Beverly Hills is a frequent haunt for Hollywood celebrities, especially around its luxurious hotels. Many stars even maintain long-term suites here. For paparazzi operating in Los Angeles, if they lack a clear target but hope to snag lucrative news or photos, staking out the entrances of Beverly Hills' luxury hotels is a surefire strategy. It's common for celebrities to have late-night rendezvous at these venues.
Before sunrise, two paparazzi from TMZ exited their car and took up positions near the entrance of a Beverly Hills hotel. One of them was younger, while the other was slightly older. Recently, they had been tailing Matthew Horner. However, after the explosive opening week of "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest," they had ceased their pursuit.
Last night, just before midnight, they received a tip-off from an insider at the Beverly Hills hotel. A major female star had entered the hotel with a beautiful woman from Latin America. Due to hotel policy, the insider couldn't reveal much more, but the mention of a "major star" was enough to pique their interest. By the early hours, they were already stationed at the hotel entrance.
"These Hollywood stars," the younger paparazzo muttered as he adjusted his small camcorder, "they hook up at the drop of a hat. Do they have any shame?"
The older paparazzo shook his head. "People get drunk, they get excited, and lose their senses. At a party, it's easy to end up with someone after a few too many drinks. They might even be surprised to find someone next to them in bed the next morning."
"Not to mention drugs," he added.
Drug use only amplifies these behaviors. He knew that in this circle, stars who abstain from drugs are a rarity.
"Look sharp!" The older paparazzo nudged his younger colleague, raising his camera towards the hotel entrance. "It looks like someone's coming out. It's a hot Latina."
The younger paparazzo also raised his camera, focusing on the hotel entrance. Through the lens, he saw a stunning woman in a blue, body-hugging dress. She was strikingly beautiful, but her curvaceous figure was even more attention-grabbing—absolutely voluptuous.
The Latina stood just behind the hotel's glass doors, seemingly waiting for a ride.
"That woman..." The younger reporter couldn't help but express his envy. "Whoever got with her is incredibly lucky. Just looking at her is a pleasure."
The older paparazzo sighed. "I've realized something: if I keep doing this job for a few more years, I'll definitely have psychological issues."
Seeing so many beautiful, glamorous women and capturing others' intimate moments through the lens while being a mere observer could indeed take a toll over time.
"Is it her?" The younger paparazzo questioned as he filmed the stunning Latina, unable to spot the supposed major star or any man accompanying her.
"Not just a man, keep an eye out for women too!" The older reporter reminded. "The major star could be a woman. Hollywood has plenty of lesbian stars. If we capture that, we hit the jackpot."
However, his hopes were dashed as a tall man approached the Latina.
Both paparazzi recognized the man immediately.
Matthew Horner!
The same Matthew Horner they had been tailing just days ago!
In just a few days, he had switched partners to a Latina bombshell.
As they thought this, their cameras continued to roll without pause, capturing everything from Matthew Horner and the Latina's banter at the glass wall to their passionate kiss at the hotel entrance and their departure in a car.
"This guy changes women like he changes clothes."
Thinking of the beautiful Latina's face and devilish figure, the young reporter was filled with jealousy. "Isn't he afraid of dying from too much sex?"
The older reporter, also feeling a pang of envy, muttered under his breath, "I hope he gets suffocated by her tonight."
Despite their grumbling, they kept working. As the black Mercedes SUV started up, the older paparazzo signaled the younger one to get in their car and follow it.
Matthew Horner's romantic escapades were hot commodities. Whether for TMZ or any other entertainment outlet in the US, stories involving him were always in high demand.
Photos from Horner's last date had sparked a huge reaction, showing that the American public was more interested in whom Matthew Horner was dating than in the withdrawal of troops from Iraq.
The two TMZ paparazzi trailed the Mercedes SUV all day as it meandered through various famous spots in Los Angeles. By nightfall, they found themselves back at the Beverly Hills hotel.
They soon realized that the couple wasn't coming out again and decided not to wait further. They had already captured enough photos throughout the day, including many intimate shots of Matthew Horner and the Latina, enough to prove that the star had a new partner.
They hurried back to TMZ's office in Los Angeles. After some investigation, they identified the Latina as Sofia Vergara, a renowned host, actress, and model from Colombia, known for her popular swimsuit calendars.
Soon, various entertainment websites updated their stories with news and photos of Matthew Horner and his new companion in Los Angeles. TMZ's report was the most detailed, even including photos of the two entering and leaving the same hotel.
Without needing much commentary from TMZ, anyone could guess what the two were up to in the hotel.
Matthew received a heads-up about the impending stories before they broke. He got a text from Elena Boyar and replied with a simple "Got it," then continued his activities with Sofia Vergara.
Over the years, he and Elena Boyar had developed a mutual understanding. Whenever TMZ was about to publish news about him, Elena would give him a heads-up privately.
In this case, he didn't need Elena's warning. He had noticed the paparazzi outside the hotel that morning, and their numbers only grew as he and Sofia Vergara toured around Los Angeles.
Sofia herself seemed to enjoy the attention, often performing intimate gestures for the cameras.
However, she was not only physically mature but also very smart. She knew when to stop, keeping him happy while also achieving her own goals.
This was a mutually beneficial arrangement, and Matthew didn't stop Sofia Vergara. He did, however, ensure she paid the price in their hotel room that night.
By morning, when he left, Sofia Vergara was still sprawled on the carpet, seemingly unable to move.
Matthew left the Beverly Hills hotel alone, marking the end of his encounter with Sofia Vergara. Both had gotten what they wanted from the liaison.
As he stepped out of the hotel, he chose to put Sofia Vergara behind him.
He then headed straight to Santa Monica Promenade for a fan event. If not for the promotional event for "Dead Man's Chest," he would have spent the day exploring more with Sofia Vergara.
That weekend saw the release of "Wedding Crashers," directed by David Dobkin and starring Owen Wilson and Rachel McAdams. With a modest budget of $40 million, it surprised everyone by grossing $33 million in its opening weekend in North America, becoming a sleeper hit.
However, "Wedding Crashers" had little impact on "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest."
The film continued its box office dominance into its second weekend. Despite poor critical reviews, its performance remained steady. With a second-weekend gross of $75 million, "Dead Man's Chest" easily retained the top spot at the North American box office.
Including the $70 million from the weekdays, the film's North American total surpassed $300 million within just ten days, reaching a staggering $301.6 million.
This milestone set numerous new records in the North American film market.
Fastest to $200 million, fastest to $300 million, highest second weekend gross for a film, and the most theaters screening a movie in North America, among others.
"Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest" ignited an unprecedented wave of enthusiasm for pirate films, capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide with characters like Jack Sparrow, Will Turner, and Elizabeth Swann.
The film's international box office also surged. By its second week overseas, it had expanded to over ninety countries and regions, earning $155 million, following its debut week's $198 million, continuing to dominate globally.
The total box office for "Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest" reached an impressive $655 million.
Everyone knew that the film's worldwide gross surpassing $1 billion was only a matter of time.
As one of the three main stars, Matthew Horner's popularity soared. During this summer, aside from Johnny Depp, no Hollywood star was more talked about than him.
Living constantly under the spotlight, Matthew's every move, from his brief fling with Sofia Vergara to what he bought or ate, became newsworthy.
Besides the media and the public, some within the Hollywood elite were also keeping a close eye on Matthew's activities.
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