After removing her makeup and changing into her everyday clothes, Winona Ryder left the private dressing room and returned to her producer's office.
She poured herself a glass of water and sat behind the large, luxurious desk, looking relaxed and in good spirits.
The project "Girl, Interrupted" was her brainchild and a good opportunity for her to make a comeback.
She would never allow anyone to steal her thunder.
She had communicated with the screenwriter and others about the deleted scenes, which were very brilliant for the supporting actress but did not have a significant impact on the overall story.
She was the producer, and as long as the other producer, Georgia Kakandis, remained silent, Angelina Jolie would be powerless to retaliate.
Intensive footsteps came from outside, followed by a knock on the door.
Winona Ryder said, "Come in," and her assistant rushed in.
"What's wrong?" Winona Ryder frowned slightly.
The assistant seemed to have run over, catching her breath, and said, "Jolie and that man are here."
"Oh?" Winona Ryder raised her beautiful eyebrows, "What are they here for?"
"It can't be..." the assistant whispered, "Are they here to cause trouble again?"
Winona Ryder thought for a moment, then slowly shook her head, "If it's trouble, Jolie would come alone."
Then, a possibility occurred to her, and a hint of anticipation appeared on her cool, clear face, "Could Jolie be here to plead for that man?"
The assistant nodded, "It's very likely! I heard from Rubin that Jolie had Vanessa specifically talk to him to get that man into the crew."
"If that's the case..." The anticipation on Winona Ryder's face grew, "What should I do?"
She suddenly wished Angelina Jolie would come quickly.
In the office corridor, Matthew reluctantly followed Angelina Jolie, walking unhurriedly towards the office they had been in at noon.
"You're both big stars," Matthew didn't want to go at all, "I'm just an insignificant extra, maybe I shouldn't go."
Angelina Jolie glanced at him, "Your role was taken away by her, don't you want it back? Don't you want to see if her face can still maintain its coolness?"
Matthew really wanted to see, but confronting Winona Ryder directly still made him very apprehensive.
"Hmph—" Angelina Jolie snorted, then said, "Without you as a witness, do you think she'd be threatened by me? Do you think you'd get a better job?"
Originally, Matthew had thought about going to Winona Ryder himself, but recalling some things he had seen at the bottom of society, he felt that raising a big flag would be more effective.
Given the vast difference in status between him and Winona Ryder, she might use some unexpected methods.
Important people always have many ways to deal with an insignificant person.
He guessed that Angelina Jolie must have realized he was using her as a pawn, but she didn't want to give up such an opportunity to strike at Winona Ryder, so she simply dragged him in too, not allowing him the chance to shoot from behind.
His gaze drifted across Angelina Jolie's chest; this woman was definitely not all brawn and no brains.
Although he had misgivings, Matthew still came.
Facing various difficulties now, he urgently needed to open up the situation.
Arriving at the office door, Angelina Jolie pushed it open directly and walked in.
At this moment, Matthew would not back down either, and followed her into the office.
"is there something you need?" Winona Ryder's cool, clear voice sounded.
Angelina Jolie looked at Winona Ryder's assistant, "I'd like to talk to you alone."
Winona Ryder refused without hesitation, "There's no need."
She first looked at Angelina Jolie, who no longer had her previous haughty demeanor, then at the tall young man beside her, whose ruggedly handsome face wore a peaceful smile.
"These two dogs in love seem to have something to ask of me."
Winona Ryder was convinced her guess was correct, and a hint of arrogance appeared on her fair, cool face.
"I think it's better if we talk alone." Matthew felt that once too many people knew about this kind of thing, there would be no room for maneuver, "Miss Ryder, please ask your assistant to step out for a moment."
"No need," Winona Ryder waved her hand casually.
Angelina Jolie urged Matthew, "Since that's the case, hurry up and speak."
Matthew thought for a moment and didn't speak directly.
Instead, he calmly said, "Miss Ryder, a few days ago, I saw you at a bookstore outside the studio."
Winona Ryder put down her cup, and a faint blush appeared on her fair face, "What bookstore?"
"Outside the studio," Matthew looked at Winona Ryder's assistant, "a bookstore near the tourist area."
Winona Ryder suddenly felt her heart pounding in her chest and looked at her assistant, "You go out first and close the door!"
The assistant quickly left, and after going out, she closed the office door tightly.
"Haha..." Angelina Jolie suddenly laughed.
Winona Ryder's heart beat faster and faster, "You... what are you laughing at?"
Angelina Jolie took a big step forward, staring down at Winona Ryder, who was sitting in the chair, "Who would have thought that the famous Hollywood star Miss Winona Ryder is actually a thief."
"Don't slander me!" Winona Ryder retorted.
"is it slander or not!" Angelina Jolie pressed closer to Winona Ryder step by step, "You know very well in your heart!"
Winona Ryder certainly wouldn't admit it, "If you continue to slander me, I'll sue you for defamation!"
"is that so?" Angelina Jolie had had enough of Winona Ryder's attitude these past few days.
She propped her hands on the desk and glared fiercely at Winona Ryder, "Do you want me to call my lawyer?"
Winona Ryder stood up abruptly and shouted at Matthew behind her, "You, get out!"
She gradually realized that something was wrong and planned to send out the irrelevant people first, then see how much Angelina Jolie knew.
Matthew didn't consider himself irrelevant and proactively said, "Sorry, Miss Winona Ryder.
Let me remind you, it was I who met you at the bookstore."
He looked at Angelina Jolie, "And not Miss Jolie."
Since he had decided to come in, he had no intention of holding back.
Winona Ryder turned her head, her eyes instantly cold.
Just as she was about to speak, Matthew preempted her, "In the bookstore, between the fourth and fifth rows from the north, on the fashion and beauty shelves, there were two books in total.
I remember the two books Miss Winona Ryder took, their covers had red and green colors."
Upon hearing this, the words Winona Ryder was about to say were instantly caught in her throat, and a large, abnormal blush appeared on her fair face.
"Oh, and also," Matthew continued, "You might have overlooked it, but that bookstore has surveillance cameras.
If Miss Winona Ryder has forgotten, we can go together and retrieve the surveillance footage to watch.
With your..."
He looked at Angelina Jolie, who was smiling at Winona Ryder.
Matthew then added, "With your and Miss Jolie's reputation, it shouldn't be difficult to get a look at the surveillance footage."
Thump—
Winona Ryder's legs gave out, and she sank back into her chair, the blush on her face instantly fading to a ghostly white.
"He... he saw it!" Winona Ryder's heart almost leaped out of her chest, "How is this possible?"
She had always had kleptomania, but with the cover of her celebrity status, no one had ever suspected her in the past.
"Want to go see?" Angelina Jolie jumped up and sat on Winona Ryder's desk, "I'd be happy to help you with that."
"I... I..." Winona Ryder was speechless for a moment.
Matthew looked around, found a swivel chair, walked over, and sat on it.
The rest of the matter was for Angelina Jolie to handle.
Even after saying all this, he was still an insignificant person.
Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder were the ones who had the power to talk on equal terms, and given Angelina Jolie's status, Winona Ryder couldn't really do anything to them.
Insignificant people have their own sorrows, and to avoid such sorrow, sometimes one must borrow power.
He watched Angelina Jolie and Winona Ryder, waiting for the outcome of the two women's negotiations.
Although shocked and flustered, Winona Ryder had, after all, been in the contentious world of Hollywood for many years.
As time passed, she gradually calmed down.
"You..." Winona Ryder looked up at Angelina Jolie's sharply defined, square face, "What do you want to do?"
She no longer refuted, but she also didn't admit anything, as if what Matthew had just said didn't exist.
"Don't worry, I won't call the police, and I won't expose you." Angelina Jolie snapped her fingers in front of Winona Ryder, "It's simple: you continue to be your leading lady, and I continue to be my supporting actress.
Just stop bothering me."
Winona Ryder was surprised, "That's it?"
Angelina Jolie had an expression like she was playing with a monkey, "Of course not! Do you think it would be that cheap?"
She put away her playful expression and said seriously, "Restore my deleted scenes to normal use.
My screen time must not be cut, and it should be appropriately increased!
I have the right to provide feedback on the final edited version that is released!"
Winona Ryder wanted to speak, but Angelina Jolie raised her hand to stop her, "I'll handle Sony Columbia Pictures, you don't need to worry about that!"
In the past, these conditions would have been excessive, but now, Winona Ryder felt they were acceptable.
She considered it for a while before saying, "Okay."
Angelina Jolie smiled at Winona Ryder, "That's a good girl."
Winona Ryder's face turned even paler with anger, but she couldn't say a word.
"Alright," Angelina Jolie jumped down from her desk.
"Cough—" Matthew coughed loudly.
"Don't worry, I won't forget you!" Angelina Jolie glanced at Matthew, then turned back to Winona Ryder and said, "And this extra."