The richest actor in Hollywood.

"Hi, Anna, long time no see."

Inside a restaurant, Amanda, with her short hair cut to ear-length, hurried over and spread her arms in front of Alexandra Daddario. Alexandra hugged her tightly and said, "Indeed, it's been a while."

The two hugged each other tightly, seeming to share a very close relationship.

Matthew stood by the side, waiting for them to finish, and then said, "Anna, Amanda, let's order first. I'm starving."

Amanda glanced at Matthew and said, "I'll order ten of the best steaks for you!"

Matthew first pulled out a chair for Alexandra Daddario, and after she sat down, he also pulled out a chair for Amanda before sitting opposite the two girls and waving for a waiter.

The three each ordered some dishes they liked. Matthew asked, "Have you two known each other for a long time?"

Alexandra Daddario nodded and said, "About seven or eight years."

"That's not right," Amanda interjected. "I first met you in 1995, so it's been over ten years."

Alexandra Daddario looked at Amanda in confusion and asked, "Has it been that long?"

"Yes," Amanda replied, "When I first met you, you were still in elementary school."

Matthew chimed in, "You two are old friends."

Alexandra Daddario hooked her arm around Amanda's, "We're not just friends, we're like sisters."

"Exactly, Matthew," Amanda, one of Matthew's earliest friends, spoke directly to him, "If you can help, try to give Anna a hand."

"No problem," Matthew smiled and said, "I might not have a say in the lead roles for big projects, but I can recommend her for a second or third supporting role."

"Thank you," Alexandra Daddario smiled at Matthew, then said to Amanda, "This audition opportunity was also thanks to Matthew."

Amanda smoothed her ear-length blonde hair and said to Alexandra Daddario, "I've also talked to Helen. If there's a suitable opportunity, she'll definitely consider you first."

Alexandra Daddario nodded again. She had been in a couple of film crews before and knew that having someone to guide you was vastly different from going it alone.

At this time, the waiter began bringing the dishes they ordered. Since both Matthew and Amanda drove, they didn't order any alcohol.

The three of them were not the type to stay silent while eating, and they chatted as they ate.

Matthew took the initiative to ask, "Anna, Amanda, how did you two meet?"

"I think it was at a family gathering," Alexandra Daddario recalled, "Amanda was in charge of looking after me."

Amanda swallowed her food and said, "At that time, Anna was a very shy little girl."

Matthew raised his glass of water and said, "I propose a toast to your friendship."

Alexandra Daddario was the first to raise her glass, clinking it with Matthew's. Amanda followed suit and said, "To our friendship, cheers."

Amanda had been friends with Matthew since before he became famous. As for Alexandra Daddario, Matthew glanced at her but didn't say much, clinking glasses with the two girls and saying, "Cheers!"

After setting down her glass, Alexandra Daddario curiously asked, "Matthew, Amanda, how did you become friends?"

Matthew gestured to Amanda, "You should tell the story."

Amanda nodded and said, "After I graduated high school, I helped out at Helen's company for a while. At that time, Angel Agency was just starting and was recruiting temporary actors all over Hollywood." She pointed at Matthew, "And then this guy came to the company to apply, and that's how I met him."

Matthew added, "Amanda helped me a lot back then. Without her help, I wouldn't have landed some roles."

"Maybe not," Amanda winked at Matthew, "You're quite something, not an ordinary person."

Matthew laughed, "Nothing escapes your eyes."

Amanda shrugged, "If I didn't know my boss well, I'd be a pretty unqualified employee."

Listening to Matthew and Amanda's back-and-forth, Alexandra Daddario couldn't get a word in edgewise. She looked at Matthew, then at Amanda, feeling there was a mutual understanding between them that she didn't fully grasp.

Especially the dynamic of boss and employee, which piqued her curiosity.

Unable to resist, Alexandra Daddario asked, "How are you two boss and employee?"

Amanda pointed to Matthew, "He's my boss now." Seeing Alexandra Daddario's confusion, she explained simply, "I'm helping Matthew set up a refugee foundation and a children's charity foundation."

"Oh, I see," Alexandra Daddario remembered and looked at Matthew, "I recall now, you're a Goodwill Ambassador for the UNHCR."

Matthew nodded in acknowledgment and then said, "On the 25th of next month, I'll be hosting a charity foundation launch event at a private club in Santa Monica. Anna, will you be available?"

Under the table, Amanda lightly nudged Alexandra Daddario with her foot, prompting her to quickly say, "I have time."

Matthew extended an invitation, "Can you attend?"

Alexandra Daddario, not needing Amanda's reminder this time, replied, "Sure, I'll be there on time."

Matthew looked at Amanda and said, "Remember to send Anna an official invitation."

Amanda nodded lightly, "Got it."

Having worked as a receptionist at Angel Agency, she knew the importance of connections in Hollywood.

The three chatted for a while longer, and Matthew checked his watch, saying, "I have something to do this afternoon, so I have to leave."

"Isn't there no shooting for you in the '300 Spartans' crew today?" Amanda asked.

Matthew signaled the waiter to prepare the bill and said to Amanda and Alexandra Daddario, "I have a meeting with 'I Am Legend' producer Akiva Goldsman this afternoon. We need to have a meet-and-greet with the crew's producer, writer, and director to get acquainted."

He smiled at Alexandra Daddario, "I'll also talk to Akiva Goldsman about your audition."

Alexandra Daddario smiled back at Matthew. Amanda waved him off, "Go ahead, Anna and I will chat a bit more."

Seeing the waiter approach, Amanda said, "I'll pay for this meal."

Matthew didn't argue and left the restaurant, driving his Mercedes G-Wagon to Warner Bros. Studios.

Upon entering the studio, he switched to a four-wheeled electric cart, driving himself to a soundstage deep within the studio. After parking and asking the staff a few questions, he soon found the temporary office inside the soundstage.

Even though he was five minutes early, when Matthew entered the office, producer Akiva Goldsman, David Heyman, and director Francis Lawrence were already waiting.

Akiva Goldsman himself was the main screenwriter for 'I Am Legend', with other screenwriters hired externally without name credits.

Matthew was familiar with Akiva Goldsman and knew David Heyman, but he hadn't met director Francis Lawrence before.

"Let me introduce you," Akiva Goldsman took the initiative to introduce Matthew and Francis Lawrence, "Matthew, this is director Francis Lawrence. Francis, this is Matthew Horner."

Matthew looked across the room at a man in his early thirties with blonde hair, quite young for a director.

"Hello, Director Lawrence."

Although he knew they had clashed once without meeting, Matthew, being an actor, kept up appearances despite his disdain for Lawrence's preference for black actors.

He extended his right hand.

Francis Lawrence lightly touched his hand and coldly said, "Hello."

After speaking, he didn't continue the conversation with Matthew, instead returning to his seat.

Despite being subtle, Francis Lawrence showed a hint of hostility. Matthew glanced at him, pondered for a moment, then walked over to a sofa chair. In a position visible to Francis Lawrence, he deliberately wiped his right hand on his clothes, as if it had been contaminated.

As a top-tier actor and a producer for the crew, Matthew faced a director who had only made one unsuccessful film, 'Constantine'...

If this biased director intended to clash with him over black actors, so be it.

Matthew's actions were intentional, provoking Francis Lawrence. If the young director couldn't hold back, Matthew would have a valid reason to get him removed from the crew.

Since the crew confirmed him as the lead, abandoning Will Smith, neither Will Smith nor CAA had made any moves. Just as Matthew didn't want a conflict with a top-tier star like Will Smith, it seemed Will Smith also didn't want a major clash with him.

Matthew and Helen Herman concluded that the simplest methods were often the most effective against directors like Francis Lawrence.

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