"Alright, everyone!" Harvey Weinstein clapped his hands forcefully, drawing the attention of everyone in the VIP lounge. Once he had their full focus, he announced loudly, "It's time to head out."
He turned to Amber Heard and spoke softly, "Don't be nervous."
"I... I'm not... nervous," Amber Heard replied, biting her lip tightly. It wasn't nervousness she felt—it was excitement. But it wasn't yet the right moment to let that excitement show. She had a role to play, so she added, "We haven't signed the contract yet."
Harvey Weinstein patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry. We'll sign it by the end of this week at the latest." He gestured toward the direction of the press room. "I'm about to announce it at the press conference. What's there to worry about?"
Amber Heard thought for a moment, then nodded firmly. "I know what to do."
Hearing this, Harvey Weinstein smiled. With this video, Amber Heard's testimony, and the underwear she handed over as evidence, Matthew Horner was doomed.
Not only would Matthew's reputation be ruined, but he would also face far more severe consequences.
Using such tactics against someone like Matthew Horner might not work for just anyone. But was Harvey Weinstein just anyone?
Perhaps the next time he saw Matthew Horner, it would be behind bars.
And when that happened, what should he arrange for Matthew? A prison cell full of burly men, perhaps? That would be... quite the scene.
At that moment, one of his assistants approached and whispered something into his ear. "Boss, Matthew Horner has arrived. He's already in the press room."
"Oh?" Harvey Weinstein couldn't suppress a smile. "Good! Excellent!"
To ensure Matthew Horner would attend in person, Harvey had gone to great lengths, trying many strategies. Even when the official invitation was sent out yesterday, he wasn't entirely sure Matthew would show up.
A spectacle of this scale would have felt incomplete without its leading man, Matthew Horner.
In fact, everything Harvey had meticulously planned hinged on Matthew's presence. Without him, Harvey wouldn't be able to fully vent the simmering resentment he had been holding onto.
That bastard Matthew Horner had stolen far too much of what should have been his.
Since Matthew had shown up, Harvey thought, he would teach that bastard a lesson right here and now—that grabbing what didn't belong to you came at a steep price.
A sly grin spread across Harvey Weinstein's face as he recalled how Matthew Horner, James McAvoy, and Michael Fassbender had mocked his age in the past, claiming it signified nothing but experience.
Matthew might be young, but look at him now—easily goaded into coming here, right into Harvey's hands.
Harvey made a mental note to send Matthew a bar of soap as a parting gift.
He whispered a few instructions to his assistant before seeking out Meryl Streep.
"You once told me you'd support me no matter what," Harvey said, locking eyes with Hollywood's most celebrated actress. "Is that still true?"
Meryl Streep nodded seriously. "Of course." She emphasized her words, saying, "Harvey, I will support you no matter what."
Harvey leaned closer and whispered a few words into her ear, concluding with, "Watch how things unfold first, and then speak accordingly."
"Alright," Meryl Streep replied without hesitation. "I'll intervene when the timing is right."
Harvey said no more. He trusted Meryl implicitly. She was a smart woman, and as long as she wanted to continue breaking Oscar records, she would follow his lead.
Over at the corner where Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Quentin Tarantino were seated, Harvey offered a few brief instructions. He didn't give them too many specifics, simply stating that he might need their support during the press conference.
All three agreed without objection.
Harvey Weinstein understood that these individuals' careers in the industry were tightly linked to him. Once the video and evidence were presented, he was confident they would side with him without hesitation.
Then he spotted Julia Roberts but quickly dismissed the idea of involving her. The once-reigning queen of Hollywood wouldn't take his bait.
Harvey found his brother, Bob Weinstein, next. "It's time," he said.
Bob Weinstein gave a slight nod and led the team from August: Osage County out of the VIP lounge. They made their way through a designated passage into the press room and took their places on stage.
Moments later, Harvey Weinstein, flanked by Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Quentin Tarantino, walked onto the stage in the press room, seating himself boldly at the center of the panel.
The press room erupted into applause, though it was unclear who started it. The journalists seemed to be applauding Harvey Weinstein as if paying homage to the legendary producer.
Standing up, Harvey waved enthusiastically, clearly reveling in the moment.
"Look at this!" Harvey thought. "I've gathered so many media outlets with just one invitation. They all support me!" His gaze shifted to the front row. "And I still have so many supporters in the industry!"
The front row wasn't just filled with journalists from major media outlets. It was also packed with his allies from Hollywood.
In addition to Matthew, Harvey had invited others like Tim Roth, George Clooney, John Travolta, Samuel L. Jackson, and Uma Thurman—many of whom had worked closely with him in the past.
Matthew and David Ellison were seated nearby. The two exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the support Harvey had managed to amass in the room.
But both wondered how this support network would fare when faced with the unstoppable momentum of the broader feminist movement sweeping society.
Harvey Weinstein's gaze scanned the press room before settling on Matthew. They weren't far apart, and Harvey could clearly see Matthew sitting there, expressionless, occasionally exchanging a few words with David Ellison.
"Let's see how long you can keep your cool," Harvey thought, withdrawing his gaze. He stopped paying attention to Matthew, knowing that while this press conference was ultimately aimed at him, there were appetizers to serve before the main course.
Raising his hand, Harvey signaled for the applause to die down. The press room quickly quieted.
Matthew remained patient. At this point, the outcome was already determined. He was content to sit back and watch Harvey Weinstein's performance.
He noticed that NBC Entertainment was broadcasting the press conference live, and even YouTube was streaming it online in real-time.
Getting these two platforms to broadcast the event must have cost Harvey a considerable amount of effort.
Matthew's gaze swept over the people seated in the front row. He exchanged a brief glance with Amber Heard. Even Bob Weinstein, seated unobtrusively, gave a subtle nod in Matthew's direction, though it was almost imperceptible.
"Now," Harvey Weinstein began, "let me introduce Weinstein Company's latest project."
As the film's producer and mastermind, Harvey explained in detail, "This film is adapted from a Broadway play of the same name, with a production budget of $30 million."
He gestured toward the front row. "It's a co-production between Weinstein Company and Mr. George Clooney."
The room broke into applause as George Clooney stood briefly, clapping lightly in acknowledgment.
Harvey continued, "The director of this project is Mr. John Wells."
A bespectacled, artsy-looking man stood up briefly before sitting back down.
Harvey then introduced the lead actresses with great fanfare. "The film features two leading roles, and as you might have guessed, they will be played by the incomparable Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts."
The press room erupted into louder applause. Clearly, the pairing of Julia Roberts and Meryl Streep was a major draw.
Harvey moved on to announce other cast members. "The film will also feature Mr. Ben Affleck, Ms. Juliette Lewis, and..."
Finally, to bolster Amber Heard's confidence, Harvey gave her special recognition. "And, last but not least, Weinstein Company's rising star, Ms. Amber Heard!"
At first, the announcement was met with murmurs. Amber Heard was relatively unknown to the non-gossip media. Soon, however, the room filled with polite applause.
"Amber Heard will play an important supporting role in this film," Harvey said, making sure to shower her with praise.
As usual, Bob Weinstein sat quietly to the side, overshadowed by his brother. No one paid him much attention, nor did anyone consider him significant.
It was as if the man who truly kept Weinstein Company running didn't exist.
In the past, Bob Weinstein had felt confused, frustrated, and even disheartened. But today was different. Today, he was filled with hope.
Watching Harvey Weinstein speak confidently, Bob knew that the seat Harvey now occupied would soon be his.
For years, Harvey's arrogance and authoritarian style had alienated too many people. Last night, Bob had called an emergency virtual board meeting. Despite Harvey's absence, the board had unanimously voted to remove him from the company.
It was a decision reminiscent of the time Apple ousted its founder, Steve Jobs. Only this time, the target was the company's founder and its greatest liability.
"Keep performing, Harvey," Bob thought, watching his brother. "Your time is running out."
After introducing Amber Heard, Harvey's tone suddenly shifted. "There's one more thing I hope our friends in the media will pay attention to. Recently, Ms. Heard has faced significant trouble..."
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