The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 418

Matthew followed Brown Williams’s gaze, but only managed to catch a glimpse of a man in a dark suit before he vanished into the crowd.

He averted his gaze and asked Brown, "What happened?"

Brown held up a beautifully designed booklet. "A man approached me and asked me to give this to you," he explained.

"A fan?" Matthew asked curiously.

The two black-and-white Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons, custom-made for him by the company, were emblazoned with the special "M-H" insignia—his initials. They were instantly recognizable anywhere in the world, so it was only natural that people would spot them.

In the past, fans had come to the Angel Agency to give him all sorts of gifts.

"I don't think so," Brown replied, having already scanned the booklet for any threats. He passed it to Matthew. "It looks like an invitation."

Matthew took it. "Let's head back to Beverly Hills."

He got into the Mercedes, and as the engine started, he looked at the brochure. Bella Anderson, sitting next to him, cast a curious glance his way.

This was clearly not a gift from a fan, but an invitation to join a club.Matthew opened the well-made brochure and quickly scanned its contents.

The club, named Holy City, hadn't been around for long, but it had already gained notoriety in Hollywood circles.

Although he had never been a member, Matthew had heard about it from Johnny Depp. This private party club in Los Angeles accepted no more than ninety-nine members a month, and each had to pass a strict screening process where the only criteria were money and power.

Secret rooms, sex, private jewelers... all the elements guaranteed to get one's blood pumping were central to the parties organized by this club.

Depp had attended one of their events and described it all to Matthew in vivid detail.

The club held monthly parties, and Depp had found the place teeming with celebrities, young models, and aspiring actors.

All attendees were forbidden from using their phones and were searched before entering. A mask was required upon entry, though many took them off soon after.

At the party, women wore provocative lingerie or were even semi-nude, while the men were dressed in suits. The atmosphere was a surreal mix of formal attire and raw promiscuity, charged with an air of casual indulgence.

On the cover of the brochure Matthew received was a passage that would be highly seductive to many.

"The club hosts monthly masquerade parties and private dinners, quarterly courses in the art of indulgence, and a series of poolside soirées in the spring and summer that will allow you to experience something truly out of the ordinary. If that is not enough to satisfy your curiosity, our humble theater will give you a reason to return again and again. Come and experience true 'high society,' my friend."

Following that were the basic membership requirements: an annual fee of $100,000 for men, while women were admitted for free, though they had to pass an extremely rigorous selection process.

It also mentioned that the female members included Hollywood stars and famous models.

Just looking at the contents of the beautifully produced, mysterious brochure was enough to get one excited, but a club so deeply entwined with sex was not for everyone.

After reading the brochure, Matthew might have dismissed the so-called club as a scam, but he had heard Johnny Depp talk about it before and knew that most of what was described was true.

It would be a lie to say that a man like him wasn't intrigued.

Bella Anderson stole a glance at Matthew. She had just seen a part of the brochure, and having worked in Hollywood for a while, she had a rough idea of what it was about. As his personal assistant, she also knew exactly what kind of man her boss was.

Matthew noticed Bella Anderson's expression but said nothing, tucking the booklet into the storage compartment in the center of the back seat.

A year ago, he would have grabbed Johnny Depp and gone with him—after all, $100,000 was nothing to him—but now he hesitated, deciding it was better to be cautious.

It wasn't that he was afraid of gossip. Unless it involved a third party or sexual harassment, it was, at worst, just talk.

Besides, over the years, the media had already branded him a certified playboy.

Still, Matthew didn't waver for long. He quickly decided to keep the brochure in the car, handy, just in case he ever truly felt tempted to go.

As they drove back to the manor, Matthew thought of Eva, whom he hadn't spoken to lately. He took out his cell phone, found her number, and gave her a call.

Despite being the female lead, Eva's character didn't have many scenes. Other than visiting the set on the first day, the crew hadn't shot a single scene with the Spartan queen.

Zack had largely postponed filming for her character.

Matthew called Eva's phone, but no one answered.

He hung up and went for a walk around the grounds. The meticulously cared-for trees and plants were full of life, and the money spent on the estate's landscaping had resulted in an impressive vista.

****

As darkness fell, Eva returned to her home, located not far from Horner Manor in Beverly Hills, her pale face visibly unhappy.

The thought of the fat, disgusting man who had been harassing her that afternoon made her feel sick even now.

That afternoon, she had been at a party for her friend, Edward Norton, a member of her social circle, where she was pestered by a short, fat man who buzzed around her like a fly.

If he weren't such a big shot in her circle, she would have slapped him across the face.

Despite her coldness, he not only refused to back down but had also demanded she come to his hotel over the weekend to discuss a film deal. And because he was such a big shot, she hadn't dared to refuse.

After changing out of her black dress, taking a quick bath, and grabbing a hasty snack, Eva collapsed onto the living room sofa and turned on the television.

Agitated, Eva kept flipping through the channels, unable to settle on any program until she landed on an ABC Television entertainment special.

The screen was filled with a close-up of Matthew Horner.

Watching Matthew on the screen, Eva thought of that fat, greasy, disgusting man and tried to push him from her mind.

When Matthew's image faded from the screen, Eva didn't change the channel. She listened to the host for a moment and realized it was a special episode dedicated to Matthew, presumably to promote Pirates of the Caribbean*.

"Matthew Horner's dedication and professionalism are well-known in the industry. Directors, screenwriters, and actors who have worked with him speak very highly of him in interviews. So, how do these people see him?"

Listening to the host, Eva tilted her head and watched the television thoughtfully, her curiosity about Matthew Horner piqued by their various encounters.

The screen flashed, and the first person to appear was Jerry Bruckheimer. His words were brief but powerful: "Matthew Horner is one of the most sincere, hardworking people I have ever met!"

Next came an interview with Stephen Sommers: "At first, I didn't get Matthew. He didn't have the qualities I was looking for, so he didn't make much of an impression on me. But once I saw him on set, I came to really like him."

Then, a reporter looked into the camera and said, "I was lucky enough to meet Matthew at a premiere. I asked to shake his hand, but he was surrounded by people taking turns getting their pictures with him. A few minutes passed, and I heard him say, 'Where's that guy? I told him I was going to shake his hand.' He walked over to me with a big smile on his face and shook my hand. I don't care what anyone says, I think he's one of a kind."

Finally, a security guard from one of his film sets appeared: "I've worked on many of Matthew's films. By the third day on set, Matthew could call everyone by name, and he was never late."

The guard had more to say about Matthew: "He's the nicest, most polite, and most talented person I've ever met. If someone tells him where he needs to be, he'll be there ten minutes early, completely prepared for whatever he's supposed to do. He also treats the people he works with well, including the assistants and the crew, who some stars treat like dirt."

Eva suddenly felt the urge to call Matthew. Maybe he could give her some advice on how to deal with the fat man. She took her phone out of her bag and found a missed call from Matthew on the silenced screen.