Alexandra Daddario put down her knife and fork, picked up a napkin, and wiped her mouth. Matthew glanced at her plate; it looked like she had barely touched the food.
"Aren't you hungry? Why don't you eat a bit more?" he asked with concern.
Alexandra shook her head. "I've eaten plenty. I've gained weight recently and need to watch my diet."
Matthew didn't press further. He understood that for many women, maintaining a good figure often takes precedence over indulging in food. In Hollywood, a place that highly values appearance, he had grown accustomed to this mentality.
"You've gained weight?" Matthew laughed. "I can't see it."
Alexandra sighed, "I'm the type who gains weight easily. If I don't watch my diet, I'll quickly turn into a chubby girl."
Matthew nodded. "Regular exercise can help burn off those extra calories."
"I've been working out," Alexandra replied, recalling the script requirements. "Recently, producer David Heyman had Helen inform me that I need to slim down to look more like someone living in a post-apocalyptic world for the role."
Matthew finished the last bite of his steak. "I almost forgot that your character has that specific requirement." He wiped his mouth with a napkin and asked, "How's everything with your father? Any issues there?"
Alexandra lowered her voice, "He's coordinated with the city hall. The crew is processing the filming permits." She paused before asking, "When does *I Am Legend* start shooting?"
"I'm not exactly sure," Matthew replied. He had been busy promoting *Dead Man's Chest* recently. "Akiva Goldsman hasn't given me a definite date yet."
Recently, Warner Bros. had pushed the release of *300* to early November. Matthew and Helen Herman had discussed with the *I Am Legend* production team the need to adjust the filming schedule during this period, as he wouldn't be able to be on set.
Matthew's phone suddenly rang. He glanced at the screen and quickly answered. After a brief conversation, he hung up and apologized to Alexandra with a smile. "Sorry, Anna. I've got something urgent. I need to head to Burbank Street."
"No problem," Alexandra smiled back. "I'm done eating anyway. I was planning to meet Helen in Burbank too. Let's go together."
Matthew nodded. "Alright."
He signaled for the waiter to bring the bill, then left the restaurant with Alexandra. Just as they stepped outside, the flash of cameras went off from across the street.
With *Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest* just released, it was no surprise that the paparazzi were following him everywhere.
Alexandra didn't shy away. Instead, she subtly pushed her chest out a bit.
They got into Matthew's Mercedes SUV, and he started the engine, heading down the coastal road towards Burbank.
The call had been from Helen Herman. Robert Iger, CEO of Walt Disney, wanted to meet Matthew that afternoon at a café on Burbank Street.
Matthew had a pretty good idea of what Robert Iger wanted to discuss. Both he and Helen Herman were firm: if Disney's offer didn't meet his expectations, then talks about the *National Treasure* sequel were off the table.
Still, he would attend the meeting. After all, it was the Disney CEO who had requested it.
Behind their SUV, an old Ford sedan followed. Inside were two paparazzi from TMZ, who had been trailing Matthew since he left his mansion. They had taken numerous photos and videos along the way.
The younger paparazzo was driving while the older one scrolled through the digital camera, reviewing the day's shots.
"This Matthew Horner, how long has it been since he hooked up with Adriana Lima?" the older one said while flipping through the photos. "And now he's already got a new woman. He changes them faster than his clothes."
"Did you get a good shot of that woman?" the younger paparazzo asked.
"Yeah, got a few. Her face seems unfamiliar," the older one replied.
"Who cares if she's familiar or not?" The younger paparazzo seemed excited. "Did you see her chest? That's cow-level!"
The older one stopped on a close-up of Alexandra. He stared at it for a moment. "Quite the impressive sight indeed."
"Do you think Matthew Horner's changed his type? Isn't he afraid of suffocating?" the younger one joked.
The older paparazzo laughed heartily. "If you were in his shoes, would you let that stop you?"
"Not a chance," the younger one declared without hesitation. "I'd rather die suffocating than miss out."
The older paparazzo continued laughing and then said with envy, "Given the chance, none of us would pass on a woman like that."
The younger one sighed. "These stars, always with one beauty after another. At this rate, Matthew Horner could form a soccer team soon."
"A soccer team?" The older paparazzo scoffed. "You underestimate Matthew Horner. Judging by the rumors, with his looks and energy, he could easily notch up a hundred conquests in a decade."
"Wow, oh, wow..." The younger one marveled. "I'd give up twenty years of my life for that."
"Don't dream too big!" The older paparazzo mocked. "Do you have his looks? His muscles?"
The younger one shook his head. "No."
"Do you have his money? His fame? Can you offer those women the publicity they crave?" the older paparazzo continued.
Again, the younger one shook his head, feeling dejected. "But not all of them are like that. Take Adriana Lima, for example. Even though there were photos of her and Matthew Horner together in Rio, and walking hand-in-hand into the same hotel, she never responded to any questions about their relationship."
"Adriana Lima is a smart woman," the older paparazzo countered. "Women who make it to supermodel status aren't stupid."
"How so?" The younger one was curious.
"With Matthew Horner's fame, every move he makes is scrutinized by the media. Adriana Lima doesn't need to say a word. Just being seen with him, holding his hand, instantly makes her a top story for the tabloids, driving her popularity through the roof," the older paparazzo explained.
Thinking about the recent flood of stories in the tabloids featuring Matthew and Adriana, the younger paparazzo had to agree. "I guess you're right."
"It's not just right; it's the reality." The older one had seen it all in his years working for Elena Boyar. "When you're as famous as Matthew Horner, you don't have to do much. Women, whether they're trying to become famous or already are and want more, will flock to you."
He looked over at his colleague. "Just in New York and LA alone, how many women are there who want to become stars?"
"Countless," the younger one replied.
"Matthew Horner is their shortcut to fame. Plus, with his looks and the things Jessica Alba and Scarlett Johansson have said about him, he's basically got an advertisement for himself. Even those who just want to have fun wouldn't pass him up," the older paparazzo said.
The younger one stared at the SUV ahead. "Watching him switch partners is a real blow to the rest of us."
"By the way, isn't our boss close with Matthew Horner?" the younger one asked suddenly.
"I'm not sure," the older one replied. "I know they've been friends since Matthew was an extra. They've kept in touch all these years, so they must be good friends."
These two TMZ paparazzi followed Matthew's SUV all the way to Burbank's South Buena Vista Street, where they saw it pull up in front of a café opposite the Disney Studios. They quickly raised their cameras and started shooting.
Matthew got out with "the cow," but while Matthew entered the café, "the cow" walked down the street, seemingly heading toward the nearby Angel Agency.
The two paparazzi quickly split up. The younger one went after the "cow," and the older one stayed to keep an eye on Matthew.
About ten minutes after the younger one left, the older paparazzo saw Matthew coming out of the café. He quickly snapped a few shots. Then, Robert Iger, the CEO of Disney, also stepped out. The two chatted and laughed at the entrance for a bit.
It was clear that Matthew had been meeting with Robert Iger.
Could this mean a new collaboration between Matthew and Disney? The older paparazzo was intrigued and took several more pictures of Matthew and Iger talking.
Regardless of what they discussed, he knew these photos would make for a compelling story.
Soon, Iger got into his car and drove away, and Matthew also got into his SUV and left.
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