Sherman Oaks, Coty Community Council.
Chairman Harold came out of the office and came to the main entrance of the first floor. An Escalade happened to be parked in the parking space on the left side of the building.
Martin and Bruce got out of the car, Harold came out of the door and shook Martin's hand: "Mr. Davis, welcome to the Coty community."
"Just call me Martin." Martin said with a smile: "Antonio and I are old friends, and I have heard him talk about you a long time ago."
Harold also smiled: "I envy him for retiring early." He led the way: "Please come inside."
After entering the committee's office building, Bruce went to check in, while Harold talked with Martin.
There are actually many celebrities living in the Coty community. Martin is definitely not the biggest one, but he is the one with the biggest halo.
Honorary citizen of Los Angeles, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and just captured three Russian spies.
Harold took Martin to visit the exhibition room of the community committee and gave a brief introduction: "The Coty community has more than 20,000 residents, and the income level of the residents is very high. We also hold many activities every year, including community theaters in January and February. Performances, there is a dance festival in March, a music festival in April, a camping festival in May..."
Martin understood. There will be a large-scale event or community festival every month, competitions will be organized from time to time, and there will even be a red wine tasting day every week.
Upscale neighborhoods are nothing like slums.
In other words, senior taxpayers and those with mixed social assistance are in two different worlds.
Martin also asked about the source of community funds. In addition to donations from community residents, most of them come from tax rebates.
Property taxes return 1.6 cents per dollar, personal property taxes return 4 cents per dollar, and other revenue, such as public parking, is largely at the disposal of the community.
The community board has to be a non-profit organization and all that money has to be spent.
Harold came to a theater model and said to Martin: "We also have community theaters and community theater groups, which mainly serve children and young people who like to perform. Your acting skills are highly praised. Are you interested in joining and coaching the children? "
After completing the formalities, Bruce happened to come in from the outside. Hearing this, he couldn't help but murmur to himself, asking Martin, a rotten person, to guide the children, fearing that he would not teach a group of perverts.
Martin responded immediately: "No problem." He then asked: "Is there a Neighborhood Defense League in the community?"
Harold said: "Of course, are you interested?"
"I have a legal gun license and a concealed gun license." Martin has learned specifically that joining a neighborhood alliance will save you a lot of trouble when you encounter an accident in the community.
He turned and pointed at Bruce: "The two of us have pretty good marksmanship, and we also have certain vigilance and defensive abilities. We want to join."
Harold said: "This is easy to talk about. I'll fill in some information later and I'll take it to the Canyon Branch for filing."
Bruce worked hard to fill in the information again. For the bad students, this was too painful.
"There is a shooting range in the community, and shooting competitions are held from time to time." Harold specifically said: "If you have time and are interested, you can go and find out about it."
Martin said: "I'll go back and have a look."
After chatting for a few more words, when Bruce came back, Martin was about to say goodbye. Before leaving, he formally invited: "I'm going to hold a housewarming party at my new home over the weekend. People from the community committee are welcome to attend."
Harold thought about it and said, "I will definitely be there."
Martin and Bruce left the community committee, and when they returned home, they visited their neighbors with gifts, told them about the housewarming party, and extended polite invitations.
One of the houses on both sides is currently vacant, and the other is occupied by a middle-aged couple who engages in art business.
The landlord opposite is a middle-aged woman in her thirties with an average appearance.
When she opened the door and saw Martin, she looked surprised: "Martin, how did you find me here?"
Martin didn't remember knowing her. He put a smile on his face and pointed to the other side of the road: "I just moved here."
"So that's it." The woman suddenly remembered that Martin didn't recognize her and quickly introduced herself: "My name is Gillian Flynn. I work at Entertainment Weekly and attended the premieres of The Mountain Has Eyes and Jeans. Unfortunately, No chance to interview you.”
Martin presented the small gift he had prepared: "We will be neighbors from now on."
Jillian accepted it and said, "Thank you." She opened the door and said, "Would you like to come in and sit down?"
Martin declined: "I came here mainly to get to know the neighbors. I'm going to hold a housewarming party on the weekend. Please enjoy it."
Gillian smiled and said: "As long as time permits, I will go."
Martin said goodbye and walked across the street to his home. Bruce said, "I asked about them at the community committee."
"Hey, Old Boo, you don't fall in love with her, do you?" Martin is a rotten person, and he doesn't have a good word in his mouth.
Bruce replied angrily: "I'm worried about you being fucked!" He roughly said: "She has a master's degree in journalism from Northwestern University and is the deputy editor of the celebrity section of "Entertainment Weekly". She is engaged in creative writing in her spare time, mostly short stories. The house comes from her ex-husband. Divorce Proceeds.”
Martin's focus is not on the normal channel at all: "After getting divorced, he got an independent villa worth more than 2 million US dollars, so getting married is a man's nightmare."
Bruce asked: "What if Louise Meyer marries you?"
"When?" Martin said without any hesitation, "I'll go and sign with her right away to get the certificate, and I'll be fine from now on."
If he could be with a rich woman of about the same age, he wouldn't work hard to make money and do these bad things all day long.
Bruce said of another neighbor: "The Joneses are in the art industry. They have a daughter who works in the Sacred Valley."
Martin was a little surprised: "The same job as Jenna?"
Bruce nodded: "Yes, and this couple does not shy away from this. Sometimes they will talk to people about it. According to themselves, their daughter has excess hormones."
Martin could only say: "Sure enough, those who work in art are not ordinary people."
After a short rest, the two went out to do shopping again and called Mene, Jessica and others to come over to help.
The weekend soon arrived, and Martin started preparing for the party after noon. In addition to hiring a professional party company, he also called Mene, Thomas, and Jessica to come over and help.
The barbecue pit next to the auxiliary building was lit, and the vestibule surrounded the swimming pool with multiple tables and chairs, as well as a self-service area for drinks.
Just after four o'clock, Craven, Ajia and Zomi came first.
Martin took the red wine they sent and asked Emily to put it in the living room.
Craven took a look and said, "There is a lack of beauties."
Martin laughed: "This is a serious party."
Crevey pointed to the swimming pool: "Then we also need to invite some beauties in swimsuits to join in the fun."
Ajia said: "When the party is over, let's go wash our faces together."
Martin said: "I guess I don't have time today."
Louise and Kate Winslet were in the same car.
"The house is nice." Kate looked at the yard and the villa: "It's very beautiful."
Martin said deliberately: "The price is also scary."
Louise smiled and answered: "It's a pity that we lack a hostess."
Martin said directly: "If you are willing to be the hostess here, I welcome you with both hands."
Louise just looked at him and smiled, not answering at all.
Martin automatically changed the topic: "Has the date for the arrest warrant been confirmed?"
"It's OK, you and Julie are both very popular now, and Warner Bros. also wants to release it as soon as possible." Louise said briefly: "It will be released in November, so try to make news then."
Martin sighed: "We're going to cause trouble again."
Kate laughed when she heard this: "Actors of our generation all follow the crew's promotional plan. Times are really different."
"After Titanic, you will realize the freedom of wealth. The sponsorship given to you by the luxury goods industry every year will ensure that you will not follow the commercial route." Martin led the two people in: "I am still a poor guy, making money is my priority."
Louise said: "Millionaires are also called paupers?"
Martin shrugged: "In Hollywood, where the per capita income is hundreds of millions, what else do you call a poor person?"
Kate laughed again: "You are getting more and more interesting." She asked: "When you have time, tell us about spies."
Martin pointed to the door: "We have guests again, you can do whatever you want."
He went over to greet him and was met by McClain, the LAPD's public relations director.
Martin got his gun permit and concealed carry permit from him.
As for the higher levels of Los Angeles politics, he is still out of reach.
Robert Patrick and several other friends from the film industry also came one after another.
Warner Bros. executive Daniel also came over.
After five o'clock, Harold, the chairman of the community committee, led three committee members into Martin's house.
Martin introduced the guests one by one.
Harold immediately went to get close to MacLean, secretly sighing that he had gained a lot from coming here today.
It is very necessary for a manager hired by a high-end community like him to have a good relationship with the local police.
The person who attracted the most attention at the scene was not the owner Martin, nor the beautiful ladies dressed up like Louise and Kate.
But Mr. and Mrs. Jones, Martin’s neighbors.
Mr. Jones talked about his daughter with everyone: "She is very good and has attended all famous schools from elementary school to university. But God is fair and gives people an excellent mind and appearance, but does not give people reasonable hormone secretion."
Craven is well-informed and understands: “It’s also an artistic choice.”
"It's not just an art choice, it's also a job to support yourself." Mr. Jones did not shy away from it: "Someone once laughed at me for this, and I told him that I was proud of my daughter! I asked him at that time, your daughter makes money from ML How much was it? I didn’t make a penny! But my daughter made hundreds of thousands or millions.”
He also appealed: "Friends, the Sacred Valley is also a masterpiece of art, so you must support the genuine version!"
Not far away, Louise said softly to Martin: "Your neighbor is so interesting, much more interesting than the boring Olsen sisters. I will live here tonight."
Martin said, "You can be the hostess if you want."
"I'm not interested, mistress." Louise's voice was low, but it was full of excitement: "The first shot in your new home must be mine."
(End of chapter)
