Chapter 33: A Promise with Elizabeth

Chapter 33: A Promise with Elizabeth

Upon hearing that Martin had released an album, many in the audience looked intrigued.

Elizabeth whispered excitedly, "Sisters, Martin released an album! We should buy a copy—no, ten copies!"

After the reporters' questions, it was the audience's turn to ask.

Elizabeth eagerly raised her hand, urging her sisters to do the same. No matter who got chosen, she was determined to be the one to ask the question.

The theater was filled with a forest of raised hands, mostly kids hoping to talk to Martin.

Elizabeth and her sisters' hands were completely lost in the crowd.

"There are so many people. Martin won't see us," Mary said, habitually dousing her little sister's enthusiasm.

"Hmph! I don't believe it. Martin will see me," Elizabeth insisted.

And she was right.

As a being with an innate gift for spotting beauty, Martin's eyes landed on her immediately—Elizabeth, only eight but already showing remarkable beauty.

As for her sisters… well, they were pretty enough.

"You there, the little beauty. You can ask the first question," Martin said, pointing directly at Elizabeth.

Elizabeth practically leaped from her seat, casting her sisters a triumphant look.

Once she was handed the microphone, she wasted no time.

"Martin, my name is Elizabeth. Could I please get your autograph?"

"Wow, a little fan of mine! Of course. Did you bring your book?"

"I did!"

"Come on up, then!"

Under the envious gaze of the other children, Elizabeth, flanked by her sisters, made her way to the stage.

Seeing Martin up close, she realized he was even more handsome than on the big screen.

When his mesmerizing lake-blue eyes looked at her, Elizabeth's heart skipped a beat. Her little toes inside her pink sandals curled with nervous excitement.

How can he be this handsome!? Elizabeth thought, her cheeks flushing.

It wasn't just Elizabeth; even her sisters were momentarily entranced.

This was the magic of Martin's inherent charm—a skill only growing stronger with the increasing fame and attention from his bestselling book and the movie's release. Every day, he could feel his power growing, feeding on the admiration around him.

Elizabeth stared, completely dazed.

Martin wasn't in a rush; he simply smiled and looked at her, patiently waiting.

The reporters snapped away, already thinking up headlines like, "Young Genius Martin Charms Olsen's Little Sister into a Fangirl!"

Finally, Mary, embarrassed by her sister's daze, nudged her gently.

Elizabeth snapped back, her cheeks even redder. "What… what was I doing?" she stammered, flustered.

Seeing the reporters had captured enough, Martin took a step forward, his gentle smile reassuring her. "Elizabeth, I'm ready—where's your book?"

Elizabeth jolted, turning to her sister, "My book! And a pen!"

"I have a pen!" Martin reached into his pocket, pulling out a Parker gold pen he'd prepared just for today.

Seeing Elizabeth hand him a limited-edition, gold-edged copy of Kung Fu Panda, Martin chuckled. This edition was on thicker, higher-quality paper and, of course, pricier.

He opened to the title page and wrote, "To Elizabeth: May our little princess grow ever more beautiful, and may all her dreams come true. —Martin"

Martin's elegant script stunned the Olsen sisters, while Elizabeth held the book as if it were a treasure. She blew gently on the ink to dry it, then hugged it tightly to her chest, refusing to let her sister Ashley tuck it away in a bag.

After signing, Martin looked back at Elizabeth. "Miss Elizabeth, do you have any other questions for me?"

"Let me think…" Elizabeth bit her lip, then suddenly asked, "Martin, do… do you have a girlfriend?"

A chorus of squeals erupted from the young girls in the crowd.

"Uh, that's kind of a private question!" Martin said, playfully rubbing his forehead.

Elizabeth quickly apologized, "Sorry, I shouldn't have asked—"

But Martin interrupted her, "But I can't refuse a little beauty's question. So, I'll answer. I don't have a girlfriend, though I do have some very good female friends."

"Yes!"

The crowd's excitement only grew.

"Then," Elizabeth's cheeks reddened again, "could I—"

"Elizabeth!" Mary cut in, worried her sister might ask a silly question like, Can I be your girlfriend?

But she was too late.

Elizabeth was already speaking into the microphone.

"Can I give you a hug, Martin?"

Mary and Ashley both sighed with relief. Thank goodness.

"Of course!"

Martin stepped forward, enveloping Elizabeth in a hug as countless girls looked on with envy.

Elizabeth blushed as she rested her head on his shoulder, taking in the soft scent as her hair brushed lightly against his face.

Then, in a barely audible whisper, she asked, "Martin, just between us… can I be your girlfriend?"

Though her voice was quiet, Mary and Ashley, standing so close, couldn't help but hear.

The twins both put a hand to their foreheads, sighing in unison. This silly sister, they thought. She's bound to be turned down.

They knew that Martin, as an up-and-coming child star, wouldn't date a non-celebrity. In their world, every relationship, rumor, engagement, and even marriage served as a form of publicity—to promote films, increase one's public profile, and more.

(Note: In Hollywood, few have leveraged relationships for publicity as well as Brad Pitt, whose marriages each boosted his fame and earning power. His marriage to America's sweetheart Jennifer Aniston skyrocketed his popularity and fees, and his subsequent relationship with Angelina Jolie sent him to new heights, despite few major box-office hits of his own.)

In the industry, even personal relationships were often tools for mutual benefit.

Now, Martin, with a bestselling book and a hit movie, was at the top of the child-star pyramid. If his agency were to set him up with a girlfriend, they'd likely choose a young starlet with matching fame and status.

But before the sisters could try to intercede, Martin responded to Elizabeth in a warm, gentle voice.

"Elizabeth, you're too young, and so am I. We're not ready for relationships yet. How about we make a promise? In ten years, if you still like me and are ready to accept everything about me, then we can give it a try."

"Really?"

"Absolutely."

Martin added in his head with a smirk, By then, I'll probably have countless girlfriends. But if you still want to join the list, I wouldn't refuse.

The Olsen sisters breathed a sigh of relief. Martin's answer, though technically a rejection, was tactful and left Elizabeth with a glimmer of hope.

Only Martin, Elizabeth, and her sisters had heard this exchange.

The other kids, however, were getting restless, grumbling at how long Elizabeth was holding onto Martin.

With a blush, Elizabeth finally let go of Martin and whispered, "Martin, I'm sure I'll still like you in ten years."

Then she hurried off the stage with her sisters.

Martin, feeling a surge of admiration filling him, couldn't help but marvel at the intensity of the little girl's feelings. But he quickly pushed Elizabeth out of his mind, turning to the audience with a smile and saying, "Next!"

[[•———•——•———•]

𝙥𝗮𝙩𝙧𝙚𝙤𝙣(.)𝙘𝙤𝙢/𝙂𝙤𝙙𝙊𝙛𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

✨ • 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀: 𝙂𝙚𝙩 𝟲𝟬+ 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙙 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙙 𝙤𝙛 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚.