The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 423

"Anna! Long time no see."

Inside the restaurant, Amanda, sporting a short haircut, rushed toward Alexandra Daddario with open arms. "It really has been a long time."

They embraced warmly, clearly on very good terms.

Matthew waited for their reunion to conclude before stepping in. "Anna, Amanda, let's get some food ordered. I'm starving."

Amanda grinned at Matthew. "I'll order you ten of the best steaks, then!"

Matthew pulled out a chair for Alexandra. Once she was seated, he did the same for Amanda before taking his own seat across from them and signaling the waiter.

After they'd ordered their favorite dishes, Matthew asked, "Have you two known each other long?"

Alexandra nodded. "About seven years."

"No," Amanda corrected. "I first met you back in 1995. That's more than ten years ago."

Alexandra gave Amanda a puzzled look. "That long ago?"Amanda explained, "We met back when you were in elementary school."

Matthew chimed in, "So you two go way back."

Alexandra reached across and took Amanda's hand. "We're more than just friends. We're like sisters."

"So, Matthew." Amanda, one of Matthew's oldest friends, didn't mince words. "You're going to do everything you can to help Anna."

"No problem," Matthew answered with a smile. "I might not have much pull when it comes to the female lead on a major project, but I can definitely recommend her to the team for a secondary or tertiary supporting role."

"Thank you." Alexandra smiled at Matthew, then told Amanda, "Matthew already arranged an audition for me."

Amanda ran a hand through her blonde hair and said to Alexandra, "I've already spoken to Helen. She'll definitely give you priority when an opportunity arises."

Alexandra nodded again. Having already been in two productions, she understood the difference between having someone in your corner and navigating the industry on your own.

The waiter brought their meals. Since both Matthew and Amanda were driving, they hadn't ordered any wine.

Matthew asked, "So how did you two meet?"

"I remember it was at a family gathering," Alexandra said, a reminiscent look on her face. "Amanda was looking after me."

Amanda swallowed a bite of her food. "Anna was such a shy, introverted little girl back then."

Matthew raised his water glass. "Here's to your friendship."

Alexandra was the first to lift her glass, clinking it against Matthew's. Amanda followed suit, adding, "To our friendship!"

Amanda and Matthew went way back; their friendship had been forged when he was just starting out in Hollywood.

Alexandra set her glass down and asked curiously, "So how did you two become friends?"

Matthew gestured to Amanda. "You tell her."

Amanda nodded. "After finishing school, I helped out at Helen's company for a while. The Angel Acting Agency was just getting started and was scouting for extras from all over Hollywood."

She gestured toward Matthew. "Then this guy showed up, applied for a job, and that's how we met."

Matthew added, "Amanda helped me out a ton back then. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have landed some of those early parts."

"Oh, really?" Amanda teased, narrowing her eyes at him.

Matthew just gave her a playful smile.

As she listened to Matthew and Amanda banter, Alexandra felt like an outsider. She glanced between them, sensing a shared history and an easy rapport that she wasn't a part of.

She couldn't help but ask, "So you were like a boss and her employee?"

Amanda pointed at Matthew. "Now he's my boss."

Seeing Alexandra's confusion, she elaborated, "I'm helping Matthew establish a refugee fund and a children's charity foundation."

"Oh, that's right." Alexandra remembered now, turning to Matthew. "You're a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR."

Matthew nodded, then made an offer. "I'm organizing an inaugural charity dinner for the foundation at a private club in Santa Monica on the 25th of next month. Anna, are you free?"

Amanda nudged Alexandra's leg under the table, and Alexandra immediately replied, "Yes, I'm free."

Matthew followed up, "Would you like to come?"

Alexandra wasn't slow on the uptake. This time, without any prompting from Amanda, she replied, "Yes, I'll be there."

Matthew glanced at Amanda. "Make sure you send Anna a formal invitation."

Amanda gave a slight nod.

Having worked for a time as a secretary at the Angel Agency, she knew exactly how crucial connections were in Hollywood.

They chatted for a little longer before Matthew glanced at his watch. "I've got work this afternoon, so I should get going."

"I thought you weren't on set today," Amanda said.

Matthew signaled the waiter for the check, then told Amanda and Alexandra, "I have a meeting this afternoon with Goldsman, the producer of 'I Am Legend,' to meet with the rest of the production team—the writer, the director, and the other producers."

He smiled at Alexandra. "I'll put in a good word with Goldsman about your audition."

Alexandra smiled back at him as Amanda waved him off. "You go ahead. Anna and I will chat a bit more."

Matthew left the restaurant and drove his Mercedes G-Class over to Warner Studios.

****

After parking his car, he got directions from the staff at the entrance and quickly found the temporary production office.

Although he was five minutes early, producers Goldsman and David, along with director Francis Lawrence, were already waiting in the office when Matthew walked in.

Goldsman himself was the lead screenwriter for "I Am Legend."

Matthew knew Goldsman well and was acquainted with David; the only person he didn't know was the director, Francis Lawrence.

"Let me introduce you." Goldsman took the lead. "Matthew, this is our director, Francis Lawrence. Francis, this is Matthew Horner."

Matthew looked across the table at a blond man in his thirties—definitely on the younger side for a director.

"A pleasure, Director Lawrence."

Matthew knew they had crossed paths once before, though they hadn't been formally introduced. He was an actor, after all, and despite his dislike for the director's biased views on black actors, he knew how to put on a professional front.

He extended his right hand for a handshake.

Francis gave his hand a limp, brief shake and said coolly, "Hello."

With that, he made it clear he had no intention of speaking further, and he immediately returned to his seat.

It wasn't overt, but the hostility from Francis was palpable. Matthew glanced at him, paused for half a second, then turned toward an armchair. As he did, he deliberately wiped his right hand on his shirt, angling his body so Francis would have a perfect view—as if he were cleaning something unpleasant off after their handshake.

Matthew was an A-list star and a co-producer on this film. Francis, meanwhile, was a director with only one credit to his name, "Constantine," a film that had underperformed at the box office.

If this director was going to give him trouble, then so be it.

Of course, Matthew's gesture was a deliberate provocation. He wanted to see if the young director would take the bait. If Francis Lawrence lost his cool and reacted, Matthew would have the perfect excuse to have him fired.

Just as Matthew had no desire to get into a conflict with a star of Will Smith's caliber, Will Smith clearly felt the same way.

Matthew and Helen had already discussed the situation and agreed that when dealing with someone like Francis Lawrence, the most direct approach was often the most effective.