Ford pulled into the parking area, and Martin locked the car door before making his way toward the studio. Amidst the huge car manufacturing centre, only the factories converted into photo studios were bustling with activity.
Robert, carrying a basket of potatoes towards the dining car, seemed to be struggling. Martin hastened his steps to assist him.
"Phew... I'm exhausted," Robert panted heavily.
After stowing the potatoes, Martin fetched two bottles of water and handed one to him. "How about you?"
Robert replied, "Kirsten Dunst is here. The crew set aside some time for a group photo, and everyone joined in." He gestured toward his face. "I've got a big face, so I'm not into big group shots."
Upon hearing the word "big," Martin suddenly thought of Bruce and asked, "dose she have a big rack ?"
Robert raised an eyebrow, curious. "Do you have a thing for that? You might want to look for Kate Winslet."
Martin grinned. "Man, you've got me figured out."
"By the way, I gave Rosa a heads-up," Robert said, believing that Martin's polite introduction the other day had caused the issue. "I told her you have a girlfriend." She skipped dinner that day and kept pestering Robert, an experienced background artist, with questions. Unable to decipher her intentions, he made an excuse and left quickly.
Martin headed toward a makeup trailer. "Thanks."
The crew had yet to enter working mode, and the area was deserted. Martin gently knocked on the trailer door, and Kate Winslet's assistant answered.
"Penny, I'm looking for Kate," Martin informed.
Kate Winslet's voice emerged from inside, "Let Martin in."
Martin entered the trailer and found Kate seated, reading a newspaper. He explained, "A friend of mine is a devoted fan of yours and would like an autographed photo."
Kate smiled and said, "You pick."
This had become the standard routine since Ruth. She always kept a few photos with her when she went out.
Penny brought over a photo album, allowing Martin to make a selection.
Martin flipped through a couple of pages and spotted a photo of Kate leaning forward, supporting herself with her hands. "This one," he chose.
Kate took the photo and signed it.
"Thank you. I'll treat you to a drink sometime when you're free," Martin said as he planned to give the autographed photo to Lao Bu.
Kate added, "I heard Louise mention that you create cocktails with an initial impact followed by rich and delightful flavours."
Martin couldn't decipher whether she was talking about drinks or something else. All he could do was respond, "Louis and I tried the formula together."
Kate seemed intrigued. "I'll have to try it sometime when I get a chance."
Upon exiting the trailer, Martin immediately encountered Robert once more.
This time, Robert was struggling with two large bags filled with discarded beverage bottles. He called out, "Martin, lend me a hand." Martin went over to take one of the bags and asked, "Where are these headed?"
"Shh..." Robert turned around and motioned for Martin to keep his voice down. "The crew doesn't want these things. I've been collecting and hiding them away. I can exchange them for some cash later."
Having recently escaped poverty, Martin understood how difficult life could be for the less fortunate. He realized, "So, you work as an extra on set and focus mainly on gathering food and drinks?"
Robert cautioned in a hushed tone, "Don't speak too loudly and let's move quickly. If other extras catch wind of this, I won't be able to continue this gig."
Martin nodded in understanding. He recalled that Robert had voluntarily helped transport drinks during their time on the 'City Folks' crew.
The production centre was quite empty, with limited places to hide things. Most of the factory buildings were locked up, leaving just one door open.
---
The crew thoughtfully allocated time for group photos, drawing many to see Kirsten Dunst.
Rosa also wished to go but was halted by Adam Smith.
He was the person Adam Smith had chosen specifically for this task. They had interacted previously, allowing him to gauge the kind of person Rosa was.
"I'll give you a few minutes for a chat. What do you say?" The blonde and sunny-faced Adam Smith offered.
Rosa came to a halt. "I have nothing to discuss with you."
Adam Smith retrieved a notebook from his backpack and tossed it to her. "Take a look."
Confused, Rosa opened it to find over a dozen pages of script with Benjamin Galvin's signature. She inquired, "What does this mean?"
Adam Smith explained, "Gray Company's new production. Director Benjamin is planning to shoot a theatrical movie, and I'm cast as the lead. The boss gave me a part of the script. You should know I'm Gray's Company's first choice for the male lead in late-night dramas. If you're interested, I can recommend you for the supporting female role."
Rosa quickly flipped through the script, handed it back to Adam, and said straightforwardly, "Where to go? Lead the way."
They moved away from the crowd. Adam Smith led the way into the path between two factory rooms.
Around the corner, there was silence, accompanied only by the whistling sound of the wind passing through the broken windows of the factory building. The faint clinking of rolling cans and plastic bottles could also be heard.
Rosa turned around, unbuckled her trousers without a word, gestured to her head and legs, and inquired, "Up first and then down?"
Adam Smith suggested that Rosa put her trousers back on quickly. "Now is not the time. Why don't you go first?" he suggested.
"What do you want?" Rosa didn't believe that Adam Smith was offering this favour without expecting something in return.
Adam Smith didn't reveal his intentions directly but inquired, "Martin Davis turned down your advances, right?"
Rosa's behaviour had not been very discreet in recent days, and she didn't deny it. "He has a girlfriend."
Adam Smith presented the script he held as if making an offer. "A supporting role in a theatrical movie," he hinted.
"What do you want me to do?" Rosa wanted to ensure that the exchange would be mutually beneficial.
Adam Smith explained, "Find an opportunity to collect a cup or bottle used by Martin Davis."
Rosa responded, "You can collect it yourself."
Adam Smith shook his head. "I don't know him well, and it might arouse his suspicion."
Rosa inquired further, "What's your plan?"
Adam Smith remained vague. "Send him something nice and lend him a hand." Seeing Rosa's interest, he added, "If you play an important role in a theatrical movie, your future value will increase. High-end clubs like the Sacred Valley will pay a premium for your services."
Rosa had little to offer beyond her body, and she had little to lose. "Adam Smith, remember your promise. I'm a poor person with nothing to my name."
Adam Smith wasn't afraid of people like Rosa, as he had quite a few influential figures backing him.
The wind continued to blow through the factory, and the clinking of drink bottles could still be heard. The two individuals departed in separate directions.
In a separate section of the factory building, Martin pulled Robert aside and gestured for him to stay away from the broken window.
After putting some distance between them, Robert lowered his voice and suggested, "Those two jerks are targeting you. Let's confront them!"
Martin pondered the situation, including scripts and theatrical movies.
He couldn't help but think of the script Kelly had in her possession.
The entertainment industry was so complex! Were these people trying to eliminate potential threats even before the project was revealed?
Martin questioned, "If we expose them this time, will they try again?"
"You know Kelly," Robert replied.
"Using high-end resources for such a dirty trick?" Martin shook his head. "If I fall for it this time, they'll keep coming after me."
Robert, an experienced background artist, had seen a lot. He stated, "Man, you may not have a big head, but you're getting in the way of Adam Smith."
Martin teased, "Your head is so big because it's filled with extra black holes."
Robert was taken aback by the comment.
Martin added, "They're all filled with my lucky stars!" He'd already thought about it and took out his mobile phone, calling a professional. "Bruce I've run into a problem and need your help, you scoundrel."
"I'm not available!" came the curt response.
"Don't worry; this time, something good will come out of it," Martin assured him and quickly briefed Bruce on the situation.
Bruce agreed, "Deal. Wait for me to come over. Let's meet in a secluded spot."
Seeing Martin put away his mobile phone, Robert inquired, "Did you call the police?"
"It's pointless to involve the police," Martin replied. "I've asked a contact to come over."
While waiting, he mulled over the situation, particularly the dark side of the entertainment industry. He suddenly thought about one thing: How did Adam Smith get involved in all of this?
Bruce arrived shortly thereafter, and Martin met him at the cemetery near the production centre. He shared his suspicions.
"It could be significant. We're waiting for the right opportunity," Bruce said. "You can help me secure a regular access pass to the set."
This matter was easy to handle, and Martin could easily arrange it through Andrew.