AN: A like, review, comment, or collection would mean the world to me ~ DEATH_C
John's heart raced as he stepped into the room, Mia by his side, and faced David Anderson. The director's calm demeanour didn't give anything away, which only made John's anxiety spike higher. He couldn't tell if Anderson was about to deliver the best news of his life—or crush his dreams entirely.
"Thanks for coming in, John," Anderson began, his eyes flicking briefly to Mia, then back to John. "I wanted to discuss the results of your audition and our decision moving forward."
John swallowed hard, his mouth suddenly dry. This was it. The moment that could either propel him into the career he'd always dreamed of or send him spiralling back into his mundane, corporate life.
"First of all," Anderson continued, "I want to commend you for your dedication and the hard work you've clearly put into preparing for this role."
John nodded, trying to hide the fact that his knees felt like they were about to give out. "Thank you, sir. I really appreciate that."
Anderson offered a small, tight-lipped smile. "That being said, the audition process is always competitive, and we had many talented actors vying for the part."
The knot in John's stomach tightened. He felt Mia's hand subtly brush against his, giving him a gentle squeeze of support. He needed that right now—every bit of it.
"We were looking for someone who could not only embody the character of Mark but also bring a unique depth to the role," Anderson continued, pacing slowly as he spoke. "And in your audition, you showed something that caught our attention."
John's heart leaped into his throat. Was this it? Was Anderson about to tell him he got the part? He could barely breathe.
Anderson stopped pacing and turned to face John directly, his expression unreadable. "However, we also need to ensure that whoever we cast is fully committed and capable of handling the demands of the role."
John's stomach dropped. That sounded like a setup for a rejection. He could already hear the "but" coming, the one that would dash his hopes and send him reeling.
"We've thought long and hard about this," Anderson said, his voice serious. "And after much deliberation, we've decided…"
John's breath hitched. Here it was—the moment of truth.
"…that you're the right fit for the role."
For a split second, John didn't process the words. He stared at Anderson, blinking, as if trying to decode what he had just heard. "I—I got the part?" he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Anderson's smile widened just a fraction. "You got the part."
The room seemed to tilt slightly as a rush of relief, disbelief, and overwhelming joy surged through John all at once. He heard Mia squeal in excitement beside him, but it felt like everything was happening in slow motion.
"I can't believe it," John muttered, more to himself than anyone else. "Thank you… thank you so much!"
"You earned it, John," Anderson said, his tone warm now. "We'll be in touch with the next steps and scheduling. It's going to be a lot of hard work, but I'm confident you'll do well."
John nodded, still in a daze. "I won't let you down. I promise."
Mia threw her arms around John in a hug so tight that it knocked the breath out of him. "I told you!" she exclaimed, her voice a mix of pride and elation. "I knew you could do it!"
John hugged her back, unable to stop smiling. This was real. It was actually happening. He was going to be in a movie—a real movie!
"We'll send over the official contract later today," Anderson said, moving to shake John's hand. "Congratulations, John."
"Thank you, Mr. Anderson," John replied, shaking his hand firmly. "I can't wait to get started."
As John and Mia walked out of the office and into the sunlight, it felt like the entire world had shifted. Everything looked brighter, more vivid, as if the universe itself was celebrating with him. He had done it. He had really, truly done it.
They were halfway to the car when Mia stopped suddenly, turning to face John with a mischievous grin. "You know what this calls for?"
John raised an eyebrow. "A celebratory drink?"
"Nope," Mia replied, her eyes twinkling. "A celebratory dance-off."
John blinked, taken aback. "A dance-off?"
"Yep! Right here, right now," Mia said, already starting to bust out some moves. "Come on, show me what you got, superstar!"
John burst out laughing. "You're crazy, you know that?"
"And you love it!" Mia shot back, doing an exaggerated spin.
John shook his head, but he couldn't wipe the grin off his face. "Alright, alright… but don't say I didn't warn you—I've got moves that'll blow your mind."
Mia laughed. "Bring it on!"
And so, right there in the parking lot of the studio, John and Mia engaged in the most ridiculous, impromptu dance-off of all time. They were both laughing so hard by the end of it that they could barely stand.
As they finally collapsed against the car, breathless and giddy, John couldn't help but think that this was one of the best moments of his life. He had landed the role of his dreams, he had an incredible friend by his side, and the future looked brighter than ever.
But as they drove away, the euphoria began to settle, and the reality of what lay ahead started to sink in. There was so much work to be done—memorizing lines, preparing for the role, and, of course, proving to everyone that he was the right choice.
"Hey, John," Mia said, breaking into his thoughts. "I'm really proud of you."
John smiled at her, feeling a warmth spread through his chest. "Thanks, Mia. I couldn't have done it without you."
They continued to chat and laugh as they drove, making plans for the celebratory dinner that night. Everything felt perfect, like a dream come true.
But as they turned the corner onto John's street, something made him pause. There, parked right in front of his apartment building, was a sleek black car—one he didn't recognize.
"Do you know who that is?" Mia asked, noticing the car too.
John shook his head, a strange feeling settling in his stomach. "No… no, I don't."
As they pulled up to the curb, the car door opened, and a man in a dark suit stepped out. He was tall, with an air of authority that immediately put John on edge.
"Can I help you?" John asked as he and Mia got out of the car.
The man turned to face them, his expression unreadable. "John Lee?" he asked, his voice calm but with an undertone of something unsettling.
John's heart began to race again, but this time it wasn't with excitement. "Yes… that's me."
The man reached into his jacket and pulled out a sleek, black envelope, handing it to John. "You've been served."
John stared at the envelope in disbelief, the joy of the day evaporating in an instant. "Served? What—?"
But before he could finish, the man had already turned and walked back to his car, leaving John and Mia standing there, stunned.
"What just happened?" Mia asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
John didn't answer. His hands trembled as he opened the envelope, his eyes scanning the contents.
As he read the first few lines, his heart plummeted.
His eyes widened in shock. "No… this can't be happening…"
Mia leaned in, trying to read over his shoulder. "What is it, John? What does it say?"
John's voice shook as he whispered, "It's a lawsuit… I'm being sued for… breach of contract."
The words hung in the air, heavy and suffocating. The excitement of the day was gone, replaced by a cold, sinking dread.
And in that moment, John realized that everything he had just gained could be ripped away in an instant.