As Angelina Jolie revealed her pregnancy and Jennifer Aniston unilaterally announced their divorce, the biggest Hollywood scandal of the year, perhaps even in all of America, erupted. Los Angeles paparazzi swarmed; from Brad Pitt to Angelina Jolie to Jennifer Aniston, packs of photographers and journalists staked out each of their residences.
Even the just-released "Shrek 2," which had set numerous records for animated films, was overshadowed by this sensational gossip.
Matthew was also surprised when he saw the news, especially since he had only mentioned to Helen Herman rumors of Brad Pitt's affair with his nanny, which he had confirmed through a contact at Red Penguin, named Lister.
Their plan had been simple: draw Jennifer Aniston's attention to Brad Pitt's personal life. If the golden couple faced a crisis, Pitt would be distracted and might falter during the auditions for the lead role in "Mr. & Mrs. Smith."
If not, Matthew still had the upper hand given his recent track record in action films and box office draw over the past three years.
This was his safety net for the audition.
But they were aware that if Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston's relationship had already been strained, merely pretending to be happy, then their little scheme would be in vain.
However, after careful consideration, Helen Herman concluded the plan was still highly feasible. After all, it required little more than some money, and if successful, it could net Matthew a return of no less than $8 million.
Matthew and Helen Herman were on the same page about going all-in once they committed to a plan.
What Matthew hadn't anticipated was Elena Boyar's team catching the explosive scene involving Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Jennifer Aniston tearing into each other...
After viewing the TMZ video, Matthew recalled the notable gossip about Pitt and Jolie during the filming of "Mr. & Mrs. Smith." He couldn't remember exactly when their affair started, but it seemed it had begun even before the movie started shooting, probably pushed by the production team as a promotional tactic, eventually leading to the scandal now unfolding.
Regrettably, such explosive gossip had erupted too soon and was quickly cooling down. Considering the quick rise and fall of such scandals, by the time the next movie was set to release, the scandal's promotional value would likely be diminished.
Besides, since it was a scandal, and the production team hadn't yet committed to Pitt, they probably had reservations now, unsure whether to proceed with him or not.
Even in Hollywood, interfering in someone's marriage was frowned upon.
These were Matthew's thoughts, though the reality might be different.
He somewhat admired Angelina Jolie for using the "Alexander the Great" crew to reveal her pregnancy, effectively sealing the deal for Pitt and Aniston's divorce if there had been any chance of reconciliation.
Matthew couldn't help thinking Angelina Jolie was a true fighter among stars.
In some ways, Jolie had inadvertently helped him again. Her pregnancy and Aniston's unilateral divorce announcement would definitely keep Pitt preoccupied and distracted for a while.
Matthew briefly considered calling Jolie but dismissed the thought. Since their last contact after "The Soul Transferrer," they had effectively acted like strangers at events like the Oscars.
It was best to silently accept Jolie's unintended assist.
It seemed Jolie really did have a thing for Pitt, otherwise, she wouldn't have dropped such a bombshell about being pregnant and fainting.
"This time I owe you a big thanks."
In a renowned French restaurant in Los Angeles, Elena Boyar looked across the table at Matthew and spoke, "I got a promotion and a raise at TMZ. So, order whatever you like."
Matthew, not familiar with French cuisine, handed the menu to Elena, "You order."
As Elena took the menu, he asked, "Are you the editor-in-chief now?"
"Not quite," she replied after ordering. "I got a bump in position and salary, but I'm still overseeing the same section."
She joked about their earnings disparity, "You're making millions. I'm nowhere close."
"Well, you still earn a good income," Matthew said nonchalantly.
Elena shrugged, "A quarter-million a year is decent. But I feel hopeless comparing it to you."
"There's nothing I can do about that," Matthew joked back. "You'll always be stuck in that mire of despair."
"How did you get the scoop?" Elena suddenly changed the subject.
"I didn't know about Pitt and Jolie," Matthew said, mixing truth with lies. "I just heard he had a thing for nannies." He pointed to his ears, "I've got good hearing; I always catch whispers."
Elena scoffed, clearly skeptical, "You think I'd believe that?"
"Really! I've never been more honest."
"Pitt's gearing up for crisis management," Elena continued. "He won't have much time for 'Mr. & Mrs.
Smith' auditions."
They both knew this exchange of information was purely transactional, beneficial for both sides.
Matthew pondered, "Is Pitt really divorcing Aniston?"
"According to my sources, yes!" Elena detailed the recent developments, "Public sympathy is all with Aniston right now. Pitt and Jolie are facing a backlash."
Matthew nodded. It was typical; Aniston, the victim, would naturally garner sympathy, and her image as Rachel was far more beloved than Pitt and Jolie's.
"Pitt has hired the best PR specialists," Elena added. "He's planning to spin this using his family values. From what I hear, there will soon be stories about how Pitt has always wanted a big family, and after Aniston's miscarriage left her infertile, he met Jolie, who loves children…"
Elena shrugged, "Prepare to see crisis PR redefining your lowest expectations."
"Even so," Matthew remarked, "he can't clean this up."
"Of course not," Elena agreed. "He doesn't need to clear his name, just give his fans a plausible reason to keep supporting him. That's enough."
She hummed, "As for Aniston, now that the masks are off, Pitt wouldn't hesitate to stab her again if it benefits him."
Matthew shuddered at the thought. Hollywood marriages seemed perilous. The drama between Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and now Pitt and Aniston, taught him too much about the potential turmoil in such relationships.
Better to remain single than risk such chaos.
"You'll see," Elena added, "it won't be long before the rumors about Aniston being infertile spread worldwide."
She whispered conspiratorially, "Pitt's team is also reaching out to feature on TMZ."
"What will you do?" Matthew inquired.
"I'll spin it, of course," Elena said matter-of-factly. "It draws eyes and makes extra cash. Why not?"
"Right," Matthew concluded, reassured, "You're still the Elena Boyar I know, not swapped by aliens."
Elena laughed.
Soon, their ordered dishes arrived, and the conversation shifted to the delicacies before them, leaving the gossip behind.
Three days after their meeting, media stories began to surface, spinning Pitt's narrative just as Elena had predicted.
Strangely, Aniston didn't respond, seemingly eager to move on rather than entangle herself further.
Meanwhile, Helen Herman brought Matthew another piece of excellent news.
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