He thought it over carefully; he just wanted to use tonight’s opportunity to take the real first step into becoming a Hollywood actor. The memories left by his predecessor told him clearly that this seemingly low-threshold first step was actually not easy at all. There were plenty of people like him who came to Los Angeles with dreams of acting, yet couldn’t even get a chance to be a background extra.

The beginning is always tough—this is Matthew Carter’s understanding. Just like waiting for work at the labor market in the past, for any job that required a bit of skill, people always preferred to hire those with experience!

Although he didn’t know much about Hollywood, he figured that a role without any lines, just as a background extra, shouldn’t be difficult for a star of Angelina Jolie’s level.

Angelina Jolie sat there, silent for a moment, just sizing up Matthew Carter, and realized this guy was smarter than she’d thought.

“He’s very greedy,” was her impression, “but he knows when to stop.”

A small background role was indeed no trouble for her at all. She didn’t even need to say anything; for example, in the film currently being shot, she could just have her assistant casually mention it to the casting director. After all, she was the second female lead!

Was it more important to ruin the reputation of the husband who betrayed her and gain the upper hand in a future divorce case, or to grant such a trivial request?

“Heh…” Angelina Jolie suddenly laughed.

If it had been a few years ago, not only would she have refused, she would have had her bodyguard come over and teach him a lesson. Even if she couldn’t get the footage, people grow up eventually. She couldn’t always be that crazy, muddle-headed little girl. As she got older, her mind had become much clearer.

Otherwise, how could her career have steadily risen in recent years?

Angelina Jolie spoke slowly, “Do you have a business card?”

Hearing this, Matthew Carter quickly found some paper and a pen, wrote down his phone number, and handed it to Angelina Jolie. Jolie casually stuffed it into her pocket, pulled out her phone, and dialed a number. “Bring the money over.”

Matthew Carter breathed a sigh of relief, knowing he might have seized this opportunity.

However, he immediately became alert again, because a burly white man was walking over from the front. Fortunately, the man just handed Angelina Jolie a paper package and quickly left.

Angelina Jolie opened the package; inside was a stack of crisp new bills, clearly prepared in advance. She didn’t say much, just tossed the money over. Matthew Carter caught the cash and handed the DV camera back to her.

After putting away the DV camera, Angelina Jolie was about to get out of the car and leave, but suddenly turned back, curiously asking, “Aren’t you worried I won’t keep my word?”

“I am,” Matthew Carter answered honestly. “But there’s nothing I can do about it. I can only gamble on your character.”

The difference in their status was too great. Jolie even had bodyguards here—maybe armed. What could he do? This was an unequal verbal agreement from the start, and he’d always known it. If Jolie only talked and didn’t act, he’d just have to accept his bad luck.

Matthew Carter could only bet that this matter was so trivial to Angelina Jolie that it wasn’t even worth her effort. Plus, he’d already gotten five thousand dollars—even if Angelina Jolie tricked him, he’d still come out ahead.

Maybe because she’d gotten what she wanted, Angelina Jolie was clearly in a much better mood. “As long as you don’t go blabbing.”

Without the video evidence, talking was useless—especially in Hollywood. Which star doesn’t have all sorts of rumors swirling around them? As long as there’s no proof, it’s always just gossip.

Matthew Carter made a zipping gesture. “I promise!”

Of course, he wouldn’t say anything now. Maybe without Angelina Jolie’s help, if he kept waiting, he’d get another chance in the future—after all, the threshold for being an extra wasn’t high. But what he’d seen and heard today made him not want to wait any longer. He was desperate for a better life, just like Johnny Lee Miller in the manor.

As long as Angelina Jolie kept her promise, this process would be greatly accelerated.

Even though he was in a different country, Matthew Carter believed that having connections made things much easier.

Angelina Jolie got out of the car and quickly disappeared into the night. Matthew Carter guessed it wouldn’t be long before she divorced Johnny Lee Miller, and the latter would probably be in for a rough time—maybe even lose a fortune.

“Isn’t this kind of behavior a bit low?” At this moment, Matthew Carter thought of professional ethics, then shook his head. “For a nobody like me who wants to make it, I can’t afford to be rigid!”

As for professional ethics? He could worry about that after he had money.

He pulled out the five thousand dollars and slapped it in his hand, producing a crisp, pleasant sound. The sound was exceptionally sweet and delightful.

“The feeling of having money…” Matthew Carter’s fingers gently stroked Franklin’s face on the bills. “Damn, it feels good!”

He put away the five thousand dollars, sat and read a magazine for a while, checked the time, locked the car door, and went to the back seat to sleep. When he woke up, it was already light out. After grabbing a bottle of mineral water to rinse his mouth and wash his face, he didn’t have to wait long before the guard at the manor gate came to notify him to pick someone up.