America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

In the living room of the hotel suite, Louise stood with her hands in the pockets of her capri pants, leaning against the bar, watching Martin vigorously shake the cocktail shaker from across the way.

Before coming over, Martin had specifically changed into a fitted V-neck T-shirt, which outlined his muscular figure perfectly.

Kelly sat atop a bar stool, arms crossed, feeling that Martin's movements and posture while mixing drinks were even more artistically appealing than when he was at House of Beast.

Retrieving a chilled glass, Martin poured in the cocktail, then clamped a delicately folded paper airplane as garnish on the rim, "Paper Plane, please taste."

Louise gazed at the orange-red, translucent liquid, lifted the glass to take a careful sip, elegant and delicate, yet smooth and refreshing.

This was a flavor of cocktail she had never tasted before, a completely new invention.

This drink alone made the night worthwhile.

Martin didn't ignore Kelly and made her a Caipirinha with cane liquor as the base and handed it to her, "Kelly, this is yours."

"The sweetness suits me better." Kelly took a small sip.

After savoring her second sip, Louise contemplated the taste, then suddenly set down the cool glass, wiped her hands clean of condensation with a napkin, and extended her right hand across the bar, "Let's get formally acquainted, Louise Mel from Los Angeles."

This was entirely different from how Kelly had introduced them, and Martin, too, wiped his hands before gently grasping hers, "Martin Davis, a bartender and actor."

"This is a drink worthy of the cocktail history books," Louise downed the rest of the bright orange drink in one go, "Martin, you're a genius."

Martin pretended to be humble, "I've tried myriad formulas, got lucky I guess."

Louise appeared thoughtful, "So you're saying, there are other formulas? Got anything stronger?"

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"Strong liquor?" Martin confirmed.

Louise tilted her head, sizing up Martin, "Strong liquor is where the real pleasure lies."

"It might not suit your taste." Martin took a fresh shaker, poured in his brought-over sorghum red, added some Dongting liquor and crushed ice, shook it evenly, and then poured it into a frosted glass before garnishing it with a fresh orange slice.

He handed it to Louise, "Welcome to Atlanta."

"It's called Welcome?" Louise held up the glass with the mellow liquid, smooth on the palate, tinged with sweetness, also a beverage she had never tasted before.

She considered herself a hardcore drinker, recognizing the high alcohol content. Knocking it back in one go, her blue eyes shone bright as if tears were about to emerge, "Tastes a bit odd, but it's a good drink nonetheless."

Martin nodded slightly, "Thank you, it's earned the approval of its first customer."

Louise's interest in alcohol was intense, "I'm honored to be its first customer." Her craving for alcohol acted up, "Got more?"

Martin certainly had more, but he didn't say so, "I've been working on a new cocktail recently, yet to be perfected."

After downing the potent drink, Louise's complexion remained unchanged, "We could talk about drinks when you have time."

Martin's mind reacted swiftly, "Every new cocktail creation requires trying a myriad of formulas, it's hard to do alone. If you have the time, Louise, we could try them together."

Leaning half her body against the bar, Louise's figure undulated into exaggerated curves, looking at Martin with interest, "You've got ideas, willing to share?"

Martin caught on quick, "Yet to be perfected."

He couldn't neglect Kelly and asked, "Did Andrew mention 'City Folk' airing tonight?"

Kelly set down her drink, "Second cable channel, same time as always."

"A series? Movie? Your company's production?" Louise, the hardcore drinker, picked up Kelly's glass and drained it in one gulp, frowning, "This tastes like a beverage, doesn't feel like alcohol."

Martin brought out a bottle of high-proof Macallan whisky and poured it into three new glasses.

Kelly spoke of the film, "A late-night movie I invested in, Martin plays one of the male supporting roles." She suddenly remembered the promo she watched, "His performance was exceptional."

"Really?" Louise asked in surprise, looking at Martin, "Where did you learn all this? Bartending, acting, and the ability to please that leaves one feeling comfortable even though they know what you're doing... Not something a poor kid from the slums could learn."

Martin was not surprised, and with his thick skin, he was not embarrassed. He calmly said, "My father, Jack Davis, is the most talented and versatile man in Atlanta."

Kelly said, "I haven't heard of him."

Louise didn't pursue the matter further and instead raised her glass, "Here's to living life on my own terms."

Martin and Kelly both picked up their glasses, and the three of them clinked glasses lightly, downing the whiskey.

Louise took the bottle and poured herself another drink, "To this wonderful night."

Before the late-night show began, the three of them had finished off a bottle of whiskey.

Martin went to get more alcohol.

Kelly staggered over, "No more, we can't drink anymore."

"How can a wonderful night be complete without fine wine?" Louise grabbed Kelly and both women fell onto the couch.

The latter lay on the former's chest, soft as if sinking into cotton, and murmured comfortably, "Where's the remote? It's about to start."

Martin brought the alcohol over and poured another round.

Two thirty-something female drinkers, plus a 22-year-old male drinker, continued to drink merrily.

Martin lounged on a single sofa, toasting Louise, "Whatever the director decides, that's what I'll do."

Louise reached behind her, pulled out a pink water bottle from the inside of the long sofa, stuck the bottle's straw in Kelly's mouth, and Kelly bit the straw, sucking water with vigorous sips.

She asked, "I heard you're the prototype?"

Martin was prepared, "I might've exaggerated a bit."

Louise beckoned, "Come here, come sit by me, the night is still young, let's drink slowly."

Martin carried the bottle over and had just sat down when two different hands reached out to him.

Nothing special or messy going on, just an audition.

......

The next morning, when Martin woke up, Kelly Gray was getting ready to leave.

She acted as if nothing was out of the ordinary, "I've ordered breakfast for us."

Martin waved at her and got up from the carpet to open the window, "What a strong smell of liquor."

Louise took out her business card and placed it on the coffee table, "Call me when you experiment with your new cocktail." She glanced at Martin, "Aspiring to be a star? This is a prerequisite."

Martin had drifted for many years in his past life, seen all sorts of messes, and Hollywood was bound to be even crazier.

"I feel it's not quite right, it should be me auditioning for you guys." He sat on the sofa and said something particularly pleasing, "Young, sexy, beautiful, and elegant ladies, going to great lengths to get support for a film project, not hesitating to feed themselves to the wolves."

Louise laughed happily, got up, and went to the study. She quickly returned with a script, which she placed together with the business card, "I've got the authority to decide on this small role. Take it and study it well. Even though you passed the audition last night, Hollywood is not what it used to be. You've still got to go through the standard audition process."

She put away her smile, warned seriously, "If you perform too poorly in the audition room, don't blame me for not showing favoritism."

"I know what's at stake." Martin collected everything and changed the way he spoke, "Does the crew need extras? The community theater group I'm with charges low fees, is very professional, and can endure hardship."

Louise nodded, "When you audition, bring the person in charge with you."