Behind The SpotLight

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 38

Dee hugged herself tightly against the chilly night breeze as she walked out of the café. Her car had broken down two days ago, and she'd sent it to a repair shop two blocks from her apartment. The cost was at least $100, money she hadn't budgeted for this week.

Tonight, Dee had no choice but to call a taxi and silently cursed the unreliable, aging engine of her car. She found the fare expensive, but walking home alone in the dark was not an option.

While waiting, the door of the Korean barbecue restaurant next to the café swung open, letting out the rich scent of grilled meat.

A man exited and headed toward his car. He had drunk a few bottles of alcohol, but he was still sober enough to walk in a straight line and unlock his car with steady hands. He hadn't allowed himself to get drunk. He knew he had to drive and was responsible enough to respect his limits.

Most of the guests had already left the party. Collin, as usual, was the last to leave, ensuring that everyone got home safely before he departed.

Dee squinted curiously, tilting her head slightly.

"Is that Collin?" she asked herself, barely believing her eyes.

"H-Hey, Collin, is that you?" she called out, trying not to sound too eager.

She approached him with an awkward half-smile, attempting to play it cool. Her eyes subtly took in his appearance, his old but well-kept suit and his clean haircut.

She hated to admit it, but Collin was the kind of man most women wouldn't ignore. He wasn't the soft, idol-type handsome, instead, he had a rugged masculinity, a dangerous appeal. His green eyes were womb-stirring and unforgettable, especially when he looked at a woman with that sharp, analytical gaze, as if he could see straight through them.

Now, Dee felt that same old flutter in her stomach. Collin was like a hawk, staring at his prey with quiet intensity. The dim street only made his gaze feel sharper.

'If not for being poor, Collin would be perfect in every other way,' Dee thought.

He checked every box on her list except for financial security. And for her, that was non-negotiable. It was the very reason she'd rejected him, even if she was attracted to him.

"Dee, I haven't seen you in a while. It's been, what, months?"

Collin recognized her. His tone was neutral but slightly distant.

"I actually visited you some time ago, but you were busy or out of the office, I think." She stepped closer and realized he was tipsy, though his gaze was still razor-sharp.

"Yeah, I heard about that. They said you stopped by my office," Collin replied casually. He'd been too busy to give it much thought.

"Anyway, I have to go. It's been a long day."

"W-Wait, how about we talk for a few minutes? Just a quick catch-up. We can grab some coffee, my treat."

Dee was short on cash, but she went ahead and invited him anyway.

"Nah, it's alright. I'm busy, and I have some things to finish at home. Your café is already closed, and I doubt anything nearby is open at this hour."

"We can still talk. I heard you have a client who directed a movie. Why didn't you invite me? I thought we were friends?" Dee asked, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

She was actually upset but didn't explain further, her pride wouldn't let her. Her agent had questioned why she hadn't received an invite, assuming she and Collin were close.

Had Dee known that the film was screened in the auditorium today and earned $2 million, she might've clenched her teeth so hard her jaw would ache.

"Ah, about that, I didn't invite you because I had no reason to."

"Excuse me?" Her brows furrowed immediately.

"Dee, you have to understand something. We are not friends."

"But you pursued me?"

"Yes. And we were never friends. That's a fact."

"I said we could still be friends after I rejected you."

"And that's exactly when I stopped talking to you, because I don't want that."

"...So, you only wanted me for my body, is that it?" Dee bit her lip to keep it from trembling.

Collin glanced above her head and let out a soft chuckle, his eyes catching a faint glow.

"Your body? Yes and no. Before I met you, I was heartbroken and lost. But when I saw you smile as you handed me my order, my mind started imagining us married, having kids, living a happy life. It was delusional, a fantasy my broken heart clung to."

It was love at first sight, born from a desperate need to feel whole. A man falling in love too quickly, dreaming up a romantic comedy in his head. Yeah, we've all done that at least once in our lives, even if we don't admit it... right?

In the first place, does love at first sight even real?

"Then why not be friends?"

"Because I don't want to be your friend or your backup plan. When I first met you, you had a neutral intention. Not harmful, not helpful. But after I confessed and you rejected me, something changed. I felt a bad aura from you... that's when I realized you were thinking of using me. You don't want a friend, you want a servant. I'm not that guy. I never will be."

"What are you talking about?" she asked, her voice cracking with frustration.

"I just want to stay friends. Is that so bad?"

"I've moved on, so I don't care what you want anymore. Anyway, I'm leaving. Take care, Dee."

Collin smirked as he slid into his car and started the engine with steady hands. The word floating above Dee's head was almost laughably ironic, a cruel joke from fate. He laughed, not in mockery, but disbelief.

This was the second time his feelings had betrayed him in just a few years. He should've trusted his instincts from the start. If a woman exuded a bad aura, stay far away, no matter how pretty her smile.

—Dee Ceitful

—Deceitful (Yellow)

A yellow-colored talent, reeking of manipulation.

Collin's car sped off, leaving a trail of smoke and Dee standing speechless under the dim streetlight. She furiously wiped her tears, as if she could erase the shame along with them.

"Tch, your car's not even that nice! You should be thankful I tried to stay friends with you! Hah! You think you're better than me just because your client directed a movie!? Your movie will flop at the box office!" she screamed, her voice echoing down the empty street.

She only started yelling once the car was far enough that her words couldn't reach him. Her hands trembled with rage. She wanted to stay friends with Collin because he was a good friend, useful when things got rough. He also knew how to fix cars... and she desperately needed help with that.

Somehow, Dee felt like she had just lost something important, something she couldn't replace, as Collin's car disappeared into the night.

......

...

...

"Congratulations. I heard you earned quite a chunk a few days ago. So, when are you treating me? There's a Korean barbecue place nearby that I've been eyeing all week," Arnold Johnson teased, flashing a grin.

"Why are you asking me for food? You're richer than I am."

"Of course you have to treat me. We've been brothers since high school."

"You just want a free meal and you're not even trying to hide it."

As expected from the shameless, cheapskate agent Arnold Johnson. Free is better than spending your own money.

"Okay, I'll treat you to that Korean barbecue."

Arnold had helped him find an investor for the movie, and that meant more to Collin than words could express. Treating him to dinner was the least he could do.

Honestly, Collin had even thought about buying Arnold a nice watch, but he'd probably just decline and call it too flashy. He was happy with some grilled beef and free drinks. He didn't help Collin for a reward, he helped because they were friends.

Arnold might be a cheapskate, but he wasn't greedy or selfish, not when it mattered. Seeing his friend succeed made him happy in a way only true friendship could. And hey, who didn't enjoy a free meal?

"Cool." Arnold rubbed his hands together like a cartoon villain.

"Thanks for helping me."

"You don't need to thank me. You did most of the work. You deserve everything you got."

Arnold didn't feel even a shred of regret for turning down Collin's offer to invest in Wyatt's movie. Not even a little. He'd been in the industry for years and had seen how fast things could go sideways. He knew the risks of investing in movies, no matter how promising they looked. Even now, if Collin asked again, Arnold would say no just as quickly. His strength wasn't investing, it was connecting people.

Arnold could make money without putting money on the line. And he was confident in that.

+++++

[Two chapters today.]

[Author's Note: I'm not sure if I can write two chapters every day, but I'll probably manage to do so most of the time, depending on how busy life gets. So I won't promise a specific number of chapters per week. I'll just make sure to post something every day.]