Chapter 101: Love Comes Fast
The filming crew wrapped up their work on Friday, and the convoy returned to the Hilton Hotel. As the cast and crew members disembarked from the vehicles, all eyes were drawn to a particular man and woman.
Paris, who had recently experienced heartbreak, crossed her arms and observed Martin and Elisha exiting the same commercial car, their fingers intertwined. It was undeniably unsettling, prompting her to mutter, "Those two scheming lovebirds!"
However, before the duo even entered the hotel, they were already wrapped up in each other's arms, sharing passionate kisses as if no one else was present.
Mene approached Bruce and commented, "Your boss doesn't waste any time. He's got the most handsome guy on the set."
Judd, on the other hand, glanced briefly, then lowered his head and proceeded into the hotel. His agent had called him from Los Angeles, warning him that this crew was a bit complicated, and he should keep a low profile, speak less, and focus on his work.
The crew had already taken note that the attractive male and female leads were likely to become romantically involved sooner or later. Given that both of them were single, such relationships were not uncommon in the industry.
Martin held Elisha's hand as they entered the hotel, and Bruce, preparing to head back with his luggage, answered a phone call. It was Martin on the line, instructing, "Go ahead and book a room for the long term. I won't be returning anytime soon."
Acknowledging the instructions, Bruce went to the hotel front desk, secured a new room, and couldn't help but mumble, "Those two scheming lovebirds."
The crew swiftly adapted to the situation. Hollywood sets were known for sparks flying between co-stars, and with these two being single and attractive, it was hardly a surprise.
Upstairs in Martin's suite, Elisha finally had the opportunity to witness the "zombie machine gun dance" scene.
The petite blonde actress met her end in a hail of bullets.
After the excitement died down, Elisha took a shower, called Martin into her suite, packed her belongings, and lugged her luggage over to Martin's room.
As Elisha sorted through her clothes, Martin contemplated ordering dinner and asked, "Feeling hungry, my dear? I'm ordering food."
Elisha, being a vegetarian, reminded him specifically.
Martin called in, placing an order for a vegetarian dinner.
Leaving the bedroom, Elisha approached Martin and kissed him, expressing her gratitude with a "Thank you."
Martin pulled her close, his arms wrapped around her waist, and commented, "You've got incredible talent."
Eliza exuded confidence, affirming, "I think so too. I'm a skilled actress."
Martin seized the opportunity, playfully remarking, "Indeed, your vegetarianism is quite remarkable."
Sensing the mood shifting, Elisha quickly changed the subject, inquiring, "How did you come up with the 'zombie machine gun dance'?"
Martin responded, "That's a talent of mine too. Perhaps God favors me."
Elisha felt a sudden discomfort and moved to a different spot, asking curiously, "You're being awfully serious. How did you come up with it?"
Martin replied, "I've always been quite creative."
Elisha sensed that she needed a break and jumped off Martin's lap, her waist and legs a bit sore from the vigorous dance.
She placed a hand on Martin's chest, reminding him, "No fooling around. You promised to pamper your sister."
Martin stated solemnly, "Don't I love my sister enough?"
Elisha playfully added, "Then be nice to me and indulge your doting sister."
At that moment, Elisha's phone rang. She quickly retrieved it, diverting Martin's attention, and explained, "Let's take a group photo. I'll post it on my blog."
Martin adjusted his demeanor, ensuring he didn't come across as an old pervert, and adopted a sunny expression.
Elisha approached him, their heads nearly touching. Since their mobile phones lacked front cameras, taking pictures was a bit cumbersome.
Martin suggested, "Let's use the laptop."
Eliza set up her laptop on a desk, activating the built-in camera.
Martin came over, wrapping his arms around Eliza as she rested her head on his shoulder. Eliza clicked the mouse to take the photo.
Afterward, she requested, "Hand me your seat; I'll write a blog post."
Martin effortlessly lifted her and seated her on his lap.
Eliza, petite and appearing like a little sister, opened her blog and began typing.
"The most beautiful sister and the most handsome brother are together."
Eliza uploaded the photo they had just taken and then leaned against Martin's shoulder. She asked, "Quick, help me think of a caption."
Martin racked his brain but struggled to conjure creativity. Eventually, he resorted to a somewhat provocative quote he'd heard before: "Elisha and Martin have found each other, and their lives are set ablaze!"
Eliza reacted with a gasp, realizing the double entendre, but her fingers typed it out anyway, adding, "It's so naughty!"
The blog post was published, but within a couple of minutes, Elisha's phone rang.
Her agent was on the line, asking in disbelief, "Tell me this is a joke!"
Elisha, now on the other side of the living room, replied earnestly, "It's no joke."
The agent inquired, "Why didn't you inform me beforehand?"
Elisha defended herself, "How could I have known? Love happens when it happens! I made this decision just a few hours ago. We're incredibly compatible, and I'm happy."
As their conversation continued, a knock echoed through the door. Martin, who had retrieved the dinner, tipped the delivery person and arranged the meal on the table. He glanced in Elisha's direction.
Elisha gently shook her head, signaling that it was okay, and ended the phone call promptly.
Martin approached her, enveloping her in a warm hug, and asked, "Did that cause you any trouble?"
Elisha wore a reassuring smile and replied, "It's fine. You're an actor too; you understand how agents can be quite a handful."
Martin embraced her as they made their way to the dining table. "Agents tend to think comprehensively. It doesn't hurt to consider their suggestions," he remarked.
Curiously, Eliza asked, "But what if he asks me to leave you?"
Martin pulled out a chair for her and gestured for her to sit down. "I'll make sure he knows how crafty Bruce can be," he replied with a wink.
In the hotel cafe, Kim Kardashian, having finished assisting Paris, sat by the window, enjoying the rare moments of free time while gazing at Brisbane's nighttime panorama.
At this juncture, Bruce, looking somewhat disheveled, approached Kim. He pulled out a chair and seated himself across from her. "I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long," he said.
Kim had an air of natural grace about her, with few artificial embellishments. She smiled genuinely, stating, "I arrived early."
Bruce inquired, "About Adrian..."
Kim's smile grew even brighter. "Let's not bring him up again, okay?"
While others might have been unaware, the person sitting across from her could undoubtedly discern the circumstances.
Bruce nodded slightly and changed the subject, asking, "Is Paris in a better mood now? I've heard she can be quite challenging to work with. Unlike Martin, who's laid-back, she's rather kind-hearted."
Kim, however, preferred not to delve into that topic. "Let's not talk about her. Instead, let's talk about your guy, who managed to secure the leading lady so swiftly."
Bruce shared a rather intriguing piece of information, "Martin's father is Old Jack, the most notorious kidnapper in Atlanta. He once abducted eighteen housewives in a single go and made a clean getaway."
Kim burst into laughter.
Bruce's speech wasn't as subtle as Martin's; he was straightforward and direct. He then abruptly changed the topic. "Kim, someone like Paris won't take you far. There's no future with her."
Kim had aspirations for stardom. "Paris promised she'd introduce me to the celebrity circle," she defended herself.
Bruce probed further, "Do you know what happened to her previous assistant and where they went afterward?"
Kim was taken aback. Paris had employed several assistants before, but their positions had been short-lived, and she knew little about their fates.
Many intelligent individuals had fallen for simple yet deceitful ploys out of greed, deluding themselves in the process. Kim unconsciously gripped the edge of the table. "I, I'm different. Paris..."
Bruce, a practitioner of all things shady in the entertainment industry, saw through the protective facade she had built. "I used to work for a manager who always promised promotions and raises if I worked hard. After waiting for two years, I knocked out his front teeth with my keyboard."
Kim fell into silence, reflecting on her association with Paris. She had risen to the role of assistant who carried bags, surpassing her predecessors in status.
Bruce's role was to safeguard Martin's interests, but he essentially functioned as a fixer, handling the less savory aspects of the entertainment business.
Kim couldn't help but think that despite her role as an assistant, her background was more refined than Bruce's.
Bruce wasn't merely interested in her posterior; he also wanted to groom her, but in a showbiz way.
Seeing a crack in Kim's resolve, Bruce revealed, "I've thought of a way in the past couple of days that could make you famous all over the United States."
Kim offered a hesitant smile. "I've attended numerous auditions and put in a lot of effort, but this industry is tough."
Bruce clarified, "It's not that."
"What is it?"
"I haven't figured it out yet," Bruce said, rising from his seat. "I'll come to you when I have it sorted."
Kim watched him leave, uncertain if he was being sincere or just playing a game.
On the quiet weekend morning, Martin, who had been up late working, slept in until he was awakened by Elisha's tender kiss.
As Martin extended his hand, Elisha took it with both of hers and tugged to get him up. After a futile effort, she pouted and exclaimed, "You're as heavy as a bear!"
"Does your bear have a pair of lovely breasts like mine?" Martin kicked off the covers and dashed to the bathroom, his athletic physique radiating electric energy, which seemed to zap right into Eliza's heart, sending tingles through her body.
Elisga bit her lip, seized the strongest and longest "lightning bolt," and teased, "Looks like you can't rise and shine!"
Martin, having freshened up in the bathroom, returned to the room. "Breakfast is served; come out and eat when you're ready," Elisha informed him.
In due time, Martin joined Elisha in the dining area and sat down.
Elisha opened the thermos, saying, "Give this vegetarian breakfast a try; I ordered it specially."
Martin took a few bites and, of course, praised her. "It tastes fantastic."
Elisha beamed with delight. "I'm glad you like it. I was worried you might not."
Martin responded warmly, "As long as it's from you, I love it."
Even without meat, eggs, or dairy, the two lovebirds still relished their meal.
Elisha inquired, "It's the weekend. Do you have any plans?"
Martin had given it some thought before going to bed the previous night. "Today, let's head to the Golden Coast. I've heard the scenery there is breathtaking."
"Just the two of us?"
"I'll be driving; no need to worry," Martin reassured her. "Bruce wants to feed the crocodiles, the kind where he's the one being fed."
Elisha observed, "You and Bruce don't seem like work partners or typical friends."
Martin offered a simple explanation, "Bruce has saved me countless times; we're like brothers."
After breakfast, Martin arranged for a car from the film crew, called Bruce, and then took Elisha on a trip to the Golden Coast, where they would spend the entire weekend exploring.
Weekly Power Status
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