Chapter 338 There Are People Waiting for You Ahead
Xyleria, a shining beacon of urban dynamism, continued its upward trajectory.
As night fell and stars dotted the sky, Jessica's studio in Star Tower was still buzzing with activity.
Stephen Scott held a draft script, reading as he walked. When he reached the office, he knocked and then pushed the door open. "Mackenzie, the movie 'Shadow Kill' has been in the works for a while, right? They brought us the script today and want Jessica to audition."
Mackenzie glanced at Stephen. "Why didn't you give it straight to Lynn?"
"There's a charity gala tonight. Lynn and Zoey went with Jessica. The studio just put out a press release about #Jessica's Golden Evening Gown# tonight, and it's trending."
"Ugh, we just got back from Country R yesterday. As soon as we landed, we came straight to Star Tower. I've been arguing with the ad company's headquarters over there these past two days, and I'm still in a foul mood." Mackenzie leaned back in her chair, looking exhausted. "You should talk to Lynn about this. I'm not the manager."
"But you're the boss."
"The boss is about to drop dead from exhaustion. I am burning the midnight oil to get everything done." Mackenzie rolled her eyes at the ceiling.
Stephen chuckled and, seeing Mackenzie was really tired, didn't bother her further. He left the office and sent a message about the script to Lynn on WhatsApp.
A year and a half ago, Jessica's studio officially started operating in Star Tower.
Thanks to Jessica's growing reputation and acting skills, her network had expanded, and she had no scandals. Investors and advertisers trusted her, keeping her business resources among the top-tier actresses. She currently held over twenty brand endorsements and more than ten ambassador roles, with several contracts nearing renewal. The studio was indeed very busy.
Although Mackenzie and Jessica co-owned the studio, Jessica, being the face of the business, was often too busy with appearances and events to get enough sleep. So, besides Jessica's current manager Lynn, Mackenzie often flew around to negotiate deals.
Stephen was hired a year and a half ago and was now one of Mackenzie's assistants. Occasionally, he also helped with coordination and execution for Jessica. Even though everyone had their own roles, sometimes one person had to do the work of two.
The studio was simply understaffed.
It was said that a year and a half ago, when the studio first started, there was a significant amount of funding ready to be put into operation. However, Jessica later withdrew that funding. In the end, Jessica pooled her earnings with Mackenzie's remaining savings, totaling over ten million, to keep the studio running.
Although the studio didn't hire many people and everyone was busy, the benefits were good. Mackenzie and Jessica paid decent salaries, so even though it was busy and tiring, everyone was highly motivated.
Fortunately, both Jessica and Mackenzie were very clear-headed bosses and had a clear understanding of Jessica's positioning in the industry.
A year and a half ago, Jessica's marriage and childbirth were all over the industry news. The next day, she openly confirmed it on Instagram. At that time, Instagram was buzzing with posts about the career challenges women face after having kids. Surprisingly, netizens, who were usually tough on female stars, were supportive of Jessica for acknowledging her daughter during her career rose.
Even though Jessica had been married and had a child, she still looked better than many newcomers. It didn't affect her ability to play a range of roles, from teenage high school students to women in their thirties. Her public acknowledgment of her marriage also helped her avoid many social event troubles over the past year, and she stayed clear of scandals.
However, the identity of Jessica's daughter's father remained unknown, and the child had not been seen since the initial revelation. The initial exposure was on foreign websites, and the entertainment media had unspoken rules. If an artist's child didn't want to be overly exposed, their photos were usually not published, and if they were, the faces were blurred.
Jessica used her popularity to establish herself as a serious young actress, rarely participating in variety shows. When she did, it was usually to promote her dramas. Her career focused on acting, and she hadn't accepted any invitations to popular reality shows.
Because Jessica positioned herself as a serious actress, the roles she received were mostly postive as well. Her acting skills attracted more capable fans, who promoted and publicized her effectively. Jessica's status among top-tier actresses was now stable. She just finished filming a movie called "Against the Flow" in the first half of the year, but it hasn't been released yet. It's said to be coming out in three months.
At the Charity Gala.
Jessica, dressed in a golden evening gown, sat in the audience, listening to an artist on stage singing an old song.
After the song ended, the stars in the audience applauded, and the host came out to introduce the next award presenter.
Since "Charles II" and "Sweet Ferris Wheel" were released over a year ago, Jessica had been a regular at similar award ceremonies. Sometimes she won awards, sometimes she didn't. These galas were prime opportunities for stars to showcase their beauty. Female stars who often competed with Jessica on Instagram for beauty were numerous. Even while sitting and applauding, they all maintained their most beautiful angles and smiles, waiting for the camera to sweep over them.
After the gala, Zoey draped a thin coat over Jessica's strapless gown and escorted her to the car.
Manager Lynn had just taken a call. After getting in the car, she inquired, "They want you to play the lead role in 'Shadow Kill.' Are you interested?"
"A movie?" Jessica asked.
"Yeah, it's been in preparation for over half a year. Seems they had other actresses in mind, but the producer rejected them due to inadequate action scenes and acting skills."
