Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

The next morning, Martin disentangled himself from four long legs.

After enjoying a breakfast prepared by Heather, he drove to a luxurious apartment building in North Los Angeles.

The building was a gift from Martin to Jennifer Lawrence. When she received it, she was over the moon, and it led to a wild night that Martin thoroughly enjoyed.

The apartment complex was a six-story structure, with two units per floor, each spanning over 500 square meters. Situated in an earthquake-prone area, Los Angeles' wealthy neighborhoods favored seismic-resistant designs, unlike New York's towering skyscrapers that often reached dozens or even hundreds of meters.

Jennifer's apartment was on the top floor, offering an unobstructed view of the iconic "Hollywood" sign, thanks to the lack of taller buildings nearby.

After parking in the building's private garage—also part of Martin's property—he was warmly greeted by the manager with a cheerful salute.

"Good morning, Mr. Meyers. Wishing you a pleasant day!"

"Morning, Old Blanc," Martin replied with a smile. "Same to you."

Yes, Martin owned the entire building. He'd bought it outright when searching for a suitable place for Jennifer, ensuring privacy and doubling as a small investment. In the future, he might let Kristen Stewart or Amber Heard move in too.

He took the elevator straight to the top floor and rang the doorbell.

The door swung open, and a fragrant breeze rushed into Martin's arms.

"Darling, you're finally here! I missed you so much," Jennifer purred, her voice dripping with playful affection.

Martin lifted her by the hips, one hand firm, the other giving a playful smack to her curves. "Well, I'm here now, aren't I? Let's go—I promised to introduce you to some Academy veterans. They're just a bunch of old guys with a bit of clout, nothing to stress about."

"Awesome!" Jennifer bounced excitedly, her enthusiasm infectious.

"Darling, can I really snag an Oscar nomination?" she asked, her voice tinged with worry as they settled into Martin's car.

Martin reassured her, "You can. If I say it, not even God can stop it."

"Oh, mwah! I love you so much!" she squealed, planting a kiss on him.

…

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences office was located on Wilshire Boulevard, its exterior unassuming.

The entrance opened into a reception area. To the left, a red-carpeted exhibition hall displayed photos from past Oscar ceremonies and winning stars.

The sparkling hall buzzed with starstruck fans, each brimming with excitement.

"This place is a museum too?" Jennifer asked, curious.

Martin nodded. "Yup. The Academy's exhibition hall is open to the public for free every day. Just sign the guestbook, grab a red visitor's pass to wear around your neck, and you're in. Lots of locals visit, and you might even bump into some Hollywood folks wandering around."

"Where are we headed?"

"Fifth floor, to meet the Academy president—Mr. Sid Ganis."

Martin led Jennifer to the internal elevator, swiping a card to access it.

Jennifer gasped, "Oh, I almost forgot—you're an Academy member too!"

Martin grinned. "Exactly. So relax, I'm just taking you to meet some colleagues."

"Colleagues? This is the Academy president!" Jennifer exclaimed.

"President, colleague—same thing. Sid's a chill guy."

At least in front of me, Martin added silently.

Knock, knock, knock!

Martin rapped on the heavy mahogany door of the innermost office on the fifth floor.

The door opened, revealing a spry, silver-haired man in his seventies, dressed in a pale gold Oscar commemorative jacket and light blue jeans. His face lit up with a vibrant smile, exuding youthful energy.

"Well, well, look who's here! Our little genius and his gorgeous girlfriend!" Sid Ganis boomed, pulling Martin into a bear hug.

He then gently shook Jennifer's hand, complimenting her youthful vitality and beauty.

Jennifer had imagined countless scenarios for meeting Sid Ganis, but his warm, down-to-earth demeanor caught her off guard.

In reality, Sid Ganis, who'd spent nearly two decades as Paramount's CEO, was known for his iron-fisted leadership. Even now, few in the Academy dared to act as casually around him as Martin did.

And Sid rarely showed this kind of warmth to anyone—his usual demeanor was one of lofty arrogance. But Martin's status as a titan of capital, plus the occasional "deep hypnosis" Martin worked on him, made Sid treat him like a beloved grandson.

…

Martin took Jennifer on a tour of the Academy, letting her get familiar with the place.

At noon, he treated her to a lavish lunch.

Then they drove back to the apartment building.

"Huh?"

As Martin maneuvered toward the parking garage, he spotted a Mercedes parked across the street. Two people stepped out—Gal Gadot and her low-key husband, Yaron Varsano.

They were laughing and chatting, each carrying a cardboard box.

Martin parked, rolled down his window, and called out, "Hey, Gal! You guys moving in around here?"

Gal and Yaron turned toward him. Gal whispered something to Yaron, set her box down, and walked over to Martin's car.

Leaning down, she greeted him first. "Hey, Martin, what are you doing here?"

Then she noticed Jennifer Lawrence, who was eyeing her curiously from the passenger seat. Covering her mouth with a smile, Gal teased, "Oh, I get it."

Martin laughed, not hiding his relationship with Jennifer, and made introductions. "Gal, this is Jennifer Lawrence, my girlfriend. Jennifer, this is Gal Gadot, a friend and actress."

The women exchanged pleasantries.

Martin asked, "What's the deal? You guys moving?"

Gal explained, "Sort of. My husband and I are opening a hotel here. But we've reserved a room for ourselves too."

"A hotel?"

"Yeah. With work, we're constantly flying between Israel and the U.S. We were always staying in hotels, and I wanted something that felt like home, not just another room. Then we found out that in L.A., lots of hotels are actually inside residential buildings. So…" She shrugged.

"Got it. Smart idea," Martin said.