Matthew watched Rachel Weisz, who was frowning with worry from across the table.
The last ti they had t, at the premiere of "Cloud Atlas," she had been radiant, elegantly dressed and full of life.
Now, she looked heartbroken and drained.
"Rachel, what's wrong?"
Rachel Weisz poured herself a glass of water, downed half of it in one gulp, and then said slowly, "I've run into sothing... I don't know how to put it."
She let out a long sigh. "It's just... it's what you warned
about last ti."
Matthew raised his eyebrows slightly. Had it really happened?
"I don't know who to talk to." Rachel dabbed carefully at the corners of her eyes. "You... we're friends, so I wanted to talk to you."
Matthew nodded. "Of course, we're friends. You can say whatever's on your mind."
He softened his tone. "Even if I can't help with your problems, I'm a good listener."
"I took so precautions after you warned
at the 'Cloud Atlas' premiere." After all, Rachel wasn't so naive girl new to Hollywood. "Natalie Portman called several tis, asking
to et with Darren... I made excuses to put it off, thinking she would get the hint."
Matthew didn't interrupt, listening intently.
Rachel suddenly gritted her teeth. "But I never thought she could be so shaless!"
"What happened?" Matthew prompted.
"Sohow, Natalie Portman got that bastard Darren's contact information." Rachel's voice was tight with anger. "She contacted him secretly, and the two of them t several tis. Then Darren told
he was planning to cast Portman in the lead role for 'Black Swan'—the very project I told Natalie about last ti. And..."
Her eyes suddenly reddened. "Darren broke up with ."
She was devastated. "I confronted Darren, and that bastard admitted he was cheating on
with Portman."
Two tears traced paths down Rachel's cheeks. Matthew wasn't sure how to comfort her.
"Matthew, how can people be so shaless?" Rachel's voice was low. "I have never t a more shaless woman than Natalie Portman! To steal from soone who considered her a friend, who wanted to work with her on a film... To steal another woman's husband and the father of her child!"
"I..." Matthew swallowed the words that were about to leave his lips.
So things just weren't appropriate to say at a ti like this. Besides, even if it hadn't been Natalie Portman, Darren Aronofsky would likely have done the sa thing sooner or later—and probably already had.
Matthew considered how to calm her down while she was falling apart.
Rachel, however, wiped her tears with a napkin. "Matthew, I haven't told anyone about this. You're the first person to know." She looked at him. "What should I do?"
Matthew thought for a mont. "Rachel, the first thing you need to do is calm down."
"I can't calm down." Rachel's voice was laced with hatred. "There's no way I can be calm when I think about that bitch!"
Matthew nodded, understanding what Rachel was getting at.
Rachel clenched her jaw again. "I'm so angry I could kill her!" She balled her fists and asked, "Matthew, if you were in my shoes, what would you do?"
"?" Matthew had never faced a situation like this.
Matthew considered it for a few seconds, then said bluntly, "I'd get revenge."
He added, "Revenge in every way possible—within the bounds of the law, of course."
Hearing Matthew's words, Rachel Weisz fell silent for a while, lost in thought. When sothing this terrible happens to soone, it would be a lie to say the idea of revenge hadn't crossed their mind.
While she hadn't seriously considered it, the very act of inviting Matthew today—knowing his history with Brendan Fraser—ant the thought had already taken root.
"I'm just so lost right now," Rachel Weisz said. "I don't know what to do or how to do it."
She looked at Matthew hopefully. "Do you have any ideas?"
"Rachel, think about it." Matthew didn't ntion Darren Aronofsky. "Why did Natalie Portman steal the role in 'Black Swan'? What does she want?"
Hearing this, Rachel sank back into her thoughts.
She was far from stupid, and she recalled what she had told Natalie Portman about 'Black Swan.'
Matthew looked at Rachel and said slowly, "Make her goal impossible to reach. After all the trouble and scheming, Natalie Portman ends up with nothing..."
Rachel nodded unconsciously. "If I can't have it, then neither can Natalie!"
Matthew added, "That's just the first step. We can look for other opportunities later."
Just then, the waiter brought their food. Matthew and Rachel waited for him to leave before continuing their conversation over the al. Rachel's mood was clearly beginning to lift.
At a nearby table, Brown Williams and several other bodyguards were also eating. After Brown finished his al, he instructed a man nad John to take charge for a mont, then stepped out of the restaurant to call his wife.
Just as he finished the call and was about to head back inside, a young man with short blond hair appeared before him.
"Hello..." The young man saw the wary expression on Brown's face and quickly held up his hands. "My na is Ronan Farrow. I'm a journalist."
Brown studied the young reporter. It wasn't hard to recognize him as the sa one who had suddenly appeared behind Matthew earlier today.
Brown gave a slight nod. "Hello."
Without another word, he turned to leave, but Ronan spoke again. "I know you're Matthew Horner's bodyguard. Could you please tell him I need to ask him sothing?"
Brown shook his head. "Sorry, I'm only responsible for security. I don't handle other matters."
This wasn't entirely true, of course. While Bella Anderson handled the day-to-day work at the studio, he effectively acted as Matthew's assistant whenever Bella wasn't around.
His words were rely a polite refusal. If he entertained every reporter who approached him asking to see Matthew, Matthew would spend all day answering their questions.
Besides, the reporter was talking to the wrong person. The Angel Agency always handled dia interviews.
Ronan Farrow saw that Brown had no intention of granting his request and couldn't help but scratch his head in frustration. These bodyguards were seriously annoying.
He had originally planned to stop Matthew Horner right at the doors of the Angel Agency, but the large security detail had completely cordoned him off from the reporters and paparazzi, leaving no chance to get close.
This matter was very important; he had to speak with Horner in person.
If he couldn't get past the bodyguards, he would have to use other channels. The conventional route would be to use his magazine's credentials and send an official interview request to the Angel Agency.
The problem was, the Angel Agency might not agree. After all, he was just starting out in the industry.
Brown started to walk away.
Ronan Farrow grew anxious and quickly blurted out, "Paramount Pictures is changing the director for the 'G.I. Joe' sequel. The new director's na is Jon Chu. I have so information about him that I need to share with Matthew Horner!" He stressed, "This concerns Mr. Horner's upcoming film, so please, pass it on."
Hearing this, Brown glanced at him before continuing toward the restaurant entrance.
He had overheard Matthew's phone call with Helen earlier today. Matthew had been rushing to the Angel Agency precisely because of the director for the 'G.I. Joe' sequel.
Back inside the restaurant, Brown found an opportunity to speak with Matthew when Rachel excused herself to the restroom.
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