Chương 150: Chapter 150: Princess Mia
Under the gentle caress of the night breeze, Martin and Annie exited the Avalon Bar with laughter, their conversation filled with joy and banter.
Annie and her companions had enjoyed a couple more drinks, and their faces had taken on a rosy hue.
"Did you arrive here with the crew and stay at the hotel?" Martin, having inquired and learned that these three were about to participate in the filming of "Hevoc," offered, "Since you've had a drink, how about I give you a lift back to the hotel?" Annie playfully sipped her drink and replied with a smile, "I wouldn't want to trouble you."
Martin countered, "I can't let you call a taxi again. If word gets out, I'll be accused of being ungentlemanly." He teased further, "Anne, you must always consider my reputation."
Anne took charge of the decision for the three of them, thought for a moment, and nodded slightly, "Martin, I'll accept your offer."
With the entrance bustling with people, Martin, ever the gentleman, escorted Anne towards the car. Being a frequented nightclub by Hollywood stars, Avalon naturally attracted reporters and paparazzi, especially at night.
The faint sound of camera shutters was audible to Martin, prompting him to amplify his chivalrous conduct and position himself closer to Anne, shielding her from oncoming individuals.
Anne noticed Martin's initiative in protecting her and rewarded him with a smile and a nod, recognizing his admirable character.
Upon reaching the car, Martin opened the passenger door and held up the roof with his hand. As Anne was about to get into the car, two paparazzi hurried over, taking close-range photos.
Martin waited for the flash to go off, promptly closed the car door, circled to the driver's seat, and swiftly drove away. He had confidence in the professionalism of the Los Angeles paparazzi.
The paparazzi did not disappoint, with several motorcycles tailing him closely.
Anne appeared to be somewhat influenced by alcohol compared to her time at Avalon, and she was rather quiet.
Once they reached the Beverly Hilton Hotel, Martin parked the car and escorted the three of them into the hotel lobby.
In the background, the paparazzi's cameras clicked incessantly.
Before entering the elevator, Anne took the initiative, saying, "You can just drop us off here. It's late; you should head back and get some rest."
Martin responded graciously, "Good night, and sweet dreams."
Anne smiled and nodded before entering the elevator with her two friends.
Martin checked the time and didn't depart immediately. Instead, he ventured to a nearby clothing store, perusing the selections. He purchased a sports sweatshirt and a new jacket to change into, also donning a baseball cap.
In his leisure, Martin called Louise and Kelly, engaging in some conversation. He sent a text message to Bruce, notifying him that he would return directly to the apartment.
Almost two hours later, Martin, with his cap pulled low, slipped out of the Hilton Hotel and was immediately spotted by the paparazzi.
Entertainment reporter Jodi, who had been tracking Martin closely, continued filming until Martin departed, then stashed away the camera.
With a keen sense of timing, Jodi deduced that Martin and Anne had an unconventional relationship, possibly romantically involved. She envisioned that the combined gossip surrounding the two would generate significantly more interest than either one alone.
On her motorcycle, Jodi observed Martin heading back to his apartment and decided to rush home to start working on her article.
Simultaneously, photos of Martin and Anne Hathaway began circulating widely on the gossip news market. Many paparazzi exchanged their freshly taken photographs for considerable sums, ranging from tens to hundreds of dollars.
Numerous tabloid journalists promptly turned to crafting articles, using the pictures as their inspiration.
...
Back at the Hilton Hotel, Laura, who had a particularly close relationship with Anne, accompanied her friend to her room.
"It was a delightful evening," Laura commented, with a favorable impression of Martin. "I never expected to encounter such an interesting and handsome man."
Annie, in high spirits, kicked off her high heels, seated herself on the sofa, and picked up her phone to check her missed calls. Among them, she spotted Martin Davis' name.
Laura sat down beside her and inquired straightforwardly, "Have you noticed that he's taken an interest in you?"
Anne tilted her head, pondering, but didn't give a direct response.
Laura pressed on, "How do you feel about him? If you're not interested, I'd happily give it a try."
Anne remained pensive and did not articulate her position. She opted to postpone, neither committing nor forsaking the possibility.
...
In Century City, as soon as Thomas entered the company premises, Natasha from reception approached him, pushing a stack of newspapers in his direction. "There's news about Martin here, take a look."
Thomas expressed his gratitude and ascended to his office,
If Thomas chose not to read the essay written by the reporter, he would initially be left to his own interpretations solely based on the photos he saw. In this case, his immediate reaction would be to suspect that Martin and Anne were having an affair due to the suggestive nature of the pictures.
His internal dialogue might go something like this:
"Are they moving so fast?"
As he continued to glance at the images, he would likely come to the conclusion that this situation had the appearance of a romantic involvement between the two. Given that he understood the habits of gossip readers and the sensationalism of such publications, he wouldn't need to read the actual articles to anticipate the exaggerated speculations that would follow.
Thomas might also begrudgingly acknowledge how swiftly Martin had managed to create such a public perception.
Frustrated by his own role in encouraging Martin's flirting skills, Thomas would likely dial Martin's number, his mind racing with suspicions. When Martin answered, the conversation might go something like this:
"Martin, are you with that princess?"
Martin would respond with a smile in his voice, clarifying, "What are you thinking? I was working out and had a little spat with Bruce."
Thomas, not satisfied with the vague answer, would ask directly, "You and Annie—what happened to Hathaway?"
Martin would explain, "We met at the bar yesterday, had a few drinks together, and I sent her back to the hotel."
Thomas, always focused on the business aspect, would chime in with, "Her 'Princess Diaries 2' was a hit this year. She's firmly at the forefront among female stars. Martin, don't let her go!"
Martin, seemingly affronted, would retort, "Hey! Hey! Man, what did you say!"
A surprised Thomas might wonder what he said wrong, to which Martin would clarify, "I'm a fan of Anne. I like Anne very much. Maybe our meeting yesterday was destined by fate! This is fate and has nothing to do with anything else. Do you understand?"
Thomas, now understanding Martin's sentiment better, would reply, "You know more about this than me. You can control the details yourself. If necessary, call me."
After this exchange, Thomas would hang up the phone, leaving Martin to continue his day.
As for Martin, he would carry on with his fitness regimen and banter with his friend Bruce. The topic of Anne Hathaway might resurface, with Bruce offering some amusing suggestions about Martin's behavior. Martin would then respond with his humorous perspective on the matter, emphasizing the need for professional ethics when dealing with reporters and paparazzi.
Their conversation might play out like this:
"Did Jaume succeed yesterday?"
"We talked, but he drove away alone."
Bruce, always ready to tease Martin, might jest, "I'm wondering, even if Mene attracts middle-aged and elderly women, why can't people like Anne Hathaway smell the stench emanating from your body?"
To which Martin would humorously defend himself, "Because of your eyesight. I'm a good person, and I'm a good person with a bright future."
The banter would continue with Bruce suggesting that Martin could have been more proactive, but Martin would counter with his own peculiar theory about maintaining interest for reporters and paparazzi.
Their discussion would conclude with Susie, their fitness instructor, inviting Bruce for lunch, which he would gladly accept. Martin would observe Susie's dating tactics and Bruce's readiness to engage, ultimately making plans to meet with Louise and colleagues later in the day.
As he drove alone towards Sherman Oaks, Martin would contemplate his next steps regarding Anne Hathaway, intending to arrange a dinner date when he had some free time. However, as he approached the southern hillside, an unexpected interruption awaited him on the roadside.
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