Chapter 103

Henry had an air of giving up. Since he couldn’t find the right script, he figured he might as well let Isabella take a look. He said softly, “Perfect timing; I just got back from the company with a few scripts. Can you take a look for me?” But deep down, he didn’t have any expectations. Finding a hit script required more than just intelligence; it needed a lot of reading, experience, and a keen eye. Isabella was essentially an outsider to the industry, so it seemed impossible. But he didn’t want to hurt her feelings either.

Isabella nodded slightly. “Alright.”

Henry stood up and walked to the corner of the room where a briefcase was placed. He took it and pulled out the scripts. He politely said, “Thank you for your help, Isabella.” Isabella didn’t hesitate. She set her cup down and started flipping through the scripts on the table. She read the script very fast, practically skimming ten lines at a glance. With such speed, Henry had little hope, thinking she probably wasn’t even paying attention to the plot. The others didn’t interrupt Isabella either and kept discussing their recent news after having several drinks.

In what seemed like no time, an hour had passed. Isabella put down the last script, picked up the one titled Empress of Prosperity, and placed it in front of Henry. She looked up and confidently said, “This one.”

Henry was puzzled and thought, ‘Was she really choosing?’ He thought, ‘Could a book chosen so quickly really be the right fit?’ But with Samuel there, Henry wasn’t going to show any doubt. Henry took the script Isabella had chosen and started to read it carefully. He casually asked, “Isabella, why this one?”

Isabella picked up her coffee cup, took a slow sip to soothe her throat, then pointed at the script and said, “Because of Julia’s qualities—her looks and talent—this suits her perfectly.” Isabella was familiar with Julia. She was a top actress in the entertainment industry, known for her great acting skills and elegant beauty, free from vulgarity. She had a dignified and graceful presence. The other scripts were all of the fantasy genre. Although that type of show was popular, Julia wasn’t right for those ethereal, fairy-like roles. The actress’s compatibility with the script was extremely important; otherwise, she would lose focus quickly. Even the best plot would be wasted.

Henry looked at Isabella with surprise and thought, ‘She actually took the compatibility between the script and the actress seriously. And she did this in such a short amount of time.’ “Plus, this script features a strong female lead. The character is likable, not tragic; she’s smart, brave, and funny, which is very appealing to audiences today,” added Isabella. But even so, she was only mentioning the basic requirements. Just when he was wondering how to tactfully change the topic, Isabella suddenly spoke again, “And there’s one more important point: She has to take on this role.”

Henry and the others looked at her with some curiosity. “What do you mean?” asked Henry.

With a calm expression, Isabella explained, “Although Julia is currently a leading actress, she doesn’t have a hit historical drama. If this series becomes a success, she could really break through and have no actors as her rivals.”

Suddenly, she thought, ‘Such a great script should be discussed and studied with Luna.’ Henry was surprised. She had not only considered the script’s compatibility but also the entire growth journey of the actor. Henry, who was previously casual, suddenly became alert. He straightened up and replied, “Alright, I’ll take a look first.”

Just before Isabella could finish her sentence, she glanced casually at Henry and said, “I heard that Julia’s manager had another actress, who seems to be his own daughter. Recently, this top manager hasn’t been very attentive. Perhaps it’s time for a change.”

Henry paused in surprise. “Wow, Isabella, you really know a lot.” Isabella’s smile suddenly froze.

Isabella thought, ‘Of course, how could I not know that?’ To ensure a better development of Jayden, she selected scripts for him and carefully chose the actors he would work with in each show. Quickly regaining her composure, she smiled, “I have a close friend who is a director in the entertainment industry, so I tend to keep well-informed.”

“Close friend?” Charles was a bit surprised, instantly recalling that fierce woman he met at the hospital recently. He twitched his mouth, clearly unwilling to discuss this topic further, and turned to Samuel, saying, “Mr. Howerton, since you’re treating tonight, how about we go to another entertainment spot after we finish here?”

Samuel gave him a mild look and said, “Isn’t one place enough for you to drink?”

“That’s not enough,” replied Charles.

At this moment, Henry wasn’t in the mood to follow them in conversation; he was fully focused on reading the script. The others were chatting leisurely. A moment later, Henry slapped the table in excitement and gave out a big sound, startling everyone as they all turned to look at him. His eyes were full of excitement, and he shouted, “This one’s definitely going to be a hit.”

Everyone was taken aback and thought, ‘Is this the script selected?’ Henry was the calmest among their group, except for Samuel. But now, seeing him so excited, one could imagine how impressive the script was.

Putting the script down, Henry clutched Isabella’s arm excitedly and said, “Isabella, your taste is spot on.” His eyes were full of admiration; his company had been searching for a suitable script for two weeks. Isabella didn’t care much and replied politely, “Just got lucky. I guess. You happened to have it in your stack.”

But Henry shook his head confidently. “No, it’s your keen eye.” This script wasn’t overlooked before, but nobody had grasped its true essence. He noticed the notes Isabella had made when she reviewed it. The parts she highlighted were quite inspiring. That was not just something that could be attributed to luck.

Samuel’s calm gaze fell on Henry, and suddenly Henry felt the temperature drop a few degrees. He looked up at Samuel and quickly withdrew his hand from Isabella’s arm. Henry was speechless. He was just so happy that he lost himself for a moment. Henry thought, ‘I have not noticed before how possessive Mr. Howerton was.’

Charles grinned mischievously at Henry. “Hey, Henry, shouldn’t you treat Isabella to a meal?”

Henry’s face lit up with a smile. “Of course, it’s a must.” He turned back to Isabella and said with a hearty laugh, “Isabella, if this script is a big hit, I’ll give you a share.” Henry, who had always been so focused on money, surprised everyone by saying something like that, including Charles and the others. ‘How good is this script?’ they thought. Initially, they assumed Henry was just saying it to maintain Isabella’s dignity. But now it seemed like it was not that simple.

Isabella just chuckled softly and shook her head, declining. “No need for a share. If it becomes a hit, just treat me to dinner.” She was helping out simply because Henry was Samuel’s friend, and she was just casually checking it out. Isabella really didn’t care about it at all.

Before Henry could say anything, Charles stepped forward, resting his elbow on Henry’s shoulder. Smiling at Isabella, he said, “Isabella, Henry is making money hand over fist. Since he’s offering, you should accept it and there is no need to be so polite with him.”

Henry nudged Charles with his elbow and glared at him playfully. “You sure talk a lot.”

The rest of them laughed and joked around. But amid all the laughter, the looks directed at Isabella were filled with admiration. Samuel’s gaze landed on Isabella as he put a piece of meat in her bowl. “Let’s eat first.”

Isabella nodded. After reading the script for so long, she indeed felt a bit hungry. At that moment, Isabella’s phone suddenly rang.