Episode15 Guests
1576 Words
Everyone was stunned by the sudden voice, turning their heads toward the door.
Lorenzo stood there, his figure silhouetted by the light outside.
His stern gaze swept over the tense scene in the room.
In a low and commanding voice, Lorenzo asked, "What are you doing?" His eyes locked onto the two men.
The atmosphere in the room seemed to freeze for a moment.
John's fist hung in mid-air, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but it was quickly masked by feigned composure. He lowered his fist and tried to appear indifferent.
John forced a smile, attempting to cover up his loss of control.
"Mr. Lorenzo, we were just... discussing the performance. We had a minor disagreement, that's all."
Jack, still agitated, countered, "Discussion? Peter, you were threatening! You almost got physical!"
Lorenzo glanced around the room, his expression cold. "John, what's going on?"
John sneered, showing no attempt to hide his disdain for Jack.
Turning to Lorenzo, he explained, "Mr. Lorenzo, we had a little conflict over casting.
The issue is that I want to choose the best actor for the role, but some ignorant people keep disrupting the process due to personal biases."
Jack, furious, interrupted John, his voice rising, "John, you're being neither fair nor just.
You've been making decisions before the auditions are even over, and you've been giving everyone a hard time throughout the entire process."
Lorenzo's expression remained serious.
He didn't rush to comment, as he still needed to discern who was telling the truth.
John noticed Lorenzo's silence and felt more confident, thinking that he was serving the Strong family and had nothing to fear.
In John's eyes, Lorenzo, like the Strong family, was merely an investor and business partner, and there was no reason for him not to support John's choice.
After a brief pause, Lorenzo spoke with authority, "I don't care how many disagreements or personal grudges you have. But here, no one has the right to use violence to threaten others' decisions."
This statement subtly criticized John.
John sensed the implication in Lorenzo's words and retorted, "Mr. Lorenzo, I did this for the company's benefit. I want Caitlin, the Strong family's daughter, to get the role. She's Hildu's daughter."
He emphasized "Hildu's daughter" with a deliberate tone.
Lorenzo's expression remained unchanged.
He responded sternly, "I have made it clear that today's casting must be fair and just.
Regardless of who recommended the candidate, I demand that every participant earns the role through their own merit.
I will not tolerate anyone's selfish desires affecting the outcome, nor will I tolerate the use of violence over differences of opinion."
John sneered, his tone laced with disdain, "Mr. Lorenzo, do you really not care about your relationship with the Strong family? Also, you're just an investor.
You shouldn't be meddling in how we conduct the auditions, right? You have the right to decide where the funds go, but the judgments here are ours to make."
Lorenzo's eyes narrowed slightly, his hidden chill intensifying.
"Is that so? Perhaps you are unaware that I am not merely an investor but also the largest shareholder in this film production company.
Therefore, I have the authority not only to determine investments but also to decide who holds what positions in the company."
John was taken aback, his arrogance momentarily frozen.
He had never heard of Lorenzo's additional role and felt a sudden sinking feeling.
Though he tried to maintain his composure for the sake of his dignity, his tone softened noticeably.
Peter forced a smile, his voice less confrontational, though still unwilling to yield. "Mr. Lorenzo, I just have different views on the judging criteria..."
Jack cut in coldly, "John, Lorenzo is right. This is about selecting actors. Even if you disagree with the judging criteria, you can't force others to agree with you through threats."
Lorenzo nodded, "I don't care who is competing for this role. Everyone here has an equal chance to earn it because this is a fair process, and I will not allow anyone to disrupt it. Is that understood?"
John had nothing more to say. He reluctantly nodded, though his heart was filled with resentment and unwillingness.
He knew that continuing to challenge Lorenzo would only bring further humiliation.
Jack breathed a sigh of relief.
Hypocritical Lucy appeared nervous, while troublemaking Peter watched the scene unfold with a mocking grin, inwardly amused by John's predicament.
Lorenzo continued, "I will stay here to observe the performances of today's candidates. However, another person will be joining me."
He clapped his hands, and another person walked in from the doorway. Everyone's eyes widened in surprise at the sight.
"Please welcome the lead actor of our film, Leonardo!"
A bright beam of light streamed in from outside, accompanied by soft footsteps.
A tall, handsome figure appeared at the door, dressed in a simple black suit, exuding confidence and composure.
It was Leonardo, a top-tier movie star, radiating charisma.
The tension in the room instantly dissipated as all eyes turned toward him.
Both the judges and the candidates stood up instinctively, their faces filled with surprise and excitement.
Leonardo smiled and waved to everyone, his tone friendly, "Hello, everyone. I'm delighted to be here."
The judges eagerly stepped forward to shake hands with Leonardo, full of enthusiasm.
Leonardo smiled humbly, expressing his gratitude, then glanced warmly around the room, finally settling his gaze on Lorenzo.
They exchanged a knowing look, as if they shared an unspoken understanding.
Leonardo nodded at Lorenzo, his tone carrying a hint of familiarity, "Thank you for the invitation. I'm looking forward to seeing the performances of these young actors."
Lorenzo smiled slightly, gesturing for him to take a seat. "Please, sit down, Leonardo. We have some very promising actors here today. I'm sure they'll impress you."
Leonardo nodded and made his way to an empty chair beside the judges' table.
Seated, Leonardo looked at the candidates with gentle eyes, "Relax. I was once a newcomer like you. Just focus on your performance and enjoy the process, and you'll do well."
Next, it was Emilia's turn to perform. She walked toward the judges' table.
"Here's your script," John handed Emilia a book, his smile faint but laced with a sinister satisfaction.
John had deliberately chosen this script, filled with complex and obscure lines, rapid emotional shifts, and inner struggles.
It was the most challenging of all, and he would personally act as her scene partner, ensuring his plan's success.
He knew that such a script was an almost impossible task, even for the most skilled actors, let alone a novice like Emilia.
"Let's see her make a fool of herself in front of everyone, losing all confidence," John thought with a cold smile.
He envisioned Emilia stumbling over her words, overwhelmed and faltering under the spotlight, eager to witness her collapse.
"This script may be a bit challenging for you, but I believe you'll do well," John mocked inwardly while feigning concern.
"Thank you. I'll do my best," Emilia responded with gratitude, unaware of John's true intentions.
John's smile twisted slightly, almost smug.
He continued, seemingly unintentionally increasing the pressure, "Every detail on stage is magnified, as you've seen. The judges won't easily forgive any mistakes."
He paused, eyes fixed on Emilia, gauging her reaction.
Then he lowered his voice, as if sharing a secret, "But if you feel overwhelmed, it's okay. We all know that some challenges aren't meant for everyone.
After all, it's your first time, and no one will blame you for a... less than stellar performance."
Emilia's eyes widened. She interpreted John's words as a warning rather than a put-down.
Straightening up, John patted Emilia on the shoulder, ostensibly offering encouragement.
But his words dripped with subtle mockery and contempt. "Good luck. But remember, audiences have long memories, especially for... bad performances."
"Th-thank you," Emilia replied again, too naive to see through John's facade.
John flashed a meaningful smile, certain that Emilia would falter, clearing the way for Caitlin to advance unchallenged.
Emilia respectfully took the script, casting a glance back at Lorenzo and Leonardo.
Leonardo smiled warmly at her, "Oh, a beautiful girl. Quite striking."
Emilia's cheeks flushed slightly, a bit shy.
Lorenzo nodded in agreement, offering her an encouraging look.
Emilia managed a small smile in return, acknowledging their support, though her nerves remained tense.
At the judges' table, Lucy, the hypocrite, sneered, "With a script like that, I bet this newbie can't even remember all the lines."
Her tone dripped with sarcasm, as if she had already foreseen Emilia's failure.
Susan, the friendly judge, was less optimistic but tried to maintain harmony, saying, "I hope she shows some improvement and just expresses herself."
Jack, the righteous judge, silently cheered for Emilia, hopeful for her potential.
...
Emilia began her preparation.
The script depicted a scene where the protagonist, about to inherit the family business, converses with her uncle, needing to display a range of complex emotions while facing her uncle's suppression.
The script was laden with monologues and emotional nuances, undeniably challenging.
Yet, unbeknownst to all, Emilia possessed an extraordinary memory, quickly mastering the lines. More crucially, she had a rare empathy ability.
Empathy, the innate capacity to deeply understand and resonate with others' emotions, is essential for any exceptional artist.
As Emilia read the script, she accurately grasped the character's emotions, though she was unaware of her own latent talent.
After five minutes of preparation, Emilia was ready to perform.
- Writer
