Chapter
Leilaâs palms were raw and blistered, just like Merryâs, rendering her unable to play in the big game. Tears streamed down her face as classmates supported Leila on the way to the school nurse for bandaging incident had the staff scrambling to report to the director and assistant director
The director lost his cool, while the assistant director dashed off to find a potential replacement
During the initial auditions, they had their eyes on three potential girls. With the best and secondâbest Both injured, they were left with no choice but to find Juliana.
âJuliana, is Juliana around
The assistant directorâs shout sent students scurrying in all directions. Hayley piped up, âSheâs not hereâ
Grabbing his cell phone, the assistant director muttered, Fine, fill just give her a callâ
They all had left their numbers just for emergencies so that they could be reachable at a moment of notice
He dialed the number. To his relief, Juliana picked up promptly.
âWhere are you? Merry and Leila are both hurt. You need to step in!â he explained anxiously
Julianaâs voice dripped with insincerity, âIâm in the middle of physics class. I donât really feel. know?â
The assistant director was at a loss for words. He thought, âWhy audition if you didnât want to act? Mentioning disinterest now was a ploy to negotiate terms.â
He had seen these tactics too often. Yet with only her to save the day, he conceded, âHow about we double your pay?â
Juliana feigned disappointment, âJust double? You seem out of touch, sit. None of us are short on cast though I wouldnât mind a bit extra for my allowance.â
âWhat will it take for you to be interested, then?â
Juliana brightened her voice, âFive times the amount, and I might consideri
The assistant director nearly choked.
This role was just a cameo with a few scenes. Since they were casting students from Greenmeadow International School, where every other kid was an heiress, the initial pay was substantial. Quintupling that was tantamount to the salary of a lead role.
But this series was on a weekly broadcast schedule. They needed to shoot simultaneously and wrap up in days or risk missing the weekend slot!
As the assistant director pondered his next move, a slender and pale hand reached out and snatched the phone before he could react.
He turned to see a striking yet indifferent girl holding the phone.
Cordelia spoke into the device with a casual air. The anonymous text to Merry was your doing, wasnât it?â
There was a stunned silence on the other end, followed by Julianaâs flustered response, âWhat are you talking about? I donât understand.â Her attitude gave it all away.
Cordelia pressed on, âWere you involved?â
This time, Juliana fell silent, evidently flabbergasted.
Cordelia got it. Juliana was playing both Merry and Leila to snag this role. It was laughable that Leils thought she had won when she was merely a pawn in Julianaâs game.
Cordelia had no interest in the petty scheming between Juliana and Leila. She only cared that someone who
Chapter
Chapter
Leilaâs palms were raw and blistered, just like Merryâs, rendering her unable to play in the big game. Tears streamed down her face as classmates supported Leila on the way to the school nurse for bandaging. The incident had the staff scrambling to report to the director and assistant director.
The director lost his cool, while the assistant director dashed off to find a potential replacement.
During the initial auditions, they had their eyes on three potential girls. With the best and secondâbest both injured they were left with no choice but to find Juliana.
Juliana, Juliana around?â
The assistant directorâs shout sent students scurrying in all directions. Hayley piped up, âSheâs not here.â Grabbing his cell phone, the assistant director muttered, âFine, Iâll just give her a call.â
They all had left their numbers just for emergencies so that they could be reachable at a moment of notice.
He dialed the number. To his relief, Juliana picked up promptly.
âWhere are you? Merry and Leila are both hurt. You need to step in!â he explained anxiously.
Julianaâs voice dripped with insincerity, âIâm in the middle of physics class. I donât really feel like acting, you know?â
The assistant director was at a for words. He thought, âWhy audition if you didnât want to act? Mentioning disinterest now was a ploy to negotiate terms.â
He had seen these tactics too often. Yet with only her to save the day, he conceded, âHow about we double your pay?â
Juliana feigned disappointment, âJust double? You seem out of touch, sir. None of us are short on cash, though I wouldnât mind a bit extra for my allowance.â
ââ¦What will it take for you to be interested, then â
Juliana brightened her voice, âFive times the amount, and I might consider it.â
The assistant director nearly choked.
This role was just a cameo with a few scenes. Since they were casting students from Greenmeadow International School, where every other kid was an heiress, the initial pay was substantial. Quintupling that was tantamount to the salary of a lead role.
But this series was on a weekly broadcast schedule. They needed to shoot simultaneously and wrap up in days. or risk missing the weekend slot!
As the assistant director pondered his next move, a slender and pale hand reached out and snatched the phone before he could react.
He turned to see a striking yet indifferent girl holding the phone.
Cordelia spoke into the device with a casual air. âThe anonymous text to Merry your doing, wasnât it?â
There was a stunned silence on the other end, followed by Julianaâs flustered response, âWhat are you talking about? I donât understand.â Her attitude gave it all away.
Cordelia pressed on, âWere you involved?â
This time, Juliana fell silent, evidently flabbergasted.
Cordelia got it. Juliana was playing both Merry and Leila to snag this role. It was laughable that Leila thought she had won when she was merely a pawn in Julianaâs game.
Cordelia had no interest in the petty scheming between Juliana and Leila. She only cared that someone who
crossed Little Parrot wasnât getting that role.
The assistant director finally found his voice, âHey, who are you? Give the phone back.â He trailed off as he locked eyes with Cordeliaâs gaze.
On the other end, the prolonged silence made Juliana panic, âCordelia, Iâm warning you, stay out of this!â
âOh.â Cordeliaâs voice was calm, âHold on.â
She covered the mouthpiece and turned to the assistant director, âWhat do you think? Can I do it?
Of course, she could! Her look was the spitting image of the role of first love as described in the book!
With someone like her, why hadnât they approached her sooner? The director shot a glare at and nodded vigorously at Cordelia, âAbsolutely, you can play yourself!â
Satisfied, Cordelia spoke into the phone, âYou donât need to come. Iâll take the role.â
With that, she hung up and tossed the phone back to the director.
Silence enveloped the set. No one had anticipated that Cordella, with just a few words, would secure the role over three contenders.
Merry stood by, tears welling in her eyes. She knew acting waste for Lia, yet here she was, stepping up for her sake.
As Cordelia watched Merryâs tearful face, was baffled.
Wasnât the whole point to keep Little Parrot from crying? Now, why was she weeping more than ever? What was the next move?
The dayâs commotion had delayed filming, and dusk had turned to darkness, spoiling the golden hour needed for the shoot. With the lastâminute cast change, the assistant director needed to brief Cordelia about the scene, so they postponed filming to the next day.
Hayley, amidst the crowd, couldnât believe it, âSir, she canât do it! She doesnât even the piano!â
The assistant director reassured her, âNo worries, weâve got a double from Stanton, Cordelia just needs to fake
it for the camera.â Turning to Cordelia, he added, âCordelia, shall we go over the scene now?â
Cordelia cut him off, âI was there when you went over it with Little Parrot yesterday. If weâre not shooting today, Iâm heading back to study.â
The assistant director was thrown off by her response but Cordelia, sensing his understanding, turned and left with stillâdumbfounded Merry to return to their studies.
Meanwhile, Juliana was hiding in the bathroom, crying pitifully into her phone, âMom, Cordelia is too much! She said she wasnât acting yesterday, sheâs doing this to spite me!â
The scheming that led to Merry and Leilaâs misfortune was courtesy of Rachelâs advice to Juliana.
With the tables turned, Rachel was icy, âHow dare she! But donât worry, sheâs in trouble now. Picking a fight at a time like this is suicidal. Just wait.â
As Cordelia exited the school gates that evening, she spotted Larryâs car and was about to head over when a group suddenly appeared in front of her, âExcuse me, are you Cordelia, the one with the direct admission to Superiority College?â
Bewildered, Cordelia simply nodded.
Suddenly, the crowd around her shifted like a wellârehearsed magic trick. A handful of reporters thrust their microphones toward her faceâ âIâm with the local radio station. Why did Superiority College single you out with such an opportunity?â one reporter prodded.
âCordelia, weâve heard that a renowned professor from Superiority College personally recommended you. Whatâs your relationship with him? Why does he hold you in such high regard?â another inquired.
13.09
âCordelia the Delaney family pull some strings with the faculty? Are there any suspicions of foul play regarding your National Math League scores?â a third journalist questioned insistently.
Cordelia furrowed her brow in frustration and wanted to leave but was hemmed in by the press. Just as she was about to push through, a voice called out from the distance, âHey, reporters! Why donât you interview me instead
Accompanied by the voice of Flame No. 1, Yates led the charge of the Flame Union, bulldozing through the throng to create a barrier between Cordelia and the journalists.
Yates looked at Cordelia and said, âLia, you go on ahead!â
Chapter 78