Entering Los Angeles Angels Club, what Harvey saw was all guns, various kinds of firearms; this was not a leisure club, but a shooting and combat training facility.
Matt Damon whispered, "He asked to et us here, what does it an?"
Harvey replied, "A show of force."
Georgina, who had co earlier, appeared and said, "This way, they are waiting for us in the entertainnt area."
Harvey followed her, speaking quietly with Georgina as they walked.
Matt Damon had an illusion that Harvey's wife, coming from over there and leading them back, seed like she was one of their people.
But on second thought, he felt it was impossible.
The sudden popping of gunfire instinctively made Harvey pause, reminded of Martin Davis's rampage at Santa Monica Pier, he felt sowhat panicked inside.
However, he quickly steadied his mind, thinking that even if Martin Davis had the audacity, he wouldn't dare to harm him.
Entering the entertainnt and leisure area, Harvey and Damon followed Georgina into a lounge where only Martin and Bruce were present.
Martin stood up to shake hands with Harvey and Damon, saying, "Have a seat anywhere."
Georgina sat across from Martin, with the table between them.
As the waiter brought in coffee and left, Bruce closed the door.
Harvey brought up purposely, "After the Cannes Film Festival, this is our first eting."
Martin explained, "I've been filming abroad, and upon my return, I ran into so trouble. I wanted to pay a visit, but I couldn't find the ti."
This wasn't a careless remark, as Georgina had indeed invited him to Harvey's mansion in Beverly Hills.
Harvey tapped on the table lightly and said, "In my plan, 'Inglourious Basterds' was ant to win the best actor award at Cannes."
"The best actor this year is ." Without any hint of insecurity, Martin said, "Harvey, we competed openly and fairly, and I won in an honorable way."
Harvey couldn't help but laugh, "Honorable? Is Isabel Adjani unrelated to this?"
Martin, unfazed, retorted, "Her? What does she have to do with ? I've heard of her, but I don't know her."
Harvey went straight to the point, "You exploited the longstanding enmity between Ajani and Yuper to sche against and the 'Inglourious Basterds' crew, snatching away the best actor award with despicable ans."
Martin spread his hands out, signifying innocence.
However, Harvey remained as assertive as ever, "You owe a debt."
Martin shook his head slowly but firmly, "Harvey, I don't owe you anything."
Had it been a year earlier, he might have continued to feign weakness, but with the Foot Clan and Face Gang having reached this point, there was no need anymore.
Harvey comnted, "We could have been collaborators, creating a new scenario in Hollywood together."
"And then I'd end up like Damon and the Affleck brothers?" Martin countered.
No sooner had he spoken than a foot slid out from under the table; encased in stockings, it rested on Martin's ankle.
With her high heels off, Georgina deliberately teased Martin while her eyes stayed locked onto Harvey.
Flirting with her husband's archenemy in front of her husband, Georgina felt a peculiar thrill; every cell and every nerve in her body tingled with excitent.
Seeing his wife looking at him, Harvey thought she was concerned for him. He nodded at her slightly and continued to tell Martin, "So debts aren't ones you can simply say you don't owe."
Martin was helpless, "One should still be sowhat reasonable in life."
Harvey began, "In the past, many actors and stars asked to be reasonable with them, and in the end, they all begged not to be reasonable. You, with your glitzy star appearance, think you can change the rules once you reach the top. Many have thought as you do, but let tell you!"
He pointed to his chest, "The rules of this circle are set by people like , and you stars, you can only survive by following the rules we set!"
These words would have been unquestionable a few years earlier.
Georgina gave Harvey a slight smile, as if encouraging him, while her foot under the table climbed higher up Martin's leg.
Martin turned his head and glanced at her casually.
Unabated, Georgina continued, now feeling an even stronger surge of that peculiar thrill.
Harvey pressed with his powerful position, "Martin, soone of your background simply cannot understand that Weinstein Films stands for more than just ."
"I'm aware," Martin said, "So, what are you trying to say?"
In Harvey's perspective, Martin wasn't yet qualified to negotiate calmly and rationally!
Just like the Actors' Guild strike that was quelled before it could burst forth, Harvey was not only the first to pressure the Actors' Guild with a firm stance on behalf of the Producers' Alliance but also the last major mber of the Producers' Alliance to reach an agreent with the Guild.
Harvey was accustod to confronting actors with a dominant attitude, with top stars such as Matt Damon, who had similar fa and appeal as Martin, still driven by him like dogs. A phone call from him, and they would have to clean up the ss he made.
"I won't force you into an uncomfortable position," Harvey seemingly said calmly, "The matter with Ben Affleck, Casey Affleck, and Brad Pitt ends here. I'll have them publicly apologize to you and each will give you a large sum as compensation. I guarantee they won't return to Hollywood for three years to engage in any work related to the film industry."
Martin fibbed with his eyes open, "Actually, it doesn't really matter to personally, but Harvey, you've got one thing wrong. The key point isn't about what I think, those three have violated the law, and the Los Angeles justice system is about upholding the dignity of the law."
What the other party said sounded like nonsense to Martin, so he countered with his own nonsense, "As a honoree citizen of Los Angeles, I have a duty and obligation to maintain the law and legal system of Los Angeles!"
Georgina almost couldn't help laughing, as both of the n beside her were wealthy and powerful, and could be of help to her career.
But looking at Harvey beside her, fat, ugly, and greasy, was off-putting.
Then looking at Martin opposite her, with his strong, handso, dashing, and a certain firmness about him.
Harvey's face darkened, warning Martin, "Playing these gas with people in the sa circle will make a lot of people unhappy."
Martin calmly responded, "Were any of you unhappy when they incited a woman to accuse of sothing that didn't exist?"
"You are the cause of this issue!" Matt Damon, with his honest-looking face, uttered words that weren't honest at all, "Are you saying the incidents faced by Pitt and Ben previously had nothing to do with you?"
Martin said, "Of course, they have nothing to do with !"
Facing this shaless, black-hearted bastard, Matt Damon, although he was shaless himself, still turned pale from the blockage.
No matter what these two said, Martin stood tall and unmoved. If he hadn't retaliated when others ssed with him, he would have been finished long ago and wouldn't be where he is today.
As Harvey and Martin locked horns, Georgina's feet climbed higher and higher, desperate to end this conversation and rush to the hotel room she had arranged, waiting for another test from Martin.
Matt Damon cared less about Pitt but wouldn't abandon Ben, saying, "Let Pitt take all the bla, it has nothing to do with the Affleck brothers. Everything Harvey said counts. On top of their compensation, I'll add an extra sum for you."
Martin was unmoved and didn't even bother to reply.
Harvey understood that there would be no outco today, and began to consider whether to start from Atlanta to expose Martin Davis's past.
He knew it was extrely difficult, as that was Martin Davis's stronghold, and Kelly Gray, who had close ties with Martin Davis, had even been elected as a mber of the Georgia state assembly.
Matt Damon wanted to speak, but Harvey shook his head at him.
Georgina initially wanted to explore further, but now she could only retract her foot, pursing her lips with regret.
Harvey stood up, "Martin, you're being unwise."
Matt Damon got up, saying nothing.
Georgina stood by Harvey's side, with a look of shared animosity, "Martin, you've crossed the wrong person. Do you want to go to war with ?"
Martin looked at Georgina, "You're the one who wants to go to war!"
Harvey held his wife back, saying, "No need for that."
The three of them took their leave together.
After they left, Harvey felt sowhat heartened by his wife's support and said softly, "Doing this could make things difficult with Kate."
Georgina replied, "It's fine, I can handle it."
It wasn't like she hadn't seen it all before.
Harvey nodded, and the three left the Angel's Club without any delay.
As they got into the car, Georgina said, "I'll go to Kate and snoop around for information on Martin—it might help you."
After so thought, Harvey answered, "Be careful, don't be too obvious. I think Kate wasn't too involved with Martin's dirty business."
"Don't worry," Georgina said with a smile. "I'll co back if I don't find anything."
Watching his wife get into another car, Harvey for the first ti felt that she hadn't married him purely for the benefits; after being together for so long, there was indeed so affection.
But the issue with Martin still troubled him. Once in the car, he said to his assistant in the passenger seat, "Call Nicole Kidman. Doesn't she want to strive for the Oscars again? Tell her to go to the Four Seasons Hotel; I want to have a thorough talk with her."
Matt Damon, accustod to this, seed not to hear and asked, "What should we do now?"
After thinking it over, Harvey said, "I'll start from the Donkey Party side, pressuring the LAPD through political channels to bail the three of them out first. The rest we'll need to strategize over the long term."
Matt Damon said, "I'll get the bail money ready."
Harvey said, "I'm going to unwind and clear my head first. My thoughts are a bit muddled now, but Nicole Kidman will help see things clearly."
Half an hour later, Harvey and Nicole Kidman entered the Four Seasons Hotel one after the other.
Almost at the sa ti, Martin and Georgina, spaced by minutes, entered the Ritz-Carlton Hotel.
Georgina had declared war on Martin, and as a man, he was bound to accept the challenge.
Martin entered the room Georgina had prepared. The fierce battle began, and before long, Georgina admitted defeat.
A good gambler honors their bets. As Georgina felt as though she were floating on air, she told Martin all of Harvey's upcoming plans.
"Just a reminder," Martin was still quite conscientious, "You know Harvey has done a lot of nasty things, and one day it will all blow up. If you get involved, it could impact your career."
Georgina didn't care, "If that day cos, I can flip him over with the back of my hand."
The pair continued to whisper and mutter to each other.
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