America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Chapter 277: Chapter 274: Using Force to Counter Force

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As of now, Thomas's interests were aligned with Martin's, binding the two together.

But WMA was different; in the industry, they were one of the two largest entertainment talent agencies alongside CAA, and Martin was at best considered a rather important client among many.

Clients, when appropriate, needed to exert some pressure on their service providers; without actively seeking better treatment, the agency might continually pacify them with the same strategies or even secretly reduce the quality of service by downgrading their status.

So, although Martin did not actively approach the CAA agents to greet them, he made sure to walk back and forth within their line of sight, engaging in conversations with other people.

After a few minutes, Maha Dakshir, the agent of Annie-Hathaway, took the initiative to approach Martin.

"Good evening, Martin," Maha appraised the handsome man before her: "It's been a year since we've met, and you've gone from a minor actor earning two hundred thousand to a big star nearing ten million per film, truly remarkable."

Martin responded with a smile, "I also find it hard to believe; it's all like a dream." He specifically asked, "Is Annie doing well?"

Maha shook her head, "She's blaming herself every day, saying she foolishly ruined the best relationship and won't ever find true love like yours again."

She sighed, "Annie fired me. I'm no longer handling her affairs at CAA."

Martin curiously inquired, "Why? You've done a great job. Wasn't 'The Princess Diaries' a project you secured for her?"

"It's related to you," Maha said half-jokingly, "Annie blames me for not stopping her in time from breaking up with you, for not keeping up with your movements, and that's why she fired me. At CAA, she's now under Bryan Lord's service; I was just the executing agent for her business."

Martin knew about Bryan Lord, an agent on the same level as Ari Emanuel from WMA, one of CAA's co-partners.

Martin replied casually, "I'm sorry to hear that."

Maha mentioned, "Bryan has been following your career, and you were recommended to CAA earlier this year. We've been keeping an eye on you."

Martin chuckled, "That's an honor."

Maha signaled a waiter to bring two drinks and purposely toasted Martin with one, adding, "The thing with Annie is in the past for both of us, let's look forward."

Martin cut to the chase, "You're not here just because of Annie, are you?"

"Two main things," Maha responded directly, seeing his straightforwardness, "First is about Pitt; I'm one of Pitt's co-agents, and he's a client of Bryan's."

Martin stuck to his view, "I have no personal issues with Pitt. The incident at Avalon that night would have been a non-issue if Pitt hadn't sought trouble with me. I wouldn't have even spoken to him."

He suggested instead, "You'd better talk to Pitt. He's got attitude problems, and let's not mention that there's no issue with Aniston, even if there were, he's just her ex-husband."

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As for Jolie, he couldn't be bothered to mention her.

Maha said, "Let's not escalate matters to an unmanageable level. The circle is small, and cooperation is sometimes inevitable."

Martin nodded, "Maha, as a friend, rest assured, as long as Pitt does not provoke me, I will not trouble him."

Having made her point, Maha moved onto the next topic, "I recall your contract with WMA still deducts a ten percent commission, right? You're not a small star anymore; haven't they offered to adjust this?"

Martin didn't respond; he just smiled.

Maha pressed further, "Within WMA, are you categorized as a level four or three client?"

She jokingly scolded, "Ha... It's the new millennium, and WMA still clings to that outdated system of client ranking. They're seriously underestimating you. Martin, come to CAA. I can guarantee you'll get better resources and terms than Annie, and the agency's commission will be reduced by two percentage points."

Just the previous week, CAA had poached Harley Berry, a client of Bryan Lord's, from WMA. Although Berry, an Oscar-holder, wasn't exactly top-tier nor a solo box office draw, as a black actress she was definitely among the best and highly sought after for many specific roles that required an African American woman.

CAA had long noticed Martin, the shooting star rapidly rising within WMA.

Martin appeared to be seriously considering the offer.

Maha believed there were no corners that couldn't be turned, "CAA is currently the best agency in the industry, from management to philosophy to operations, CAA entirely outdoes WMA."

Martin said, "I can't give you an answer right now. This isn't a trivial matter; I need to consider all aspects."

Maha shook hands with Martin once more, "I hope we'll have the opportunity to work together."

Not too far from them, Thomas, ever since CAA people approached Martin, had been keeping an eye on the situation.

Maha was a trusted subordinate of CAA co-founder Braun Lord, always taking the lead on matters.

CAA had poached many clients from WMA, and WMA, in turn, had done its share of similar deeds.

Thomas was inclined to intervene but also felt it might be inappropriate; it was like a wife witnessing her husband being chatted up by a beautiful woman, feeling both irritated and inexplicably proud.

Why else would he be approached if not for his merits?

Finally, Thomas saw Martin part ways with Maha and wander alone; he casually made his way towards him.

Martin glanced at his agent and said, "It's getting late, I'm preparing to leave."

Thomas presented himself as deeply concerned about Martin and reminded, "Jolie has been waiting at the door."

Martin quickly glanced over there and said, "It's alright, I can handle it." He then brought up the recent matter, "Maha from CAA talked to me for a while."

Thomas asked, "About Annie-Hathaway?"

Martin shook his head slightly, "She's not Annie's agent now, it has nothing to do with Annie. She wanted to lure me to CAA and put forward quite a few conditions, especially lowering the agency commission to seven percent."

Thomas cursed Maha's family a hundred times in his heart, thinking these bastards were breaking the rules, dropping by three percentage points just like that. When a client becomes an A-lister or even a superstar, wouldn't they demand to drop below five percent?

Martin hadn't finished, "She came on behalf of Bryan Lord, promising that the company would offer me resources not less than those given to Pitt."

Upon hearing this, Thomas felt a pang in his heart. An agent's commission of one percent could amount to hundreds of thousands of US dollars. Martin, generous as he was, might not care much about this, but who wouldn't want the best resources?

Inside talent agencies, the disparity in treatment between clients is huge.

WMA couldn't possibly provide Martin with the treatment of a megastar.

Thomas felt anxious, like a criminal awaiting a verdict, and tentatively asked, "How did you respond to her?"

"I didn't give her any answer," Martin replied somewhat ominously, "Actually, there's not much difference to me between top-line agencies, others might not be aware, but you should know that I have resources to assemble."

Thomas nodded. With the support of three women—Louise Mel, Kelly Gray, Sophia—and investors from Asia, Martin wasn't like the ordinary actor or star.

Martin patted Thomas on the arm, his tone turning serious, "But you're different! Thomas, we met when we were nobodies, we fought together, grew together, and how many hardships have we gone through to reach this stage? You trust me, and I trust you, such trust is impossible to recreate with another agent."

Thomas agreed wholeheartedly, "We are partners, we are the dream team."

Martin continued, "My agent used to be Thomas Ryan, my current agent is Thomas Ryan, and my agent in the future will still be Thomas Ryan. This is something I don't want to change!"

An agent's status is closely related to their clients. Thomas's success today was inseparable from Martin. He didn't hesitate, "Rest assured, I will talk seriously with the company. Your treatment must be substantially improved. You deserve it."

Martin nodded and said, "I'll leave this matter to you."

Thomas had no intention of shrugging off the responsibility, "I will bring it up formally with the company's executives tomorrow."

Guests in the banquet hall began to leave one after another. After exchanging a few words with Thomas, Martin found Louise, who had accompanied him to the event, and after saying goodbye to Barry Meyer and Ellen Horn, he prepared to leave.

Louise said, "I just chatted with Aniston, and she seems to think highly of you. Aren't you going to ask her to leave with us?"

She then noticed Jolie near the door, "And adding Jolie to the mix, that's thrilling to think about!"

Martin asked her to hook her arm in his and said, "If you don't shut up, I'll drag you along!"

Louise chuckled but didn't speak again.

At the door, Jolie gave Martin a mysterious smile and made no move to approach.

After leaving the banquet hall and entering the hotel lobby, Louise brought up Jolie and Aniston again, "Jolie and Aniston used to be romantic rivals. It would be interesting if they continued to be rivals."

Martin ruthlessly brushed her off, "My dear, you can leave now."

Louise willingly let go of his arm, "You're really heartless."

She left the hotel on her own and got into the Rolls-Royce waiting at the entrance.

Bruce, driving an Escalade, hadn't arrived yet, so Martin waited behind the revolving door of the hotel.

Footsteps sounded from behind. Aniston approached the entrance, stopping next to Martin, and asked, "Has your car not arrived?"

Martin replied, "It will take a moment."

Jolie suddenly appeared near the railing on the second floor.

Aniston, sensing something, looked back and then took Martin's arm, "I'm going to the set tomorrow. Will you come? It's important for us to rehearse together."

Against his principles, Martin could not refuse, "I will go to the set tomorrow morning."

Aniston leaned in closer, "Good, I'll see you tomorrow morning."

The black Escalade pulled up to the hotel entrance. Martin pointed to it, "I have to go."

Aniston smiled, "Goodnight."

Martin walked towards the exit and just before stepping out, turned back to wave with a smile, and then left the building and got into the car.

Aniston suddenly turned back, smiling at Jolie, a thought crossing her mind: If she turned Martin into a little puppy, Jolie would surely be hopping mad with envy, right?