America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Early Monday morning, Thomas arrived at the office earlier than usual, finding that not too many people had come in yet.

As soon as he entered the first-floor lobby, the receptionist Natasha greeted him warmly, "Good morning."

"Morning." Thomas could clearly feel that Natasha's smile was especially radiant today, rivaling that which she reserved for the company partners.

Full of smiles, Natasha said, "Congratulations on getting the North American box office champion."

Thomas understood and corrected her, "It wasn't me, it was Martin, my client Martin Davis."

Natasha stepped closer and said, "Well, he's a client you developed."

Thomas was very clear in his mind that he indeed had put in a lot of effort, but many things had not been handled by him, such as the film and the roles—those resources were mostly Martin's own doing.

The receptionist position that Natasha occupied was part of the mailroom management; she joined the company in the summer. Among the many positions in the mailroom, being a receptionist was not considered a particularly good job.

She took another step toward Thomas, "You've developed Martin into a star client. I think you'll have your own private office soon. Thomas, if you need an assistant, don't forget me."

Thomas quickly took a step to the side, "I'll remember."

He was ready to head for the elevator when he looked up and saw the senior partner Jim Witt and promptly greeted him.

Jim Witt nodded in response and even stopped to call Thomas over, "Martin is the lead in Horror Wax Museum, right?"

"Yes, the absolute lead. He's earned the company another box office champion this year," Thomas said.

Jim Witt seemed pleased, "That kid Martin did well, and so did you."

Thomas smiled, not forgetting to ride on his client's coattails to boast a bit, "Martin often says that he and I are a golden team."

"Keep it up!" Jim Witt encouraged, "Martin has great potential; I have high hopes for his future."

Thomas felt pleased for a moment, but once Jim Witt walked towards the elevators reserved for higher-ups, he suddenly felt a shock of alarm.

It was not uncommon in the circle for agents to poach from one another, and for partners within the same company to snatch clients from the junior agents.

Previously, Martin was just a promising actor.

The success of Horror Wax Museum was likely to attract quite a lot of attention.

On his way upstairs, Thomas remembered something important—Martin's contract!

Martin was a new client. According to the laws and regulations, WMA could only sign a one-year contract with him.

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Only after the one-year term could they sign the maximum three-year contract with an actor.

It was already October, and in two months, Martin's contract would expire.

By then, even if Martin renews his contract with WMA, he could also choose a new agent.

When his client was unknown, Thomas worried.

Now that his client was famous, Thomas still worried.

Arriving at his cubicle, Thomas couldn't help scratching his head, causing a dozen strands of hair to float down aimlessly.

"Hey, Thomas, congratulations."

The usually silent neighbor in the cubicle to the left leaned over the partition, "Your client got the box office champion as the male lead, impressive!"

He pointed at Thomas's cubicle, "Hey, you're going to move out soon."

Thomas shook his head, "No way."

The neighbor asked curiously, "Where did you find Martin Davis? Share some tips; how come I never come across such promising clients?"

An agent passing by also expressed interest, "The male lead of a North American box office champion, Thomas, you can't keep secrets."

The neighbor added, "The male lead in a blockbuster with a $40 million budget, how did you land that? Tell us about it."

The neighbor from the other side also joined in, "I won't let you share information for nothing. I'll treat you after work today, Grapevine Manor or Avalon? Your choice!"

The colleagues with whom Thomas usually had little more than a nodding acquaintance had suddenly become so enthusiastic that he found it difficult to adjust.

But his mind was still clear enough to understand that it was all because Martin had won the North American box office champion as the lead.

These colleagues with smiling faces might be secretly sharpening their shovels.

As part of the entertainment industry, the things Thomas had previously said to Martin also applied to himself; he politely declined with a smile, "I have a meeting to attend, let's talk later."

......

In Atlanta, just after noon, at the House of Beast Club.

Vincent stretched lazily as he came out of the break room and spotted Hart rushing in from outside.

Running, the man was shouting, "Big news, big news!"

Vincent approached the railing on the second floor and asked, "What's happened?"

Hart, waving the newspaper in his hand, announced, "Martin's movie, that Horror Wax Museum, has topped the North American box office! The opening weekend brought in $20,130,000!"

Hearing this news, Vincent, forgetting the composure expected of a boss, hurried downstairs. In his haste, his loosely fitted cowboy hat fell off, but he didn't even turn back to pick it up.

He took the newspaper from Hart's hand, saw the top rank and numbers printed alongside the film poster featuring Martin, and couldn't help laughing in delight.

The smile was so great that even the large hooked nose trembled, "I always knew that Martin was a talent! See? I wasn't wrong!"

Hart nodded repeatedly by the side, "Martin's dad can make it anywhere."

However, Vincent said, "It was my good eye that spotted him, gave him the chance, and discovered him."

In his heart, Hart disagreed, but Vincent was the boss, and what the boss said went.

Just then, Carrington came in from outside, and Hart shouted at him, "Martin's dad has won the North American box office championship, we're booking tickets to Thailand now, Martin's dad has always wanted a daughter!"

"Martin's dad is amazing," Carrington praised first, then sadly added, "Hart, we've missed the best opportunity."

Hart understood that the best time to go to Thailand was when they were in Atlanta, now it was too late!

His eyes reddened, he wailed, "It's our lack of resolve to blame!"

Vincent put down the newspaper and called his stepmother Sophia to share the good news.

Because the more successful Martin was, the more likely their investment in The Hills Have Eyes might succeed.

Marietta Community Theater.

A van drove up to the theater entrance, and Robert brought several students to receive the delivery.

The driver opened the back door of the van, which was full of boxes of Coke, and asked, "Shall we unload now?"

With his hands behind his back and in the air of a seasoned acting teacher, Robert beckoned the students while instructing, "Watch the expiration date, don't take any Coke not from '03."

A student, very curious, asked, "Why do we specifically want Coke from '03, teacher?"

After a thought, Robert made up a fitting reason, "Martin Davis likes drinking '03 Coke the most, I bought it to save for him."

Another student asked, "The Martin Davis who just won the box office championship after leaving the theater?"

"Exactly him," replied Robert.

All the students worked eagerly, checking expiration dates, moving Coke to Robert's office, dreaming of becoming the next Martin Davis.

About half a van load of Coke from '03, half were unloaded in the office, and the other half Robert had the driver deliver to his house as strategic supplies.

Martin had given Robert a car.

Robert would repay him with countless '03 Cokes.

What Martin didn't know was that before the release of "House of Wax," Robert had conducted a solemn Coke ceremony facing the west in both his office and at home.

The effect seemed quite good.

Marietta Public Middle School, inside the slightly run-down basketball gym.

Lily, with a few lackeys, cornered the blonde girl Lindsay in the locker room.

Facing the school's queen bee, Lindsay instinctively backed away, "What do you want to do? I'm telling you..."

Lily strode forward, "Stupid girl, did you publicly claim that 'House of Wax' is a super bad movie and call for everyone not to watch it? Did you say that?"

"I said that, and what's it to you!" Lindsay's back hit the closet, with nowhere to retreat.

Lily advanced step by step, "Do you know, Martin grew up with me as neighbors!"

She swung her long arm, "Hold her down, I'm going to teach her a lesson, let her learn what she can say and what she can't."

The six robust girls from the basketball team easily subdued Lindsay.

Lily didn't go too far, just sternly warned her, stuffed a smelly sock, and left with her group.

On the bus ride home, Lily took out a copy of "Hollywood Reporter" she had specially obtained from the Marietta Community Theater, which featured only the entertainment section.

On the second page, there was a large photo of Martin, along with news reports.

"Hollywood's New Force: Martin Davis!"

Lily read carefully, recognizing many shadows she was familiar with.

"Born in 1981, Martin Davis grew up in a poor community in Atlanta. In his fifth year in this world, his parents separated. His mother drove drunk into a river, and his father was an addict and swindler with a routine of drinking and drug abuse. It was in such environment that Martin fell in love with acting and set it as his goal..."

"Martin's childhood was not happy. Poverty and loneliness were his constant companions. With an extremely irresponsible guardian, he had to do odd jobs to support himself, resulting in a lack of companions at school and becoming an object of ridicule... Martin once thought about giving up acting, but it was ultimately his dream, and he eventually took this path."

Then it was all about various hardships in life, more exaggerated than what Lily had actually experienced.

Lily knew quite well that most of the hardships at home were borne by Elena, and she had felt far less directly.

"Martin kept striving, never giving up, and finally got his chance last year, debuting with Gray Film Industry's 'Zombie Stripper,' officially stepping into the field of film acting, and then today's 'House of Wax' lead male!"

"This is a young actor who has emerged from hardship, with outstanding acting talent, independence, strength, and hard work! This is an outstanding male lead, handsome and talented..."

Lily, who knew Martin so well, simply couldn't read on, the flattery was too excessive.

It was almost like declaring the true realization of the American Dream outright.

What kind of person Martin was, she was one of the most knowledgeable.

Moreover, Lily was a bit upset that the article didn't mention her or the Carter family at all.

Martin was clearly a man who survived by mooching off women!