After removing her makeup and changing into her everyday clothes, Winona Ryder returned to her producer's office, poured herself a glass of water, and sat down at her spacious, luxurious desk with a relaxed demeanor, looking in a very good mood.
The project "Soul Transference Girl" was her sole initiative, and also a great opportunity for a comeback. She would not allow anyone to steal her spotlight. The scenes that were cut had been discussed and agreed upon with the screenwriters and other stakeholders. They highlighted the supporting actress beautifully without significantly impacting the overall story.
As a producer, as long as the other producer, Georgia Kennedy, stayed silent, Angelina Jolie had no power to retaliate.
The sound of hurried footsteps approached from outside, followed by a knock at the door. Winona Ryder said, "Come in." Her assistant rushed in, seemingly out of breath.
"What's wrong?" Winona Ryder slightly furrowed her brow.
"Julie and that man are coming here."
"Oh?" Winona Ryder raised her eyebrows, "What are they here for?"
"Could it be…" her assistant whispered, "they're here to cause trouble again?"
Winona Ryder thought for a moment and then shook her head slowly, "If it were just trouble, Julie would come alone."
Then she thought of a possibility, her cold face showing a bit of anticipation, "Could Julie be here to plead for that man?"
The assistant nodded, "Very likely! I heard from Rubin that the man was added to the crew specifically because Julie asked Vanessa to talk to him."
"If that's the case…" Winona Ryder's anticipation grew, "What should I do?"
She suddenly hoped Angelina Jolie would hurry over.
In the office corridor, Matthew reluctantly followed beside Angelina Jolie, walking slowly towards that office.
"You're all big stars." Matthew didn't want to go, "I'm just a minor extra, maybe I shouldn't go."
Angelina Jolie glanced at him, "Your role was removed by her, don't you want to get it back? Don't you want to see if she can keep her cool?"
Matthew indeed wanted to see, but facing Winona Ryder directly, he still had concerns.
"Hmm—" Angelina Jolie hummed, then said, "Without you as a witness, do you think she would be threatened by me? Do you think you could get better work?"
Initially, Matthew had considered approaching Winona Ryder on his own, but remembering some of the things he had seen at the lower rungs of society, he thought it would be more effective to align with a powerful figure. Given his vastly different social status from Winona Ryder, she might resort to some unexpected tactics.
Important figures always have many ways to deal with an insignificant person.
He guessed that Angelina Jolie had seen through his intentions of using her as a pawn, yet she still didn't want to pass up the opportunity to strike at Winona Ryder, so she simply dragged him along, leaving no chance for him to back out.
His gaze drifted across Angelina Jolie's chest; this woman was certainly not just a pretty face.
Though he had reservations, Matthew still went. Now facing various predicaments, he urgently needed to break the impasse.
When they reached the office door, Angelina Jolie pushed it open and walked in. At this point, Matthew would not back down either and followed her into the office.
"Do you need something?" Winona Ryder's cool voice rang out.
Angelina Jolie looked at Winona Ryder's assistant, "I'd like to talk to you alone."
Winona Ryder refused without hesitation, "There's no need for that."
She first looked at Angelina Jolie, who no longer had her usual confident demeanor, then at the tall young man beside her, whose handsome face bore a calm smile.
"These two seem to be in need of something from me."
Winona Ryder was convinced her guess was correct, and her pale face showed a hint of arrogance.
"I think it's better we talk alone." Matthew felt that once more people knew about this matter, there would be no turning back, "Miss Ryder, maybe let your assistant step out for a moment."
"There's no need." Winona Ryder casually waved her hand.
Angelina Jolie urged Matthew, "Since that's the case, just say it."
Matthew paused for a moment and instead of speaking directly, said calmly, "Miss Ryder, a few days ago, I saw you at a bookstore outside the film studio."
Winona Ryder put down her cup, a blush spreading across her pale face, "What bookstore?"
"The one outside the studio." Matthew looked at Winona Ryder's assistant, "A bookstore near the tourist area."
Suddenly feeling her heart pounding in her chest, Winona Ryder also looked at the assistant, "You go out and close the door!"
The assistant quickly left, locking the office door behind her.
"Ha ha…" Angelina Jolie suddenly burst into
laughter, Winona Ryder's heart raced even faster, "What… what are you laughing at?"
Angelina Jolie took a big step forward, looking down at Winona Ryder seated in her chair, "Who would have thought, the famous Hollywood star Miss Winona Ryder is actually a thief."
"Don't slander people!" Winona Ryder countered.
"Whether it's slander!" Angelina Jolie advanced step by step towards Winona Ryder, "You know very well in your heart!"
Of course, Winona Ryder wouldn't admit it, "If you slander me again, I'll sue you for defamation!"
"Really?" Angelina Jolie had had enough of Winona Ryder's attitude these past few days, her hands braced on the desk, glaring fiercely at Winona Ryder, "Shall I call my lawyer then?"
Winona Ryder stood up abruptly, shouting at Matthew behind her, "You, get out!"
She was beginning to realize the gravity of the situation and planned to clear the room of bystanders before assessing how much Angelina Jolie knew.
Matthew, not considering himself an insignificant person, voluntarily continued, "Sorry, Miss Ryder. I should remind you, it was me who encountered you in the bookstore." He looked at Angelina Jolie, "Not Miss Jolie."
Since he had decided to come in, he wasn't going to hold back.
Winona Ryder turned around, her gaze suddenly icy. Before she could speak, Matthew preempted her, "The bookstore, from the north side, between the fourth and fifth rows, the fashion and makeup bookshelf, in total two books, I remember the two books that Miss Ryder took, the covers were striped with red and green."
Hearing this, Winona Ryder's prepared words were suddenly stuck in her throat, her pale face blushing unnaturally.
"Ah, also." Matthew continued, "You might have overlooked, but that bookstore has surveillance. If Miss Ryder forgot, we can go together and check the surveillance footage to see, with your…"
He looked at Angelina Jolie, who was watching Winona Ryder smile, then continued, "With your and Miss Jolie's fame, it shouldn't be difficult to check the surveillance footage."
Thump—
Winona Ryder's legs gave out, and she sat back down, her face rapidly losing its blush, turning snow-white.
"He… he saw!" Winona Ryder's heart nearly leaped out of her chest, "How could this be?"
She had always had a kleptomania issue, but with the cover of her celebrity status, no one had ever suspected.
"Shall we go check?" Angelina Jolie jumped up and sat on Winona Ryder's desk, "I'd be happy to help you with that."
"I… I…" Winona Ryder was at a loss for words.
Matthew saw an empty chair, walked over, and sat down, leaving the stage to Angelina Jolie. Even after saying all this, he remained an insignificant person, while Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder had the power of equal dialogue, and with Angelina Jolie's status, Winona Ryder couldn't really do anything to them.
Minor figures have their sorrows, and sometimes to avoid these, they inevitably need to leverage others.
He watched Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder, waiting for the outcome of their negotiation.
Although shocked and panicked, Winona Ryder had survived many years in the competitive Hollywood environment. As time passed, she gradually calmed down.
"You…" Winona Ryder looked up at Angelina Jolie's angular face, "What do you want to do?"
She didn't counter anymore, but she didn't admit to anything either, as if the words Matthew had said earlier didn't exist.
"Relax, I won't call the police, nor will I expose you." Angelina Jolie snapped her fingers in front of Winona Ryder's eyes, "It's simple, you continue playing your leading role, and I'll continue as your supporting actress, just stop bothering me."
Winona Ryder was surprised, "Just like that?"
Angelina Jolie had a playful look, "Of course not! Did you think it would be that easy?"
She dropped her joking demeanor and spoke seriously, "Restore the scenes of mine you cut, my screen time shouldn't be reduced, it should be increased! I want a say in the final edited version that gets released!"
Winona Ryder wanted to speak, but Angelina Jolie raised her hand to stop her, "I'll handle Sony Columbia Pictures, you don't need to worry about that!"
Previously, these demands would have been excessive, but now, Winona Ryder felt they were acceptable.
She considered for a while before responding, "Okay."
Angelina Jolie smiled at Winona Ryder, "That's a good girl."
Winona Ryder's face turned even paler with anger, yet she was unable to speak a word.
"Alright." Angelina Jolie jumped down from her desk.
"Cough—" Matthew
coughed loudly.
"Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about you!" Angelina Jolie glanced at Matthew, then turned back to Winona Ryder, "And this extra."