Walking through the villa and out the back door, Murphy entered the garden. He followed the stone-paved path for a while until he saw an oak round table placed among a few tall palm trees. Gal Gadot and Margot Robbie sat at the table, sipping tea and chatting. They seemed to be discussing something amusing as both of them were smiling brightly.
"You're back early?" Gal Gadot noticed Murphy and asked, "Did you finish everything?"
Murphy pulled out a chair next to Gal Gadot and sat down, "Carla went to Nevada."
Margot Robbie poured Murphy a cup of tea and placed it in front of him, "Would you like sugar and milk?"
"No, thanks." Murphy shook his head and took a sip from the cup. "I prefer plain black tea."
"Are you going out again?" Gal Gadot asked, "Or are you staying for dinner?"
"I shouldn't be..."
Murphy's words were interrupted by his ringing phone. He took a glance at the caller ID and saw it was his lawyer, Robert. Standing up, he moved to the side to take the call, spoke briefly, and then returned.
Gal Gadot noticed the slight frown on Murphy's face and asked, "Looks like something came up?"
"Yeah," Murphy nodded, "Robert wants to meet; it's something urgent."
He took another sip of tea and said, "I'll go meet him at Santa Monica Beach."
"Will you be back for dinner?" Gal Gadot asked, sounding very much like a concerned wife.
"Not sure." Murphy shrugged, "I'll call you."
With that, he headed towards the villa, notifying his driver-bodyguard to prepare the car and wait at the front entrance.
Watching Murphy disappear from the garden, Margot Robbie asked, "Is it about the acquisition of Sony Columbia Pictures?"
It was an open secret among the Stanton Party, but they would never mention it to outsiders.
"No," Gal Gadot shook her head, "It's probably about Diego Ross."
Upon hearing the name, Margot Robbie knew who she was referring to and asked, "Murphy is still working on his parole?"
Gal Gadot sighed softly, "He never stopped."
Although Murphy never mentioned it, as his partner, she knew about these things. Whenever Murphy was in Los Angeles, he visited Diego Ross in the California State Prison every one to two months.
"Can that guy get out?" Margot Robbie asked.
"Not now," Gal Gadot replied honestly, "Maybe in a few years, he might have a chance for parole."
She knew that Murphy's efforts weren't in vain.
Seeing Gal Gadot's mood drop, Margot Robbie asked, "How are things between you and Murphy?"
"We?" Gal Gadot was momentarily puzzled, then understood, "We tried switching roles, but I couldn't do it."
"Really?" Margot Robbie sounded surprised, "Why could you do it when you hit me?"
Gal Gadot frowned slightly, "That was different."
Margot Robbie seemed to want to say more, but Gal Gadot raised her hand to stop her, "Maggie, let's not bring this up again."
A few days ago, they had switched roles, and when she couldn't bring herself to do it, she had mentioned using Margot Robbie as a practice subject to Murphy. After all, aside from a few harmless beatings, nothing inappropriate had happened between them. She didn't mind discussing it with her fiancé.
Although Murphy was a bit upset, he believed her and didn't hold any unfounded suspicions. However, Gal Gadot knew that this kind of playful behavior between friends had to be restrained. With Murphy's personality, if she continued to use Margot Robbie as a test subject, Murphy might end up punishing Margot Robbie harshly...
That wasn't the outcome she wanted to see.
After all, this was a game exclusive to her and Murphy.
"Are you two getting married soon?" Margot Robbie skillfully changed the topic, "You've been engaged for a while."
Gal Gadot smiled, "No rush."
She said it, but internally she felt some urgency. Yet, since Murphy hadn't brought it up, she didn't feel right pressing the matter.
"Work is too busy," Gal Gadot found a strong reason, "We need to finish our current projects first."
Margot Robbie reminded her, "With Murphy's nature, work will never be completely done."
Gal Gadot smiled but didn't say anything further. She was still under thirty and could afford to wait...
At the front of the villa, Murphy got into the black Rolls-Royce Phantom and instructed the driver, "To Santa Monica Beach, south of the old pier."
The matters concerning Diego Ross's parole efforts weren't suitable for public exposure. Whenever they discussed these topics in detail, Murphy and Robert would meet in a quiet, usually deserted area—the place he mentioned to the driver.
After relentless efforts and substantial financial expenditure, there had finally been some progress. Although Diego Ross was a heavy offender and unlikely to be paroled soon, there was a significant chance he could be released after a few more years in prison.
Murphy didn't want to see his friend die miserably in prison.
Having been imprisoned himself, Murphy knew what kind of place that was. Even if Ross didn't care now, as he grew older, the fear of dying in prison would certainly consume him...
Some hardened criminals, in their old age, even committed suicide out of this fear.
The longer one stayed in prison, and as they aged, even someone like Ross would undergo significant changes.
The gates of Wave Manor opened, and the black Rolls-Royce Phantom exited, turning onto the quiet road and heading towards Santa Monica.
"Hmm…"
Seeing the Rolls-Royce Phantom leave the manor and speed past her car, Daisy immediately started her engine. Although she couldn't see who was inside due to the special glass, she noticed two people in the car and recognized the driver who frequently accompanied Murphy Stanton.
Could Murphy Stanton be heading out again?
With that thought, Daisy followed the car. The Rolls-Royce Phantom soon left Beverly Hills and headed towards Santa Monica.
Daisy didn't know why, but she felt sure that Murphy Stanton was in the car ahead, and she followed without hesitation.
"Sir…" the driver noticed the tailing Ford and informed Murphy, "There's a reporter following us."
Murphy waved dismissively, "Ignore them."
There were always reporters tailing him wherever he went, and he was used to it. He wouldn't have taken this car out if it bothered him. He would meet Robert inside the car, so there was no risk of reporters overhearing or capturing any footage to analyze via lip-reading.
Being cautious, Murphy had ensured the car was equipped with special equipment that distorted any recording attempts, rendering them useless.
It wasn't about being paranoid; some matters required basic preventive measures.
As for the reporters taking photos or videos from a distance and writing speculative articles, Murphy had long ceased to care about such things.
"Where could they be heading?" Daisy wondered as she watched the car turn onto Pacific Coast Highway, "It's not swimming season."
Despite her curiosity, she maintained her speed, following the car down the highway.
The Rolls-Royce Phantom continued south, then turned onto a quiet road leading to an old pier in Santa Monica. Daisy had been here countless times and knew the area well.
"Heading to a secluded place?"
Daisy felt a surge of excitement, "If Murphy Stanton is in that car, a quiet place is perfect for making a move."
She hoped the Rolls-Royce Phantom would stop at the most isolated spot.
As if answering her prayers, the Phantom passed the old pier, drove another half mile, and then came to a stop.
Daisy quickly braked, parking about a hundred feet away from the car ahead.
After parking, she put on a hat to cover her bright blonde hair, placed the small handgun hidden under her coat into her coat pocket, and grabbed the camera she used to pose as a journalist. Then she stepped out of the car.
The door of the Rolls-Royce Phantom opened, and a strong-looking white man got out first. Daisy, having tailed Murphy for so long, recognized him as Murphy's driver.
Then, she saw the rear door open and a very familiar figure step out.
"Traitor!"
Seeing Murphy, Daisy muttered the word under her breath, "Damn traitor!"
Seeing the quiet surroundings, she started walking towards Murphy.
On the other side, Murphy left the car and stood by the guardrail on the seaside, checking his watch. He was about ten minutes early, thanks to smooth traffic and few red lights. Robert wasn't there yet.
"Miss…" the driver-bodyguard's voice suddenly sounded, "You can take photos, but don't disturb Mr. Stanton."
Murphy turned and saw a female reporter with a camera, getting closer while taking pictures. Behind her was a somewhat old Ford car.
With just one glance, he recognized her as the reporter who had been following him.
Having worked in this field before, Murphy knew reporters worked hard to make a living. As long as they didn't disturb him, he didn't mind them taking photos.
At this stage in his career, being constantly followed and photographed by reporters was as normal as drinking water and eating food.
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