Chapter 7 – The Audition

By 8:00 a.m. the next morning, I was already awake and dressed — black pants, a crisp red shirt, a flowing black coat and the stiletto heels I’d bought yesterday.

Tessa sat across from me in the dining room while I ate toast, sausages and eggs.

“You seem quite anxious,” she pointed out.

“Just a little,” I admitted, cutting another bite.

“You’ll do well. This has always been your dream, Celine — and always remember you were born for this.”

Her words eased something inside me, and I smiled faintly. After finishing my breakfast, I bade her goodbye and boarded a cab to Bluebird Entertainment Agency refusing to take any of Lucas’s cars, my ever-present bodyguard trailing behind in another car.

The moment I arrived, awe replaced my giddy nerves. I’d heard Bluebird was big and beautiful — but not this breathtaking. The lobby gleamed with marble floors and tall glass walls, every corner humming with ambition. The crowd waiting to audition made my heart skip. There must have been three hundred people, all hoping for one of the five roles available.

The film wasn’t a massive production — not yet — but it was bigger than what most newcomers ever got for their first project. I was willing to start small, to climb from the ground up and prove myself worthy.

After waiting for what seemed like days,my number was called, I stepped into the audition room with my script in hand. I was auditioning for the supporting female lead — the villain. The main role had already gone to an A-list actress who had risen to fame a few months earlier. Rumor said she was intimidating and difficult to work with, but I didn’t care. If I got the part, I would handle her — and everything that came with it.

I gave the performance everything I had. When I finished, I could tell from the judges’ expressions that I’d surprised them. Still, doubt lingered like a shadow I couldn’t seem to shake. We were told to expect an email before the end of the day. Those chosen would return tomorrow to finalize paperwork and sign under the agency.

By the time I got home that afternoon, my feet were aching from hours in heels. I wasn’t used to wearing them for so long — not when I used to scrape by working for Adrian. Back then, I couldn’t even afford a proper pair.

After a shower, I curled up on the living-room sofa beside Tessa, telling her every detail of the audition. Halfway through my story, my phone lit up with a new message. My heart skipped — maybe it was from Bluebird.

But it wasn’t.

It was him.

Adrian.

His name kept flashing on the screen and it made my stomach twist. I didn’t even know why I hadn’t blocked him yet. When the call came through for the upteenth time, I sighed and answered, putting it on speaker while I absent-mindedly hit the record button.

“Celine!” His voice burst through the line, already raised. “You can’t just leave my company like that! You’re required to give thirty days’ notice — it’s clearly stated in your contract!”

Of course. The contract.

Yes, I had signed one when I joined his small-scale entertainment agency. It wasn’t anywhere near Bluebird’s level — mostly domestic productions, nothing international. Back then, I had applied as an aspiring actress. Their signing process was simple, and I was thrilled to be part of something. Before I could even land my first role, we fell in love.

Then came his proposal — and his demand.

“No wife of mine will be an actress,” he’d said.

I hesitated but eventually gave in. I thought love was worth the sacrifice. Instead of acting, I began managing promotions for his agency, and when his last scriptwriter quit, I took on that job too — without pay. I’d almost finished writing the script that could push his company to the next level… until everything fell apart with Marielle.

Now he wanted me back to fix his broken script.

“No,” I said firmly. “I won’t be coming back, Adrian.”

“Celine, you can’t—”

“I can. The same contract says if the company owes me six consecutive months’ salary, I’m free to resign immediately. You owe me four years, Adrian. four years. If anyone’s in breach of contract, it’s you.”

Silence filled the line, followed by a frustrated grumble. I didn’t wait for him to say another word. I hung up and powered off my phone.

Tessa looked at me, a hint of pride in her eyes. I sank back into the sofa, the tension draining out of me.

For the first time, I didn’t feel small or powerless.

Maybe I wouldn’t get the role.

Maybe I would.

But whatever happened next, I was finally standing on my own — and that was victory enough for today.