Chapter 1109

The woman picked up the contract, glanced at it, and burst into laughter.
She sneered at Lulu, “Seriously? You’re signing this? What if they quit after a month? You’ll lose both time and money. Lulu, I know you’re desperate for cash, but are you really that hard up? Taking on any gig that comes your way? Don’t come crying when you’re even more in debt.”
“This is my business, not yours,” Lulu retorted, snatching the contract from her and walking into the break room. She smiled as she placed the contract in front of Nina.
“Sorry about that, hope you didn’t mind the scene.”
“No worries. I thought the entertainment industry would be different, but I see there’s drama everywhere,” Nina replied, signing the contract.
She added cautiously, “You know Orion’s just a kid. He might find this fun now, but don’t pin too many hopes on him.”
“I’ve thought about that,” Lulu admitted before asking, “By the way, how should I address you?”
The contract only required one parent’s signature, and Nina had left Nash’s name off. She preferred not to rely on his status for everything and wanted to keep Orion’s involvement in the industry low-profile. If people knew his background, it might spark jealousy and cause unnecessary trouble.
With a smile, Nina replied, “Just call me Nina.”
“Nina, great. Now that the contract’s signed, if it works for you, can you bring Orion in for a screen test tomorrow? It’s for a commercial, nothing difficult. I’ll send you the script.”
Lulu seemed a bit nervous, as if she feared Nina might back out.
Nina patted her on the shoulder reassuringly. “Don’t worry, we signed the contract. We’ll follow through.”
“Thank you so much,” Lulu said gratefully.
She walked Nina downstairs, where they encountered more curious glances. Nina couldn’t help but feel for Lulu. The entertainment industry was clearly a tough place, and without a strong mindset, surviving here seemed nearly impossible.
The commercial shoot was for a children’s shampoo. With Orion’s naturally smooth hair, he was a perfect fit for the role. Everything in the studio was new and exciting for the little guy. As soon as he stepped in, he acted like a kid in a candy store, curious about everything. Lulu guided Orion to the couch and patiently explained what he needed to do. She guided him on when to look at the camera and when to change his pose. Nina quietly observed the set. Across from them, a more elaborate setup hinted at a shoot for a big-name celebrity. When it was time to shoot, Orion picked up the cues quickly. Despite the complex setting, he understood the directions after just a few pointers. What was planned as an hour-long shoot wrapped up in half the time, with excellent footage.
The director’s constant praise began to stir some dissatisfaction from the other side of the room.
A woman approached, glanced over the footage with a critical eye, and shook her head repeatedly.
“Director Long, I know you’re always considerate of newcomers, but being too lenient means you’re not setting any standards. You’re not helping them this way.”
“Miss Flores, I think you’re mistaken this time. The ad turned out really well. It’s going to be a hit.”
It turned out to be Miss Flores, the same person who had mocked Lulu the day before.
Her expression was stiff as she shot a glance at Nina, then sneered, “Another mom trying to get rich off her kid. There are just too many of those nowadays. They care more about their own fun than their child’s well-being.” Nina met her provocation with a cold look. “Miss Flores, you’re absolutely right. With a talented son like mine, I’d be a fool not to take advantage.”