The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 474

Inside the hotel's vast ballroom, a tall man raised his glass and declared, "Let's all congratulate Maria! A toast to my daughter!"

A dozen people raised their glasses in unison, and a chorus of congratulations erupted for Maria.

Winning the women's singles title was cause for celebration for any tennis player, and Maria had been riding a wave of euphoria ever since her victory. She'd had a little to drink when she got back—not in public, of course. To hell with American laws.

She downed another glass of champagne, a warm blush rising to her cheeks.

The ballroom was still buzzing with activity, but the crowd around Maria had started to thin. It was then that her father approached.

"I saw you talking with Matthew Horner?"

Hearing her father's question, Maria didn't deny it. Instead, she raised an eyebrow. "I was so thrilled the organizing committee had Matthew present the award to me! It was one of the most memorable moments of my life!"

"What did you two talk about?" A certain thought flickered through her father's mind.

"Well..." Maria answered, making no effort to hide anything. "Matthew said he was a fan and wanted an autographed picture. As it turns out, I wanted one of his too, so we chatted for a bit."

Her father replied, "If he wants one, you should give it to him."He'd recently read some entertainment news. Matthew Horner's salary, if he remembered correctly, was something like twenty million dollars per film...

"I'll call him when I get back to my room."

Maria pulled her phone from the inner pocket of her jacket, followed by a photo of herself from the tournament. She had chosen it carefully, convinced it was one of the most beautiful pictures ever taken of her on the court.

Bzzz!

Her phone vibrated unexpectedly. Maria glanced down at the screen and saw an unfamiliar number.

She slipped away to a quieter corner of the ballroom and answered. The moment she started speaking, her already jubilant expression transformed into one of pure excitement.

She returned shortly after the call ended.

"What is it?" her father asked, noticing her strange expression. "Who was that on the phone?"

Maria waved the phone in front of her father's face. "It was Matthew! Matthew called me! He's on his way over!"

She grabbed her father's arm. "Come on! He'll be here any minute!"

Without a word, her father followed her, drawing the stares of a few people in the ballroom.

But what surprised the onlookers was that instead of heading downstairs, the pair went up.

Why go upstairs? The top floor of the hotel was a terrace with a helipad. Who would leave the middle of a party to go enjoy the night breeze?

Maria dragged her father onto the brightly lit rooftop terrace. In the distance, faint lights appeared in the night sky, and the low roar of an engine gradually reached them.

Others followed them out onto the terrace one by one. By the time the last person had joined them, a helicopter was slowly descending from the sky.

"What's going on?" the people behind her wondered aloud.

"Dad! It's Matthew!" Maria exclaimed, pointing at the helicopter. "Matthew's here!"

Her father shielded his eyes, the powerful downdraft from the rotors kicking up a fierce wind. Through the gaps between his fingers, he could clearly see a medium-sized white helicopter approaching the helipad on the roof.

"That Horner is certainly extravagant," he muttered, though the roar of the engine completely swallowed his words.

Maria paid no mind to her father behind her. Despite the powerful wind blasting against her, her eyes were wide, fixed on the white helicopter as it touched down on the helipad.

The helicopter door slid open, and out jumped the man himself—Matthew, the very person who had presented her with her award just hours before.

He'd spotted her from the aircraft and now headed straight for where she stood at the front of the group. Her long blonde hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and a pair of casual jeans accentuated her incredibly long legs.

Matthew walked right up to her, extended a hand, and said in a perfectly chivalrous tone, "Maria, may I have the honor of inviting you on a tour of New York City?"

Maria pressed a hand to her chest, seemingly too flustered to speak.

"Will you join me?" Matthew asked again.

Maria finally reacted, nodding eagerly.

Matthew lifted his outstretched hand slightly, and with a flutter of excitement, Maria placed her own hand in his.

"Wait!"

A man's voice, faint against the roar of the wind and the engine, called out. Matthew saw a middle-aged man, even taller than Maria, striding toward them.

Maria glanced over her shoulder and saw her father hurrying over.

She looked back at Matthew and the helicopter, then turned to her father again, a sudden worry creasing her brow—what if he was going to stop her?

Matthew had the good sense to take a step back, putting a little distance between them.

Her father pressed the autographed photo into Maria's hand. He glanced at the helicopter, then at Matthew, and gave his daughter a light pat on the back. "You can go," he said.

A happy smile spread across Maria's face. She took Matthew's hand and said, a little impatiently, "Let's go."

Matthew led Maria to the helicopter, gave the pilot a nod, then pulled out a pair of noise-canceling headphones and fitted them over her ears.

It was a luxury passenger helicopter, and once they took off, the noise inside the cabin subsided enough for them to talk comfortably.

Matthew was the first to remove his headset, and Maria followed suit.

"Here," she said, holding out the signed photograph. "This is what you asked for."

Matthew took it and declared, "This is the most valuable gift I've received all year."

He carefully tucked the photo into his suit pocket. "I'll treasure it."

Seeing this, Maria beamed with delight.

"I'm sorry," Matthew said suddenly. "I forgot the autograph I had prepared for you back at my hotel. How about we go get it after our tour of the city?"

Maria nodded.

"Sit here," Matthew said, gesturing to the window seat. "You'll get a perfect view of New York at night."

The helicopter flew smoothly, and Maria moved to the seat across from Matthew. Peering down through the window, she saw New York glittering below, a vast tapestry of neon lights.

"I've never seen New York like this before," Maria said, captivated.

Matthew knew there was no need to rush. He'd learned a thing or two over the years; once the foundation was laid, the rest would naturally fall into place.

He simply sat with Maria, enjoying the night scenery. A nineteen-year-old girl, especially one who'd spent so much time in cloistered training, could have her defenses worn down rather quickly.

Matthew leaned closer. "Feels like you've got the whole city at your feet, doesn't it?"

Maria didn't quite catch his meaning and looked at him in confusion. Matthew simply pointed in the direction of Arthur Ashe Stadium. "You conquered New York today."

"I don't know about that," Maria replied, but her heart began to beat a little faster.

Two things had happened today that she knew would thrill her for a long time to come: winning the US Open women's singles title, and meeting Matthew Horner.

The helicopter flew along the Hudson River until it was out over the ocean, then circled near the Statue of Liberty and climbed high into the sky above Manhattan. Maria gazed down at the buildings below, asking curious questions from time to time.

"We're almost at my hotel," Matthew said, looking at Maria. "Why don't we head over there to pick up that autograph?"

After their journey, Maria's goodwill toward Matthew had only grown, and she had no intention of refusing. "Of course," she said.

Matthew picked up the intercom and told the pilot to head back. Less than ten minutes later, the helicopter was descending slowly, touching down on the helipad atop a Manhattan hotel.

After they disembarked, Matthew led Maria to an elevator that took them down to his floor.

"Here we are," Matthew said, stopping in front of the door to his luxury suite.

Maria, who was still letting him hold her hand, asked curiously, "Why aren't you opening the door? Did you forget your key card?"

Matthew smiled. "I have a surprise for you."

Without waiting for her to respond, he pushed open the suite's double doors.

As the doors swung inward, Maria's eyes widened. She brought a hand to her mouth, unable to contain her astonishment.

The suite was filled with flowers—all red roses, her favorite.