"Helen, Matthew."
Just as she entered, Alexandra Daddario spotted Matthew and Helen Herman by the front desk and approached them, asking, "What are you doing standing here?"
Matthew smiled at her and replied, "I just saw someone out." He then asked, "It's been a while, Anna. Where have you been lately?"
Alexandra Daddario returned the smile, though hers carried a polite formality, "I went back to New York for exams and to handle admission procedures."
Helen Herman, clearly in the know, inquired, "Did you get everything sorted out?"
"Yes, all sorted," Alexandra Daddario nodded. "I came back to pack up my things and to let you know that I'll be returning to New York this afternoon, and will start school after the winter break."
Matthew didn't say more. From Alexandra Daddario's expression, he could tell she was intentionally distancing herself, a change he had sensed since the completion of 'Dawn of the Dead'. The root cause was his fling with Jessica Alba on set, and Alexandra Daddario's known dislike for Jessica.
In Hollywood, it was well-known that feuds between actresses were often more intense and pointed than those between actors.
"I'm going back to New York for school," Alexandra Daddario stated, not wanting to give up her acting career. She earnestly said to Helen Herman, "If there's a role that fits me, could you give me a call?"
"Of course," Helen Herman responded seriously, though there was still an ongoing contract between them.
However, Matthew could tell that Helen was somewhat perfunctory. Even if she would recommend Alexandra Daddario to other productions in the future, it would likely be out of consideration for Amanda's family ties.
Alexandra Daddario then turned to Matthew and said, "Matthew, thank you for all your help during this time."
"Don't mention it," Matthew maintained his warm and friendly demeanor.
"If you come to New York," Alexandra added politely, "don't forget to call me."
"I will," Matthew replied courteously.
After a final glance at Matthew, recalling the times during the shooting of 'Dawn of the Dead' with Jessica Alba, Alexandra Daddario chose not to say more. After bidding farewell to Helen Herman, she quickly left Angel Brokerage Company.
Later, Matthew went to the finance office to sign for the last installment of his payment from 'Dawn of the Dead', then drove to the Westwood gym to meet with Niebola. Instead of their usual boxing and mixed martial arts training, they went to a gun club in the south to shoot.
After nearly two years of training, on the advice of Niebola, a professional, Matthew had reduced his training volume and intensity to avoid muscle and bone wear and lower the risk of injury. His mixed martial arts training was also reduced to twice a week.
During these two months following the shooting of 'Dawn of the Dead', Matthew and Niebola often practiced shooting at a gun club. Matthew's gun license had been approved, allowing him to buy legal firearms whenever he wanted. However, Helen Herman had specifically advised him to avoid actually possessing firearms, as being photographed with them could cause more trouble than drugs or scandals.
Although Matthew was fond of firearms, he took this advice seriously. He had not purchased any guns, only indulging his interest at the gun club with Niebola.
Firearms have an innate appeal to men. Matthew had always liked them but never had the chance to handle real guns. Now, not only could he handle real guns, but he could also fire live rounds, which felt great.
After practicing at the gun club, Matthew and Niebola parted ways. As soon as Matthew got into his BMW, his phone rang with an unfamiliar number.
He looked at it and pressed the answer button, "Hello, this is Matthew Horner."
"Matthew, it's me!"
The voice on the phone was familiar, "I, Rachel! Rachel McAdams!"
"Did you change your number?" Matthew hadn't been in touch with her for a while.
He had gradually lost contact with Rachel McAdams after starting to stage a fake romance with Keira Knightley for publicity.
"I changed phones and got rid of the old number," Rachel explained briefly on the phone, then asked, "Are you in Los Angeles? Do you have time?"
"I'm in Los Angeles," Matthew switched the phone to his other hand, "I just went shooting, I'm free now."
"Shooting?" Rachel McAdams let out an ambiguous laugh, adding, "We haven't gone shooting together in a long time."
This statement ignited a spark in Matthew, who quickly asked, "Are you in Los Angeles? Still living in North Hollywood?"
"I just got back to Los Angeles after wrapping up a new movie."
Both were not naive about the implications of their words. Rachel McAdams understood Matthew's hint and said, "I'm not living in North Hollywood anymore. I moved to Santa Monica. Would you like to come and see my new place?"
"Sure!" Matthew accepted the invitation.
Rachel McAdams gave him an address and then hung up.
Matthew put away his phone, started the car, and drove out of the club's parking lot towards Santa Monica. Rachel McAdams' address was easy to find, and he quickly arrived at her doorstep.
Perhaps it had been too long since they last saw each other, or maybe Rachel McAdams' inviting tactics were too appealing, but Matthew did not return to Burbank that night and stayed in Santa Monica instead.
The next morning, he found that Rachel McAdams had prepared toiletries for him. After washing up and coming down from the upstairs bedroom, Rachel had already prepared breakfast.
Although he knew the Rachel McAdams he had met at acting school was long gone, and her current actions had an ulterior motive, seeing a beautiful woman prepare breakfast for him was somewhat endearing.
"Knowing you can't live without meat..."
Rachel placed a ceramic plate in front of Matthew at the table and sat across from him, "I specially went out to buy bacon this morning."
"Thank you!" Matthew picked up the fork and knife, cut a piece of bacon, and nodded, "It tastes really good."
Rachel McAdams smiled, revealing her attractive dimples, "Back in the day, to save money, we used to cook our own meals as much as possible." She encouraged Matthew, "Eat up, you need it with all that exercise."
Realizing the ambiguity of her comment, she quickly clarified, "I didn't mean that. Didn't you say you've been keeping up with your fitness and training?"
Matthew, indeed having exerted himself the previous night and feeling hungry, focused on his breakfast without further comment.
Rachel McAdams ate little, casually chatting with Matthew while they ate.
"I remember back in acting class, neither of us had money," she brought up their early days together, "We'd run to the cheap burger place outside school to save money, buy burgers, and sit on the curb to eat them together."
Matthew was also reminded of those times, "Yeah, thinking back, life was pretty interesting then."
Rachel McAdams suddenly said, "Now you're a big star, so looking back, of course, it's interesting." She casually asked, "Not working on anything recent?"
"I attended an audition recently but didn
't make it through," Matthew replied casually, "Lately, I've been working with Disney to promote 'Pirates of the Caribbean' during this award season."
Rachel McAdams caught the important part of his reply, "Are you going to the Oscars this year?"
Matthew snapped out of his reminiscent mood and became cautious, smiling and shaking his head, "I might not be able to go. 'Pirates of the Caribbean' is mainly pushing for a Best Actor nomination for Johnny Depp, so I'm not really involved."
Seeing his response, Rachel McAdams didn't pursue the topic further but instead asked, "Are you free at the end of April?"
"End of April?" Matthew furrowed his brow, "What's up, Rachel?"
Rachel McAdams thought for a moment and then said directly, "My starring film has its premiere in New York at the end of April. I don't really have friends in Hollywood other than you, and I'd like to invite you to the premiere."
"Your new movie?" Matthew asked curiously, "What film?"
"A teen idol film," Rachel McAdams revealed with a dimple smile, "Produced by Paramount, called 'Mean Girls'."
Matthew hadn't heard of it and was sure he hadn't seen it before. The name suggested it was a girl-oriented film, probably not something he would have been interested in previously.
"Are you the lead actress?" he asked.
"Not exactly," Rachel McAdams admitted, "I'm the first supporting actress. The lead actress is Lindsay Lohan."
Matthew nodded thoughtfully, "I can't confirm right now, and I need to inform my agent about this sort of thing." He thought for a moment, then added, "How about this, Rachel, I'll get back to you before April."
Rachel McAdams nodded gently, "Okay."
After breakfast, Matthew politely declined Rachel McAdams' invitation to stay longer and left Santa Monica. As he got into his car, he looked back, affirming that last night was indeed a transaction where both parties expected something in return.
Later, he met with Helen Herman at Angel Brokerage Company and briefly discussed his schedule. Helen Herman couldn't confirm his end-of-April plans either, so they decided to wait and see.
Before Christmas arrived, Helen Herman concluded negotiations with the 'National Treasure' crew, and Matthew signed an official contract with the crew in the presence of representatives and lawyers from the actors' guild.
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