Chapter 405: The Bodyguard

The reporter who asked the question wore a badge from the New York Post and stared sharply at Matthew, deliberately challenging this rapidly rising Hollywood star.

After receiving a tip about Matthew Horner's presence at Warner Bros., he had crafted this question on the way over and coordinated with most of his colleagues waiting at the studio. If Matthew showed up, he would get the first question.

During this period, Matthew Horner was extremely popular. Everything he did was news, attracting attention even in Europe. He grabbed the headlines of many entertainment and political media outlets and even made it to the cover of Time Magazine, boosting his fame and influence through his charity work.

Such a star was incredibly popular, even overwhelmingly so. A conscientious and professional journalist like him aimed to expose the truth behind these overly polished public images.

Matthew Horner, using the banner of charity to raise his profile, was met with a straightforward but tough question designed to put him on the spot. Any slip in his answer could lead to a media frenzy that would drown him in a sea of follow-up questions from his colleagues.

This reporter's question was obviously a trap, and Matthew realized it immediately.

Recently, North American media and public opinion had been generally favorable to him, but a poorly answered question could shift that perception.

Many celebrities' public personas start to crumble from the smallest missteps.

Of course, he could choose not to answer. Warner Bros. security personnel were already nearby and could easily create a path for him to leave.

But that wasn't the best choice.

Having been through countless similar situations, Matthew was cautious and astute enough to recognize the trap. With the training and influence from Helen Herman and Elena Bojarski, he had developed the quick wit needed to handle tricky questions from reporters.

If he really had no good answer, he would have kept his mouth shut and left.

However, in just a few seconds, Matthew had thought of a suitable response. Facing the array of microphones and recording pens, he said directly, "I would love to do that, but I understand that I am more useful as an actor. Compared to spending a week in a field, I can make more money by shooting a movie, which allows me to do more good deeds, attract more attention, and encourage more people to join in. My personal strength is limited, but with more people, the impact can be greater."

The New York Post reporter seemed taken aback by his response, opening his mouth but finding himself at a loss for words.

"F@#K!" the reporter cursed inwardly, "That answer is flawless."

Before he could ask another question, another reporter jumped in. The other reporters had given him a chance, and they weren't going to wait any longer.

A female reporter shouted, "Did your trip to Africa have a significant impact on you?"

Not all reporters wanted to destroy a person; they were more interested in what readers cared about, and reader interest drove their questions.

Before the New Year, continuous reports in entertainment and political news had made Matthew and his role as a UN goodwill ambassador a hot topic.

"This trip to Africa made me understand life and human relationships better," Matthew began, skillfully promoting himself as he had learned from Helen Herman. "When I stepped into the refugee camp, the level of suffering was dizzying. Since then, I've changed a lot. In some ways, that experience made me stronger and more aware of life's true meaning. In the future, I won't take anything for granted."

Such profound words weren't his own; Helen Herman had made him memorize some scripts for occasions like this.

He continued earnestly, "People often want more when they already have plenty, without realizing they should be grateful for what they have. Everyone takes life and living for granted, but when you face people in suffering, you realize how little you've done."

With more questions coming his way, Matthew decided it was time to wrap up. "Sorry, everyone, I have other things to do today. That's all for now."

Warner Bros. security personnel quickly moved to clear a path for him. Ignoring further questions, Matthew got into the Mercedes SUV driven by Bella Anderson, shutting out the chaos outside.

"Head to South Buwei Street," he instructed Bella Anderson.

She nodded and quickly started the car, leaving Warner Bros. studio behind.

Matthew had just visited the set of "300," where although the script wasn't finalized, the main framework and character settings were in place. With Frank Miller's original graphic novel as a reference, the crew had begun casting.

The "300" crew wouldn't hold public auditions. Aside from two important male supporting roles, all roles would be filled by actors from the Angel Agency.

Since returning from Kenya, Matthew had received calls from James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, both interested in competing for roles in the film. Thanks to his introduction, they had already met with director Zack Snyder and producer Beard Jack.

Zack Snyder and Beard Jack had no objections, and James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender were almost certain to participate, though Zack Snyder was still considering which roles they would play.

Matthew and David Ellison agreed on pushing Zack Snyder and writer Kurt Johnstad to complete the full script quickly.

Similar to Jerry Bruckheimer's projects, the preparation for "300" would precede the finalization of the script. Even if Zack Snyder and Kurt Johnstad finished the script this month, it might still need revisions and adjustments.

Having spent time in multiple Jerry Bruckheimer productions, Matthew was accustomed to this situation.

Lost in thought, he barely noticed when the Mercedes SUV stopped in front of a coffee shop across from the Angel Agency on South Buwei Street.

Matthew got out and told Bella Anderson, "Wait for me at the Angel Agency."

She nodded and drove to the agency.

Matthew pushed open the coffee shop's glass door. He and Helen Herman were regulars here, and a waiter greeted him immediately. He waved and walked toward the back table where Brown Williams was seated.

During his time in Kenya, Matthew had considered recruiting Brown Williams. He needed a reliable bodyguard.

But he wasn't naïve enough to think Brown Williams would accept just because he seemed like a good fit.

Firstly, intuition could be unreliable. Secondly, Brown Williams might not want to take the job.

Back in Los Angeles, Helen Herman had investigated Brown Williams's current salary and character. Hollywood's close ties with the US military made it easy to find information, especially since Brown Williams had worked in Ridley Scott's crew. As long as it didn't involve classified information, it wasn't hard to get.

After over ten days of feedback, Matthew learned that Brown Williams was trustworthy and professional, both in his military service and as a bodyguard.

So, Matthew invited Brown Williams for a meeting while he was on vacation in Los Angeles.

"Hi, Brown." Matthew greeted him as he approached. Brown Williams was reading a newspaper and stood up quickly to shake hands.

"Sorry, I was delayed by reporters at Warner Bros. studio," Matthew said, sitting across from him with an apologetic smile. "I'm a bit late."

Brown Williams waved it off. "You're not late. We still have ten minutes until our scheduled time."

Matthew didn't dwell on it and got straight to the point. "Brown, we've known each other for years. You taught me a lot of military skills back then."

Brown Williams smiled but didn't respond, sensing Matthew had more to say.

"When I saw you in Kenya working as a bodyguard, I thought of something." Matthew smiled. "I need a reliable bodyguard."

Seeing Brown Williams about to speak, Matthew quickly added, "Hear me out on the terms first."

Brown Williams nodded.

Matthew continued, "I'll cover all your social benefits. I spend most of my time in Los Angeles, and even when I travel, it's not for long periods except for filming."

He had learned that Brown Williams was married with children and lived in Santa Monica.

"Lastly," Matthew offered the most enticing part, "I'll double your salary."

Brown Williams was already tempted by the second point. Hearing the last one, he thought for a moment and said, "Can I have a few days to consider?"

Matthew nodded lightly. "No problem."

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