Chapter 40: Providing Clues

There's a small park east of the Chinese restaurant where Matthew Horner usually goes for his morning runs. It's quiet during working hours, making it an ideal spot for his meeting with the entertainment journalist, Ileana Boyar.

Near the entrance of the park, there's a grove with a stone table at its center. Matthew sat on a stone bench beside the table and waited about half an hour before seeing the tall and robust figure of Ileana Boyar enter the grove.

"Hi, Ileana," Matthew called out, waving her over. "Over here."

"I see you," Ileana hurried over.

Matthew scrutinized her as she approached. Dressed in snug athletic wear, her muscular physique was imposing yet balanced by her height.

Once Ileana arrived, she sat down on the stone bench across from Matthew and got straight to the point, "You said it was urgent. Did you get those private photos of Britney Spears?"

Matthew didn't respond to her question directly. Instead, he stretched out his hand and said, "Your phone."

Confused, Ileana asked, "My phone?"

"Relax," Matthew shrugged, "I'm not going to rob a broke journalist."

Ileana handed over her phone reluctantly. Matthew opened the flip cover, checked briefly, and realized it wasn't necessary; few phones from that era had recording capabilities.

"A recorder..." Matthew gestured with his hand, "or a voice pen."

"I didn't bring one!" Ileana replied irritably. "Why would I record you? You're just a small-time, part-time actor."

Matthew remained silent, just giving her a sideways glance.

Ileana grew more irritated, "Matthew Horner, don't push it!"

"Me, push it?" Matthew pointed to himself, "If I was really pushing it, I'd make you strip!"

"Ha..." Ileana scoffed, "What? You want to sleep with me? Here? Don't tell me that's your condition!"

"I'm not interested in you," Matthew knew she had a temper, "How do I know you won't stab me in the back?"

Nodding, Ileana angrily emptied her handbag on the stone table and turned out all her pockets to prove she wasn't recording. As she claimed, there was no recorder or voice pen.

"Do you want me to strip?" she glared at Matthew.

"No need for that," Matthew replied.

Ileana packed up her belongings and then said, "You overestimate yourself. Even if I did sell you out, what would I gain?"

Matthew knew she had a point. He was just a small fish; no one at the top cared about him.

This was just a precaution because it's always better to be safe than sorry.

After Ileana had packed her things, she glared at Matthew and extended her hand, "The stuff?"

"What stuff?" Matthew asked subconsciously.

"The private photos of Britney Spears!" Ileana raised her voice. "Malibu, we agreed, mutual benefit."

Matthew shook his head, "I don't have private photos of Britney Spears."

Ileana stood abruptly, her blue eyes wide and imposing given her robust build.

"Are you wasting my time?" she demanded, "Or do you find this amusing?"

"Do I look like I have time to waste?" Matthew looked up at her, gesturing to the stone bench, "Sit down, Ileana! I called you because I have information you'll find interesting."

"About Britney Spears?"

"Yes." Matthew nodded.

Ileana sat back down, seeming calmer and less explosive than before.

"Tell me," she urged. "Is it a scandal? A love affair?"

Matthew wasn't about to reveal everything just yet, "Something that could give you headlines for a month, maybe even more if you dig deeper. It's something readers will definitely enjoy."

"Cut the crap," Ileana pressed, "Get to the point."

She was smart and had dealt with Matthew before, knowing there would be conditions.

"Help me get an article published in your paper about someone," Matthew said, sticking to his planned approach. "Someone who might become the male lead in Britney Spears' MV."

Ileana scoffed dismissively, "Just say it's about you, why all the roundabout?"

Matthew shook his head, "It's not me. If I were the lead, I wouldn't need you."

"If I had any other way, I wouldn't be calling a temperamental entertainment journalist like you."

"Get to the point!" Ileana was not used to Matthew's Eastern way of communicating, reminding him again, "No more beating around the bush!"

"There's a man, my competitor, who might pose a threat to me."

Although the director Martin Jackson didn't have the final say, Michael Sheen's odds would surely increase with his backing. Matthew couldn't afford

 to be unprepared, "I want you to publish a story about him."

After their last meeting in Malibu, Matthew had looked up Ileana's paper, the 'American News Report,' which sounded impressive but was actually just a tabloid focused on Hollywood gossip.

"He's not famous," Ileana objected, "My editor won't approve."

Matthew continued, "What if I told you he's been linked romantically with two female celebrities? You could follow this lead for more attention-grabbing news!"

Ileana's irritation faded as she mulled over the proposal.

"This is just the beginning of our collaboration." Matthew tried to persuade her further, "Check my resume, Ileana. I've shared the screen with Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder, worked on Ridley Scott's 'Gladiator,' and even featured on the promotional poster!"

Recalling the poster she had seen, Ileana eyed Matthew, asking, "You played the barbarian leader."

"That's right," Matthew confirmed. "It's all verifiable on the set."

Ileana realized she might have underestimated this small-time actor.

Matthew smiled, tapping his temple, "There's a lot of information in here. If you're willing to work with me..." he used her own phrase, "...it'll be mutually beneficial."

Moved by the potential scoop, Ileana thought it might even impress her editor enough to consider her for an associate editor position, "Okay! I can help you, but I can't guarantee it will get published."

Matthew knew she was just a field reporter with limited influence. If she had confidently promised publication, he would have had to question her sincerity.

"Here's his information." Matthew pulled out a piece of paper from his pocket, showing Michael Sheen's photo on one side and a text description on the other, "Just say he's a big fan of Christina Aguilera and is set to become the male lead in Britney Spears' MV."

He added, "Sooner the better, ideally this week."

Taking the paper, Ileana realized the subtext of Matthew's words, "Are you suggesting there's a rivalry between Christina Aguilera and Britney Spears, both former Mickey Mouse Club members?"

Matthew had researched online and found that although both singers were famous, direct confrontations between them hadn't yet surfaced in the media.

"It's not just rivalry; it's sharp conflict!" Matthew improvised based on some gossip he'd read, "I overheard Britney Spears' assistant say that Britney often insults Christina privately, calling her a b****, and claiming she used to steal her spotlight back in their Mickey Mouse Club days."

He looked at Ileana, "You could definitely dig into that, there must be some stories from back then."

The potential catfight between two popular singers would surely be a hit.

"That's what you believe?" Ileana asked.

"I swear!" Matthew raised his right hand solemnly, "I swear on God, I heard it with my own ears!"

Convinced of the story's value and the potential high earnings from the scoop, Ileana calculated rapidly. Even the chance of becoming an associate editor wasn't out of the question.

She hesitated, clearly uncomfortable about being manipulated by Matthew since her arrival, "It could also be the assistant making it up."

Matthew raised an eyebrow at her, was she trying to back out? It didn't seem so...

"Even if they don't have a sharp conflict," he said bluntly, "with your tabloid's skills, can't you manufacture one?"

"Right!" Ileana smacked her thigh, "Why didn't I think of that? Even without gossip, we can create it!"

She stood up, ready to leave in a rush, "I'll do my best. I've got your number!"

Ileana clearly took Matthew's bait.

Watching Ileana rush away, Matthew prepared to leave too. Having arranged one part of his plan, he planned to visit the Disney studio where the casting was taking place in the next few days to create the right opportunity.

Oh, and he needed an accomplice.

Walking home, Matthew couldn't think of a suitable candidate. All the actors under Angel Agency were out of the question due to competitive reasons; selling him out would be too easy.

Agent Helen Herman? Too scheming to trust.

As he opened his apartment door, the right person came to mind. Amanda would be perfect. She was likely to be at the costume audition and lacked the cunning and experience to pose a threat.

Then he contacted Amanda and made a series of preparations, all set for the day of the costume audition.