The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 648

At the end of the day's military training, Matthew returned to the locker room to shower and change, then headed down a corridor in the studio's work area toward the exit. The long hallway was lined with several benches packed with people; the film crew was in the middle of casting actors for minor roles to catch up on schedule, and a steady stream of unfamiliar faces arrived for auditions each day.

Those seated on the benches watched him walk by. Although they knew a single word from him could solve all their problems, not one of them opened their mouth to greet him. The chasm in their professional standing was simply too vast.

Had he been a minor celebrity or just a working actor, they might have ventured to ask for help, but in the presence of a true superstar, the class divide created an unbridgeable gulf between them.

Although the idea that everyone is born equal was deeply ingrained in people's minds, anyone with any sense knew that class structures were very much a reality in modern society.

Matthew had no intention of stopping, and Brown followed close behind, his eyes warily scanning their surroundings from time to time.

They were just passing the waiting room reserved for celebrity auditions when the double glass doors swung open from within. An exceptionally slim and toned blonde woman stepped out, accompanied by another, shorter woman.

Matthew turned his head and saw a familiar face.

He stopped in his tracks. Though surprised to see Karolina Kurkova here, he greeted her with a casual air, "Hey, KK."

Karolina, who had her head lowered, looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. She managed a small smile and said, "Good afternoon, Matthew."

Matthew took a closer look at her. He couldn't tell if it was her lack of makeup or her low spirits, but the radiance he remembered was gone, and she looked haggard.She also seemed to have put on a little weight.

The last time he saw her, he had paid a million dollars for the experience, so the memory was deeply etched in his mind. Back then, fresh off the runway, Karolina had shone like an angel with the body of a devil—a perfect blend of wickedness and innocence.

Now, in stark contrast, the "Light of the Czech Republic" seemed to have lost most of her luster.

Matthew wondered what could have caused Karolina to change so much in the mere six months since they had last met.

Karolina looked at Matthew and said, "It's good to see you."

The smile on her face broadened.

For some reason, hearing her say that immediately made Matthew think of the million dollars. Still, he extended his hand to shake hers and replied, "Good to see you, too."

Karolina was in the middle of exchanging pleasantries with Matthew when she felt her agent, standing just behind her, give her a gentle nudge with her foot. The two had worked together long enough to have a silent understanding.

"Matthew, it's been a while," Karolina said, understanding her agent's cue. She had enough of a performer's instinct to ask, "Are you finished with work for the day?"

"I am," Matthew nodded.

A hint of her former radiance returned to Karolina's smiling face, and she seemed particularly sincere as she suggested, "Why don't we find somewhere to catch up?"

"Catch up?" Matthew's subconscious impulse was to refuse.

A million dollars for one night was too steep; even with his billion-dollar fortune, he couldn't afford to throw money around like that.

He didn't say anything, but deep down, Matthew felt a little unsettled.

Karolina seemed to sense his hesitation and quickly added, "There's a restaurant nearby that I've heard is very good. Why don't I treat you to dinner?"

Matthew glanced from Karolina to the waiting room she had just exited, the one that had been reserved for celebrity auditions for the past several days.

So, it seemed she was here to audition for the film.

Matthew answered, "Sure."

He made a mental note to check the audition list later and see if her name was on it.

It was strange, though. He had already reviewed the list of candidates for the roles he had a say in casting, and her name hadn't been on it.

It didn't make sense. For a major role, even a supermodel would have to go through a proper audition. But for a minor part, someone with Karolina's fame and status should have been a shoo-in.

Plenty of supermodels made cameo appearances in Hollywood films; Gisele Bündchen in 'The Devil Wears Prada', which he’d seen a couple of years back, was a prime example.

That kind of cameo was a win-win for both sides, and a film crew wouldn't waste a supermodel's time by making her audition for a bit part—they would just offer it to her outright.

Matthew accepted Karolina's invitation and drove her to a nearby restaurant, leaving Brown behind.

Once they were settled in the restaurant and had ordered their meals, Matthew finally asked the question that was on his mind.

"KK, were you here auditioning for 'G.I. Joe'?" he asked.

Karolina didn't deny it. "That's right."

Matthew then asked, "And which role are you hoping to get?"

"Cover Girl. A small role, just a few scenes."

Matthew recalled the character—General Hawk's confidential secretary, or something along those lines. She had no scenes after being killed by Zartan.

Matthew pressed on, "And they're making you audition for that? Isn't that a bit redundant?"

Karolina opened her mouth as if to say something, but then seemed to swallow her words.

Matthew noticed her slight hesitation and added, "KK, you're a supermodel. I remember hearing Adriana Lima say that whenever one of you top-tier models gets a role in a film, the brand gives you its full support."

While modeling and acting are two different worlds, you're not auditioning for the Baroness or Lady Jaye. It's Cover Girl, a character who's barely in the script.

"I wasn't just auditioning for her," Karolina said evasively. "I'm trying out for the Baroness as well."

Clearly, something had happened to her recently that he was unaware of.

Karolina shot him a curious look. Had he really not heard the news about her?

The truth was, Matthew didn't usually follow the fashion world. And given that his last encounter with Karolina had left a sour taste in his mouth, combined with how busy he'd been for the past six months, he hadn't paid any attention to the industry's major events.

And yet, the rumors about what had happened to Karolina had been circulating for some time.

"I've had some trouble with my modeling career," Karolina admitted. She knew her situation was hardly a secret—anyone could find out with a simple inquiry—so she didn't try to hide it. The fact that Matthew, despite some initial hesitation, had paid her price during their last "transaction" gave her a sliver of hope. She added, "So, I figured it was time to try my luck in Hollywood."

Matthew was genuinely surprised. "Problems with your modeling career?"

As far as he could recall, Karolina had once been nearly on par with Gisele Bündchen. But in recent years, Gisele's star had risen meteorically, leaving Karolina far behind.

He asked again, "What kind of trouble are you in?"

At last year's show, she had walked the runway with those "enormous wings"—the tallest in the history of Victoria's Secret.

It was fair to say her career had been at its absolute peak back then.

"Victoria's Secret let me go," she said flatly. "I'm not one of the Angels anymore."

Matthew nodded, slightly taken aback.

Karolina added, "And not just Victoria's Secret. The brands that endorsed me, like Chanel and Dior, they all terminated my contracts. My modeling career is over."

As she said this, her expression was bleak and crestfallen.

Matthew, however, could barely muster a sympathetic expression.