The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 420

Light spilled from within the vast bedroom. Matthew sat on a large sofa, his gaze fixed on the walk-in closet. Its door was wide open, but the interior remained dark, likely because the daylight outside was so bright.

The closet was immense, hundreds of square feet, and his clothes had never managed to fill it since Charlize had moved out.

Matthew waited patiently for the surprise Eva had mentioned before she stepped inside.

Perhaps it was Eva’s influence, but Matthew suddenly recalled a thread he'd seen online. One user had asked another why Eva had done another nude scene. The reply was blunt: "Can you find a movie where she isn't naked?"

In his opinion, Eva didn't need to undress to be captivating.

She was the kind of woman coveted by werewolves and demons, vampires and zombies alike.

As the thought crossed his mind, the soft sound of footsteps echoed from the closet. Eva approached the doorway, then paused right at the threshold where light and shadow met.

The moment he saw her, a jolt of heat shot through him. It was a true surprise.

Eva's upper body was bare, while a thin white blanket was wrapped around her lower half. Her arms were lost in the darkness behind her, with only a small portion of her upper arm visible. The rest of her arms seemed to have vanished.

In that instant, she was Venus with her broken arms—a work of art even greater, in Matthew's eyes, than the Venus de Milo itself.But while the statue could only be admired from afar, Eva's body was a living masterpiece, one that could be appreciated to the fullest.

Eva held her pose at the door for a moment longer, then took a step toward him. As she moved into the light, he saw she was wearing long black gloves, which, against the dark background, had perfected the illusion of the armless Venus de Milo.

Matthew rose from the sofa as Eva came to a stop before him.

****

That evening, Eva stayed the night at Horner Manor. They didn't come down for dinner, not appearing until the next morning after Matthew had finished his run.

As Eva sat at the table waiting for the maid to bring her breakfast, Matthew gestured to the plate in front of her. "I asked the chef to prepare something before my run this morning. See if you like it."

Eva cut a small piece of the jam-covered toast, placed it in her mouth, and savored it for a moment. "The jam has a peculiar taste," she remarked.

Matthew swallowed some soy milk. "As long as peculiar doesn't mean disgusting."

Eva chatted with Matthew, taking small bites of her breakfast. "You were gone when I woke up. Do you run every morning?"

"Yep." Matthew gave a slight nod. "It's become a habit over the years."

Eva ate only a little more before setting down her knife and fork. She glanced sideways at Matthew. "No wonder you stay in such great shape."

Matthew looked back at her. "You're in excellent shape yourself."

Eva smiled.

Then, she suddenly recalled something from the previous day. "Matthew," she began, "I remember seeing Harvey Weinstein approach you at a premiere once. Do you know him well?"

Unsure why Eva was suddenly bringing up Harvey Weinstein, Matthew shook his head. "No, I just know of him."

Eva seemed hesitant to continue. "I see..."

Looking at her, Matthew asked cautiously, "Did you run into Harvey Weinstein? Did he give you trouble?"

Eva considered for a moment, then answered directly. "The day before yesterday, I was at a party at Edward Norton's house and ran into Harvey Weinstein there. He told me he had a lead role that would be perfect for me and wanted to invite me to the Beverly Hilton Hotel this weekend to read the script and discuss my participation."

Matthew was nearly finished with his meal. He set down his utensils and picked up a napkin to wipe his mouth as Eva asked, "I don't know if I should go."

Matthew didn't answer right away. Instead, he asked, "Do you want to go?"

"No!" Eva stated firmly. "I don't want to go at all. Harvey has made passes at me at parties before, and I don't think he's a man who can be trusted."

Matthew gestured with an open hand. "Isn't the answer obvious, then? If you don't want to go, don't go."

Eva frowned slightly. "I'm a little worried. Harvey Weinstein is..."

"Weinstein is influential and a powerful figure," Matthew said directly. "But he can't control all of Hollywood. As long as you're not planning to work in independent films, you don't have to worry about him retaliating."

He added, "Of course, it would be best to avoid him in the future."

It was similar to the situation with the distribution rights for 300*. It wasn't that he was afraid of Harvey Weinstein, but he saw no reason to needlessly antagonize such an influential producer and studio head.

Besides, Weinstein hadn't encroached on his interests yet.

Eva then asked, "Is his reputation that bad?"

"Very bad." Matthew didn't mince words. "It's an open secret that he likes to bring actresses to his hotel room for 'auditions.'"

Eva sighed. "It's just as sordid as the European film industry."

Matthew shook his head. "I don't think the entertainment industry is much different anywhere in the world."

He added, "But unlike in Hollywood, where most of these things are consensual, Weinstein has been known to use force."

"Hasn't anyone gone to the police? Or told anyone?" Eva asked.

"No, at least not that I've heard," Matthew replied. "It seems most of his victims choose to put up with it for the sake of their careers."

From what he'd heard, most of the actresses Harvey Weinstein had forced himself on were either not very influential or not well-known—like Gwyneth Paltrow.

Matthew had heard the stories about how Harvey Weinstein operated.

Many in the industry knew about it, including Quentin Tarantino, who was close to Weinstein, as well as Ben Affleck and Matt Damon. But no one had ever reported him to the police. No one wanted to clash with a Hollywood titan like him without a damn good reason.

Those who endured the abuse didn't seem to deserve much sympathy.

But in a society where speaking out wasn't the only way to get attention, a single phone call from a rich and powerful man could have far more impact than a desperate victim jumping off a building.

It wasn't just happening in Hollywood; it was happening all across North America, from business to politics to the media. There were countless cases just like it.

Matthew himself was no saint, and he didn't concern himself with such things. As long as his own interests weren't at stake, he treated it all as gossip. Who would want to go head-to-head with Weinstein if there was nothing to gain?

He wasn't some crusader, and in a country like the United States, the first person on his mind was always himself.

As for saving the actresses who went to Harvey's bed? Weinstein's victims themselves were silent, so why should he be the first to speak up? That was a grand mission best left to God.

Besides, he was probably destined for hell anyway, so it was unlikely he'd ever meet that almighty and merciful God.

After breakfast, Matthew walked Eva out, asking, "Where are you headed? Home?"

Eva looked at Matthew, thought for a moment, and said, "I have nothing to do there. My shoot starts next week, so why don't I go with you to the set? I can get used to the work atmosphere ahead of time."

She added, "You don't mind, do you?"

Matthew smiled. "Why would I mind? I'd be delighted."

As the Mercedes pulled out of Beverly Hills, Eva asked, "Are you free this weekend?"

"I am." Matthew turned the Mercedes onto the road to Burbank, glancing over at Eva. "What do you want to do?"

"I want to spend the time with you. The whole weekend," Eva said directly. "I called Edward Norton yesterday. Harvey Weinstein asked him for my phone number, and I'm worried he'll keep bothering me."

Matthew nodded. "I'll stay with you as long as you want."