Mr. CEO, You Look Strangely Familiar

That afternoon, as she was taking off her makeup, Lillian chuckled. ”Nora Ainsworth, your scenes were suddenly wrapped today. I bet you didn’t see that coming.”

Nora Ainsworth remained composed. ”I was only a supporting character. It’s nothing to make a big deal out of if my scenes get cut.”

”Shouldn’t you be crying? Last time, the director and producer gave you such a great opportunity, but you backed out at the last minute. Heh, the director has had it in for you for a while now. At first, he thought you might be a dark horse, but it turns out you’re a dark horse with no hooves. No matter how hard he cracks the whip, you just won’t run any faster. You threw away the amazing opportunity the director, producer, and screenwriter gave you. There’s only one word for it: you deserve it!”

’Nora felt a pang of regret, though not for a role like this. She knew Lillian had been with the director for a long time, so messing with her would be child’s play. The Harrowin entertainment industry was incredibly competitive, and after all these years here, it was clear she’d really overestimated herself.’

”What’s it to you? This role may have been an opportunity, but the thought of not having to see you anymore makes me incredibly happy. After all, very few people actually want to see you.”

Lillian sneered. ”You’re about to lose your job, and you’re still talking so tough. You’ll get what’s coming to you.”

Just as she finished speaking, a man in a sharp suit walked in. ”Who is Nora Ainsworth?”

Nora Ainsworth stood up. ”I am. And you are...?”

The man smiled. ”Here’s the deal. Your show recently started airing on TV, right? My boss saw it and thinks you have a wonderful presence. He specifically sent me to invite you to shoot a commercial. We couldn’t get in touch with your agent, so we had to come find you directly. I was wondering if you have any availability?”

Upon hearing this, Nora Ainsworth immediately replied, ”I don’t have an agent, and my scenes for this show just wrapped, so I’m available.”

The man nodded. ”Great. Why don’t you come with me and check it out?”

Nora Ainsworth gathered her things and walked out of the dressing room beside him. Lillian’s face turned foul. ’Dumb luck,’ she muttered under her breath. ’It’s just one commercial. What does that even prove?’

”Actually, it was Zenith Talent Agency in Fravia that recommended you to us,” the man said. ”We watched your show and thought you were great. I heard you first became popular shooting commercials, is that right?”

Nora Ainsworth nodded. ”Yes, that’s right. I started by shooting two commercials: one for shampoo and one for a soft drink.”

’She didn’t understand. After Zenith Talent Agency terminated her contract, why would they go out of their way to help her in Harrowin?’

After taking a car to the film and television company, she was met with a complete surprise. Laid out before her were two contracts: one for the commercial, and one for the role of female lead in a TV drama.

This sudden windfall made Nora Ainsworth a little uneasy.

”What’s going on...?”

The manager smiled. ”Here’s the situation. Why don’t I give President Harding a call and let him explain it to you?”

Nora Ainsworth nodded, watching as he dialed the number.

The call went through quickly.

President Harding’s voice came through the line.

”It’s me,” the manager said. ”Nora Ainsworth wants to speak with you directly.”

He then handed the phone to Nora Ainsworth.

”Hello, this is Nora Ainsworth. President Harding, what’s the meaning of this? You terminated my contract because of pressure from your superiors, and now this? It’s honestly making me quite uneasy.”

President Harding’s apologetic voice came through the phone. ”Nora, to be perfectly honest, back when the Grant Matriarch was pressuring you, we never actually gave up on you. If you don’t believe me, go back and look at that termination contract. Article 19 clearly states that the termination was temporary. It says that if the company arranges new projects or work for you within five years, the termination is considered void—as if it never happened. Only if the company fails to assign you work within five years does the termination become final.”

Hearing this, Nora Ainsworth felt like she’d been played for a fool.

”President Harding, you... really think of everything, don’t you!” she said, practically gritting her teeth. ’What kind of crap is this!’

ARGHHHH!

”Heh heh, Nora, no need to thank me. It was just a small misunderstanding. You can go ahead and shoot that commercial with the Harrowin company. As for the drama, you’ll probably come back to our side to film it. The script is very fresh. This series is shaping up to be much bigger than *Love when the sun comes out*.”

”But, President Harding... you play me like this and think everything will just be fine? You are absolutely shameless... damn you... you tricked me!”

”Hahaha, Nora, don’t get so excited. When you come back, I’ll personally raise a toast to you. You can ask for whatever compensation you want, can’t you?”

”Really?”

President Harding said with certainty, ”Of course. I always keep my word.”

”I have just one condition. If you agree, I’ll never bring this matter up again.”

”Let’s hear it.”

”After this drama is finished, the company cannot make decisions for me about whether I take on future acting roles or other jobs. I’ll decide for myself.”

”No problem.”

”Then it’s settled.”

After hanging up, Nora Ainsworth carefully reviewed the contracts. She then signed her name and agreed with the manager to shoot the commercial the next day.

When she went to the kindergarten to pick up her two little darlings, the teacher told her that they had already been picked up by someone.

The first person Nora Ainsworth thought of was Leon Lynch. ’Did he come?’

After all, he was always pulling stunts like this.

But when she got home and opened the door, she stood there in a daze.

’He just went back home, how is he here again?’

”Mommy! Daddy’s here!” Dylan Grant shouted excitedly.

”Are you happy, Mommy?” Elmer Grant chimed in with a grin.

Nora Ainsworth couldn’t help but laugh. ”You little rascals, Mommy can see that Daddy’s here. I’m not blind.”

She then walked up to him. ”What are you doing back here?”

Quentin Grant said slowly, ”I missed you and the boys, of course.”

Nora Ainsworth blushed. ”Have you eaten yet?”

”Not yet.”

She smiled again. ”Well, what are you standing around for? Go make dinner.”

He stood up and said good-naturedly, ”Alright.”

Nora Ainsworth went to her room, found the old termination contract in her suitcase, and saw that Article 19 was written exactly as President Harding had described.

The text was just so faint that it would be easy to overlook.

She sat on the edge of the bed, holding the contract. When Quentin Grant came in, he found her sitting there sullenly.

He closed the door and came closer. ”What’s wrong, my love?”

She handed him the contract, pointing to Article 19. ”Look. President Harding completely screwed me over.”

After reading it, he said, ”This just shows he still wanted to keep you. Your relationship with the agency is purely contractual; you’re both just looking out for your own interests. Don’t overthink it. If you want to act, then act. If you don’t, I’ll take care of you.”

At his words, Nora Ainsworth’s heart melted. Suddenly, the whole thing didn’t seem like such a big deal anymore.

Quentin Grant tilted her chin up, capturing her lips with his. Once he tasted them, he didn’t want to let go. They tumbled back onto the bed, gazing at each other with deep affection, their every breath audible in the quiet room.