Hollywood: Lights, Ink, Entertainment!78.02%

Pixy Studio Again, huh?

….

[Two Days Later]

….

Christopher glanced up from his desk, eyes full in front as he studied Regal. "Director Regal. To what do I owe the pleasure?"

Regal tilted his head. "Figured I would drop by. Haven't had the chance to properly thank you for your help with [Following]'s release."

Christopher arched a brow. "And the best time for that just happened to be while you are knee-deep in auditions and pre-production?"

Regal shrugged. "Multitasking."

Christopher exhaled through his nose, shaking his head.

"Fine. Consider me formally thanked." - then, after a beat, he added."...and now, if you don't mind, what's the real reason you are here?"

Regal smirked, unapologetic. "Okay, you got me. I also wanted to check in. Make sure my actors are being treated well."

Christopher sighed, crossing his arms. "...you couldn't do that on a phone call?"

"...." Regal didn't respond. Instead, his eyes glanced around the office before he asked vaguely. "Speaking of which… where is Grace?"

Christopher barely had time to register the question before the door swung open, no, practically slammed open, with enough force to rattle the frame.

Both men turned.

It was Grace, and she stood in the doorway - frozen - if one added.

For a second, she seemed to register what she had just done, her wide eyes darting between Christopher and Regal. Her posture straightened immediately, shifting into something more composed.

"I… am sorry, Mr. Christopher." She said quickly, a note of alarm creeping into her voice. "I wasn't trying to be impolite."

Christopher waved a hand. "Unless breaking down doors is some new method acting technique, try not to make a habit of it."

Grace exhaled as she shook off the initial embarrassment. "I won't."

Christopher leaned back. "So, what brings you here?"

Grace hesitated for a moment before her gaze flicked toward Regal. "...I heard you were here."

Regal, who had been watching, commented amusingly. "That doesn't exactly justify barging in like you were about to take the place down."

Grace shot him a quick glare. "That wasn't intentional."

Christopher shook his head, muttering something under his breath before gesturing to the chair across from him. "Well, now that you are here, sit down. You have already made an entrance."

She didn't hesitate and stepped forward, making herself seated.

Regal turned his attention to Grace. "So." He asked pointedly. "You auditioned for a movie recently… and landed the lead?"

Christopher was confused. "That is all you know?"

"I also know she was pulled from the role." Regal added in a disliked tone.

At that, Grace's head lowered in failure, as she admitted quietly. "...that's true."

It was one of the reasons Christopher hadn't been particularly upset when she barged in the way she did.

He understood. Currently, she was unsettled, questioning herself, maybe even doubting her abilities. And of course, she would want to see the person who had believed in her talent when no one else did.

Christopher stated. "News travels fast. Who let it slip?"

Regal didn't hesitate. "My best buddy, Keanu, of course."

Christopher sighed, rubbing his temple. "Keanu really has a habit of delivering news that isn't his to share."

"Hey, not just anyone's news, okay?" Regal defended. "Only the special ones. The guy just likes spreading happiness wherever he goes… and taking in people's sadness too."

He made sure to steer the conversation away from making Keanu seem loose-lipped. In this industry, knowing how to keep information under wraps was crucial, once people believed you couldn't, you would be kept out of the loop on the important things.

Still, that wasn't the real issue here. Regal had come for a reason.

Keanu had been the first to tell him about Grace landing the role just the day before. Even Grace messaged him herself, briefly with her usual restraint, but he could tell -

She had been happy.

And Regal? He had been more than happy. The one he had introduced to the industry was finally starting to get cast in other films, cementing his eyes.

But then, just this afternoon, barely an hour ago, when he was still in the auditions, Keanu had messaged him again.

This time, it wasn't good news.

Grace had been pulled from the role.

Last minute. No prior warning. No clear reason at first - just vague corporate talk, the kind that said nothing and everything at the same time.

But after some back and forth, and pressure from her agent, they gave an answer.

She was bad at acting. Really bad. So bad, in fact, that they suggested she quit.

The sheer absurdity of it didn't sit right with Regal. These were the same people who had chosen her in the first place because of her skill.

Frustrating didn't even begin to cover it. But if that was all there was to it, Regal wouldn't have rushed over here.

Getting rejected after an audition? Getting replaced at the last minute? It happened. A lot. The industry ran on shifting alliances, quiet deals, and decisions that rarely had anything to do with talent.

Sometimes it was politics. Sometimes money. Sometimes just someone in a high-rise office deciding they didn't feel like going with a particular actor anymore.

And when studios didn't have a solid reason to cut someone, they fabricated one. Just like now.

Again - brutal as it was - it wasn't enough of a reason for Regal to drop everything and show up here.

No, it was something else. The movie Grace had auditioned for?

It was produced by - Pixy Studio.

And that information, added to Grace's sudden rejection, didn't sit right with him. A few things were already clicking into place, forming an outline of something that wasn't quite clear yet. But he had a suspicion.

And if he was right—

He was going to be really pissed.

"The reason they gave was that I lack …talent." Grace finally spoke, meeting Regal's gaze head-on.

"So when I heard you were here." She continued. "I wanted to meet you and find out if it's true."

Regal let out a small huff. "Huh. And what if I did say it was true? Would you quit acting?"

"No." Her answer was immediate.

But then, softer, quieter, like a thought she wasn't sure she should say aloud, she added. "But… I think I will start believing it."

The weight of those words didn't go unnoticed. It told him just how much his opinion mattered to her.

Regal shook his head, clicking his tongue. "And then what?"

She straightened, chin lifting just a fraction. "I would work harder. Make up for the talent. Simple."

A slow grin tugged at the corner of his lips. "Good answer."

His voice carried an easy confidence. "Don't worry, Grace." He added. "You have more than what it takes to make a name for yourself in this industry."

Her expression didn't change much, but there was a shift in her eyes, subtle but telling.

She believed him. And that was enough.

Regal turned to Christopher. "Anyway… did you find out the real reason Grace was pulled at the last minute?"

Christopher leaned back slightly, fingers steepled. "So, you think there is more to it than what they are letting on?"

Regal shot him a dry look. "Isn't that obvious? And don't try that little routine on me, I know you have already done your digging. So? What is the truth?"

Christopher let out a slow breath.

"…Sigh…"

He hesitated. Just for a moment.

Then, finally, he spoke. "I was debating whether to ease into this or even tell you at all… but I think it is better to just say it outright."

He turned to Grace, his voice serious. "You should listen carefully."

A brief pause. Then—

"The real reason you were removed from the project at the last minute… is because you worked on [Following]."

Silence.

Grace blinked, caught off guard. The connection made no sense.

Regal, however, sat unnervingly still. His expression didn't shift, but beneath the surface—

Pure, unfiltered disgust.

He had suspected as much. But hearing it confirmed, laid out in plain words, was something else entirely.

The sheer pettiness of it.

The lengths people would go to step on someone, to erase them over something so trivial.

It was revolting.

Christopher, sensing the shift in Regal's demeanor, felt a twinge of unease.

If there was one thing he understood about Regal, it was that he valued his actors. He took pride in seeing them succeed, in watching them rise through the ranks, in knowing he had been part of their journey.

And now, to find out that someone had been shut out simply because they had worked on his film - and because they did a good job?

Christopher knew this would hit hard.

Worse, he feared Regal might act on impulse.

Pixy Studios wasn't just another production company. They were giants, to the point even a Manager Level employee had the power to make an actor replace according to his wish.

So, Regal couldn't afford to turn them into an enemy.

Christopher opened his mouth. "Regal, y–"

"Offfff…."

Before he could finish, Regal exhaled sharply, louder than usual, like he was forcing something down, like a volcano on the brink of eruption had just been held back at the last second.

"…that happened, huh?" Regal muttered, rubbing his face.

Christopher felt a flicker of relief. It seemed his worries were unfounded. Regal wasn't the type to lash out recklessly.