Leaving the hotel, Matthew and Adriana crossed the street to the sprawling sands of Copacabana Beach. It seed that spontaneity was woven into the very fabric of Brazilian life; won in bikinis were a common sight everywhere, not just on the beach but even along the adjacent road.
Stepping onto the sand, Adriana led Matthew to an open-air bar. She casually slipped the owner a tip, securing their services for the afternoon.
Adriana didn't bother with a changing room. Right there at the bar, she unfastened the brass buttons on her denim shorts. "You can leave your clothes here," she told Matthew as she slipped them off.
She tugged off the denim shorts, tossed them casually onto a chair, and then pulled her tight-fitting T-shirt over her head.
In less than a minute, Adriana had transford into a sultry, stunning beachgoer. She seed completely at ease, a testant to a culture where, like most Brazilian won, she thought nothing of changing in public.
If Adriana was unbothered, Matthew, as a man, had even fewer inhibitions. In a few swift motions, he shed his own shorts and T-shirt, revealing his toned, muscular physique.
The midday sun in Rio de Janeiro blazed down, even in June.
A barmaid approached with a large plastic bag and helped them pack away their clothes, which she then took to store safely behind the bar.
Copacabana is one of Brazil's most famous beaches, yet along its kiloter-long stretch of sand, changing rooms were few and far between. Most n and won either arrived already in their swimwear or simply found a convenient spot to shed their clothes.
Of course, the most popular option was to take advantage of the services offered by the nurous beachside bars.
"You have an incredible body," Matthew said, his eyes tracing the lines of the yellow bikini that seed at least a size too small for Adriana's curves. He couldn't help but add, "Your proportions are simply perfect."
Compared to a model of her caliber, the figures of most Hollywood actresses would be utterly eclipsed in an instant. He could finally understand why Leonardo DiCaprio exclusively dated models, especially the Victoria's Secret Angels.
"Ready to soak up so sun?"
Matthew gestured toward the turquoise water. Adriana nodded, and he took her hand, leading her toward the lounge chairs set up near the bar. They walked hand in hand, looking for all the world like a couple.
The beach was crowded, yet hardly anyone gave Matthew and Adriana a second glance.
Rio de Janeiro was overflowing with beautiful won of every conceivable type and skin tone; they were everywhere one looked.
Most Brazilian won dressed with an effortless simplicity, where bold and revealing attire was the norm, their sun-kissed, bronze skin glowing in the light.
Especially on Copacabana, the density of bikinis and the sheer number of stunning won was dazzling—almost overwhelming. Even Matthew, a Hollywood veteran, was taken aback by how many won, like Adriana, wore bikinis made from the barest minimum of fabric.
In most places, the saying went, you had to move the swimsuit to see a woman's behind. For Brazilian won like Adriana Lima, it was more like you had to move their behind to see the swimsuit.
The two lounge chairs were in a pri spot on the sand. Adriana opened her bag and pulled out a bottle of sunscreen, which Matthew promptly took from her. "Let
help you with that," he offered.
Adriana smiled. "Of course," she agreed.
She rolled onto her stomach on the lounge chair and reached back to unhook the straps of her bikini top, baring her smooth back to Matthew.
As Matthew smoothed the sunscreen over her skin, he suddenly leaned close to her ear and whispered, "God, you're tempting. Why don't we just do it right here..."
Even for a woman from a famously passionate culture, the suggestion startled Adriana. She instantly rolled over and sat up, staring at Matthew in disbelief. "Are you insane?"
Matthew just shrugged. "It was only a suggestion."
"Roll over," he motioned. He waited for Adriana to settle back onto the lounge chair before continuing to apply the sunscreen. Then, a magazine interview he'd read ca to mind. "I saw you in an interview a while back," he began, "and I think you ntioned sothing about..."
He let the sentence hang, a deliberate pause. Adriana, not the least bit flustered, answered imdiately. "The modeling world is incredibly competitive. There are models everywhere with the sa stats I have. Even at Victoria's Secret, where I'm signed, many of the girls are just as stunning as I am, if not more so."
It was a fair point, and Matthew found himself agreeing with her assessnt.
Adriana shifted slightly on the lounger and continued, "As a model, what do you need to make an impression? A body? A face? I wanted to create a brand for myself, sothing that set
apart. Sothing so that when people saw , they would know exactly who I was and recognize that I was unique in the industry."
A smile touched her lips. "Whether it's true or not is beside the point. It gives
a huge advantage. I co from a Catholic family, after all, and an image like that gives
a much broader appeal."
Matthew had spent enough ti with Adriana last night and this afternoon to know, of course, that her proclaid virginity was just part of the act.
In retrospect, the most fundantal skill for a model was maintaining a public persona. For many, sleeping with the right people to get ahead was just part of the job. The modeling world was, in its own way, even more chaotic than Hollywood.
Matthew shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside. He wasn't looking for a girlfriend in Adriana, after all.
****
In the following days, Matthew put his work on hold and stayed in Rio de Janeiro for a few more days. He spent his final day there with Adriana, not leaving their hotel room at all.
With Adriana, Matthew experienced a unique kind of visual and physical pleasure that only a supermodel could offer. The body of a woman who had undergone such rigorous conditioning was on an entirely different level from those of most Hollywood actresses. He realized he'd been neglecting the modeling scene for far too long.
Beyond their final day spent indoors, Matthew also explored Rio's famous landmarks with Adriana as his guide, fully imrsing himself in the relaxed, leisurely pace of the Latin Arican lifestyle.
The people were open and vibrant, yet they also possessed a laid-back attitude toward work that made the city the perfect place for a relaxing getaway.
That is, of course, if one could guarantee their safety. The gap between the rich and poor was staggering, and cri and violence were ever-present threats.
But as a highly motivated Hollywood star hungry for greater fa and fortune, Matthew couldn't linger in Rio for long. He soon ended his brief affair with Adriana and returned to Los Angeles to prepare for his upcoming charity auction.
The auction would also serve as the official launch for both the Matthew Horner Refugee Fund and Matthew's Children's Charity Fund, all taking place during a formal fundraising dinner.
Despite Matthew's absence, preparations were perfectly in place, thanks to Amanda's efficient managent of the entire affair.
"We've registered all the auction lots and created detailed catalogues," Amanda reported, settling into an armchair in her office. She looked at Matthew. "Every guest at the dinner will receive one. The detailed descriptions should help encourage generous bidding."
Matthew nodded, pleased with Amanda's thoroughness.
Amanda continued, "Besides the celebrities, Helen has also reached out to many high-profile journalists from the major news outlets. We're placing restrictions on filming, but they've all agreed to attend."
Naturally, for an event this high-profile, they wouldn't be selling exclusive coverage rights to an outlet like TMZ.
Matthew considered this for a mont, then asked, "Have we kept a certain number of seats in reserve?"
"Yes, I've already thought of that." Amanda gave a confident nod. "It's possible so celebrities who weren't on the initial guest list might show up, so I've set aside so tables just in case."
This was a high-profile charity auction. Even if so of his most vocal detractors decided to show up, they couldn't exactly turn them away at the door.
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