CHAPTER 40
After sending out her resume, Arianna received multiple emails and calls for interviews.
With an iPad in hand, she leaned against the sofa, scrolling through the job offers and carefully screening them one by one. Finally, she found a job that caught her eye.
It was a film studio looking for actors for short plays. They mentioned that after seeing her photos, they felt her appearance perfectly matched their criteria. They sincerely invited her to participate in their play, offering an excellent salary.
Arianna majored in broadcasting and had dabbled in the entertainment industry before.
Although she was not a professional actress, she had experience in front of the camera, had been featured in a few prints, and had even made guest appearances in TV series.
Although it wasn't her ideal job, she knew that many short series had gained popularity due to the rise of short videos. Furthermore, many people were die-hard fans of these shows.
Hence, Arianna would not need to work long hours, yet she would still earn a great pay.
Before she could find her dream job, taking on such a part-time job seemed like a good idea.
After Arianna considered everything, she called the number provided in the email and scheduled an interview.
The following day, Arianna went out after having lunch with Grandma King.
She took a taxi straight to the agreed building, where the receptionist led her to a meeting room. Arianna waited for about a minute before a gentleman walked in.
The man introduced himself with a warm smile,
“You’re Miss Johnson, right? I’m Nate Abrams, the producer and director of this short video.”
Arianna stood up and replied with a faint smile,
“Nice to meet you, Mr. Abrams. I’m Arianna.”
The two politely shook hands before sitting down. Nate’s friendly demeanor put Arianna at ease as they began to discuss the project.
Nate started, “We’ve been really impressed with your portfolio. Your experience in broadcasting and your appearances in TV series make you an excellent fit for the role we have in mind.”
Arianna nodded, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves.
“Thank you. I’ve always enjoyed working in front of the camera, and I’m looking forward to this opportunity.”
Nate continued, “This short series has tremendous potential, and we believe it will resonate deeply with our audience. We need someone who can bring genuine depth to the character, and from what I’ve seen, you’re perfect for the role.”
Arianna felt a surge of confidence. “Thank you for this opportunity, Mr. Abrams. I’ll give it my all.”
They spent the next half hour going over the project's specifics, discussing the character and the expectations. By the end of their conversation, Arianna felt hopeful and ready to embrace the role.
Nate didn't waste any time. He jumped straight into the shoot's details—working hours, and the salary Arianna would receive.
Arianna listened intently, absorbing the information about the regular idol drama and the week-long production schedule. She was pleasantly surprised by the generous salary offer, almost double what she had anticipated.
“Ms. Johnson, that covers everything. If you don't have any further questions, we can proceed to sign the contract,” Nate said, wrapping up his explanation.
Arianna hesitated for a moment before speaking up. “Mr. Abrams, everything sounds great, and I appreciate the offer, but don't you want to see my acting skills first? What if I'm not up to your expectations?”
Upon hearing Arianna's concern, Nate chuckled. He appraised Arianna with a smile, saying,
“Ms. Johnson, you're too modest. With your beauty and presence, you could captivate any audience effortlessly.”
Arianna nodded graciously, masking any hesitation she felt behind a polite smile. She pretended to be elated by his words, as if his praise had lifted her spirits to new heights.
“Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Abrams. In that case, I'm ready to proceed. Let's sign the contract!”
A glimmer of satisfaction flickered in Nate's eyes as he replied,
“Excellent. I'll have the contracts brought in right away.”
Arianna and Nate proceeded to sign the contracts, sealing the deal with official stamps. With the signatures in place, the agreement was now official!
After instructing his assistant to secure the documents, Nate turned to Arianna with a sense of urgency.
“Ms. Johnson, our schedule for this project is rather tight, so we need to start shooting immediately. Let's head to the studio right away.”
Arianna nodded in agreement. “Of course, let's go.”
The studio wasn't located in the same building. Instead, Nate drove Arianna to a secluded shack on the outskirts of town.
Upon entering, Arianna was greeted by the sight of cameras positioned in every direction. Several burly staff members bustled about, preparing for the shoot.
Taking a moment to survey her surroundings, Arianna braced herself for the tasks ahead.
As the door closed behind them, Arianna couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling creeping up her spine. She watched as Nate's demeanor shifted, his tone suddenly more commanding.
"Ms. Johnson, go ahead and strip. We're starting the shoot."
Arianna's confusion was palpable.
"S-Strip? But I thought we were shooting a regular drama? The script you showed me earlier didn't mention anything about nudity."
The room filled with the boisterous laughter of the men around her, their mocking tones cutting through the air. It was clear they found her innocence amusing, but Arianna's unease only intensified.
