Chapter Two – The Callback
1076 Words
The message on her phone blinked at her like a cruel joke.
Cross Media Empire: Callback Audition – Tomorrow, 9:00 AM
Cezy blinked twice, rubbed her eyes, and checked again. It was real. It had to be real.
A laugh bubbled in her throat, part joy, part disbelief. She had been called back. She. The girl Mira always shoved aside. The girl who couldn’t afford even one proper acting lesson.
For one shining moment, the universe had tilted in her favor.
But the feeling didn’t last long.
“Callback?” Mira’s voice slithered behind her like a snake. “Don’t tell me they actually saw something in you.”
Cezy quickly slipped her phone back into her pocket, straightening her shoulders. “Yes. They did.”
Mira’s painted lips curved into a mocking smile. “Enjoy it while it lasts, little sister. Nathan Cross doesn’t waste his time on strays. If you think a single callback means you’ll become a star, you’re more delusional than I thought.”
Her words stung, but Cezy held her ground. “We’ll see.”
---
That night, Cezy barely slept. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Nathan Cross’s piercing blue stare, the way he had said “not forgettable.” Those words repeated in her head like a chant. Not praise, not exactly—but not dismissal either. And from a man like him, that was more than she had ever dreamed of.
She stayed up practicing until her throat burned, whispering her lines to the cracked mirror in her tiny rented room. This is it, Cezy, she told herself. Tomorrow could be the first step to everything you’ve ever wanted.
---
The next morning, the Cross Media building gleamed like a crystal fortress against the sky. Cezy arrived early, clutching her worn bag to her chest, her stomach knotted with nerves.
Inside the callback hall, only a handful of candidates sat waiting. All of them looked polished, trained, confident. Cezy shrank into her chair, painfully aware of her thrift-store blouse and scuffed shoes.
But she lifted her chin. She wasn’t here to compare herself. She was here to fight for her dream.
When her name was called, she stepped into the audition room.
And there he was again.
Nathan Cross.
Seated at the center of the panel, his expression as unreadable as ever. His gaze flicked up briefly when she entered, and for one wild second, Cezy thought she saw recognition flash in his eyes. But it was gone before she could be sure.
“Begin,” his deep voice commanded.
Cezy swallowed hard and launched into her performance. She didn’t try to mimic the perfect polish of the trained actresses. She gave them raw emotion, every word carrying the weight of her own struggles. She let herself feel the desperation, the yearning, the heartbreak of her character—because those were feelings she knew too well.
When she finished, her chest heaved, her hands trembling. Silence followed.
One judge leaned toward Nathan. “She’s untrained, but… there’s potential.”
Another frowned. “Potential isn’t enough. She doesn’t fit the mold.”
Nathan said nothing for a long moment. Then, finally:
“She fits the role.”
Every head turned to him in surprise. Nathan rarely spoke so decisively.
His eyes locked on Cezy. “That will be all.”
Cezy’s heart thundered. Did that mean she had passed? She bowed quickly, murmuring her thanks, and left the room on shaking legs.
---
The next day, she received the call that would change everything.
“Miss Cezy Celina?” The voice on the line was crisp, professional. “Congratulations. You’ve been cast in the supporting role for Falling Stars. Please report to Cross Media headquarters tomorrow for contract signing.”
Cezy nearly dropped her phone. Cast. She had been cast.
Her dream was finally within reach.
---
But dreams rarely came without a price.
When she arrived at headquarters the next morning, she was directed to a private office instead of the usual casting floor. Confused, she entered—only to find herself face-to-face with Nathan Cross himself.
He was seated behind a massive glass desk, the city skyline stretching out behind him. His presence filled the room, every line of his body radiating power and control.
Cezy froze. “M-Mr. Cross?”
His blue eyes pierced her. “Sit.”
Her legs obeyed before her brain could catch up. She perched nervously on the chair opposite him, clutching her bag tightly.
“I’ve reviewed your file,” Nathan said, his voice smooth but cold. “Your background is… unimpressive. No training. No agency. No family influence.”
Her cheeks burned, but she bit her tongue.
“And yet,” he continued, leaning back in his chair, “you have something the others don’t. A presence that lingers.”
Her breath caught. Was that… was he complimenting her?
“But,” his tone sharpened, “presence alone is not enough in this industry. You’ll be devoured without protection.”
Cezy frowned. “I don’t understand.”
Nathan’s gaze hardened. “The entertainment world is brutal. You’re vulnerable. You have enemies—” his lips curled slightly, “including in your own family. If you want to survive, you’ll need more than talent. You’ll need… association.”
Her stomach flipped. “Association?”
Nathan’s next words dropped like a bomb.
“Be my contract girlfriend.”
Cezy’s jaw fell open. “W-what?”
“I’ll make you a star,” Nathan said calmly, as though discussing a business merger. “I’ll give you the platform, the protection, the exposure. In return, you’ll play a role for me—publicly. You’ll be my girlfriend. Strictly business. A contract relationship for six months.”
Her head spun. This couldn’t be real. Was he serious?
“You can’t be—” she stammered, but his gaze silenced her.
“You want fame, Miss Celina. I want a convenient solution to… other matters. This arrangement benefits us both.”
Cezy’s heart raced. Fame. Protection. Everything she wanted, handed to her on a silver platter. But at what cost? To sell her freedom? Her heart?
Her lips parted, but no words came out.
Nathan leaned forward, his eyes drilling into hers. “Think carefully. Opportunities like this don’t come twice.”
The room was silent except for the pounding of her heart.
And Cezy Celina realized her life was about to change forever.
- Writer
