The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 716

It would be a lie to say she wasn't attractive—a woman so mature, capable, and beautiful, with a distinctly Middle Eastern air about her.

She looked a bit like Anne Hathaway, but more mature and intellectual. More importantly, she was a lawyer.

Frankly, Alma Alamuddin was the most beautiful lawyer Matthew had ever seen.

Matthew's gaze swept over Alma again. A woman of exotic Middle Eastern descent, she had a captivating face, long, smooth legs, a law degree from Oxford, and a master's from New York University. To top it off, she wore a fashionable and sophisticated Chanel dress...

Wasn't this the very picture of a Mary Sue heroine from a novel?

This beautiful lawyer was incredibly appealing. While she might not have outshone a Hollywood actress in pure looks, her status as a lawyer set her apart.

Her professional identity also served as a reminder to Matthew that with some things, it was better to be cautious. Even if he decided to act, he would need to be prepared and have a fallback plan.

This woman had approached him of her own accord, which meant she wasn't just some common fame-seeker. And she certainly wasn't an idiot—you don't become a lawyer by being a fool.

"Are you joking, Miss Alamuddin?" Matthew deflected, changing the subject. "I'm just a good friend of Miss Watson, nothing more."

Alma's arched eyebrows drew together slightly, unsure if she was being rejected.A beautiful woman like her, making the first move, was being turned down?

For the sake of her future, she had just played her final card. Could all the stories she'd read have been fake? Was Matthew Horner actually a decent man?

Of course, that wasn't it. The situation had just unfolded so unexpectedly that his cautious side had taken over.

"I'll tell you what, Miss Alamuddin," Matthew added. "I'm meeting with Mr. Watson and Mr. Kane tomorrow at noon. I'll make a decision after that."

Alma understood at once that Matthew wanted to hear the law firm's opinion.

"I hope to hear good news," Alma said, standing and extending her hand.

"I'm very much looking forward to our collaboration."

Matthew shook her hand. "I'm very interested in the results you mentioned."

Although he hadn't given her an outright refusal, he had left her with enough hope.

Alma Alamuddin, seemingly unfazed by his earlier words, continued to chat and laugh with Matthew. Before she left, as if afraid he might change his mind, she repeated her earlier promise: "As long as we're working together, I will deliver on everything I've said."

Matthew, of course, didn't hide his interest and shook her hand again. "I'm very much looking forward to it."

***

Matthew returned to the second-floor dining room to find James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender having dinner.

"She just left?" James McAvoy looked skeptical. "Are you sure you're Matthew Horner? I thought you two would've gone straight upstairs to get a room."

Matthew ate his steak without looking up. "Am I that kind of guy?" He swallowed his food and stated flatly, "We were discussing serious legal matters."

And he wasn't exactly lying. The professional representation they'd discussed was, in fact, a legal matter.

Michael Fassbender, however, grew thoughtful. "I had no idea there were such beautiful female lawyers in London."

James McAvoy clapped him on the shoulder. "Michael, don't even think about it. That beautiful lawyer came to Matthew on her own initiative. You think they're all like that?"

"Ah..." Michael Fassbender let out a long sigh. "Why am I always one step behind?"

Matthew pointed a finger at the two of them. "Aren't you two going to be in X-Men? There will be plenty of beautiful women on a big film set like that, and you're both playing leads. It shouldn't be hard to attract a few."

"I don't know if there will be any other beauties," James McAvoy chimed in.

"The production has only just confirmed the director and us, the two leads. The other roles won't be cast until the second half of the year, or maybe even next year. I hope whoever plays Mystique is a beauty, and not a black girl."

A trend was gradually emerging in Hollywood where a major protagonist role on a film set would be given to a black actor.

According to James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, in the new X-Men film, the main characters were Professor X, Magneto, and Mystique. Since they were both white, they worried that due to the current social climate, Twentieth Century Fox might cast a black actress for the main female role.

Political correctness in mainstream commercial cinema was at an all-time high.

"What's wrong with black girls?" Michael Fassbender countered. "You haven't experienced how good they are. It's truly extraordinary. You'll never know until you try it for yourself."

Matthew waved a hand. "Forget it. I'd rather not know."

After dinner, the three of them went to the bar for a drink and were back in their rooms before nine. They had filming the next day, so they all needed to get to bed early.

The next morning, Matthew had only two scenes to shoot. Afterward, he booked the same private room at the hotel as the day before. Around noon, he met with Kane, the head of Doughty Street Chambers, but Emma's father didn't show up. Instead, Emma herself arrived.

Emma made the introductions and then excused herself. Matthew spoke with Kane for over half an hour, and they essentially confirmed a working relationship between them.

The Doughty Street Chambers law firm specialized in international business in addition to its UK practice. Since his lawyer, Wilson, was an entertainment lawyer focused solely on Hollywood, Matthew and the firm reached a preliminary agreement to cooperate on international affairs.

In addition to his film business, Matthew now had a charitable foundation and various social activities, with tentacles stretching into the international sphere. Although he hadn't faced any major disputes yet, the need for legal support in the future was inevitable.

Of course, this was just an agreement in principle. Matthew would still have to discuss the details with Amanda and Doughty Street Chambers.

However, for the time being, Matthew had already agreed to retain Doughty Street Chambers to handle the legal services regarding the incident with the paparazzi's secret filming.

At the end of their conversation, Matthew specifically asked about Alma Alamuddin, of whom Kane spoke very highly.

It was only natural, then, for Matthew to suggest that she be the lawyer to handle his case this time.

The client had made a request, and Kane had no objection.

After all, it was a minor case, and Kane was more interested in the potential for future collaboration with Matthew.

Even for a renowned law firm like Doughty Street Chambers, famous throughout Europe, Matthew was a top-tier client.

After their discussion, both parties agreed to sign the agreement on Saturday afternoon. He had no scenes scheduled for that day, so there was plenty of time to visit the law firm.

That afternoon, Alma called Matthew and asked him to have dinner with her that evening to discuss the case.

Matthew politely declined, as Emma was staying with him at the Hilton and clearly had no intention of leaving just yet.

Even he hadn't expected that one day beautiful women would be lining up to get into his room.

Matthew also arranged to meet with Alma on Saturday evening after the contract was signed.

As for the idea of inviting Alma over while Emma was still there...

It wasn't that the thought hadn't crossed his mind, but his brain was still functioning. The outcome would clearly be anything but pleasant.

In fact, it was better to maintain their current relationship as good friends.

***

After the day's filming wrapped, Emma approached him and followed him to his dressing room.

Anne Hathaway's expression was sour. Ever since the scandal between Matthew and Emma had broken out, she had stopped speaking to him about anything other than work.

She had once fantasized about Matthew as a noble prince, but it was now clear that was impossible.

Given her personality, she had immediately put Matthew on her blacklist.

***

"This is our last night in London."

In the restaurant, Emma took a bite of her vegetable salad. "I'm leaving tomorrow afternoon."

Matthew asked curiously, "Where to?"

Emma swallowed a mouthful of diced vegetables and replied, "First, I'm going to Rhode Island to visit Brown University, and then I'm heading to New York for a promotional event for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince."

"The Harry Potter series is already on its sixth film. You were so little when I first met you."

Emma ignored Matthew's comment and asked instead, "When are you coming back to Los Angeles? I might be going there too."

"Not sure yet. May at the earliest," Matthew said briefly. "After the London scenes are done, I still have a few scenes to shoot in Tokyo before I can return to L.A."

They chatted as they ate, and after dinner, Emma followed Matthew back to his suite.