My manager tried his best to persuade at first, making all sorts of grand promises and trying to sweeten the deal.
But when he saw I was still adamant, he stopped insisting and reluctantly went to turn down Clara Langley’s people.
I thought that would be the end of it.
But to my surprise, while I was in the recording booth working on another voice-over job, a colleague suddenly ca running to tell to go to the manager’s office.
I quickly finished up the voice-over work I was doing before heading to the manager’s office.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
"Co in."
The mont I pushed the door open, I saw a short, stout woman with a shrewd face sitting on the sofa. She held her chin high, looking utterly imperious.
"Ms. Archer, this is our company’s Joyce."
My manager quickly stood and walked over to my side to introduce us. "Joyce, this is Clara Langley’s agent, Ms. Archer."
I frowned slightly. ’I can’t believe Clara Langley’s agent actually ca all the way to the office.’
Ms. Archer looked up and down, her brow furrowing slightly. "Joyce? You look a little familiar. Have we t sowhere before?"
I shook my head, my expression blank. "No, you must be mistaken."
Ms. Archer seed taken aback by my coldness, and her voice dropped. "I heard from Manager Dawson that you don’t want to be our Clara’s dedicated voice actress. Why is that? Do you find the pay too low?"
She crossed her legs and leaned back against the sofa, her posture reeking of arrogance. "Ordinarily, thirty thousand per episode is considered a high price in this industry. However, our Clara appreciates talent. If you agree, we can discuss a higher rate."
"Sorry, I’m not interested."
Ms. Archer pressed her lips together, annoyed. She clearly thought I was just playing hard to get. "Fifty thousand an episode. That’s our biggest concession. I hope you know when to quit while you’re ahead and don’t get greedy."
I couldn’t help but sneer. ’It’s true what they say—birds of a feather flock together. Clara Langley’s agent is just as obnoxious as she is.’
"As I said, I’m not interested. Is there anything else? If not, I’m going back to work." With that, I made a move to turn and walk out.
But Ms. Archer slamd her hand on the table with a sharp SLAP. "You’re just a voice-acting intern!" she snarled. "Who do you think you are, acting so high and mighty? Believe it or not, I can make sure you never work in this business again!"
My manager quickly stepped in to placate her. "Ms. Archer, please, calm down. Joyce just started out. She’s young and inexperienced. You’re the bigger person, please be magnanimous."
Ms. Archer scoffed. "She’s utterly ungrateful. There’s a long line of people who would kill to be our Clara’s dedicated voice actress. I’m trying to give you face, and you’re being shaless!"
Her words were getting uglier, and I couldn’t stop myself from looking back at her.
Afraid I’d get angry and say sothing I shouldn’t, my manager quickly shot a look, pleading with to keep my cool.
I couldn’t help but take a deep breath, forcing my anger down. "I’ve made my position clear multiple tis. And I believe my manager has relayed my intentions faithfully. What I find strange is, if your ’big star’ is so popular, why are you so relentlessly pursuing a re voice-acting intern like ?"
"You... You—" Ms. Archer pointed at , too furious to form a complete sentence.
I didn’t say anything more to her, just glanced at my manager. "Manager, if there’s nothing else, I’m going back to work."
"Ah? Right. Go ahead."
...
Thanks to the scene Clara Langley’s agent made at the company that morning, I was becoming more and more well-known.
Behind my back, my colleagues had given a nickna: "The Diva."
But thanks to my connection to Sebastian Forrest, they knew I had powerful backing, so no one dared say anything to my face. I just chose to ignore it.
When the workday finally ended, I packed up my things and headed out.
Just then, the phone in my pocket suddenly rang.
It was a call from Sebastian Forrest.
"Hello..."
"Are you off work?"
"Just got off. What’s up?"
"Let’s grab dinner. I’m at your company’s entrance."
"Okay, wait for . I’ll be right out."
After hanging up, I quickly walked toward the exit.
But just as I was about to walk out the main doors, I heard soone call my na from behind. "Joyce."
I turned around instinctively. It was Julian Hayes.
"Hayes?" I looked at him, confused. "What’s wrong? Is sothing up?"
"I heard from our colleagues about what happened with Clara Langley’s agent today," Julian Hayes said, his face full of concern. "You didn’t handle it very well. I’m afraid it’s going to cause you trouble..."
I smiled. "It’s fine. I’m not afraid of trouble."
Julian Hayes pursed his lips. "You may not know this, but that Clara Langley is backed by the Kington Circle. You know the Grant Family, from the Kington elite? I heard she’s the ex-girlfriend of the Grant Group’s president. That President Grant even ran out on his own wedding day for her. Rumor has it he’s divorced now..."
I couldn’t help but laugh, dumbfounded. ’I had no idea the lodrama between and Theodore Grant had beco such public knowledge.’
"I’m on decent terms with Clara Langley’s agent. How about I set up a eting? We can clear the air and hopefully keep her from causing you more trouble in the future..." Julian Hayes said with a sincere expression.
I knew he was being kind. ’But this little tiff is nothing compared to the history between Clara Langley and .’
"Thank you for the kind offer, Hayes, but really, it’s not necessary."
"You..."
Julian Hayes looked like he wanted to persuade further, but before he could speak, he caught a tall, upright figure approaching in his peripheral vision. The man’s powerful presence was so palpable that Julian couldn’t help but look up.
"Little Junior."
Hearing the familiar nickna, I quickly turned around.
Sebastian Forrest was striding toward us. The orange light of the setting sun stretched his shadow out, casting the ridges of his brows and the high bridge of his nose into shadow, giving his features a sharp, chiseled look.
"What are you two talking about?" Sebastian Forrest had a powerful presence, and it was especially intimidating when he stared at soone.
Julian Hayes couldn’t help but swallow. Before he even spoke, he already felt diminished.
"This is my colleague, Julian Hayes," I quickly introduced them.
"Hayes, this is a senior from my university, Sebastian Forrest."
Julian Hayes nodded quickly. Just as he was about to reach out his hand to say "hello," Sebastian Forrest turned to , a smile touching his lips. "Let’s go. Ti to eat. I’ve been waiting so long I’m about to starve."
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. "When did you get here? How long have you been waiting?"
"The point is, I’m hungry. Let’s go."
As he spoke, he put an arm around my shoulders and began to steer away.
I was startled by his sudden affectionate gesture. Just as I was about to pull away from his arm, Sebastian Forrest reached up and ruffled my hair, his smile carefree and unrestrained. "Let’s go to the mall later and get you a new outfit. You’re coming with to Varden tomorrow to see The Matriarch. You have to dress the part. Don’t embarrass ."
...
"How would I embarrass you?"
I couldn’t help but glare at Sebastian Forrest. After walking a few steps with him, I rembered I’d forgotten to say goodbye to Julian Hayes.
"Hayes, I’m heading out! Bye!"
Julian Hayes’s expression was a little stiff, but he waved back. "Bye."
Sebastian Forrest’s eyes narrowed. He glanced back over his shoulder, and his voice held a slight chill. "His na is Julian Hayes, right?"
"Yes, why?" I looked up at him, confused.
Sebastian Forrest’s lips curved into a smile. "Nothing. I’ve just committed the na to mory."
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