The following morning, Martin came out of the gym just as Bruce was about to leave.
"Jody has asked to meet with me," Bruce said. "She was very helpful with the last report, and I couldn’t really say no."
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Martin hadn’t planned on going out today and waved his hand dismissively, "Go ahead."
However, Elizabeth called out to Bruce, "Wait a moment."
She went into the adjacent room and came back with two tote bags, "This is some cosmetics, and this is a handbag. Take them with you."
Bruce didn’t accept them, "I’ll just buy some."
He wasn’t short of money, as manager, bodyguard, driver, and fixer of messes, he earned ten percent of Martin’s income from acting.
"I know you’re not short of money," Elizabeth pointed to her forehead, "But Old Cloth, when have you ever thought of buying gifts for a girl?"
Bruce really wanted to say that for a shameless woman like Jody, he didn’t need to buy anything.
Elizabeth handed him the items, "This way, it’ll be easier to ask for favors in the future."
Bruce took them and drove to the scheduled place.
Upon arrival, he discovered that the clubhouse Jody had mentioned was actually a fitness studio.
Bruce made a phone call, entered, and reported Jody’s name, and someone immediately led him upstairs.
Standing in front of the second-floor glass window, Bruce saw a familiar silhouette ahead and stopped automatically.
It was a woman with a slim waist, long legs, and a flat butt.
Without seeing the front, Bruce knew it was Jody.
Jody was squatting in front of professional equipment, doing weighted squats with the help of a female instructor.
But she was slender, with long legs and a slim waist. Bruce was worried that her delicate waist would snap and her leg bones would fracture when she stood up with the barbell.
After completing another deep squat, Jody put away the equipment and turned around, spotting Bruce, "Hey, Old Cloth."
Bruce was expressionless, "Are you done?"
Jody spoke to the female instructor, then called Bruce to the rest room. Noticing the tote bag he was carrying and being as proactive as ever, "It’s so rare for you to get me a gift."
Since he had brought the items, Bruce handed them straight to her and asked, "What made you suddenly want to exercise?"
Although Bruce had never said anything, Jody had long been aware, "I want to make my buttocks fuller."
The moment these words reached his ears, Bruce suddenly felt, was he learning too poorly from that bastard Martin?
The problem was, Jody was too slender.
They entered a private rest room, and suddenly Jody locked the door.
Bruce was on alert, "What are you trying to do?"
Jody started to undo her sports outfit and said, "Old Cloth, you wouldn’t want to see negative news about Martin appear on the TMZ website, would you?"
Bruce had recently watched quite a few Japanese art films with Jody and knew what this meant.
Jody said again, "Old Cloth, you wouldn’t want..."
"Enough." Bruce decided, what was sacrifice anyway? He had done it before, so one more time didn’t matter.
He sat down in a chair, "Do whatever you want."
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Jody burst into hearty laughter as she spoke, "Don’t worry, I’m working on my glutes in the gym, you’ll see the results soon."
But Bruce sighed inwardly, compared to Kim and Khloe, Jody was inherently lacking.
......
Davis Estate.
Martin, who was playing archery at the underground range, received a phone call and called out to Elizabeth who had just shot an arrow, "We have a guest coming over, let’s head back."
"Who’s coming over?" Elizabeth put down the bow. If Leonardo and Nicholson were coming over, Martin would have directed them to join here.
Martin packed up the equipment and said, "It’s my old neighbor, "Gone Girl" author Gillian Flynn who called, along with Natalie Portman."
Elizabeth washed her hands and got out of her archery clothes, "Let’s go over."
No sooner had the pair returned to the villa than the security at the main gate reported that Gillian Flynn and Natalie Portman had arrived.
Martin went to the entrance to greet them.
A black Mercedes sedan pulled up and Natalie got out first, smiling and greeting Martin, "Long time no see."
Perhaps not yet fully recovered from childbirth, Martin felt Natalie looked noticeably older, though of course, he wouldn’t show it. He shook hands with Natalie, "Welcome."
Then he shook hands with Gillian, "Please come in."
Once inside the villa, Elizabeth, the lady of the house, exchanged pleasantries as well.
Gillian said, "I came from Cody Community and just met Mr. Jones and Jenna, bringing them an invitation."
Martin asked, "Is "Dark Places" premiering?"
Gillian took out an invitation and handed it to Elizabeth, "If your schedule allows, you could come to the premiere."
Natalie withdrew her gaze from Elizabeth and said, "I am the leading lady."
This was her first project since becoming the Oscar Best Actress, and it was crucial for her bid to become Hollywood’s top actress.
Elizabeth complimented, "I saw ’Black Swan,’ your performance was great, you truly deserved the Oscar for Best Actress."
"Thank you," Natalie said with a radiant smile, but inwardly she muttered, you might not know that your boyfriend was the key to me getting the Oscar.
She still hadn’t returned that favor.
Natalie wanted to repay it as soon as possible, things like transfer of luck were nothing more than spending a night with legs apart, no big deal.
But as her status rose, the longer she waited to return the favor, the greater the cost might be.
With this year’s "Dark Places," Natalie felt her performance was outstanding and hoped to strike at the Oscars once more.
If the movie was a box office hit and she won the Oscar for Best Actress two years in a row, she would become the female version of Tom Hanks.
Gillian then said, "Many old friends from Cody Community will be there."
Martin said, "As long as the timing allows, Elizabeth and I will definitely come."
Natalie replied, "I heard your ’The Martian’ is releasing during the holiday season? Remember to send us an invitation."
Martin responded with a smile, "Once the premiere is set, I’ll invite you first thing."
Gillian talked more about the old times in Cody Community and after staying for about half an hour, they took their leave.
Martin and Elizabeth had just seen them off when they received a call from Ari Emanuel.
On the phone, he asked, "Martin, you saw Nat, right?"
Martin replied, "She and Gillian just left my house."
Ari was forthright, "Nat thinks her performance in ’Dark Places’ was excellent, and she wants to go for the Oscar Best Actress again."
Martin was equally straightforward, "She just won the Oscar last ceremony, it’s too difficult to win again this year."
"I know, but she’s the top female client of the company, I have to try," Ari said. He was calling for help, "Can you think of any ideas?"
Martin replied helplessly, "What can I do?" He cited his own example bluntly, "I also received an acting award a few years ago, and these past years I can only accompany in the race for Best Actor. If I had a good method, I wouldn’t be in this situation."
Ari thought about it and realized that made sense, "It seems we can only play the usual tricks."
"Don’t forget your top male client!" Martin reminded, "I’m aiming for the Oscars this year."
Ari said, "Martin, you’re too obsessed."
"Do you know I now dare not meet Leonardo or Nicholson?" Martin emphasized jokingly, "Every time they ask me to do a math problem, like there are three Oscars for Best Actor among a trio, who doesn’t have one..."
Ari laughed heartily, "With your talent, you’ll win one soon enough."
Martin hung up the call.
Elizabeth showed him the invitation and said, "With your current status and talent, whether you have an Oscar for Best Actor or not, it won’t stop you from being a superstar."
"Indeed, the influence of the Oscars is lessening year by year," Martin glanced at the invitation and added, "This thing, having one doesn’t make an actor a superstar, but a superstar without an Oscar for Best Actor always seems to lack something."
Elizabeth playfully shrugged, "Well then, what can I do to help?"
Martin said, "I’ll inform you if there’s a need."
"The Martian," almost a one-man show for him, Martin felt he performed exceptionally well. With normal promotion and public relations, getting a nomination wouldn’t be a problem, but winning Best Actor would be difficult.
Because it’s a sci-fi movie, even though it leans towards hard science fiction, it is still on the Oscars’ unofficial blacklist.
In the afternoon, Elizabeth and Lily went out shopping, and Bruce returned from outside.
Martin saw him wincing as he walked and asked, "Did you hurt yourself again?"
Bruce sat down on the sofa and poured himself a glass of water. "The shock absorption isn’t thick enough; it’s torture," he said.
After draining the glass, he ruffled his hair, "There’s something terrifying, Jody has started working out, mainly doing squats."
Martin asked, "Squats for the glutes?"
Bruce nodded, "Yes." He looked at Martin, "The woman has gone mad!"
"No, no," Martin shook his finger, "Old Cloth, this tells us something: you have extraordinary charm, to make a woman who values being thin willingly enhance her buttocks, that’s quite impressive."
Bruce spoke indifferently, "I’d rather she didn’t work out at all."
"Let’s drop the subject," Martin swiftly changed the topic, "Which party company does Morgan Freeman use?"
Bruce had seen Ivan just before returning, and Ivan had already found out the information.
"Global Travel Agency," Bruce said. "The owner is Michel Brian, a few years back she was caught in an FBI sting, but then someone intervened, and she only got off with a $35,000 fine."
Martin recalled, "I think I read about that in the newspapers last year or the year before."
Bruce continued, "Her main business is offering male and female model services, the actual content is self-explanatory."
Martin habitually asked, "Morgan Freeman has been their client for years."
"He’s been a client for several years," Bruce confirmed. "Their clients can be said to span all of Hollywood."
Martin nodded, "I got it now."