were selected! They
Chapter 17
want you to go to Starlight Media now to sign the contract. Serena, you’re so lucky!”
Zoey could already imagine Serena becoming a huge star after being part of such a big production.
Serena was stunned, then overjoyed. “Really?”
“Of course it’s true! Yves personally called me. How could it be fake? Serena, Starlight Media wants to sign you! Oh my God, it’s unbelievable.
“Starlight Media is a big player in the entertainment industry! Do you know how many big stars are signed with Starlight Media? Oh my God, half of the entertainment industry is with them!”
Zoey grasped Serena’s shoulders and shook her wildly as she said, “Woman, you’ve really struck gold!”
Serena couldn’t hold it in anymore and hugged Zoey, excitedly screaming as well.
Starlight Media! Oh, God!
Starlight Media was a miracle in the entertainment industry.
In just five short years since its founding, it had already become a major player in the industry. Most of its stars were A–list or B–list celebrities, and it rarely signed newcomers. Yet once they did, they would invest a lot of resources to promote them.
Signing with Starlight Media practically guaranteed a successful career in the entertainment industry unless the talent was truly poor and couldn’t be helped..
In her previous life, Serena wanted to sign with Starlight Media when her contract expired, but she quickly started dating Shawn and had a child back then, so her career faded away.
She never imagined that she would actually be able to sign with Starlight Media in this life!
Serena was so thrilled that her mind went blank. “Zoey, am I dreaming?”
“It’s easy to find out if you’re dreaming.” Zoey pinched Serena’s arm hard.
“Hey, that hurts!”
Zoey urged, “If it hurts, then you’re not dreaming! Hurry up and go to Starlight Media. Yves said they’ve already prepared the contract and are waiting for you to sign it. Don’t keep them waiting too long.”
“What about Silas and Sylvie?”
“Mom, don’t worry about Sylvie and me. We’ll stay at home and wait for you with Aunt Zoey,” said Silas as he handed Serena her bag from the coat rack, his cool little face unable to hide his happiness.
“Mom, go quickly.”
“Alright, I’m going.”
Serena remained in a great mood the entire way. She even hailed a cab and didn’t care about the fare.
Before she left, Zoey had stuffed her makeup products into Serena’s bag and she had applied light makeup to make a good impression.
Soon, she arrived at Starlight Media.
Serena stood at the entrance, her palms sweaty with nervousness.
The moment she stepped into the building, a familiar feeling swept over her.
The office was filled with fashion magazines. Occasionally, celebrities could be seen coming and going. surrounded by a team of assistants.
When the receptionist noticed Serena, she was slightly taken aback but quickly composed herself.
“Are you Miss Serena Stone?”
Stay calm. Serena took a deep breath.
“Miss Stone, please wait in the meeting room. I will call someone from the CEO’s office and have Miss Zeller
come down.”
“Alright. Thank you.”
At that moment, in the CEO’s office, Lennox stood by the floor–to–ceiling window in a custorn black suit from Italia as he watched Serena step out of the cab and enter the building.
His eyes narrowed, and his lips widened in a faint, unreadable smile.
“Little brat, you walked right into the trap.”
Vanessa, standing beside him, looked at his expression and could not help but pity Serena.
A woman caught in Lennox’s sights? There was no way she could escape.
L
Th the waiting room, Serena suddenly shivered for no reason.
It was… cold.
She did not know why, but instead of feeling thrilled about signing the contract, she felt oddly dazed
Serena shook her head, trying to push away the strange thoughts.
When Vanessa walked in with the contract, she saw Serena huddled up like a small cat, looking quite pitiful.
“Miss Stone, are you cold?”
Lost in her thoughts, Serena jumped when she heard the voice. “Miss Zeller?”
Vanessa smiled as she closed the door to the meeting room and slid the contract over to Serena. “Miss Stone, you should be somewhat familiar with our company, so I will skip the introductions. Please go through the contract, and if everything looks good, we can get it signed right away.”
“Alright.”
Serena still felt a bit out of place. She went through the contract carefully, and when she finished, she was completely taken aback.
to her.
The contract was incredibly generous to her.
The company would secure bookings for her, increasing her visibility. She would not be forced to take on
Chapter 30)
specific projects. Apart from doing one drama and one movie for the company each year, all other roles.
Would be at her discretion.
Such a relaxed contract was practically unheard of for a newcomer.
Feeling slightly on edge, Serena bit her lip gently. “Minn Zeller, are you sure you have the right contract?”
“Of course! Is there something you are uncertain about, Miss Stone?”
Serena quickly shook her head.
The contract felt strangely too good to be true.
After all, in her previous life in the entertainment industry, she had never heard of a company offering such favorable terms to a newcomer.
There were only three things that struck her as odd.
First, most talent agencies typically sign a five–year contract with new artists, but hers was for ten years.
Second, there was a clause forbidding romantic relationships. Nowadays, agencies were not as strict as they were in the seventies and eighties when actors who dated would see a sharp decline in popularity. Today, celebrity relationships would often boost visibility and public interest.
However, the company did not allow her to date.
What a strange company!
The third oddity was the penalty clause. If she breached the contract, she would be liable for an astronomical
sum.
One hundred million! She doubted she could make that much in a lifetime!
[Holding the pen, Serena felt slightly suffocated under the weight of that enormous number.
Is there something troubling you, Miss Stone? Vanessa noticed her hesitation.
“The penalty… is so high.”
It was absurdly high.
Vanessa was well aware of this and had her response ready. “The contract is not overly demanding. Do you believe you would breach it, Miss Stone?”
No
of course not.
She was an actress. Taking on dramas and movies for the company was part of the job.
The only other area was the dating restriction.
She thought it unlikely she would ever trust another man again. She already had two children, and she had ng plans to date.
She shook her head, signaling that she would not breach the contract. Biting her pen thoughtfully, she looked at Vanessa, “Miss Zeller, are all your company’s contracts for new hires this generous?”
*Certainly not!
Vanessa kept her professional smile on. “Our CEO watched your audition yesterday and sees great potential In you, Miss Stone. That is why you were offered this contract.”
That was the reason.
Without further hesitation, Serena signed her name on the contract with a flourish.
Vanessa let out a small sigh of relief. She sympathetically looked at Serena, thinking that if this young woman knew this contract was nearly a soul–binding pact, she might regret signing it.
Vanessa left one copy of the contract with Serena and handed her the other. Then, she said, “Miss Stone, our CEO has high expectations for you, so he would like to personally speak with you. You do not have anything. else pressing right now, do you?”
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