America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Selfie Scandal

Valentine's Day is just around the corner, Will Smith's "Everyone's Enemy of Love" is coming out, and with its massive appeal, it has nearly secured the title of weekend box office champion.

The publicity for "The Hills Have Eyes" is still going strong.

On Tuesday morning, Warner Bros. called a meeting with Martin and Annie's agents to discuss Valentine's Day publicity strategies.

The focus would still be on Martin.

The plan was quickly finalized that day and handed over to Martin and Annie.

Annie had already been convinced by her agent Maha that she needed to keep her profile up during a career lull, and she was very much looking forward to Martin's Valentine's Day gift.

For instance, the kind of jewelry that Martin had mentioned during the premiere.

She had specially looked it up and found that the pieces were indeed valuable.

Martin, however, found Daniel from Warner Bros., who was in charge of film promotions, and had a private word with him.

With two movies that adopted Martin's promotional ideas becoming hits, Daniel took Martin's opinions seriously and asked, "Is there a problem with the plan?"

Martin had the knack for speaking tactfully, "The Valentine's Day-themed plan you've come up with is excellent, a top-notch strategy."

Although he knew it was flattery, it was pleasant to hear, and Daniel, smiling, said, "Come on, just speak your mind."

Martin's suggestion wasn't about the strategy, but rather something else, "Should we do something special for the shooting? We can't just blatantly tell people it's all about filming. Won't Annie and I end up looking like a glass love?"

Daniel agreed strongly, "You have a point. It's no different from regular routine promotion, and many stars will release similar videos or photos before Valentine's Day, which would easily get drowned out."

Martin didn't say anymore; he trusted Daniel's professionalism.

Daniel didn't disappoint, and he threw out a name, "Paris Hilton!"

Afterward, he called Annie, as well as Thomas and Maha, to discuss the specific details together.

Being a star, of course, requires professional integrity, and Annie agreed without hesitation.

The production team funded it, and Martin booked a luxury suite at the Four Seasons Hotel.

By mid-afternoon, the two went over to prepare.

When they arrived at the hotel, Martin entered the lobby; Bruce was waiting there, handing him a bag and saying, "Everything's inside."

He lowered his voice, "I've checked the room."

Martin got his drift and said, "Annie has talked in detail with Laura about the leaks. Keep an eye on Laura, don't get it wrong."

"Got it," Bruce replied, "I haven't started recording yet; you start first."

Martin waved it off, "Fake it."

Just then, Annie entered the lobby and asked, "All set?"

Martin gestured to Old Cloth and pulled Annie upstairs.

Once inside the suite, the two began to rehearse their movements, and Martin adjusted the camera.

Being a professional actress, Annie quickly memorized her moves and then asked, "How should I do my makeup to achieve that special state?"

Martin put down the camera, pulled her over, and said, "Why bother with makeup when reality is better? Isn't a real state even better?"

Annie leaned into Martin's embrace, caught in a whirlwind of tangled emotions, but didn't forget to ask, "Did you turn off the camera?"

Martin looked up slightly, "Of course."

Words like God and Jesus leaped out of Annie's mouth continually.

Only when it had become completely dark outside did the room quiet down.

Annie deliberately rested for half an hour, put on a new pair of panties, slipped on one of Martin's white shirts, and went to the bathroom.

Martin picked up the camera and started filming.

After a while, Annie emerged from the dimly lit bathroom and walked towards Martin, sharing intimate jokes with each other.

They mentioned "The Hills Have Eyes" multiple times.

Annie said the film was very well made; she is now one of Martin's fans...

The camera was set on the table, and as the lights came on fully, the atmosphere grew solemn.

Martin pulled out a gift box from behind like magic and handed it to Annie.

Annie opened it and saw a green jade piece; her mouth fell open in surprise, her eyes reddened, and they filled with mist.

It wasn't an acting explosion, but the jewelry really had come!

Annie finally received the gift she truly wanted.

She picked up the green gem, too excited to even speak.

Martin said, "Here's your Valentine's Day gift."

Annie looked at the green stone under the lights and then at Martin, who was equally attractive, pursing her lips hard to keep from crying.

Martin smiled, "Darling, don't you have anything to say to me?"

Annie tried to put down the gift box, but before her hand could land, she quickly picked it up and stuffed it in her bag, then pulled out a heart-shaped metal box from the bag and ran back.

"This is for you." Annie gave Martin the $99 box of chocolates, "Try it, do you like it?"

Martin opened the box, broke off a piece for Annie, and then ate one himself.

Throwing the box onto the sofa, they kissed each other.

Martin carried Annie into the bedroom.

The camera was quickly turned off.

The next morning, Martin, holding Annie's hand, emerged from the hotel. Many reporters and paparazzi, tipped off by their informants, took endless photos.

Jessie drove them to Warner Bros. Studios.

Annie opened the exquisite rosewood box and admired the lush green jade pendant again. Although it wasn't quite the same as an emerald, it was irresistibly charming.

She leaned in and pecked Martin with a kiss, saying, "Thank you for your gift."

Martin smiled, "As long as you like it."

Annie asked, "Do the chocolates I gave you suit your taste?"

Martin didn't like sweets at all, and Annie had ironically given him a very sweet chocolate. He nodded, "The chocolate is as sweet as you are."

Annie's mood today was really too good.

After the first jewelry gift, there was bound to be a second, and with more to come, surely she'd have to switch things up, maybe a mansion?

A yacht wouldn't be unacceptable either.

She felt that with Martin's ability to gather and move funds, none of this would be a problem; she'd just have to wait a while.

......

Near the entrance of the Four Seasons Hotel, Bruce sat in Mene's second-hand car, wearing sunglasses, and observed the comings and goings at the hotel entry.

Most of the paparazzi and entertainment reporters had gone, with only Jody leaning on her motorcycle, waiting.

Mene asked, "Old Cloth, you've been eyeing that female paparazzo for a long time. Interested in her? Want me to show you a move? Lips and tongue, I guarantee she'll..."

Bruce, without turning his head, said, "Shut up, or I'll send you to meet Paris Hilton."

Mene immediately lowered his voice, "Why isn't she leaving?"

Bruce could guess that Jody was waiting for him because after every time Martin made an appearance, he would leak more news.

Indeed, there would be news today, but in a different way to make everything look real.

Jody leaned against her motorcycle, waited for nearly ten minutes, and seeing that the fake, sleazy nobody showed up, she prepared to leave.

Suddenly, she saw that Annie Hathaway's assistant was coming out of the hotel.

The female assistant carried a bag in one hand and many things in the other hand, went to the parking spot, put down the things to find her keys.

Years of paparazzi instincts prompted Jody to keep her eyes on the assistant, watching her open the car door, put things in the car, and then drive away.

At the spot where the assistant had placed her things, something was left behind.

Jody looked around, saw no one was paying attention, hurried over, and picked it up—it was a USB drive.

She quickly stuffed it into her pocket and got onto her motorcycle to leave before anyone noticed.

The motorcycle quickly disappeared from view.

Bruce rolled up the car window and said to Mene, "Let's go."

"Follow her?" Mene asked.

Bruce realized he didn't have the same understanding with this guy as he did with Martin, where a single sentence or a look was enough to convey their true intentions.

He said, "Go to Warner Bros. Studios."

The motorcycle sped like lightning to a rented small apartment and Jody immediately went upstairs, plugged the USB into the computer, and found it full of various files, mostly beauty and skincare knowledge collected by Annie Hathaway.

These were useless to Jody. She opened the last folder, and inside was a video.

She clicked on the video. It wasn't very clear, but it was definitely a selfie!

Jody became excited, if there was sensational content involving Martin and Annie, she would hit the jackpot!

As she watched further, Annie appeared, not nude as Jody had hoped, but wearing a long men's shirt, her hair disheveled, her cheeks flushed, an appearance that easily incited certain associations.

Then came a conversation between two people about "The Hills Have Eyes", mostly Annie praising how good the movie was.

The voices were unmistakably Martin and Annie, Jody recognized them.

According to the timestamp, the footage was from just last night.

Jody hoped to catch these two together, catch them in the act like Paris Hilton-style scoops.

The screen froze as Martin appeared in frame, presenting Annie with a gift.

Under the light, the reflective green stone looked like a top-grade emerald.

"Generous bastards!" Jody couldn't help but curse under her breath.

But she quickly realized something was amiss; it was the man, Martin, who was generous.

Martin had given jewelry as a Valentine's Day gift, while Annie only gifted a box of chocolates, the ordinary kind available in supermarkets.

Jody shook her head repeatedly, "Such a stingy woman, their relationship is doomed sooner or later!"

After they exchanged gifts, the two shared a passionate kiss, Martin embraced Annie and they left the frame, then that was it.

Jody let out a disappointed sigh, it wasn't the explosive dancing video she hoped for, and with it, tens of thousands of dollars were slipping away from her.

But she quickly got over it, this kind of video was still worth a lot.

Those entertainment channels, gossip blogs, and entertainment portal websites, they would definitely be interested!

Jody immediately grabbed her phone, made a call to the head of an entertainment channel, and said, "I've got a selfie video of Martin Davis and Annie Hathaway in my hands. Don't worry about where the video came from, it's definitely not illegal. I guarantee you'll want to buy it immediately after you see it! Alright, I'll come to you in an hour."

She opened her drawer, took out a few USB drives to make copies of the video, and while copying, she also called several media executives.

She even took a few stills from the video and sent them via MMS.

After receiving the MMS, those people couldn't wait to meet with Jody.

On the eve of Valentine's Day, an entertainment TV channel, a major gossip blog, and a portal website all simultaneously released the explosive video.

"Shock! Martin Davis and Annie Hathaway's hotel rendezvous leaked!"

Martin and Annie Hathaway easily captured the headlines of all entertainment media.