Chapter 9 Audition Crisis

• Skyla Smith.
• Before making her formal debut, Skyla already had the conduct of a big star, with her agent leading the way and two assistants following closely behind. And her? She swaggered along, sporting a pair of sunglasses.
• When Leanna saw Skyla, she had just come out of the restroom. She immediately retreated, not wanting to run into Skyla here.
• Seeing Skyla surrounded by her entourage, many other actors here for auditions couldn't help but envy her.
• "Hey, did you hear? Skyla is practically the Sagebrush Studios CEO's future wife. This audition is just a formality for her. But she's playing the key supporting role, so she won't clash with us."
• "Thank goodness. If she did, this trip would've been for nothing!"
• "You can say that again. Snagging Mr. Marten-Robbins, she's bound to be a big star in the future. Sigh, no matter how hard we work, it's not as good as having a rich and powerful husband!"
• Listening to the conversations around her, Leanna couldn't help but feel a bit desolate. If it were a year ago, perhaps all of this would have been hers, and she wouldn't still be here auditioning.
• After touching up her makeup in front of the mirror, Leanna regained her composure.
• The actresses auditioning for the female supporting role numbered over thirty, all waiting in the lounge. Some were carefully reading the character descriptions provided by the production team, while others chatted in groups. Leanna, on the other hand, stood in a corner, lost in thought.
• In another lounge, designated for the female lead and the key supporting role, the seats were plush sofas, and there were only a few people present, all strangers to Skyla.
• Even well-known artists in the industry needed to audition, but their schedules were usually busy, so they would schedule separate appointments with the director. Although Skyla had Elias backing her, she had just started her career and had no notable works or engagements yet, so she was auditioning alongside others.
• Her assistant, Felicia Holt, approached cautiously and whispered by Skyla's side, "Miss Skyla, I just saw Leanna."
• Skyla frowned. "What's she doing here?"
• "She's here for an audition. I checked; she's auditioning for the supporting role, so there's no conflict with you."
• Skyla's face displayed a disdainful expression. "Of course, there won't be any conflict. With no agent, she naturally can't audition for important roles. That said…"
• Skyla motioned for Felicia to lean in closer, and they whispered for a moment.
• "Miss Skyla, is this really necessary? Even if she manages to book the job as a supporting actress, she can't overshadow you. In this film, only the key supporting role almost matches the lead role."
• "You know nothing. Leanna is sly. If she rises, she'll be my biggest rival. Do as I say!"
• Felicia nodded.
• In the other lounge, Leanna was still preparing. Actors went in and out of the audition room, all looking dejected. This made her increasingly nervous.
• Auditioning the supporting role audition were two assistant directors, not River himself. However, they were already quite strict. From what she had gathered, even after receiving the assistant directors' approval, they still had to impress River.
• Suddenly, someone knocked on the door, and everyone looked toward the person standing at the entrance. It was someone dressed in the crew's shirt. Today, there were many crew members on site, as there were many auditioning actors, and they couldn't afford any chaos.
• "Who's Leanna?" the crew member asked.
• Leanna frowned but stood up. "That's me."
• "Step outside for a moment."
• Leanna walked out suspiciously, and the crew member pulled her aside, sizing her up. "You're Leanna?"
• "Yes, what's the matter?"
• "Oh, here's the thing. Mr. Landon reviewed your profile just now and is quite interested in you. He wants to meet you alone," said the crew member with a smile, surprising Leanna. "But my profile is almost blank. Why would Mr. Landon be interested in me?"
• In terms of looks, anyone who could be in front of the camera must be stunning. Even if they were innately mediocre, they could still opt for cosmetic surgery. And in terms of her record, every job she took was for extras. She had nothing good enough to show.
• "That's exactly why he's interested in you! Believe me, you know Mr. Landon's temperament. He likes blank slates in the entertainment industry because they have more room for interpretation. Many people falsify their profiles, but yours is the cleanest, which is why Mr. Landon is interested."
• "But…"
• The crew member was stating facts. River was known for liking newcomers. However, Leanna still felt uneasy. Wasn't this a bit too lucky?
• "Are you going to let such a good opportunity pass you by? The audition today is just for show; many roles have already been cast. If you don't go, it'll be for nothing."
• Leanna bit her lip. Despite the shadiness in the industry, what harm could there be in going once? If she encountered any unethical behavior, she would just refuse. They couldn't possibly defile her, right?
• With that in mind, Leanna nodded. "Okay, I'll go."
• "Alright, follow me." The crew member led Leanna away.
• Leanna wasn't familiar with the studio, so she followed the crew member closely. But after several turns, to the point that she couldn't even remember the way back, they still hadn't arrived. At that, she couldn't help feeling suspicious. "Excuse me, but where is Mr. Landon's room? Why haven't we arrived yet?"
• "Why do you have so many questions? Could a major director like Mr. Landon be in any random room? Of course, he'll be in a secluded one."
• "Oh…" Leanna didn't think much of it and continued to follow the crew member.
• After several more turns, Leanna had completely forgotten the way back. She only knew they must have reached the basement. It wasn't strange for a studio to have a basement level. In fact, bigger studios even had multiple basement levels.
• There were no lights here, and Leanna looked around anxiously. They arrived at a large red double door, and the staff member pointed to it. "Alright, here we are. Go on in."
• "Aren't you coming in?"
• "I'm not auditioning. Besides, I have other things to attend to. You go ahead." He opened the door.
• Leanna hesitated as she approached the door. Just as she leaned in, she felt someone push her, and she fell to the ground.