Chapter 100: Chapter 89: The Investor

Isla Prescott’s studio officially reopened for business on the eighth day of the Lunar New Year.

On the day they reopened, Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton gave each employee a red envelope and a New Year’s gift. To lighten everyone’s workload, they also hired two new dance instructors, an operations assistant, and a video editor.

The studio was beginning to expand in a very real, tangible way.

While ensuring their offline operations progressed steadily, Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton didn’t neglect their social media accounts. Because they were consistently posting content and getting good traffic on their videos, all sorts of opportunities began pouring in.

Shortly after work resumed for the year, several variety shows reached out, inviting Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton to participate.

Isla Prescott and Annabelle Leighton discussed their options. Adhering to the principle of “not putting all their eggs in one basket,” they decided to join different shows to attract followers from different demographics to their social media accounts.

Annabelle Leighton loved trying new and exciting things, so after some deliberation, she chose a show called Shining Challenge. It was a battle royale-style variety show featuring top-tier influencers who would face a series of challenges and competitions to vie for the title of champion. It was considered a battle of wits.

Isla Prescott, on the other hand, decided to stick to her area of expertise, ultimately choosing a dance variety show called The Dance Whisperers.

Shining Challenge was filming in Valoria, so after signing the contract with the production team, Annabelle Leighton set off. Isla Prescott remained in Meritopia, as The Dance Whisperers was being filmed locally.

On Monday afternoon, the production team for The Dance Whisperers gathered all the cast members for a meeting in a conference room on the second floor of the Meritopia Grand Hotel.

Isla Prescott left her studio and arrived at the hotel fifteen minutes before the meeting was scheduled to begin.

The cast for the show included not only amateurs and influencers with exceptional dance skills, but also two minor celebrities from the entertainment world with professional dance backgrounds. One was named Iris Tierney, and the other was Sophie King. Iris Tierney had also graduated from Meritopia Dance Academy, which, by seniority, made her Isla Prescott’s senior.

Although Iris Tierney and Sophie King had been in the entertainment industry for a while, their careers hadn’t taken off. They could only land minor supporting roles in TV shows and movies. This variety show was the best opportunity Isla had managed to secure, and it was the best one available to the two starlets as well.

Putting aside their minor celebrity status, everyone gathered for the meeting was more or less on the same level in terms of skill.

After entering the conference room, everyone found a seat.

The director, Evan Shaw, walked into the conference room right as the meeting was about to start. But after taking a seat, he didn’t seem to be in a hurry to begin.

“Let’s just wait a moment, everyone. We’re still missing one cast member,” Evan Shaw said.

Someone was late for the very first production meeting, arriving even after the director. The others exchanged surprised glances.

Ten minutes later, a woman with a slender figure walked into the conference room.

“My apologies, Director Sheffield. The traffic was terrible. I’m late.”

’Her voice sounds familiar.’

Isla Prescott looked up, and when she saw the woman’s face clearly, she was surprised to see it was Genevieve Quincy.

Genevieve Quincy was wearing a baseball cap, a striped dress, and canvas sneakers. While she looked understated, the handbag she carried was something no one else present could afford.

“Not a problem, not a problem. Please, have a seat.” Director Evan Shaw’s tone was pleasant, showing not a single trace of annoyance at her tardiness.

The meeting lasted about two hours.

The production staff went over everything in detail: the competition rules, important guidelines for during the shoot, and all the ways the cast would be expected to cooperate with promotions afterward.

Just as the meeting was wrapping up, Director Evan Shaw suddenly remembered something. “Oh, right, one more important thing,” he added. “Tonight, the entire production team and cast will be having dinner together. The head of our investment partner will be attending, so unless there are special circumstances, attendance is mandatory. And one more thing: be on your best behavior at dinner.”

—

Isla Prescott actually did have a special circumstance. It was the first day of her period, and all afternoon, a heavy, aching pain had settled in her lower abdomen, as if she were carrying a stone inside her.

But as a newcomer to the world of variety shows, she didn’t dare ask to be excused from the production team’s first get-together.

Fortunately, the dinner was being held on the first floor of the hotel, so at least she wouldn’t have to travel.

Once the meeting ended, the group headed downstairs.

The production team had already arranged a private dining room, but as a show of respect, Director Evan Shaw had everyone wait in the hotel lobby for the investor.

Isla’s cramps were becoming unbearable. Seeing that the big-shot investor hadn’t arrived yet, she slipped away to the restroom.

When she returned to the lobby, a black Bentley was gliding silently to a stop at the hotel entrance.

Given how often Shane Sterling changed cars, and the fact that they’d been broken up for some time, she shouldn’t have recognized any of his vehicles. Yet, she had just seen this very car on the fifth day of the New Year, parked at the entrance of The Serene Peak Monastery.

’It can’t be that much of a coincidence. The investor the director mentioned… it couldn’t be Shane Sterling, could it?’

Isla’s nerves tightened.

The next moment, she saw the Bentley’s door open. A gleaming, thin-soled black leather shoe stepped out, followed immediately by a familiar, imposing figure.

’It really is him!’

As soon as Shane Sterling got out of the car, Director Evan Shaw and Genevieve Quincy hurried over to greet him.

The two of them flanked Shane Sterling. Evan Shaw said something to him, and Shane raised his chin slightly, his gaze sweeping over the assembled cast members in the lobby.

Isla was standing at the edge of the crowd, but his eyes found her immediately. His gaze, however, swept past her without a flicker of warmth, as if he didn’t know her at all.

’How ridiculous!’

’Just a few days ago, he was kneeling before the Buddha, swearing his heart would never change, and now he looks at me like I’m a complete stranger!’

Isla fumed inwardly. To think her heart had been stirred, that she had almost started to believe him again.

“Young Mr. Shaw, right this way! Please, come in!” Director Evan Shaw was the picture of hospitality. “I was worried you wouldn’t have time to join us for dinner tonight. Genevieve must have some pull! We’re so grateful you could grace us with your presence! This is a tremendous honor for our show!”

Genevieve stood beside him, beaming.

Shane Sterling’s expression was aloof, but his tone was pure, playful charm. “With a cast full of goddesses, the honor is all mine.”

Half the young women in the lobby blushed.

When the director had first mentioned having dinner with the investor, many of them had pictured the usual stereotype of a “big-shot investor.” Who could have imagined he would be so young and handsome? He wasn’t arrogant, either—in fact, he was incredibly charming. It wouldn’t be surprising if even a true goddess fell for a man like that.

Shane Sterling, surrounded by the entourage, entered the private dining room. Isla trailed at the very back, deliberately avoiding the sight of him and Genevieve standing so close together.

Counting the director’s team and other staff, there were enough people for three tables.

Isla had no desire whatsoever to sit at the same table as Shane Sterling and Genevieve Quincy. Just as she was about to slip over to the assistant director’s table, she heard Director Evan Shaw call out, “Isabelle, over here! There’s an open seat.”

The seat Evan Shaw was pointing to was directly across from Shane Sterling.

Isla had no choice but to bite the bullet and make her way over to the seat.

On a circle, the greatest distance between any two points is the diameter. They were separated by the widest possible distance at the round table, yet they were now in each other’s direct, inescapable line of sight.

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