NOVEL NEXT Chapter 407: Surprise Visit Turned Audition
After a busy day on campus, Sarah briefly stopped at the music studio for some rehearsals with the band.
She spent the next few hours serenading her bestie, Annabelle, with her ingenious guitar skills while playing trending pop music.
It was already evening by the time she left the music studio with Annabelle, a contagious smile spreading across her cheeks as a thought crossed her mind.
She brought out her phone and dialled Henry's number, while Annabelle teased her with funny faces.
"Hello sweetie..." Sarah pushed Annabelle's face away from eavesdropping on her calls while casting her a playful glare.
"How's my baby doing?" Henry's smooth voice echoed from the other end.
"Awesome. What about you?" Sarah asked blushing from ear to ear.
"Exhausted and still very busy. But you have nothing to worry about. I'll be fine."
"Sure." Sarah gently stroked the steering wheel, a mischievous smile curling up her lips, as she started the car engine and joined the evening traffic.
"Are you done with your music rehearsal for the day?"
"Yep. Currently driving home with Annabelle." Sarah replied, and Annabelle raised a brow as she looked out the window, observing they were driving in the opposite direction.
"Ugh... if only I could see your face tonight. But it's fine. I'll talk to you when you get home. Drive safely."
"Alright. Love you." Sarah winked at Annabelle, her heart bursting with excitement at surprising Henry.
"Love you more." Henry blew kisses and the call ended.
"You just lied to your boyfriend, young lady." Annabelle's voice echoed with incredulity.
"It's for a just cause, sweetie pie," Sarah replied giggling at Annabelle's animated expression. "A little lie doesn't hurt."
"Really! Who is responsible for spoiling you, Miss Sarah Hunt?" Annabelle cast Sarah a stunned glance, hands akimbo.
"Who else if not you, my mischievous bad teacher?" Sarah blurted out and both ladies burst out laughing.
Twenty minutes later, both ladies arrived at Mega House Studio.
The gleaming glass doors swung open as they made their way into the massive lobby area, their eyes widening with awe and wonder.
Giant posters of blockbuster movies and legendary actors greeted them like towering guardians of cinematic history. And the sight of known and unknown movie actors, assistants, and crew buzzing like bees in a hive, left them speechless.
"It feels like I'm in a cinematic world." Annabelle chirped happily.
"Me too!" Sarah's eyes glimmered with euphoria as it swept across the lobby area in search of Henry. "I can't wait to see the look on his face when he sees me."
"Where do we start looking for him?" Annabelle asked, narrowing her gaze at some young ladies and crew members gathered by the corner.
"We could ask them?" Sarah replied, following Annabelle's gaze.
But before they could take three steps in that direction, a sharp voice cut across the room, snapping their feet to a halt.
"Excuse me... who are you and where do you think you're going?" Magdalene Pierce, the infamous casting director of Mega House studios, demanded in an icy tone, her arms folded across her chest.
As if on automation, Sarah and Annabelle slowly spun around to face the impressively tall and beautiful young lady with high cheekbones, a pepper-red lip and a power suit that screamed authority.
Her stiletto heels clicked like a gunshot against the polished marble floor as she approached the slightly frozen young ladies.
"I asked a question and I demand answers. Who are you and what are you doing here?" Magdalene's frosty voice cut through the air with a blaze, her gaze condescending and suspicious.
Sarah offered a polite smile as she shook off the tension from her body.
"Good evening. I'm Sarah and this is my friend Annabelle. I was hoping to see Mr. Henry Gordon."
Magdalene's brow arched. "Really?! Do you have an appointment?"
"No but I..."
"Of course you don't.... I completely understand." Magdalene gave a laugh that didn't reach her eyes.
"Just another pretty face hoping to skip the line and seduce her way up the ladder."
"Excuse me?!" Sarah's brow furrowed, her lips drawn in a thin line.
"Madam you are clearly mistaken about..."
"Silent!" Magdalene cut Annabelle off sharply. "You young girls of nowadays no nothing about hard work and integrity. You think you can just show up here every week, batting your eyelashes and whispering sweet nothings, thinking you'll land yourself a lead role."
Both Annabelle's and Sarah's jaws dropped in shock at the unprovoked insult and humiliation. But Magdalene was far from shredding them.
"What's next, you're probably going to tell me that you're his girlfriend and you're here to surprise him."
Annabelle almost lost her cool, but Sarah quickly stepped in, squeezing her arm, before she could unleash her sharp tongue.
Sarah knew it would be hopeless trying to make this arrogant and judgmental lady see her as anything but a suck up loser. She also knew calling Henry right now to clear up the misunderstanding would only give the arrogant woman more reasons to undermine every young lady who walked through that door.
Inhaling and exhaling to stifle her burning rage, she lifted her chin and spoke calmly but loud enough for everyone to hear.
"With all due respect, ma'am, I'm not here to seduce anyone. I'm simple here to audition. I would like to sign up for the upcoming romance trailer movie as the female lead character."
"What?!" Annabelle's eyes widened like a saucer as she whipped her gaze to her friend wondering if she had gone mad.
The lobby seemed to pause, and the hum of chatter dimmed as all eyes flew to the pretty blonde young lady who had dared to challenge the almighty Magdalene Pierce.
"An audition?" Magdalene's smirk deepened, her fury attaining stage two.
"Do you have training?"
"No," Sarah replied boldly while Annabelle tugged at her arm in an attempt to snap her back to her senses.
"Do you have any experience whatsoever in acting?"
"No...But I'm a quick learner."
"Really?!" Magdalene burst out laughing, the humour barely flashing in her frosty gaze. "You are so adorable. You see, on a normal day, I would have security throw you out of this building, but I do like a challenge when I see one. Let's see how quickly you can learn."
She motioned to a nearby assistant. "Charlie, put this beauty with the others. Let's see how long she lasts."