Chapter 38
Sharon hung her head and had already expecting this outcome. She said in a sad tone, “Sorry, I’ve dragged you into this mess. Switching models is probably for the best anyway. With all this dirt on me, I might mess up your chances.”
“But I didn’t agree to it. Before I came here, I told Cameron thats long as we can clear up the scandal, you’re staying as my model Ophelia replied.
Sharon thought she must’ve heard wrong. A flicker of hope crossed her face, but it was quickly replaced by a sense of defeat.
She said. “Forget it. There’s no way I can take on Starry Media. They’ve shelved me for years, and if they want to blacklist me now, it’s a walk in the park. When the show started picking up steam in the early episodes, they tried to use me to push new talent, and I refused.
their
“Then, when my contract was up, I decided not to renew. I knew they had dirt on me, but I don’t care anymore. How much worse can it get? I’ll just quit acting if I have to.
“My respect,” Ophelia said. Sharon couldn’t tell if Ophelia meant that as a compliment or sarcasm, so she just let it slide. “Well, if that’s your attitude, I guess I came here for nothing.” Ophelia made a show of getting up to leave, but Sharon stayed glued to her seat, her head still down.
The door creaked open and then slammed shut. Sharon jerked her head up and opened her mouth to call out. But instead, she locked eyes with Ophelia, who was leaning casually against the wall.
Wait, she didn’t leave? Was she disappointed in me just now? Sharon thought to herself. She didn’t know why, but she suddenly felt this overwhelming urge not to let Ophelia down. She’d been ready to give up and let it all go, but somehow, Ophelia’s presence told her she shouldn’t just throw in the towel
The truth was, Sharon loved acting–no matter how small the role, she loved it. “You You really believe I’m not that kind of person?” Sharon hesitated to ask.
“I believe you.” Ophelia’s response came almost instantly. She just said three simple words, but each one hit Sharon like a punch to the gut.
Since last night, everyone around Sharon had already written her off as some backstabbing, ungrateful has–been who ditched her company the second she got famous. After the scandals blew up, not a single person believed she was innocent. But Ophelia stood in front of her, saying she was.
Sharon’s eyes reddened, her voice shaking. “So… what do I do now? I’ve already cut ties with the company, and I don’t even have an agent anymore.”
“After all these years, you don’t have any dirt on the company?” Ophelia asked, raising her eyebrows.
Sharon slumped, thinking there was no way she could take on a giant like Starry Media,
Ophelia seemed to pick up on her thoughts and said, “You’ll never know if you can unless you try
“How. How do I try?” Sharon asked.
“You’re buried in scandals right now, so even if you leak something on the company, it’ll just get drowned out, and it might even make people more convinced you’re guilty. But I remember that Starry Media’s go–to second lead, Thomas Collins, has been itching to break his contract for ages, right?
He’s been in the industry for five years playing the second male lead while the company keeps pushing those talentless pretty boys. His faris have been calling fouls for a while now. If he’s the one to spill the tea, especially now, it’ll get people talking
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In the last timeline. Thomas had tried to expose Starry Media right before his contract ended, but no one paid attention. and it fizzled out eventually.
Ophelia added. “And there’s Jaines. He’s probably more anxious than you right now–his directorial debut is riding on you. The last thing he wants is for you to get blacklisted.
“You could talk to him and get him to poach Thomas. That way, Thomas’s breach of contract fee is covered, and he gets a career boost. Maybe Thomas will be willing to return the favor.
Not maybe, Ophelia believed Thomas would surely help Sharon, Ophelia had laid it all out and even came up Now it was up to Sharon to execute. As someone outside the showbiz, it was all she could do.
with the plan.
“I’ve also got a video and some chat screenshots. I’ve sent them over to your phone. See if they help,” Ophelia said again.
Sharon was completely dumbfounded, and she stared at Ophelia in awe. How did she come up with all of this? She’s thought of everything for me, thought Sharon. She gazed at Ophelia, her eyes wide with admiration like she were looking at a long–lost lover. She couldn’t hide her emotions at all.
Ophelia said with a frown, “Stop looking at me like that. I’m only doing this for my own b
But before she could finish, Sharon leaped at her like a giant puppy and hugged her tight. “I don’t care what your reasons are. Even if you’re just using me, I’m all in. Hell, even if you deceive me, I’d say yes.”
“Ophelia rolled her eyes. She wasn’t interested in deceiving her at all.
She pushed Sharon away with a look of exasperation, thinking this wasn’t the person she knew at all. What was her world- weary attitude?*
That night, Sharon, disguised and barely recognizable, made her way to one of the villas where James often stayed. They had gone to the same school, so they had some history. After she laid everything out for him, James didn’t hesitate to agree.
The new movie had a massive budget–over a hundred million. If it got blacklisted or delayed, his investment would be flushed down the drain.
By noon the next day, Thomas posted a lengthy statement, detailing all the injustices he’d suffered at Starry Media over the
years.
In his four and a half years there, he’d earned the company 10 million dollars, but he only took less than 1.5 million dollars. The worst part was that the company made him pay taxes based on an income of 10 million dollars on his own.
He posted receipts, screenshots of his chats with his agent, and even a video of his boss humiliating him. He added that his lawyers were already involved. In an instant, Thomas’s fans were up in arms, and the tide of public opinion flipped.
[Unbelievable! Sharon probably left Starry Media because she couldn’t take it anymore.]
[No wonder they’re coming after her with all these fake scandals. So disgusting!]
[Sharon hasn’t had a single decent project since joining Starry Medial
[Actually, she has. Her side gig film as the lead is dropping tomorrow night!]
I’m definitely going to watch it. Amazing Sharon, poor Thomas
Starry Media’s dirty laundry didn’t stop there. After Thomas, seven more artists came forward that day, using the momentum to expose the company’s shady dealings, like forcing female stars to trade favors for roles, making money off breach of contract fines, and more.
Throughout all this, Sharon stayed silent. But the comments under her Twitter posts shifted from insults to sympathy and support. James’s studio released a new promotional video for the movie, and fans put together a compilation showcasing
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Sharon’s acting highlights from over the years. She gained even more followers through this.
Sharon stared at it all in disbelief, her eyes once again full of awe as she looked at Ophelia. She couldn’t help but think, ‘How is she so amazing? Ophelia is really my guardian angel.
“Now,” Ophelia said, “send out a tweet. Thank everyone for their support, plug the movie, and tag Cameron while you’re at it.”
“On it,” Sharon said, quickly typing out the tweet.
Once everything was in place, Ophelia dialed Cameron and said Mr. Bishop, I assume there’s no need to change my model now, right?”
