In his hotel room, Matthew stood before a full-length mirror. After a stylist, flown in from Los Angeles, finished tying his tie, he stepped back and pinned a UNHCR brooch to his suit collar.
The long hair he had grown for "Pirates of the Caribbean" was now cut short, his beard cleanly shaven. The stylist had thickened his eyebrows, making them more prominent and accentuating the faint lines on his face to create a mature, serious image.
For an event like a UN conference, the importance of one's attire and appearance surpassed even that of the Academy Awards.
The conference, aid at addressing the refugee crisis in Africa and providing aid, was attended by key leaders from several nations: the presiding mbers of the European Union, the President of South Africa, the UN Special Envoy for Africa, representatives from the five permanent mbers of the Security Council, and the UN Secretary-General himself—all present today at the Sandton International Convention Centre in Johannesburg.
It was, without exaggeration, a major international political gathering, and every attendee wielded significant influence in various countries and regions.
For an entertainnt star, the benefits of being here were imnse, let alone delivering a speech like Matthew's, urging world leaders to address and resolve the refugee crisis.
Matthew looked in the mirror, his reflection showing a simple but perfectly tailored dark suit, a crisp white shirt, a navy blue tie, and a polished Rolex watch.
“He looks distinguished,” Helen remarked, approaching and giving the stylist a nod of satisfaction.
Matthew turned around. While mastering his British accent, he had also undergone training in the mannerisms of an English gentleman—a required course for Hollywood stars. Now an experienced actor in his own right, he projected maturity and restraint. He exuded a sense of security, both inside and out, that imdiately gave the impression of an honest and trustworthy man.
At that mont, he looked more like a political figure than a Hollywood celebrity.
In fact, the stylists had dressed him in a typical political uniform. Modern politicians often adhered to a basic, minimalist approach to clothing: a solid-colored tie, usually blue or darker, paired with a navy suit and the ubiquitous white shirt.
This combination was often jokingly referred to by the dia as a symbol of “purity,” a color palette used to convey reliability and stability.
“For a public servant who has dedicated his life to service, an interest in fashion and style might not seem important,” Helen added. “But in an age where a picture is worth a thousand words, where you can deal a serious blow to your opponents with a single perfect photograph, it would be naive not to care about your appearance.”
She glanced at the stylist, who imdiately left the room with her assistant.
Helen gave Matthew so final instructions: “Later, you’ll be eting many major political figures. Be mindful of your manners, but don’t deliberately try to impress anyone. Before the caras, you need to appear as an equal to any major political figure, even a country’s leader.”
“Don’t worry.” Matthew felt no pressure at all and seed relaxed. “I don’t know much about politics, and I don’t know many of the big nas. In my eyes, they’re just a bunch of stars who are good at public speaking.”
“Stars who are good at public speaking?” Helen paused for a mont, then agreed. “That’s true. They’re much better at putting on a show than Hollywood stars.”
Matthew turned to Bella Anderson, who was standing silently in the room. “Have the car brought around.”
He glanced at his watch. “It’s about ti. Let’s head down.”
Downstairs, Matthew and Helen got into an official car provided by South Africa and headed for the Sandton International Convention Centre.
****
Outside the Sandton International Convention Centre, a large number of journalists from the current affairs dia had gathered. Countless caras, with lenses long and short, were aid at the entrance.
After stepping out of the car, Matthew walked forward into a barrage of flashing lights. The political press was clearly not as frantic as entertainnt reporters, and the order outside the conference center was exceptionally well-maintained.
Helen followed him to the entrance of the convention center and advised in a low voice, “The reporters from CNN are up ahead. Give them an interview.”
The CNN reporters also spotted Matthew. The Arican press, more interested in him than any other, imdiately approached with their cara crew.
“Hello, Matthew Horner.”
The woman who approached was a middle-aged reporter with long brown hair. She extended a microphone to Matthew. “I’m Louise Lerner, a reporter for CNN. May I ask you a few questions?”
Matthew smiled. “Hello, Louise.”
Then, with a nod, he added, “Of course. Feel free to ask.”
Louise asked imdiately, “Is it true, as I’ve been told, that you will be a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador?”
“That’s true,” Matthew replied in a serious tone. “But I am already a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador.”
Louise followed up with her next question. “Why did you take on this role?”
Matthew responded in a practiced tone: “Conflicts and wars are happening all over the world right now. Countless people are forced to search for a place to live in peace, and even basic survival has beco a challenge. We can’t pretend we don’t see this. We must help these people overco their hardships, allow them to return to a normal life, and rebuild their hos. I believe that everyone who is able should extend a helping hand to those in need.”
He didn’t blush in the slightest as he spoke these words.
In truth, Helen had already told him that the UNHCR was, in so ways, a powerful tool in the hands of the United States.
This was one of the reasons Helen had fought for him to beco a Goodwill Ambassador, as it would significantly enhance his standing in Hollywood.
Of course, a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador had to wear a certain kind of contrived mask.
For a Hollywood actor, such a disguise wasn’t difficult at all.
Lerner asked again, “Will you be calling on countries to work together to resolve the refugee issue?”
“Yes.” Matthew’s expression was grave.
He paused briefly to gather his thoughts, then added, “More than just a call to action, I will show the international community that the refugee problem has beco urgent. I will soon establish a refugee relief fund and a children’s charity fund to raise money to help those in need. Twenty percent of the money I earn from every film will go into these charitable foundations and be used exclusively for philanthropic activities.”
Lerner nodded again. “I hope your good deeds will inspire more people.”
Matthew smiled. “I also hope to receive more help from like-minded individuals. After all, one person’s strength is limited.”
What he had just said was true; he really would invest twenty percent of his future inco into two charitable foundations. However, how much of that would actually go to charity was a debatable and open question.
Many wealthy people across Arica donate to charitable foundations as an effective way to legally avoid taxes, which was one of his goals. Once the foundations were established, a large portion of his expenses would be funneled through them. Since the accounts wouldn’t be public, he could simply hold an annual fundraiser and then contribute a sum from his own money to charity.
The wealthy, like Buffett, Leonardo, and Cruise, all did it.
Participating in activities like charity, even within the bounds of the law, could also generate inco.
“In addition to the charitable foundations, I will also be traveling to parts of Africa to visit refugees.”
Matthew continued speaking eloquently into the cara lens. At that mont, he seed like a holy father descended to earth. “I hope to use my influence to draw more attention from the dia and the public to the refugee crisis, so they can see that these are people in desperate need of help.”
Lerner nodded, replying in an elevated tone, “You are a noble man, Mr. Horner.”
After the interview, Matthew turned and entered the convention center. A UNHCR staff mber imdiately approached to guide him to a waiting room before the eting began.
There was no one else in the lounge. Matthew recalled Helen telling him that politics was very different from Hollywood; major political figures were extrely cautious about private etings, as even a few minutes of conversation in the sa room could beco a major issue.
From the mont he entered the lounge until the eting was about to start, no one but staff entered his room.
Matthew was well aware of this. Few of the politicians attending this conference would give any special consideration to an entertainnt star.
It didn’t matter to Matthew himself. He had co here to make an investnt, to establish his na in the political world, and to use the UN to expand his fa—not to impress politicians.
Soon, a staff mber ca to notify him. Matthew entered the enormous circular conference hall, which was filled with hundreds of people and five or six caras.
He found his seat and sat down. Once the eting began, Matthew listened with a serious expression as the Secretary-General spoke, followed by the current UNHCR High Commissioner. Then, it was ti for his speech.
Evidently, the UN was also trying to capitalize on the fa of a celebrity.
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