Tonight, the Hollywood Celebrity Centre was ablaze with lights. Even without knowing the owners, it was evident that the renowned Church of Scientology was hosting another gathering. Curious onlookers often paused nearby, hoping to catch a glimpse of the many big-name celebrities who attended these events, including the likes of Tom Cruise and Will Smith.
However, most people kept their distance, as if wary of a lurking beast within the illuminated buildings. Only journalists, who fear nothing, remained undeterred. For them, even if it were the lair of a terrorist organization, it wouldn't stop their pursuit.
As the first luxury car pulled up to the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, more reporters gathered, eager to capture exclusive news from Tom Cruise's pre-wedding party.
Nevertheless, none dared to storm inside. Despite changing times, the Church of Scientology no longer made people disappear or get hurt as easily as before. Even their methods of tracking individuals were used with extreme caution. With its accumulated wealth over the years, the church had an army of lawyers at its disposal. Getting entangled in a legal battle with Scientology could be a major headache.
Matthew arrived later than most, with night having fully set in. When he reached the Hollywood Celebrity Centre, his bodyguard, Brown Williams, was stopped by security. They asserted that all safety within the centre was handled by Scientology and that external personnel were not permitted inside.
Being a major star now, with a name recognized across North America and the Western world, Matthew was untroubled by potential physical threats from Scientology. Any such antics would be catastrophic for their Hollywood standing.
After reassuring Brown Williams, Matthew entered the Celebrity Centre and soon found himself walking down a red carpet leading into a grand hall.
At the hall's entrance stood Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. They stepped forward to greet him, as usual, Tom doing most of the talking while Katie remained more of a decorative presence.
"I thought you might not come," Tom Cruise said, shaking his hand firmly.
"Tom, even if Los Angeles were hit by a nuclear bomb," Matthew joked, emphasizing his desire to maintain good relations with Tom Cruise, "I would still be here."
"Ha ha..." Tom Cruise laughed heartily. "You're the last guest to arrive."
He gestured towards the hall, "Come on, let me introduce you to some friends."
It seemed that Tom Cruise also wanted to build a good rapport with him. As they wandered through the hall, Matthew realized that although he didn't recognize many faces, he certainly knew of some by reputation.
Seeing those familiar names and faces, Matthew couldn't help but marvel at Scientology's deep roots in Hollywood.
Tom Cruise introduced him to several prominent figures: Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis's daughter and Michael Jackson's ex-wife; Paul Haggis, an Oscar-nominated director for "Crash"; and the ever-popular John Travolta.
These individuals were all staunch Scientologists in Hollywood.
But the gathering wasn't limited to Scientology members; there were also guests like Matthew, friends of Tom Cruise.
"Matthew, this is David, and this is Victoria," Tom Cruise introduced them to a couple in their thirties. "David, Vicky, this is Matthew."
Matthew, having been a casual soccer fan in his previous life, immediately recognized the famous David Beckham, and the woman with a striking resemblance to the Spice Girls was his wife, Victoria.
In recent years, the friendship between David Beckham and Tom Cruise had been widely reported by the media.
After exchanging pleasantries and a handshake with David Beckham, Matthew realized there wasn't much else to talk about beyond the formalities.
Just then, someone passed by, and Tom Cruise went over to greet them. Matthew overheard Victoria mumbling, her voice low but audible enough. She was complaining about Tom Cruise's persistence, mentioning how he had been pestering them with multiple texts daily to persuade them into Scientology.
Matthew found himself reflecting on Tom Cruise's remarkable dedication to recruiting for Scientology, showing the same commitment and effort as he did with his film career.
It wasn't surprising when Tom Cruise introduced another prominent guest who had not yet joined Scientology but was under serious consideration.
Standing before him were none other than Will Smith and his wife, Jada Pinkett Smith.
"Didn't expect to see you here," Will Smith said, his distinctive ears making him instantly recognizable.
Matthew replied with a smile, "Will, I didn't expect to run into you here either."
After the introduction, Tom Cruise excused himself for some urgent matter, leaving Matthew to converse with the Smiths.
Matthew didn't mind. Will Smith was on par with him, being another leading actor in Hollywood.
"I've known Tom for a long time," Will Smith explained, showing no hostility. "He often invites me to these gatherings."
Matthew understood the subtext. Tom Cruise was likely trying to recruit Will Smith into Scientology.
"Actually, I think Scientology is quite interesting," Jada Pinkett Smith interjected. "Their ideas and principles have some merit."
She glanced at Matthew, "It can be very useful for purifying some people's dirty minds."
Matthew's brow furrowed slightly at her comment. Will Smith gave his wife a quick, stern look, prompting Jada to close her mouth.
Matthew, unfazed, joked, "Well, someone like me, who's inherently good, doesn't need purification."
Previously, Jada had seemed quite reasonable when discussing matters with Naomi Harris. However, she had a reputation in the industry for being a big mouth, often repeating what others said.
Jada was about to retort, but Will Smith discreetly tugged her arm, causing her to reluctantly remain silent.
As a Black actor who had achieved unprecedented success, Will Smith wasn't naive. He understood that backdoor dealings and face-to-face conflicts were entirely different things. He had no enmity towards Matthew, knowing well that seeing competitors as enemies in Hollywood would leave no room to stand.
"Jada was just kidding," Will Smith clarified. "She can be quite humorous sometimes."
Since Will Smith wasn't looking for a confrontation, Matthew saw no reason to create one, replying, "No worries, I enjoy a good joke myself."
"There's a friend over there," Will Smith said, eager to avoid further outbursts from Jada. "I need to say hello."
Matthew nodded, responding politely, "Sure, we'll catch up later."
As Will Smith walked away with Jada, Matthew couldn't help but think that Will's extraordinary success among Black actors wasn't just due to luck.
Compared to many Black actors who quickly cried racism at every turn, Will Smith stood out as exceptionally shrewd.
Meanwhile, a short distance away, Amber Heard followed Tom Cruise, approaching Matthew. From afar, she saw him, now one of Hollywood's brightest stars.
She quickly glanced down, checking herself as thoroughly as possible. Thanks to the meticulous work of Scientology's makeup artists, she looked flawless.
Since Scientology had set the stage for her to climb, she was determined to seize the opportunity.
Whether Matthew Horner joined Scientology or not was beyond her control.
And if she could achieve what Nicole Kidman and Katie Holmes had, would she still need Scientology?
"Hi, Matthew. Let me introduce you to a friend," Tom Cruise said, leading the way to Matthew. "This is Amber Heard, a good friend of mine."
Amber Heard stepped forward, her eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "Hello, Matthew."
"Hello," Matthew nodded to her.
Then, he took a moment to study Amber Heard closely.
Noticing his gaze, Amber felt a thrill of satisfaction.
Just a few feet away, Michelle Hammes watched, nodding slightly, believing his strategy was working. He approached them with a measured pace, not wanting to rush the process.
As Matthew observed, a kindly-looking older man approached him. Tom Cruise made a formal introduction.
"Matthew, this is Michelle Hammes."
Michelle Hammes, exuding a benevolent demeanor, addressed Matthew, "Could we have a private chat?"
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