Sunlight spilled across the rumpled bedroom.
The bathroom door opened and Matthew stepped out. He found his clothes on the floor, dressed quickly, and straightened himself up before glancing at the wall clock. It was a late start for a man accustod to waking early for his morning run.
He could hardly be blad for it, having gotten almost no sleep the night before.
After a quick tidying of the bedroom, Matthew noticed a photograph on the wall.
Alexandra.
He stood there for a minute, gazing at her picture, rembering once again
the aftershocks of the previous night.
Matthew wouldn't deny that her body had captivated him, but...
Opening the bedroom door, he crossed the living room and headed for the dining room, arriving just in ti to catch Alexandra’s smile as she set down a plate of food and made coffee.
"Good morning, Anna," Matthew said, leaning against the doorfra as he watched her.
"Morning, Matthew." Alexandra smiled back at him. She poured two cups of coffee and untied her apron, revealing a form-fitting t-shirt underneath. "Breakfast is ready."
Matthew moved closer. "Wonderful. But
I want a different kind of breakfast."
Without the slightest hesitation, Alexandra wrapped her arms around his neck.
***
It wasn't until after noon, after a series of calls from Helen and Bella, that Matthew finally left with Alexandra.
No fewer than twenty paparazzi were waiting nearby, their caras flashing frantically as the couple erged holding hands.
As usual, Matthew made no attempt to hide, and Alexandra was just as open.
She didn't read too much into it; at only twenty years old, she had all the ti and freedom in the world to enjoy a romance.
Besides, how many people who get into serious relationships actually end up together?
So she didn't need to overthink it; she could just let her heart follow her body's lead. Maybe her ti with Matthew would last a few short weeks, or maybe it would be much longer.
A relationship was always full of variables.
She had seen how taken Matthew was with her last night, but she also knew it stemd from simple physical attraction. There was no telling how long that would last.
Besides, Alexandra knew Matthew well enough to understand that was a luxurious thought.
As she climbed into the car amid a storm of flashing caras, she couldn't help but shake her head.
Matthew closed the car door and told the driver, "The Angel Agency."
Then, turning to Alexandra, he asked, "What's on your mind?"
Alexandra gestured toward the window. "Have those paparazzi been following us since last night?"
Matthew glanced back. "I think so."
He cautioned her, "Be extra careful for the next few days. I expect you'll be their main target now. Most of them are decent enough, but so can go too far. How about I get a couple of bodyguards to watch over you for a while?"
"That's not necessary," Alexandra refused imdiately.
"The paparazzi are a lot crazier now than they were a few years ago," Matthew insisted, then offered, "Anna, why don't you move into my estate for a while?"
Alexandra shook her head cautiously. Seeing the sincere look on Matthew's face, she said thoughtfully, "Can you give
so ti to think about it?"
Matthew didn't press the issue. "Of course."
He then pulled out his cell phone, dialed David Ellison's number, and briefly outlined his thoughts and plans.
"Sounds tempting," David's voice ca through the phone, brimming with excitent. "Let's have dinner tonight and talk it over."
"No problem," Matthew replied, then ended the call.
Alexandra asked curiously, "Are you really going to pick a fight with Brad Pitt?"
Matthew patted her hand gently and declared in a deliberately dramatic tone, "I'm doing it for you, of course. How dare a man like that even think of you!"
Even though she knew he was joking, and that a man like Matthew wouldn't go to such lengths for anyone, she couldn't help but feel a little happy.
It made her feel that he was taking her seriously.
First, Matthew dropped Alexandra off at Warner Studios. The post-production for I Am Legend was underway, and they needed her for so voice work.
He then hurried to the Angel Agency. In the office, Helen was waiting for him, and so was...
...Bella.
Matthew didn't expect Helen's first question to be, "Did you spend the night at...
...Anna's?"
"Yes." Matthew pulled out a chair and sat.
"I've never interfered in your personal life before." A rare seriousness settled on Helen's face. "But let
remind you—whether you and Anna break up or get serious, you need to handle it carefully. Anna and Amanda have been best friends since childhood. Don't let this affect Amanda."
Matthew simply replied, "I know what I'm doing."
Alexandra had said that morning that they were just going to see how things go.
Frankly, she understood the score: if things were good, they'd stay together. If they weren't, they'd go their separate ways.
That was precisely why he'd been willing to invite Alexandra to his estate.
Helen then changed the subject. "This morning, Lana Wachowski gave an interview to several dia outlets. It's already online and will definitely be in the papers tomorrow. She openly stated that you're interested in the male lead for Cloud Atlas."
Matthew imdiately understood her angle. "They're trying to use my na."
Helen said, "Soone from Warner Bros. already called about it. I told them you were interested but that talks have just begun."
She paused briefly before adding, "The Wachowskis are using you to try and shop the Cloud Atlas project around."
"The more buzz the Wachowskis generate, the better for our plan." Matthew propped his chin on his hand thoughtfully. "Helen, play along with them. Feed my interest to the dia accordingly."
Helen gave a slight nod. "I know what to do. What about David?"
Matthew smiled. "David will play his part."
A guy like David wouldn't have any qualms about going after Pitt.
"Bella, what about your end?" Matthew asked.
"I've double-checked," Bella replied. "Jennifer Aniston is pulling her capital out of Plan B. The shares will be transferred within two to three months, all going to Brad Pitt. He's set to remain the number one shareholder."
"Two to three months..." Matthew nodded. "Perfect timing."
Helen added, "The Wachowskis' plans for the project are still in the very early stages. It would be a miracle if they started pre-production within six months. If they can't raise enough money now, this thing could be stalled for years."
Matthew knew she was right. The prep ti for major A-list Hollywood projects was asured in years. It wasn't uncommon for a blockbuster like Superman Returns to spend five or six years in pre-production alone.
"We'll keep setting the trap and see if Pitt walks into it," Matthew said, his decision made.
Even if Brad Pitt didn't take the bait, Matthew would lose nothing. At worst, he'd only end up on bad terms with the Wachowskis.
And considering the Wachowskis' ntality, plus what little he rembered about their future, he knew the pair would only drift further and further from the Hollywood mainstream anyway.
Helen had read the script, too. She could guess Matthew's unspoken thoughts, just as he could guess hers. She added, "I'll go with you to see David. We'll create a sense of urgency."
She and Matthew had always focused on comrcial films. She had launched every one of his successful projects and had learned a crucial lesson along the way, one Matthew himself often repeated: comrcial films that deliberately try for philosophical depth fail ninety-nine percent of the ti.
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