Chapter 71: No Idea.
Kyle found himself trapped in the building with Calista, unsure whether he should confront her or simply find a place to hide.
His mind raced, but he quickly realized that retreating into the shadows would appear suspicious, and that was the last thing he needed at the moment.
His best option was to act naturally, despite his growing unease. He shook his head subtly at Isabella, signaling her that Calista couldn’t be allowed to join their meeting.
"I’m currently in a meeting," Isabella said coolly. "Tell her I’ll be with her shortly."
"I apologize for the inconvenience, but I wasn’t informed of her arrival," Isabella continued, offering an apology as her tone remained formal, though she could tell that Kyle was visibly uncomfortable.
She didn’t dwell on it, assuming he was merely caught off guard by the unexpected visit.
Kyle, sensing the tension in the air, tried to maintain composure.
"I think I should take my leave now," he suggested, standing up to exit. However, Isabella wasn’t finished with their conversation just yet.
"Sir, before you go," Isabella said, her voice holding a note of importance.
"I have to inform you that the CEO of Distort Company wishes to meet with you." Isabella added. Kyle’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
"Meet me?" he repeated, confusion briefly flashing across his face.
This development, however, was nothing short of perfect timing for Kyle.
He knew the significance of this meeting, and the opportunity was too good to pass up.
"That’s correct," Isabella affirmed.
"They want to establish a closer relationship with our agency, ensuring that the talents under our management are given first choice when it comes to auditions." Isabella continued.
Kyle’s excitement was evident. This was exactly the type of break he had been waiting for, though he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of apprehension. He had experienced enough ups and downs in his career to know that good things often came with challenges.
When everything seemed to go right, there was always the looming fear of something grand and bad waiting just around the corner to disrupt it all.
"That’s wonderful news!" Kyle said, unable to hide the excitement in his voice.
"I can’t believe this is actually happening." Kyle thought to himself.
"Is there a time for this meeting?" Kyle asked, his mind now focusing on the logistics. After all, it wasn’t up to him to dictate when the meeting would take place—this CEO was a person of significant influence, and Kyle was fortunate to be in this position. He wasn’t about to squander the opportunity.
"9 PM today," Isabella replied. The time felt unusual to Kyle, and he wondered why a meeting would be set so late, especially when it seemed no consideration had been given to his schedule.
But beggars, as they say, couldn’t be choosers. Kyle knew that he would be a fool not to seize this opportunity, no matter the timing.
"Hm, that works for me," Kyle responded after a brief moment of hesitation. Though the time was unusual, he couldn’t afford to be picky, and besides, he was eager to make the most of the chance that had fallen into his lap.
The reality was that he needed help managing his time.
With so much on his plate, the idea of hiring a personal assistant seemed more appealing than ever before.
Isabella, while competent, was already stretched thin with her responsibilities.
It was clear that Kyle needed someone to help him juggle all the demands of his rapidly growing business.
-
Meanwhile, outside the building, Carly was at the front desk, dealing with Calista’s sudden appearance.
"I’m sorry, Miss Calista, but Miss Isabella will see you shortly," Carly informed her politely. She was aware that her actions could be considered unprofessional, but it had slipped her mind to inform Calista about the current meeting.
Calista, however, had other plans. She was fully aware that filming for The White Whale movie would be starting soon, and she needed to get everything in order before that time arrived.
The pressure was mounting, and this opportunity couldn’t be squandered.
It was now or never. She had to speak with Isabella and sort out a few things, but she hadn’t seen Kyle’s car among the influx of vehicles parked outside. The large number of cars made it difficult to spot his, especially when she wasn’t looking for it specifically.
Calista took a deep breath, calming herself. She knew that this was the chance of a lifetime, and she wasn’t about to let it slip away.
Just as she steadied her nerves, a voice called out to her, and she immediately recognized it.
"Cali?"
Calista turned around quickly, her heart skipping a beat. "It can’t be..." she thought, scanning the room for the source of the voice. Her gaze fell on a scrawny, unkempt woman.
"Laura?" Calista exclaimed, stunned. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing.
It had been years since she last saw Laura, and the sight of her now left her speechless.
Laura, a background actress from one of Calista’s lesser-known films, had a rather unremarkable role, but Calista remembered her face clearly.
What shocked her now, though, was how drastically Laura had changed. The woman looked even worse than she remembered—her face, once youthful, now appeared ravaged by hardship.
Despite being only nineteen, Laura looked as though she had aged far beyond her years, her appearance resembling someone in their late forties.
"I can’t believe you’re here!" Laura barked, rushing forward to hug Calista. But Calista instinctively stepped back, her expression one of discomfort.
Laura’s appearance was unsettling, and it wasn’t just the disheveled look that caused Calista to retreat.
The faint stench of body odor mixed with an overwhelming amount of perfume made her recoil. It was clear that Laura’s hygiene had deteriorated to a point where it was impossible to ignore.
"Laura, are you here to apply for a position?" Calista asked, her curiosity piqued. If Laura couldn’t afford basic hygiene, Calista doubted she would have the funds to pay the fees necessary to apply for an audition.
"N-Not exactly," Laura stammered, but Calista’s attention was drawn to Laura’s teeth—rotting and yellowed, a clear sign of neglect.
"What the hell?" Calista thought, a wave of sadness washing over her.
In that moment, she realized that this was a tragic consequence of the dark side of the entertainment industry—a side she desperately hoped to avoid. Laura had fallen victim to the struggles that plagued those who didn’t make it to the top.
Before the conversation could continue, two bulky men approached and escorted Laura out.
Their presence served as a harsh reminder to Calista of the dangers of failure in this cutthroat world. If she didn’t succeed, this could easily be her fate.
-
Back at his apartment, Nate was enjoying some time to himself, immersed in a video game.
It was a distraction from the uncertainty of his life after losing his previous job. He had an interview lined up for the next day, but right now, the game was his escape.
He cursed and shouted at his screen, fully immersed in the virtual battlefield. To anyone who might have overheard, it would seem like he was fighting for his life, but this was a side of him he rarely revealed to others.
The peace of his game was suddenly interrupted by the loud ring of his phone.
He didn’t want to pick it up, but when he saw the caller’s name, he knew he had to.
"Shit!" Nate shouted, realizing it was Kyle calling. This wasn’t a casual phone call; Kyle only called him for business matters, and Nate knew that whatever was about to be discussed could change his life.
"Hello? Kyle? Are you alright?" Nate asked, trying to sound calm, but his face broke into a broad grin as he listened to the conversation.
Kyle was offering him a position as his personal assistant, something Nate never expected.
The conversation lasted just over a minute, but in that short time, Nate learned everything he needed to know.
He was going to be paid $1,000 per day, which meant around $30,000 a month—far more than he ever imagined.
Without hesitation, Nate accepted the offer. The moment the call ended, he couldn’t contain his excitement and let out a celebratory scream.
