In the master bedroom on the second floor, Elizabeth Olsen entered the walk-in closet, took out a brand-new Brioni suit, and handed it to Martin, who followed behind her.
"Do you want to co with you?" she asked.
The walk-in closet was spacious enough for Martin to change into the suit in front of the mirror at the doorway: "You're flying to Europe tomorrow to help your sisters prepare for Milan Fashion Week, so you should stay ho and rest tonight."
He put on the suit jacket, and Elizabeth ca over to help him with his bow tie, jokingly saying, "Are you afraid I'll join Scientology?"
Martin replied, "You're the saintess of the Cola Cult; we can't have Scientology snatching you away."
"Or maybe I should try to brainwash Tom Cruise's wife, Katy Hols." Elizabeth was of course joking as she pulled out a large suitcase and began to pack her luggage.
Once Martin was dressed, he put on a Cartier n's watch and, seeing there was still plenty of ti, he helped Elizabeth.
As Elizabeth packed her clothes, she said, "I'll be in Milan for a while, and I've forgotten to tell you that I've invested in my sisters' fashion brand and am now the third largest individual shareholder of 'The Row'. I have to hustle for the brand."
Martin teased, "So you're a little rich lady now."
"I am basking in the glory of your light," Elizabeth turned around with a particularly sweet smile. "Thanks to you, my endorsent fees are quite expensive."
Martin rembered the Olsen sisters' business was doing very well, and said, "Are your sisters still accepting investnts? I can lend you so money to start."
Elizabeth put away her smile and said seriously, "I'm afraid they won't be able to pay back if they fail."
Martin was straightforward: "It doesn't matter; it can be repaid in other ways."
Elizabeth laughed again and turned to continue packing her luggage.
When the ti was right, Martin went downstairs and joined Bruce and ne, who had co over specially. They got into a Cadillac and headed to Tom Cruise's ho in Beverly Hills.
The two residences were not far apart, and Tom Cruise's mansion occupied a small hilltop on its own.
Under the night sky, lights illuminated the entire hilltop.
The Cadillac arrived at the entrance, where Bruce showed the invitation, and the security personnel opened the gate. The car drove up the slope for several minutes before reaching the parking lot.
Tom Cruise and his wife, Katy Hols, ca over to greet them.
Martin got out of the car with Bruce and ne accompanying him.
Cruise smiled and shook hands with Martin: "It's a bit late, but I still want to congratulate you on winning the Best Actor at Cannes."
"Thank you," Martin also smiled, "Tommy, thanks for your help."
The two spoke as Hollywood celebrities.
Cruise formally introduced his wife, Katy.
Martin introduced Bruce and ne as well.
The two of them headed towards the mansion together.
There weren't many people at the party tonight. Tom Cruise introduced Martin to everyone; so Martin already knew.
Like John Travolta, whom he had dealt with at the Cannes Film Festival, the soccer star couple David Beckham and Victoria.
The ones he didn't know were also well-known figures in the entertainnt industry, such as Elvis's daughter, the singer Lisa Presley, and young actress Elisabeth Moss, among others.
All were either mbers of Scientology or potential recruits the church wanted to develop.
Cruise was leading the way to the staircase.
Descending the main staircase to the second floor was a middle-aged man in a gray suit, sporting a typically large Jewish nose.
This man walked down a bit and then stopped, standing on the third step, noticeably taller than the others, looking down at the entire living room with a commanding gaze.
His eyes finally rested on Martin.
As if waiting for Martin to approach him on his own.
Martin, however, stopped well in advance, standing seven or eight ters away, calmly observing the man.
Cruise noticed sothing was off in the atmosphere and looked at Martin, "Co on over, let introduce soone to you."
Martin remained immovable.
Having agreed to honor Cruise's invitation, Martin naturally ca prepared and knew who the middle-aged man waiting for him to approach was.
At this mont, he was not a Hollywood star, but the Sect Leader of the Cola Cult.
Of course, Martin's thoughts were not overly complicated.
It was all just a question of who could outdo the other in pageantry, and as a Sect Leader with millions of followers, Martin feared no one!
The widespread belief in the Cola Cult was a faith in its own right.
With no choice, Cruise introduced, "Martin, this is David Miscavige, the Chairman of the Board of the Scientology Technology Center."
Martin nodded slightly in that direction.
ne stepped forward and said, "I am ne, the High Priest of the Cola Cult, and this is Supre Leader Martin Davis of the Cola Cult."
Only then did Cruise rember Martin's other identity.
David Miscavige, the successor to Scientology founder Hubbard, made a welcoming gesture towards Martin and stepped down from the podium.
Martin walked toward him as well.
The two shook hands exactly at the midpoint between them, exchanged a courtesy, and then entered the living room together, sitting on two adjacent armchairs.
This was a dialogue between sect leaders.
It was sowhat akin to a philosophical discussion.
The others took their places in the surrounding seats.
This wasn't quite what David Miscavige had expected; he had hoped to attract a large group.
But the other party made it clear with their actions that they were equals in status, both supre heads of their respective churches.
David himself seed to exude personal grace and leadership qualities, as if born to lead.
But as he began to speak, he sounded very much like a charlatan, "Over the past year, my spiritual energy kept signifying to that an important Scientologist had erged in Los Angeles, one who has eradicated evil but has also been tainted by it, in urgent need of purification."
Martin didn't respond, as if he didn't understand.
David continued, "When Tommy told about you, I knew that Scientologist was you. Seeing you today, I am certain that you have been contaminated by evil in the process of fighting it. If you do not purify yourself in ti, your soul will suffer ailnts."
In this theistic society, talk of the soul can be quite beguiling.
The CEO said, "Purification will ignite the power of your soul, allowing you to ascend, to unbind your mind to the ends of the universe. One day, Earth will be destroyed, but the ascension of the soul will let you continue to roam the cosmos after its demise."
Those affiliated with Scientology, including Tom Cruise, were all nodding their heads.
Martin thought to himself, can people really talk such big ga? Well, let's blow so smoke together then.
Scientology had developed for decades and built a complete doctrine; Martin, being an academic slouch, would not compare, so he decided to borrow from it.
"Thanks for the kind offer, but I will not be needing purification," he said lightly. "The Cola Cult has its own protection."
Martin sat erect and composed, his handso appearance revealing maturity and a quietly proud deanor. In terms of personal appeal, he outshone David by far.
He calmly stated, "The faith of the Cola Cult sits atop the highest pinnacle of the universe, where there is a grand palace; the master of this palace is a supre deity. Under him are twelve lead gods, each with their own divine powers. My soul has road among them and received their endorsent and assistance."
David shook his head, "The power in this world cos from the individual's soul. Scientology uses science to purify and activate a person's energetic life force, leading them to realize their self-worth. Tommy is a pri example."
This was Scientology's biggest promotional tool, and Tom Cruise quickly took over, "I suffered from severe dyslexia. After joining Scientology and undergoing purification, my dyslexia healed on its own, and I beca who I am today."
Martin cracked a slight smile—no way he could leave his story half-told, "Before I turned twenty, I was just an ordinary, good-looking kid from the slums of Atlanta, owning nothing."
He spun his tale, "One day, I dread of the supre deity who had two lead gods unlock my talent—one in charge of arts and the other proficient in combat. Since then, I have been exceptionally gifted in both areas."
Having reviewed Martin's history, David knew about his teoric rise from an obscure poor kid to a top Hollywood star and Arica's national hero—the very embodint of the Arican Dream.
Why would soone from the slums with no education, ability, or background achieve such success?
rely because of his good looks?
Deep down, David Miscavige started to believe there might be so truth to Martin's words.
Martin continued, his tone casual, "I have never been a soldier, nor undergone military training. So why my skill in combat? Because my innate talent in physical fighting was enhanced!"
Tom Cruise and others felt there was so rit to Martin's words.
For ordinary people to achieve what had happened to Martin was almost impossible.
Of course, they wouldn't waver in their own faith.
The Beckhams, whom Scientology had been keen to recruit for years, felt differently.
They found Martin's words more credible than Scientology's teaching.
Perhaps the supre deity he spoke of was another incarnation of God.
After blowing his own trumpet, Martin went back to stating facts, "Under normal circumstances, how many years would it take for a church to grow to tens of millions of followers? Scientology took decades to reach a few million, but the Cola Cult was established in less than four years."
David suddenly realized that the party intended for absorbing Martin into the faith had turned into a debate, and he had been thoroughly bested.
He tried to regain ground, "The Cola Cult is a comrcial sect, a type of wide-reaching faith."
Martin couldn't help but laugh, "If I rember correctly, Tommy introduced you as a chairman of the board, didn't he?"
Tom Cruise, a core mber of Scientology, took the initiative to divert the conversation, "I have prepared a lavish dinner. Shall we go to the banquet hall?"
Martin stood up first, "Perfect, I'm rather hungry."
Tom Cruise led everyone into the banquet hall, and Katy Hols had the servants serve the al.
This ti, David Miscavige was much calr, no longer on about purifying others' souls at every turn.
After the dinner, Martin took the initiative to say goodbye.
The Beckhams followed suit, and caught up with Martin in the parking lot after leaving.
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