Chapter 8 What a Coincidence
Before Graciela stepped onto the set, Helena reminded her
earnestly, “Grace, it’s just a minor role, but your scenes are crucial.
“Bring out your best and impress the director!”
“Alright, Helena.”
Graciela nodded sweetly.
She was so good at being cute that her three brothers found it hard to say no to her, and within just a few days, Helena already thought of her like a daughter.
“Call me if anything happens. I’m off.”
Helena dropped Graciela off at the set and then left hurriedly.
As Graciela was putting on makeup in the makeup room, the door was suddenly pushed open.
Someone who looked like an assistant shouted, “Everyone, out!
Ms. McLean never shares a makeup room with anyone.”
In the next second, Leanna walked in while surrounded by
several assistants, each with big suitcases, and some were even holding an umbrella and water bottles for her. She made quite an entrance.
Leanna spotted Graciela in the corner at once and seemed
slightly surprised.
“What a coincidence, Ms. Ferguson.”
Graciela snorted softly in response.
She didn’t like Leanna.
Though Leanna’s eyes were so gentle, she just couldn’t shake off the feeling that there were some obscure emotions buried deep down.
“It’s such a surprise that we’re in the same production. So, you’re an artist, too? We have a lot in common indeed.“”
She might say this inadvertently, but Graciela, who heard her
every word, took it to heart.
Her heart ached as she caught Leanna’s implication.
Leanna was reminding her that the only reason Lamar had
chosen her was her resemblance to Leanna.
She said coldly, “I have self–knowledge.
“I don’t dare to compare myself to you at all.”
If she had known she’d be on the same production as Leanna,
she would have asked Helena to reject this job.
Just then, Leanna’s assistant stepped forward.
“Are you deaf? I’m asking you to leave. Ms. McLean is about to
put on her makeup!”
However, Graciela remained seated, not moving at all.
She said flatly, “This makeup room is meant for everyone to use. If she doesn’t wanna share a room with the others, she should rent one.”
“Who gave you the nerve to be so arrogant, you Z–list nobody? How dare you disrespect Ms. McLean? She’s a famous actress who has won an award in Haleywood,” Leanna’s assistant said loudly.
“Oh, good for her,” Graciela responded expressionlessly.
“Hey, that’s enough. Ms. Ferguson is right. Anyone can use the
makeup room as long as they want. Besides, who says I need a
private makeup room anyway?”
Leanna shot her assistant a glance, who immediately caught her
drift and stopped talking.
As Leanna walked over to another corner to put on makeup,
other young artists in the room couldn’t help but admire Graciela secretly.
They were all thinking the same thing–Graciela was so badass, standing up to Leanna in front of so many people.
Graciela’s first scene required her to fall into the water.
Standing on a platform that was three meters high, she took a deep breath before jumping into the water.
The weather wasn’t exactly cold, but it was late autumn, and the lake water was already a bit chilly. Fortunately, the scene wasn’t long, and she just needed to stay in the water for a few seconds.
As she was swimming back to shore, Leanna suddenly said, “Mr. Ignacio, the scene seems a bit blurry to me.
“Don’t you think?
“It’s the first film I participated in after I came back from
Haleywood. I’m sure you understand I want everything to be
perfect, right? I suggest we reshoot it.”
Bryant Ignacio, the director, nodded.
He praised her, “Ms. McLean, every actress should learn from your professionalism.“”
Then he turned to the film crew. “Well reshoot the scene. Tell
the actress to get ready and do it again.”
Graciela jumped into the water without complaint.
Then Leanna said, coming up with another excuse, “I do think she can jump a bit more gracefully.”
And just like that, Graciela jumped again.
Since Leanna was the female lead and had won an award in Haleywood, Bryant did everything she asked. In his eyes, she was his golden ticket to many rewards for the film.
Graciela jumped again and again until she was completely soaked, trembling with the cold.
She wasn’t a fool–she realized Leanna was deliberately making
her suffer.
After she jumped the tenth time, Leanna finally smiled with satisfaction. Bryant nodded, and Graciela swam to the shore
while sniffing.
She thought, “Leanna, you’d better pray I don’t get any goods on you, or I swear I’m gonna make you pay!”
No one noticed a tall, slender figure in the corner. He stared at
the completely wet Graciela for ages…
