In the early morning, Matthew finished breakfast and left the hotel, spotting Emma Watson among the waiting crowd. "Good morning, Emma," he greeted her.
"Good morning, Matthew," Emma Watson smiled and waved at him. "Why didn't I see you at breakfast?"
Matthew smiled, "I went for a morning run. By the time I got to the restaurant, it was almost empty."
Emma Watson looked around at the unfamiliar faces and said, "Apart from you, I don't know anyone here."
"Where's your agent?" Matthew asked.
"She went to the Palais des Nations early to coordinate," Emma Watson replied, raising a hand and shaking it in front of Matthew. "Can you see? My hands are trembling. I've never given a speech in front of more than a thousand people."
She added, "I watched your speech in South Africa online last night. You did a great job. Do you have any tips?"
"Of course," Matthew leaned closer and whispered, "Once you're on stage, just pretend you're filming a movie."
Emma Watson asked in confusion, "You mean... act?"
Matthew lowered his voice even more, "Hermione Granger just needs to treat the audience like Muggles."
Emma Watson nodded lightly, "I understand." She suddenly reminded Matthew, "I see another colleague."
Matthew followed Emma Watson's gaze and saw Natalie Portman walking towards them. The Harvard graduate also noticed him and approached with the demeanor of an old friend.
"Matthew!" Natalie Portman's surprise was genuine. "I didn't expect to see you here."
"Yes, Nat," Matthew smiled and opened his arms. "I didn't expect to see a friend here either."
Seeing Matthew treating her the same as always, Natalie Portman also opened her arms and hugged him lightly.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Matthew introduced Natalie Portman and Emma Watson to each other. "Nat, this is Emma Watson. Emma, this is Natalie Portman."
After they exchanged polite greetings, a bus pulled up, and the event organizers called for everyone to board. Matthew let Emma Watson and Natalie Portman get on first, then followed.
Once on the bus, he noticed that Emma Watson and Natalie Portman each took a row of seats.
"Matthew, over here," Natalie Portman called.
Emma Watson, sitting in the row in front of Natalie Portman, smiled and winked at Matthew.
Matthew smiled back and sat down next to Natalie Portman behind Emma Watson.
More attendees boarded the bus, which then headed towards the Palais des Nations. Natalie Portman turned her gaze from the window and asked Matthew, "I remember you're a goodwill ambassador for the UNHCR?"
"Yes," Matthew nodded. "I was invited here by the UNHCR."
Natalie Portman tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and asked, "Are you going to give a speech?"
Matthew smiled, "Yes, about refugee issues." He then asked, "What about you, Nat?"
"My speech is on environmental and human rights issues," Natalie Portman said with a smile.
Seeing the smile on her face, Matthew was reminded of a saying he once read online: People who like Natalie Portman across the Pacific are actually poisoned by Mathilda.
In retrospect, it seemed to make sense.
"What are you thinking?" Natalie Portman noticed Matthew staring at her.
"I suddenly thought of Mathilda from 'Léon: The Professional'," Matthew said honestly. "Your performance back then was stunning."
"I don't like that role!" Natalie Portman said directly, her eyebrows furrowing. "That's why I refused all 'lolita' roles before I was twenty. My parents always tried to protect me from such 'creepy uncles'. I really didn't want to become anyone's sexual fantasy."
"I'm sorry," Matthew said sincerely.
"It's okay," Natalie Portman shook her head with a smile. "Actually, I enjoy being around you."
Matthew was a bit surprised. "Oh?"
But her next words clarified her meaning. "I only like being with elites. It makes communication easier."
"What kind of elite am I?" Matthew mocked himself. "Am I the kind of vulgar elite?"
"You are!" Natalie Portman said seriously. "Matthew, you have your own world. If you think you're not excellent or valuable, it's because your vision is long-term. Outsiders can't understand your standards."
Such flattery made Matthew feel a bit light-headed. Smart women really know how to flatter.
However, he was a clear-headed person and remembered some of Helen Herman's warnings: Natalie Portman was candid with him but also had close ties with Brad Pitt, who helped her become one of the producers of "Cloud Atlas."
These weren't mere suspicions but things that couldn't be ignored. Natalie Portman was highly skilled in navigating such situations, maintaining close ties with both Brad Pitt and him...
This was just speculation, and Matthew couldn't find concrete evidence, as the human heart is the hardest to decipher.
Of course, he didn't disdain Natalie Portman. This was the survival law of Hollywood. Climbing up as a female actor in Hollywood was much harder than for males, and most actresses in her position would make similar choices, though few could handle it as skillfully as she did.
After all, he and Natalie Portman were the same kind of people, neither better than the other.
Matthew's trip to Geneva harbored much darker intentions compared to Natalie Portman.
With such ulterior motives, Matthew naturally had to get along well with Natalie Portman and deliberately said, "Nat, do you want to know my impression of you?"
"No," Natalie Portman rolled her eyes like an old friend. "Isn't it Mathilda?"
Matthew raised a hand, "I swear, I am not poisoned by Mathilda."
"Poisoned?" Natalie Portman frowned, creating an inverted V shape with her brows that made her look particularly unappealing.
Matthew didn't explain and continued, "I think you're a very capable person, someone who must have saved the galaxy in a past life."
"You're exaggerating," being praised like this by such an outstanding man, Natalie Portman was quite happy.
"Nat, you are a true winner in life," Matthew relaxed completely, chatting as casually as with friends like Helen Herman or Amanda. "A person should have a good face, awards... you have a Golden Globe, attend a prestigious university, have culture, do charity, and unlike someone like me, not be vulgar—you're definitely a winner in life."
"Thank you, Matthew," Natalie Portman said with a smile. "No one has ever praised me like that before."
She added, "Actually, I know American audiences don't really like me."
"Who cares about those people?" Matthew waved his hand dismissively. "That's because you're better than most people."
Using Jodie Foster as a standard of excellence, Natalie Portman might not be outstanding; using Angelina Jolie, she was very good.
Helen Herman once told him that actors like Natalie Portman were never the public's favorite. Her team had created an extreme public image, making her seem unrealistic.
The general audience liked more realistic stars, a reality that could be a persona like Jessica Alba, who was far more popular than Natalie Portman among the general audience.
"By the way, Matthew," Natalie Portman seemed genuinely concerned, "I always felt sorry about 'Cloud Atlas'..."
Matthew raised his hand to interrupt her, "It's okay, Nat." He appeared nonchalant. "The real decision-makers were the Wachowskis, not you."
Natalie Portman nodded gently, and Matthew continued before she could speak, "I was also disappointed to lose the 'Cloud Atlas' project; it's great! But I don't lack projects. The work invitations piled on my agent's desk..."
Matthew made an exaggerated gesture indicating a high stack. "Three feet high, or two piles!"
Natalie Portman didn't say anything, but she could guess this was close to reality. A star like Matthew couldn't lack projects and roles.
"Initially, I thought I would get 'Cloud Atlas' and would have to reschedule my work for the next few years," Matthew said lightly. "But it's okay now, no need for the hassle."
He showed his disappointment in losing "Cloud Atlas" but also that it wasn't a big blow.
"Is your work schedule planned years in advance?" Natalie Portman asked.
"Yes," Matthew nodded lightly and said casually, "Andrew Stanton at Disney is preparing to adapt 'John Carter of Mars' into a film, inviting me to be the lead actor and producer, with a production budget of $250 million. I have to work with him to get the project funded, just thinking about it gives me a headache."
At that moment, the bus stopped. Matthew glanced outside and said, "We've arrived at the Palais des Nations, let's get off."
Natalie Portman followed Matthew off the bus, remembering the staggering numbers he mentioned. They were hard to forget.
Nevertheless, she got off the bus and, as on the bus, walked into the central conference hall with her two colleagues, Matthew and Emma Watson.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter]