Chapter 125

"Mind if I take this contract back to my company before I sign?" Malcolm asked, his voice cutting through the silence.

Vicky paused, surprised. "What company are you with these days?" she questioned.

"The L&K Group," Malcolm replied, a grin spreading across his face.

Vicky's brow furrowed. "What group? Never heard of it," she thought.

Malcolm picked up on Vicky's confusion. "Our boss is Charlie. He started the company recently. It's still pretty new," he explained cheerfully. Vicky's face fell. 'Charlie, uh-oh, this isn't good. Gonna cost me an arm and a leg,' she thought.

"Huh, when did he start a company?" Vicky forced a laugh, trying to hide her concern. "You're with him now, huh? Why didn't he mention it?"

Malcolm, sharp and calm, noticed the shift in Vicky's demeanor. "Mr. Carter's going to set up an audition for me. He said I'm on my own after that," he continued.

Vicky hesitated. "With his style, you still signed up?"

Malcolm smiled. "It's all good. I've got the chops and the talent. If he gives me a shot at an audition, I know I can land it on my own."

The tricky part was securing his spot after acing the audition and ensuring he wouldn't get bumped by the investors' picks. He'd been sidelined before, but now, with Becky by his side, he saw that the Carter family would shield him. They'd make sure Becky's co-star was a real actor, not just some crony the investors wanted to slip in.

"Alright, take it back. Let Charlie check it out. If there's anything you're not happy with, we can discuss it. We're reasonable," Vicky said sincerely.

Malcolm was taken aback by her openness, feeling a surge of hope. Vicky's words hinted that the contract was up for discussion. This validated his choice of company.

He thought, 'If it were my old management, the director wouldn't entertain any changes to the contract. It's a one-size-fits-all deal. Take it or leave it. But with Charlie in my corner, everything is on the table. The director is willing to cut Charlie some slack, and having him as a backer means I have some leverage!'

"Thanks, Vicky," Malcolm said earnestly, his posture a bit straighter.

With their talk concluded, Malcolm walked away, contract in hand.

Meanwhile, Lisa tapped into her network, quietly figuring out which actresses were in the running for The Empress besides Janet. Becky's name stood out.

Lisa's face dropped. 'Why does Rebecca keep popping up everywhere? Can't she just vanish?' she thought.

Becky might not have Janet's star power yet, but Lisa felt a sinking feeling. It seemed like Becky was destined to steal The Empress from Janet. Janet always had a hard time when Becky was around, as if her past misdeeds against Becky were coming back to bite her.

Deep in thought, Lisa returned to Janet and shared her findings.

Janet had just woken up from a nap, feeling refreshed, but her mood instantly soured.

"Rebecca again?" Janet's anger was palpable.

Lisa nodded, worry evident. "Yeah, I heard Vicky wanted you in the cast, but Becky showed up for an audition and killed it. Vicky seems to really like her."

"Like her? Please. Rebecca's just doing this on purpose," Janet snapped, her voice quivering. "How long has she been in the industry? What acting skills could she possibly have?"

"It must be the Carter family. Charlie's backing her. Vicky must be giving her a chance because of Charlie. No, Charlie must have invested in the production, just like with Lovey Princess. He must have poured in 20 million dollars or more. Vicky's only doing it for the money. That's why she's letting that bitch take the lead," Janet ranted.

Lisa was taken aback by the outburst but then realized it made sense. She thought, 'In the entertainment circle, investors can put people on a set as long as they have money. It's all too common these days. Even the lead roles in many smaller productions are forced in by the investors. The production teams, desperate for cash, have no spine, all too willing to say yes, and they pretend the actors got the roles on merit, which is just disgusting. No matter what, Janet's a movie queen. Vicky would never just drop her for Becky. The most likely scenario is that Charlie has invested a fortune in The Empress, just like he invested heavily in Lovey Princess. Then, using his position as an investor, he can force Becky into the lead role, leaving Janet out in the cold.'

"What are we going to do?" Lisa asked, her voice laced with concern.

Janet's face turned red with anger. She thought, 'What can I do? Compete with the Carter family for who has more money? I'm not stupid. My family has some cash, but it's nowhere near the Carter family's wealth.'

"Forget it. If she wants the show, she can have it. Let's see if Rebecca really has what it takes to play the role well," Janet said through gritted teeth.

Lisa didn't respond.

Taking a deep breath, Janet continued, "Does our company have any other scripts? Ones that are definitely better than The Empress?"

Lisa hesitated. "We have plenty of scripts, but for uniqueness, The Empress is still the best."

After a moment, Lisa added, "Janet, how about we take a break from acting for now? Variety shows are really popular. Ben still wants you filming A Glimpse into Our Family, right? Why don't you go back to that show? Ben treats you pretty well. If you go back, it won't be bad. Plus, variety shows are live, which can keep your popularity up."

"No way," Janet refused immediately. She thought, 'Others have interactions with their partners, but I don't. The last time I was on that show, my mom had no idea what to do and just followed me around the whole time. Our team didn't generate any buzz. If the director hadn't set up a little drama at the end, we would have been a total embarrassment.'

"Keep looking for scripts for me. Ones that are definitely better than The Empress," Janet said firmly.