In Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, a black Cadillac slowly drove into the parking lot of Century City, found an empty spot, and parked smoothly.
"Amber, we're here."
The agent, seated in the driver's seat, spoke to the blonde woman in the passenger seat. "The person you're meeting is a very powerful figure in Hollywood, but he has a terrible reputation. I specifically arranged for this meeting to take place in a public setting."
Hearing this, Amber Heard nodded slightly.
The agent continued to warn, "If you have no intention of working with him, make sure you don't go anywhere private with him, and definitely avoid hotels."
Amber Heard nodded again. "I understand."
The agent thought for a moment and added, "This is an opportunity, but his opportunities never come for free."
Amber Heard understood the underlying meaning, adjusting her pretty face. "I know what to do."
"Go ahead, he only wants to see you," the agent said, tapping the steering wheel. "I'll wait here for you."
"Okay."
Amber Heard got out of the car and headed toward a nearby café.
Inside the café, Harvey Weinstein was flipping through a folder, his eyes glued to a full-body photo of Amber Heard. Occasionally, he swallowed hard.
How long had it been since he had encountered such a beautiful woman?
Why were all the beautiful women willing to work with Matthew Horner, while he had to use force just to get with some low-level talent?
Was it because Matthew Horner was better looking? Could good looks be a ticket to success? Or a stepping stone to fame?
These women, who only cared about looks and body, were all so shallow.
Was a man's charm based on his face and body?
After reviewing Amber Heard's file once more, Harvey Weinstein closed the folder and set it aside. She was just an ordinary third-rate actress, barely deserving the title of "star," with no significant roles or works to her name.
But his team's investigation showed that this woman was very ambitious, reportedly even attempting to seduce Johnny Depp, though Matthew Horner had interfered.
This woman was no different from other actresses in the industry—hungry for fame and fortune.
She had gotten close to Matthew Horner, hoping for a chance, but according to what she had told others, what Matthew offered her was unsatisfactory.
It was clear this woman had very big ambitions.
Ambition was good; without it, he wouldn't have considered her.
Hollywood had plenty of ways to destroy a star, and it didn't always require directly attacking their career.
The sound of high heels clicking on the floor made Harvey Weinstein look up. A tall, sexy, and beautiful blonde woman was walking toward him.
"Ms. Heard." He greeted her first, "Please, over here."
Amber Heard glanced at Harvey Weinstein and smiled. "Hello, Mr. Weinstein."
Harvey Weinstein nodded, acknowledging her, and pointed to the chair opposite him, casually saying, "Have a seat."
This woman really had a great figure, and she was very attractive. Should he take her to a hotel later? With his power, making her submit shouldn't be difficult.
As he watched Amber Heard pull out the chair and sit down, Harvey Weinstein's thoughts were racing. Ultimately, he dismissed those ideas—there was something more important he needed Amber Heard to do. Whatever else he wanted could come later; as long as she was ambitious, she wouldn't escape his grasp.
After sitting down, Amber Heard glanced around. Since it was a weekday morning, the café was mostly empty, though waitstaff occasionally moved about. It wasn't exactly a private setting.
She had heard plenty of rumors about Harvey Weinstein, and none of them were good. Some even suggested he had done things like sexual assault.
She hadn't witnessed anything herself and couldn't be sure if all of it was true, but she could certainly feel his arrogance.
She had greeted him warmly, yet he had responded with nothing more than a nod.
She couldn't help but think of Matthew Horner. Like Weinstein, he was also a top figure in the industry, but Matthew always made people feel like they were basking in the warmth of spring.
And Weinstein's eyes, the way he looked at her—it was like a depraved hunter admiring his prey.
Being treated like prey wasn't a pleasant feeling.
She had been both prey and predator, but when it came to Weinstein, whether as the hunter or the hunted, she couldn't suppress her disgust. If anything were to happen between them, she would likely have nightmares for years.
"Hello, Mr. Weinstein," Amber Heard, being an actress, suppressed her discomfort and managed a bright smile with ease. "My agent said you wanted to discuss something with me."
Harvey Weinstein had no patience for small talk with a minor actress and cut straight to the point. "I have a movie project here, targeting the Oscars, and we're currently looking for a lead actress."
He had reviewed her past roles and concluded that her basic acting skills were sufficient.
"Targeting the Oscars? And the lead role?" Amber Heard's eyes widened. Even Weinstein's repulsive face seemed to start glowing.
Harvey Weinstein had manipulated countless actresses. He could tell Amber Heard was tempted.
In Hollywood, how many small-time actors could resist fame and fortune? Who didn't want to become a star?
"This isn't a supporting role," Harvey Weinstein continued, knowing exactly how actors thought. "It's the lead role! A role I've crafted specifically for the Oscars."
Hearing the word "Oscar," all of Amber Heard's previous thoughts vanished. She asked eagerly, "What…what do I need to do?" She calmed herself a little. "What do I need to give in return?"
Weinstein, still arrogant, replied, "Just a small favor! All you need to do is a little thing, and you'll earn the friendship of Weinstein."
Amber Heard remained silent, unsure of the exact price she'd have to pay.
She wasn't naive; she knew there were no free lunches in this world. You usually had to give up something to gain something.
And considering Weinstein's reputation, could he really be that kind-hearted?
If all he wanted was her body, she could tolerate that. Disgusting as Weinstein was, the promise of immense rewards made it bearable.
Weinstein had manipulated so many actors and stars in his time that even he had lost count. He knew how desperately small-time actors wanted to rise to fame.
Offers like this had almost always worked for him in the past. Even someone like Leonardo DiCaprio had agreed to star in Django Unchained under the allure of the Oscars.
Over the years, the only person who had truly refused him was Matthew Horner.
That guy never seemed interested in the Oscars, rendering Weinstein's biggest leverage useless, forcing him to think of other ways.
Amber Heard was still weighing her options. Recently, she had spent a night with Matthew, hoping to land the role of Ms. Jay, but Matthew hadn't agreed, instead promising her a comparable supporting role in another project, with screen time similar to Ms. Jay's, as a second or third lead.
But such a role wasn't enough to make her an instant sensation.
A leading role, one with a chance at an Oscar—even without a nomination, it would instantly elevate her from obscurity to one of the year's top newcomers.
As long as Weinstein kept his promise, her life would change drastically.
Amber Heard knew exactly what she wanted in Hollywood.
She slowly spoke, "Mr. Weinstein, what do I need to do?"
"Just wait!" Weinstein wasn't stupid. He got up and left.
He could easily secure a deal with an actress, something his subordinates couldn't do, but there were some things that could never come from his mouth directly.
Amber Heard, a bit surprised, watched Weinstein leave, her face turning puzzled. She couldn't understand why such a big name like Weinstein was making something so simple seem so mysterious.
Wasn't this sort of transaction straightforward? Did he have some new tricks up his sleeve?
Thinking of this, Matthew Horner's name flashed through her mind again. In such matters, he was always direct, no beating around the bush, and his stance was crystal clear—everyone benefits!
If you put in the effort, Matthew Horner would reward you.
And she already knew what that reward was: a supporting role in a mid-budget horror film, directed by James Wan, whose recent Insidious had been a big hit.
Initially, Amber had been satisfied with that role. But compared to what Weinstein was offering, it now seemed far less appealing.
Too bad Weinstein didn't have the reputation or smooth approach of Matthew Horner.
Reflecting on her time with Matthew, Amber still found the experience enjoyable, a satisfaction that extended from the physical to the professional.
If only Matthew had given her a leading role instead.
"Hello, Ms. Heard."
A voice suddenly came from behind, and Amber turned to see an ordinary-looking middle-aged man approaching her.
"Hello," Amber greeted him with a smile.
The man sat across from her, expressionless, and said, "What I'm about to tell you must not be shared with a third person, not even your agent. If you do, our deal will be off!"
Amber grew even more confused. What was this about? The man hadn't mentioned Weinstein or his company, but it was obvious he was acting on his behalf.
The promise of a huge reward lay before her, and Amber didn't want to miss it. "No problem, go ahead."
The man spoke calmly, "It's nothing extreme. All you have to do is spend some time with someone, doing the most exhilarating things imaginable..."
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