Chapter 374
Stephanie observed the growing discord between Milly and Hannah with a sense of inward glee.
Her original scheme had been to use Hannah as an unwitting pawn against Milly, but fortune had smiled upon her, rendering such machinations unnecessary.
Hannah… Milly…
With the animosity between Milly and Hannah already set in motion, Stephanie stood to gain, no matter the outcome.
The air in the room grew thick with tension after the recent confrontation. Director Cameron, the director, found himself at a loss for words, unsure of how to mend the fractured atmosphere.
The oppressive silence was broken by the sound of footsteps nearing the entrance. A slight young woman entered, her suitcase trailing behind her, and bowed deeply. “Greetings, everyone. I am Dakota Jennings, an artist with Dreamweaver Entertainment. I hope we can all work well together.”
Director Cameron, seizing the chance to break the tension, swiftly stood and welcomed her with a warm smile. “Please, come in. We are all friends here; no need for such formality.”
Dakota offered a timid smile, her gaze then landing upon Hannah. Her eyes brightened with excitement. “Oh my goodness, is it truly Ms. Hannah? I am a huge fan! May I have your autograph?”
Her eyes shone with genuine admiration, the quintessential look of a devoted admirer.
This effusive adulation mollified Hannah’s earlier ire, her features softening. “Certainly. I’ll give you a signed photograph later.”
Hannah’s manner was imperious, as if bestowing favour upon a subject.
Dakota, however, seemed delighted, oblivious to any condescension. She hovered near Hannah, lavishing her with praise, while the others in the room were momentarily ignored.
The rest paid little mind to this exchange, well-versed in such interactions within the entertainment industry.
Milly alone furrowed her brow, contemplating Dakota’s words.
Dreamweaver… Could this be the very company Jordan had founded, or merely a coincidental namesake?
As Milly pondered this potential connection, a new sound echoed from the doorway, heralding the entrance of two tall figures.
Before Milly could ascertain the identity of the new arrivals, Stephanie, who had thus far remained inconspicuous, suddenly leapt to her feet, her voice brimming with elation. “Matt! Is it truly you? Are you joining this show as well?”
Matt? Could it be Matthew?
Indeed, the figure that materialised at the threshold was unmistakably Matthew. His appearance was uncharacteristically groomed, his hair no longer the usual tousled mess but styled with care.
Upon seeing Stephanie, a broad smile spread across Matthew’s face. “Stephanie, when the producers extended their
invitation, I was reluctant. But the moment I heard you were returning, I rescheduled my commitments just to be here with you. Aren’t I the best?”
He did not spare Milly a glance, his attention solely on Stephanie, as if she were his beloved sister. His complete disregard for Milly’s presence was palpable.
Stephanie, basking in the attention, nodded with exaggerated enthusiasm, her voice intentionally loud. “Yes, Matt, you’re the best!”
Her demonstrative tone was a thinly veiled message aimed at a particular audience. Its intended target was obvious.
Milly felt a surge of irritation, not from envy of their camaraderie, but from the director’s failure to inform her of the participant list. Had she known about these two, she would have come prepared with a blindfold to shield herself from the annoyance.
The director’s playing favourites, she thought, her frustration mounting. She resolved to complain to Bonnie later, ensuring Director Cameron would no longer be considered a friend.
While the reunion exuded warmth on one side, the other newcomer who accompanied Matthew exuded an icy detachment. He entered silently, dragging his suitcase, offering no greeting.
He was tall, standing at about six feet three, with broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist. His loose, casual attire somehow accentuated his model-like aura. His
presence radiated an imposing, frosty charisma, filling the room with an inexplicable tension.
Milly paused, struck by a sense of familiarity in his imposing presence and build. Could it be…
Just as she was about to rise for a closer look, the man lifted his head, meeting her gaze. His features were unfamiliar-it was a face she had never seen before.
In the mundane world, he would be considered quite handsome, but in the realm of entertainment, teeming with extraordinary beauty, he seemed rather ordinary and unremarkable.
A sudden, inexplicable sense of disillusionment swept over Milly, as if her heart had briefly been burdened with a leaden weight.
With a shake of her head, she castigated herself for entertaining such foolish notions. How absurd to imagine that George, entangled in myriad responsibilities, would deign to attend a trivial entertainment show. Her musings had indeed taken a fanciful, perhaps even deranged, turn.
Her reverie was interrupted by the looming shadow of a figure. “Hello, is this seat occupied?” inquired a deep, resonant voice, tinged with an undercurrent of magnetism.
Reacting instinctively, Milly glanced up to find the very same young man she had been ruminating over. His presence was imposing, his gaze unwavering and slightly disquieting. Flustered, she diverted her eyes and muttered, “No, it’s free. Please, sit.”
The sofa on which Milly sat was designed for two. Given her tenuous standing with the group and the recent confrontation with Hannah, the seat beside her had remained conspicuously vacant.
The man, with his long, elegant strides, seated himself beside her with effortless grace. Milly could not shake the feeling that he was encroaching upon her space more than was comfortable.
Was it merely her imagination, or did he possess an unusually commanding presence?
Silently, Milly edged herself to the side, attempting to create a modest buffer of distance between them.
Dakota raised her hand and inquired, “Director, is everyone here?”
Director Cameron consulted his wristwatch before glancing towards the door, his brow furrowed with mild concern. “One more participant has yet to arrive. Let us wait a moment longer.”
Milly cast her gaze around the room, noting the presence of six individuals thus far. Amongst them were the entertainers: herself, Stephanie, Hannah, and Dakota. The newcomers were Matthew and the enigmatic man now seated beside her.
Director Cameron had mentioned that the tardy individual was also a newcomer, which would complete the assembly with a total of seven-four entertainers and three
newcomers.
The current situation appeared rather bleak from Milly’s perspective. Stephanie and Hannah had formed a palpable alliance, and Dakota, with her obvious affection for Hannah, lingered around their vicinity. Matthew, on the other hand, seemed nearly inseparable from Stephanie.
As for the man beside her and the forthcoming newcomer, they were both unfamiliar to her.
It seemed inevitable that Milly would have to traverse the complexities of this show in solitude.