Audition: Cecilia

The dazzling light focused on the stage, the buzzing of the people around the stage like a working bee each with a clear purpose, and the towering cameras attached to a wide range of variety equipment seemed so far away from the lone figure of a woman who was exuding indifference and nobility.

The crew members, even the assistants of the famous celebrities invited by the production for this grand audition, could not help but glance—once or twice—in the direction of the woman.

There was a hint of alienation from the woman's willow brows but it did not affect her beauty nor did it make her pretty face offensive at all. Despite the subtle atmosphere which seemed to exclude the woman from the hustle and bustle of the crowd, she did not seem an outcast at all! In fact, it gave the illusion as if she was the queen who could not be bothered by the buzzing of the mere mortals around her.

The woman was no other than Ashley Connor—the famous joke of the entertainment industry who was currently viral for her black materials. Her crazy pursuit against the famous socialites, influencers, and celebrities whose names were attached or photographed at the same angle as her husband earned her as the most hated small celebrity in the industry.

Many believed that the reason why she was able to take part in the audition today was because she was the nominal wife of Jaxon Elijah—the big boss among the big bosses of the capital.

Little did they know how Dylan—Ashley's manager—was on the verge of exploding when he received a simple message from Ashley that stated how she lined up for the open audition of the movie "Unmasked".

"Ashley, por favor! Behave in this audition!" Dylan, who was standing behind Ashley's chair in the corner, whispered with emphasis when he saw the shadow of a celebrity followed by her glam team and paparazzi.

Ashley, who was reading the sample script given by the crew, looked up. No emotion could be read in her gorgeous eyes, but when she saw the woman who was walking as if she was on a runway, something flickered in her stagnant gaze before it disappeared as if there was no fluctuation in her emotions at all.

"Hmmm."

Contrary to Ashley's calm response, Dylan and the others around her were waiting for the clash. Dylan was ready to stand in between Ashley and the celebrity model while the others were waiting to see a good show.

They expected Ashley to charge straight at the woman who was wearing big brands from head to toe. As if on purpose, the celebrity model—Atasha—sat on the waiting chair in front of Ashley.

Ten minutes… Five minutes…

And nothing!

Others: ?!!!

Atasha: Why isn't she attacking me?! The paparazzi are ready!

Dylan: Who is this Ashley?!

Ashley felt all their gazes, but she did not care. Right now, for Ashley, what she needed was money and influence. With how ruthless Jaxon was, she would not dare think that she would get a cent from him when they divorced.

Ashley knew she could not count on her parents. The meager amount of money in her bank was not enough for her and her son. In terms of influence, the fame she had at the moment was negative. During the court ruling for Scottie's custody, Jaxon would surely pinpoint these two weaknesses of her.

She knew that with her current state, she was like an ant in front of the behemoth that stood behind Jaxon Elijah.

That was why the first step she would take was to gain wealth and influence in a short amount of time. When she accumulated enough of these, she could take back Scottie from him. Even if Scottie's custody fell to his father right after their divorce, Ashley would not give up.

She would take her son away from Jaxon Elijah! He could reunite with his first love for all she cared! As long as she was with her son, she would not give a damn with that scumbag and bitch!

"1036! Is 1036 here?"

"That's you!" Dylan patted Ashley; waking the latter from her reverie.

The moment Ashley stood up, almost everyone near her was watching her every move. They observed the infamous lunatic of the entertainment industry, seriously looking for any clues if she would become crazy suddenly like what was usually reported in the internet gossip.

The more they observed, the more their brows knitted together in confusion.

Where was the crazy woman? Where was the uncouth behavior comparable to a bumpkin?

All they could see was a woman whose every move screamed nobility. It was as if the regal aura emitting around her was carved straight into her bones. Every step, every flip of her hair, even the way her long green skirt swayed—they were unbelievably mesmerizing and graceful.

Ashley stood at the center of the stage. With the background of the green screen, the lights and cameras were pinned on her. Every move and every expression on her fair face was magnified under the camera.

In front of her, there was a long table where the producers, director, and the male lead celebrity were seated. When they saw Ashley, they exchanged knowing looks. The director did not even bother to look at her pitiful resume. The male lead celebrity pre-selected by the director showed a look of boredom as he scrolled through his phone. The producers were merely keeping up appearances.

For them, the result was already clear as they signaled for the next one to get ready. Watching these, many famous celebrities secretly gloated over Ashley's wishful thinking. No matter how rich her nominal husband was, the mystery drama movie "Unmasked" was a big production meticulously prepared by bigwigs of the industry.

Even the 49-year-old male lead celebrity—Chowen—won the Best Actor Award at last year's Oscars. It was also rumored that Atasha was already preselected and she was only in this audition for appearance and formality purposes.

They all thought that Ashley was here for the female lead role.

"What role are you auditioning for, Miss Ashley?" Director Sloan—a famous director who already won many awards—asked amiably.

"I'm Ashley Connor and I'm auditioning for the role of Cecilia."

Whispers and murmurs erupted! Who would have thought that the ever-domineering Ashley Connor—the uncrowned queen of the Elijah Consortium—would target the role of Cecilia?!

Ashley's answer earned her the curious looks of the people on the table.

"Chowen, play scene 5 with Miss Ashley," said Director Sloan. He looked at Ashley and said: "The floor is yours."

Ashley nodded. Chowen stood beside her three steps away, ready for the start of the scene.

Ashley closed her eyes for a moment. In this split second, all the notes she wrote on the script were given to her as a reference. The moment Ashley opened her eyes, her demeanor changed visible to the sharp-eyed director.

Gone was the elegant swan Ashley, replaced by Cecilia who was looking at Chowen as if her life depended on him. Her eyes, which were calm earlier, were now frantic and desperate.

Scene 54 was an important part of the movie. This was the confrontation between the father—Chowen—and his daughter wherein the male lead just found out that the serial killer he was looking for was the sweet daughter whom he adopted—Cecilia.

"Dad, do you think this dress looks good to me?" Ashley held an imaginary dress against her body. Her action was both silly and sweet, like a daughter waiting for her father's compliment.

Tom—Cecilia's adopted father—stared at his daughter. His gaze was complicated. On one thing, he did not believe the evidence that pointed against Cecilia, and, on the other hand, he blamed himself for Cecilia's blackening.

"For the prom? Is it tonight?" Tom knew that tonight was the big day that the serial killer kept mentioning. It turned out that the final stage of this game was the high school's prom night.

Cecilia hummed. She turned around and held her hair, showing her most vulnerable neck to her father. "Dad, help me put the necklace on."

Tom helped his daughter in front of the mirror. Every second seemed like forever between the father and the daughter yet they were only shrouded in silence for a good minute.

Before Tom could step away, Cecilia spoke. "When did you find out?"

Cecilia's voice was as sweet and naïve as ever, but when Tom looked up and met her eyes in the mirror—Tom's scalp went numb. This was the instinct of a police officer embedded in his bones. It was as if a serpent was staring right at him.

In a blink of an eye, Cecilia was gone, replaced by Ashley Connor again. Ashley stepped back and turned to the table where the Director and the producers were dumbfounded.

The silence ensued after the scene that brought the entire stage to scene 54 was interrupted by the sudden applause of Director Sloan.

Pa! Pa! Pa! Pa!

"Miss Ashley, Cecilia is yours."

A confident smile appeared on Ashley's beautiful face. "I will live up to the Director's will."

Chowen shook hands with Ashley. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Miss Ashley."

Neither humble nor arrogant, Ashley firmly shook Chowen's hand. "I will learn from Sir Chowen then."

When Ashley walked past Atasha, she whispered the words that only the two of them could hear. "See you at the set."

Atasha's face changed in a matter of a few minutes. She was slapped in the face! She just gloated about the cold violence of the crew against Ashley Connor but now, when she observed the crew, Atasha could see the small glimmer of expectation and curiosity in their eyes!

Cruelty flashed in Atasha's eyes!

'Ashley Connor! Well done! I hope you can maintain such momentum in the set! I will make sure you have no place to cry when that time comes!' Atasha thought cruelly.

On the other hand, Dylan was like a fly buzzing around the calm Ashley Connor even when they were already in Dylan's company car.

"Shit! Shit! Shit! Ashley, my goodness! Why waste those years when you can fly to the top?!"

For Dylan, this meant that his hard work would finally be recognized! If Ashley maintained this momentum, it would be a matter of time before Ashley got the role of a female lead! Flying contracts of brands were in his sight finally!

Ashley, who was seated at the back, merely crossed her arms and stared outside the window. For her, this was still the start of her comeback!

Ashley chuckled. She glanced at Dylan. "Just that and you are already this flustered?"

Dylan rolled his eyes. "Don't be complacent! Atasha is the female lead of this drama and she has a solid fan base from the works she accumulated over the years. One mistake and they will use this opportunity to blacken your image."

Ashley snorted. "What's there to lose? I have lots of black materials already. Even breathing is already a mistake for them."

Dylan choked by Ashley's sarcasm. But then, he calmed down. Ashley was right! All she needed was to focus on improving her skills in acting. Only by showing her strength could she attract more good scripts!

"The filming will start next week. I want to spend this week with my son. Don't accept anything for my schedule."

Ashley's words blocked Dylan's plan to let Ashley attend parties to socialize with the bigwigs of the entertainment industry.

"Do you want me to drive you to Woodhill Kindergarten?"

Ashley looked at the time. "No need. I still have time. Just drop me off to the nearest mall."

Dylan followed Ashley's request and parked right outside the nearest high-end mall. This was rare! Before, Ashley would only howl at him to follow Jaxon Elijah so he would usually send her to the Elijah Consortium's headquarters.

Ashley left the curious Dylan. Since her career path was already temporarily solved, what she needed right now was to vent her previous life's loss!

With the black card in her hand, before she divorced that scumbag, she would sure make use of this black card!

Over the years, she only had Jaxon in her eyes. Now, he was not comparable to a set of Bulgari jewelry!

Legally, she was the Lady Boss of a large consortium. But only she knew how empty her cloak room!

With the black card in her hand, Ashley confidently sauntered to the nearest high-class shop to her—LV!