CHAPTER 41: MEETING AN OLD FRIEND

After their conversation, the president left to return to the office, and said he’d proceed with the next line of preparations once she was prepared and ready to sign the contract.

Which included her breaking things off with her agency, if they still refused to let her act the part.

Still basking in her good fortune, Sadie wasn’t watching where she was walking and ended up walking into a lamp post on the sidewalk!

"Ouc-" Rubbing her nose, she caught sight of someone in an expensive looking wheelchair, approaching the parked black van next to her lamp post.

They wore a long black gown, large hat that shielded half their face, black shades and a red scarf around their neck. The person screamed luxury, Sadie could feel their aura from where she stood.

Sadie immediately stepped back and turned around to vanish out of their sight, but the woman on the wheelchair called out to her.

"Sadie? That’s you, isn’t it?" Her voice rang.

Sadie sharply turned her head, stunned that someone dressed so nicely would know her name.

’That voice...it sounds familiar.’ she thought, her gaze cast on the woman, wondering what it was about her that felt oddly familiar.

Her bodyguard behind her walked to the car and held the door open to the luxurious inside of the vehicle, and gestured her to get inside.

’Eh?! Am I getting kidnapped in broad daylight?!’ she panicked and took two steps back.

But the woman gently tipped her hat up and pressed her shades to the bridge of her nose.

"Brooke!" Sadie gasped and covered her mouth, she looked here and there, but no one seemed to take notice of them.

"I’m glad you remember me. If you don’t mind, would you get in? I can’t talk in public." Brooke said, adjusting her disguise.

"Of course!" She replied.

Brooke smiled, ’Still as earnest as ever.’ she thought, while the bodyguard helped her into the back. Sadie rushed over to help keep the wheelchair, then sat inside.

The driver gently closed the door behind her and stood in front of the van, guarding it.

Inside, Sadie couldn’t think straight. She didn’t know much about Brooke back when she worked at the agency, but nothing would’ve made her guess that the overworked staff was actually this loaded.

"You can relax, I only want to ask how you’ve been doing. Has Cassie been troubling you?" Brooke’s eyes softened with worry.

Sadie forced a smile, "No, ever since winning that award, I don’t even exist to her anymore."

Brooke exhaled, "That’s good to hear." She rested a hand on Sadie’s, "If there’s anything you need, anything at all, don’t even hesitate to ask me." She took out her phone, "Can I have your number?"

Sadie stared at the phone in Brooke’s hand, the latest model of the trending brand that hadn’t even crossed the border yet!

Just who was this woman?!

And why did she ever take Cassie’s bullshit?!

"Thank you." She said and placed her number inside.

Brooke smiled warmly at the number, it had been a while since she had someone other than Hannah to talk to.

She was genuinely happy that she met Sadie, who she always saw as a younger sister and wanted to protect at all cost.

Seeing her smile, Sadie casted away all her doubts, and smiled back.

Whether poor or rich, the woman sitting beside her was the same woman who endured everything at the agency for her sake.

"But Brooke, I don’t understand what is going on! Why is Cassie saying you attacked her? Just what the hell really happened?!" Sadie interrogated, letting out the weight of curiosity sitting on her chest.

Brooke huffed, "That’s a long story that we can always talk about later."

Sadie knew she was just avoiding the conversation, but she didn’t want to push it any further and bring up a bad memory.

So she swiftly changed the topic.

"Oh, look here!" She pulled out the script from her bag and placed it on Brooke’s lap.

"See! I’ve been cast in this movie! My first time playing a major role!" She excitedly showed it off.

Brooke grinned from ear to ear, she picked up the script and saw it was the same one that Cassie had rejected.

Her smile faded. "Sadie, will you be okay?" She knew all about how badly she was treated by Luther and Cassie.

Brooke had made appeal after appeal for Sadie to be cast in better films, that her talent was being wasted and that the agency was suffering for it.

But, Luther didn’t want his daughter outshined, at the expense of his own company.

Sadie immediately caught her drift. "You mean about Cassie backing out right? Don’t worry about it, I’m not going to pass up on this chance because of that wench. That’s why I’m going to terminate my contract and go freelance!"

Brooke was stunned at how much more confident Sadie had gotten. "If that’s what you want, I’ll definitely support you." She gave her hand a tight squeeze.

"Ending a contract can attract a cost, if you ever need any money-"

"No! No!" She shook her hands and head, "I have money! I’ll sort this out myself?" She didn’t technically have the money yet. But she was riding on the money from signing the contract.

Brooke was worried again, "I just want to help-"

"And it’s fine. I don’t want you thinking I only told you all that to ask for money. I really just wanted to share my happiness with you."

Brooke sighed and gently patted her head, "I know." Sadie had always been stubborn, there was no helping it now.

"But promise me Sadie, that if those bastards ever do something to make you cry again, you’ll call me immediately." Brooke’s voice hardened and her eyes turned serious.

Sadie nodded, "Don’t worry, they can’t hurt me once I’m gone. Everything will be fine." She said with a smile, convinced that her life would only get better from her on out.