Chapter 545: Chapter 545: Working Together
In a stunning turn of events, Martin Davis, the Hollywood superstar and revered American national hero, who once received the prestigious Presidential Medal of Freedom, now finds himself entangled in allegations of coercion. Toni Fairman, the alleged victim, has taken the unprecedented step of officially reporting the matter to the police.
Amidst the opulence of his Beverly Hills mansion, Stuart Townsend absorbed the shocking news from the entertainment tabloids. He casually lifted a milk glass and downed its contents in one swift motion.
"The unthinkable - our national hero implicated in such a heinous act?" Stuart exclaimed.
He couldn't help but relish the misfortune of his disliked neighbor next door, now finally facing the consequences of his actions. When a Hollywood star faced such allegations, history showed that they were often grounded in truth, with rare exceptions.
With a sense of jubilation, Stuart retrieved a bottle of champagne from the cupboard, poised to pour a celebratory glass. It had been a long time since he'd felt this elated.
The sound of approaching footsteps heralded Charlize Theron's entrance into the room. She couldn't hide her concern as she watched Stuart ready to indulge in morning alcohol. "Didn't you have enough to drink last night? Do you plan on being intoxicated all day long?"
Stuart retorted, "When you witness something this momentous, a toast is in order. We can't afford not to celebrate." He alluded to their recent Cannes Film Festival feud and added, "We must distance ourselves from Martin, our good friend and neighbor, now accused of such a heinous crime. We can't be associated with a rapist."
Charlize was perplexed, picking up the newspaper from the dining table. To her surprise, beneath the initial report, she discovered another revelation: Martin had actually contacted the LAPD before Toni and claimed he was being extorted.
Setting aside the tabloid in her hand, Charlize reached for a copy of the "Los Angeles Times." The front page was split in two: Martin's call to the police and his willingness to undergo a paternity test occupied the left half, while the right half detailed Toni Fairman's distressing account of grooming and coercion.
Before the first half of the day had passed, Stewart had already opened the champagne, drained a glass, and slammed the bottle on the table, asserting, "Forcing someone into parenthood, yet refusing to acknowledge it. Martin Davis, the man is spineless. We should sever all ties with him."
Charlize, aware that the matter was far from settled, disregarded Stewart's words and continued her leisurely breakfast.
...
Next door, at the adjacent manor, the atmosphere grew increasingly tense. The servants moved with caution, their actions measured and deliberate.
As the central figure in this unfolding drama, Martin Davis remained surprisingly composed. He listened intently as Bruce, the private detective, relayed the latest developments.
"After this year's Oscar night, Toni distanced herself from the sisterhood and relocated to Burbank," Bruce began, sharing his findings. "Although her stay was brief, I've discovered something intriguing: in the period surrounding the Oscars, Toni served on our community committee."
Martin nodded in recognition, recalling the moments when he had seen Toni leading a group of individuals scavenging through the Coty community's trash bins.
Bruce continued, "Both Toni and another woman named Elsa secured employment through a community committee supervisor. However, after Oscar night, they both abruptly resigned from the committee. Toni's disappearance coincided with Elsa's rise to leadership within the sisterhood."
Martin's mind raced. "Locate Elsa," he instructed urgently.
Bruce assured him, "I've already dispatched Ivan to track her down. It shouldn't prove to be a challenging task."
Martin speculated based on the available information, "During our time in the Cotis community, they rummaged through our trash cans multiple times. It was their bizarre behavior that caught your attention and prompted you to mention the condoms."
McLean provided an update, "Toni has agreed to undergo the DNA paternity test." What puzzled Martin the most was, "She must either be incredibly foolish or exceedingly confident. I don't believe she's that naïve, so what gives her such confidence?"
Bruce dismissed the idea, stating firmly, "Finding those items in our trash cans is highly improbable!"
Martin reasoned, "There are only two men in this household: you and me. If those items didn't belong to either of us, who else could they belong to?"
Bruce inquired, "This incident occurred on Oscar night. Were Leonardo and Nicholson with you at the time?"
Martin shook his head, certain of his answer. "It wasn't them," he mused. "Around Oscar night, something else comes to mind..."
He pondered for a moment and then recalled, "A few days ago, Brant from the community committee paid me a visit. He mentioned that, during the days when I won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, the community took away Charlize Theron's trash cans for repairs. Our garbage bin was located adjacent to hers. Could our trash have been mixed together during those days?"
Bruce questioned, "Don't you have a good relationship with Charlize?"
Martin grabbed his phone and dialed Charlize's number, waiting for her to pick up. "Hi, Sally," he began, "thank you for your concern. I'm alright; this will be resolved soon."
He continued, "I have a small favor to ask. During this year's Oscars ceremony, did the community take away your trash cans for repairs? Was your trash possibly mixed with mine during that time? Don't worry; the community has been informed about this. I'll await your response."
Next door, Charlize responded, "I was away filming during those days. I don't have much information on it. Please hold on; I'll inquire."
She temporarily set aside her phone and approached Stewart, asking for his recollection of the incident.
Stewart vividly remembered kicking the trash can and replied, "Yes, the community did take away our trash can for repairs, and I temporarily disposed of our garbage in the bin next door." He added with disdain, "Is Martin causing such a fuss over this trivial matter? Has he lost his mind? It was just a temporary loan of a trash can!"
Charlize chose not to argue with Stewart and left the room to call Martin back. "Stewart did use your trash can during those days," she confirmed. "I'm sorry about this, Martin."
Martin reassured her, "Don't worry about it; it's a minor issue."
They exchanged a few more polite words before ending the call.
Bruce, who had been listening to the entire conversation, inquired, "Is it the neighbor next door causing all this trouble?"
Martin responded, "It's just a speculation for now. I suggest discreetly asking around the community if any women visited Stewart during those days."
Bruce suggested, "Let Lily handle it. She's well-acquainted with several women in the community, and women tend to gossip with one another."
Martin nodded in agreement.
At that moment, Bruce's phone rang. After a brief conversation, he hung up and informed Martin, "Jody has taken care of the previous victim and is rushing back to Los Angeles."
Martin tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Is it possible for her to release the paternity test results once they're widely covered by the media?"
Bruce hesitated briefly before agreeing, "I'll persuade her."
Even if Martin was innocent, rumors could persist. While he didn't mind, he understood that in the wake of the Harvey Weinstein scandal, his reputation might suffer. The best way to douse one hot spot was to ignite an even hotter one.
Suddenly, the sound of a car engine outside followed by a flurry of footsteps caught their attention. Elizabeth burst into the villa, halted at the entrance, and regarded Martin with a complex expression.
Martin rose from the sofa and explained, "Someone has falsely accused me, and certain individuals want to tarnish my reputation."
Elizabeth rushed over, extending her arms to embrace Martin, and whispered, "No matter what happens, I'm here with you. We'll face it together."
Martin held Elizabeth tightly in his embrace, affirming, "I agree to undergo a paternity test, and we'll make the entire process public."
Elizabeth's emotions were mixed, but she understood that standing by Martin's side in this moment was the wisest choice. She nodded resolutely, saying, "I'll be there with you."
Lily entered the room from outside, casting an intrigued gaze at Elizabeth. It struck her how some people, when faced with such a situation, foolishly create rifts within their families instead of joining forces to tackle the crisis.
Soon, Thomas joined them, informing Martin that he had reached out to various media outlets. They would follow and document the entire process.
...
Similarly, in a Beverly Hills mansion not far away, Harvey Weinstein, who had recently returned from the UK, convened a meeting with members of the Foot Gang.
Notably absent were Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez, who remained dedicated to their filmmaking pursuits.
The gathering comprised four individuals: Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Matt Damon.
Matt Damon had tagged along with Big Ben, having heard that this meeting would inconvenience Martin.
Nen began the discussion, saying, "The current situation is that Martin has agreed to undergo a paternity test. He appears quite confident that the child isn't his."
Brad Pitt chimed in, "I've heard that Martin has a close relationship with the LAPD. Could he manipulate the test results?"
Harvey interjected, "I'll contact the media connections I have and ensure they closely monitor the entire process." He didn't delve further, keen on pushing the matter ahead. Whether there were issues or not, it would primarily affect Brad Pitt, the Afflecks, and not him. If there were problems, Martin would face severe consequences.
This was precisely what Harvey hoped for.
With no room for retreat, Big Ben declared, "We need to build momentum. The paternity test will confirm Martin's wrongdoing, ensuring he never recovers his reputation."
Matt Damon nodded firmly, pledging, "Once the evidence is conclusive, I'll also activate my network."
Ben acknowledged Matt's commitment, stating, "We'll await our good news."
This promised to be one of the most widely watched paternity tests in the United States since the turn of the century.
Online, opinions both critical and supportive of Martin grew increasingly fervent.
Tabloids churned out sensational headlines, focusing on "Martin's Coercion Suspicions," as it was the most attention-grabbing angle.
Major newspapers maintained a neutral stance, awaiting the results of the test.
Martin's brand partners, including major companies like Warner Bros., remained silent, carefully monitoring the situation.
Numerous individuals reached out to Martin, advising him not to rush into taking a stance and to exercise patience for a few days.
In preparation for the test and to prevent any potential tampering, Martin had taken various measures. Many media outlets would broadcast the entire process live.
Though it seemed like Martin was maintaining a low profile, he was diligently preparing behind the scenes.
Ivan had located Elsa, who, faced with financial pressure, surrendered willingly.
Thomas had reached out to trusted journalists and reporters in the media, planning a press conference immediately following the release of the test results.
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