America Tycoon: The Wolf of Showbiz

Early in the morning, the buzzing vibration of his phone woke Martin. He reached for the device, which displayed Leonardo's name. Glancing at Louise, who was still in deep sleep, he quickly got up and went to the balcony.

As soon as he pressed the answer button, he heard Leonardo's obnoxious voice, "Martin, let's hang out!"

Martin looked back at the hanging clock and said, "Are you kidding me? It's only seven o'clock."

Leonardo retorted, "Don't you always go for your morning run at six-thirty?"

Martin responded quickly, "I played too many eagle shots yesterday afternoon and evening..."

Leonardo was confused by Martin, "I remember you don't like golf."

Martin immediately criticized, "You're really an idiot!" and reminded him, "Think about it, what does 'eagle shot' refer to?"

"A hole in one!" Leonardo, ever the bastard, caught on instantly, "Aniston was in the afternoon, who was it in the evening?"

Martin didn't answer but asked instead, "So early in the morning, where are you planning to have fun?"

Leonardo said, "I'm on the Ring Sea Road Oaks Section, just head west from your place, and be sure to cycle, we have to be environmentalists."

Since Martin was disturbed from sleep and couldn't continue resting, he quickly got washed up and glanced at his clothes from yesterday, which were wrinkled beyond recognition from the night's revelry.

Louise turned over and mumbled, "Where are you going so early?"

"Morning, dear," Martin said. "Leo asked me out for a bike ride."

Louise said, "Boring, he's the environmentalist, not you. Why cycle?" Even in her grogginess, she managed a teasing tone, "Is someone else having fun?"

Martin leaned over and kissed her cheek, "I'll be back soon."

Louise lay still and pointed out, "I've prepared some of your clothes in the walk-in closet, and there should be a mountain bike in the garage. I haven't ridden it much since I bought it."

Martin entered the connected walk-in closet and found that a section of the cabinet, usually reserved for women's clothing and bags, had been cleared out specifically for men's apparel.

There was also a note attached to the cabinet door: Martin-Davis.

He pulled out athletic wear and sneakers, dressing rapidly in apparel that fit him perfectly.

Clearly, Louise had been thoughtful.

Martin didn't say anything, waving as he left the bedroom.

After greeting the housekeeper Mary, Martin went to the garage, retrieved the mountain bike, and rode out the door.

Riding from the southern slope to Ring Sea Road, although the incline wasn't particularly steep, the route was all downhill, making the ride exhilarating.

It brought back feelings of Martin's childhood.

Back then, riding his bike down the hill, with the inevitably broken brakes, he had to slow down by dragging his feet, never really running into any trouble except wearing out the soles of his shoes.

Before long, Martin reached Ring Sea Road.

Leonardo was waiting right at the intersection.

To Martin's surprise, Tobey Maguire was there too.

Martin greeted Spider-Man and said, "Let's get moving. With so many reporters following us, we can't stand around here chatting the whole time."

Leonardo agreed, "Green travel, go wherever we want."

Martin remarked, "People who always talk about being 'green' will end up with green hair."

Leonardo, not getting the joke, turned to Maguire and asked, "Tobey, do you know what that means?"

Maguire shook his head.

Martin got on his mountain bike, "Let's go."

Leonardo and Maguire followed.

The three of them rode at a leisurely pace, chatting and enjoying the scenery as they went.

The two motorcycles and two cars following them had no choice but to travel at a crawl.

"Infernal Affairs" was in its promotional period, and both Martin and Leonardo were happy to cooperate with the paparazzi for photos.

Martin brought up a topic, "Wasn't AA supposed to get engaged this year? What about the bachelor party you mentioned?"

Leonardo looked Martin up and down, "You think you still have the energy to attend?"

"Not everyone is Leonardo," Martin spared him the embarrassment in front of the paparazzi, not mentioning the 11 seconds.

Leonardo said, "Victoria's Secret is planning an unprecedented big show this year. The prep time is long, so AA's engagement has been postponed until after the Victoria's Secret Show. Don't worry, I'll let you know when the time comes."

He asked, "The last time I saw Heidi, she was asking if you had any good ideas yet?"

Martin tapped his temple, "I've thought of it long ago."

Tobey Maguire chimed in, "You spend your holidays on them?" Discover exclusive tales on empire

Martin had become somewhat familiar with him and asked, "Is there any other fun?"

Maguire suggested, "How about joining me for a poker game in Las Vegas?"

Martin said, "Leo and I play poker too, slap, slap, slap..."

Maguire glanced at Leonardo, his eyes asking, where did you find such an extraordinary friend?

As childhood friends, Leonardo understood Maguire's expression and just shrugged.

Maguire declared, "Real poker is more fun. I'm planning to pursue a career as a professional poker player."

"It's that kind of poker game that's fun," Martin replied, his tastes differing, but he always kept a strict distance from gambling and drugs, unlike Maguire's hobbies.

Martin vaguely recalled that Spider-Man seemed to fare pretty badly with poker later on, luckily having a lifelong friend like Leonardo to fall back on.

After riding less than four kilometers, the three found a place to have breakfast before turning back.

Leonardo invited, "My other film, 'Blood Diamond,' is about to be released, and you absolutely must come to the premiere."

Martin would certainly not miss it, "Don't worry, I'll definitely be there. If De Beers sends an assassin after you, I promise to knock them all flat with a Coke."

The release of 'Blood Diamond' was around Christmas, and De Beers was concerned that it might affect public enthusiasm for buying diamonds, having more than once released statements claiming that the diamond trade association would jointly boycott the film.

But Leonardo and Warner Bros. simply ignored them.

After agreeing to meet with Leonardo later that evening to wash up, Martin turned the corner at the intersection and biked back to Sherman Oaks.

As refreshing as the descent had been, the ascent was just as torturous.

Even though the slope wasn't steep, nobody likes biking uphill.

Martin considered calling Bruce to come pick him up, then remembered he had gone to see the Kardashian sisters last night; it was better not to disturb him.

In this regard, he felt he was far more refined than Leonardo.

There was a reason why they could only rank last in their trio.

It wasn't age that mattered; it was because their standards were too high.

Suddenly there was the sound of beeping from behind.

Martin stopped and turned his head to see a red BMW parked beside him.

Elizabeth Olsen got out of the driver's seat and called out, "Hey, Martin, are you exercising? Need a lift?"

"Sure," Martin got off his bike, pushed it over, adjusted the angle, and stuffed more than half of it into the trunk before getting into the passenger seat.

Elizabeth started the car and drove up the hill toward the south.

Martin said, "This is the first time I've seen you drive."

Elizabeth countered, "I'll be 18 next year, didn't you know?"

Her words seemed to have another meaning, and Martin mulled it over without showing any reaction, "When is your 18th birthday? I'd like to prepare your birthday gift in advance."

Elizabeth said, "Next February. You don't need to prepare a gift. Your presence would be the best gift."

Martin replied, "Make sure to send me an invitation when the time comes."

Elizabeth was delighted, "No problem."

He was the one who had given her a second chance at life; if he could attend her 18th birthday party, it would be particularly meaningful.

She mentioned something, "I've switched agents. Now, like you, I'm a client at WMA."

Martin said, "WMA has gained another impressive client."

Despite her young age, Elizabeth was clear-headed, "Because I have two great sisters."

"That's because you're outstanding in your own right," Martin had seen in Forbes magazine just a few days before that the Olsen sisters were called money-printing machines.

As the car reached the south hillside, Elizabeth asked, "Are you going over to Louise's place?"

Martin nodded, "I'll get off here; we'll be in touch."

Elizabeth waited while he took the bike out of the trunk and waved, "Wait for my call."

The BMW drove into the Olson family mansion, and Martin rode his mountain bike back to Louise's place, not far off.

Louise had worked herself too hard last night and hadn't gotten up yet.

Martin, efficiently tidied up and went back to bed to catch up on sleep. After all, bike handles are nowhere near as comfortable to hold.

Meanwhile, the photograph of Martin and Leonardo's biking trip had already appeared on TMZ's website.

The internet was also revolutionizing the gossip and entertainment industry.

The third weekend of the North American release of "Infernal Affairs" had arrived, and thanks to excellent media and audience acclaim, the movie's box office remained remarkably stable.

Although it had relinquished the top spot on the North American box office charts, it still took in 17.55 million US dollars.

With the weekdays' earnings added, the North American box office soared past the 100 million US dollar mark, totaling 118 million dollars.

Following 'The Hills Have Eyes' and 'Wanted Order,' Martin had achieved the feat of starring in three consecutive films that broke the 100 million dollar mark at the North American box office.

Even if it was a movie with dual or even triple lead roles, Martin's box office draw for his next film was sure to exceed ten million dollars.

That week, 'Infernal Affairs' also opened in more markets around the world, with the number of overseas territories increasing to over 40, and the international box office earnings exceeding 60 million dollars.

Recouping the full investment through box office revenues was no longer just wishful thinking.

Warner Bros. was also stepping up its public relations for the film's Oscar campaign, as the Oscars add a significant premium to television rights and DVD sales.

A Scorsese gangster film, whose offline earnings were already substantial, would be a moneymaker with the addition of heavyweight Oscar accolades.

The main creative team got together again for a gathering.

This time, even Martin drank too much.

After getting tipsy, Scorsese hugged a lamppost in Leonardo's mansion's yard, shouting that he absolutely had to make a seventh child with his wife.

Nicholson was set to meet with Naomi Campbell that evening, aiming to relive the moments they once shared on a yacht.

Leonardo, uncharacteristically somber, cried and said his true love of this life was Gisele Bundchen, but alas, he couldn't give up so many other wonderful women just for her.

Martin, loudly proclaiming his intention to storm Washington, take the White House, and dissolve the Federal government.

The four lunatics made a racket for most of the night before finally calming down.

Luckily, Leonardo's mansion in Brentwood was big enough that no matter how loud they got, they wouldn't disturb the neighbors.

The next afternoon, when Scorsese woke up and saw the polished lamp post, he issued a gag order to the others, "Nobody breathes a word about this. If I hear even the slightest rumor floating around outside, brace yourselves for a Mafia hit."