FLASH MARRIAGE; CHARMED BY THE RUTHLESS BILLIONAIRE CEO - Chapter 409

Chapter 409: A Duel

A low murmur rippled among the group of newbies waiting out their turn.

Some even leaned forward, eager to watch Sarah trip and fall off the stage.

“I bet she’s about to wet her panties…”

“Look at the way her hands are trembling…”

“She’s not that brave after all…”

“She thought she could match up to the almighty Deborah…”

“What a loser…”

“I feel so sorry for her already…”

“I guess her insolence must have gone round because even the executive producer is here to watch her fail.”

“Go Sarah… you’ve got this…”

The murmuring rose in the air until Magdalene’s voice snapped like a whip.

“Whenever you’re ready, sweetheart. Impress us…if you can.”

Sarah swallowed the lump that had suddenly formed in her throat. Her palms were sweaty as they clutched tightly to her script. She cleared her throat and began her first words wavering a bit.

A wicked smile slowly tugged at the corner of Magdalene’s lips as she brought down her red pen, in readiness to send Sarah to hell.

But all of a sudden, Sarah steadied her breath, her eyes lifting to an imaginary opponent across the room.

“You think I’m fragile, Luther?” Her voice was soft yet firm and bleeding with raw emotion like someone whose lover of over a decade was about to abandon her on the altar.

“You think I’ll shatter into pieces because you pushed me down? Sarah’s voice echoed with hurt, moving some of the newbies who had earlier made a jest of her to tears.

“No…” She shook her head, her lips trembling and her voice cracking. “I bleed… I break…but…” She shot her gaze up, sending a cold chill across the room. “…I rise. And when I rise, it won’t be to beg you.” She narrowed her gaze at Magdalene. “It will be to conquer.”

By the time Sarah finished her line, the room suddenly went silent.

Then, one of the female judges, who was completely overwhelmed, started clapping her hands.

“Brilliant! Absolutely brilliant!”

As if on cue, some of the newbies broke into hesitant applause.

“Damn…. She is good.”

“You can literally see the goosebumps on my body…”

“I still hate her…”

“If you ask me, she’s too overconfident….”

“I think she nailed it… better than you know who.”

Deborah’s fist clenched, her narrowed gaze shooting daggers at Sarah. But when she observed the look of disdain in Magdalene’s expression, a sly smile curled up the side of her lips.

Magdalene raised her hand in the air, silencing everyone. She tapped her pen twice and said coolly,

“Your performance was…passable but nothing extraordinary. I’ve seen better displays from high school plays.”

The first judge cast Magdalene a side glance in disagreement. But since Magdalene was the head casting director, she could only air her opinion in private.

Deborah snickered, her voice high enough for some of the newbies to hear. “I told her… She lacks the backbone to be among the great.”

Although Magdalene’s words stung Sarah like a bee sting, she refused to let it show as she asked in a plain but daring tone.

“Do I qualify for the next stage?”

Magdalene’s grip tightened around her pen as she replied. “I’m afraid not…sweetheart. You’ll need a lot of practice to qualify for probably a supporting character role. If you like, I could suggest a few movie academies where you could get the necessary skills you seek if you want to continue acting.”

Henry’s expression turned cold and lethal as he listened to Magdalene shred his lover in front of everyone. He was tempted to step in and lambast her. But he knew better than to go against his feisty lover.

Keeping her shoulder held high and her chin lifted, Sarah met Magdalene’s mocking gaze.

“Thanks for your suggestion, ma’am. But unfortunately, I won’t be needing it. Not everyone has the eyes to spot out raw talent even if it hits them right in the face. Or maybe you’re simply too afraid of what I may become.”

Gasps rippled across the room, jaw dropping at Sarah’s audacity.

Henry chuckled to himself already making a video of the ongoing scene for future reference.

For the very first time in her movie career, Magdalene felt as though someone had struck her fiercely across the cheek. But she managed to keep her calm as she leaned forward, eyes narrowing as if reassessing her prey.

“Careful, darling. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that pride comes before humiliation.”

“Certainly ma’am.” Sarah’s smile didn’t falter. “I also believe that respect is reciprocal. I agree that I may not have attended any acting school. But I also believe in the phrase, fair trial. It is unfair to judge a book by its cover simply because of one’s perception. Deep down, you know I did well but because of our little misunderstanding earlier, you’re willing to throw me under the bus. That is what I call unfair treatment.”

All the newbies in the room held their breath as they feared Magdalene was about to rain hail on Sarah.

But to everyone’s surprise, Magdalene stood up, her countenance unreadable as she climbed up the stage and walked up to Sarah.

“Very well then…. How would you like a rematch?” A smug smile curled up her lips.

“A rematch?” Sarah raised a brow.

“Yes… I have decided to give you a second chance to prove your worth. Let’s see how well you can last under pressure.”

Sarah could feel her heart pounding loudly in her chest as she replied. “Okay, ma’am.”

“Excellent!” Magdalene clapped her hands mockingly, her gaze darting between Deborah and Sarah like a cat watching two mice.

“I would like you to meet your new opponent, Deborah James. Let’s have ourselves a duel.”

Wild gasps erupted around the room as Deborah slowly stood up, her eyes burning with fury.

Magdalene returned to her seat, her eyes glinting with mischief and satisfaction. Her red pen snapped against her clipboard as she said.

“Enough rehearsed lines for now. Acting is all about instinct and emotions not memorization. We’re going to improvise.”

The newbies shifted uneasily, some already complaining bitterly while others blamed Sarah for upsetting the judge.

Deborah’s lips curved in a satisfied smirk as she imagined humiliating Sarah.

While Sarah, on the other hand, straightened her shoulders, masking the flutter of nerves in her chest.

“Here is the scene you two will perform together,” Magdalene stated like a judge delivering a verdict. “Two women fall in love with the same man. One is the fiancée, the other, the intruder. Deborah will be the fiancée while you, Sarah, will be the intruder. I want you to fight for him. Convince me why he should pick either of you as his wife.”