章 228: Chapter 228: The First Date
In Beverly Hills, a black business car slowly entered Rodeo Drive and parked in a vacant spot by the roadside. Elena Boyar, sitting in the back, glanced outside. The area was a hub for high-end luxury brand stores, where she had previously agreed to meet with Matthew and Helen Herman.
She looked down at her watch and took out her phone to dial Matthew's number. Instead of Matthew, his personal assistant picked up, but soon, the phone was handed to Matthew.
"Matthew, I'm here," Elena Boyar said softly. "When will you be coming?"
"Wait a bit," Matthew responded from the other end. "Kayla ran into some issues on her way here, so it might be a bit later than we planned."
"Alright, let me know when you're close."
Elena Boyar didn't say much more. Professionalism and efficiency had always been her guiding principles.
Although Matthew and Helen Herman hadn't spelled it out, when they came looking for her last week along with someone from Disney, Elena Boyar guessed what was being planned.
To her, it seemed like a smart move. Two third-tier celebrities, leveraging the buzz from an upcoming movie to stage a sensational romance—real or fake—was bound to generate a lot of media coverage, especially on various internet sites.
Scandal and gossip have always been popular entertainment, otherwise, not just the tabloids in America, but even Yahoo Entertainment might have gone under.
Through this, she could also forge some connections with Disney. Elena Boyar had heard that Disney planned to collaborate with Warner to launch a gossip-focused website. Rumored to be a substantial investment, the aim was to become the top site in the industry.
Compared to the more traditional Yahoo Entertainment, such a platform would better showcase her talents.
A black BMW SUV, driven by Mira Wang, made its way leisurely toward Rodeo Drive, carrying Matthew and Helen Herman in the back.
"I've been in touch with James Baines," Helen Herman put away her phone and said, "There's been an accident near the hotel, causing a chain reaction of traffic jams. Looks like we'll be delayed."
Matthew nodded and said to Mira, "Let's drive around the neighborhood."
Heading straight to Rodeo Drive meant waiting aimlessly, so they decided to explore Beverly Hills, known as "the world's most prestigious residential area," a symbol of wealth and fame.
Matthew even fantasized about buying a mansion there one day.
Seeing Matthew's gaze wander to the mansions by the roadside, Helen Herman commented, "Shoot a few more movies, and buying a property here won't be hard for you."
Matthew, leaning back, shared his dream, "I want to buy a huge mansion, employ a hundred beauties as maids, each resembling Audrey Hepburn. Then sleep on a golden bed, throwing wild parties every night, drinking and reveling until dawn..."
"It's you!" Helen Herman corrected, "Not us."
"That's the life I want," Matthew added.
Helen Herman glanced at him, suggesting he focus on becoming a superstar before dreaming such dreams.
"Why can't I dream now?" Matthew looked at Helen Herman. "You know, Helen? Sometimes I'm stressed and get tired of it all. But thinking about this stuff? That's what keeps me going."
Mira Wang, focused on driving, glanced at them through the rearview mirror. Having been Matthew's personal assistant for a while, she knew him to be exceptionally vulgar, a far cry from the high standards and sophistication expected of a star.
"No wonder he's so enthusiastic about working out and practicing his acting..." she thought, realizing his true motivation.
Helen Herman knew Matthew wasn't just talking. The man was anything but content with a simple life. His physical vigor and boundless energy hinted at his restlessness. If he hadn't spent most of his time on filming and fitness, he might have succumbed to boredom long ago.
Previously, a girlfriend kept him in check. Now, single, Helen Herman was somewhat concerned, advising him to stay out of trouble during this plan. Scandals could backfire.
"I get it," Matthew said, somewhat resignedly.
Helen Herman then half-jokingly suggested he could pursue Kayla Knightley if he couldn't help himself, as getting together with her wouldn't breach their agreement.
Matthew's phone vibrated with a message from Kayla Knightley.
"They're almost here," he informed Mira Wang, directing her to Rodeo Drive.
In another car entering Beverly Hills, Kayla Knightley put away her phone and informed her agent, James Baines, that they were heading to the rendezvous point.
James Baines nodded, advising Kayla to act naturally around Matthew, as they were friends, and to treat this as a normal outing.
Kayla Knightley rolled her eyes, "What kind of friends are we exactly?"
She remembered her 18th birthday back in England, where her parents threw her a party, and she received another gift from Matthew.
"That guy..." she shook her head, thinking how real his act seemed.
As their car approached Rodeo Drive, Kayla Knightley spotted Matthew's BMW SUV parked by the roadside and texted him.
Matthew, stepping out of his vehicle, had arrived earlier with Helen Herman and Mira Wang. He vibrated Elena Boyar's phone and waved at the approaching car.
From her position across the street, Elena Boyar, a seasoned entertainment gossip journalist, got ready to capture the moment. In Los Angeles, where paparazzi are commonplace, her actions hardly drew attention. It was a weekday, and the streets weren't crowded.
She found a bench on the sidewalk, raised her camera, and aimed at her subjects.
"Long time no see, Kayla," Matthew greeted Kayla Knightley as she approached. "You've become more beautiful."
For the shoot, Kayla Knightley wore no sunglasses or hat, replying with a flat expression, "Didn't you once say my square face was ugly?"
Matthew laughed, "That was when we were just friends. I had to knock you down a peg." His smile broadened, "Now that we're 'boyfriend and girlfriend,' I have to flatter you."
Kayla Knightley snorted, "You're not sincere at all."
Matthew kept smiling, "Dear, what kind of sincerity do you want? Should I seriously pursue you?"
Kayla Knightley rolled her eyes, "This is a contract!" she emphasized, "Without it, I wouldn't bother coming."
Matthew reminded her, "They might have started filming."
That seemed to work, as Kayla Knightley finally showed a smile, following Matthew toward the luxury brand district.
Meanwhile, Elena Boyar moved to a new spot to continue her covert photography, thinking about how to craft the news article.
The actors' performance was perfect for a juicy gossip piece: "Pirates of the Caribbean" stars Matthew Horn and Kayla Knightley's secret date. He offends her, then pulls out all the stops, finally winning her over with a smile...
Elena Boyar, an experienced entertainment gossip reporter, excelled at storytelling through images.
Matthew and Kayla Knightley walked side by side, chatting not about romance but about Johnny Depp's amusing antics, displaying a closeness that was friendly without being overly intimate.
They never held hands, adhering to a carefully planned script. Like many so-called Hollywood couples,
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