"I didn't do enough. I wasn't good enough! I tried my best, but realized how small one person's power can be!"
Sitting in the high-tech chair, Matthew had his head in his hands, looking distressed. "In Africa, standing at the gates of a refugee camp, I saw masses of people struggling for food and even water."
He looked up at Michel Hammerson. "Can you imagine such a scene?"
The purification process was still ongoing. Although there had been some deviations, Master Michel Hammerson believed it could be brought back on track and didn't call it off. Hearing Matthew's question, he could only respond, "Yes, God will show us visions."
Not giving Hammerson the chance to continue with his mystic rhetoric, Matthew immediately clasped his head again and said, "I couldn't believe that people could live in such abject conditions."
He suddenly intensified his tone, "Those people are just like us! I could only watch them, offer some comfort, and promise to tell their stories to the outside world, but I could do nothing more!"
For some reason, Michel Hammerson felt that this purification session was veering further off course.
"There was nothing I could do!" Matthew tugged at his hair, his voice filled with remorse. "I could only watch as the frail went hungry, the thirsty had no water, and the severely ill lay in tattered tents waiting to die. That feeling of helplessness, of being unable to help, drove me to despair. It made me desperately want to do something!"
His voice dropped to a murmur, "So, I founded two charitable foundations to help African refugees. But one person's power is so limited. I made a mistake but wouldn't admit it. I thought I could do so much, but in reality, I found I could do so little."
Matthew then gazed at the ceiling. "I've never told anyone this. I've never admitted my mistake. But today, here, I want to open up and confess a grave error. I shouldn't have believed that I alone could help the African refugees. I should have called for more people to join this noble cause much earlier."
Michel Hammerson was taken aback. The situation seemed to be diverging from his expectations...
Suddenly, Matthew stood up and proclaimed loudly, "Master Hammerson, please don't just stand by and watch as Africans slowly die. Don't let our brothers and sisters, who live in the same world as us, perish due to lack of food and water. This disaster is not inevitable. We can still change the course of events if we are willing to act together, to take responsibility."
Hearing this, Michel Hammerson frowned. But under the circumstances, he had to say something to keep things on track. Otherwise, all the efforts to bring Matthew Horner into Scientology might be wasted.
Maintaining his kind and wise appearance, Hammerson said, "The almighty Thetan will not abandon anyone."
This was exactly what Matthew had been waiting for. Before Hammerson could continue, Matthew interjected, "Master, my charitable foundations will soon head to Africa to help those suffering there. But my resources are very limited. I need more assistance."
Looking earnestly at Hammerson, Matthew said, "Without sufficient funds, we can't do anything. I hope you and Scientology can help us."
Upon hearing this, Hammerson opened his mouth but couldn't say anything. Suddenly, he felt as if this place wasn't his domain and the man across from him was in charge.
It was as if they were the ones trying to get into Matthew Horner's wallet, yet it had somehow turned into Matthew Horner soliciting donations from Scientology. And his reasons were so righteous and undeniable.
Fortunately, this wasn't a public setting. If it had been, they might have had to give away some money...
Matthew sat back down in the chair and said, "I've finished." Without waiting for a response from Hammerson, he muttered to himself, "I feel lighter than I ever have."
Michel Hammerson was briefly stunned by Matthew's words. Was he truly confessing his sins? Or was this a deliberate act?
After a moment of thought, Hammerson concluded it was likely the latter. If what Matthew Horner had confessed were his worst sins, then he might as well be a saint.
"Scientology will find a way to help the African refugees," Hammerson offered a token response.
Scientology was more about amassing wealth from others than giving it away. Expecting them to make donations was unrealistic. Hammerson was merely paying lip service.
Matthew knew this too. Scientology wanted to "purify" him, so he provided a litany of so-called sins for them to cleanse.
As for sharing his real secrets, he wasn't foolish enough to trust so-called clerics. Perhaps their gods were indeed saints, but they were, after all, still humans.
Matthew understood that sharing secrets with such people could be risky and might end up in betrayal.
Continuing his act, Matthew stood up again, stretched his limbs, and said to Hammerson, "Confessing those hidden sins has lightened my entire being. I haven't felt this good in a long time."
Michel Hammerson, puzzled, looked at Matthew and stood up as well. Since the target claimed the purification had been effective, Hammerson couldn't very well deny it. He quickly agreed, "That's the very effect that purification seeks to achieve."
Having spun his tale, Matthew had no intention of staying any longer. "I've been here a long time. Should we head back?"
"Of course," Hammerson gestured politely, "This way."
Following Hammerson, Matthew quickly returned to the banquet hall. Hammerson, after making an excuse, left the hall and returned to a room near the purification chamber.
Standing before several advanced pieces of equipment, Hammerson instructed the staff, "Replay the purification session."
The staff pressed the playback button, and Matthew's voice filled the room. As Hammerson listened, he shook his head. The recorded material was virtually useless, offering nothing that could be used against Matthew Horner. If anything, it could only serve as free publicity for him.
Hammerson frowned as he reviewed the session. From the walk back from the banquet hall, he had been contemplating. Replaying the recording confirmed his suspicion: Matthew Horner was not someone easily manipulated.
Compared to Tom Cruise back in the day, Matthew was far more vigilant.
But Hammerson had considered this possibility. He hadn't expected to win over someone like Matthew Horner in one night. Although temporarily set back, he still had another card to play—Amber Hilton.
With a beautiful woman to captivate him and long-term indoctrination, the goals might still be achieved.
If Amber Hilton could make Matthew Horner fall for her, much like Tom Cruise had once fallen for Mimi Rogers, it would be ideal.
Back in the banquet hall, Tom Cruise found Matthew and asked proactively, "How did it go? Any special feelings?"
Matthew looked at Tom Cruise and smiled, "It was very special." He shook his head and stretched his neck, "I can't quite explain it, but I feel a lot lighter. The pressures I had are gone after talking to Master Michel Hammerson. It's quite miraculous."
Tom Cruise smiled and gently patted Matthew's arm. "If you feel it worked, you can come more often. I'll speak to the people in charge here."
"If I have time, I will." Matthew responded vaguely, then changed the subject, "Where's that young and beautiful friend of yours?"
"You mean Amber Hilton?" Tom Cruise immediately looked towards a direction, "She should be on the terrace with Katie."
He asked concernedly, "Do you want me to take you there?"
Matthew shook his head slowly. "It's getting late. I should go. I have work tomorrow."
Tom Cruise signaled to someone behind him and didn't insist. "I'll walk you out."
Matthew politely said, "No need to be so formal."
With Cruise's insistence, Matthew didn't refuse. The two walked out of the banquet hall, along a long red carpet, heading towards the exit of the Hollywood Celebrity Center.
"When I was younger, I had severe reading and psychological difficulties," Tom Cruise began sharing as they walked. "After joining Scientology and undergoing treatment, those difficulties miraculously disappeared."
He turned to Matthew. "Faith can sometimes turn the impossible into possible."
Matthew nodded but didn't say much.
Standing on a terrace in the Hollywood Celebrity Center, Amber Hilton watched as Matthew Horner bid farewell to Tom Cruise and drove away.
Beside her, Katie Holmes asked, "Why didn't you go to see him off?"
Amber Hilton replied, "Tom already gave me his contact information. Why hurry? The easier the catch, the less valued it is."
She glanced at Katie Holmes. If this naive woman could become Mrs. Cruise, why couldn't she aim to become the mistress of Horner Estate?
It was a shortcut to cross social classes, a way to achieve... fame and fortune!
In the car on the way back, Matthew continued to ponder, especially about whether Amber Hilton was indeed Scientology's bait. If she was, he wouldn't be polite. He would take the bait and shoot the hook right back at them.
For Hollywood stars, relationships and scandals were often the best catalysts to ignite their path to stardom.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] [[email protected]/INNIT]