The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood! Chapter 40

Matthew gave Helen a concise account of his dealings with Ilana, from their first meeting to the deal they'd struck. After everything that had transpired, a fundamental level of trust had formed between them.

"So, you told her you hate Christina Aguilera," Helen stated, pacing back and forth in the dressing room. "And you slandered Michael by claiming he was a fan?"

Matthew held up a hand. "It's not slander," he said earnestly. "For all I know, he really is a fan of Christina Aguilera."

Helen didn't bother to entertain the argument. "You're not actually friends with this Ilana, are you?" she asked.

"No," Matthew admitted frankly. "I just happened to run into her near Jonny Lee Miller's estate back when I was driving."

He continued, a hint of reluctance in his voice, "Michael was offering his ass to Martin Jackson, and I had no cards to play. It was the only thing I could come up with."

"Jonny Lee Miller? Did your company provide... special services for him?" Helen's mind was clearly racing, latching onto a different detail. "Jonny Lee Miller is Angelina Jolie's ex-husband, and she's the one who helped you."

She shot him a sideways glance. "You met Angelina Jolie at Jonny Lee Miller's estate, didn't you?"

Matthew just shrugged, his silence a clear admission.

Hearing this, Matthew couldn't help but marvel at the woman's ability to connect the dots.

Helen stepped closer to Matthew. "You filmed that video, didn't you?" she asked.

That would explain why a star of Angelina Jolie's caliber would help a nobody actor from Texas with zero connections.

"Ahem." Matthew coughed into his fist, offering a wry smile. "Helen, maybe keep it down."

When Matthew made no move to deny it, Helen adjusted her glasses, her eyes wide with astonishment. "You have some serious nerve."

Matthew spread his hands helplessly. "How else was I supposed to get a part in 'Girl, Interrupted'?"

Helen was momentarily speechless. After a brief pause, she asked, "Are there any other secrets I should know about?"

She had already observed that Matthew was a private person, but now that he was finally opening up, she wanted to get everything out of him. "Spill it," she demanded.

Matthew was about to bring up Winona Ryder, but he caught himself. He'd signed a non-disclosure agreement. He shook his head. "No. I haven't been in L.A. that long. What kind of secrets could I have?"

The words were barely out of his mouth when he remembered something else. "Oh, and I was the one who told Ilana about Britney's rivalry with Christina Aguilera. I overheard one of her crew members talking about it."

Helen nodded, her tone turning cautionary. "Don't mention that to anyone but me. You're on good terms with Britney now, and you need to keep it that way for as long as you can."

"Right," Matthew agreed, but the thought of the persistent journalist lingered. "What about Ilana?"

At the time, he couldn't think of another way, so he'd had no choice but to go to her. Looking back now, he realized his plan had been full of holes.

Helen asked, "Do you have her contact information?"

Matthew handed her a business card. Helen took it, a thoughtful look on her face. "She's bold and audacious. I'll see if I can cultivate a partnership with her."

Matthew blinked in surprise. "A partnership? With her?"

Helen replied seriously, "You've got a certain level of fame now. To maintain it, you need the media's attention. Having a journalist in your pocket, someone to plant a story now and then, makes that a lot easier."

"Do all Hollywood stars do that?" Matthew asked.

Helen nodded. "Most of them. The press and Hollywood stars are two sides of the same coin." She glanced at her watch. "The makeup artist will be here soon. I'll handle everything. Your only job right now is to film this video. And if you can charm Britney in the process, all the better."

Matthew wasn't so sure. He was out of his depth in that department and worried that coming on too strong might have the opposite effect.

When the makeup artist arrived, Helen left the makeshift dressing room. Matthew's thoughts shifted to his next role. That should have been his agent's job, but considering the realities of Hollywood, a good agent was essential. And right now, he knew he couldn't find anyone better than Helen.

Sure, major agencies like CAA were more powerful in Hollywood, but he figured a client at his level would just be one of many "nobodies" on their roster. He doubted the resources they'd allocate to him would be any better than what he had now.

After all, he hadn't even finished this job, and Helen had already lined up another part for him.

...

An hour later, Matthew emerged from his makeshift dressing room, and an assistant named York led him to the top of the pier.

"Matthew, over here!" From her spot on the pier overlooking the ocean, Britney Spears was waving at him. "Come on!"

Since the crew was about to film wide shots of the beach, the actors' rest area had been moved onto the pier. Matthew ducked under the canopy where Britney was sitting, casually pulled up a chair, and sat down beside her.

"You took forever in makeup," Britney teased, clearly comfortable with him now.

Matthew grinned. "That just means my makeup artist isn't as good as yours." His gaze drifted down her smooth leg, bare beneath her shorts, and finally rested on her ankle. "Is it hurting?"

"It's fine." Britney got up and took a few steps, then did a little twirl in front of him. "As long as I don't do anything too strenuous, it's no big deal."

Matthew stood and gently guided her back to her chair. "You shouldn't mess around with an injury like that."

Britney's expression was playful. "What's the big deal? You can just carry me to the hospital again."

Matthew retorted, "The hospital's a long way off, and you're heavy."

"I'm heavy?" Britney asked, her eyes widening in mock offense.

Matthew realized his mistake. Seeing the crew approaching, he quickly changed the subject. "Looks like it's time to start shooting."

Britney saw them too and let it drop, though she shot him a playful glare. "Fine. Let's get to it."

Sure enough, the crew was approaching to call them to the set. Due to Britney's injury, Zack Snyder had altered the concept for the video, scrapping the choreographed dance numbers. Instead, the focus would be on capturing the unspoken affection between the two leads.

The beach set was ready. After Snyder gave his directions and Matthew and Britney ran through their blocking, the cameras started rolling.

For the wide shot, the cameras were positioned far away. Matthew stood barefoot at the water's edge and began to walk along the shoreline, just as Zack Snyder had instructed, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where the sea met the sky.

As the script required, he appeared completely lost in the beauty of the sea and sky.

The sea was magnificent, as was the beach, but the vast blue sky was the most stunning of all. A few white clouds drifted lazily overhead. Walking along the sand, feeling the gentle breeze and gazing up at that endless sky, felt relaxing, spontaneous, and utterly refreshing.

Perhaps it was the result of all his recent hard work, or maybe it was the burgeoning connection he felt with Britney, but for whatever reason, in that moment, Matthew felt completely in tune with the beauty of Paradise Cove.

Across the set, Britney watched him, embodying the lovesick heroine of the script. Her eyes never left his, her expression that of a young girl completely smitten.

"Cut!" Snyder's voice boomed through a megaphone, echoing across the beach. "We got the shot!"

He then yelled, "Alright, everyone, we're moving to the restaurant for the next setup!"

No one could say exactly why—perhaps it was just the natural chemistry between them—but Matthew and Britney performed so well together that the crew wrapped up four days' worth of shooting in just three.

When the shoot wrapped and the crew began to disperse, Matthew planned to ask Britney to dinner. But Helen called and told him to get back to Los Angeles immediately—a new role was waiting, and he had an audition the next morning.