The sound of metal scraping sharply filled the air. Matthew looked up, his pupils dilating as he turned his gaze to the right. Just fifteen meters ahead was the set area, and thirty meters beyond that, the crew had recently staged a series of powerful explosions, now concluded, as the props team adjusted the set.
Some of the scenery pieces hung from the ceiling of a converted hangar, requiring a lift for removal. The harsh noise had come from that lift, which had malfunctioned.
From the moment Matthew looked up to the sight of the lift tipping to one side and breaking free, only two seconds had passed.
The lift, encased in a metal guardrail, had detached from its support beams and plummeted down like a meteor. Fortunately, people had just been warned to scatter, so most of those below had already cleared away.
However, there was still someone on the lift—a props technician.
In the horrified silence, a scream tore through the air.
Then came the loud crash of metal hitting the ground.
The heavy lift, falling from over twenty meters, struck the ground with such force that even the floor trembled. The glass on a nearby table next to Matthew toppled, water spilling over, but no one paid it any mind.
Matthew and the rest stared at the mangled lift, their eyes on the technician inside the twisted metal railings. Though the technician wore a hard hat, concealing their face, the contorted shape of his body made it painfully clear a severe accident had occurred.
Most of the crew stood frozen, but Matthew snapped back, shouting, "Quick! Help him!" He turned to his left. "Call for an ambulance!" Then, to another assistant, "Find the set doctor!"
Matthew ran toward the crash site as more people broke out of their shock and rushed to check on their colleague.
Taking a deep breath to steady himself, Matthew approached the lift, noting the technician's twisted body, the blood pooling around him, and the splintered bone protruding from his leg. A wave of nausea hit him, but he suppressed it. He had seen intense situations before, even ones where he nearly had to pull the trigger himself. He could manage this.
Others weren't as composed, covering their mouths and moving away, with sounds of retching starting to rise around him.
The injury was severe.
The set doctor arrived, yelling, "Don't move him! Absolutely no one move him!" The crew knew enough not to touch an injured person, understanding that moving him could result in fatal secondary injuries.
The doctor reached the lift, and Matthew, silent and frowning, observed. After years of work on set, he had seen his share of accidents, but none as grave as this.
The technician's body was convulsing, blood pouring out with each tremor, the metallic smell driving many onlookers further away.
The doctor completed his examination and approached director and lead producer Stephen Sommers. Matthew followed and caught the doctor quietly shaking his head.
No words were needed.
Matthew, Stephen Sommers, and the rest of the crew wore solemn expressions. While accidents on set weren't entirely avoidable, no one wanted something this severe.
Ten minutes later, paramedics arrived and, after a routine assessment, pronounced the technician dead.
Production had to halt. Stephen Sommers issued a media blackout, giving most of the crew some time off, while Matthew, as co-producer, attended a meeting with Sommers and representatives from Paramount Pictures and Hasbro to discuss the next steps.
A fatal accident couldn't be hidden; production had to be paused for an indefinite period, and there was a series of procedures required by union organizations and the police.
The police investigation was relatively straightforward, given that it was an accident, but dealing with industry unions would be challenging. Hollywood unions were no token gesture.
Then there was the issue of managing the deceased technician's family.
Until everything was handled, filming couldn't resume.
Matthew sat through the meeting, though he didn't need to handle the logistics himself. Still, he paid attention to the specifics, preparing for any adjustments to his role once filming resumed.
In an attempt to stay ahead of the story, the production crew moved quickly, holding a press conference that day before the news could spread further.
"Recently, during the set dismantling process, our crew member Mick Hubble was involved in a tragic accident caused by the unexpected tilt and fall of a lift. We extend our deepest condolences and sincere sympathy to Mick's family."
The crew also made a public commitment, stating, "Ensuring the safety of all our crew members is our top priority. We are fully cooperating with the investigation."
This incident didn't stir too much public attention. The production provided a significant compensation package to the technician's family, and with their silence, only the union and police investigation remained.
Other Hollywood sets had seen similar incidents lately. The "Resident Evil" production and the "Expendables 2" set both experienced accidents, resulting in fatalities as well.
This dispersed some of the media focus.
Especially after the "Expendables 2" set accident in November, which resulted in the death of Jet Li's stunt double and another stunt performer in an explosion.
Despite the tragedy, high-risk jobs such as stunt doubles have always been a dangerous career in Hollywood.
With the production paused, Matthew took the opportunity to focus on his own projects. Outside of work, Amber Heard's frequent invitations kept him occupied, and he often took her to his estate for the night.
Amber Heard was bold, adventurous, and open to new experiences, which suited Matthew well as their games became increasingly intense.
Matthew even converted a room into a game room equipped with various items like handcuffs and whips, finding Amber's interest piqued by these.
She was, in every way, an ideal partner for these activities, but there was one thing that raised Matthew's suspicions.
Amber often proposed trying these experiences under the influence of drugs.
Once, twice, even three times, he had thought Amber was dealing with addiction, but after he firmly refused, she persisted, continuing to coax him into trying them.
Having risen from the bottom and having outmaneuvered countless rivals, Matthew couldn't ignore the strange sense that something was amiss.
Hollywood was never a utopia.
Having climbed up by any means necessary, he wasn't naïve, and even a faint whiff of something off made him wary.
Keanu Reeves once publicly stated that in Hollywood, people are often deceitful and corrupt.
He wasn't wrong.
Matthew chose not to confront Amber, instead playing along, continuing to indulge her interests as the games between them escalated.
Privately, though, he carefully reviewed all the footage he'd captured of their encounters, noticing that Amber's stash of cocaine and cigarettes had remained the same since they'd begun. Despite their repeated games, she hadn't used much of it.
This suggested one of two things: either Amber used these substances sparingly, or she wasn't heavily addicted.
So why was she so insistent on getting him to try them?
Matthew's mind flashed to Scientology. Could it be that after all these years, the organization hadn't given up trying to recruit him?
Controlling someone through drugs could be an effective tactic.
But Matthew, raised in a culture with a strong anti-drug stance, was particularly resistant.
It wouldn't be surprising if Scientology still had an interest in him. A billionaire could mean substantial financial gains for them.
Amber had first entered his life through Scientology, and despite her apparent detachment from it now, who was to say there wasn't still a connection?
It seemed the role of taking the fall for Johnny Depp might turn into a trap of its own.
Then again, perhaps Amber wasn't plotting anything—maybe she just enjoyed a thrill.
But Matthew was ever cautious.
"Brown, you've given Amber a ride a few times," Matthew asked his bodyguard and personal assistant. "Noticed anything unusual?"
Brown Williams thought for a moment before shaking his head. "Nothing unusual. I always drop her off in Santa Monica."
Matthew pondered for a moment. "I feel like there's more to her intentions."
Brown said nothing, but mentally noted, Which of your relationships isn't calculated? At this rate, you're turning into the next Hugh Hefner.
"You have a friend who's a private investigator, right?" Matthew had used the contact once before. "Have him look into Amber discreetly. Don't let her know."
Brown nodded. "Got it."
The arrangement was swiftly made, and Matthew, with a pile of "Twilight" work to tend to, put thoughts of Amber aside for now.
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