Chapter 598: Chapter 598: Party Begins!
Emerging from the hotel, Martin spotted a Mercedes-Benz bus. He followed Leonardo and Nicholson inside, only to discover that it was a spacious RV.
Leonardo exclaimed, "Let our romantic journey commence!"
Nicholson donned his sunglasses, looking effortlessly cool. "Leo, what you've arranged pleases me greatly. I've decided not to prevent your marriage to Lorraine."
Leonardo was momentarily speechless. "I'm truly grateful."
Martin settled onto a plush leather couch, suggesting, "Let's kick off our Happy Bus adventure!"
Bruce swung open the access door to the cab, made his way to the passenger seat, and instructed the driver to start the engine.
The large bus rolled away from the hotel entrance, heading towards another hotel.
At the entrance of the second hotel, a doorman turned to his colleague and said, "Cover for me, I need to use the restroom."
His companion nodded, saying, "Hurry back."
The doorman reentered the hotel and swiftly made his way to the men's restroom located by the lobby. Inside a stall, he pulled out his mobile phone and dialed a number. "Sir, they're on the move."
On the bustling main road, a silver-gray Citroen merged seamlessly into the traffic flow. Rogers, the driver, remained composed, given that the conspicuous Mercedes-Benz bus in front could be seen from quite a distance.
He inquired, "Boss, should we tip off the reporters?"
Tom Hardy, in the co-pilot seat, shook his head. "Not yet. They might not stay on the bus for long. We'll keep a discrete distance for now."
Rogers cruised slowly, trailing behind with a hint of envy. "Just three of them, the trio of bastards. How many women have they gathered? And they're using a bus to pick them up. Aren't they afraid of complications?"
Tom Hardy didn't need to hide his true feelings with his confidant. "I wish they'd all meet a sudden demise!"
He sighed, "Nicholson's lucky. Martin and Leonardo consume so many industry resources. Premium opportunities always go to them first before trickling down to others. For people their age, who wouldn't want them gone?"
Rogers observed the bus in front turning towards a hotel and alerted, "Boss, they're heading to the hotel to pick someone up."
Tom Hardy decided, "Let's move to the hotel's parking lot."
The Citroen swiftly entered the parking lot, positioning itself where it had a clear view of the hotel's main entrance.
Not far behind, a black unmarked car also entered the parking area.
The two bodyguards inside watched as multiple vehicles made their way into the hotel's parking lot, one after another.
Most occupants promptly exited their vehicles, making their way either to the hotel or nearby establishments.
These two were professionally trained, and while their combat skills might not be exceptional, their tracking and identification abilities were top-notch.
Their attention was simultaneously drawn to a Citroen nearby. No one had exited the vehicle, but there was an arm resting on the open passenger window.
There were at least two individuals inside the car.
The driver hesitated. "Hold on a moment."
The individual in the passenger seat nodded slightly and retrieved his cell phone, ready to notify Bruce whenever necessary.
In the Citroën, although they were at a distance, Tom Hardy spotted a group of about a dozen tall and stunning young women at the hotel entrance, led by Russian supermodel Natalia. They boarded the bus one by one.
"Those three scoundrels are truly something!" Tom Hardy muttered under his breath.
As others prepared for a lively party, surrounded by an abundance of Eastern European beauties, Rogers couldn't help but feel uneasy. He suggested, "Boss, we should report this."
Tom Hardy nodded firmly. "Let's tail them and find out their destination."
The Mercedes-Benz bus started moving, gradually maneuvering out of the hotel entrance. Rogers waited a moment, then started the Citroën and followed suit.
Natalia led her companions onto the bus, coming face to face with the three male protagonists of the evening.
Nicholson, sporting sunglasses and slicked-back hair, exuded the air of a seasoned Hollywood actor, radiating effortless coolness.
Leonardo, dressed in a formal suit, still retained his youthful handsomeness from a decade ago, though the passage of time had left him broader and more robust.
Martin, donning casual black attire, showcased his muscular physique even when seated. Paired with his sunny and easy-going demeanor, he made Nicholson appear like a villain and Leonardo like a supporting actor.
Natalia whispered to her companions, "Ladies, you're free to choose whomever you wish. There won't be any pressure from them or me."
With that, she confidently approached Martin.
Her career had been put on hold due to her marriage, but Natalia had always remained connected with the supermodel circle. She knew of the existence of the fashion supermodel group and the sole test involved in joining. She had also overheard several companions discuss the challenging nature of enduring the group's initiation.
Of course, she had set her sights on Martin.
Marina Alexandrova saw Natalia take the lead and quickly followed suit. Her sole goal for the night was Martin Davis.
Svetlana Kudchenkova, who shared a good rapport with Marina, strode confidently toward Martin without hesitation.
Sasha Ruth, the youngest among them, opted for Martin after only a brief moment of contemplation.
Others gravitated toward Leonardo and Nicholson, settling on the couch opposite them.
Martin extended his arms, placing one around Natalia and another around Marina. Sasha Ruth and Svetlana joined in.
The five of them huddled together, swaying and bumping as the bus rumbled on.
Martin initiated a conversation, inquiring about each of their names.
He had heard of Natalia for some time, mentioned by KK and Natalie Polly. She was a Russian supermodel, but upon seeing her in person, his previous impression felt somewhat hazy. In another lifetime, she appeared to be associated with a particular group, almost like a princess.
Svetlana's face was immediately recognizable to Martin. Any other roles she might have portrayed had faded into obscurity, but her portrayal of Lady Viper in "The Wolverine 2" remained etched in memory. She played a pivotal role leading to the climax of "Wolverine 3."
Although Sasha Ruth appeared youthful, Martin still recognized her as the lead actress in a Luc Besson action film from his previous life.
As for Marina, she bore a striking resemblance to Catherine the Great, a historical figure Martin had encountered numerous times in short videos.
Juggling conversations with these four simultaneously, he couldn't afford to neglect any one of them, even provoking a bit of friendly competition among them. Martin had undergone extensive training for situations like these.
If they were to start a social media group chat right now, Martin believed it would soon branch off into a dozen smaller groups.
Martin managed to steal a glance at Leonardo and Nicholson.
The individuals on Leonardo's side seemed unfamiliar to him, but they all bore the hallmarks of youth with their blonde hair and long legs.
Across from them, Nicholson was accompanied by a familiar Russian model named Irina.
Martin clapped his hands, and his voice resonated through the luxurious RV, "Gentlemen and ladies, we've journeyed halfway across the globe to convene here tonight. In commemoration and celebration of our gathering, I propose a toast."
"Cheers!" Leonardo chimed in, raising his glass.
The others concurred, their glasses lifted.
Before Martin could stand up, Marina took the initiative, inquiring Martin's preference, and then skillfully poured champagne into each glass.
They all raised their glasses and toasted together.
Sasha Ruth had taken Marina's seat next to Martin. She remained quiet, offering a warm smile to Martin before sitting down.
The ride wasn't as smooth as a train, with its occasional stops and starts. Amidst the clinking glasses, a cellphone rang. Natalia swiftly retrieved her phone and switched it to vibrate. "Apologies," she said.
Martin waved it off with a friendly smile, "No worries."
Inside the RV, there were no efforts to block signals, and there were no restrictions on using mobile phones. They simply enjoyed each other's company, chatting like old friends.
Martin initiated lively conversations, relishing the intriguing tales and personal anecdotes shared by the four women.
Natalia, with her wealth of experience, currently resided in Paris, still closely tied to the fashion world.
Marina lived in St. Petersburg and had a background in formal art education.
Sasha Ruth had been discovered in a Moscow flea market as a teenager and ventured into the world of modeling.
Svetlana, aspiring to break into the Western market, was an actress.
Since Martin harbored no significant American biases against Russians, the five of them enjoyed an animated conversation.
---
On the streets of Paris, as the Citroën turned another corner, it continued to trail the Mercedes-Benz bus, maintaining a discreet distance.
Inside the marked car, the two individuals were now certain that they were being followed.
"Perhaps it's the French paparazzi," the driver speculated.
The co-pilot nodded in agreement, "Regardless of who it is, we should report this."
He dialed a number and, as soon as the call connected, relayed, "Bruce, we've got a tail, a silver-gray Citroën, the license plate number is..."
Bruce inquired, "Are you sure it's the paparazzi?"
The co-pilot paused momentarily before responding, "Not certain. Hold on."
The driver understood the unspoken communication and accelerated, overtaking the Citroën on one side.
The co-pilot observed closely and noted that as they approached an upcoming intersection, the Citroën once again caught up due to traffic in the lane.
After another glance, he picked up his phone again, "I didn't spot any filming equipment. It might not be paparazzi or reporters."
Bruce instructed from the other end, "Continue to monitor them."
The two bodyguards in the marked car remained vigilant, their focus trained on the Citroën ahead.
Several cars crossed behind them, maintaining their distance.
In one of the black commercial vehicles, Marina's uncle sat, overseeing the situation. Compared to the previous two vehicles, these were more professional, strategically tracking multiple vehicles along different road sections.
From his vantage point, he made arrangements to ensure the safety of Marina. As a possible hidden child, she had been undercover for a considerable time, and he needed to guarantee that the evening's party proceeded smoothly.
Yet, Martin Davis was no ordinary individual. In the event of an emergency, Marina had the assurance of immediate assistance.
Despite his involvement in a shadowy profession, family remained a priority for her uncle.
In the Citroën, Rogers observed the bus heading southwest and commented, "They seem to be heading towards the 16th District. I suspect the destination might be a luxurious mansion in the suburbs."
Tom Hardy, with a hint of coldness in his voice, remarked, "I hope they make it to the front page of the French newspapers tomorrow."
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