The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 577

Matthew wasn't sure what Amanda was getting at. "What do you mean?"

From his perspective, the two charitable foundations were operating smoothly. They received the large sums of money he donated each year, and while the primary motivation for the donations was tax avoidance, they genuinely helped a great many people.

Furthermore, thanks to his own fame and influence, they had raised enough funds to support many people in desperate need.

Every six months, the Matthew Horner Refugee Fund sends a large shipment of supplies to Africa; every month, Matthew's Children's Charity Fund selects suitable beneficiaries for funding.

Although the two foundations weren't established with the purest of intentions and couldn't compare to truly dedicated philanthropic organizations, they were undeniably doing good deeds. They regularly had significant charitable funds to spend, which was far better than most celebrity foundations that exist in name only.

Of course, he had also benefited considerably from them, a fact he would never deny.

Amanda said seriously, "Society is changing so quickly right now, especially the feminist movement."

"There are some things you might not want to hear, but as a friend, I have to warn you." Amanda looked at Matthew intently.

"The rate at which you change girlfriends could cause you problems in the future. Not everyone is like Jessica Alba or Scarlett Johansson. What if someone who doesn't get what they want comes forward and accuses you? It might not matter now, but with the way the feminist movement is growing, it will cause a lot of trouble once it becomes as politically correct as the issue of race."

Matthew replied, "I've never forced anyone.""That doesn't mean you won't have problems with it," Amanda countered with a slight shrug.

Matthew thought about it for a moment. If, in the future, it really became as sensitive as the issue of race...

It was also possible it wouldn't become quite that sensitive.

However, Amanda's words served as a reminder that all his relationships had to be based on mutual consent, not coercion, intimidation, or any other underhanded methods. After all, there were very few foolish women in this business.

As for harassment, coercion, and the like, he had never done it and never would.

Still, Matthew didn't dismiss Amanda's words out of hand. "So, what are you suggesting?" he asked.

Amanda thought for a moment before answering, "Rename the Children's Fund to the Foundation for Women and Children, and add women's aid and the protection of women's rights to its mission."

Matthew considered it. "Not a bad idea."

He looked at Amanda. "You take care of it. Work out a plan with Helen."

It would be good for the foundation and for him. Given his conduct, the chances of encountering the situation Amanda described were low, but not entirely impossible.

***

The day after his conversation with Amanda, Matthew flew to Geneva, Switzerland.

Geneva is Switzerland's second-largest city, renowned for its concentration of international institutions. These include the European headquarters of the United Nations, the UN Environment Programme, the World Health Organization, the International Labour Organization, the UN Refugee Agency, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, and many others, all based in the city.

Upon his arrival, Matthew was naturally received by representatives from the UNHCR and checked into a hotel near the Palace of Nations. The entire hotel had been booked by the UN, so conference attendees didn't have to worry about food or lodging. After recovering from jet lag, he took a tour of Geneva, returning to the hotel restaurant for dinner that evening where he spotted a familiar face.

A girl with long brown hair was sitting alone at a table, picking at a vegetable salad that barely looked like a salad, frowning with every bite. It was as if she wasn't enjoying a meal but enduring a great torture.

She looked to be about sixteen or seventeen. With every frown, even her nose crinkled, highlighting the faint freckles just below her eyes.

Matthew picked up his plate and walked over, his eyes occasionally glancing at the girl's face. Her features were well-defined, with the ends of her eyebrows, the corners of her eyes, her nose, and the corners of her mouth all sharp and distinct.

As he reached the table, Matthew stopped abruptly and looked at the girl with deliberate surprise. She noticed him and looked up.

"You're..." he began, a hint of wonder in his voice. "Emma Watson."

Matthew immediately broke into a smile. "Do you remember me?"

Emma recognized him at once. She put down her fork and quickly stood up. "Of course. We met at Pinewood Studios a few years ago."

"That's right." Matthew nodded. "You were heading to the restaurant with Harry Potter and Ron Weasley."

As he spoke of dinner, he gestured to the chair opposite her. "May I sit here?"

Emma's lips curved into a smile on one side, accentuating their lines. "Of course," she said.

Matthew set down his plate and sat across from her. "It's only been a few years, but you've really grown up."

"I can't stay a little girl forever." Emma offered another crooked smile, then studied Matthew for a moment. "You, on the other hand, haven't aged at all."

Matthew pointed to his own face. "I'm only twenty-seven. Am I supposed to be getting old already?"

This drew a short laugh from Emma. She then asked curiously, "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here for the UN General Assembly," Matthew explained. "I'm a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador, so I was invited."

He then asked her, "And you?"

Emma gave a slight shrug. "I'm a representative for the Foundation for Women and Children."

"Is that so." Matthew nodded, a look of understanding on his face.

They were both in the entertainment industry. Matthew didn't need to say much more; although Emma was younger, she had been in the business just as long as he had and understood how many things worked.

They spent the rest of their dinner chatting. Paced by Matthew, the two of them quickly grew comfortable with each other. He was quite impressed by her.

"I saw you back then and thought you were handsome," Emma recalled of their first meeting. "Then I snuck into a theater to see you as the Scorpion King and thought, you must have muscles as hard as stone."

Matthew deliberately flexed his arm in a muscle-man pose. "Actually, they're harder than stone."

Emma, not one to be shy, pointed across the table at his arm. "Can I touch them?"

She added, a little bashfully, "It's a childhood dream."

"Of course."

Emma reached out a finger and poked Matthew's bicep through his long-sleeved shirt.

"Not quite what I expected," she murmured. "It feels solid, but at the same time, it feels like the muscles could change shape at any moment."

With that, she sat back with a smile. "My childhood dream has come true."

Matthew smiled back. "Emma, you can give me your mobile number. The next time you want to fulfill a dream, I can help."

Emma's eyes suddenly narrowed at him, the corner of her mouth, which she habitually quirked, rising higher and higher. "My number?"

She asked pointedly, "You do know I'm a minor, right?"

"What are you thinking?" Matthew waved a hand. "I'm not interested in children."

"I'm not..." Emma started to object, but since she was the one who had just mentioned being a minor, it was hard to argue. Instead, she simply held out her hand. "Give me your phone."

Without a word, Matthew took out his phone and handed it to her. She keyed in a string of numbers, entered her name, and dialed her own phone. When she heard it ring, she hung up, saved the contact, and handed the phone back.

"I'm definitely going to Hollywood in the future. I don't know many people in America, so if I run into any trouble, I'll call you, and you have to help me!"

Matthew declared with conviction, "I'll be at your service."

Emma took out her own phone, deleted the recent call from her history, and asked, "Is anyone else from the industry coming to this Assembly?"

"Natalie Portman." Matthew shook his head. "Other than her, I don't know anyone else."

***

Matthew and Emma chatted for another half hour before going their separate ways.

"See you, Matthew." Emma waved to him as she headed for a taxi at the restaurant entrance. "See you tomorrow."

Matthew waved back.