bChapter /bb99 /b

Elianna flew into a rage. “He’s the project manager! How can he not have the power to decide on a single role?”

She even suspected he was looking down on her. “Is it because I’ve been with Yosef for so many years without an official title? Is he deliberately disrespecting me?”

“Elianna, calm down,” Mona soothed. “Everyone in thepany knows you gave Mr. Campbell an heir and that you’re his publicly acknowledged fiancée. He wouldn’t dare treat you like that.

“He probably really can’t make that decision. But getting the lead role is just a matter of you asking Yosef. He’ll definitely say yes.”

Elianna crossed her arms, took a deep breath to calm herself, and after mulling it over, decided to approach Yosef.

“Yosef, I want the lead role in ‘Moonlit Hunt‘,” she dered.

Yosef didn’t even look up from his work. “If you want the role, gopete for it fairly,” he said tly.

Elianna grew agitated. “Yosef, I’m doing this for thepany’s good too!

“Think about it. I’m one of thepany’s artists. I won’t demand a high sry, so more money can go into production.

“Besides, if I be a bigger star because of this movie, the movie gets more popr too. It’s a win–win for thepany.

“Yosef, please just say yes. I promise I’ll do a great job and won’t let thepany lose money.”

Yosef finally looked up. “The casting rights aren’t with us.”

Elianna frowned. “What?”

“If you want the lead role, you can try contacting the author and pitching yourself.” He gave Elianna the contact information.

Elianna pouted, took the business card, and tossed it to Mona when she got back. “Contact this author. Ask her if she can give me the lead role.”

Mona dialed the number right in front of her. “Hello, is this Sapphire, the author of ‘Moonlit Hunt‘?b” /b

“Speaking,” Skr replied. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I’m calling to see if we can secure the lead female role for our artist. She’s a very talented actress and already has ba /bsignifica. lowing.

“It would be a mutually beneficial coboration.” Mona said.

Skr asked for the artist’s name,

Mona, thinking Skr’s question was a good sign, happily announced, “Elianna Stone.”

Skr almost burst outughing. Elianna Stone was certainly trendingtely, but for all the wrong reasons–she was infamous.

“I’m sorry,” Skr said coolly, “but I don’t privately assign roles to anyone. If she really wants the part, she’s wee toe and audition.”

Mona covered the mouthpiece and turned to Elianna. “Elianna, she said no.”

“She refused?” Elianna eximed. “Tell her who bI /bam! I dare her bto /brefuse me then!”

Mona ryed Elianna’s “status,” but Skr was unmoved. “Even bif /bGod himself came asking, my answer would be the same- bif /bbyou /bwant bthe /brole, be /b

audition and earn it.”

Elianna, furious, snatched the phone. “Do you have iany /iidea who you’re talking to? With one word, bI /bcan make byour /bbdeal /bbwith Campbell /bbGroup /bbfall /b

10

b10:31 /bbMon/b, b14 /bJul

through! I’ll make sure you never cell the rights to another book in your lifer

Skr let out a coldugh. “Big words.”

“In that case, there’s nothing thore to sayi./i” Shepletely ignored Elianna’s shouting: and threats not to hang up, and decisively anded the ball-

Elianna was seething. She mmed the phone onto the floor, shattering it. “Who does she

in the le, pulling that diva act with mur

Mona stared at the shattered phone on the floor, her heart aching for the expensive device.

“Elianna, that was too impulsive,” Mona sighed. “You’ve definitely upset her now.”

Mona advised, “maybe you should try a softer approach. Ask to meet her, apologize, offer her something perhaps then you can still get thend reté.

bAD /b