"Did you promise me?"
Drew Barrymore licked her lips sensually at Martin.
Martin shook his head.
Wearing nothing but a pair of panties, Drew Barrymore slowly reached behind her back, preparing to untie her hood.
"Just hear me out!"
Martin grew a bit anxious. If the situation were different—if they weren't surrounded by so many people—he'd have no issue. But here? There were too many eyes. If anyone caught wind of what was happening, he'd be taken advantage of.
Drew was relentless in her pursuit, and Martin couldn't help but admire her for it. Still, he needed to stop her before things went too far.
"Fuck, stop it and listen to me," he said, trying to regain control of the conversation.
"You talk, and I'll listen," Drew responded, her hand halting but not letting go of the strap.
Martin took a deep breath, carefully thinking through his response. "I can't give you the film and TV rights, but I'll offer you a chance to play one of the characters."
Originally, Martin had planned to cast Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, and Paris Hilton as the three "angels" for the movie, with Lindsay Lohan playing the role of the genius tech girl. Now, however, he was considering giving Drew Barrymore the role originally set for Paris Hilton.
It wasn't just because he was irritated with her. Drew had a fire in her that he admired. She was smart, capable, and had the potential to become a key figure in Hollywood—someone who could be an asset to him if he played his cards right.
As for Paris Hilton, well, she had already made a name for herself with her roles in movies like House of Wax.
Drew wasn't satisfied with just an acting role. "No, I want to be involved in the investment as well."
Martin's tone was firm but resigned. "Alright, you'll have a stake. I'll include you in the investment."
"Hey, hey, Martin, you're so kind!" Drew cheered, her hands flying to his head, pulling him into a kiss.
Martin, trying to remain composed, attempted to plant a "love seed" in her—though he knew it would be a challenge. The "love seed" was a technique he could use on women who had even the smallest feelings for him. But Drew? She was driven purely by desire and ambition.
It wasn't love—at least not yet—but it would be a challenge he was willing to take on.
As Drew Barrymore left, she felt satisfied, recalling the charged moments with Martin.
The young man had money and ambition, but more than that, he had something others didn't—he had power.
"I'll get you, Martin," she thought with a wicked smile. "I'll eat you up sooner or later."
The power struggle between them was only just beginning.
Meanwhile, the promotion for Elf was in full swing. After releasing several promotional photos, the crew put out a short video.
The video showed Martin riding a horse and shooting arrows. It was filmed from a distance, but the accuracy of his mounted archery had fans buzzing.
Jennifer, who was monitoring the entertainment news section, clicked on a post that featured the video. It was a bit blurry, but the man on the horse was clearly dressed like the elf character from the earlier photos. Comments flooded in:
"Is this real? Can anyone really shoot arrows like that?"
"Not special effects—I'm a filmmaker, and I swear this is real."
One comment even linked the video to Tolkien's description of elves being natural archers.
"Does this mean elves are real?" people wondered in a mix of awe and skepticism.
As the online discussion grew, Jennifer received an email from Charlie, the head of the entertainment forum.
"Jennifer, congratulations on the success of your section. However, we need to monitor any extreme remarks—especially those involving racism or vulgarity."
Jennifer quickly responded, assuring him she'd keep an eye on things. The discussion about elves in New Zealand was escalating.
Over the next couple of weeks, the final stages of Elf's promotional campaign began.
Peter came to Martin, saying, "It's time."
Martin nodded, "Then let's start the push."
They mobilized their team to start the final blitz of media coverage, while also leveraging their connections in both print and TV media to spread the word.
The first video to go viral was of Martin dancing in the morning light. The title, "Dance of Spirits," exploded online, and even trolls didn't have time to react.
"This is amazing! I can't believe what I'm seeing! This is the most harmonious interaction between man and nature."
"Wait, isn't that Martin?"
The debate raged on, with some insisting it was Martin while others swore it wasn't.
Simultaneously, the media jumped on the bandwagon, running stories about elves and showcasing photos and speculations. The excitement was palpable, and the public was hooked.
In a time when computers weren't as ubiquitous as today, paper media remained the primary source of information. It was spreading rapidly, and the elf story was becoming a hot topic.