatic local boss, offered, "Leave this to me. We'll take a coordinated approach and have Sofia dig into it as well."

Martin turned to Bruce. "Bruce, reach out to Sofia and get her on this."

Bruce patted his backside with a resigned sigh. "Alright, I'll give her a call now."

Martin added with determination, "We're not going to fight magic with magic. We'll address this head-on, using straightforward methods without any lingering fallout."

Louise caught his drift. "So, instead of playing their game, you're opting for a clean, direct approach?"

Martin snapped his fingers with a confident smile. "Exactly!"

In true Martin fashion, his approach was unorthodox and strategic. He'd never engage in a battle where the rules were set by his adversaries.

After the discussion, everyone dispersed to attend to their respective tasks.

Attorney Hamlin continued to follow the traditional legal route, while Bruce set out to meet Sofia.

Bruce found Sofia leaning against the wall, and he quickly briefed her on the situation.

Sophia, having benefited significantly from her investments with Martin over the years, agreed to help without hesitation. She knew that uncovering the details of the operation wouldn't be particularly difficult.

Soon, Bruce received a flurry of information. Martin reviewed it briefly before passing it to Bruce and Thomas for further handling.

Despite the opponent's efforts to create a robust public image by stacking multiple layers of deception, Martin concluded that the situation was manageable. He focused his attention back on his filming, undistracted.

...

In the Morrow District of Atlanta, Bruce drove a Chevrolet sedan, approaching a modest single-family house.

A copper plaque on the gate read "Paul Studio."

Bruce glanced at his old comrade sitting in the passenger seat. "After all these years, and you're still stuck at this level?"

Kurt Lynch replied with a hint of pride, "You don't understand. This position in the DEA is the sweet spot, too many problems higher up, and too little reward lower down."

The two had served together in the British Army, forming a bond forged in combat. When someone framed Martin with drug charges in Atlanta, Bruce had turned to Kurt for help.

Bruce jabbed Kurt's side playfully. "Keep pushing for more and you might end up expecting."

Kurt chuckled, patting his stomach. "My belly's a lot smaller than those German soldiers'."

Bruce grinned, "Have you really sunk so low as to compare yourself with them?"

Just then, someone emerged from the house, collecting a newspaper from the mailbox and heading back inside.

Bruce asked, "Are you all set?"

"Absolutely," Kurt said. "According to the intel, their funding comes from drug sales. Today's the day they're picking up their weekly shipment to resell at hotspots for rap fans."

Kurt, familiar with the underworld, continued, "Rappers, like rock stars, are heavily involved with these substances."

Bruce raised a concern, "What if they don't get their shipment today?"

Kurt laughed. "The DEA's got reserves. It's standard practice."

Bruce, not one to shy away from potential hazards, warned, "Be cautious. I've heard they're armed with illegal weapons."

Kurt wasn't surprised. "It's not uncommon for people from South City to be armed. If they brandish their weapons, we'll handle it accordingly."

The door of the house creaked open once more, and two black men emerged, each carrying heavy bags slung over their shoulders. Among them was Paul, the young man whose notoriety had just exploded.

Bruce remarked, "Today, there's a gathering of Paul's supporters at a local black bar. It's usually a wild scene."

Kurt Lynch nodded, "Paul's just sixteen, right?"

"Yes, that's correct," Bruce confirmed.

The two men climbed into a Hyundai sedan and sped off. Kurt Lynch immediately picked up his phone and made a call. "Follow the vehicle closely. Look for a stretch of road without traffic or cameras. They might be armed, so proceed with caution."

"Understood," came the reply.

The Hyundai maneuvered through various intersections, its path closely monitored by a convoy of following vehicles.

Inside the car, Kenan, a burly black man with a booming voice, was buzzing with excitement. "You're really making waves, Paul. Several record companies are already reaching out. Now, it's just a matter of who offers the best deal."

Paul, raised in the rough-and-tumble of a black neighborhood, grinned with a mix of arrogance and pride. "Gotta give props to my dad, Martin. Riding his coattails has been a blast."

Kenan responded with a confident nod, "Even if the lawsuit doesn't go our way, it's no biggie. Paul, keep that image sharp. Black, gay, transgender, it's a powerful mix. Even Martin Davis can't overshadow that."

Paul chuckled, clearly feeling emboldened by his newfound fame. "Here's an idea: After the lawsuit wraps up, I'll pursue Martin Davis directly. I'm already out and proud. If I go after him, it'll stir up another media storm."

Kenan thought for a moment before grinning. "That's a solid plan!"

Unbeknownst to them, the area around them was becoming increasingly deserted. The Hyundai soon turned onto a less-traveled road, and as it approached an intersection, a van abruptly appeared, blocking their way.

Kenan slammed on the brakes, the Hyundai skidding to a stop. Before he could react, several black Chevrolets emerged from the intersection behind, cutting off any chance of retreat.

Paul, accustomed to the rough side of life, immediately sensed danger. His instinct was to defend himself, so he reached for a pistol hidden in the storage compartment.

The doors of the van and Chevrolets flew open, and agents clad in bulletproof vests emerged, surrounding the Hyundai from all angles.

The leader of the DEA team, his voice echoing with authority, shouted, "DEA! Show us your hands and exit the vehicle! Lie down on the ground immediately!"

Paul, startled but defiant, brandished his gun. "Don't you know who I am?" he yelled out the window. "I'm Paul, Martin's son. I'm black, gay, and transgender! Don't mess with me!"

The agent who had seen the gun shouted urgently, "He's armed! Drop your weapons and get out of the car!"

"F*** you!" Paul's bravado was evident. "I'm a celebrity now! You think you can just—"

Before he could finish, the situation escalated. "Fal'e!" Paul's defiant shout was swallowed by the roar of gunfire.

The DEA operatives, armed with pistols, automatic rifles, and shotguns, opened fire. The Hyundai was instantly riddled with bullets, turning it into a metal honeycomb under the relentless barrage.