As soon as his morning shift ended, Matthew hurried to Burbank and went straight to the Angel Talent Agency, first stopping at the front desk to chat with Amanda and get the latest updates.
"It's all my fault," Amanda said apologetically. "Helen was beating around the bush with some questions, and I wasn't careful enough and let something slip."
"It's okay, it's okay," Matthew reassured her quickly. "We haven't done anything illegal, so if Helen knows, then she knows."
Amanda's face brightened with realization. "Right, I was just helping you get a role, and Helen said it didn't matter who got the lead role."
She was a relatively simple girl and ultimately didn't know what Matthew had been doing behind the scenes.
"Is Helen here?" Matthew asked.
"She's here," Amanda pointed upstairs. "Waiting for you in her office. You can go up."
Nodding, Matthew bypassed the reception desk and climbed the stairs to Helen Herman's office door, where he knocked lightly.
"Come in."
Hearing Helen Herman's voice, Matthew pushed the door open and greeted the woman seated behind the desk, "Good morning, Helen."
Helen Herman motioned toward a sofa, "Take a seat. Water or coffee?"
"No, thanks," Matthew declined as he wasn't thirsty at the moment. He sat down on a single sofa and asked, "You wanted to see me?"
"Yesterday, I met with Michael Sheen," Helen Herman began, her hands clasped on the desk. "I've terminated his contract. He's been cursing you and Martin Jackson. What's really going on?"
At this point, Matthew decided not to beat around the bush. "After the initial audition, Martin Jackson called me to meet at a hotel to discuss business. I went that evening and realized his intentions were dishonorable, so I refused him."
Helen Herman seemed skeptical. "You refused him?"
"Please, I have standards!" Matthew spread his hands. "I'm only interested in women! Even thinking about that other stuff disgusts me."
Regardless of whether Helen believed him, he continued, "After I left, I happened to see Michael Sheen going to see Martin Jackson. The next day, Michael Sheen bragged over lunch about securing the lead role in the music video. He was walking oddly, so I guessed he must have made some kind of deal with Martin."
Helen Herman adjusted her glasses, "Then why did you end up winning?"
"I didn't want to lose this opportunity and made some efforts," Matthew explained without any hint of shame, sounding quite noble. "My efforts and a bit of luck led to the audition results."
Helen knew she only got part of the story from Amanda, who knew very little.
"Let's hear it then," she prompted Matthew.
"I heard from Amanda that Brittany was key to the audition," Matthew confessed, mixing truth with fiction. "I happened to have a friend who is an entertainment journalist, so I asked around to see how I could impress Brittany. My friend told me about Brittany's sharp rivalry with Christina Aguilera back from their Mickey Mouse Club days. So, I asked Amanda to help and we purposely talked outside Brittany's dressing room about how much I dislike Christina Aguilera."
"Crude methods, but effective," Helen commented calmly. "You surprise me, Matthew Horner."
In Hollywood, behind-the-scenes maneuvers and competition for major roles were common, and Matthew seemed even more suited to survive in Hollywood than she had thought.
"You shouldn't have involved Amanda," she said coldly.
"I had no choice but to involve someone, and who else but an entertainment journalist could I bring to a set?" Matthew retorted.
Helen reminded, "You should have come to me. I'm your agent."
"But you're also the agent for all my competitors," Matthew pointed out.
Helen was momentarily speechless. Despite feeling that Matthew was well-suited for the cutthroat environment of Hollywood, she hadn't focused as much on him because in this industry, opportunities often mattered more than talent.
"Next time, inform me first," Helen said, deciding not to dwell on the matter. "You're now ranked quite high among my clients."
Hearing this, Matthew probed, "Not first?"
Helen didn't take the bait but instead brought up, "Let's talk about Michael Sheen and Martin Jackson."
"Is their issue something to do with me?" Matthew asked innocently.
"Michael Sheen is a client of Angel Talent, and he attacked the director on set," Helen explained, her tone carrying a hint of pressure. "Do you think he might impact you?"
Matthew was momentarily taken aback; he had overlooked this issue! If he had thought of it earlier, he wouldn't have antagonized Michael Sheen.
But then he recovered his composure, "Aren't we contracted with the production and the record company?"
"Do you know how much effort I had to put in to smooth this over?" Helen looked displeased.
Matthew clapped his hands in frustration, "Damn that Michael Sheen! He's trying to drag me down with him!"
Helen was skeptical. "You weren't behind this?"
"Of course not!" Matthew would never admit to such a thing. "I was after the lead role, nothing else."
He hadn't anticipated Michael Sheen's aggressive actions, nor had he considered the potential repercussions for their agency or himself.
"Typically crude methods," Matthew chided himself silently. "Still not thinking things through."
Helen wasn't entirely convinced by Matthew, but with Angel Talent severing ties with Michael Sheen and the record company using the opportunity to dismiss Martin Jackson, the issue was effectively closed.
Moreover, she had used considerable effort but had confirmed once again that Matthew Horner was a promising client.
Perhaps, it was time to invest more resources in him?
Seeing Helen lost in thought, Matthew didn't argue further but reflected on his various schemes to secure the role in the music video. Looking back, there were many flaws and areas where he hadn't thought things through. If not for a combination of good luck and his preemptive moves concerning Brittany Spears, he might not have ended up the victor.
But it had all been worth it!
"You should trust your agent," Helen suddenly said. "It's my job to secure work for you."
Matthew looked earnest, "I've always trusted you, Helen. You should trust me too."
Helen looked at him, "Can I trust you?" She removed her glasses and massaged her temples. "Next time you plan something, talk to me first!"
"I promise!" Matthew saw that Helen was quite annoyed, and he needed this agent. "From now on, I will consult you on any matter related to my roles."
Helen put her glasses back on, "And keep Amanda out of these messes. She's only helping out temporarily."
Matthew nodded earnestly, "It won't happen again."
He glanced at the wall clock and stood up, "I need to head to North Hollywood for class."
"Go ahead," Helen waved him off. "Remember to study your role and the script. I'll notify you if there's anything from the production."
Matthew left the office, greeted Amanda in the lobby, and hailed a taxi to North Hollywood for his acting class.
Due to his extended stay at Angel Talent, he arrived at the school late.
Today's instructor was not David Aster but a middle-aged woman. Matthew apologized upon entering the classroom, where everyone was standing in front of mirrors, spaced apart.
The lesson focused on controlling facial muscles and microexpressions.
Previous sessions had emphasized that a skilled actor could control every facial muscle, requiring long-term, extensive practice. Los Angeles offered numerous acting schools and courses, each with distinct methods and philosophies, and every experienced actor had unique expertise.
Compared to his classmates, Matthew was clearly lagging behind. Many aspiring actors in Hollywood, like his classmate Rachel McAdams, had discovered their interests in high school and joined drama clubs, gaining significant experience even before entering prestigious acting programs at universities.
Such was the influence of American school clubs.
Even without formal university training, many students who found their passion in high school had a level of acting skill and experience that Matthew, who had dropped out early, couldn't match.
Thus, Matthew was even more diligent and valued every opportunity more.
He stood before the mirror, practicing according to a simple script.
The morning passed in what seemed like tedious training, but Matthew deeply felt the unseen efforts behind the glamorous façade of the industry.
After class, Matthew, rubbing his face, turned to Rachel McAdams, who was packing up her materials.
"What's for lunch?" he asked directly. "My treat."
Rachel flashed a sweet smile, "Got a windfall? You're so generous."