Wives Behind The Scene

That Was A Brilliant Performance

Maya

"Contestant number 137, please step forward," the studio speaker boomed, the sound echoing through the room.

I stepped out from behind the velvet curtains and walked onto the stage. The spotlights hit my face, forcing me to blink. Below the stage, the auditorium was dark, save for the long table where the four judges sat. On the far right, Calvin’s head snapped up.

He slammed his hands on the table and stood straight up, his chair scraping against the floor. I shot him a glare, holding his gaze until he looked away. Don't you dare. Calvin checked the executives sitting on either side of him, froze, and sat back down, his knuckles turning white against the armrests.

The head producer looked down at her tablet, the screen lighting up her face. "Welcome, number 137. Your sheet doesn't list an agency. Which role are you here to audition for?"

"I’m reading for the female lead," I said. My voice sounding small in the space, although it stayed steady.

The male producer flipped through my pages, the paper rustling in the quiet room before he stopped on the first sheet. "Mrs... Maya?"

"Yes."

"Your last credited performance was over five years ago." He closed the folder, setting it down on the table with a thud.

"I took a break," I said, keeping my posture straight under their gaze. "But I know this character. I believe I can breath life into the lead female role character."

"And why do you think your first audition come-back should be the lead role?" He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms. "We have a tight schedule today, and this role requires a level of industry relevance you might not have,since you have been gone from the industry for a long time."

I opened my mouth to defend myself, the tension tightening the air between us, but before I could speak, the female producer raised her hand to stop him.

"Give her a chance," she said, leaning forward to look at me. "She’s standing right here. Let just hear her read the lines first before we decide." Or what do you think Calvin

She asked as she glanced at Calvin for input, but he remained silent, staring at the desk to hide his frustration.

"Okay then begin whenever you're ready, 137," the director said, gesturing toward the center of the stage.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, trying to clear the static in my head. I tried to pull up the opening line, but the words caught in my throat, dry and heavy. My heart raced against my ribs in the quiet of the auditorium. I opened my eyes and looked straight at Calvin.

For one second, doubt surfaced. The weight of the last five years rushed back, and I became the woman who had spent every day asking him for permission to exist.

Then I remembered his words: "People who actually have the talent".

My jaw tightened, the memory turning the panic into resolve. I opened my mouth, and every word landed.

"You think I would give up my career for you?" My voice filled the room, carrying a low, desperate edge. "You didn't just stop at making me fall so deeply in love with you, you also wanted to destroy my career alongside.

You wanted a beautiful shadow to worship your spotlight while you took everything I had in secret."

Why, why is it that despite everything you have done to me, why does my heart still beat for you. Why did you have to make me out to be a love fool,I screamed as the emotions rattled my body.

The judges sat frozen, focused on the stage as the echo of the line faded.

When I finished, I lowered my gaze, the adrenaline humming in my veins as silence stretched through the auditorium.

"Hold on," the male producer said, leaning forward on his elbows, his skepticism gone. "Don't move. Just stay right there."

The female producer nodded at the director, leaning over to whisper, "The depth is incredible."

"We need to see if she can handle the chemistry," the director announced, turning his head to look toward the wings. "Julian! Please come out here. Let's do the locker room scene."

The curtains parted and Julian Bark a popular upcoming handsome romance actor stepped into the light. He walked over with a confident stride, the stage lights catching his face. He gave me a quick nod, locking into character.

"Let's take it from where he corners the coach," Julian murmured, his tone shifting instantly.

He stepped directly into my space, closing the distance between us until I could feel the heat radiating off him. His eyes locked onto mine.

"You're the coach, Amy," Julian said, his voice dropping to a low register. "You're supposed to be drawing up plays, not driving me to distraction. Tell me to stop. Look me in the eye and tell me this isn't what you want."

"You're a player on my team, Julian," I countered, holding my ground face-to-face, refusing to let his presence crowd me out. "This goes against every rule we've established. It's forbidden."

"I don't care about the rules anymore," Julian murmured.

He tilted his head closer, his breath warm against my skin until our faces were inches apart. The air crackled in the silence of the room.

"That's enough!" Calvin roared.

He surged to his feet, knocking his water bottle over, the liquid spilling across the table and dripping onto the floor as he stood.

The head producer turned his head slowly, his expression hardening. "Mr. Edward."

Calvin glared past him at me, his fists clenched at his sides. "This is an amateur—"

"You're here as a mentor," the head producer cut him off, his voice dropping to a sharp, quiet whisper that cut through the room. "Not as the casting director."

Calvin stopped mid-sentence, his face flushing red. He slowly sat down, his chest heaving as he tried to compose himself under the producer's steady stare.

Silence fell over the room again. The director closed his script and looked at the other judges. The female producer nodded once in agreement.

Julian was the first to break the silence. He stepped back, exhaling a breath, and turned to the panel with a small smile. "I'd like to read with her again."

The head producer looked up from his tablet, his eyes pinning me to the stage.

"Contestant 137. Don't leave the building. We'll be seeing you again."

Okay, I would be waiting outside, I replied.

Before glancing one final look at Calvin, who looked madly pissed, as I made my way outside.