In the cozy reception room of Horner Manor, Matthew listened intently as Amber Heard recounted her conversation with Harvey Weinstein and displayed footage captured by a hidden camera. He nodded lightly, his expression calm and calculated. "Amber, you've done very well."
Unlike the cautious and anxious demeanor she displayed around Harvey Weinstein, Amber lit up with a bright smile in front of Matthew. "Matthew, as long as it helps you, I'm happy."
Matthew returned her smile but said nothing further, falling deep into thought.
Amber had spent enough time with Matthew to recognize when he was deliberating. She wisely stayed silent, giving him space.
A soft knock on the door broke the silence. At Matthew's invitation, Margot Robbie entered carrying a tray. She placed a cup of coffee on the table in front of Amber, then another next to Matthew.
"If you need anything, just call me," Margot said softly before leaving the room and heading to a nearby parlor.
Matthew took a sip of his coffee before finally breaking the silence. "Amber," he began slowly, "are you willing to help me? This might bring you some trouble."
He didn't sugarcoat the potential fallout. "You'll face criticism afterward."
Amber felt a strange sense of relief hearing Matthew lay out the risks upfront. It showed respect for her and an understanding of her position.
Matthew continued, "If you don't want to—"
"No!" Amber cut him off decisively. "I'll do it! I trust you, Matthew."
She believed that whatever Matthew asked of her, it wouldn't cross any lines she couldn't handle.
Matthew gave her a small nod. "It's simple, really. For now, it's just an idea. I'll finalize the plan and let you know."
Amber didn't hesitate. "No problem at all! I'll be waiting for your call."
Taking another sip of his coffee, its slight bitterness seemed to sharpen Matthew's focus. Harvey Weinstein doesn't just want to harm me—he's also trying to use me to promote his new films. So, how do I counter this?
The best course of action, Matthew realized, was to strike back decisively while Harvey was in the middle of his schemes. If he wants to stir up trouble, I'll hit back harder when he does.
Matthew's calm demeanor masked the wheels turning in his mind. He had been preparing for years, laying the groundwork. Now, with Harvey handing him the perfect opportunity on a silver platter, it was time to act.
Such a golden chance couldn't be wasted.
After some reflection, Matthew had the framework of a plan. However, it needed to be fleshed out in consultation with his team—especially Helen Herman and Amanda.
In situations like this, having capable allies was invaluable.
Setting his coffee cup down, Matthew turned to Amber. He spent the next several minutes explaining certain aspects of the plan, ensuring she was fully informed about her role and its implications.
"That's all for now," Matthew finally said, standing up. "Amber, I'll call you if there's more to discuss. Before the New Year, I'll meet with you again to go over the details."
Amber stood up as well. "Matthew, I'll do whatever you need."
He smiled at her, glancing at his watch. "Did you drive here? I can have my driver take you home if you'd like."
Amber didn't answer immediately. Instead, she hesitated, staring at him with an expression that suggested she had more to say.
"What's wrong?" Matthew asked, sensing her unease. "Is there something else?"
Amber took a step forward, her hands wringing together tightly as though bound by invisible chains. Her wide eyes locked onto Matthew's, filled with a peculiar intensity.
Matthew had a hunch about what might be coming, but before he could speak, Amber suddenly exclaimed, "Master..."
Just like in the games they had played before, Amber dropped to her knees with a thud, wrapping her arms around his legs. Practically shouting, she said, "Master, you haven't trained me in so long!"
Both of them knew exactly what she meant by "training."
Clinging tightly to Matthew's legs, Amber continued, "Master, it's been three months since you last trained me. I... I want to complete the training program!"
Matthew reached down and gently helped Amber to her feet. "We'll deal with that later. For now, let's focus on the plan."
Amber looked at him with wide eyes, then nodded firmly. "Okay." But before leaving, she added, "I miss the whip in the game room."
With that, she grabbed her purse and left the reception room. As the host, Matthew walked her all the way to the manor's front door.
In another room, Margot Robbie stood by the window, watching as Amber's car disappeared through the gates of Horner Manor. She slowly pulled the curtains shut, replaying Amber's loud cries of "Master" in her mind.
"What the hell has Matthew done to her?" Margot murmured to herself. How did he turn a perfectly good woman into... this?
"Master..." Margot shook her head, exasperated. "She seems to have completely lost herself around him."
Margot could understand Amber's fixation to some extent. After all, Matthew's wild past was an open secret in Hollywood. But it still left her unsettled.
This is taking things too far, Margot thought. Amber seems to have developed a psychological dependency on those bizarre games.
Sighing, she whispered, "How are we supposed to handle something like this?"
Her thoughts were interrupted when the door opened. She turned to see Matthew entering the room.
"Margot," he said without preamble, "I've been in touch with a few people. We'll be having some guests over shortly."
Margot nodded lightly. "I'll start getting things ready."
Though Matthew hadn't said as much, Margot knew this gathering would focus on the plan to deal with Harvey Weinstein.
Over the next half-hour, key members of Matthew's inner circle began arriving at Horner Manor. Amanda, Helen Herman, David Ellison, and Elena Boyar all gathered in the study. They worked through lunch, spending hours finalizing their strategy. It wasn't until late afternoon that the group finally dispersed.
The decision had been made: they would launch their final, decisive strike. Specific plans were outlined, along with multiple contingency strategies.
Matthew and Helen both understood the necessity of thorough preparation. Harvey Weinstein wasn't someone to underestimate. Despite his many enemies, he had managed to survive and thrive in Hollywood for decades. That kind of resilience demanded respect—and careful planning.
The plan revolved around a bold and far-reaching campaign tied to anti-drug efforts and public welfare. Each team member was assigned a specific role.
Helen Herman reached out to organizations like the UNHCR, the Women and Children's Protection Fund, and the Drug Enforcement Administration. All expressed keen interest in Matthew's proposed initiatives. She also contacted the FBI unit that had previously assisted Matthew in dealing with Mexican drug cartels. Unsurprisingly, they were eager to support any effort against narcotics.
David Ellison took charge of coordinating with major commercial media outlets to ensure the campaign received maximum exposure.
Elena Boyar, recognizing the historic significance of the unfolding drama, took responsibility for rallying the tabloid press when the time came.
James Wan, one of Hollywood's fiercest critics of Harvey Weinstein, agreed without hesitation to direct a public service announcement starring Matthew.
Amanda traveled to New York to meet with Ronan Farrow and Bob Weinstein. Ronan's materials alone were damning enough to utterly destroy Harvey's reputation.
As for Bob Weinstein, Amanda found him surprisingly cooperative. Tired of living in his brother's shadow, Bob was ready to take drastic action—something that would deal a critical blow to Harvey.
This was a pivotal piece of the puzzle. Without the Weinstein Company's backing, Harvey's power would be drastically diminished.
Back in New York, Bob Weinstein sat at his desk in the Weinstein Company headquarters, taking a deep breath. He felt as though a lifelong weight was finally being lifted.
This is my chance to set things right, he thought.
For years, he had lived in Harvey's shadow, relegated to the role of a sidekick, dismissed as an afterthought. But now, he could finally step out on his own.
More importantly, this was a chance to save the Weinstein Company—a business he had helped build from the ground up.
Despite its outward success, Bob knew better than anyone the precarious state of the company.
The Weinstein Company's share of the North American box office was less than 2% annually. While its numerous Oscar wins garnered prestige, the financial returns were far from ideal.
Much of this stemmed from Harvey's core business strategy. Many of the films they distributed were niche arthouse projects that relied heavily on the declining DVD and home video markets for revenue. With the rise of digital streaming platforms like Netflix and Amazon, the company's revenue streams had been severely disrupted.
Just over a year ago, the Weinstein Company had faced a debt crisis, forcing them to sell the rights to 200 films from their library to Goldman Sachs. They retained only 150 titles.
Every time Bob thought about that deal, his heart ached.
This year had been no better. The Weinstein Company had released ten films, generating a total domestic box office revenue of just $79.6 million—a record low since 1995.
The company needs a complete overhaul, Bob thought. It's time for change.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+100 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]