Chapter 458
Chapter 458
Before heading to Tom Cruise's party, Matthew made a stop at a movie premiere. It was the second weekend since the release of Dead Man's Chest, and he had made a point of visiting Hollywood's Kodak Theatre to walk the red carpet for the premiere of Wedding Crashers, produced by New Line Cinema and distributed by Warner Bros.
Matthew wasn't walking the red carpet for Warner Bros., but at the invitation of Rachel McAdams.
In the VIP lounge, Matthew found Rachel, shook her hand, and remarked, "You've gotten even more beautiful lately."
Rachel, stunning in a deep red V-neck dress, smiled, her dimples showing. "I'm so glad you could make it."
Honestly, Matthew's presence had given her a significant boost, both on set and at the premiere. Even the director, David Dobkin, had made a point to greet her, his lingering glances making it clear he was impressed.
Just after speaking with Rachel, Matthew spotted a familiar face. "I see a friend," he said. "I'm going to say hello. We'll talk later."
With that, he headed off to the left. Rachel's gaze followed, and she saw it was David Heyman, a producer with close ties to Warner Bros., currently in conversation with a stunning Latina.
"Is that what you call a good friend?"
The slightly sarcastic voice belonged to a woman with long, light brown hair who was slowly approaching. She looked at Rachel and smiled. "He leaves without even having a real conversation with you."
Rachel didn't even bother to look at her. "Think what you want," she replied. "I couldn't care less."The newcomer was Isla Fisher, an Australian actress who played her best friend in the film. Off-screen, however, the two were far from friends and had been feuding for some time.
Fisher sneered and whispered, "What did you have to do to get him here? Suck him off? I bet he got a nice blowjob out of it."
Rachel shot her a look of pure disgust but didn't dignify the comment with a response.
****
Matthew had just shaken hands with Heyman, who took the initiative to make an introduction. "Matthew, this is Sofia Vergara. She's a cousin of a friend of mine, just arrived in Hollywood from Colombia."
Matthew had already noticed the striking Latina—a tall woman with long, golden-brown hair, poured into a form-fitting, sky-blue dress paired with silver heels that perfectly complemented her modern, sensual aura.
The woman was instantly recognizable, particularly for her bust, which was as ample as Alexandra's. She was born with that indescribable yet palpable sensuality unique to Latin American women.
"Hello, Matthew." Sofia immediately extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
Matthew gently shook it. "Hello, Miss Sofia."
As he held Sofia Vergara's hand, he distinctly felt one of her fingers lightly trace a line across his palm.
At first, Matthew thought it might be accidental, but Sofia didn't immediately release his hand, a suggestive hint playing on her lips.
"Call me Sofia," Vergara said with a smile.
When her finger slid across his palm again, he gave her hand a gentle squeeze and said, "Sofia, the honor is all mine."
Releasing her hand, Matthew turned to David. "Have you set a start date for filming yet?"
David glanced at Sofia before answering Matthew. "Goldsman is still in New York, negotiating with city officials about the shoot. We'll have to wait until he gets back."
Matthew made a 'call me' gesture with his hand. "Once everything's confirmed, let me know so I can adjust my schedule."
"Of course." Just as he said that, an executive from New Line Cinema came over to greet them.
The two of them seemed to have business to discuss and quickly moved away.
Sofia's eyes never left Matthew. She had come to Los Angeles from Colombia to advance her career, only to discover that her fame as a host and model in Latin America counted for very little in Hollywood. Relying on her cousin's connections, she had started attending high-profile events to find suitable 'targets.'
Initially, she had set her sights on Tom Cruise—handsome, rich, and famous enough that a romance with him would make her name known throughout North America.
It was a good idea, but putting it into practice proved to be far from simple.
Tom Cruise was a difficult man to get close to, and besides, he was getting married.
She hadn't had high hopes for tonight's premiere—it was a relatively small Hollywood production—but she never expected to run into a star of Matthew Horner's caliber.
He was such a massive star that even back in her native Colombia, let alone in North America, Horner was a household name.
She immediately recognized him as the perfect target.
As Sofia chatted with Matthew, her mind was racing.
While Matthew couldn't guess the exact nature of Sofia's thoughts, he could tell that this fiery, sensual Latina was definitely interested in him.
And he was just as interested in her.
"I'm new to Los Angeles, so everything here is a novelty. I've been looking for someone who could show me around," Sofia said, a bright, seductive smile ever-present on her face.
Matthew caught her hint immediately. "I've been in Los Angeles for a few years now. I'll have some free time tomorrow; we could tour the city together."
"Really?" Sofia feigned surprise, then lowered her voice and exclaimed, "Matthew Horner is giving me a tour of Los Angeles? Every girl in Colombia will be green with envy!"
Matthew was about to ask for her number when an eager Sofia pulled a card from her purse and slipped it into his hand. "This is my cell number," she said.
Glancing at the string of digits, Matthew pocketed the card. "Where are you staying? I'll pick you up tomorrow."
As if sensing the subtext, Sofia replied, "I'm staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel for now. Call me before you arrive, and I'll meet you at the entrance."
Do I really have to wait until tomorrow? he thought, his gaze sweeping over Sofia Vergara again. Here was a woman with a body that might even surpass Adriana Lima's.
He'd been captivated by the passion of a Latina beauty before, and from the signals Sofia was sending, it was clear they shared similar objectives.
Of course, he could guess that Sofia's interest wasn't in him as a person, but in his status, position, and influence. She likely wanted to use this opportunity to get a foothold.
But Matthew didn't care. In a place as hypocritical as Hollywood, true love was a rare commodity. He wasn't naive enough to believe that women like Jessica Alba, Scarlett Johansson, Adriana Lima, or even Rachel McAdams over there, were genuinely in love with him just because he was good-looking.
His star status was one of the greatest assets he had in the pursuit of beautiful women.
No one could expect a beautiful woman who came to Hollywood to sleep with a male star and then want nothing in return.
To put it bluntly, everyone got what they needed.
As they continued to talk, Matthew sized Sofia up.
Based on how things were going, he would soon be able to test her out 'in the field.'
***
Meanwhile, Rachel, after a brief spat with Isla Fisher and a solo round of greeting a few important people, returned to find Matthew and Sofia laughing and talking together.
She looked at Matthew and shook her head. What happened to him?
Even now, she could clearly remember when they were in acting class together. He had been like an innocent boy, and they had been very good friends back then.
Perhaps they could have gotten together if she hadn't returned to Canada. But now, whether in the media or with her own eyes, she could see that the once-innocent boy had turned into a womanizer.
Then again, even I've changed, let alone him, Rachel sighed to herself. Can anyone stay the same in an environment like Hollywood? Can you make a name for yourself without changing?
No one knew for sure, but she knew that she, for one, would never have landed the lead roles in The Notebook and Wedding Crashers if she hadn't made certain changes to her personality.
Matthew and Sofia hit it off so quickly that by the time they walked into the theater together, Vergara had her arm around him. And when the premiere ended, Sofia accepted his eager invitation and immediately got into his car.
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