On the twelfth floor of the hotel, Martin and Bruce exited the elevator, where FBI Supervisor Nevies ca over to shake hands with him.
"Soone placed certain key items in your room," he said to Martin. "We need to enter your room."
Martin was prepared for this and said, "Okay, but my manager and I need to accompany you throughout."
Bruce, in perfect sync with Martin, interjected, "Because of the Russians, to ensure Martin's safety, I've set up so simple security asures in the room. It's possible they were captured on cara."
Nevies glanced at Bruce and said, "This way, please."
Martin took a few steps closer and asked, "What exactly happened? Are the Russians really going to attack ?"
Nevies was montarily at a loss for words.
His n stord in, a stun grenade took down three suspects, and the situation was violently controlled, resulting in the discovery of three World News Report press cards.
Through FBI channels, they imdiately confird that these three individuals were indeed part of a foreign news team from the World News Report.
The rest of the case was still under review.
"If it doesn't involve state secrets, could you divulge sothing I can talk about?" Martin tapped his chest, where the Presidential dal of Freedom still hung, "I'm the person in question and my life is at stake, you've got to give so information so I can be prepared."
Nevies quickly regained his composure and said, "Don't worry, it's not the Russians, it's three journalists from the World News Report. They bribed two hotel employees to try to install eavesdropping and secret filming devices in your room."
Martin's face showed shock: "Jesus Christ! They are too crazy!" He reacted as one would expect, "Old Cloth, call my lawyer and agent. I'm going to sue that newspaper until it shuts down!"
After speaking, he felt a bit relieved, "Thank God it's not the Russians."
Nevies smiled, "We are very lucky." He then reassured Martin, "Don't rush things. We'll deal with everything afterwards."
When they arrived at the door to the room, Martin had just taken out his key card when Bruce took it from him and swiped it to open the door.
Martin invited, "Please co in."
Nevies led several FBI agents into the suite.
Bruce found the notebook and cara he'd placed and brought them over to the coffee table, pressing the play button.
Nevies looked at Martin, "You're very careful."
Martin laughed helplessly, "I used to be quite bold, but after that incident at Burbank Middle School, life and death hung by a thread, and now I still get scared thinking about it, my courage has been waning."
"The sa," Nevies agreed, "the more you experience, the smaller your courage becos."
Bruce played the footage on fast forward, and soon they saw two servers entering the room.
Nevies gestured to his n to get to work and then asked Martin, "Can I copy a portion of the video?"
Martin responded, "Of course."
Bruce took the storage device passed to him and copied the video.
The FBI agents found three sets of covert filming and eavesdropping equipnt from the living room, the master bedroom, and the bathroom.
Martin's face was quite unsightly, and his mind was constantly recalling and pondering.
Nevies took a phone call on the side and ca back to say, "Mr. Davis, please don't let the news out for now. Keep it within a certain range. That's also what the White House wants."
The Chief of Staff had specially called him about this matter.
Recalling the previous wiretapping scandal, Martin had his suspicions and said, "I can cooperate with you, but I need an explanation—the hotel, the newspaper, and so on."
He tapped the Presidential dal of Freedom again, which, although sowhat trivial, still held so sway, "On the very day of my award ceremony, soone wanted to eavesdrop and secretly film . Their target is very clear, they want to defa . I received the honor from the White House, from the President himself!"
Nevies said, "Soone will give you an explanation within the day."
Martin sat on the sofa, "I'll be waiting."
He didn't idle away, calling WMA and Coca-Cola, and though he didn't specify the details, both sides would send representatives over.
Especially the Coca-Cola Group, which had prepared an event in Washington, D.C., had their plans disrupted by this incident, and the person in charge was also actively contacting.
......
In New York, a business plane took off urgently, flying directly to Washington, D.C.
Mokrich, the chief editor for North Arica at the World News Report, along with the hurriedly summoned lawyer Tom, were the only two passengers besides the crew mbers.
"The latest news I've got..." Mokrich explained in detail about the incident, speaking as swiftly as possible.
After giving it so thought, Tom suggested, "Three options, either deny they are employees of the news report or claim it was the personal action of a temporary worker."
"That's an option," Mokrich considered more comprehensively, "If it were just Martin Davis alone, it wouldn't matter how we handle it, but this involves the White House. Bu just awarded him... We can say he's as dumb as a pig in the papers, but we can't do that in real negotiations, even pigs want face."
Tom then said, "Let's go through legal procedures with him, with the news syndicate behind us; we could drag him out until he's done." He added, "And then force him to reach an agreent with us."
Mokrich still shook his head, he knew much more than what this lawyer Tom understood.
In London, they were investigating the World News Report over the incident of William's knee injury leak.
As for eavesdropping and secret filming, it had always been implicitly sanctioned thods of news acquisition for the newspaper and the group.
Tom didn't ntion the third option, which was evident.
Mokrich made a decision, "Two points: those three are just peripheral informants for the World News Report; reach a settlent with Martin Davis as soon as possible."
With the employer's decision made, Tom, the lawyer, naturally didn't oppose.
Mokrich took out his phone and made a call to Washington.
At the White House, Bu, after receiving feedback on the case, left this minor issue to his subordinates to handle.
The Chief of Staff found the aide responsible for monitoring progress and simply stated, "The President needs dia support."
Coen responded, "I understand."
The Chief of Staff added, "The President is also very annoyed."
Coen said, "I will facilitate a resolution as quickly as possible."
The Chief of Staff continued, "People from the World News Report are on their way; head over to the Hilton Hotel." He reminded, "The folks from Coca-Cola have arrived at the Hilton Hotel, and they have also been in touch with ."
Coen knew that he couldn't underestimate Martin Davis because there was also a powerful force standing behind him.
If Martin were to be scandalized by the World News Report, Coca-Cola would definitely drop him.
But the current situation was that Martin's montum was on the rise.
......
At the Hilton Hotel, the manager, an Asian nad Brown, entered Martin's suite.
Martin glanced at him.
After introducing himself, Brown said, "Mr. Davis, on behalf of the Hilton Hotel, I am deeply sorry for the disturbance you have experienced and I would like to offer you our sincere apologies."
He bowed deeply at a standard ninety degrees.
Martin imdiately understood, this person was either a Korean or a Japanese.
When Brown straightened up, he bowed again: "Please forgive us, Mr. Davis."
Martin remained silent.
Brown stayed bent over, giving the impression that he wouldn't rise until Martin forgave him.
Martin thought to himself that in the future, big companies should hire either a Korean or a Japanese specifically to apologize to people.
They had this talent fully maxed out.
Martin gestured with his hand: "That's unnecessary."
Brown quickly straightened up as if his spine was creaking, and said hastily, "Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Davis."
Martin was speechless, thinking that this spirit of bowing was nothing but rascality.
All talk of apologies, but no substantial action ntioned.
Martin silently cursed and went straight to the point, "This matter has been handed over to my lawyer. As for the specifics, my lawyer will discuss them with you. If we cannot co to an agreent, we'll proceed with legal action."
Massaging his back, Brown considered whether he should bow a third ti, but hearing Martin's words, decided it was unnecessary: "Mr. Davis, the hotel is also a victim."
Martin laughed and ntioned two nas: "Wolf and Berelin."
"During the Independence Day holiday, the hotel employed a number of temporary workers, and they were among them," Brown said, taking out a card and placing it on the coffee table. "This is a Hilton VIP mbership card, which entitles you to a 20% discount on bookings at all Hilton hotels."
Martin just looked at him, saying nothing.
Bruce interjected, "When Martin signed with Coca-Cola, they provided him with a Hyatt Hotel VIP card that gave him a 40% discount at all their locations."
This wasn't just about the discount rate.
Martin stood up to head to the bedroom: "I'm tired and need to rest. Old Cloth, you can talk with Mr. Brown for a while. The lawyer arranged by Coca-Cola will be here soon."
Before World News Report or News Corporation representatives arrived, Martin wouldn't reach any agreent with the Hilton Hotel.
Bruce's task was to simply drag out the negotiations for the ti being.
More than an hour later, Martin received a call from White House aide Coen, who wanted to talk to him downstairs.
Using his shock as a pretext, Martin asked them to co up if they had sothing to discuss.
From the mont he received the concrete news about the eavesdropping and voyeurism, Martin had been considering this matter: The Sun and World News Report were not key, but the News Corporation behind them demanded consideration.
If mishandled, this could beco extrely troubleso.
As for seeking justice and fairness under Arican law, he wasn't that naive.
Martin had been trying to recall the past phone-hacking scandal; it seed he read about a journalist who exposed the affair and had committed suicide.
Suicide, huh...
The Presidential dal of Freedom he had just received that day could be both useful and useless.
Moreover, he was just a spokesperson for Coca-Cola, not a favored son like Knight was to Nike.
Even if he did want to take action, now wasn't the ti.
Martin knew his place and soon determined how to respond.
There was a knock at the door, and Nevies arrived along with three people.
Upon entering, he made introductions for both sides.
Coen from the White House.
Mokrich, the North Arican editor-in-chief for the World News Report, and his accompanying lawyer, Tom.
On Martin's side, there was just him and Bruce.
The door of the suite closed, and the various parties began their negotiations, quickly reaching a consensus that the group of three journalists led by Alec, all bearing Slavic ancestry, were spies from Russia.
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