Behind The SpotLight

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 39

Even though The Accidental Wedding Crashers showed promise, Arnold's opinion remained unchanged no matter how much potential it had. He understood his profession down to its roots. He was an agent, not a producer or an investor who gambled with big checks. Let the professionals do their jobs, and he would do his as a talent agent.

"I guess you're not in a tight spot anymore, huh? Feels great, right?"

"Yeah, I paid off my debt earlier and distributed the bonuses to the crew members who didn't attend the screening yesterday. It was a huge relief."

"As it should be. That's part of being an agent. You need to maintain a strong relationship with them, especially if you're planning to form a production team for your client in the near future."

Collin nodded silently, acknowledging that Arnold had a point.

"I also bought a phone, finally."

"Really? Let me see it. You've done a lot in just one day. How can you even manage that? You're hardworking, I'll give you that."

"I'm just afraid the money might disappear before I can buy the things I really need," Collin said, pulling out his brand-new phone from the inside pocket of his blazer. A smirk played on his lips, like a kid proudly showing off a new toy.

He was genuinely excited about his new phone. It had games like Space Imppact and SSnake, which felt like a luxury.

"Oh, Mokia 2719, that's the latest model on the market. Looks like you're really taking this career seriously now that you've tasted real income."

"Of course. I earned more yesterday from one deal than I ever made in my entire modeling career."

For a talent agent, having a cellphone was crucial. It allowed him to be reachable at all times, even outside his office. This was essential in his line of work, which relied heavily on maintaining and expanding his network.

It was actually a bit embarrassing that he only got a cellphone now, after three years in the profession, when most agents bought theirs within a few months. But he was poor, and life hadn't been kind. He did his best to juggle his finances. On top of that, no bank would approve a loan for someone with a credit score as horrifying as his.

"How much did it cost?" Arnold asked, raising an eyebrow.

"$750," Collin said, flinching slightly.

"Sheesh, that's not cheap."

Even Arnold was impressed.

"What do you think? It's great, right?" Collin asked, grinning.

"Hey, I don't like that look on your face. You're starting to get cocky. Just because your phone is brand new and shiny? Let me show you mine."

Despite being a notorious cheapskate, Arnold always maintained a polished appearance like any respectable agent in the industry. His suits were expensive, and so was his phone.

Collin looked at it and couldn't help but admire it genuinely.

"Look at the subtle off-white coloring. The tasteful thickness of it. Oh my God, it even has a watermark," he said, mimicking a certain sigma male from a famous cult film.

By the way, both of their phones were the slim type that fit in pockets without making unsightly bulges, because appearances mattered.

"Oh, I just remembered. Since you're here, I want you to take a look at something real quick."

Arnold shifted slightly and took out his wallet with a practiced motion. He showed Collin a picture of a man, like it was classified information.

"Okay... Who's this? Your lover?" Collin deadpanned.

"Do I look like I swing that way?" Arnold grimaced.

"I don't know. You tell me, you're full of surprises."

"Fuck off. That man is the producer from Jolyne's current project, and I don't trust his face. There's something off about him, but I can't figure out what. He keeps staring at Jolyne like she's a piece of meat."

"Then what's there to explain? He probably has a crush on your client and isn't hiding it well."

"Yeah, but I feel like it's more than that. Something deeper. You're good at reading people, maybe you can help me figure out what I'm missing."

"I need to see him in person. This photo's useless when it comes to picking up anything substantial."

"Just give it a try, will you? For peace of mind."

"Sigh, fine."

Collin examined the picture... but felt nothing. His internal alarm wasn't ringing.

Arnold knew about Collin's instincts, it had even helped him back in high school. It was like a sixth sense.

Collin also relied on it to navigate the shady parts of the modeling world. He'd faced dangerous situations with photographers and designers, but always walked away unharmed thanks to his instincts.

"Sorry, man, but I don't feel anything off. I'd need to see him up close. If your gut says something's wrong, trust it and keep an eye on him."

"At least you tried. That's what matters."

Arnold had recently negotiated a $17 million deal for Jolyne Robs' salary, and the producer had agreed without even haggling. That had made Arnold uneasy, as if the man had ulterior motives.

'I earned a good commission,' Arnold thought, 'so financially, it was fine. But I'll still warn Jolyne to avoid the guy outside of work.'

Arnold didn't involve himself in Jolyne's dating life, that was a line he never crossed. In fact, he knew more than the media ever did, but he kept it to himself. Jolyne liked mature men with big... charisma, among other things. Still, even if he didn't care about her dating preferences, he had to make sure she was safe and not being preyed on.

"Also, here." Arnold suddenly said.

He handed Collin a document without warning.

"Huh? Where did this come from? Did you pull it out of your ass or something?" Collin joked.

"Don't joke around, asshole. You said you wanted to talk to me, so I came prepared like a responsible adult. You're looking for a romance movie for your new client, right? This script might be a good fit. It was sent to me a few days ago, and the production team originally invited Jolyne to play the female lead. She turned them down due to her packed schedule. Maybe if they'd waited a month or two, she could've done it, but they didn't want to wait."

While Arnold spoke, Collin flipped through the document and saw that it was written in screenplay format. He quickly noticed that major sections were redacted. Half of the script was missing, probably to prevent leaks and keep story elements in secrecy.

"You can take it and study it. Auditions are scheduled for next week, so tell your guy to get ready."

"Thanks, Arnold. I really appreciate this."

"No problem. If you come across anything useful, make sure to share it with me too."

"I will. But honestly, I think you know more than I do. I'm still at the bottom of the barrel."

"Once your director delivers a box office hit, that status will disappear faster than you think. And if there's a role that fits my actor, make sure to invite him. He just finished working on a Vampire movie. Don't hoard your director, share him with me like a good friend."

"Sounds kinda gay, but okay. How's your horror director doing?"

"Still suffering from a mental block."

"Let's hope the author doesn't suffer the same fate. Otherwise, this novel will get a slower update."