Starlight Production is one of the most difficult film industry to get into.
Landing a job appointment with Starlight is a feat itself, with only a mere twenty percent of applicants passing the rigorous scrutiny.
While the road to employment might be challenging, the working conditions at Starlight are unparalleled.
Securing a job in the organization is a dream come true for anyone in the entertainment world.
It has maintained its rank as the number one entertainment industry in the whole of Australia, giving other companies a wide gap.
The company's success can be attributed to the visionary leadership of one man - the mastermind behind its triumph, Adrian Brown.
Adrian Brown, the CEO of Starlight Production, is Australia's youngest and most influential billionaire.
His chiseled features and captivating gaze have earned him a reputation as a heartthrob.
Not only known for his handsome face that make girls drool; his unwavering principles command so much respect.
The mere mention of his name sends shivers down spines. Rumors swirl that his piercing stare can see right through to one's soul.
His voice is laced with authority, and his aura is unmistakably dominant and icy.
One mistake can lead to instant dismissal, a testament to his notorious temper.
New employees often tremble at the thought of meeting him, taking time to adjust to his formidable presence.
It's not uncommon for someone to be hired and fired on the same day – a stark reminder of his unyielding expectations.
One thing about Adrian is that he hates girls touch. He hates it so much.
It was once rumored that he is gay. However, immediately that news was out, the company that incepted the rumor got ruined and was forced to shut down.
That shows how powerful he is. With one flick of his fingers, one's life can be ruined.
So everyone had learnt to keep their opinions to themselves.
Even though he never gives them attention, girls still flock around him, and he remains one of the most sought after.
The only girl close to Adrian is Sasha, his childhood friend, to the jealousy of other girls.
*
"Sir, what do you think we should do?" a board member asked Adrian, CEO of Starlight Production, during a meeting about recruiting new actors. However, Adrian remained unresponsive, lost in thought.
The room exchanged curious glances, surprised by the workaholic's unusual demeanor.
Adrian is known for being very strict and cold. No one dares oppose or look into his eyes for too long. So none of them could ask him what the problem was.
Everyone in the company knows him for his cold attitude and his inability to tolerate any mistake.
"Let's adjourn the meeting; we'll schedule a new date and notify everyone," Bryan, Adrian's Personal Assistant and friend, suggested, concluding the meeting.
Once the room cleared, Bryan escorted Adrian to his office.
Employees bowed their heads in greeting, but Adrian ignored them, as was his custom.
Female staff members struggled to avert their gaze from his sculpted face while Adrian walked past without acknowledging them.
"You should try to acknowledge the workers sometimes," Bryan said, once they reached Adrian's office.
Adrian glared, prompting Bryan to raise his hands defensively. "I was just saying, man."
"So, aren't you going to tell me?" Bryan said, with a knowing smile.
"Tell you what?"
"You know exactly what I'm saying. What were you thinking about during the meeting?"
Adrian sighed, rubbing his hair.
He couldn't shake off the thoughts of the mysterious girl who had entered his room uninvited.
Ever since that night, he had been thinking of her.
That girl who seemed to have an effect on him, he just couldn't get her out of his head.
No matter how he tried, he kept replaying the moment he had with her.
He was supposed to hate the feeling, he was supposed to arrest the girl for barging into his room that night without permission.
But - But he couldn't just do that.
"Where were you on Friday? It rained quite heavily. I hope you were fine? I tried calling you, but it wasn't going through." Bryan asked, worriedly. He knows how much Adrian hates the rain.
FLASHBACK, Friday
Adrian was driving home when dark clouds gathered, and he decided to check into a hotel.
But before he reached it, the rain intensified, and he pulled over, clenching the steering wheel.
He held his head in pain, images flashing in his eyes, he started sweating, and his breaths became ragged.
The rain become more heavy, and his condition deteriorated.
Luckily, the hotel was nearby, and he managed to drive there, rushing into the lobby.
He hastily booked a room, his head still throbbing.
After taking his medication, the pain subsided, but the painful memories lingered.
He drank heavily, trying to numb the ache.
Then from nowhere, a strange girl entered his room, begging for his touch.
She was doing the one thing he hated most;touching him, but for a reason he doesn't know, instead of pushing her away, he actually seemed to like it.
That was strange, very strange.
Maybe because he was drunk, he still can't figure it out.
No matter how hard he tried to remember the girl's face, he couldn't just place it.
How bad he wants to find her and force her to tell him what she did to him that is making him lose focus.
BACK TO THE PRESENT
Adrian sighed, lost in thought. Bryan, who had been waiting expectantly, cleared his throat, bringing Adrian back to reality. "I need to find her," Adrian muttered, his eyes fixed on some unseen point.
"Find who?" Bryan asked but Adrian ignored his question.
"Can you help me with the footage of the hotel room I slept last night?"
"Why? Did someone enter your room that day?"
"Just do it." He replied.
Bryan looked at him and chuckled, he is used to his bossy attitude already.
*
Violet looked at the shabby apartment in front of her, and her lips pressed into a thin line.
It could never had crossed her mind that one day, she would be sent out of her parent's home and forced to live in a place like this.
But what can she do anyway? Luxury comes with money and her purse right now, is nothing to write home about.
"Your payment would be due in a month's time. I don't like to accept little payment like this. You are meant to pay for six months straight.
I am only allowing you because you promised to pay up before the end of the month. Don't go back on your words."
Violet's landlady, a middle-aged woman said as she crossed her arms under her breasts. She definitely doesn't look pleased with the money Violet gave her.
"I would keep to my promise, ma." Violet replied, even though she isn't too sure of how she would do that.
She packed her little luggage into the apartment and closed the door.
After settling in, she went to a pharmacy close by to get creams to get rid of the mosquito bites on her arm.
She had to sleep in an open space last night, when she couldn't find anywhere to go after leaving Maya's house.
Her stomach rumbled with hunger and she sighed. She hasn't eaten anything since last night.
The only money with her was what she used to pay the landlady and the one she wants to use to get cream.
"Hunger is not the main problem right now. I can't believe I am no more a virgin" she thought to herself as she left the house.
"Worse still, I don't even know the person I slept with." She thought as tears threatened to come out of her eyes.
She wasn't even focusing on where she was going.
"My family hates me because I was given birth to accidentally, because of a one-night stand. Now - Now, I also had a one-night stand with a stranger."
"I pray I never come across with him. I would rather not have anything to do with someone like him.
I'm very sure he would have enjoyed the moment when I was begging him like a slut.
He could have just pushed me out, he could have just resisted.
But no, he decided to take advantage of a drugged girl.
Mother and father died, I was chased out of my parent's house, my best friend drugged me. And now, I slept with someone I know nothing about."
Tears were already dropping from her eyes as she walked. Her head, clouded with thoughts.
Walking like a ghost, she absent-mindedly walked to the main road, where cars whizzed past like a breeze.
People who saw her were screaming, telling her to leave the road, but our dear Violet was lost in thoughts.
She suddenly snapped out of reverie when a car honked loudly at her. Her eyes widened when she realized that she was on the highway.
She turned and saw a car honking, coming straight at her.
She tried to move but it was too late, she closed her eyes, expecting the worst.
She opened it after some seconds when she heard a loud screech.
The car stopped right in front of her, touching the hem of her clothes.
She suddenly released the breath she didn't know she was holding. "OMG"she gasped as she put her hands on her chest.