In Beverly Hills, a black executive car slowly entered Rodeo Drive and stopped at an empty curbside spot. Elena Boyar, seated in the back, glanced outside; the area nearby was a concentration of high‑end luxury brand stores, the place she had long arranged to meet with Matthew Horner and Helen Herman.
She looked down at her wristwatch, pulled out her phone and dialed Matthew Horner's number; the person who answered wasn't Horner himself but his personal assistant, and the call was then transferred to Horner.
"Matthew, I've arrived," Elena Boyar whispered, "When will you be here?"
"Please wait a moment," Horner said on the other end, "Keira ran into a bit of trouble on her way here, so she may be later than scheduled."
"Alright, just let me know when it's about time."
Elena Boyar said no more; getting paid for her services has always been her professional code.
Although Matthew Horner and Helen Herman didn't state it outright, last week they, together with people from Disney, visited her spot, and Elena Boyar guessed what they were planning.
To her, it was indeed a good scheme: two third‑tier minor celebrities could ride the hype of an upcoming film, stage an overtly passionate yet ambiguous romance, and inevitably spark a flood of coverage, especially on various internet sites.
Scandalous gossip has always been a crowd‑pleasing form of entertainment; otherwise, not only would America's countless tabloids suffer, even Yahoo Entertainment would go bankrupt.
Through this, she could also forge ties with Disney; Elena Boyar heard that Disney plans to partner with Warner Bros. to build a website dedicated entirely to gossip reporting, a venture said to have massive investment and aims to become the industry leader.
Compared with the more conventional Yahoo Entertainment, such a site would let her showcase her strengths even more.
A black BMW SUV, driven by Mira Wang, cruised at a relaxed pace toward Rodeo Drive, with Matthew Horner and Helen Herman sitting in the back seat.
"I've been in contact with James Benesner," Helen Herman put away her phone and said, "There's been a car accident near the hotel, causing a chain of traffic jams, so we'll probably be delayed."
Matthew Horner nodded and said ahead, "Mira, take a look around the area."
Since heading to Rodeo Drive now would just be waiting, why not stroll around Beverly Hills? This place boasts the title "World's Most Prestigious Residential Area," representing and symbolizing wealth and fame.
If possible, Matthew also wishes to buy a mansion here.
Seeing Horner's attention fixed on the row of mansions along the road, Helen Herman said, "After a few more films, buying a property here will be a breeze for you."
Matthew leaned back in his seat and said outright, "I want to buy a massive estate, employ a hundred beautiful maidservants, each at Audrey Hepburn level, sleep each night on a gold‑crafted bed, host a wild party every evening, and drink and revel until dawn..."
"It's you!" Helen Herman warned, "Not us."
"That's the life I want," Horner added.
Helen Herman gave him a glance and said, "Wait until you become a super‑star before you dream about that."
"Can't I think about it now?" Horner withdrew his gaze, looking at Helen Herman, "You know, Helen, sometimes I'm stressed and bored, but whenever I recall this, I feel energized—that's my source of motivation!"
Mira Wang drove attentively, and after hearing that, she glanced through the rearview mirror. Having served as Horner's personal assistant for a while, she knew he was extremely vulgar, far from the refined demeanor and cultivation one expects of a star.
"No wonder he's so eager to work out and rehearse every day…" A thought naturally sprang to her mind, "So that's the real reason."
Helen Herman knew Horner wasn't just talking; the guy was far from being a restrained person.
Moreover, from her two‑year observation, Matthew's physical condition is excellent and his stamina is extraordinary; how could such a man be restrained? If he hadn't spent most of his time and energy on filming and workouts these past two years, he would have long since been unable to bear loneliness.
He used to have a steady girlfriend to keep him in check; now, without one, Helen Herman felt uneasy and cautioned, "I don't care how you mess around later, but during the execution of this plan, behave yourself. If it turns into a scandal, it will backfire."
"I understand," Horner said with a hint of helplessness, "I'm just talking."
Helen Herman gave him a look and added, "If you really can't hold back, you could go after Keira Knightley; if you two actually get together, it wouldn't even violate the agreement."
Matthew's phone suddenly vibrated; he pulled it out and saw a message from Keira Knightley.
"They're almost here," Matthew said to Mira Wang, "Let's head to Rodeo Drive."
In another car that had just entered Beverly Hills, Keira Knightley put away her phone and said to the Agent beside her, James Benesner, "They've already gone, they'll be waiting at the agreed spot."
James Benesner nodded slightly and said, "Keira, relax. Aren't you and Matthew friends? Just act like normal friends."
Keira Knightley rolled her eyes. "Are there such normal friends?"
She looked out the window; before her eighteenth birthday she had returned to England, where her parents threw a party for her, and she received another gift from Matthew.
"That guy…" Keira Knightley shook her head. "Acts as if it's real."
The car entered Rodeo Drive, gradually slowing down. After a short distance, Keira Knightley told the driver, "There!"
A black BMW SUV was parked by the curb; she recognized it as Matthew's car and quickly texted him.
Matthew received the text, got out of the driver's seat, and when he arrived, just after entering Rodeo Drive, Helen Herman had already gotten out with Mira Wang.
He first buzzed Elena Boyar's phone, then waved at the car coming from behind.
In the black business car across the street, Elena Boyar put away her phone, took her camera and got out herself, crossed at a crosswalk to the opposite side, surveyed the positions of the two target cars, and quickly chose a suitable spot for shooting.
Los Angeles is already overrun by paparazzi, so pedestrians are no longer surprised by people taking photos on the street, and today being a weekday, there weren't many pedestrians.
She sat on a bench by the sidewalk, raised her camera, and aimed the lens at the target.
"Long time no see, Keira," Matthew said as Keira Knightley walked up, "You've become even prettier."
Considering the shot, Keira Knightley wore neither sunglasses nor a hat, kept a straight face, and said, "Didn't you say my square face looks ugly?"
Matthew smiled, "We used to be friends, so I have to knock down your pride." He grinned even wider, "Now we're a couple, so I'll definitely try to please you."
Keira Knightley hummed, "Not sincere at all."
Matthew kept his smile and said, "Darling, what kind of sincerity do you want? Do you want me to seriously pursue you?"
Keira Knightley rolled her eyes again. "This is an agreement!" she emphasized. "Without an agreement, I wouldn't even bother coming."
Matthew reminded, "They might have already started filming."
That line worked, and Keira Knightley finally smiled, following Matthew toward the cluster of luxury boutiques ahead.
On the other side, Elena Boyar had already changed position, continuing to shoot from a covert angle while pondering how to write the article.
The two of them, true actors, just with that series of actions could fill a twisty gossip piece: "pirates of the caribbean" male lead Matthew Horner and Keira Knightley secretly date, the man offends the woman, pulls out every trick, and finally makes her smile… Elena Boyar is a veteran entertainment gossip reporter; interpreting pictures is her specialty.
Matthew walked side by side with Keira Knightley, chatting and laughing all the way. Their conversation was not about romance at all, but about some amusing stories about Depp, which made them appear close yet not overly intimate.
They never held hands from start to finish.
It was all planned, just like many so‑called Hollywood couples: first the media leaks the story, then they neither confirm nor deny, saying ambiguous things like 'we're great friends.' Using the film's publicity buzz, they occasionally appear together in public, where paparazzi and reporters always get shots, and the ensuing gossip keeps the movie in the headlines. Then they hold hands, still not confirming, and finally choose a high‑profile event to cement the relationship.
Just like Hollywood's film‑production assembly line, couples can be manufactured in the same assembly‑line fashion.
Elena Boyar kept following skillfully until Matthew and Keira Knightley entered the Tiffany store, then she found a place to rest for a moment. When they emerged, she sharply noticed a black pearl necklace around Keira Knightley's neck and immediately raised her camera for a close‑up.
She then followed them, and realized she wasn't the only one shooting; a few paparazzi had also recognized Matthew and Keira Knightley and were tailing them.
Elena Boyar didn't need an exclusive; she ignored the other photographers and simply chose her own position and angle to shoot.
Matthew and Keira Knightley shopped from early afternoon until dusk, had dinner together, and then went their separate ways.
It was also their first date.
That night, pictures from the date appeared on several websites.