Chapter4:The Shameless Proposition
592 Words
The sharp click of Kaelin’s heels had barely faded when Ethan’s voice called after her.
“Kaelin, wait!”
She paused, smirking coldly. He wouldn’t let her slip away—especially not after witnessing her showstopping audition.
Ethan jogged up, his perfectly styled hair slightly messy, his polished poise cracking. He reached for her arm, but Kaelin sidestepped effortlessly.
“It’s been a while,” Ethan said, retracting his hand, forcing a smile. “Your audition—amazing. You’ve improved so much, I barely recognized you.”
Kaelin turned halfway, eyes calm and unblinking, clearly waiting for him to get to the point.
Flustered under her gaze, Ethan softened his tone. “About before… I’m sorry. Those rumors about me and that actress—misunderstandings, tabloid nonsense. Don’t take them to heart.”
Her lips twitched in a bitter, almost amused smile. She knew the truth—the original Kaelin had been discarded like a worn-out toy.
“I know you’re probably still mad,” Ethan pressed, leaning in, eyes swimming with feigned remorse. “Why don’t we talk over dinner? Just a proper conversation.”
Kaelin’s laugh was low, sharp, and icy. “Fine,” she said, nodding faintly, curious to see what other lies he had in store.
Ethan’s face lit up. “Great! There’s a Western place nearby—fantastic food…”
They walked in silence. Ethan pulled out her chair, handed her the menu, and tried to stir nostalgia by talking about their college days, carefully omitting how he’d mooched off her generosity.
Kaelin said little, nodding occasionally, fingers brushing the rim of her glass. Her eyes remained detached, icy.
Finally, Ethan leaned forward, lowering his voice conspiratorially. “Director Martin—you know him, right? Strict about casting, but the male lead in Blaze of Fury—I’m gunning for it. I got you an invitation to his private cocktail tonight. Sit with him, have a few drinks, put in a good word for me, and the role will be mine.”
Kaelin lifted her gaze, expression unchanged. “‘Sit with him’?” Her voice dropped to a frosty tone. “Let me guess—flirt, laugh at his jokes, drink until he’s pleased, and he hands you the role? That’s how it works?”
Ethan faltered. “Kaelin, don’t put it like that—it’s just… the industry. Please, just this once…”
Kaelin’s laugh cut through him, sharp and unforgiving. She leaned slightly closer, eyes blazing.
“‘Together,’ you say? I chased you for months. Covered your rent. Bought you a $450 watch for your audition. Maintained your old car. And you? You dumped me the moment you hit it big. No thanks, no apology, no goodbye. You thought you could use me and toss me aside. That ends now.”
Her voice was quiet, but every word landed like a slap. Ethan’s face flushed, then paled.
She straightened her jacket, cold as ice. “I earned my role with talent and hard work. I don’t need handouts, and I won’t play your games. Dinner’s over. Don’t contact me again—I find you repulsive.”
With that, Kaelin turned on her heel, heels clicking sharply, leaving Ethan alone at the table.
He sat, knuckles white, face twisted in a mix of humiliation and fury. He hadn’t expected the once-docile girl to speak like this—or to expose all his lies in front of her. Fury and shame churned inside him, but Kaelin was already gone, leaving him powerless, exposed, and seething.
- Writer
