"Helen, Matthew."
Just as she walked in, Alexandra Daddario saw Matthew and Helen Herman. She immediately came over to the front desk and said, "Why are you two standing here?"
Matthew smiled at her. "I just saw someone off." He then asked, "It's been a while, Anna. Where have you been lately?"
Alexandra Daddario also smiled, though her smile carried a hint of polite formality. "I went back to New York for exams and to handle my enrollment procedures."
Helen Herman was clearly aware of this and asked, "is everything settled?"
"Yes, it's all settled." Alexandra Daddario nodded. "I specifically came back to pack my things and to let you know. I'm heading back to New York this afternoon and will start school after the winter break."
Matthew didn't say anything more. From Alexandra Daddario's expression just now, he could see that she was actively distancing herself. In fact, he had felt this ever since they finished filming.
The reason was simply that he had hooked up with Jessica Alba on set, and Alexandra Daddario was on very bad terms with Jessica Alba.
It was common knowledge in Hollywood that the rivalries between actresses were far more intense and sharp than those between actors.
"I'm going back to New York for school." Alexandra Daddario didn't want to give up her acting career and spoke earnestly to Helen Herman, "If you come across a role suitable for me, could you give me a call?"
"Mm-hmm." Helen Herman agreed, seemingly serious. "We still have a contract."
Matthew, however, could tell that Helen Herman was being somewhat perfunctory. Even if she recommended Alexandra Daddario to other Crews in the future, it would definitely be for the sake of Amanda's family.
Alexandra Daddario turned to Matthew and said, "Matthew, thank you for your help during this time."
"You're welcome." Matthew maintained his warm and friendly smile.
"If you come to New York," Alexandra Daddario offered politely, "don't forget to give me a call."
Matthew also replied politely, "I will."
Alexandra Daddario glanced at Matthew again.
Thinking about the things he and Jessica Alba did during filming, she didn't want to say anything more. After saying goodbye to Helen Herman, she quickly left the Angel Talent Agency.
Afterward, Matthew went to the finance office to sign for and collect the final installment of his salary from the Crew. He then drove to a fitness club in Westwood. After meeting up with Nebula, they didn't go for boxing or mixed martial arts training. Instead, they went together to a Gun Club in the south to practice shooting.
After nearly two years of training, Matthew followed the professional advice of Nebula. To avoid the wear and tear on muscles and bones caused by long-term high-intensity training and to reduce the chance of injury, he appropriately scaled back his training volume and intensity. Mixed martial arts training was also reduced to twice a week.
In the two months since finishing filming, Matthew and Nebula often went to a Gun Club to practice. Moreover, Matthew's legal gun permit had been approved. If he wanted to, he could purchase a legal firearm at any time. However, Helen Herman had specifically warned him about this: having a permit was fine, but it was best not to actually own a firearm. Otherwise, if he was photographed by reporters, it would definitely be more troublesome than drug use or sleeping around.
Although Matthew liked firearms very much, he could take this advice to heart. He hadn't bought a gun after getting his permit and only went to the Gun Club with Nebula to satisfy his interest.
Guns have a natural attraction for men. He used to like them, but unfortunately, conditions didn't allow it, and he had never even touched a real gun. Now, not only could he touch a real gun, but he could also conduct live-fire practice, which felt quite good.
Furthermore, after practicing a few times, Matthew discovered that his body indeed possessed naturally advanced athletic cells. His shooting level improved rapidly, showing a trend of surpassing Nebula, who had started playing with guns long ago.
Talent is something intangible and invisible, but it truly exists.
After finishing practice at the Gun Club, Matthew parted ways with Nebula. Just as he got into his BMW, his phone rang with an unfamiliar number.
He looked at it and pressed the answer key. "Hello, this is Matthew Horner."
"Matthew, it's me!"
A very familiar voice sounded from the receiver. "Me, Rachel! Rachel McAdams!"
"Did you change your number?" Matthew hadn't been in contact with her for a long time.
It was probably around the time he prepared to create a fake romance with Keira Knightley for publicity that he gradually lost contact with Rachel McAdams.
"I changed my phone a while ago and changed the old number along with it."
Rachel McAdams on the other end of the phone explained briefly and then said, "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 to do some shooting; I'm free now."
"Shooting?" Rachel McAdams suddenly let out an ambiguous laugh and said, "We haven't 'shot' together in a long time."
These words-->>
—made Matthew feel a surge of heat in his heart. He couldn't help but ask, "Are you in Los Angeles? Still living in North Hollywood?"
"I just finished filming a new movie and returned to Los Angeles."
Neither of them were innocent youths. Rachel McAdams naturally understood the meaning behind Matthew's words. "I don't live in North Hollywood anymore. I've moved to Santa Monica. Do you want to come visit my new home?"
"Sure!" Matthew agreed.
Rachel McAdams then gave an address and hung up the phone.
Matthew put away his phone, started the car, drove out of the club's parking lot, and headed toward Santa Monica. Rachel McAdams' address was easy to find, and he soon entered her home.
Perhaps it was because they hadn't seen each other for too long, or perhaps Rachel McAdams' high-level skills were very attractive; Matthew didn't return to Burbank that night and stayed in Santa Monica.
Getting up the next morning, Matthew found that Rachel McAdams had already prepared toiletries for him. After washing up and coming down from the second-floor bedroom, she had even finished making breakfast.
Although he knew the Rachel McAdams he had met at the acting school was long gone and the current Rachel McAdams had other motives for doing this, seeing a beautiful woman prepare breakfast for him still generated a bit of goodwill.
"I know you can't live without meat..."
Placing a porcelain plate on the dining table in front of Matthew, Rachel McAdams sat opposite him and said, "I specifically went to buy bacon this morning."
"Thanks!" Matthew picked up his knife and fork, cut a piece and stuffed it into his mouth, nodding as he said, "Tastes very good."
Rachel McAdams smiled, revealing her pretty dimples. "In the past, to save money, I tried to cook for myself as much as possible." She urged Matthew, "Eat more; you exercise so much."
After saying that, she realized her words were ambiguous. "I didn't mean it like that. Didn't you say yesterday that you've been keeping up with fitness and training?"
Matthew's 'exercise' volume last night was indeed large, and he was hungry. He didn't say much and focused on dealing with breakfast.
Rachel McAdams ate very little, chatting with Matthew as she ate.
"I remember when we were in acting class, neither of us had any money." Rachel McAdams specifically brought up some things from when they first met. "To save money on lunch, we'd run to the cheap burger joint outside the school, buy burgers, and sit by the roadside to eat them together."
Matthew's memories of that time were also evoked. "Yeah, thinking back on life then, it was quite interesting."
Rachel McAdams suddenly said, "You're a big star now. Looking back at the past, of course it's interesting." She asked naturally, "No work lately?"
"I went to an audition a while ago but didn't pass," Matthew said casually. "Lately, I'm mainly cooperating with Walt Disney Pictures for promotion during this awards season."
Rachel McAdams caught the key point in his words. "Will you be attending this year's Academy Awards Ceremony?"
Matthew immediately snapped out of the emotions brought by the memories. A bit of wariness rose in his heart as he smiled and shook his head. "I might not be able to go. It's mainly to apply for a Best Actor nomination for Johnny Depp; it basically has nothing to do with me."
Hearing him say this, Rachel McAdams didn't continue that topic. Instead, she asked, "Are you free at the end of April?"
"End of April?" Matthew frowned slightly and asked, "is something up, Rachel?"
Rachel McAdams thought for a moment and said directly, "The film I starred in is having its premiere in New York at the end of April. I don't have any friends in Hollywood besides you, so I want to invite you to the film premiere."
"A new film you're starring in?" Matthew asked curiously, "What movie?"
"A teen idol movie." Rachel McAdams showed her dimples again. "Produced by Paramount Pictures, it's called Mean Girls."
Matthew hadn't heard of it. Thinking back, he was sure he hadn't seen this movie. However, from the name, he could tell it was likely a chick flick. He probably wouldn't have been interested even if he had seen it before.
"Are you the lead actress?" Matthew asked again.
"No," Rachel McAdams told the truth. "I'm the first supporting actress. The lead actress is Lindsay Lohan."
Matthew nodded slightly. After considering it, he said, "I can't be sure right now, and I have to notify my Agent about this kind of thing." He thought again and said, "How about this, Rachel, I'll give you an answer before April."
Rachel McAdams nodded gently. "Okay."
After finishing breakfast, Matthew declined Rachel McAdams' request for him to stay and left Santa Monica. When he got into the car, he looked back once, certain that last night was once again a transaction where giving required a return.
Afterward, he went to the Angel Talent Agency to see Helen Herman and gave her a general overview. Helen Herman couldn't confirm his schedule for the end of April right now either, so they could only discuss it later.
Before Christmas arrived, Helen Herman finished negotiations with the Crew. Matthew, in the presence of an Actors Guild representative and a lawyer, signed the formal contract with the Crew.