Due to traffic, Tom Hardy arrived at the Warner Bros. Studio later than expected. He hurried into the audition studio and, after checking with the staff at the entrance, learned that his audition was scheduled for 10:30 AM. Even though he had some time, he quickly walked down the corridor toward the audition waiting room.
Since this was the initial audition, there was no need for makeup—the focus was mainly on appearance.
Tom Hardy was confident in his appearance. Despite his career struggles, he had maintained his physique well. After years of grinding in the British independent film scene, he also believed his acting skills were solid.
Moreover, the director, Christopher Nolan, was also British and known for favoring British actors. This was an advantage for Hardy.
After years of struggling in the small and crowded British market with limited opportunities, this could be his chance to break into Hollywood.
Hollywood, after all, was the true gateway for British actors.
However, Hardy wasn't overly optimistic. There was a particular person in the industry who felt like a nightmare to him.
Years ago, when a promising opportunity was within his grasp, he was struck down by someone, derailing his future prospects and preventing him from becoming a star.
That person, like the bright moon, overshadowed all the other stars.
Even just thinking of that person's name or face made Hardy's heart race. How could someone be so shameless, using such despicable means against him?
Initially, upon learning that this person would star in the film, Hardy had considered skipping the audition.
But after much thought, he decided that so many years had passed—maybe the other person had forgotten about him.
Even if he hadn't, would a top star like that bother with someone who was barely a third-rate actor?
Besides, after all this time, Hardy believed he could face this person without fear.
As he walked briskly, he suddenly heard a voice calling out.
"Tom!"
Someone was calling his name!
The voice... it sounded familiar. Tom Hardy instinctively stopped and slowly turned around.
"Tom, I didn't expect to see you here."
The voice was filled with apparent joy, like an old friend reuniting, but to Hardy, it felt chilling.
Who was this? Who had called out to him?
The warmth and excitement Hardy felt about his Hollywood comeback began to fade, the fire in his heart gradually extinguishing as his anxiety grew.
He realized who had spoken.
When Hardy turned back, he saw a face he could never forget—one that haunted his nightmares.
How many times had this face woken him in the dead of night, drenched in sweat?
Matthew still remembered Tom Hardy. Years ago, Hardy, along with Jonny Lee Miller, had tried to sabotage him, leading to Hardy being removed from the Black Hawk Down crew.
Someone as vengeful as Matthew would never forget a face like Hardy's.
"Oh, Tom." Matthew walked toward him with a smile, casually pressing something in his jacket pocket. "It's been a long time."
Tom Hardy stood there, frozen, like a child who had just seen the boogeyman. His handsome face tried to remain calm, but the fear within was impossible to hide.
Matthew stopped five feet away, smiling as he said, "Let me think... how many years has it been?"
"We... we..." Tom Hardy stammered, his voice trembling slightly, "It's... it's been seven or eight years..."
To be honest, Matthew was surprised to see Hardy here. After filming Black Hawk Down, Hardy seemed to have vanished from Hollywood. Matthew hadn't seen his name in the media either and assumed Hardy had faded into obscurity.
Yet here he was, in the Inception crew.
Matthew kept his gaze on Hardy, still smiling. "Where did we last meet?"
Hardy immediately thought of a certain military base's shower room...
A cold chill ran up his spine, spreading through his entire body, leaving even his heart cold.
It was clear that Matthew Horner hadn't forgotten.
Matthew could see the change in Hardy's expression and continued, "I remember now. It was in an air force base's shower room. You and Jonny Lee Miller, right?"
"I..." Hardy stammered, struggling to find words.
He had believed he could face Matthew calmly. But now, standing in front of him, Hardy realized this was a nightmare he had never truly escaped.
Matthew had never liked Hardy after what had happened, and he certainly didn't want to see him in the Inception crew. No one wants to work with someone they despise.
It was evident that Hardy was nervous, maybe even scared, in his presence.
Matthew didn't need to ask what Hardy was doing here. It was obvious.
"Tom, what brings you here?" Matthew asked, feigning innocence before nodding knowingly. "Oh, I see. You're here for the audition, hoping to land a role, right?"
Hardy didn't answer, but he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to flee.
Matthew laughed, seemingly very pleased. "It'll be great working with you on the same crew."
Hardy glanced at Matthew. Happy? What was there to be happy about?
"The crew will be shooting on location around the world," Matthew said slowly. "It'll be wonderful to see you in Africa. I'm really looking forward to it."
He then added, "Oh, by the way, I forgot to mention—James McAvoy is also in this crew."
Hardy certainly remembered James McAvoy, another person he detested.
There was still a legend in the British entertainment industry about how Matthew Horner, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender pulled pranks on people, though no one could ever prove it. It remained a rumor.
But Hardy, having worked on Band of Brothers, knew that some of those things were very real.
"Africa's a very interesting place," Matthew said with the air of an old friend. "Tom, if you end up filming in Africa, be sure to take all necessary precautions. I've heard it's a pretty chaotic place where anything can happen."
This made Hardy think of Jonny Lee Miller. After Black Hawk Down, he was reportedly driven almost mad by a non-existent videotape, not to mention the tragic fate of that couple from the Band of Brothers set...
Instinctively, Hardy squeezed his legs together, cold sweat breaking out on his forehead.
Matthew's voice grew more neutral. "Should I have a word with Christopher Nolan? We're old friends. I could help you out. Don't hesitate to ask."
Hardy didn't even think about it before rejecting the offer, "N-no need."
There was no way he could believe that someone as sinister as Matthew would genuinely offer to help him without an ulterior motive.
This guy definitely had a plan! He was out to get him!
Since Hardy had first met Matthew Horner on the set of Band of Brothers, how many people had this man harmed?
Hardy wasn't sure of the exact number, but he was convinced that the victims were numerous.
For his own safety, for the sake of his future sleep, and for the protection of his... no, surely Matthew wouldn't go that far.
Or would he? After all, the rumors about what happened in Africa were horrifying.
With this thought, Hardy forced out a strained smile. "S-sorry." He took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice, at least enough to maintain his composure. "Matthew, I appreciate your... your offer, but I just remembered I have something urgent to take care of. I have to go."
Without waiting for a response, he turned and made a wide arc to avoid Matthew, practically hugging the wall as he passed by, and then bolted out of the studio.
Matthew watched as Hardy fled the studio, shaking his head. He suddenly thought that it might have been interesting to have Hardy in the crew after all. They could have set up some fun scenarios during the shoot in Africa.
But then he shuddered, deciding it was best not to entertain such thoughts.
After confirming that Hardy had indeed left, Matthew continued toward the actor waiting room, casually reaching into his pocket to turn off the signal jammer he had activated earlier.
A few years back, Helen Herman had insisted that Matthew carry one of these devices, a top-of-the-line jammer that he had invested heavily in. Given how much he relied on his carefully crafted public image, it was a necessary precaution to prevent anyone from secretly recording anything that could damage his reputation.
Upon arriving in the waiting room, Matthew found James McAvoy. Ignoring the curious glances from the other actors waiting to audition, he sat down next to McAvoy and chatted for a while.
He briefly recounted his encounter with Tom Hardy.
"You didn't handle that right!" James McAvoy said with mock seriousness. "You should have let Tom Hardy join the crew. We'd have so much more fun that way."
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