Auditions

Elena - Pov



What was I thinking last night? I almost kissed him. As the visions from the previous night replayed in my memory, I grumbled aloud at myself about how foolish I felt.



“Is something wrong?” Lyra inquired. She was caressing Bruno’s fur, who was sitting on her lap, contentment.



“These days, you keep me out of the loop, Elena? Are you sure you’re doing well? The mess made by your ex-fiance must weigh on you. If you want to talk, I am here for you,” Lyra remarked, and I twirled the fork between my fingers as I gradually proceeded with Lyra’s remarks.





“I... Lyra... I’m not sure what to say, what I feel...” I immediately choked on my words. I went for the glass of water, hoping to shove the emotional lump down my throat.



Lyra sprang from her seat as Bruno leaped on his legs. Lyra crouched next to me and softly touched my hand while he stared at me with a melancholy shine. Trying to escape the memories of Jake’s betrayal and the illness eating me up was a number on my emotions. Through my cries, I expressed how I felt after Jake left me for someone else and the loneliness I couldn’t shake. I also informed her of my illness.



“Elena, I’m sorry.” Lyra’s voice trembled with sorrow as I relaxed in her warm hug.



“El, I won’t leave your side at all,” Lyra said as I pulled from my hug and peered into her eyes, which reflected my sadness. She comforted me by patting my head and wiping my tears.



“Thank you, Lyra,” I said quietly, Lyra’s comfort and presence reassuring me I was not alone in this.



“No, thank you, and remember that in our relationship,” Lyra said severely, and I nodded with a grin.



I’m taking some time to collect my thoughts after an ugly weep. I heard a knock on the door, and Lyra hurried over to answer it while I left to fetch my bags and get to the audition studio.



“Who are you?” Lyra said coldly, and Bruno growled as I approached the door. I saw it was Mac instead of Yuri.



“Lyra, he is the acquaintance of Mr. Ford.” Lyra nodded, but it fixed her attention on Mac, who had entered my apartment.



“Calm down, little guy,” I caressed Bruno, stopping his growling.



“Mac, what a surprise,” I exclaimed, but his troubled gaze made me hesitate.



“Is everything okay?” I inquired carefully.





“Oh, I’m here on Mr. Ford’s behalf; he won’t be able to make it to the audition studio to finalize the staff,” Mac stated. Silas’s not showing up for important work irritated me, or was Silas hiding his face in embarrassment?





“That’s not a problem; let’s go to the studio,” I responded cheerfully. Mac nods, but it draws his eyes to Lyra, who is looking at us.





“Where is Yuri?” I inquired as Mac and I traveled away in my car. Mac’s shoulders tensed, and he sat up upright in his seat.



“She’s busy,” he said with an awkward grin. I believe these Wolf land residents are more private and prefer not to discuss their personal lives. A part of me wants to know what they’re hiding, but I also know better than to probe into their private lives.





“By the way, you did an excellent job getting back at Jake,” Mac replied.



“How do you know I was behind it? There may be someone else prowling around and hacking my phone to release such texts,” I responded, denying that I was the one who leaked them. Mac smirked as I explained.



As my vehicle came to a stop, the journalists swarmed around it. As I opened the door to my car, the security personnel moved out of the way, and I responded to their inquiries by saying that I had just made the same remark about Mac.





Unlike Mac, the media absorbed the lie I fed them. As I finish my testimony to the Reporters, I peek in Mac’s direction and see that he is suppressing his amusement.







“You made them believe in your deception,” Mac muttered under his breath as we stepped into the studio, the eyes of the new actors and actresses gleaming with fan expressions written on their faces. I knew they’d swamp me for sign autographs, which is precisely what happened; I did my hardest to make everyone happy and advise them before their auditions began since I’d be on the panel with director Cindy.



“Not to worry, Mac, Cindy is a lovely person at heart; but when you are on the clock, she can be a real b*tch,” I said. She groaned at my statement, and Mac nodded, recognizing that Cindy and I were good professional friends.



“Is this the hottie you said I would have panties wet?” Cindy inquired. Cindy glanced at Mac, who seemed to have an incredible physique and a strong jawline, and his green orbs had a distinctive tint that complemented his chestnut hair.



“Silas Ford is not me. I’m only an errand guy,” Mac said calmly as Cindy fixed her focus on him. “What surprises me is that Elena described my boss as a handsome man,” Mac teased. I stared at Cindy, who had outed me. I told her not to.



Before Cindy could cover up what she had said to Mac about Silas, her assistant informed her that she would allow the actor and actress in for auditions.



My patience was thin as I tried to find the ideal actor to play the lead in my film.



“Why can’t we find a lead?” Cindy snarled. “I’ve been working my ass off for a month to land a talented lead actor.” Her angry sigh echoed across the empty audition room. Mac seemed to suffer from a headache after seeing the audition with the performers, who may easily cause a migraine.









“I apologize for being late.” A new voice appeared as he peered at us through the cracked open door. His eyes were a different hue, violet, and matched with his deep-set form eyes, night-sky hair, and pointed jaw.





“Come in,” Cindy tried to speak professionally, but it came as a purr instead, and Mac held rigid composure as this new guy stepped in. It enchanted his physique. Cindy, and I stood straight in our chairs. Cindy gasped, as he had a charming grin. And I won’t lie. My heart skipped a beat, seeing how handsome he looked.





“Your name?” Mac questioned sharply, startling me out of my stupor, and grasped my professional composure as did Cindy.



“Drake walker,” he replied calmly, his gaze settling on Mac.



“I guess we should call it a day,” Mac remarked, staring at me. Cindy raised an eyebrow at Mac’s words.



“We still need a lead actor, so give him a shot,” I remarked. Cindy nodded her head, satisfied with my statements. It is amusing to watch Cindy drooling beneath her false professional-like attitude.



“I understand, Elena, but isn’t he late for the audition? What assurance can this guy give us when he doesn’t respect the time, and if he gets the opportunity, he will turn up late for work?” Mac remarked thoughtfully, as if he wanted to get rid of this person.



“You are correct, sir, I arrived late for the audition, but I had a reason for being late since a family member required medical treatment,” Drake said.



“Mac, I’ve already said it. Let him act and then watch how things go,” I said sharply, interrupting his conversation with Drake.



“All right,” Mac replied.



The assistant gave the script to him, and he acted so well that his delivery speech was on the spot, and a slight amount of improvisation made his audition appear more natural than artificial.



“Goodness! You truly are a talent,” Cindy said.



“What do you think, Ms. Hayes?” Drake said, and I couldn’t help but grin.



“Congratulations on being chosen for the position,” I remarked. His attractive features broke into a smile.



“I have one question,” Drake said, nodding my head to show that I was ready to start.



“Are you the lead with whom I would collaborate?” He inquired, intrigued. My smile broadened as I nodded.



“Mr. Ford has yet to clarify whether he is in or out,” Mac said. Drake’s smile dropped at the chilly voice, and I had to stop Cindy from throwing her hot coffee at Mac; I recognized Cindy’s wrath since she had been working hard for over a month to gain the proper lead actors’ BioData from all the Institutes.



“Drake, how about you leave your phone number with my assistant Janice and I’ll contact you,” I said as I helped Cindy calm down and Mac, who held a severe gaze.