In the audition room, Matthew sat in front of the camera in a suit; opposite him, Charlize Theron was auditioning for the female lead.
Earlier, Charlize Theron had already performed a solo scene. This one had been devised by Doug Roman, meant mainly to test whether the actress's aura meshed with Matthew's.
Personally, Matthew hoped Charlize Theron would pass. He didn't know the other actresses auditioning, while Charlize was a familiar face—practically a friend.
The scene Doug Roman designed required no spoken lines; Matthew and Charlize Theron simply sat facing each other.
Charlize Theron's once-blonde hair was now dyed black. In a sharp business suit, she sat quietly across from Matthew, saying nothing.
Yet without uttering a word, her formidable presence and unique aura filled the room.
Matthew could clearly sense that the aura Charlize Theron projected wasn't that of a typical woman; it felt as though no man could ever tame her.
For a moment she seemed almost dazzling, as if the whole audition room had become her private domain. Matthew reined in his relaxed manner, body and face tensing like a leopard ready to pounce, to counter Charlize Theron's force.
Akiva Goldsman and Doug Roman exchanged a glance, seeing delight in each other's eyes.
The pair in front of the lens—he, rugged and wild, radiated an unmistakable presence; she, beautiful and dazzling, impossible to ignore.
That wasn't the key point. What mattered was the aura they exuded.
They knew Matthew well and had long felt he was born to play tough roles; a character like John Smith suited him perfectly.
But finding a female lead whose presence could match his ferocity and wildness was no easy task—someone able to confront his formidable aura head-on without faltering.
The previously auditioned Penélope Cruz and Jessica Biel were typical actresses, lacking that masculine, untamed power.
Akiva Goldsman and Doug Roman saw it in Charlize Theron: her sharp gaze, incisive expression, and androgynous air combined to make her look fierce, resilient, and alluring all at once.
The moment she sat opposite Matthew, her wildness made everyone unconsciously brand her a tough woman, a warrior—someone no one could subdue.
Yet the man opposite her, Matthew Horner, was even more ferocious and wild, hinting to Akiva Goldsman and Doug Roman that if anyone in the world could tame and awe that woman, it had to be him.
Akiva Goldsman gave Charlize Theron a final appraisal and nodded slightly. At nearly six feet, broad-shouldered and long-legged, she would look utterly convincing in action sequences.
Doug Liman absently rubbed the stubble on his chin. The two people in front of the camera, wordless and motionless, simply sitting opposite each other, looked like a clash of Mars and Earth.
The pair had not only sparked subtle chemistry but had also created a special balance of auras.
Akiva Goldsman gave Doug Liman a slight nod. Doug Liman, running the audition, said, 'All right, that's it for the audition.'
Hearing this, Matthew rose first from the sofa and walked behind the camera.
Charlize Theron sat for a moment longer, as though shaking off the scene, then slowly stood.
'Miss Theron,' Doug Liman said, 'that's all for today. We'll inform you of the result within three days.'
Charlize Theron gave a small nod, still not entirely out of character.
Matthew sat on a chair behind the camera. When Charlize Theron glanced his way, he discreetly nodded. She didn't linger, quickly leaving the audition room.
Their strong showing in the audition wasn't some sudden burst of inspiration but the result of careful rehearsal.
After attending Penélope Cruz's audition on the first day, Matthew had spoken with Charlize Theron, and the two had practiced together, creating today's seamless effect.
Once Charlize Theron had left, Matthew stayed silent. He knew the real decision-makers were Akiva Goldsman and Doug Liman; speaking out of turn might backfire.
'Matthew, how did it feel?' Akiva Goldsman asked directly.
'Hard to describe…' Matthew scratched his head. 'Her aura was overwhelming; just sitting there she put pressure on me. I had to focus every ounce of energy and bring my absolute best to match her.'
He added, "She's like a wild female leopard—dangerous the instant she locks eyes on you."
Akiva Goldsman nodded and looked at Doug Liman. "What's your take?"
Doug Liman's answer was terse: "She's Jane Smith."
The final call still rested with Akiva Goldsman. He drummed his fingers on the table, thought for a few minutes, and said, "If Gwen Stefani tomorrow is like the other auditions we've seen, we'll lock Charlize Theron for Jane Smith."
Matthew chimed in, "Charlize Theron just won the academy award for best actress earlier this year."
Exactly," Akiva Goldsman said. "She was only a mid-tier star before, so her fee won't be high, and the Oscar Best Actress halo will help our marketing push."
Doug Liman nodded. "Works for me."
The so-called Oscar Best Actress curse is always in the papers, but once a woman wins the award, she never lacks for offers—scripts pile up.
After that, Matthew left the audition room. Unless something major happened, Charlize Theron would be the female lead of mr. & mrs. smith.
He didn't call Charlize Theron; congratulations could wait until the production was locked.
Matthew left the set, drove to Century City, and had lunch at a Chinese restaurant near Fox Tower. As he was about to leave, someone apparently recognized him: a middle-aged man in gold-rimmed glasses approached.
'Mr. Horner, hello.'
The man came straight over and introduced himself: 'I'm Robert Fernandez, an art-investment consultant.'
Matthew glanced at him; the man looked refined.
'Oh.' He gave a slight nod. 'What can I do for you?'
Robert Fernandez pointed to the chair opposite Matthew and asked politely, 'May I sit?'
This was an upscale restaurant; Matthew wasn't worried. 'Be my guest.'
Robert Fernandez sat down, placing an obviously high-end men's briefcase on the adjacent chair.
Matthew sized him up discreetly. Thanks to years of tips from a professional Stylist, he could spot major brands at a glance. Robert Fernandez's outfit was seriously upscale.
The suit was Armani, the bag beside him Louis Vuitton, and the watch peeking from his cuff looked like a Rolex. From attire alone, Robert Fernandez screamed successful.
Still, Matthew's guard went up. This was Century City, teeming with all kinds of talent—including pros masquerading as high-flyers.
Robert Fernandez smiled courteously, warm and natural, then produced a business card and slid it over. 'Mr. Horner, I'm an art-investment consultant at the well-known Wills Gallery in Los Angeles.'
'Wills Gallery?' Matthew frowned slightly.
He was sure he'd heard the name; it was supposed to be famous.
'Yes!' Robert Fernandez kept his polite smile. 'Next week the gallery is holding a major exhibition, featuring works by three up-and-coming painters.'
He rattled off three names completely foreign to Matthew. 'These three are regarded as future masters. A chance to see their work up close is rare.'
Matthew hadn't heard of any of them. 'Sorry, I don't know art and I'm not very interested.'
Robert Fernandez realized he'd run into a total layman and quickly switched tactics.
'Mr. Horner, these painters' works are among the hottest commodities on the market right now.'
He glanced at Matthew, still smiling. 'With the dollar sliding, converting cash into appreciating assets is the safest move.'
He turned on the charm. 'Major paintings are in demand. Works by these three have huge upside. Buy now, auction them in three or four years, and you could get five or six times today's price.'
'Really?' Matthew asked, mostly in skepticism.
Buy a painting, do nothing, flip it for several times the profit a few years later—sounded like drug money.
Robert Fernandez opened his LV bag and handed over an invitation. 'Mr. Horner, if you're interested, please visit the gallery next week.'
Matthew took the invitation, glanced at it, and said, 'If I have time, I'll drop by.'