Jonny Lee Miller's eyes widened as a mory from years ago flooded his mind, followed by an involuntary wave of despair.
That was all in the past. What was the point of holding on to it? And even if he did, what could he possibly do against the Matthew Horner of today?
Suddenly, Jonny Lee Miller regretted calling out Matthew's na. What was the point of provoking the bastard?
"Johnny!" a woman's voice called out suddenly. "What are you doing? Co on!"
Without a backward glance, Jonny Lee Miller hurried over to his companion, took her by the hand, and walked away.
Alexandra watched the bizarre scene unfold. "Is he afraid of you?"
Matthew gave a slight shrug. "Maybe."
At that mont, they were walking down the corridor, the roar of the fans echoing around them.
Alexandra clutched Matthew's arm. "What was that about a videotape?"
Matthew started to explain as they walked, "He tried to set
up once, back when I was just a small-ti actor. I..."
Just then, he stopped abruptly. A short distance away, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were walking toward them. The couple saw Matthew and slowed their pace slightly.
Their paths crossed. Matthew gave Brad Pitt a subtle nod. Pitt smiled and nodded back in greeting, seemingly oblivious to the role Matthew had played in his life.
Unlike Pitt, Angelina Jolie's gaze was sharper, more appraising. Matthew offered her a smile, but she regarded him with the sa cool indifference she had shown him at the beginning of his career.
The pair had been keeping a low profile ever since Jennifer Aniston had caught them in their affair.
"Are they trying to make a Hollywood coback?" Alexandra whispered in Matthew's ear. "What a horrible couple!"
Matthew shrugged. "If they don't, they'll be forgotten."
Even a star like Brad Pitt would slide down the ladder if he stayed out of the spotlight for too long.
The couple walked past quickly, presumably intending to use the Oscar buzz to stage their return.
Matthew wasn't too worried. Besides Helen and Ilana, no one knew of his involvent in what had happened back then. Jennifer Aniston might have suspected it was a setup, but it would be difficult for her to connect it to him.
It's impossible to keep sothing like that a secret forever, and who knew if the truth would ever co out. But judging by the way Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were acting now, he was most likely not a suspect.
***
"What are you staring at?" Angelina gave Pitt a strange look. "That woman with the huge chest?"
Brad wanted to say, "They really are huge," but he quickly corrected himself. "I was just curious to see what Horner's new girlfriend looks like."
"You should have soone keep an eye on him." Angelina was far more level-headed than Brad. "He could be useful to us."
"Why?" Brad didn't understand.
Angelina explained, "Matthew's brand partially overlaps with yours. The roles he goes after are often in your lane. We desperately need a hit, and right now... he's practically a synonym for success."
Brad nodded. "I get it. From now on, I'll find a way to snatch any roles he has his eye on."
Although the couple had been painted as absolute villains by the dia and the public for the last two years, they had both been in the business for over a decade. They had connections, and they now moved backstage, using their social skills to seize every possible opportunity.
While Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt were scheming, Matthew and Alexandra Daddario stepped onto the red carpet of the Academy Awards.
A white canopy shielded them from the rain dripping from the sky. Blinding flashes from countless caras illuminated every inch of space around them, and a mountain of frenzied screams echoed from the crowds outside.
The overwhelming sensation of the Oscar red carpet made Alexandra's knees feel weak. She could only manage a smile as she clung to Matthew's arm, trembling slightly.
"Relax," Matthew said, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Wave to the crowd on your right."
Alexandra quickly raised her hand and waved. Hearing a fresh wave of cheers in response, she began to feel a little calr.
She was still worried about the impression she was making. "Do I look strange?"
Matthew continued forward, whispering, "You're beautiful. Very beautiful."
A woman like Alexandra was bound to be the center of attention. With her striking features, she couldn't help but stand out in a crowd.
Upon reaching the interview area, Matthew and Alexandra gave a brief interview. The main topic of conversation for both was "I Am Legend," which was the primary reason for their attendance at the Oscars.
Just as he'd expected, Alexandra drew a great deal of dia attention. Countless caras were trained on her, and the flashing lights were so intense that her eyes began to sting.
Matthew imdiately guided her into the Kodak Theatre, his mind already picturing the headlines the entertainnt reporters would write about Alexandra tomorrow.
Sothing like: "A new generation of on-screen sex appeal, with the face of an angel and the body of a devil!"
Inside the Kodak Theatre, Matthew quickly found their seats. Since he wasn't an Oscar nominee, they were seated relatively far back, but their spot in the fifth row near the center was still quite good.
"Do you think Martin Scorsese will win?" Alexandra asked as they sat down, whispering with Matthew about the upcoming awards ceremony.
"I don't know," Matthew mused. "But I heard sothing. I was here for a rehearsal the other day—they do them in sections to keep everything secret. The award being presented right before mine was for Best Director, and you'll never guess who I saw."
Alexandra imdiately asked, her curiosity piqued, "Who?"
Matthew's voice dropped a little lower. "George Lucas, Francis Ford Coppola, and Steven Spielberg."
Alexandra nearly gasped, quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
"Think about it, who could possibly get those three to show up for a rehearsal to present the award for Best Director?" Matthew's voice remained low. "What's the most likely scenario?"
Alexandra, who was also in the know, imdiately whispered back:
"Martin Scorsese."
Matthew nodded discreetly. "I was told 'The Departed' is doing very well, and old Marty is hopeful for a win this ti."
He knew the film was based on a Hong Kong movie and vaguely recalled that Martin Scorsese's version had once been very unpopular back ho.
Perhaps there were just aesthetic differences between regions. After its release last year, the film had received excellent reviews in North Arica and an 8.7 rating on IMDb. That was certainly a high score, and it would likely remain around 8.5 even if it dropped a bit later.
Even among all of Martin Scorsese's films, this one was one of the highest-rated.
As the awards ceremony began, it seed as if the Academy was once again prepared to snub old Marty. His film won nothing in the earlier categories. It wasn't until the second half of the evening that "The Departed" started to gain traction, quickly picking up awards for Best Film Editing and Best Adapted Screenplay.
When Helen Mirren was nad Best Actress, Matthew left his seat and slipped backstage to prepare for his turn as a presenter.
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