Chapter 107
Chapter 107
Skylar remained unfazed. “You don’t need to worry about that. The Campbell Group can more than afford it.”
“Ms. Stone, don’t just stand there,” Skylar added. “Come on down.”
Elianna bit her lip, angrily stomping down the stage in her heels.
Once offstage, she crossed her arms and asked Mona about the livestream.
Mona, smiling, handed her the phone. “Elianna, everyone’s saying you were the best, and that Sapphire is just nitpicking.”
“We can use this public opinion to pressure Sapphire,” Mona continued, “into picking you for the lead.”
Elianna glanced at the live comments; her fans were all praising her.
[Elianna was amazing, why didn’t she get the part?]
[Remember what happened a few days ago? Don’t tell me the lead role was already decided?]
[What? So Elianna was just a formality? That’s messing with people!]
[Seriously, I can’t believe Sapphire is like this. Disgusting.]
[Boycott Sapphire, boycott ‘Moonlit Hunt‘!]
Her fans had already started posting, organizing a boycott of the “Moonlit Hunt” casting and Sapphire as the writer, demanding Elianna get the lead role.
Elianna, feigning sincerity, posted on X, telling her fans to calm down.
[Elianna Stone: Sapphire said I wasn’t suitable, and she must have her reasons. Maybe she has anything on my account.
[I really wanted this role, but it’s okay if I didn’t get it. I’ll just see it as a learning experience.
[I’ll work even harder next time to get the roles I want.]
someone more fitting in mind. Please don’t boycott
Ostensibly, she was calming her fans, but she was actually implying she’d worked hard and still didn’t get the role, hinting that Skylar was deliberately making things difficult and that the role might have been pre–cast.
Elianna was still live, and a small smile played on her lips as she watched the comments insulting Skylar.
Skylar was about to end the auditions when she was interrupted by a commotion outside.
“The auditions are already in progress, you really can’t go in.” The guard said.
“Security, please, I beg you, let me in! I promise they won’t blame you.” Rachel begged.
Rachel had been waiting and thinking. If she left today, she didn’t know if she’d get another chance. It was better to take a shot than do nothing.
She mustered her courage and tried to reason with the security guards at the door.
The audition room wasn’t very soundproof; any significant noise from outside carried in.
Skylar sent someone to check. The person returned, explaining that another actress, Rachel, was late because she’d been at the hospital with her critically ill mother.
She wanted to audition, but security was blocking her, leading to the argument.
Chapter 107
Skylar found Rachel’s name. A newcomer, still in college, with no prior film credits. The video she’d sent was a performance of a scene from the book
Her acting was a bit raw, but with some polishing, she could definitely play the role.
Skylar had even marked her as someone to watch.
Not seeing her earlier, Skylar had thought Elianna might have scared her off, not that this was the reason.
“If she was delayed for a valid reason,” Skylar announced, “we can make an exception. Let her in for an audition.”
Elianna fumed, ‘Skylar is definitely doing this to spite me! She didn’t pick me because she was saving the role for this girl. That bitch, always trying to mess with me!‘
Mona grabbed her arm, reminding her the livestream was still on. “Honey, keep your voice down.”
Elianna nervously glanced at her phone. Seeing everyone was still bashing Skylar and hadn’t caught her outburst, she breathed a sigh of relief.
Rachel came in, was guided to the stage, and bowed. “I’m so sorry, everyone. I’m late. Truly sorry.”
Skylar, with a calm gaze, said, “Enough talk. Just begin.”
Rachel bowed again, stood straight, took a few deep breaths, and her expression shifted as she got into character.
Elianna aimed her phone at the stage for her fans. “Darlings, this is the one who was late. She shouldn’t have even gotten a chance, but Sapphire made an exception for her.
“Sapphire must really like her; I bet the lead role is hers.
“I’m really curious to see how talented she is, for Sapphire to bend the rules like this.”
Hearing the victimized tone in Elianna’s voice, her fans felt both sorry for her and angry.
The number of people insulting Skylar and Rachel grew, and the comments became increasingly vicious.
‘If Skylar actually picks Rachel now,‘ Elianna thought, ‘the rumors about the role being fixed will look true, even if they aren’t. When the public outcry explodes, let’s see if Skylar and Rachel can handle it.’
Elianna’s eyes crinkled with a smile, her mood excellent, and her tone with her fans became much lighter.
But the next moment, the room erupted in applause. Even the fans who had been cursing in the livestream fell silent.
“Your line delivery is excellent,” Skylar said, impressed, “and your acting is much better than in the video you sent. You’ve improved quickly.”
Skylar was pleasantly surprised. She’d thought she’d have to spend more time searching, but a dark horse had emerged at the last minute.
“Rachel Turner, right?” Skylar confirmed. “Very good. Barring any surprises, the lead role is yours.”
Elianna stood up, phone still in hand. “I object! I performed just as well as her. Why her and not me?”
Skylar rested her chin on her hand, looking nonchalant. “Are you sure you performed ‘just
as
well‘?”
Elianna declared with utmost confidence, “Of course.”
“The cameras recorded your auditions,” Skylar/stated. “Since you object, I’ll play back both your tapes for everyone here to see and judge. And you can see exactly where you fell short.”
She instructed someone to copy their audition clips and play them. The two auditions were projected onto the wall, side–by–side, playing simultaneously,
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Chapter 107
The difference in their line delivery was immediately obvious. Elianna’s voice was overly sweet and soft, nothing like a special police officer. In contrast, Rachel’s delivery was powerful and crisp, every word clear.
Looking at their acting techniques and subtle expressions, Elianna’s performance was stiff, lacking the character’s soul.
Rachel’s expressions and mannerisms were spot on, and she even incorporated small, character–appropriate actions that enriched the portrayal.
The comparison made their respective skill levels glaringly apparent.
Elíanna saw it too, and this realization only made her more humiliated and furious.
Skylar’s gaze fell on her. “Well? Do you still think your performance was good?”
Elianna huffed loudly, tossed her phone to Mona, and snapped, “We’re leaving.”
‘This drama queen is definitely going to throw a tantrum when she gets back,‘ Mona thought with a helpless sigh, following Elianna out.
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