The script reading actually went smoothly, but every now and then, I wanted to frown because Kai never took his eyes off .
If only Lando wasn’t busy, I probably would’ve asked him to co with to the Green Leaf office, even though he wouldn’t be allowed inside the script reading room.
"Helcia, that’s great." Kai clapped several tis while still maintaining eye contact with .
Could he please stop staring at ?
Little by little, he was making my skin crawl. But since he wasn’t doing anything that counted as real harassnt, I couldn’t openly complain about it.
"Thank you," I said politely, bowing my head slightly after receiving his praise.
Earlier, Tommy and I had just done an acting segnt with body language as well. Despite my discomfort around Kai, everything went well, and Tommy had beco much more relaxed with .
However, I was starting to notice that so people were looking at with slightly annoyed expressions. It was probably because Kai kept praising excessively and ignoring the other actors.
Please, don’t be mad at ! I don’t like this favoritism either!
[Ding! Ding!]
’What?!’ I shouted in my heart. ’What do you want now, Penny?!’
I was already stressed because of Kai, and now Penny suddenly wanted to give a random quest? Didn’t she JUST say I could rest for six whole days?
[That break was only for the weekly mission, Host. Penny never said you wouldn’t receive random quests.]
[Random Quest!]
[Quest: Make Lando kiss you first!]
[Reward: $280,000]
[Ti Limit: 1 day.]
I twitched the corner of my eye when I saw that quest.
Penny truly made want to jump off a cliff right here and now. I an... I had just co out of the courtroom, faced the perverted Kai, and now I had to make sure Lando kissed first?!
What kind of joke was this?!
How the hell was I supposed to make Lando kiss first?! It wasn’t like I could suddenly walk up to him and say, "Hey husband, kiss now."
That would be too shaless and completely impossible!
Forget the content of the mission, the ti limit was downright diabolical!
I repeat—diabolical!
One day?! Just one day?!
How could I possibly convince Lando to kiss first in one fucking day?!
"Helcia, is sothing wrong?" Tommy’s voice pulled back to reality. I must’ve spaced out too long and looked like I was plotting the end of the world.
I quickly smiled and shook my head. I whispered, "Nothing. I just rembered my monthly shopping list."
Tommy laughed awkwardly, probably because he didn’t know how to respond to that.
A mont later, Brian—the producer—announced, "With that last scene, I think our script reading is finished." He clapped his hands and stood up. "Good job, everyone. So of you are still considered newbies, but your talent has exceeded my expectations."
Brian and Eric then gave a few encouraging words before wrapping things up.
The mont the session officially ended, Kai spoke again, louder than necessary, "I’m truly impressed with all of you, especially my Helcia."
’My Helcia’?
My Helcia, my ass!
I quietly gritted my teeth and forced myself not to pick up a chair and break it over his head.
"So, to celebrate our first day working together officially, how about I treat you all tonight?" Kai smiled. "I know a great grill bar. Anyone interested?"
Within seconds, everyone agreed loudly and excitedly.
Of course they would!
He was the President of Brix Entertainnt, so he would definitely take them to so high-end restaurant. So of these actors and staff weren’t wealthy, so obviously they wouldn’t reject free delicious food.
Honestly... even I would be excited if the person inviting us wasn’t Kai, and if I didn’t have an appointnt with Lando today.
Lando didn’t say it directly, but I knew him well enough that he probably wanted to celebrate my victory in court earlier.
"Helcia, you’re not coming?" Tommy asked when he noticed I wasn’t reacting.
I was about to answer, but Kai suddenly said, "Of course she’s coming. She’s the main character of this show, so it would be bad if she didn’t get to know all of you properly."
"Yes, yes! You should join us!"
"Co on, Helcia! Let’s eat and get to know each other!"
Ugh. That bastard Kai.
If I refused now, everyone would think I was arrogant, snobbish, or unfriendly.
To make things worse, I was the main character, so my position here was extrely fragile.
My future filming atmosphere probably depended on this stupid dinner.
"Okay," I said, with a voice that sounded a bit unsure. "I’ll join you."
While everyone cheered happily, I quickly ssaged my husband:
[: Husband, this is urgent. Kai wants to treat us, and I can’t refuse huhu.]
I added ten crying emojis to show how much I didn’t want to go with his brother.
[Husband: Join them. You’ll be fine.]
I raised one of my eyebrows because that wasn’t the answer I expected. I thought Lando would be furious or at least overly worried the mont I ntioned his brother, but apparently... no?
[: really?]
Lando replied almost instantly.
[Husband: Yes, you’ll be fine. Don’t worry.]
Why was he so confident that I would be completely fine?
Oh well... since Lando didn’t show any objections and seed so sure that I wouldn’t be in danger, then I probably would be fine.
...I hope.
[Husband: Just tell when you’re coming ho. I’ll pick you up.]
[: But I might co ho late.]
It was already six in the evening, and these dinner gatherings with coworkers usually took forever.
[Husband: Even if you co ho in the morning, I’ll still pick you up.]
His answer made my heart soften a little. Even when he wasn’t physically here, he always found a way to make feel safe.
[: okay...]
===
Kai brought us to Ember & Oak Grill Bar, a fancy grill bar that most of the actors and staff here would normally never be able to visit.
So of them didn’t even dare take a selfie. They just sat there quietly, almost in disbelief that they were really eating in such a luxurious place.
The waiters had already placed several bottles of alcohol on the table and turned on the grill so we could cook the at ourselves.
A few people tried their hardest to look good in front of the executives, especially Kai. They grilled at for them, poured alcohol into their glasses, and basically did anything to get attention.
I used to do things like that too in the past. Not because I wanted to climb my way up, but because I needed to show so respect so they would appreciate a newbie like .
Well, in the end, when I got caught in a scandal, no one helped . That’s why sucking up to executives was pointless because they could throw us away anyti they wanted.
"Helcia, why are you eating so little?" Kai—who sohow ended up sitting right next to —put a piece of at on my plate. "You need to eat more." Then he suddenly asked sothing strange, "Or is your husband forcing you to stay slim?"
"He can’t do that to you!" soone sitting near us suddenly shouted. She was probably too drunk and brave enough to join our conversation. "Don’t listen to your husband!"
I smiled and imdiately defended my husband. "He has never asked for anything weird like that," I said. "I’m just a bit full, that’s all."
Honestly, my appetite died the mont I had to sit next to Kai.
He didn’t touch or do anything extre, but he kept testing my patience by leaning too close, ’accidentally’ brushing my hand with his elbow, talking right into my personal space.
He had a wife!!
Why was he still trying to get attention from his brother’s wife?!
This man had absolutely no sha.
"Really?" Kai asked. His face was slightly red because he had already drunk a few glasses. "Then maybe you can drink sothing instead. What’s wrong? Can’t handle alcohol? This isn’t even the strong kind."
I looked at my still-full glass. "I’m going ho late tonight, so it’s better if I stay sober."
More like, I needed to stay sober so I wouldn’t fall for any of Kai’s tricks.
"Oh, don’t be like that, Helcia," Kai said with a smile. "Everyone is having fun. You can’t ruin the fun like that. I thought you were a fun person, considering how you always talk in your Zentra videos."
If I suddenly beca quiet, that ant the person I was talking to wasn’t fun. He should’ve figured that out.
"That’s only on cara," I laughed awkwardly. "And... I’m just tired today."
"Well, alcohol can make your mood better." Kai signaled a waiter over. "If you don’t want what’s on the table, I can order you sothing light."
"No, no, no." I imdiately shook my head. "It’s fine. You don’t need to order anything for ."
"Co on, Helcia!" Eric, who sat across from , suddenly said. "If you stay sober the whole night, it won’t be fun!"
A waiter placed a glass of Pina Colada in front of .
Kai leaned in slightly and said, "Co on, just one sip. Don’t ruin the fun, Helcia."
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