11-38
Chapter 678
Max’s name made the strained smile on Brielle’s face faded. She picked up a check. “I’m not rolling in cash like he is–there’s only ten million here.”
“That’s plenty.” With a flick of her wrist, Tiffanie toyed with the USB drive in her hand, her expression cocky. “Don’t worry, that old hag’s news will blow up the trending searches. soon enough.”
She referred to Amelia as an “old hag,” though in truth, Amelia was quite well–preserved and was the only female director of note who had won awards. She had her fair share of aspiring male actors willing to hook up with her to advance their careers.
As John had once revealed, it was Amelia’s promiscuity that was her downfall. When John caught her red–handed, she worried he would go public with the news, so she preemptively concocted a story of John being abusive and unfaithful, casting herself entirely as the victim.
Over the years, Amelia had crafted a successful public persona. Society had a soft spot for strong, independent women. In the public eye, Amelia was a woman who had been dealt a bad hand in love, but had risen from the ashes of her divorce to carve out her own successful path. She’d even become a vocal advocate for women’s issues on social media, preaching about financial independence, independent thought, education, and more. She’d even boldly claimed that she was done with men for life.
If Amelia hadn’t built up a public image of fearing men, then the video wouldn’t have fazed her. As a single, wealthy woman, a fling with a handsome man would have been merely a private indiscretion. But she had built this image, and was claiming to be done with men while secretly calling in not one but two male escorts for the night. It was the height of hypocrisy.
Brielle knew she could trust Tiffanie with this matter, as she had connect. n all sorts of places and always managed to unearth something surprising.
As Tiffanie stood to leave, Brielle couldn’t help but think of Mason and gave her a gentle reminder. “Mason’s serious about you.”
Mason was a tech geek who had spent most of his life buried in books and technology, hardly ever interacting with women. A naive soul like him was no match for Tiffanie’s charms, and he’d fallen for her quickly. But Tiffanie’s upbringing had been so different from Mason’s that she couldn’t bring herself to trust men, let alone believe in love. The more serious Mason got, the more Tiffanie pulled away.
A complex look flickered in Tiffanie’s eyes, and she pulled out a cigarette, lighting it up right there. “Brielle, don’t worry about me and Mason,” she said.
Brielle knew Tiffanie smoked. Her form was practiced and effortless–a clear sign of years of habit.
1/2
11:38
I’m off then. By the afternoon, Amelia’s scandal will be all over the news. Later.
Tiffanie’s cigarette wasn’t the harsh kind. It had a sweet, fruity aroma. She took a few puffs and then tossed it in the trash. Brielle shook her head resignedly.
After finishing up with Stellar Stage Entertainment’s paperwork, she called over Donny and handed him Kenzo’s script. “Take a look at this, and pick out some suitable actors from Stellar Stage. Remember, they have to be a good fit. This is a solid script, and we can’t afford any casting mistakes.”
Donny’s hands trembled with excitement, his eyes even misting over. This was Kenzo’s work. Anyone in showbiz knew his name. His scripts were typically reserved for top–tier directors, and now Donny had the chance to handle one, maybe even cast one of his talents in it. This was no pie in the sky–it was the whole bakery!
“But Ms. Haywood,” Donny interjected. “John’s tied up with his own projects. Who’s going to direct this one?”
Brielle’s brow furrowed. “Doesn’t Stellar Stage have any directors?”
“There are a few, but they’re a bit… peculiar. Still, with Kenzo’s script, I’m sure they’ll want to take charge. It’s just that they might not be too keen on casting a newcomer as the lead.”
After all, a movie’s cast was a guarantee of its box office potential. John’s situation was unique. He had to work with two newcomers.
Brielle massaged her temples. “Just make sure I review the performance of whoever lands the lead role.”
Donny’s face lit up. “I’ll go talk to the director right now!”
After wrapping up her morning tasks, Brielle found herself with some downtime, idly checking her phone. The busyness of Stellar Stage had filled her thoughts, but now, the scarf incident lingered in her mind. After much deliberation, she decided to visit Dorsey International at lunch.
Meanwhile, at Tequila Sunset…
The staff were pale, avoiding glances with the icy figure within. Max sat quietly in the VIP lounge with an unconscious Jaired beside him. Kenzo had already left for the day.
