….
Two Days Later.
.
Iconique Talent Agency HQ.
Christopher Bennett, a man in his mid-forties and the CEO of Iconique Talent Agency, sat comfortably in his high-backed office chair, exuding an air of practiced authority.
Beside him stood Anne Whitmore, his ever-efficient assistant, holding a tablet in one hand and a small stack of documents in the other.
"How did the university visits go?" Christopher asked, glancing up briefly from a set of papers he had been reviewing. His tone was casual but expectant. "Did you find anyone... interesting?"
"They went well." Anne replied thoughtfully. "I spotted a couple of promising individuals, but I will know more once I meet them in person."
Christopher nodded, setting the papers aside on the desk. "Keep me posted. Not that I am holding my breath for any hidden gems out there anyway."
"Yes, Sir." Anne's response was brisk and without hesitation.
Christopher's gaze shifted to a sleek leather portfolio resting on the corner of his desk. He reached for it, flipping through its neatly arranged contents until stopping at one particular page.
"What about her?" He asked, his finger resting on the profile of a young woman.
Her name, Violet Grace, was printed in bold letters beneath a headshot, accompanied by a brief summary: 24 years old, recent university graduate.
Anne followed his gaze.
"The contract was finalized a few days ago." She said evenly. "But with my schedule tied up by the university visits, and your trip out of state, I only managed to reach out to her yesterday."
Christopher, never one to waste time, suggested promptly. "Then we meet her and get it signed."
It was an understatement to say Christopher wasn't looking forward to finalizing this deal.
Lately, finding talent worth the investment had been an uphill battle, even for a fairly established agency like theirs.
The bitter truth he constantly wrestled with was that their discoveries, once polished and ready, seemed to vanish the moment larger names started showing interest.
This time, however, he hoped for something different. Something lasting.
He needed this to work, not just for the agency, but for the sense of accomplishment that would come from knowing they had helped nurture true potential.
Anne paused for a moment before responding.
"Well... about that." She said, her voice measured. "When I spoke to her, I found out she's already been cast in an indie film. She's been attending the reading sessions."
The words indie film lingered in the air, shifting the tone of the conversation.
Christopher's gaze narrowed slightly. "Is she the lead?"
"No." Anne replied. "It's a supporting role, but she mentioned having decent screen time."
Christopher nodded, a small sense of relief settling over him.
At least it wasn't a lead role - meaning no blame either if the film flops.
Still, his expression remained taut. "That might still be a problem."
Anne nodded, agreeing with the sentiment. "I thought the same thing."
Christopher leaned forward, his voice growing sharper. "Didn't you say she wasn't ready to be cast? That she had performance issues?"
Anne sighed. "Yeah, that's the case. We had even planned to get her acting lessons once the contract is signed."
Christopher's fingers tapped on the desk.
"Yet she still got the role?" He asked, his tone skeptical. "Do you know anything about the film?"
"Not a lot. Just the title." Anne replied.
Christopher raised an eyebrow. "And what's the title?"
Kaira glanced at her, speaking the name slowly with a touch of emphasis. "[Following]."
Christopher leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly as he mulled over the name. "...why does that sound like a creepy B-grade film?"
Anne, sensing the tone, responded carefully.
"Sir, from what I have seen of Grace in our brief meetings, I would like to believe that shouldn't be the case." Her voice was respectful but firm, expressing her confidence in the talent she had seen so far.
"Well, if you are confident." Christopher frowned momentarily, then shook his head. "But still, it sounds like she's already signed on for this film. Nothing we can do about it now."
Anne shook her head. "Actually, she hasn't signed anything."
Christopher raised an eyebrow in surprise. "She hasn't? But you said she was already attending reading sessions."
"She is." Anne clarified. "But when we agreed on the contract terms, I told her not to sign anything without checking with me first."
Christopher's surprise deepened. "And she actually listened to you?"
"...I was surprised too." Anne was clearly amused. "Especially considering how eager she sounded. But yes, she waited and actually listened."
Christopher's curiosity piqued. "Now that's rare."
"It gets even stranger." Anne continued to share the new details. She said that if we don't approve of her participating in the film, she won't sign the contract with us. She is holding off, staying true to her word, apparently, she promised the director she wouldn't back out."
Christopher's expression softened as he leaned back, trying to grasp the strange nature of it all. "And the director believed her?"
"Yes." Anne confirmed. "She told him she wouldn't abandon her role."
Christopher's expression softened, as if trying to understand the oddity of the situation. "And the director believed her?"
Anne nodded. "He did."
A low chuckle escaped Christopher, shaking his head in disbelief. "Now that is even rarer."
"I agree." Anne added, a smile tugging at her lips.
Christopher rested his fingers together, his mind clearly processing everything. "Since when does Hollywood operate on trust? Are verbal agreements still a thing here?"
Anne chuckled lightly. "Trust and showbiz don't usually go hand in hand. It's a rare combination, for sure."
Christopher sighed. "It's definitely… unusual."
"..." Anne stayed silent, her expression taut.
They didn't need to elaborate. The unspoken thought lingered between them, heavy and uncomfortable.
Both knew there were reasons other than merit that sometimes dictated casting decisions - reasons that often came wrapped in compromises and quiet whispers.
The leniency of the director in this situation felt odd, almost absurd... especially since it's an indie film, as they often don't want to take chances.
A part of them wanted to believe it was purely based on talent.
But deep down, they both knew how unlikely that was. Still, they silently clung to a sliver of hope: Let this not be one of those situations.
"Maybe I should have stayed in contact with her?" Anne murmured, almost to herself, her voice tinged with a hint of regret.
Sensing the shift in her tone, Christopher decided to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Enough about that. We still have a chance to pull her out if needed. When is filming set to start?"
Anne snapped out of her thoughts, nodding as she checked her notes. "In about a week."
"Good, we have got time." Christopher's voice grew firm. "Arrange a meeting with her immediately. I want those contracts signed as soon as possible. Once that's done, I will review the script, and if it makes sense, I would like it if you could also meet the director as well."
Anne nodded. "Understood. I will contact her immediately and make the arrangements."
"Do that." Christopher said, her tone taking on a more serious edge. "We need to be prepared in case this film doesn't meet expectations. We can't let our discovered talent get dragged down by a poor debut. It's our responsibility to ensure she starts on the right foot."
"I will get in contact with her immediately." Anne replied.
Christopher gave a slight nod in response, signaling his approval.
His mind was already focused on the upcoming meeting.
He was curious to find out what kind of people these two were.
Would they rise above the standard mediocrity so common in the industry, or would they simply blend into the sea of so many other talents?
.
….
[To be continued…]
★─────⇌•★•⇋─────★
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