I Left As His Fan, Returned As A Director

Chapter 3

That loud remark instantly cut through the hum of conversation and lit up the entire ballroom.

Every head turned toward me at once, their expressions ranging from surprise to thinly veiled schadenfreude.

Ashton snapped his head up, and the moment his eyes landed on me standing near the entrance, his pupils widened sharply.

The easy, relaxed confidence he had worn just seconds before froze completely, replaced first by shock, then by a complicated, unreadable look.

The actress beside him immediately noticed the shift in his mood. She tightened her grip on his arm and turned to study me with clear suspicion and hostility.

"Beatrice?"

I ignored the whispers and stares.

I walked straight to the refreshment table, poured myself a glass of champagne, and then calmly took the empty seat next to Joanne.

"Beatrice, it's been a while," a woman in a striking, brightly colored gown spoke up first. Her name was Madeline Lancaster, a rising star currently very popular with audiences.

None of the celebrities present had ever looked favorably on someone labeled an 'obsessive fan,' let alone seeing me walk openly into an event they all dreamed of attending.

"I heard you left the industry to start some kind of online content work? Well, with your limited background, it's not like you could have made it far in entertainment anyway. What have you been doing all these years? You haven't gone back to following other big stars as their stalker fan, have you?"

She continued, "Though you don't exactly look the part anymore, dressed so plainly..."

She emphasized the word 'plainly' with a sneer, prompting several other actresses nearby to cover their mouths and giggle.

"I work on documentaries. I just came back to run a production project here," I replied evenly, having no interest in going into detail.

"Oh, documentaries..." A middle-aged investor named Leonard cut in with a knowing chuckle. "That market is so tough these days. Most of them barely make enough to cover their costs. Sure, you could film pretty scenery abroad, but can you actually turn a profit under the current local market conditions?"

His smile turned smug and mocking. "Since we're old acquaintances, tell me... have you found funding for this project yet? If not, I could introduce you to a few small advertising jobs.

"A friend of mine is looking for an editor. The requirements are simple. Just know how to cut footage. The pay isn't great, but it's honest work, right? Better than whatever you used to do..." He dragged out the last words, leaving his meaning hanging in the air.

"Exactly," Madeline chimed in. "Foreign producers might like the novelty of a new face, but they rarely take anyone seriously beyond that.

"Still, if you're having a hard time, just say the word. As you are now... well, no formal film degree, no proper wardrobe for events like this, you might get taken advantage of when you pitch projects. I could even lend you a few designer gowns sometime, if you want."

Ashton remained silent, but his fingers tightened noticeably around the stem of his wine glass, and his dark eyes never left my face.

At last, his latest companion, Scarlett Sinclair, could no longer hold her tongue.

Everyone knew that "obsessive fan" was also a term used to describe those who fixated on celebrities as if they were in a romantic relationship.

She let out a cold laugh, leaned forward slightly, and looked down at me with a mix of pity and undisguised disdain.

"Beatrice Preston, isn't it? I've heard all about you. I'm told you used to trail after Ashton everywhere, like you couldn't live without him? You edited his photos, wrote his press releases, and even managed his comment sections?"

She paused deliberately, enjoying the way the room leaned in to watch the scene unfold. Then she continued, "How very dedicated of you. Though I suppose you had enough sense to realize you and Ashton were worlds apart and that you'd never stand a chance. So you left the industry on your own. Shame it seems you haven't found much success since.

"As you can see, Ashton is now a global superstar. And I just signed a major luxury brand endorsement and am currently working with internationally renowned directors. If you're really struggling, we might be able to find something to help you out."

I sipped my wine calmly. "Thank you, but I don't need help."

Taken aback by my refusal, Scarlett's expression turned even more dismissive. She raised her voice, letting her pride show openly.

"You probably don't understand just how well-connected I am. Have you heard of Director Katarina's new sci-fi film Galaxy? It's a five-hundred-million-dollar production!" she shouted.

"The director is a brilliant filmmaker who was nominated for an Oscar. She's incredibly talented and extremely selective about her cast. I've pulled every string I have just to get my foot in the door. If I land the lead role, I'll instantly be promoted to A-list status!

"Once that happens, even the smallest projects I introduce you to will pay more than what you earn in half a year."

A murmur of awe and flattery swept through the room.

"Of course I've heard of Galaxy. It's one of the biggest productions this year!"

"They say the casting process is almost impossible to get into. It's really impressive that you even have a shot, Miss Sinclair!"

Scarlett lifted her chin proudly, basking in their praise. This was exactly the reaction she wanted.

"Who is this director anyway? She sounds very powerful," someone asked curiously.

"Her professional name is Katarina," Scarlett continued, eager to keep the spotlight. "Still quite young, but extraordinarily talented. She has earned a huge reputation and respect in the international film world. Someone at my level would normally never get a chance to work with her, but I'm confident I can make it happen!"

She leaned closer against Ashton's arm and asked sweetly, "Isn't that right, Ashton?"

Ashton only replied with a distracted, quiet, "Mmm."

His gaze was still fixed on me, and there was a flicker of frustration in his eyes, though he refused to say a word directly.

The rest of the guests piled on with insults and belittling remarks, all just to make Scarlett feel more important.

I simply raised my glass and took another small sip, my expression completely unchanged.

Just then, the heavy ballroom door opened gently.

A young assistant holding a tablet computer poked her head inside, looking both hurried and respectful.

"Excuse me, Miss Sinclair? Sorry to interrupt. I brought the project files you asked for regarding Galaxy. Also, the director's team..."

Scarlett turned around immediately, her tone eager. "Yes? What did they say? Did the director agree to a time for my audition?"

"I met with the casting director today," the assistant said with a nod. "But Director Katarina herself has a prior engagement tonight, so we agreed to meet again tomorrow to discuss details."

Hearing that she had already made contact and locked in a meeting, Scarlett beamed with absolute confidence.

"Perfect!" She turned to Ashton, her eyes shining with triumph. "See? I told you I could do it! Tomorrow, I will definitely secure that role!"

The crowd burst into more enthusiastic praise.

"Miss Sinclair, you really are something else!"

"Truly remarkable! You'll have to look out for us once you're famous!"

"And Ashton, you have such a wonderful taste in partners!"

Surrounded by compliments, Scarlett's vanity was fully satisfied.

She glanced casually toward me, sitting quietly in the corner.

"By the way, Sarah, does the Galaxy team have any entry-level openings at the moment? Like production assistant or similar roles?"

She paused, then added, with obvious meaning, "Miss Preston here used to do so much for my boyfriend. I heard she hasn't found a proper job since leaving the industry. We go way back, so I thought I'd try to find her something stable, just to give her a hand."

The room went quiet for a split second, then erupted into louder laughter and agreement.

"Oh no, Miss Sinclair, you really shouldn't! It's kind of you to want to help, but someone like that, with her background, can only bring trouble!"

"Exactly! You don't remember? When she vanished all those years ago, her family showed up on the set making a huge scene, screaming that the company had tricked her, and even dragged the paparazzi into it. It was a total mess!"

"Right, and they're all the same, completely unreasonable. Your new film is about to start filming, the last thing you need is her family showing up and causing trouble!"

Scarlett widened her eyes and put on a look of sudden realization. "Oh, I didn't know all that. I'm so sorry, Beatrice. You see? It's not that I don't want to help, but with filming starting soon, I can't risk anything going wrong. I really can't afford to bring that kind of trouble into my work."

She leaned even closer to Ashton, as if afraid being near me would rub off some bad luck.

Ashton's eyes never left mine. His lips parted slightly as if he wanted to speak, but then he pressed them into a tight, unhappy line and said nothing.

Everyone's eyes were fixed on me, filled with mockery, superiority, and scorn.

I could not understand why she was so desperate to give me a job.

But I remained calm and repeated what I had said before.

"Thank you, but there's no need. I already have a job."

Scarlett sighed dismissively. "That work you do out in the wilderness? It's not safe. You really should quit before something bad happens."

More laughter followed.

Even the assistant named Sarah smiled along, but when her eyes finally landed on me, her professional expression froze instantly.

The tablet slipped from her hands and hit the thick carpet with a soft thud.

The whole room fell silent at once.

Scarlett frowned sharply. "What on earth are you doing? Can't you hold onto one simple thing?"

But Sarah ignored her completely. She stared at me in shock, her voice trembling.

"D-Director Katarina?! You... you're here?! I just got a call from the production office. They said Galaxy's final script needs your approval before we can schedule any auditions!"