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Behind The Spotlight
- Thread starter Pujimaki
- Start date
Chapter 181
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
- Sep 8, 2022
- Messages
- 1,212
- Likes received
- 20,366
[This novel has 70 chapters on Patreon.]
---
Behind The Spotlight Chapter 181
Vivian didn't like Collin's answer. She believed that Collin should fix his client because Princess Chantal was their money maker. Moonrise Music needed her. Vivian, Collin, Lila, and Niko earned millions because of her.
It would be extremely disappointing if they failed to maximize Princess Chantal's profitability. Vivian sympathized with the young woman, but she understood her own priorities. She was a businesswoman, the biggest shareholder and the owner of Moonrise Music.
Obviously, she loved her company and wanted it to succeed. She had sacrificed years of sleep, relationships, and personal happiness just to build it from the ground up.
Now that they had finally taken the first step and achieved success, Vivian was terrified of losing Princess Chantal.
"Vivian, you do understand that people change, right? In my opinion, Chantal is still doing fine. I've met people with much worse attitudes."
"Attitude and behavior can change, but that's not what I'm asking from Princess Chantal. I want her to stick with us forever. Don't let her sign with a different record label. Loyalty is useless, only contracts are absolute."
Vivian recognized Princess Chantal's talent. She had never seen someone who could charm people through her voice alone. She was a star. And now that Princess Chantal was famous, it seemed many people had begun to notice her immense profitability.
It wouldn't be surprising if more record labels approached her with promises of creative freedom and higher compensation.
'... Is $15 million still too low as payment for breaking a contract?' Vivian asked herself.
According to the contract both sides agreed to, Princess Chantal was obligated to pay $15 million if she wanted to break it. Vivian feared that Princess Chantal might be stolen away, just like their past artists. $15 million seemed insufficient.
Back then, Niko and Vivian almost had a falling-out because the artists Vivian chose betrayed them so easily.
"Do you trust me?" Collin asked Vivian.
"We don't know each other that well."
Collin laughed lightly.
"I'm a shareholder. Of course I won't let Princess Chantal leave Moonrise Music. I'll prioritize my own interests first."
"Hm." Vivian nodded and stood up. She accepted that mutual self-interest was the strongest form of trust.
"I'll leave Princess Chantal to you."
It seemed their conversation had been pointless. At the end of the day, it all depended on whether Princess Chantal chose to leave or stay.
Vivian left the party. It was regrettable that she had bought an expensive dress for the event when no one even appreciated it.
Collin bid her farewell and sat on the chair Vivian had been using. He waited patiently for the door to open. He had plenty of patience.
He glanced at his watch. There were only two hours left before the new year arrived.
'... The world isn't going to end, right?' Collin asked himself. On his way to the mansion, he had seen protesters holding signs about the end of the world. He couldn't help but feel uneasy.
After his thoughts drifted away, the door finally opened, and three people exited the room.
The first was a Frenchwoman with long black hair. Her lips were smeared with lipstick, and her eyes were hazy. It was Isabella.
The second was a dark-skinned woman with curly, wavy hair. Like Isabella, Princess Chantal had lipstick smeared on her lips. There were even hickeys on her neck.
The third was a blonde gorgeous woman with shoulder-length hair. She also had hickey marks and kiss marks scattered across her neck and cheeks.
The three women were smiling, clearly under the influence. Their laughter was loose and careless.
'... Did they kiss each other or something?'
Collin raised an eyebrow and glanced inside the room. He found no one else. Those three women had been the only occupants. Judging by their messy clothes, uncombed hair, and unfocused gazes, something had definitely happened inside.
'I know something strange has been going on between Isabella and Chantal. I also know they're interested in men, so they're probably bisexual. Anyway, does two women kissing make them lesbians or not?'
What truly confused Collin was the third woman, whom he assumed was Gabriella Wallmart. He wasn't surprised by the intimacy between Princess Chantal and Isabella, he had already suspected it. But adding another woman into the mix was unexpected and potentially dangerous.
"Collin!" Princess Chantal exclaimed happily when she saw him. She hugged him and rubbed her head against his chest. She had always found Collin attractive.
"Chantal, no fair! I want to hug Collin too!" Isabella joined in, wrapping her arms around him as well.
The two were clearly under the influence, their rationality clouded.
"Chantal, Isabella, what is going on? I thought today's event was supposed to be a formal party?"
"Hehe, I changed it."
"Why?"
"Gabriella said it would be fun if we invited people and turned it into a frat party instead."
Collin stared at the blonde woman. Gabriella extended her hand for a handshake.
"Hello, I'm Gabriella Wallmart."
"Collin East."
"I've heard about you. Chantal and Isabella told me you're an amazing person. And now that I've met you in person," Gabriella's eyes glinted slightly, "it seems they weren't lying. You're an outstanding man."
"Thank you for the compliment." Collin shook her hand while Chantal and Isabella clung to him. Fortunately, the two women were already twenty-one and legally allowed to drink. Although, based on their behavior, Collin wasn't sure alcohol was the only thing involved.
"Collin, we should talk sometime. Here's my business card."
"Alright."
Gabriella excused herself, understanding that Collin wanted to speak with Princess Chantal and Isabella privately.
"Bye-bye, bestie~"
"Gurl, slay~"
The blonde woman walked away.
Collin stared at Gabriella's retreating figure, chills running down his spine. More precisely, he was staring at the golden words floating above her head.
'I guess I know why she convinced Chantal to change the party.'
--Gabriella Wallmart
-- Master Manipulator (Gold)
Collin had thought Gabriella was a simple woman, but he was wrong.
"Girls, stop clinging to me. We need to talk seriously."
"But you smell nice~" Princess Chantal inhaled his scent.
Collin sighed.
"Let's go to your room."
"Alright~"
When the three of them stepped inside, Collin immediately caught the scent of weed. He frowned slightly and opened the windows to let the air circulate. His concern deepened.
"Now, can someone explain to me what is going on here?"
---
Behind The Spotlight Chapter 181
Vivian didn't like Collin's answer. She believed that Collin should fix his client because Princess Chantal was their money maker. Moonrise Music needed her. Vivian, Collin, Lila, and Niko earned millions because of her.
It would be extremely disappointing if they failed to maximize Princess Chantal's profitability. Vivian sympathized with the young woman, but she understood her own priorities. She was a businesswoman, the biggest shareholder and the owner of Moonrise Music.
Obviously, she loved her company and wanted it to succeed. She had sacrificed years of sleep, relationships, and personal happiness just to build it from the ground up.
Now that they had finally taken the first step and achieved success, Vivian was terrified of losing Princess Chantal.
"Vivian, you do understand that people change, right? In my opinion, Chantal is still doing fine. I've met people with much worse attitudes."
"Attitude and behavior can change, but that's not what I'm asking from Princess Chantal. I want her to stick with us forever. Don't let her sign with a different record label. Loyalty is useless, only contracts are absolute."
Vivian recognized Princess Chantal's talent. She had never seen someone who could charm people through her voice alone. She was a star. And now that Princess Chantal was famous, it seemed many people had begun to notice her immense profitability.
It wouldn't be surprising if more record labels approached her with promises of creative freedom and higher compensation.
'... Is $15 million still too low as payment for breaking a contract?' Vivian asked herself.
According to the contract both sides agreed to, Princess Chantal was obligated to pay $15 million if she wanted to break it. Vivian feared that Princess Chantal might be stolen away, just like their past artists. $15 million seemed insufficient.
Back then, Niko and Vivian almost had a falling-out because the artists Vivian chose betrayed them so easily.
"Do you trust me?" Collin asked Vivian.
"We don't know each other that well."
Collin laughed lightly.
"I'm a shareholder. Of course I won't let Princess Chantal leave Moonrise Music. I'll prioritize my own interests first."
"Hm." Vivian nodded and stood up. She accepted that mutual self-interest was the strongest form of trust.
"I'll leave Princess Chantal to you."
It seemed their conversation had been pointless. At the end of the day, it all depended on whether Princess Chantal chose to leave or stay.
Vivian left the party. It was regrettable that she had bought an expensive dress for the event when no one even appreciated it.
Collin bid her farewell and sat on the chair Vivian had been using. He waited patiently for the door to open. He had plenty of patience.
He glanced at his watch. There were only two hours left before the new year arrived.
'... The world isn't going to end, right?' Collin asked himself. On his way to the mansion, he had seen protesters holding signs about the end of the world. He couldn't help but feel uneasy.
After his thoughts drifted away, the door finally opened, and three people exited the room.
The first was a Frenchwoman with long black hair. Her lips were smeared with lipstick, and her eyes were hazy. It was Isabella.
The second was a dark-skinned woman with curly, wavy hair. Like Isabella, Princess Chantal had lipstick smeared on her lips. There were even hickeys on her neck.
The third was a blonde gorgeous woman with shoulder-length hair. She also had hickey marks and kiss marks scattered across her neck and cheeks.
The three women were smiling, clearly under the influence. Their laughter was loose and careless.
'... Did they kiss each other or something?'
Collin raised an eyebrow and glanced inside the room. He found no one else. Those three women had been the only occupants. Judging by their messy clothes, uncombed hair, and unfocused gazes, something had definitely happened inside.
'I know something strange has been going on between Isabella and Chantal. I also know they're interested in men, so they're probably bisexual. Anyway, does two women kissing make them lesbians or not?'
What truly confused Collin was the third woman, whom he assumed was Gabriella Wallmart. He wasn't surprised by the intimacy between Princess Chantal and Isabella, he had already suspected it. But adding another woman into the mix was unexpected and potentially dangerous.
"Collin!" Princess Chantal exclaimed happily when she saw him. She hugged him and rubbed her head against his chest. She had always found Collin attractive.
"Chantal, no fair! I want to hug Collin too!" Isabella joined in, wrapping her arms around him as well.
The two were clearly under the influence, their rationality clouded.
"Chantal, Isabella, what is going on? I thought today's event was supposed to be a formal party?"
"Hehe, I changed it."
"Why?"
"Gabriella said it would be fun if we invited people and turned it into a frat party instead."
Collin stared at the blonde woman. Gabriella extended her hand for a handshake.
"Hello, I'm Gabriella Wallmart."
"Collin East."
"I've heard about you. Chantal and Isabella told me you're an amazing person. And now that I've met you in person," Gabriella's eyes glinted slightly, "it seems they weren't lying. You're an outstanding man."
"Thank you for the compliment." Collin shook her hand while Chantal and Isabella clung to him. Fortunately, the two women were already twenty-one and legally allowed to drink. Although, based on their behavior, Collin wasn't sure alcohol was the only thing involved.
"Collin, we should talk sometime. Here's my business card."
"Alright."
Gabriella excused herself, understanding that Collin wanted to speak with Princess Chantal and Isabella privately.
"Bye-bye, bestie~"
"Gurl, slay~"
The blonde woman walked away.
Collin stared at Gabriella's retreating figure, chills running down his spine. More precisely, he was staring at the golden words floating above her head.
'I guess I know why she convinced Chantal to change the party.'
--Gabriella Wallmart
-- Master Manipulator (Gold)
Collin had thought Gabriella was a simple woman, but he was wrong.
"Girls, stop clinging to me. We need to talk seriously."
"But you smell nice~" Princess Chantal inhaled his scent.
Collin sighed.
"Let's go to your room."
"Alright~"
When the three of them stepped inside, Collin immediately caught the scent of weed. He frowned slightly and opened the windows to let the air circulate. His concern deepened.
"Now, can someone explain to me what is going on here?"
Killya-Caesar
Getting out there.
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Just finished reading all chapters, thanks for the fiction!
Chapter 182
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
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- 20,366
[Author's Note:]
Please subscribe to my Patreon, so we have something to eat this holiday season. You can read:
72 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
Patreon link: https: //www. patreon. com/Puji_maki
---
Behind The Spotlight Chapter 182
Gabriella waited for her driver as she stood in front of the mansion. The party was still ongoing. She waited for a few minutes before an expensive car stopped in front of her. She opened the door and stepped in without sparing the mansion a glance.
"Let's return to my villa."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Gabriella was affected by the weed, but her rationality remained strong. Her thoughts stayed sharp despite the lingering haze.
"Collin East... It seems like I didn't make a mistake in choosing you." Gabriella smiled faintly as she leaned back against her seat, her lips curving with calculation. She had her reasons for being interested in Collin.
Gabriella was a major shareholder of a record label, but the one who handled most of the business was the CEO, a role she deliberately avoided. She preferred manipulating people rather than being hands-on in business. Direct management was tedious to her.
Last year, Gabriella and her older brother started an agency in Hollywood, and it was a rough start, far more challenging than expected. The company had a lot of liquid funds, but it lacked capable people to manage it. Money alone was never enough. In particular, they lacked capable agents and clients, the backbone of any agency. Their agency was called One Entertainment Agency.
An agency was useless without agents and clients who could generate profits. Gabriella felt she had to do something about it.
Thus, she paid people to conduct research and look for agents they could hire. She received a list and found several veterans who handled famous celebrities. However, those veteran agents already had deep roots in their respective agencies. They owned significant shares, and stealing them would be expensive.
Instead, Gabriella looked for less prominent agents with outstanding track records. The person who caught her attention was none other than Collin East.
His ability to see through people's talent was unmatched. Gabriella studied Collin's achievements and was genuinely impressed.
In her opinion, even veteran agents couldn't compare to what Collin had accomplished in just eight years.
He guided a fresh graduate into making a comedy film and created a box office hit, defying industry logic.
He helped an unknown actor become the recognized Romance Box Office King.
He assisted another actor who later landed a famous role in an action movie.
Collin also found ways for a female actress to thrive as a host.
His latest achievement was turning a Frenchwoman into a superstar, making her the best pop idol of 1999. In fact, Gabriella had been interested in Princess Chantal even before she looked into Collin. The singer had already caught her eye. Gabriella had met her briefly at a music awards ceremony and exchanged a few greetings.
When Gabriella studied Collin's achievements more deeply, she realized she wanted this man without hesitation. She couldn't fully explain it, but she believed that whoever acquired Collin would become one of the most successful figures in Hollywood. Her instincts told her that Collin was worth it.
Of course, she couldn't simply approach him and invite him to join her agency. That wasn't her style, nor would it be effective.
As a woman who survived the power struggles within the Wallmart family, Gabriella preferred slowly befriending her target's friends before striking, a strategy that had proven effective time and time again.
This time, since Gabriella was also interested in Princess Chantal, she chose to befriend the singer, and it was effortless. Charm was her weapon, and she wielded it skillfully.
'If I acquire Collin East, his clients will naturally leave ANT and work with One Entertainment Agency instead. Collin is the main reason these people became successful, and I know they recognize that fact. These clients need Collin the most.'
The conclusion was simple.
The idea made Gabriella excited.
Having profitable clients was important, but possessing a talented agent was far better. Gabriella trusted her intuition. She knew hiring Collin would be worth it, even at a great cost.
Now that she had laid the groundwork, she planned to proceed step by step.
Collin thought Gabriella was interested in Princess Chantal, but he was only half right. Gabriella was far more interested in him than in Princess Chantal.
As Gabriella rested her head against the seat, she smirked and imagined how satisfying it would be once she acquired Collin.
.........
......
...
"Can you explain to me what is going on?" Collin looked seriously at the two women, his tone firm. Isabella seemed to have sobered up, so Collin directed his gaze toward her.
"We just wanted to have fun."
"Hosting a frat party isn't wrong, but changing an event at the last minute is disrespectful," Collin reminded them, carefully choosing his words.
"I promise this will be the last time this happens. To make up for it, Chantal will host a formal party next week, right, Chantal?"
"Uhh, yeah~" Princess Chantal purred and pushed Isabella onto the bed, laughing softly.
"... I can't talk to you properly if you're like this." Collin sighed.
"By the way, that Gabriella, where did you meet her?" He hadn't forgotten that someone might try to steal Princess Chantal from Moonrise Music. Now that he recognized Gabriella as dangerous, he wanted to ensure his client distanced herself from her as soon as possible.
"We met her at an award show," Isabella answered.
"Stay away from her. She's dangerous."
"But why?" This time, Princess Chantal reacted, genuinely confused. She liked Gabriella. To her, Gabriella was a good friend.
"Because you can't trust her. She has bad intentions." Collin didn't elaborate further, especially not while the two women were still tipsy and unfocused.
"What are your plans for the people in the mansion? Are you going to continue the party?"
"Yeah! We're waiting for the new year!"
Suddenly, fireworks shot into the sky and exploded, painting the night with dazzling lights. The three looked toward the window and realized it at the same time, it was officially the New Year.
Even the people partying inside the mansion cheered and popped champagne, celebrating wildly.
'It seems the world isn't going to end, which is a good thing,' Collin thought to himself.
"Collin, Happy New Year! Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for making me a star." Despite her hazy gaze, Princess Chantal was sincere. She stepped forward and hugged him.
Collin saw the honesty in her eyes and smiled faintly. He patted her head, making Princess Chantal blush. To him, Princess Chantal and Isabella were like younger sisters he instinctively wanted to protect. Still, he knew people had to face the real world to mature. He couldn't protect them forever. Eventually, they would have to confront reality on their own.
"Happy New Year," Collin replied softly.
"You're wearing the watch I gave you. That's great," Isabella grinned when she noticed Collin's wristwatch.
Please subscribe to my Patreon, so we have something to eat this holiday season. You can read:
72 advance chapters of Behind The Spotlight
Patreon link: https: //www. patreon. com/Puji_maki
---
Behind The Spotlight Chapter 182
Gabriella waited for her driver as she stood in front of the mansion. The party was still ongoing. She waited for a few minutes before an expensive car stopped in front of her. She opened the door and stepped in without sparing the mansion a glance.
"Let's return to my villa."
"Yes, Ma'am."
Gabriella was affected by the weed, but her rationality remained strong. Her thoughts stayed sharp despite the lingering haze.
"Collin East... It seems like I didn't make a mistake in choosing you." Gabriella smiled faintly as she leaned back against her seat, her lips curving with calculation. She had her reasons for being interested in Collin.
Gabriella was a major shareholder of a record label, but the one who handled most of the business was the CEO, a role she deliberately avoided. She preferred manipulating people rather than being hands-on in business. Direct management was tedious to her.
Last year, Gabriella and her older brother started an agency in Hollywood, and it was a rough start, far more challenging than expected. The company had a lot of liquid funds, but it lacked capable people to manage it. Money alone was never enough. In particular, they lacked capable agents and clients, the backbone of any agency. Their agency was called One Entertainment Agency.
An agency was useless without agents and clients who could generate profits. Gabriella felt she had to do something about it.
Thus, she paid people to conduct research and look for agents they could hire. She received a list and found several veterans who handled famous celebrities. However, those veteran agents already had deep roots in their respective agencies. They owned significant shares, and stealing them would be expensive.
Instead, Gabriella looked for less prominent agents with outstanding track records. The person who caught her attention was none other than Collin East.
His ability to see through people's talent was unmatched. Gabriella studied Collin's achievements and was genuinely impressed.
In her opinion, even veteran agents couldn't compare to what Collin had accomplished in just eight years.
He guided a fresh graduate into making a comedy film and created a box office hit, defying industry logic.
He helped an unknown actor become the recognized Romance Box Office King.
He assisted another actor who later landed a famous role in an action movie.
Collin also found ways for a female actress to thrive as a host.
His latest achievement was turning a Frenchwoman into a superstar, making her the best pop idol of 1999. In fact, Gabriella had been interested in Princess Chantal even before she looked into Collin. The singer had already caught her eye. Gabriella had met her briefly at a music awards ceremony and exchanged a few greetings.
When Gabriella studied Collin's achievements more deeply, she realized she wanted this man without hesitation. She couldn't fully explain it, but she believed that whoever acquired Collin would become one of the most successful figures in Hollywood. Her instincts told her that Collin was worth it.
Of course, she couldn't simply approach him and invite him to join her agency. That wasn't her style, nor would it be effective.
As a woman who survived the power struggles within the Wallmart family, Gabriella preferred slowly befriending her target's friends before striking, a strategy that had proven effective time and time again.
This time, since Gabriella was also interested in Princess Chantal, she chose to befriend the singer, and it was effortless. Charm was her weapon, and she wielded it skillfully.
'If I acquire Collin East, his clients will naturally leave ANT and work with One Entertainment Agency instead. Collin is the main reason these people became successful, and I know they recognize that fact. These clients need Collin the most.'
The conclusion was simple.
The idea made Gabriella excited.
Having profitable clients was important, but possessing a talented agent was far better. Gabriella trusted her intuition. She knew hiring Collin would be worth it, even at a great cost.
Now that she had laid the groundwork, she planned to proceed step by step.
Collin thought Gabriella was interested in Princess Chantal, but he was only half right. Gabriella was far more interested in him than in Princess Chantal.
As Gabriella rested her head against the seat, she smirked and imagined how satisfying it would be once she acquired Collin.
.........
......
...
"Can you explain to me what is going on?" Collin looked seriously at the two women, his tone firm. Isabella seemed to have sobered up, so Collin directed his gaze toward her.
"We just wanted to have fun."
"Hosting a frat party isn't wrong, but changing an event at the last minute is disrespectful," Collin reminded them, carefully choosing his words.
"I promise this will be the last time this happens. To make up for it, Chantal will host a formal party next week, right, Chantal?"
"Uhh, yeah~" Princess Chantal purred and pushed Isabella onto the bed, laughing softly.
"... I can't talk to you properly if you're like this." Collin sighed.
"By the way, that Gabriella, where did you meet her?" He hadn't forgotten that someone might try to steal Princess Chantal from Moonrise Music. Now that he recognized Gabriella as dangerous, he wanted to ensure his client distanced herself from her as soon as possible.
"We met her at an award show," Isabella answered.
"Stay away from her. She's dangerous."
"But why?" This time, Princess Chantal reacted, genuinely confused. She liked Gabriella. To her, Gabriella was a good friend.
"Because you can't trust her. She has bad intentions." Collin didn't elaborate further, especially not while the two women were still tipsy and unfocused.
"What are your plans for the people in the mansion? Are you going to continue the party?"
"Yeah! We're waiting for the new year!"
Suddenly, fireworks shot into the sky and exploded, painting the night with dazzling lights. The three looked toward the window and realized it at the same time, it was officially the New Year.
Even the people partying inside the mansion cheered and popped champagne, celebrating wildly.
'It seems the world isn't going to end, which is a good thing,' Collin thought to himself.
"Collin, Happy New Year! Thank you for taking care of us. Thank you for making me a star." Despite her hazy gaze, Princess Chantal was sincere. She stepped forward and hugged him.
Collin saw the honesty in her eyes and smiled faintly. He patted her head, making Princess Chantal blush. To him, Princess Chantal and Isabella were like younger sisters he instinctively wanted to protect. Still, he knew people had to face the real world to mature. He couldn't protect them forever. Eventually, they would have to confront reality on their own.
"Happy New Year," Collin replied softly.
"You're wearing the watch I gave you. That's great," Isabella grinned when she noticed Collin's wristwatch.
Chapter 183
New
Pujimaki
Padoru padoru
- Joined
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- Likes received
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Behind The Spotlight Chapter 183
"That's not fair. You also used the car I gave you, right, Collin?" Princess Chantal pouted, her tone carrying childish dissatisfaction.
The two women had actually given him Christmas gifts, expensive ones. Far beyond what he had expected. A watch and a sports car, both luxury items, with the sports car being the most overwhelming. Collin wanted to decline the gifts, but the two women were adamant and refused to take no for an answer. Left with no choice, he accepted the gifts.
Of course, Wyatt and the others also gave Collin Christmas gifts, but they were far less expensive than what Princess Chantal had given.
Out of all his clients, Princess Chantal had spent over $100,000 on a sports car. A fact that still gave him a headache whenever he thought about it. Collin had no idea what to do with it… He was afraid of driving such an expensive car. He worried about scratches, accidents, and unwanted attention.
"Well…" Collin averted his gaze. He was guilty, as he hadn't used the sports car even once since receiving it.
"What? You wore Isabella's gift, but you didn't use my car? How could you?" Her voice rose slightly in disbelief.
"Alright, alright. Let's change the topic. What are you going to do with the people in the mansion? The New Year has already arrived. There's no point in them staying any longer." He quickly redirected the conversation.
"We want to party more!" Princess Chantal exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Woohoo!" Isabella cheered.
The two women ran out of the room to join the party downstairs. They were indeed young people.
"…"
Collin was speechless, staring at the empty doorway for several seconds.
'I thought Isabella was mature enough to be an assistant and handle serious matters, but I guess I was wrong. Isabella is still young. I need to hire another person who can help me manage Chantal, someone more level-headed and experienced.'
Collin made a decision.
He stepped out of the room and went downstairs. The two women were already adults, and they could do whatever they wanted as long as it didn't spiral into trouble.
When he stepped into the party, he saw Princess Chantal and Isabella dancing, their movements carefree and energetic. The music playing was Princess Chantal's pop song, which made the scene a bit better, at least thematically appropriate.
'At least they are dancing to Chantal's song.'
Princess Chantal saw Collin and invited him to dance, but he shook his head and declined. Princess Chantal approached him anyway.
"Collin, you'll help me if I get in trouble, right?"
"Why are you asking that? Chantal, don't do something stupid." He frowned.
"Of course not." She giggled and twirled a strand of her curly hair. "If I need your help, please help me."
There was seriousness in what she said.
"What kind of question is that? I'm your agent. My job is to help you." He assured her.
"Then, thank you in advance." She returned to dancing with the others as if the conversation had never happened.
Just to be safe, Collin stayed at the party until 3 a.m. in case Princess Chantal and Isabella did something stupid. But nothing happened, fortunately.
He sighed in relief. Before he left, he reminded the two that he would visit them later once things settled down. He hoped that Princess Chantal and Isabella would be sober by then.
.........
......
...
Technically, Collin was still on vacation until January 4, but there were some things that needed his urgent attention, responsibilities that couldn't be postponed.
"You got a gig for me?" Jennifer was surprised that Collin had found a job for her. She thought her entire career would revolve around hosting The Singing Voice, with no room for other opportunities.
It seemed that Collin was still thinking of her as his client despite her doubts. She smiled, feeling thankful.
"That's right. I got a role for you. But it's different, you don't have to act. You'll be dubbing a character in a cartoon movie," Collin explained.
"A cartoon movie?" She was curious.
"You know Toys Stories, right?"
"Of course, I know it. It's the first 3D cartoon movie released years ago, produced by Fixar." Even though the movie was advertised for kids, Jennifer had the chance to watch it, and she was surprised by how much technology had improved.
A decade ago, 2D animation was the norm, while 3D animation was considered difficult and nearly impossible due to technical limitations.
"You'll be voicing a cowgirl toy in the sequel. The production team watched The Singing Voice and felt that your voice fit the criteria. Don't expect something huge, though. Just think of this as gaining work experience and broadening your portfolio."
"Gosh darn it, this is going to be fun." Jennifer squealed and clapped her hands together. She found the idea of voicing a cartoon character interesting and refreshingly different. At this point, trying something new sounded fun to her.
"Excuse me?" Collin frowned, clearly disturbed.
"Yes, Collin?"
"What did you say?"
"I said voicing a cartoon character is going to be fun. What about it?" She tilted her head.
"…Never mind."
'Did I hear that right? Did Jennifer just say "Gosh darn it"? What is going on?'
Out of curiosity and concern, Collin placed his palm on the woman's forehead, intending to check if her temperature was high. Perhaps she was sick or exhausted.
When his palm touched Jennifer's skin, she shivered in shock and instinctively avoided him. She noticed Collin staring at her seriously, and she felt "uncomfortable" whenever he did that. His deep gaze was just that hypnotizing.
"What the heck, dude? What are you doing?" Jennifer slapped his hand away and glared at him defensively.
"…I just wanted to know if you're sick," he replied honestly.
"I'm not sick."
"Then why are you speaking like that?"
"Like what? Goodness gracious, Collin, you should be mindful of your words."
"Like that! You're speaking like that!"
Collin was scared and deeply unsettled. As their conversation continued, he realized that Jennifer hadn't used a single swear word at all. This was terrifying!
"Are you a skin walker or a doppelganger? Did you kidnap Jennifer? Where is she? Tell me!"
"Good grief, you're acting insane." Jennifer protested and crossed her arms.
"You're the one acting insane."
After confirming that Jennifer hadn't been kidnapped or replaced by a skin walker, Collin handed the script to her.
"The best I can ask for is $100,000 as your salary," he stated professionally.
"That's already good. I'm going to treat this project as a way to have fun."
For Jennifer, $100,000 was only equivalent to two episodes of hosting The Singing Voice.
Jennifer excitedly flipped through the script to read her lines, but she frowned when she noticed something strange.
"Why do my lines have sexual innuendo?" she questioned immediately.
One of her lines read, "Nice pants, I wonder what's inside."
In that scene, Cowboy Woodie had new pants, and there were small toy guns inside, which prompted the line. It was innocent yet suggestive.
"Are you sure this movie is for kids?" Jennifer asked suspiciously.
She would probably be shocked once she realized that many cartoon movies cleverly hid sexual innuendos.
---
[Author's Note: Happy Holidays. For 2000, I have a lot of side plots to tackle, so this year might take me many chapters to write. Also, since I've tackled the music industry, I'm going to explore the sports industry next. I'm going to set a poll later about that. This novel has 72 chapters on Patreon.]
"That's not fair. You also used the car I gave you, right, Collin?" Princess Chantal pouted, her tone carrying childish dissatisfaction.
The two women had actually given him Christmas gifts, expensive ones. Far beyond what he had expected. A watch and a sports car, both luxury items, with the sports car being the most overwhelming. Collin wanted to decline the gifts, but the two women were adamant and refused to take no for an answer. Left with no choice, he accepted the gifts.
Of course, Wyatt and the others also gave Collin Christmas gifts, but they were far less expensive than what Princess Chantal had given.
Out of all his clients, Princess Chantal had spent over $100,000 on a sports car. A fact that still gave him a headache whenever he thought about it. Collin had no idea what to do with it… He was afraid of driving such an expensive car. He worried about scratches, accidents, and unwanted attention.
"Well…" Collin averted his gaze. He was guilty, as he hadn't used the sports car even once since receiving it.
"What? You wore Isabella's gift, but you didn't use my car? How could you?" Her voice rose slightly in disbelief.
"Alright, alright. Let's change the topic. What are you going to do with the people in the mansion? The New Year has already arrived. There's no point in them staying any longer." He quickly redirected the conversation.
"We want to party more!" Princess Chantal exclaimed enthusiastically.
"Woohoo!" Isabella cheered.
The two women ran out of the room to join the party downstairs. They were indeed young people.
"…"
Collin was speechless, staring at the empty doorway for several seconds.
'I thought Isabella was mature enough to be an assistant and handle serious matters, but I guess I was wrong. Isabella is still young. I need to hire another person who can help me manage Chantal, someone more level-headed and experienced.'
Collin made a decision.
He stepped out of the room and went downstairs. The two women were already adults, and they could do whatever they wanted as long as it didn't spiral into trouble.
When he stepped into the party, he saw Princess Chantal and Isabella dancing, their movements carefree and energetic. The music playing was Princess Chantal's pop song, which made the scene a bit better, at least thematically appropriate.
'At least they are dancing to Chantal's song.'
Princess Chantal saw Collin and invited him to dance, but he shook his head and declined. Princess Chantal approached him anyway.
"Collin, you'll help me if I get in trouble, right?"
"Why are you asking that? Chantal, don't do something stupid." He frowned.
"Of course not." She giggled and twirled a strand of her curly hair. "If I need your help, please help me."
There was seriousness in what she said.
"What kind of question is that? I'm your agent. My job is to help you." He assured her.
"Then, thank you in advance." She returned to dancing with the others as if the conversation had never happened.
Just to be safe, Collin stayed at the party until 3 a.m. in case Princess Chantal and Isabella did something stupid. But nothing happened, fortunately.
He sighed in relief. Before he left, he reminded the two that he would visit them later once things settled down. He hoped that Princess Chantal and Isabella would be sober by then.
.........
......
...
Technically, Collin was still on vacation until January 4, but there were some things that needed his urgent attention, responsibilities that couldn't be postponed.
"You got a gig for me?" Jennifer was surprised that Collin had found a job for her. She thought her entire career would revolve around hosting The Singing Voice, with no room for other opportunities.
It seemed that Collin was still thinking of her as his client despite her doubts. She smiled, feeling thankful.
"That's right. I got a role for you. But it's different, you don't have to act. You'll be dubbing a character in a cartoon movie," Collin explained.
"A cartoon movie?" She was curious.
"You know Toys Stories, right?"
"Of course, I know it. It's the first 3D cartoon movie released years ago, produced by Fixar." Even though the movie was advertised for kids, Jennifer had the chance to watch it, and she was surprised by how much technology had improved.
A decade ago, 2D animation was the norm, while 3D animation was considered difficult and nearly impossible due to technical limitations.
"You'll be voicing a cowgirl toy in the sequel. The production team watched The Singing Voice and felt that your voice fit the criteria. Don't expect something huge, though. Just think of this as gaining work experience and broadening your portfolio."
"Gosh darn it, this is going to be fun." Jennifer squealed and clapped her hands together. She found the idea of voicing a cartoon character interesting and refreshingly different. At this point, trying something new sounded fun to her.
"Excuse me?" Collin frowned, clearly disturbed.
"Yes, Collin?"
"What did you say?"
"I said voicing a cartoon character is going to be fun. What about it?" She tilted her head.
"…Never mind."
'Did I hear that right? Did Jennifer just say "Gosh darn it"? What is going on?'
Out of curiosity and concern, Collin placed his palm on the woman's forehead, intending to check if her temperature was high. Perhaps she was sick or exhausted.
When his palm touched Jennifer's skin, she shivered in shock and instinctively avoided him. She noticed Collin staring at her seriously, and she felt "uncomfortable" whenever he did that. His deep gaze was just that hypnotizing.
"What the heck, dude? What are you doing?" Jennifer slapped his hand away and glared at him defensively.
"…I just wanted to know if you're sick," he replied honestly.
"I'm not sick."
"Then why are you speaking like that?"
"Like what? Goodness gracious, Collin, you should be mindful of your words."
"Like that! You're speaking like that!"
Collin was scared and deeply unsettled. As their conversation continued, he realized that Jennifer hadn't used a single swear word at all. This was terrifying!
"Are you a skin walker or a doppelganger? Did you kidnap Jennifer? Where is she? Tell me!"
"Good grief, you're acting insane." Jennifer protested and crossed her arms.
"You're the one acting insane."
After confirming that Jennifer hadn't been kidnapped or replaced by a skin walker, Collin handed the script to her.
"The best I can ask for is $100,000 as your salary," he stated professionally.
"That's already good. I'm going to treat this project as a way to have fun."
For Jennifer, $100,000 was only equivalent to two episodes of hosting The Singing Voice.
Jennifer excitedly flipped through the script to read her lines, but she frowned when she noticed something strange.
"Why do my lines have sexual innuendo?" she questioned immediately.
One of her lines read, "Nice pants, I wonder what's inside."
In that scene, Cowboy Woodie had new pants, and there were small toy guns inside, which prompted the line. It was innocent yet suggestive.
"Are you sure this movie is for kids?" Jennifer asked suspiciously.
She would probably be shocked once she realized that many cartoon movies cleverly hid sexual innuendos.
---
[Author's Note: Happy Holidays. For 2000, I have a lot of side plots to tackle, so this year might take me many chapters to write. Also, since I've tackled the music industry, I'm going to explore the sports industry next. I'm going to set a poll later about that. This novel has 72 chapters on Patreon.]