The Best Movie Actor In Hollywood! Chapter 56

With Britney currently in the spotlight, the music video premiere had attracted nearly a hundred media outlets. The sprawling media center was packed with journalists, and as Matthew walked in, he even spotted cameras set up for a live broadcast.

Guided by a staff member, he took an inconspicuous seat near the front of the media center, just as he had at the last press conference, with Helen standing behind him.

Matthew had only limited experience dealing with the media, and Helen's presence reassured him. Even if a reporter noticed him and threw some tough questions his way, he wouldn't have to worry.

"Who was in your room last night?" As he escorted Britney to the media center's check-in desk, her agent asked curiously. "You ordered food for several people."

At the thought of the night before last, a sweet smile tugged at the corners of Britney's lips. But she remembered Matthew's words, felt he was right, and replied casually, "No one. I was just hungry."

The agent declared, "You shouldn't be eating so much. You need to stay in shape."

The comment reminded Britney of Matthew's remark about her "supple waist" and the feel of his rough hands caressing her. She nodded. "I know. I'll stay in shape."

Britney paid no mind to the reporters. Her eyes first found Matthew, and when he looked back, she gave him a sweet smile before taking her seat.

Her agent stood behind her.

Given Britney's current popularity, the premiere had not only drawn a large crowd of journalists but was also being broadcast live on MTV2, thanks to a deal her record label had arranged.

(MTV2 is an American pay television channel owned by the ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks division of ViacomCBS. In February 2015, approximately 79,416,000 American households were watching MTV2.)

...

In the San Fernando Valley, a district of Los Angeles, lay a multitude of film studios and their affiliated agencies, one of which was Hanson Entertainment Agency Services.

Morris was one of the partners at Hanson Entertainment Agency Services—a small-time agent, but one who had carved out a niche for himself in the entertainment industry, with his own private office.

He sat at his desk, glanced at the quartz clock on the wall, calculated the time difference between New York and Los Angeles, then picked up the remote, turned on the television, and flipped to MTV2.

Sure enough, MTV2 was broadcasting the live premiere of Britney Spears's music video for "Sometimes." At that moment, the video was just starting. A hot and sexy Britney Spears swayed her hips, performing a sizzling dance with a group of young men and women on a beach. Then the camera cut away to a tall, sun-kissed, and fit young man, and Britney gazed at him shyly, her eyes filled with what looked like adoration.

Morris absentmindedly rubbed his bald head, his expression blank. The young man's face was familiar—it was Matthew Horner, whom he had seen just a few days ago.

He was the male lead in a Britney Spears music video.

This fact wasn't too difficult to accept. After all, Morris had made a special call just yesterday to confirm that Matthew Horner had indeed passed the audition for the new project Band of Brothers, produced by Tom Hanks and Spielberg. It was a very significant role, and both parties had already signed an official contract.

Morris's feelings could only be described as mixed.

It was hard to stomach the fact that a guy who had almost starred in a porn film was now making a name for himself in Hollywood and seemed to be on the verge of stardom.

Especially since this was the same person who had caused him so much trouble.

Watching Britney and Matthew gaze into each other's eyes in the music video, Morris stroked his bald head and mused that there was no way he was going to stand by and let that bastard get famous.

Was he just going to forgive all the trouble Matthew had caused him?

A sudden knock came at his office door. "Come in," Morris said casually.

A tall, handsome young man entered. Morris gestured for him to take the seat across from his desk. "Make yourself at home, Michael."

This was the young actor he had "persuaded" outside a bar several months ago. After a period of hard work, and the fact that this fool named Michael had been so broke he had almost no money and no legitimate work, he had been lured by the high pay and had finally signed on as a contract actor under Morris. He had just finished shooting an adult film.

Today, Morris had called him in specifically to negotiate a new contract, which, according to trade association rules, would allow them to sign an official long-term agreement.

Michael had just sat down when he heard a noise behind him. He turned his head and saw that the television directly across from the desk was showing some program, which turned out to be a music video.

In the video, a young, sexy, and beautiful girl was performing a hot dance.

"Britney?" Michael definitely recognized the video's star. "Is this her music video?"

Then the scene changed. On the beach, Britney was in an embrace with a young man, and Michael's face instantly flushed. "Matthew!"

His voice was laced with boundless hatred.

Morris heard it clearly and couldn't help but ask with curiosity, "You know Matthew Horner?"

"Of course, I know him." At the mention of Matthew, Michael felt a burning pain in his backside. He pointed at the television and shouted, almost hysterically, "I was supposed to be the lead actor in that music video! The director had decided I would be the lead! Matthew used some dirty trick to steal my role!"

"He did?" Morris tried to cut through his hysterical shouts. "How did he steal your role?"

Michael shifted his butt unconsciously. "The director was gay, and he sold his ass to him!"

Morris was immediately intrigued. "Really?"

Michael answered firmly, "It's true."

Then he sensed something was off and asked, "You know Matthew Horner, too?"

"That's right," Morris said immediately. "He was one of my contract actors."

"What?" Michael shot to his feet. "You mean he acted in... this crap?"

In that instant, his mind felt much more at ease.

Morris shook his head. "No. He suddenly backed out right before the shoot and created a whole mess of problems for me that I only just recently sorted out."

"Backed out?" Michael's mind lost its balance again. He sank back into his chair, bewildered, and looked at Morris. "Isn't that a breach of contract?"

"The production company reached an out-of-court settlement with him the other day," Morris continued. "He's agreed to pay the production company $30,000 for the breach of contract."

"Thirty thousand dollars?" Michael asked, hearing the large sum. "Where would he get that kind of money? I know Matthew. He's completely broke."

Morris shook his bald head. "I checked yesterday. He signed an acting contract with Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg for an epic World War II project, Band of Brothers. It's a series with a total investment of over $100 million. His penalty for breach of contract is up to $300,000, so I'm guessing his salary won't be less than $50,000."

Michael was completely stunned, mindlessly repeating some of the key phrases: "Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg? Epic World War II project? A total investment of over $100 million? A $300,000 penalty for breach of contract..."

He suddenly shot to his feet again. "That bastard Matthew... all of that should have been mine!"

It must have been Helen who helped Matthew get that role. If he had been the one to win that audition, all of this would have been his.

Michael turned to Morris. "Why didn't you tell the press that Matthew was about to do a porn film?" He clapped his hands. "That's right! And I have my own story to tell about that ass-selling bastard. I'm going to expose him!"

"You think I don't want to?" Morris rubbed his bald head. "Matthew has an official contract with the cast of Band of Brothers. Do you really think anything we say is going to sway Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg? Would the production risk breaking a contract with a principal actor, facing a $300,000 penalty, just because of the words of two guys from our side of the industry?"

He could see that Michael was trying to look shrewd, but in reality, he was as dumb as they come.

"So what do we do?" Their common enemy had made Michael see Morris as an ally. "We can't just stand by and watch him become a star."

A sinister expression crossed Morris's face. "I'll keep an eye on him. The next time he's negotiating a contract with a new production, that's when we'll make our move."

Michael smirked. "Don't forget to include me."

...

In New York, the premiere had moved on to the question-and-answer session, but few reporters had questions for Matthew; all the attention was focused on Britney.

"Hi, Britney." A female reporter stood up to ask a question. "I'm a reporter from the New York Times. I've heard that preparations for your first world tour have already begun."

Her agent whispered a reminder from behind her, and Britney replied, "Yes."

She raised her voice slightly. "I'm very excited to announce the start of my first world tour, 'Confessions of Love,' which will kick off next year, in January 2000, and run through October."

The room erupted in thunderous applause, and Matthew clapped for Britney, though he felt a world tour was a bit premature for a singer who had only been a global sensation for a year.

The premiere went off without a hitch. Matthew only had enough time to say a quick goodbye to Britney backstage before they had to go their separate ways.

Britney had to leave for Nashville to continue with her commitments, while Matthew was scheduled to go with Helen to Warner Studios in Burbank, and then travel with the film crew to the UK to prepare for the shooting of Band of Brothers.