The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 649

"I was driving myself mad," she confessed. "I was in a panic every single minute, with no idea what was happening."

Karolina cradled her head in her hands, as if recalling a painful memory. "I thought I was perfectly healthy. I worked out constantly, ate clean, and tried to take care of myself in every way possible."

She bit her lower lip before adding, "And yet, I was the one who ended up with health problems."

Matthew's gaze swept over Karolina, from head to toe. He couldn't see anything wrong with her figure, aside from the fact that she'd gained a little weight since the previous year.

Karolina had just given him the general outline of why Victoria's Secret, along with international brands like Chanel and Dior, had terminated her contracts.

It started right after last year's Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Barely a few weeks after he'd spent that million dollars, Karolina's health had collapsed. She began to gain weight, even when surviving on nothing but ultra-low-calorie protein powder as a meal replacement.

Years of chronic dieting and micronutrient deficiencies had led to a thyroid disorder, triggering a cascade of complications that included weight gain.

For a tall, slender woman, gaining a few pounds is nothing. But for a supermodel, it can be a fatal, career-ending blow.

The moment she gained weight, the industry turned on her. The modeling world was ruthless, driven by business, not compassion. Instead of sympathy, she received one termination notice after another.

The first to drop her was Victoria's Secret, the very foundation of her career.Victoria's Secret was known for being at the pinnacle of the commercial modeling world, but it was also notorious for its harsh treatment of models.

Because of the weight gain brought on by her illness, the fashion brands she'd worked with followed suit, terminating their contracts. Her own agency put her on suspension.

To make matters worse, the doctor who ran her tests told Karolina that her hormone levels were so abnormal they were affecting her menstrual cycle and could even lead to infertility.

Karolina's story was clearly crafted to evoke sympathy.

None of it was a lie, of course. Karolina was a supermodel; a story like hers would have been all over the fashion press. A few simple inquiries would confirm it.

But Matthew felt no sympathy for her.

Past experience had taught him to be wary, and he subconsciously assumed Karolina was using her misfortune as a ploy to win him over.

"You seem to be fine now," Matthew observed, looking at Karolina.

"You haven't lost your figure."

Karolina nodded. "I was lucky. I beat the illness and I'm almost back to my old self."

Matthew gave a slight nod. "I think you look healthier now than you did last year."

He elaborated, "You were too thin last year."

He knew just how thin she'd been from personal experience—a very expensive experience.

"I'm still recovering," Karolina said. She obviously remembered what had happened between them last year, but she showed no sign of embarrassment.

In the corrosive world of the modeling industry, feeling embarrassment was nothing short of a miracle.

Matthew smiled. "I hope to see you back on the runway sooner rather than later."

Karolina's eyes met his, and she let out a deliberate sigh. "It's not that simple."

Her smile seemed tinged with bitterness. "My agent has reached out to Victoria's Secret and the other brands I used to work with, hoping to renew our contracts, but they all turned me down."

A shadow crossed her face. "The modeling world moves so fast."

Matthew said nothing, but he wasn't surprised. The modeling world was so competitive it made Hollywood look tame.

"After my contracts were terminated," Karolina added, "the brands, Victoria's Secret included, all found new models. My spot was filled. Getting it back..."

She couldn't help but shake her head.

Those commercial brands were in it for the profit, not charity. They never had been.

Karolina knew this, and Matthew was well aware of it too.

People love to say that when you've hit rock bottom, you just have to forget your past glory and start from scratch. That you can fight your way back to the top.

It was never that simple.

"So..." Matthew began, "you're ready to try your luck in Hollywood."

Karolina didn't hide it. There was no need. "I have to maintain a certain level of visibility, or I'll be forgotten."

Her voice was filled with determination. "I can lose the weight."

Compared to the average woman, her current figure didn't have an ounce of fat on it, but it still wasn't enough for a supermodel.

Matthew remained quiet, his mind working. Thinking back to how Karolina was treated on set, it was easy to surmise that her fall from grace in the fashion world was having ripple effects elsewhere.

Otherwise, a model with a name like Karolina wouldn't have needed to audition for a part like Cover Girl.

But that was the nature of the entertainment and fashion industries.

Karolina took a sip of water, ready to get straight to the point.

She hadn't invited Matthew to dinner just to complain. And though her agent hadn't abandoned her, she had reluctantly agreed to this course of action.

On the set of "G.I. Joe," Matthew was the lead actor and a producer, giving him significant say in casting decisions...

"Matthew, I'll be staying in Los Angeles for a while," Karolina said slowly. "I'm at the Four Seasons in Beverly Hills right now."

Unlike their last encounter, Matthew immediately understood the implication behind her words.

He remained silent, however.

To be honest, the tall, slender Karolina fit his aesthetic perfectly. He wouldn't mind another... in-depth exchange with her.

The problem was the million-dollar price tag. Even with his wealth, he wasn't going to pay that again.

"KK," Matthew said, breaking the silence as he prepared to leave.

"Thanks for dinner."

He added, casually and politely, "I'll have to treat you sometime."

Karolina froze. What was happening? She knew exactly what kind of man Matthew was. Had her charm really faded so much since she'd gotten sick and gained weight?

But she was almost completely recovered now.

Matthew had no intention of spending another million dollars on Karolina, even if her change in status meant she was offering a discount.

He pushed his chair back, preparing to stand.

Seeing him about to leave, Karolina's blonde eyebrows knitted together. She spoke quickly, "Matthew, I really need this role!"

Fearing he wouldn't understand, she added, "I need the role of the Baroness."

While she still had to audition, she was confident about landing a part like Cover Girl.

But the Baroness was the film's second female lead, and there was little hope of landing the part on the strength of an audition alone.

After all, she wasn't a professional actress, and she was no longer a top model.

Matthew paused, his eyes on Karolina. He said nothing, unsure of how to respond.

He always played by the rules of the game. Even when his schedule had forced him to miss Rachel McAdams's premiere, he had been determined to find a way to make it up to her.

But the core principle was simple: if you wanted something, you had to give something in return.

Landing a role in Hollywood was never cheap.

Seeing that Matthew still hadn't spoken, Karolina pressed on. She had invited him to dinner and laid her cards on the table precisely because she knew his reputation. Compared to most men in Hollywood, Matthew was known for being a man of his word in... these matters.

The actresses who gave him their time were always rewarded.

Matthew's continued silence made Karolina realize that her offer wasn't enough.

Suddenly, she understood the problem. It was that night last year!

"Ahem." She cleared her throat. "Matthew, we had a wonderful evening together last year."

Matthew glanced at her. Earning a million dollars for a single night certainly qualified as a "wonderful evening" for Karolina.

Once was enough for that sort of thing. He definitely wasn't doing it again.

He wasn't some mogul like David Ellison, who could throw around seven-figure sums just to get a supermodel like Heidi Klum into bed.

Then again, he'd sooner spend seven figures making a girl like Emma Watson happy than waste it on a supermodel.

Karolina quickly composed herself and said with a smile, "That million dollars is still sitting untouched in my account. I've been trying to find an opportunity to return it..."