America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Miami, in the seaside hotel restaurant.

David Fincher looked at the long string of numbers on the report, picked up a cold beer, and toasted to Martin, Charlize, and Mene, "Guys, the time to celebrate has come, the opening day box office of this film has broken the record for the single-day earnings of all my directed films."

Martin clinked glasses with him and said, "Congratulations, David."

Charlize was equally happy, clinking glasses with everyone and saying, "It should be congratulations to all of us!"

Mene could not stop smiling, "This is our moment of glory."

Martin raised his glass, "Cheers!"

David Fincher shouted, "Cheers!"

The cold beer going down was refreshing.

When you're happy, everything you drink feels great.

It was especially true for David Fincher, "My last record was set when 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' was released." He looked at Martin, "It was also in collaboration with you, you're my lucky charm, so for the next movie, I still want to work with you!"

Martin joked, "As long as it's not your lucky goddess."

David Fincher took the beer bottle, poured some for Charlize Theron, and joked back, "My lucky goddess is right here."

Charlize downed a drink with him and said, "David, we're the same, my lucky charm is also Martin."

With North America's opening day box office figures released and aided by raving reviews, it was unlikely that the film's opening weekend trend would see any surprises. Admiration burned in Charlize's eyes as she gazed at Martin, "The Oscar curse that has haunted me for years has just been lifted by Martin."

In the Black community, there are still beliefs in things like voodoo. Curious, Mene couldn't resist asking, "Sally, may I ask, what did the boss use to lift the curse for you?"

Charlize revealed a mysteriously enigmatic smile, "Of course, it's a very special ritual."

Mene, deadpan, asked Martin, "Boss, can you teach me the ritual to lift the curse? In the community where I grew up, many peers claim they've been stricken with a voodoo curse and won't die in bed."

Bruce, standing beside him, patted his shoulder and said, "Use what you're best at, you could lift their curses that way."

"My best at?" Mene was stunned for a second before he realized what he was best at and quickly said, "No way, absolutely not. I'd rather they meet God with that curse than do that for them."

Everyone burst into laughter.

After another round of drinks, David Fincher said, "Let's call it a day for now, we have to rush to New York tomorrow; everyone should rest up early."

After the gathering ended, Martin and David Fincher walked in the front.

David Fincher said, "I've talked on the phone with Graham King a few times. After this year's Oscar nominations are announced, I will start preparing 'Escape from Tehran.'

"We'll start shooting in the second half of next year and release it the following year," said Martin. "Just in time for the 85th Oscars."

Charlize caught up from behind and asked, "Are you discussing a new project?"

Martin said, "A political thriller, purely a man's film. There's no room for female roles to shine."

Charlize didn't inquire further.

Upon going upstairs, Martin returned to his room, and Charlize naturally followed him in.

She turned to close the door and said, "Check for me how much of the curse is left, and keep helping me lift it. I feel like it's not completely gone yet."

Martin directly hoisted her up, "Happy to serve."

The next morning, the crew took a chartered flight out of Miami and arrived in New York.

There was a promotional event that afternoon.

After Martin stepped off the stage and returned backstage, he discovered that Georgina Chapman had arrived.

"What are you doing here?" Martin was surprised.

Georgina said with a smile, "You forgot? I'm divorced now, a wealthy and free socialite."

Martin sized her up, "If it had been five years ago, you would've been incredibly appealing to me."

"Not so much now?" Georgina asked, "I've heard some rumors; aren't you attracted to my type?"

She ran her finger lightly over her red lips, "Like Jolie, Aniston, and Charlize Theron, who have all been other people's wives or fiancées."

Martin thought, who the hell is defaming me? He quickly stated, "Where did you hear that? It's pure slander!"

Georgina skipped over that, instead saying, "Next month, at the beginning of the month, Harvey Weinstein's case goes to court. Because of the divorce settlement I got a large amount of money and can't testify, but I can attend the trial. You'll be there too, right?"

Martin, who had been following the case, said, "I will definitely be there to listen."

"I came over to remind you," said Georgina, not planning to stay long. She pulled out a room card from her purse and handed it to Martin, "Make sure to come over tonight, there'll be a surprise."

Martin took it and saw it was from the top suite of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, "True to form for a wealthy woman."

Georgina added, "It's not just me, the Fashion Supermodel Group all chipped in. Tonight is the test for Natalia."

Martin asked, "Who else is coming?"

"AA, KK, and the old fox are all here," said Georgina, naming the supermodels with a deep connection to Martin: "Candice, Ke'er, and Isabella are here too."

When Martin heard these six names, plus Georgina and Natalia, that made eight people. There was bound to be a fierce battle tonight.

He waved his hand: "I will come by tonight. You can go by yourself; I won't see you off. I need to rest well."

Georgina blew a kiss and left the backstage resting room.

Martin closed his eyes to meditate.

The door to the resting room creaked open and then slammed shut. Charlize Theron sat down next to him and asked, "I think I saw Harvey Weinstein's ex-wife Georgina."

Martin had no need to deny it: "You're not wrong."

Charlize probed, "Did you hook up with Georgina before Harvey came into the picture?"

"Nothing of the sort," Martin flatly denied. "I only knew her before."

Having been thoroughly probed herself, Charlize also wanted to get to the bottom of it: "Be honest, did you or did you not?"

Martin said firmly, "I'm not that kind of person."

Charlize remembered a certain rumor she had heard: "Aren't you specifically into sleeping with other people's wives or fiancées?" She even gave a particularly vivid example, pointing to her own nose and said, "Like me, for instance."

Martin decided he definitely had to throw Leonardo and Nicholson into the Pacific once he got back to Los Angeles.

His will was strong, his demeanor resolute: "All of that is slander fabricated by those bastards out of envy and jealousy!"

The more Charlize heard, the more believable the gossip seemed. She asked, "What does Georgina want with you?"

"There's a supermodel gathering tonight." Martin didn't lie about this: "They invited me to attend, to test a potential new member who wants to join them."

Since Charlize herself started as a model and had connections in the fashion industry, she asked, "The Fashion Supermodel Group?"

Martin nodded: "Yes, that's the group."
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"That's awesome!" Charlize stepped outside her walls, always seeking to make up for the joy she missed out on in the past. Her interest piqued, she grabbed Martin's hand and pleaded, "Take me with you, please? You know I've been a model; I've been closely connected to the fashion world these years. I want to join the Supermodel Group."

Martin gave a forewarning: "You should know what kind of gathering this is."

Charlize leaned in closer: "If it wasn't that sort of gathering, I wouldn't bother attending."

"Hold on," Martin took out his phone and dialed Angela Lindvall's number: "I have something to tell you, someone wants to join tonight's gathering, and of course, you know her, Charlize Theron. Alright, no problem..."

He hung up and looked at Charlize: "They welcome you to join, but you need to provide a recent medical examination report."

Charlize said, "This isn't your first time organizing events like this here, is it? Do you have a cooperating doctor or hospital? My part in the activity is complete, I can go right now."

Martin dug out a business card, made a phone call, then passed the card to Charlize.

Charlize left immediately.

When the event ended and Martin returned to the hotel, Charlize was already waiting in the lobby.

After changing clothes on their floor, they switched cars in the underground parking lot and headed to the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in Manhattan.

At the hotel's top floor, Martin swiped his card to open the door.

Charlize followed him inside only to see eight tall figures clad in black stockings.

Not to mention Martin, even she as a woman was incredibly moved.

Angela Lindvall, wearing stilettos, took a couple of steps forward, tilted her head slightly, and announced, "Tonight, Natalia Vodianova and Charlize Theron will join the Fashion Supermodel Group and become our sisters."

She extended her hand, and Natalia and Charlize walked over to stand on each side.

Angela Lindvall continued, "The test officially starts now, please welcome the Fashion Supermodel Group's sole tester, Martin Davis, to take the stage!"

The other six, AA, KK, Ke'er, Candice, Isabella, and Georgina, came to Martin's side, crowding around him as they moved forward.

The real test started, to join the Fashion Supermodel Group, one had to become truly bonded with the existing members.

Though Charlize and Natalia were already that, the feeling of rotating in the same room was completely different from being alone together.

The next day, Martin slept until nearly noon before waking up, luckily not missing the film crew's plane.

Once on the plane, he spent the time catching up on sleep.

Everyone in the crew was excited. Over the past Saturday, "Gone Girl" took in another $22.48 million in the North American market, continuing to lead the North American film charts.

Moreover, the film maintained a strong reputation, from David Finch's direction to the performances by Martin and Charlize Theron, receiving unanimous praise.

"Hollywood Reporter" even lauded, "The character of Amy sculpted by Charlize Theron thoroughly deserves another Oscar statuette for her."

Thanks to this film, Charlize finally fought her way back into the spotlight.

As the film continued to be shown, it also kept breaking David Finch's personal box office records.

After the first weekend of screening in North America, "Gone Girl" surpassed David Finch's last directed film "Benjamin" with $58.75 million in box office!