BXBX NOVEL Chapter 44: Chapter 44 She Comes from Hollywood
Julia sat at the head of the meeting table, "Milton\'s remarks were mixed, not scary in themselves, but what\'s terrifying is that the focus of public attention is entirely on the Conservative Faction. With the Atlanta Council elections approaching, lacking sufficient public attention, what\'s the point of the Freedom Association?"
Kelly Gray knew very well that the financial backers behind them would not agree.
Julia asked a middle-aged man, "Jamie, what suggestions does Congresswoman Erika have?"
The middle-aged man said, "The Congresswoman thinks the lack of public attention is frightening, and urges us to make a strong response immediately. Georgia is already dominated by Conservative Faction power; we\'ve worked hard to open up the situation."
Another middle-aged director took up the conversation, "We need a march, but we lack an explosive issue for the media."
Julia surveyed her subordinates, "If you have any ideas, come to me."
The meeting had just adjourned when Kelly Gray followed Julia into the chairwoman\'s office and took a sample from her bag that Martin had given her.
The item was precisely the point of Milton\'s remarks.
In the hands of each Freedom Association member at the rally, the effect would be absolutely explosive.
After a lengthy conversation, Julia nodded, "You\'ve done well, Kelly. I\'ve always had high hopes for you, and you haven\'t disappointed me."
She immediately reached out to the political and social powers behind her, preparing for a large gathering. She also reminded Kelly, "Keep your phone on. Tonight or tomorrow morning, I need you to come with me to meet Congresswoman Erika."
Kelly Gray was overjoyed; leaving the office, she promptly called Martin, "Have the goods arrived?"
Martin replied, "I\'m about to pick up the shipment."
Kelly Gray briefly discussed the situation with the Freedom Association and glanced at her diamond watch, "I have to pick up someone at the airport. Once you have the goods, deliver them directly to Gray Film Company, and we\'ll meet there."
She saw the opportunity to become deputy chairwoman, with Martin\'s role being crucial, and added intentionally, "I mentioned introducing a friend to you a while back; she\'s coming today, a producer from Hollywood. Aren\'t you aspiring to be an actor?"
Meanwhile, Martin hung up the phone and randomly chose a box to open, removing a few of the boxes inside to inspect the water bottles.
The craftsmanship and quality were much better than what the prop masters could make on short notice.
Rosad came over and said, "We used the best materials, meeting all the standards."
"Load them up," Martin confirmed the quantity and settled the bill with Gulf Trading Company, paying the second installment of $15,500 US Dollars.
The remaining balance could be paid within the account period.
Martin led the way in his vehicle with two box trucks following behind, heading straight for Grey Media.
Andrew was waiting in the company warehouse.
As soon as Martin arrived, they immediately started unloading into the storage.
In the warehouse, Andrew was somewhat excited, as the boss had called him, mentioning that they\'d acquired vital supplies for the Freedom Association.
This important task being assigned to him signaled something – the boss\'s trust.
Martin tossed a water bottle to Andrew, "For use on location by film crews."
The supply from the trading company was slightly more than ordered.
"Is there one for me too?" Andrew was elated, promptly opening the packaging and upon seeing the water bottle, he paused, stunned.
"This would guarantee that no one in the company or on a film set would pay attention to the leading man and woman\'s action scenes," he remarked, "This doesn\'t seem quite suitable for men, does it?"
Martin lowered his voice on purpose, "We\'re friends, so I\'ll tell you a secret ahead of time. The Freedom Association is about to hold this year\'s biggest rally, and this water bottle is key."
Andrew hugged the water bottle, taking a couple of sips through the straw, "I loved it from the first moment I saw it."
......
Three cars were heading toward Grey Media.
In the leading BMW 7 series, besides Kelly Gray, there was a woman of similar age to her.
Louise Mel\'s blond hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her exquisitely made-up face was framed by a pair of black-rimmed glasses.
Coming from the airport, they encountered many small group gatherings supporting the Methodist Association or the Freedom Association.
Kelly Gray said, "Elections for the second half of the year in the Atlanta Council have been quite tumultuous recently."
Louise Mel picked up the newspaper in her hand and shook it, "I saw it. You\'ve actually lost to those stubborn conservatives in media."
"This is Georgia, not California," Kelly Gray pointed out.
Louise Mel suddenly laughed, "That Conservative was right; we need that thing, something no fake goods can compare with. But he was wrong about something; when and where we need it, and whose we should use is for us to decide."
She was from Hollywood, "We want to use it, find a gorgeous guy to use it. If we feel like it, we can throw it away after use or keep it for a few more rounds if we fancy."
"Do you want me to get you a red couch?" Kelly Gray teased, "Atlanta is full of handsome men wanting to be stars."
Louise Mel waved her hand and focused on what she cared about, "How do you plan to respond?"
Kelly Gray said with a hint of pride, "In a way you\'d never expect."
As they arrived at the company, she greeted her, "Come on, let me show you something great."
They went upstairs to Kelly\'s CEO office, and immediately upon entering saw Martin waiting in the outer reception room.
Kelly asked, "Have the goods arrived?"
Martin pointed to the rectangular boxes on the low table, "All ten thousand items have arrived. To prevent defective products, the supplier added an extra 100."
Kelly took out a water bottle and examined it carefully, "The workmanship is not bad."
Louise took off her glasses, hung them on her collar, and strode over, saying, "Who\'s the genius who came up with this thing?" She grabbed the water bottle, gave it a quick glance, seized the straw, pulled it out, and instantly understood, "Works both ways, it\'s genius design!"
Martin gave Louise Mel a curious look, it takes a dirty old man to understand at first sight.
Kelly turned to Martin, "The genius you\'re talking about is right here."
She introduced the two, "This is Louise, my good friend, a producer from Hollywood. This is Martin, an investigator for the Freedom Association, an actor as outstanding in performance as he is in appearance."
Hearing the latter part, Louise examined Martin with interest.
Martin acted as if he hadn\'t noticed.
"Also, there\'s another surprise I\'ll talk about later," Kelly Gray said, mentioning the Freedom Association\'s planned march, "Louise, you\'re an old hand at this in Los Angeles, what do you think?"
Louise laughed, her chest heaving so quickly that the buttons on her shirt seemed about to pop off.
She picked up the water bottle and deliberately squeezed and released it, sliding it up and down while playing with it and said, "Thousands of people drinking water with these at once, it\'s a very creative response, I guarantee that you, the ATL Freedom Association and the Georgia Conservative Faction, will become the focus of attention across the United States, the opinion pieces and news will explode."
Kelly laughed too, "I was thinking along the same lines."
Louise knew her old friend well, "This isn\'t something you could have come up with."
Kelly once again hinted with her eyes, "Martin came up with it, he\'s an outstanding warrior."
Louise, like a dirty old man, played with the water bottle flexibly with her slender fingers, the water bottle spout from which she had removed the straw blowing air on her face and spraying her blue eyes like a pool of still water, looking particularly disreputable.
She looked at Martin, her mouth full of smiles, "Genius, how did you think of it?"
Martin vaguely grasped some characteristics of this person and purposefully put on a serious face, telling a made-up fact, "The liberal faction has repeatedly suffered attacks and domestic abuse, so I thought we needed a self-defense weapon that could blend into everyday life."
He deliberately came over to Louise, took the water bottle from her hand, and swung it around twice, "You see, you grab the top, swing it, and use the base to hit somebody. If you hit their head, it\'s not just painful, but there\'s also a psychological trauma, plus it\'s easy to carry and conceal, your opponent won\'t be prepared for it."
Louise\'s smile grew wider, "Martin, do you often tell jokes with such a straight face?"
Her gaze fell on the words on the water bottle, "My life, my way? Did you think of that too?"
Kelly answered for Martin, "Yes, he did."
Louise asked Martin seriously, "Can it be authorized for use by the LA Freedom Association?"
"Of course," Martin was about to receive a substantial amount of money, which gave him the confidence to look further, "I won\'t set up any barriers, nor will I attempt to register it or anything like that, it\'s available for all freedom groups to use."
Louise nodded, "I express my thanks on behalf of the LA Freedom Association."
"Martin\'s an extremely fine actor, you should find a role for him in the production crew, there couldn\'t be a more fitting way to say thanks," Kelly suddenly interjected.
Louise turned her head, giving Kelly a suggestive lift of her eyebrows as if asking, "Did you sleep with him?"
Kelly appeared not to understand, remaining impassive.
Gray Company was in the midst of a profitable collaboration with Louise\'s production crew.
Georgia\'s incentives could attract one Hollywood production crew after another, and Louise was Kelly\'s most solid connection in Hollywood.
Kelly had tasted her paper airplane and immediately called Louise.
Martin had told her that he would prepare a variety of new cocktails.
Kelly sought Martin out for entertainment, and not just because he was amusing.
"The production crew does need to cast some actors in Atlanta." Once her friend spoke up, Louise couldn\'t refuse, considering the man opposite her was interesting and \'one of us\'."
She leaned back on the sofa, put on her black-framed glasses, and all traces of impropriety disappeared from her face, replaced by seriousness, "Martin, show us an improvisation."
Martin couldn\'t remember this action-free romance film and, without anything specific in mind, slightly disheveled his hair, wrinkled his shirt, and came over to Louise.
He picked up the water bottle, and suddenly he was transformed.
His facial muscles seemed to shift, from a sunny and handsome man into a hideously grim creep, his whole being radiated malice.
Without a word, only his rapid breathing and the whizzing sound of the water bottle being swung, he was like a menacing presence.
Kelly had never realized Martin could be so frightening.
Suddenly Louise spoke up, "That\'s enough."
Martin let out a breath and put down the water bottle.
Louise said, "The production crew will post a casting notice next week; come find me at the production site then."
Martin replied, "No problem."
At this moment, Kelly said, "There\'s another surprise, but it will have to wait until after the march."
Louise asked, "What surprise?"
Kelly deliberately teased her, "It\'s a secret."
Louise left soon after, off to rest at the hotel.
Martin and Kelly Gray agreed on the transaction price, 13 US Dollars each.
Gray Company paid Martin 130,000 US Dollars that day.
As for the dealings between Kelly Gray and the Freedom Association, Martin didn\'t bother to inquire.
There are many things one might see clearly but must pretend to be confused about.
As the transaction went through, even the usually composed Martin couldn\'t help but feel a bit excited.
The two main goals of this adventure, to truly get to know a Hollywood producer and earn a sum of money that would ensure a basic living, were both achieved.