The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood!

Chapter 792: The Invitation

Strolling along the beach in Rio de Janeiro, Matthew took in the azure water and rolling waves. His bare feet sank into the fine, golden sand, and the sea breeze whispered in his ears, carrying the salty tang of the ocean.

Dressed in shorts and a tank top, Matthew casually wandered onto the film set.

The beach set had been prepared well in advance. A large, Victoria's Secret-style runway stretched across the sand, where numerous Victoria's Secret Angels in swimsuits were walking the stage under the assistant director's guidance, familiarizing themselves with the layout.

"Miss Candice," the assistant director's voice called out. "Could you please change into a different colored swimsuit?"

Since filming wasn't scheduled to start for a little while, Matthew stood by and watched the Angels' brief rehearsal.

Although a few were missing, he recognized many of the models present.

Doutzen Kroes, Candice Swanepoel, Lily Aldridge, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Izabel Goulart, Miranda Kerr, Erin Heatherton, and many others.

Some of them weren't even official Victoria's Secret Angels yet.

However, Matthew didn't spot Karolina Kurkova, nor was Heidi Klum anywhere to be seen.

Still, the lineup was impressively star-studded.The soft sound of footsteps approached, and then Paul Walker exclaimed, "Incredible!"

Paul walked up beside him, his gaze riveted to the runway. "The most beautiful women in the world are all right here!"

"Interested?" Matthew asked pointedly. "Planning to ask one of them out tonight?"

Paul opened his mouth as if to say yes, but then seemed to swallow his words.

Matthew himself rubbed his chin, contemplating how he might ask a few of the Angels out.

The crew had been in Brazil for a few days, but he'd been so busy with filming that he hadn't had a chance to properly mingle with the Angels. He didn't have any scenes scheduled for tomorrow, and since the models were finishing their small part today, it was the perfect opportunity to organize a friendly get-together.

Matthew shook his head and followed Paul Walker toward the runway, where numerous tables were set up in a lounge area.

It was getting late in the afternoon, and filming was about to begin.

Walking over to a white round table where several other actors were seated, Matthew pulled out a chair and sat down next to Gal Gadot, who was wearing a swimsuit that showed off her incredibly long legs.

"Gal, you're in the wrong spot," Matthew whispered to her. "You should be up on that runway with them. You'd definitely outshine all those supermodels."

Gal Gadot gave a slight shrug. "I don't think I'd come close."

She turned her head to look at the runway and said, "This is quite the production. You brought in all these Victoria's Secret Angels just for a background scene."

Matthew smiled. "It's what the publicity demands."

Having so many Angels in the cast of Fast Five had already created a sensation in the entertainment media across America.

Gal Gadot turned back to look at Matthew, recalling some of the rumors she'd heard, and said nothing more.

How could she not be aware of the recent media storm surrounding Matthew and his ex-girlfriends? She was determined to keep their relationship strictly platonic.

Ni Ni sat across from Matthew, her gaze repeatedly drifting toward the runway. For some reason, scenes from the web novels she'd read popped into her head. Her expression shifted as she looked at the Victoria's Secret Angels. This couldn't be Matthew Horner's personal harem, could it?

Then again, with Matthew Horner's status, she thought, he probably could pull it off.

With that thought, she decisively pushed aside certain ideas of her own.

It was better to focus on opportunities in the domestic market.

Just then, the director, Justin Lin, came over and spoke specifically to Gal Gadot. "Remember to hit your marks."

Gal Gadot nodded.

Justin asked Ni Ni a question, then waited for a signal from the assistant director on the other side of the runway. He returned to his director's monitor and gestured to one of his assistants.

The assistant director stepped in front of the camera with the clapperboard. "Fast Five, scene forty-two, take one. Action!"

The clapperboard snapped shut, and the entire crew immediately went into filming mode.

It was a continuous long take. The camera first captured the swimsuit show, and after a minute, it panned over to the table where Matthew and the others were sitting. The main camera kept the Victoria's Secret fashion show in the background, while another camera moved in from the side, focusing on Matthew before shifting to Gal Gadot and Ni Ni, both in sexy swimwear.

"See him?" Matthew said, gesturing to a middle-aged Latino man standing nearby. "That's Reyes, our target."

Paul Walker added, "With six bodyguards."

Gal Gadot slowly shook her head. "No, seven. There's one hiding behind a pillar in the hallway."

Matthew nodded slightly. "This isn't an ideal setup. We'll have to change the plan."

"No need. This is a job for a woman." Gal Gadot stood up and said to Ni Ni, "Let's go."

With that, she started walking toward Reyes, followed by Ni Ni, who was also dressed in a revealing swimsuit.

The other camera panned to follow them, its lens focused on Gal Gadot's and Ni Ni's backs.

"Cut!" Justin Lin yelled at that moment.

He then went over to Gal Gadot and Ni Ni, talked both actresses through the next part of the scene, and the following shot was filmed without Matthew and the others.

"Gal has such long legs."

Sitting in his chair, Paul Walker asked Matthew in a low voice, "Did you ever try?"

Matthew slowly shook his head. "No." He didn't try to hide it. "I gave up. She wasn't interested."

Even though he was a master of the game, not every actress could be won over, and Gal Gadot had always kept him at a safe distance.

You can't force things like that.

Besides, he wasn't the type to imitate Harvey Weinstein.

The Hollywood forest was vast; there was no need to get hung up on a single tree when there were so many other attractive targets.

But if he were to seriously pursue Gal Gadot, he might well succeed. The problem was, he didn't want to give up the forest for one tree.

Matthew and Paul Walker chatted for a bit before Justin Lin called a break again. The crew then began setting up for a scene between Matthew and Gal Gadot.

The filming location was moved to a stretch of beach to the left of the runway.

On Justin Lin's direction, Matthew and Gal Gadot walked through the crowd on the beach toward the ongoing fashion show.

"A beautiful city," Gal Gadot said as they walked.

Matthew glanced at the blue sky and sea. "There's a saying in Brazil: God made the world in six days, and on the seventh, he created Rio de Janeiro."

"City of God," Gal Gadot interjected. "And Sin City."

She changed the subject. "What are your plans for the future? To keep running like this?"

"We'll be rich after this job." Matthew reached out and wrapped his arm around her slim waist. "We can find a place to retire for the rest of our days."

Gal Gadot, however, reminded him, "Don't forget, you broke out of prison. We helped you escape. The feds won't let us go that easily."

"Cut!" Justin Lin suddenly shouted, stopping the take. He walked onto the set and said, "Gal, you're not showing enough concern for the future!"

He gestured, explaining, "You should be worried about the FBI hunting you down."

Gal Gadot nodded and closed her eyes for a moment.

Justin stepped off the set. "All departments, prepare for another take in three minutes."

Today's shoot was on the beach, and the crew was on a roll after wrapping up their work at the Disney Studios in Burbank. They'd filmed a full twenty scenes in one day, including nearly an hour in the afternoon dedicated to the Victoria's Secret Angels' swimsuit walk.

As the sun began to dip toward the west, the crew successfully completed their scheduled shots and prepared to wrap up for the day.

Matthew finished his last scene and chatted with Justin Lin, who confirmed he could rest a bit, as there were no scenes for him the entire next day.

Just as he stepped away from the director's monitor, Matthew saw two tall women in swimsuits approaching him.

"Hi, Matthew." One of the women took the lead. "I hear you have the day off tomorrow?"

Matthew smiled and shook both of their hands. "Hello, Kerr. Hello, Miss Ambrosio."

The women who had approached him were Miranda Kerr and Alessandra Ambrosio, both Victoria's Secret Angels.

He was quite close with Miranda Kerr, an old acquaintance, but this was his first time meeting Alessandra Ambrosio.

"You know," Alessandra Ambrosio's words took Matthew by surprise, "I heard Kerr mention you were friends, so I asked her to bring me over for an introduction. I'm Brazilian, and I was planning on hosting a little party tonight to entertain my sisters."

She smiled. "Matthew, would you care to join us?"

Hearing this, Matthew smiled back. "I'd be delighted, Miss Ambrosio."

Only a fool would refuse such an invitation.

As soon as he finished speaking, he caught sight of Ni Ni and asked, "May I bring a friend?"

Alessandra Ambrosio exchanged a glance with Miranda Kerr and then nodded. "Of course."