Chapter 222
Westin’s eyes widened in surprise. “A woman?”
But the more he thought about it, the more sense it made.
That black vortex painting–so saturated with deathly stillness and despair–was pure emotion, not technique.
Only a woman could channel feelings so raw and nuanced onto a canvas.
“I want to meet my senior even more now, Westin admitted, unable to hide the eagerness in his voice.
He was desperate to see more of Aria’s work
Mono wanted to see her too. In all those years, aside from their brief apprenticeship, they’d barely crossed paths. Aria was always busy.
When she finally found a moment of freedom, she’d suddenly gotten married–without a word to him.
Divorced, too, and never breathed a syllable. The more he thought about it, the more irritated he became
The private suite was thick with smoke. Vanessa endured it with a poker face, doing her best not to cough
Besides the “big boss” Dawson had warned her about and Orlando, there were two film company CEOs in attendance, each flanked by a stunning actress -the brightest stars in the entertainment industry.
All except Vanessa knew exactly how to play the game: pouring drinks, making conversation, serving up the kind of emotional energy these rooms demanded.
Russell and Orlando, strikingly handsome, didn’t take advantage or make lewd jokes; the actresses smiles were genuine, needing no cues from their bosses.
Yet the man in black–the one with a diagonal scar over his left brow and an aura colder than ice–was so intimidating no one dared get too close.
So it was Orlando who found himself sandwiched between two ambitious beauties, both determined to charm him,
Meanwhile, Dawson and the others were deep in negotiations with Russell about Nebula’s expansion into domestic film
Nebula, after all, was one of Masmubia’s most powerful studios, responsible for blockbuster after blockbuster, its stars household names around the globe.
Russell, though a Huthailian, was one of Nebula’s top executives, responsible for all business in the country.
But CEO was just his public face, what truly unnerved people was his background.
Dawson only knew bits and pieces, but he knew enough: cross this man and you’d disappear without a trace.
One of the film bosses piped up, “Mr. Nicholson, we’ve heard Nebula’s planning to invest in Huthalia. Is there already a project works?”
Russell simply nodded. The laughter laded. Everyone leaned in
His gare slid to Vanessa’s untouched glass. “Miss Ward, are you feeling unwelt
Dawson caught on instantly, shooting Vanessa a warning glance–drinking was nothing in their world, just another part of the business.
Vanessa didn’t flinch; she filed her glass, offered Russell a bright smile, and said, “Mr. Nicholson, lit me boast to you, if you have any projects, thope you’ll consider Starmon Films. If not, at least keep me in mind.”
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Chapter 222
She downed the drink in one go.
Everyone at the table had the same thought, but Vanessa was the only one bold enough to say it aloud,
Dawson’s face twitched–he nudged Vanessa under the table, then stood to apologize. “Sorry, Mr. Nicholson. Our actress tends to speak be
Russell said nothing. Orlando smiled faintly, “No harm done. Miss Ward is just looking out for her future.”
A bit blunt, but honest.
Dawson quickly shifted gears. “There’s a new sci–fi film in the pipeline. Miss Ward would be perfect for one of the roles–perhaps she could audition?”
Russell nodded.
Landing a role in a Nebula production was a golden ticket, the sort of opportunity that transformed careers overnight.
Everyone at the table was stunned.
Dawson nearly bounced back into his chair, while Vanessa raised an eyebrow, sensing something off beneath the surface.
One of the CEOs teased, “See, Vanessa? The rest of you should take notes.”
The other actresses, emboldened, tried to be just as direct, but neither Russell nor Orlando offered them any promises. Regret was written all over the
faces.
