The whispers that had once trailed her na, the speculation, the quiet judgnt — all of it seed to shrink in the face of her work. People weren’t talking about gossip.
They were talking about her.
About the way she held a scene without raising her voice.
About the quiet strength in her expressions.
About the vulnerability that felt too real to be acting.
Anna wrapped both hands around her mug, grounding herself.
She had given everything to that role. The sleepless nights. The emotional unravelling. The silent battles she never spoke about.
And sohow, it had translated.
Kevin suddenly stopped pacing and looked at her with mock accusation. "Do you realize how many calls I’ve gotten since 7 a.m.? Three production houses. Two brand endorsents. And one director who specifically said, and I quote, ’I want her before she becos impossible to book.’"
Anna let out a soft laugh at that.
Impossible to book.
Yesterday, they weren’t sure if she’d be employable at all.
Kevin dropped dramatically onto the couch beside her. "You almost gave cardiac arrest last night with your calm face. I was sweating. Sweating, Anna. anwhile you were just sitting there like so zen monk."
She tilted her head slightly. "Panicking wouldn’t have changed the reviews."
He pointed at her. "That. That attitude. Terrifying. Inspiring. But mostly terrifying."
She shook her head, amused.
But beneath the humor, sothing warm blood quietly in her chest.
It wasn’t just success.
It was validation.
For once, her work spoke louder than the noise around her. For once, people saw her talent before they saw the rumors. They saw the artist before the controversy.
Kevin leaned back, still grinning. "My agency is officially thriving again, by the way. You’ve single-handedly revived my reputation. I might build you a temple."
Anna raised an eyebrow. "Please don’t."
"No, no, I’m serious. I was spiraling yesterday. Now look at this — etings lined up, interviews requested, offers coming in. I should fra today’s date."
She watched him fondly.
He was ridiculous. Overdramatic. Occasionally unbearable.
But he had stood by her when it mattered.
And now he was celebrating her like it was his own victory.
Maybe it was.
"Thank you," she said softly.
Kevin blinked at the sudden sincerity. "For what?"
"For not giving up on ."
He scoffed lightly, though his eyes softened. "Please. You’re my golden goose. I’m never letting you go."
She laughed — a real one this ti.
Outside, the morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, warm and steady.
For the first ti in a long while, Anna didn’t feel like she was running from sothing.
She felt like she was stepping into sothing.
And Kevin, still rambling about scheduling strategy and negotiation power, looked more relieved than he’d ever admit.
Because this wasn’t just a successful release.
It was a turning point.
And they both knew it.
"By the way... where’s Betty?" Anna asked suddenly, glancing toward the hallway as if the girl might magically appear with her usual clipboard and chaos. "Why isn’t she here with you?"
Kevin’s grin faltered for half a second.
He cleared his throat and looked down at his phone, scrolling aimlessly as if the answer might be hiding there. "Ah. Yes. Betty."
Anna narrowed her eyes slightly. That tone already sounded suspicious.
"I don’t know," he said, a little too casually. "She texted early this morning. Said she won’t be available today."
"Won’t be available?" Anna repeated. Betty not being available was like the sun deciding not to rise. The girl practically lived off coffee and scheduling apps.
Kevin leaned back against the couch, folding his arms, pretending to look thoughtful. "Maybe she needs rest."
There it was.
That glint.
That barely concealed, mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
Anna caught it imdiately.
"Rest?" she echoed, unconvinced.
"Mhm." He nodded solemnly. "Hardworking employees deserve... rest."
The corner of his lips twitched.
Anna stared at him for a long mont. Sothing was definitely off. Kevin was enjoying this far too much.
"You’re hiding sothing," she said flatly.
"?" He pressed a hand to his chest in mock offense. "I am a very transparent human being."
"You panic-texted 42 tis yesterday over reviews."
"That was professional anxiety," he defended. "Different category."
Anna shook her head slowly wondering if she should even bother Kevin because the man was insufferable at tis.
Kevin’s eyes glead again, and he added lightly, "Let’s just say... she might be busy."
"Busy doing what?"
He wiggled his eyebrows in the most exaggerated way possible.
Anna blinked.
Then blinked again.
"Oh."
The realization dawned slowly — and then all at once.
Her frown deepened, but not in anger. In confusion. And mild disbelief.
"You cannot be serious."
Kevin lifted both hands innocently. "I didn’t say anything."
"You implied everything."
He shrugged, clearly delighted with himself. "I simply believe in work-life balance."
Anna let out a small sigh, sowhere between amused and exasperated.
Whatever Kevin knew, he clearly wasn’t planning to say it outright. And prying would only make him drag it out further.
So she let it go. For now.
Still, a tiny part of her mind lingered on it.
Betty didn’t just disappear without reason. And Kevin’s teasing grin suggested this wasn’t random.
Anna took another sip of her coffee, choosing not to indulge his theatrics. "You’re insufferable."
"And yet," Kevin said proudly, rising from the couch with renewed energy, "highly successful."
She watched him move toward his laptop again, already diving into calls and emails, riding the high of her success like it was his personal victory parade.
Anna smiled faintly. Sothing about the morning felt lighter.
The storm that had lood over her na seed to have passed. The air felt clearer. Opportunities were knocking. Kevin was insufferably happy. Betty was mysteriously "resting."
For once, the drama didn’t revolve around her downfall.
It felt like the beginning of sothing steady.
And if Kevin was hiding so harmless little secret about Betty?
She’d let him have his fun. For now.
While Anna and Kevin were spiraling in their own dramatic ways, Betty was waking up to a very different kind of aftermath.
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