Chapter 403

“Emily her assistant started to say.
“Never mind,” Emily cut in, dabbing at her watery eyes and putting on a brave face. “There are plenty of people who like me. There’s no way I’m going to be someone’s backup plan or the other woman.”
She took a shaky breath and looked up. The two people she’d been watching were already gone. Out of nowhere, a young girl in a school uniform appeared behind her, staring in the direction Charlotte had left, looking confused. “Charlotte?”
“You know her?” Emily’s assistant asked quietly. They’d been trying every trick to figure out who that girl was, but had come up empty every time.
Emily spun around at the voice. Olivia’s face lit up when she saw her, a spark of excitement in her eyes. After all, Emily was the female lead in this movie. There had always been rumors she liked Kenneth, even though no one had ever caught them together.
Still, the way Emily had just looked after Kenneth… Maybe those rumors were true. “Yeah, she’s a student at our school,” Olivia replied with a little smile.
It was strange for Charlotte to show up at Flux Digital at this hour, standing right outside the recording booth. She must have landed a small voice role. Olivia couldn’t help but think, if Charlotte made Emily mad, her time at Flux Digital would be over in a heartbeat.
“I’ve heard she’s a bit of a mess. Dating a classmate, hanging out with older guys on the side,” Olivia said with a sweet, gossipy tone. “And now, somehow, she’s gotten close to Kenneth
The meaning behind her words couldn’t have been clearer.
“Emily, I’ve actually seen Kenneth and her together quite a few times. They were pretty close.” Watching Emily’s face grow stormy, Olivia went on, “I’m pretty sure the only reason she got that role in the movie is because of him.”
“Emily, do you really think someone like that belongs on this project?”
She was practically spelling it out for Emily. If Emily was smart, she’d know kicking Charlotte out was the obvious move.
“Thanks for letting me know,” Emily replied, lifting her chin. Her eyes were cool and steady on Olivia’s face, her tone almost bored. “I have”: no idea what kind of person she is, and don’t think it’s fair to judge someone based on other people’s gossip. Besides, you heard all this secondhand, didn’t you?”
“As for your theory about her using connections to get the part Emily pressed her lips together. “The director picked every voice actor personally. Stuff like that just
espet
doesn’t happen here Basic means not spreading rumors or talking about people behind their backs.”
Olivia’s face turned pale. She hadn’t expected Emily to be so direct.
Emily held her gaze for a moment, then turned and walked away, leaving Olivia with no chance to stir things up any further.
Olivia bit her lip, feeling embarrassed. But it didn’t really matter. Sooner or later, Emily would figure out that the guy she liked was falling for Charlotte, and then things would definitely get ugly.
…
Emily never caught a glimpse of Timbre, and seeing the guy she liked with someone else was just salt in the wound. Her eyes were so petty from @ying, she could barely see as she wandered downstairs, lost in her thoughts.
She hadn’t made it far when she spotted a white sports car parked under the bright
glow of the entrance lights. Leaning against the driver’s side was a tall, familiar figure, holding a slim, long-legged girl in his arms.
Anthony?
Emily rubbed her eyes, not trusting what she saw. This time, she got a clear look at the guy’s face—and recognized the girl too. What was her name?
Ms. Cool, that’s what everyone called her. She was tangled up with Kenneth and that mysterious guy in black, and now here she was with Anthony…
Emily felt her brain short-circuit. Was Anthony even in the top three? Did this girl have any idea who she was toying with? If Anthony ever found out…