The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 463

"I tried my best, but there's so little one person can do!"

Sitting in a sleek, futuristic armchair, Matthew clutched his head, his expression pained. "I was in Africa, standing at the entrance of a refugee camp, looking at the masses of people packed inside who couldn't get enough food, or even clean water to drink."

He looked up at David. "Can you even imagine a scene like that?"

The "auditing" session was still in progress. Although it had veered slightly off course, David believed he could still steer it back and didn't interrupt. Hearing Matthew's question, he could only reply, "Yes, I can imagine. But God—"

Matthew didn't give David a chance to continue, cutting him off to add, "They were people, just like me! And all I could do was watch them, comfort them with empty promises that I would tell everyone about their plight."

For some reason, David felt this "auditing session" was starting to spiral out of control.

"There was nothing I could do then!" Matthew's voice was thick with remorse. "All I could do was watch as the emaciated starved, the thirsty went without water, and the sick lay in dilapidated tents, waiting for death. The feeling of powerlessness, the panic, the helplessness, the despair..."

His voice dropped to a low murmur. "That's why I started two charitable foundations, to try and help the refugees in Africa, but one person is not enough. I kept making mistakes and refusing to admit them. I thought I could do so much, but I discovered that what I could actually do was so limited."

At that moment, Matthew looked up at the ceiling. "I've never told anyone this, and I've always refused to admit my mistakes, but today! Here, I'm going to open my heart and confess that I made a grave error. I never should have believed that one person could save all the refugees in Africa. I should have called on more people to join this great cause long ago."

David froze, the situation now far exceeding his expectations.Matthew stood up. "Sir, please, don't stand by and watch as the people of Africa slowly perish. Don't let our brothers and sisters, who share this world with us, die for lack of food and water. This disaster isn't inevitable. We can all change its course right now, if we are willing to shoulder this responsibility together."

Hearing these words, David frowned. But in this situation, he had to say something appropriate, or all the preparations made for Horner could be for nothing.

He maintained his benevolent expression. "The Almighty God will not abandon anyone."

This was exactly what Matthew wanted. Before David could continue, he said, "Your Eminence, my charitable foundation will soon be sending aid to Africa, to do everything possible for the suffering people there. But my personal resources are far too limited. I hope for more substantial assistance."

He looked at David with grave seriousness. "We can't do anything without sufficient funds. I hope that you and the Church of Scientology will help us."

Hearing this, David opened his mouth but said nothing. He suddenly felt that he had lost control, that the man before him was now commanding the situation.

His original goal was to get ahold of Matthew Horner's wallet, so how had it turned into Horner soliciting donations from the Church of Scientology? And for reasons so compelling they were impossible to refuse.

It was a good thing this wasn't a public venue and they were the only two present, otherwise the Church would have genuinely been forced to make a donation.

Matthew sat back down in the chair. "I'm finished," he said.

And though David had yet to respond, he muttered, "I feel lighter than I ever have before. Thank you."

David, who had been momentarily stunned by the comment, was no fool. After a brief moment of reflection, he couldn't help but study Matthew. Was this man truly unburdening his soul of sin? Or was this all a deliberate performance?

He quickly dismissed the first possibility. If all the things Matthew had just confessed were "sins," wouldn't that make the man a saint?

"The Church of Scientology will find a way to help the refugees in Africa," David began patiently.

The Church of Scientology was a scavenger of others' wealth, not a charitable organization. Trying to get a donation out of them was simply impossible, and David knew it.

Matthew knew it too. As for revealing secrets and being "audited," he wasn't so naive as to blindly trust these so-called clergymen. They might believe in a god who was truly holy, but they themselves were, in the end, only human.

Perhaps those raised in the religion from childhood saw them as God's messengers on earth, but he had seen enough to know that some of them were no more "noble" than the vilest scoundrels in Hollywood.

Sharing secrets with such people was to risk being sold out in a minute.

Matthew put on a final show, standing up again and stretching his arms and legs before saying to David, "It's such a relief to finally speak all the sins hidden in my heart. I haven't felt this way in a long time."

David looked at Matthew with disbelief and stood up as well. The target had just said the audit was effective; he couldn't very well deny it himself. He quickly added, "This is precisely the effect the Church aims to achieve."

Matthew hummed noncommittally, no longer wishing to stay. "We've been out for a long time. Can we go back now?"

"Of course." David made an inviting gesture. "This way."

Following David, Matthew quickly returned to the center of the banquet hall. David excused himself and, after leaving the hall, went back to the "auditing" room and entered an adjacent chamber.

He stood before several pieces of modern equipment and said to the staff, "Play back the session."

A staff member pressed the play button, and Matthew's voice immediately filled the room. David shook his head as he listened. The recording was utterly useless; it couldn't be used as leverage against Matthew in any way.

If it were released, it would be nothing but free, positive publicity for Horner.

He couldn't help but furrow his white brows. He had been thinking about it on the way from the ballroom, and after listening to the recording again, he was certain of one thing: Matthew Horner was not easy to deal with.

This man was far more vigilant than Tom had been back in the day.

However, David hadn't expected to handle a key figure like Horner in a single night. Though he'd suffered a temporary setback, didn't he still have Amber?

With a beautiful woman to make an impression and a prolonged campaign of indoctrination, it might not be impossible to achieve their goal.

It would be even better if Amber could make Horner fall in love with her.

****

"What did you two talk about?"

In the ballroom, Tom found Matthew and took the initiative to ask, "Was it anything special?"

Matthew looked at Tom and smiled. "Definitely."

He shook his head. "I can't explain why, but I just feel so much more relaxed. I was under so much pressure before, but after talking with the venerable David, all that pressure vanished. It's amazing!"

Tom smiled knowingly, reached out to pat him on the shoulder, and said, "You should come by more often."

"I'll stop by again sometime," Matthew replied vaguely, then changed the subject, looking toward Amber Heard. "Is she a friend of yours?"

"You mean Amber?" Tom immediately turned his head to look at the young woman. "More or less. She's accompanying Katie on the terrace."

He asked, "Do you want to talk to her?"

Matthew slowly shook his head. "It's getting late. I should be heading back. I have work tomorrow."

Tom winked at the man behind him and, not insisting, said, "I'll walk you out."

At Tom's insistence, Matthew didn't refuse. They walked out of the ballroom and down the long red carpet toward the exit of the Hollywood Celebrity Center.

"When I was younger, I had severe dyslexia and psychological issues," Tom said conversationally as they walked. "After I joined the Church of Scientology and went through therapy, the dyslexia and the psychological disorder were miraculously cured."

He turned his head to Matthew. "Faith can sometimes make the impossible possible."

Matthew nodded in agreement but said nothing in reply.

****

Standing on a terrace at the Hollywood Celebrity Center, Amber could see Matthew bidding farewell to Tom, getting into his car, and driving away.

Beside her, Katie Holmes asked, "Why don't you go see him off?"

Amber smirked. "Tom already gave me his contact information, so what's the rush? The easier something is to get, the less it's valued."

She turned her head and glanced at Katie. If this simple-minded woman could be Mrs. Cruise, why couldn't she try to become the lady of Horner Manor?

It was a shortcut up the social ladder, a direct path to... fame and fortune!

On the way home, Matthew was still pondering whether Amber Heard was a honey trap. If she was, he decided, he would just let the bomb blow up in the hands of those who sent it.