Chapter 361: Selling the Engagement Ceremony

Before the sun rose on Wednesday, hundreds of journalists and paparazzi had already gathered at the newly decorated gates of the Horner estate. Five TV broadcast vans arrived, nearly blocking the road. With the help of Helen Herman, the Beverly Hills Police Department dispatched dozens of officers to maintain order.

To ensure the smooth running of the engagement showcase, Matthew had also contracted a highly reputable security firm. Hundreds of professional security personnel were scattered throughout the estate to prevent any journalists from sneaking in. Since the expenses were covered by the production company, Dior, and Mercedes-Benz, Matthew naturally opted for the highest level of service.

Starting from Monday, a specialized team from Red Penguin Services, where List worked, began setting up the banquet hall inside the estate for the engagement ceremony.

Dior's Los Angeles division had also delivered exquisite gifts to the estate's warehouse, to be given as return gifts by Matthew and Charlize Theron.

Though there wasn't a custom of giving betrothal gifts as such, guests typically brought presents to an engagement ceremony.

Mercedes-Benz's fleet started picking up guests from various locations in Los Angeles right after lunchtime.

By midday, the number of media representatives at the gates of Horner estate had increased, seemingly drawing every notable newspaper, magazine, radio, and TV station in North America.

In addition to the media, some fans of Matthew and Charlize Theron had also gathered near the estate, eager to witness their idols' engagement ceremony firsthand.

The Beverly Hills Police Department had to deploy most of their forces to the area, implementing traffic control around the estate and restricting access to fans and reporters' vehicles.

"Did you hear?" a black paparazzo said to his colleague beneath the tall walls of Horner estate. "Some newspapers and websites are offering seven figures for photos and videos of Matthew Horner and Charlize Theron's engagement ceremony."

His colleague, a white man, nodded. "I know, but we can't get in."

The black man looked up at the wall and suggested, "Max, we've got a rope in the car. I can hold it while you climb..."

"Don't even think about it!" the white man said cautiously. "Sure, seven figures is impressive, but it's not worth our lives. Do you know which security company Matthew Horner hired? They're licensed to carry firearms. If we trespass, they could legally shoot us..."

Hearing this, the black man immediately shut up.

Max, the white man, continued, "That wall is at least five meters high and doesn't have any footholds. Are you sure we could even make it over? And even if we did, who knows what's inside."

He pointed to the security personnel in black suits patrolling nearby. "You clearly didn't bring your brain today. There's security every fifty meters along the wall. You think we can avoid their eyes? This isn't a movie."

The black man touched his shiny head, "It's just a shame to let those seven-figure checks slip by." He coughed, then added, "Remember when we captured those photos of Matthew Horner with Keira Knightley on the beach? We only got $2,000 for those. Now, his engagement video is going for seven figures!"

Max also felt a pang of nostalgia, "Matthew Horner has been incredible these past few years. Every film he stars in turns into a blockbuster. He's definitely becoming a top star, and bagging Charlize Theron, an Oscar-winning actress, no less. He's a real winner in life!"

"Have you read the reports on Matthew Horner?" the black man asked, then continued, "The guy's been so lucky, going from a nobody to this in just a few years?"

Max was pragmatic, "That's not something we can envy."

Suddenly, the black man pointed toward the entrance to the Horner estate, "Looks like a guest is arriving."

"Quick, let's get a good spot at the gate!"

It was just past noon, and guests were already arriving, earlier than most reporters expected. Max, carrying his camera, rushed to the front gate of the Horner estate, only to be stopped by the police on the sidewalk. He quickly set up his camera, ready to shoot.

In just the few seconds it took to set up his camera, hundreds of reporters and paparazzi swarmed the entrance like sharks smelling blood, cramming every bit of space behind the barriers. Their cameras were aimed at an approaching black Mercedes, their flashes merging into a continuous glow.

James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender, sitting in the back seat of the car, looked toward the estate gates.

"It's crazy!" James McAvoy shook his head, "So many reporters, must be two or three hundred, right?"

Michael Fassbender suggested, "Probably more."

"This is the kind of attention a superstar gets!"

As their car drove past the throng of reporters, James McAv

oy looked through the tinted glass at the journalists, who seemed more excited than if they were meeting the Queen of England, "Matthew really is something else!"

Michael Fassbender asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

James McAvoy withdrew his gaze, "The union of Matthew and Charlize Theron is about more than just love." Knowing each other as comrades from the trenches, they understood one another well. "Other than his old girlfriend who never appeared in public, when has he ever truly fallen for anyone?"

"You remind me," Michael Fassbender recalled briefly, "Matthew once told us that getting married is a terrifying prospect."

James McAvoy concluded, "So, knowing Matthew, he might indeed be in love with Charlize Theron, but agreeing to an engagement must involve other factors."

Their Mercedes entered the estate gates, and he pointed to the reporters behind them, "See, the sensational effect of Matthew and Charlize Theron coming together is absolutely massive."

Michael Fassbender nodded seriously, "Knowing that guy's cunning, he could totally pull it off!"

Thinking back to the incident during the shooting of "Band of Brothers," which seemed trivial at the time but upon reflection appeared orchestrated, they both understood that Matthew, the scoundrel, had likely played a role.

The Mercedes circled a fountain and stopped in front of the creamy white mansion. James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender stepped out just as Matthew, dressed in formal attire, came to greet them.

"James, Michael..." Matthew embraced them both, "I'm counting on you guys as representatives of the groom today."

James McAvoy replied with mock arrogance, "I'll reluctantly oblige."

Michael Fassbender glanced around and asked, "Where's Charlize?"

Matthew pointed upstairs, "She's getting her makeup done. It'll take a few hours."

Indeed, natural beauty required meticulous makeup to truly shine.

"Come inside," Matthew led James McAvoy and Michael Fassbender into the mansion, saying as they walked, "You two are some of the earliest to arrive."

"It's your engagement ceremony," Michael Fassbender said seriously, "As representatives of the groom, of course, we had to come early."

He suddenly remembered something, "You didn't even throw a bachelor party."

"It's just an engagement," Matthew replied offhandedly, "The wedding is still up in the air."

James McAvoy picked up on something in his tone but didn't inquire further, following Matthew into a vast banquet hall.

Outside, the reporters crowded the gates, and TV cameramen climbed onto their vans for a better shot. The distant hum of an engine announced the arrival of a helicopter bearing the ABC Television logo, quickly reaching the airspace above Horner estate...

As the afternoon neared three o'clock, the Mercedes cars that had left earlier returned one by one to the estate.

Max had chosen an excellent shooting angle, perfectly capturing the guests inside the cars through the windows. From three to four o'clock, he captured many Hollywood celebrities arriving.

Johnny Depp and his wife, Keanu Reeves, Rachel Weisz, Stephen Sommers, Ridley Scott, Orlando Bloom, Doug Liman, Avi Arad, and even Keira Knightley, Matthew Horner's ex-girlfriend, were among those he filmed, indicating that Matthew and Keira had indeed parted on amicable terms.

Then, there were many others he couldn't name, such as various agents and the director of "Dawn of the Dead," the son of Oracle CEO Larry Ellison mentioned by his colleague...

Max, a seasoned paparazzo, could tell from the guests that though Matthew Horner hadn't been in Hollywood for long, he had already established a significant network.

Later, he noticed that even the new CEO of Walt Disney, Robert Iger, personally arrived at the Horner estate.

Inside, Matthew stood in front of the mansion, greeting each guest. Though it was a show, he maintained the most genuine demeanor.

After escorting Robert Iger into the mansion, another Mercedes arrived, bringing Helen Herman and Elena Boyarskaya.

Matthew didn't mince words with them, directly asking Helen Herman, "Can you help me greet the guests inside the banquet hall?"

Helen Herman nodded and headed toward the main entrance.

"How are your preparations?" Matthew asked Elena Boyarskaya in a lowered voice, "Is everything set up?"

"Rest assured," Elena Boyarskaya replied, "The videographers arrived early to set up, and TMZ will pay you $1.5 million for the video."

Indeed, he had sold the engagement ceremony video rights to TMZ.

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