Chapter 371
Bright and early the next day, Bonnie arrived at the Burnett mansion to pick up Milly. When Milly hopped into the car, she was caught off guard when she saw her ex- assistant, Joy, sitting inside.
“Joy?” Milly exclaimed, a mix of surprise and happiness evident in her voice. “What brings you here? I thought you were just helping me out briefly before?”
Seeing Milly, Joy couldn’t hide her joy either. Her eyes lit up with a smile. “I was only temporary initially, but Mr. Burnett noticed my work and decided to bring me back. And guess what? I got a bump in my salary too!”
She stressed the part about the salary increase, making her point clear.
Laughing, she added, “I need the cash, so climbing back up the career ladder wasn’t such a bad idea!”
Milly, feigning annoyance, arched an eyebrow and huffed. “Ah, so it’s just the money then. I thought you had come back for me. Times have changed, and it’s all about cash now. Quite disappointing to see where people’s priorities lie.”
With her already impressive acting chops and convincing tone, Milly managed to completely throw Joy off, who, despite being slightly older, didn’t catch on to the jest and looked genuinely confused.
Believing Milly was upset, Joy hurriedly clarified, “Boss, that’s not what I was trying to say. It’s great to be back, but I lack formal training as an assistant, and I’m worried I might cause you problems, that’s all… “
“Really, you think of me that harshly? Am I such a strict person? Oh, Joy, you’re really letting me down! To question my genuine intentions like this.”
Joy watched as Milly lowered her head, beginning to dab at her eyes. She instantly grew anxious. Her own eyes began to well up, stumbling over her words. “Boss, I didn’t mean it that way, I… “
From the passenger seat, Bonnie observed Milly’s exaggerated emotional display and then glanced at the bewildered joy, feeling slightly remorseful as she intervened, “Okay, cut it out. If you keep this up, Joy will start crying.”
Hearing this, Milly instantly perked up, with no tear in sight. Instead, her eyes sparkled mischievously.
Joy’s eyes widened as she gaped at Milly, her disbelief shining through her red-tinted gaze.
It took her a moment, but she finally blurted out, “Boss, you could sweep the Oscars with those acting chops. If you don’t bag the Aureate Film Award this year, it must be rigged!”
Milly rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then stated with conviction, “Guess it’s time to see what the crowd thinks. Bonnie, let’s make the most of this momentum. I’m eyeing the Aureate Film Award this year. No films under my belt yet, but hey, I’m all about that fire and drive!”
Joy and Bonnie were speechless.
Talk about hitting the sweet spot!
A couple of props, and they’re all ready to conquer the world.
“Enough with the jokes. We’re not there yet, so let’s focus on the task ahead,” Bonnie interjected.
Milly’s face took on a serious look as she nodded.
Bonnie continued, “So, the game plan for the reality show Untamed Horizons is simple.
It’s filmed on an untouched island paradise. Just the seven actors out there, with the crew offsite and rolling cameras catching every moment.
“Keep in mind, this reality gig is going to stream live non-stop. Every real moment and raw expression is up for grabs, so watch your step and think before you speak.
“Done right, this could shoot you straight to stardom and flip your fortunes overnight. But flub it, and it’s back to the drawing board.”
Bonnie laid it out plain and simple, but every word was golden.
There are four main reasons why many celebrities participate in reality shows: increasing exposure, attracting more fans, creating a favourable image, and easily rebranding themselves.
Indeed, that involves both upsides and downsides to going on reality shows. Mistakes can end up being blown way out of proportion. Celebrities often need to be more open with their fans, fearing it might take away their mystique and make fans less enthusiastic about following them.
That’s also why many top-tier stars steer clear of reality TV shows.
Milly got the gist of what Bonnie was trying to say, nodded, and responded quietly, “I’ll be careful, don’t worry.”
Despite her reassurance, Bonnie still felt a bit anxious. “Milly, since you’ve never been on a variety show, you might not understand that what gets filmed can differ greatly from what gets aired. On set, everyone might smile, but off-camera, it can be a whole different story. Just be mentally prepared! Remember, even reality shows require a bit of acting. Stay cool, and you’ll manage.”
Milly gave a nod. “Understood.”
Bonnie noticed Milly looked composed and wondered if she was taking her advice seriously. She sighed inwardly.
Ultimately, this variety show was her friend’s project. Even if Milly didn’t do well, Bonnie knew she could mitigate the fallout.
Unbeknownst to Bonnie, Milly’s calmness stemmed from her vast experience with various shows from a previous life. She was so accustomed to them that she could navigate the sets with her eyes shut.
As for understanding how variety shows work…
Having been through countless of them, Milly knew precisely what the audience enjoyed and the types of celebrities they favoured. She could easily fit the bill. For her, joining this sort of show was a piece of cake.
After a few hours, they reached the airport and flew out of Halturia towards the island’s location.
After an indeterminate amount of flying time, they landed and drove until they reached their destination about half a day later.
The setting was welcoming, albeit lacking a ticket booth or security staff. It was a private spot for docking yachts, with a nearby private airport.
At the furthest end of the airport stood a solitary building, likely a temporary quarters for the private airport’s owner. Several cars were parked outside, and a few cameras were stationed around, indicating the crew had been awaiting their arrival for some time.
It looked like the group’s leader had been keeping an eye out. No sooner had their car stopped than someone welcomed them, introducing himself, “Hi, you must be Miss Milly and Miss Bonnie, the assistant director of ‘Untamed Horizons’, but please, call me Larry.”
Milly nodded in greeting. “Hello, Mr. Larry.”