FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO - Chapter 408

Chapter 408: The Audition

“Sarah, are you out of your freaking mind?” Annabelle pulled at her bestie’s arm as they trailed behind the friendly assistant.

“Relax, Anna. I’ve got this.” Sarah reassured her with a wave of the hand.

“No… You’ve lost it.” Annabelle snapped harshly in a hushed voice. “Remember why we came here in the first place. I know you were trying to call off that arrogant lady’s bluff. But this is going too far. Acting is not your thing. ”

Sarah frowned at Annabelle’s remark.

“Can you please have a little faith in me? I said I’ve got this. I need to prove to that lady that not every pretty face is a wimp.”

Annabelle huffed. “There are other ways to prove your points. You don’t have to play by her rules. You just have to look her straight in her eyes and call her a bitch.”

At that point, Charlie–the assistant escorting them–couldn’t hold back his laughter. He turned to the two young ladies, his eyes brimming with humour.

“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop on your conversation. But your friend is right.” He slowed his pace, while lowering his voice.”Magdalene is a bossy…bitch like you so rightly put it. But she is very good at what she does. She would not hesitate to shred you to pieces for daring to challenge her in the open.”

“Thank you.” Annabelle tilted her pleading gaze to Sarah, as if to say, ‘I told you so.’

“Thanks for your concern…umm….”

“Charlie Scot.” He introduced himself, extending his right hand to Sarah which she shook briefly.

“I appreciate both your concerns. But if there’s one thing that motivates me in life, it is a healthy challenge. Moreover, I was already considering taking up an acting role in the movie industry.”

“Wow! Then let me be the first to wish you good luck.” Charlie chimed, admiring Sarah’s confidence.

“Thanks.” Sarah smiled, while nudging Annabelle on the arm. “Tell me you believe in me.”

Annabelle let out an exaggerated sigh before saying. “Sure… I believe in you… But I can’t wait to see the look on Henry’s face when he sees you auditioning for a movie role.”

Within minutes, Sarah found herself in a rehearsal room filled with newbies, each one of them holding scripts and practicing out loud.

Some stole curious glances at her while others sneered, already feeling threatened by her confidence.

A group of other newbies, who had witnessed Sarah challenging the almighty Magdalene, approached her, their eyes glinting with a mixture of scorn and admiration.

“I’ve got to give it to you pretty face.” A tall guy with dreadlocks whispered, while leaning closer. “You’ve got guts walking in here after what you did to the casting director.”

“Gut?!” Another young lady with a pierced nose snorted. “More like delusion if you ask me. You are so toast.”

Sarah chuckled softly, but didn’t say anything as she held her ground.

“Look…guys…” A slightly chubby lady whispered, while pointing at a pretty young woman in an elegant floral jumpsuit. “It’s Deborah.” Her voice echoed with reverence as if she were addressing a goddess.

Deborah–a striking beauty with sharp hazel eyes, a bewitching posture and an elegance that screamed experience–was a seasoned upcoming actor, who was auditioning for the female lead role.

“Isn’t she simply gorgeous?” The first lady’s eyes shimmered with admiration.

“She doesn’t even need to audition with the rest of us.” Another newbie gushed over her. “That lead role was specifically made for her.”

“Yeah right?!” The guy with the dreadlocks scoffed. He tilted his gaze to Sarah. “I’m rooting for you, pretty face.”

“Thanks,” Sarah replied with a faint smile, before returning her gaze to her own script.

Just then, Deborah, who had been quietly observing Sarah from the corner of her eye, decided to approach her.

“Hello…” Deborah plastered a sweet smile on her face that didn’t reach her eyes.

“Hi,” Sarah replied calmly, her expression casual.

“So you’re here to audition for the female lead role,” Deborah asked sweetly, tucking a loose strand of her glossy hair behind her ear.

“Yes.” Sarah replied.

“Without experience?” Deborah mocked, and some of the newbies snickered.

“Yes.” Sarah remained unfazed.

“I like your confidence darling. But from a place of experience, I’ll give you this simple word of advice. This industry is not for the weak or the dreamers. It will eat girls like you alive before you even take your first step. Leave now while you still have the chance. You don’t want to embarrass yourself any further.”

Sarah chuckled, her smile unwavering in the face of Deborah’s elaborate insult and the side whispers.

“You must be pretty scared to come all the way here just to ask me to quit?”

“What?!” Deborah’s smug smile turned hardened.

“The nerve!”

“She’s so arrogant!”

“I’m already loving her!”

“I hope she fails.”

Different comments filled the room, but Sarah was just warming up.

“You can be rest assured that I am no dreamer, honey. So, why don’t you save that advice for yourself or someone else who cares? And if you don’t mind, I’d like to return to studying my script.” She rolled her eyes as she returned her focus to her script.

Deborah fist clenched by her side, her eyes shooting daggers at Sarah. “We’ll see about that.” She turned to the others, her voice just loud enough to capture everyone’s attention.

“Listen up, guys, in this industry, ambition doesn’t make you special. It’s the bare minimum. Rather, execution is what counts. Mr Henry Gordon deserves actresses with real talent, not…” she sized Sarah from head to toe and drawled. “…charity projects.”

A ripple of laughter broke out among some of the group, while others frowned at Deborah’s cruelty.

Sarah’s stomach twisted, but she managed to keep her cool. She quickly brought out her phone from her pocket and sent a text message to Henry.

[I’m at your movie studio and I’m here to audition for the female lead. Don’t say a word about me being your girlfriend, and don’t make any input to favour me. Let me handle this on my own,” she quickly slipped her phone back into her pocket as Magdalene stepped into the room.

A deafening hush suddenly enveloped everyone as Magdalene’s voice snapped like a whip.

“Everyone, form a single line. We are starting with cold reads.” Her heels clicked against the floor as she strode past them, eyes lingering on Sarah with disdain.

“Let’s see which of you are actors… and which of you are simply pretty ornaments.”

Sarah’s grip tightened around her script as she felt the weight of every glare on her except for a few supportive nods and thumbs up. She inhaled and exhaled as Magdalene ordered everyone to follow her into the main audition hall.

Sarah could feel her nerves already acting up as her gaze fell on the panel of judges, seated and stretched across the front, with eyes cold and expressions stern. She held her breath as Magdalene made her way to the centre of the table and sat down with a red pen tapping against her notepad like a gavel.

“Deborah James…” Magdalene’s voice was clipped. “You are first.”

“Thank you, Miss Magdalene.” Deborah gave a curt nod before stepping forward with the confidence of someone born for the stage. She smoothed her blouse, lifted her chin, and began her first lines.

“You think you can break me, Luther?” Deborah’s voice rang with practised clarity, each word sharpened with emotion. “You think love is my weakness? No, darling. Love is my weapon….and with it, I will destroy you.” She ended with a deliberate pause, her eyes locking with Magdalene’s.

A few of the other newbies clapped softly, and even Magdalene gave a satisfied nod.

“An impressive start. Your tone was impeccable. Your emotions were convincing, perhaps too polished,” Magdalene muttered, jotting something down. “But you certainly know your craft.”

“Thank you, ma’am.” Deborah flashed a triumphant glance at Sarah before stepping back to her seat, her heels clicking like victory drums.

Magdalene’s eyes swept across the room, “Next person would be…you…” she pointed at Sarah, her gaze sharp as glass. “…Sarah Hunt. Let’s see if your arrogance has any substance.”

At that very moment, Henry walked into the audition room, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips as Sarah slowly stepped onto the stage.