Entertainment: Starting as a Succubus, Taking Hollywood by Storm

On the second-floor terrace of the hotel, Nicole, dressed in a fitted red evening gown, glanced at Charlize, who was wearing a loose-flowing dress. She couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"My God, how much weight have you gained?"

"Thirty pounds."

Charlize sighed, lamenting the loss of her once-svelte figure. At the same time, she felt a certain pride—how many Hollywood actresses would be willing to make such a sacrifice?

"Good heavens, you're so hard on yourself!"

Nicole admitted to herself that she could never go to such extremes.

It might have been Charlize's harrowing childhood that shaped her. Charlize Theron stood out among Hollywood actresses as someone who wasn't afraid to push her limits. For most actresses, beauty was their ultimate lifeline.

It was different for male actors. In Hollywood, the road for men was wider.

Take Jake Gyllenhaal, for instance. He was slender and pale in Brokeback Mountain, but in Southpaw, he built a body rippling with muscles for his role as a boxer.

Chris Hemsworth, famous for portraying Thor, gained 20 pounds of muscle, only to shed 60 pounds to play a starving sailor in In the Heart of the Sea.

Christian Bale needed no introduction—a Hollywood icon known for his incredible transformations.

Then there were Jared Leto, Matthew McConaughey, Tom Hanks, Chris Pratt, Edward Norton, and Michael Fassbender, all of whom had gained or lost dramatic amounts of weight for their roles.

But for actresses, it was different. A decline in beauty often meant losing lucrative endorsements for cosmetics, jewelry, and fashion, as well as their influential supporters in the industry.

Charlize's determination to take on Monster was a testament to her grit, especially considering she hadn't even met Martin back then.

"There are so many people here!" Nicole leaned against the railing, looking down at the crowd.

Charlize smiled. "Martin is now a top-tier player in Hollywood. Anyone invited would find it hard to decline. I heard that a single invitation went for $100,000 on the black market. Many actresses have reportedly 'paid with their bodies' just to be the date of someone who got an invite."

Shaking her head, she added, "Thank God for Martin. Otherwise, who knows, I might've been one of them."

Nicole reassured her with a smile, "Don't overthink it. Focus on Monster. Once you win the Oscar, you'll join the ranks of top-tier actresses and have more power in the industry."

Charlize shook her head. "No matter how hard an actress works, it's almost impossible to achieve the same level of influence as male actors in Hollywood. Connections and allies are essential. Even Sherry Lansing, who rose to become the CEO of Paramount, had powerful backers. That senator who supported her is Hollywood's open secret, though everyone pretends not to know."

"That senator is retiring in 2005. Do you think Sherry Lansing can hold onto her position then?" Nicole speculated.

"I'm not sure. What I do know is that I won't be retiring before Martin. That's the benefit of having a younger ally."

The two women laughed at this.

Suddenly, commotion erupted near the hotel entrance.

A white-haired elderly man tried to force his way inside but was restrained by security. As they dragged him away, the man struggled and shouted at the top of his lungs:

"Murderer! Martin Myers is a murderer! He killed my son, Michael Gargiulo!"

Boom!

The reporters gathered outside the hotel instantly perked up. Cameras flashed, and voices clamored for answers.

"Who did Martin kill?"

"My son, Michael Gargiulo!" the man cried out, his voice filled with anguish.

The reporters jotted the name down eagerly.

"Why did he kill your son?"

"He's a murderer! A butcher! A hypocritical scumbag!" the old man shouted, but he failed to provide any clear evidence.

Before the reporters could press further, security covered his mouth and hurriedly escorted him away.

Meanwhile, word of the disturbance reached the banquet hall. Guests exchanged hushed whispers as the news spread.

Martin frowned and scanned the room for his PR manager, Ivanka.

"Martin, do you need assistance?"

A deep voice came from behind him.

Martin turned to see Chevanton, a middle-aged man in a crisp suit with perfectly groomed hair. He was the White House liaison.

Martin's mind raced. His relationship with the White House had always been strained. He had openly opposed their war in Afghanistan, a stance that time had proven correct. But that made him a target.

When the powers that be can't silence the "wrong" decision, they often choose to target the "right" person instead.

If no one's right, then everyone's wrong. If everyone's wrong, then no one's wrong.

That's politics. It's not about right or wrong—it's about who holds more power.

After a moment's thought, Martin spotted Ivanka rushing toward him. He smiled at Chevanton. "No need. I can handle this myself."

He excused himself and walked toward Ivanka.

As Martin departed, Chevanton's expression darkened. He retreated to a corner, pulled out his phone, and made a call.

"Martin refused our goodwill. Proceed with the plan. Make this a bigger scandal. And ensure that both the LAPD and Hollywood PD stay silent for now. We can't afford them speaking out in his favor."

On the other end of the line, a voice responded, "Understood. The LAPD chief is nearing retirement and doesn't want to get involved. He's conveniently gone fishing."

Chevanton sneered. "What a foolish decision."

"The Hollywood PD chief is onboard. He's agreed to delay the press conference for two weeks. That's the best he can do."

"Two weeks is plenty," Chevanton said coldly. "Have the FBI apply pressure on Martin. It's time to teach that young man a lesson."

The voice on the phone hesitated before adding, "Chevanton, don't you think the president is taking this too far? Isn't this just creating unnecessary enemies?"

"No," Chevanton replied firmly. "The president is simply using Martin as an example to warn those who might step out of line. And Martin will only suffer a scare. The Meyers family won't make a big deal out of this."

[GodOfReader: Earlier this morning, I met a girl I didn't recognize, but I guess she's studying at the same university as me since she was wearing the same uniform. While we were walking, she said to me, "Do you know, if I die here, you'll be the first suspect?" And oh my God, that really scared me. I ran so fast, I felt like I could outrun Flash.]