Behind The Spotlight Chapter 141
"Oh my God, Aida! I can't believe your brother is hot! Tell me, is he single?"
A group of young women surrounded Aida, their eyes sparkling with mischief and excitement. They were eyeing two men at the party while sipping their drinks and whispering among themselves. Almost everyone who was invited to Collin's party was professional and made a good amount of money annually.
However, after many comparisons, the female students only deemed Collin and Lawrence attractive. Not even Axel, who was also a real actor, made their hearts skip a beat. Axel, with his stoic demeanor, broad shoulders, and tall stature, still failed to capture the fluttering hearts of the younger crowd.
Lawrence had an angelic appearance that made him look beautiful. His soft smile and gentle eyes exuded charm, almost ethereal. But Collin was different, he was more of a rough, handsome type, the kind of man who could make a woman melt. His chiseled jawline and confident posture gave off an irresistible masculine aura.
Furthermore, Collin seemed to be healthy and fit. He had firm muscles and was also tall. His well-built frame was perfect in their eyes.
So far, he had checked all of their preferences for a man.
Tall. He was the second tallest man at the party, next to Axel.
Handsome. No need for explanation. Collin was a model for a reason, his every move seemed effortlessly photogenic.
Rich. Being the talent agent of successful celebrities, Collin was clearly earning a lot of money.
Furthermore, he looked like a nice guy. He had this gentleness in him that made the young women squeal. His warm smile and polite manner made him even more charming in their eyes.
As for Lawrence, they were also interested in dating him, but they probably couldn't handle a famous actor like him. Besides, Lawrence was with his girlfriend, Zara Lauren. Zara stood gracefully beside him, a clear sign of their relationship. They couldn't find a chance to flirt with the actor.
Hence, their best pick was Collin East.
"Come on, this is not the right time to talk about that," Aida tried to dodge the question. She had no idea if Collin was dating anyone, but based on his daily lifestyle, he probably was not. He always seemed too busy to bother with romance, or maybe he was just private about it.
"Don't do this to us, we just want to know if your brother is single... Can we get his number?"
"First, I'm not sure if he's single. But he probably is. Second, no, I will not give you his contact number. You have to ask him personally."
"I knew you would say that." They giggled. One of them playfully nudged Aida while the others squealed quietly, glancing at Collin from afar.
"Aida, do you think it's possible for me to get signed by an agent? Your brother and his friend seem to be doing great. Are they interested in looking for an actress? Based on their clients' status, they are probably at the top of their agency."
One of the girls asked Aida. Some of the girls also listened curiously. They were also interested in getting into Hollywood and becoming celebrities. Perhaps Collin and Arnold could help them reach their dreams of becoming famous. The thought of fame sparkled in their wide eyes.
Aida sighed and answered their questions at best. However, there were some questions she couldn't answer. She regretted inviting her friends. Her friends were curious about her brother because they had heard that Collin was a talent agent.
And now, they realized that Collin was not a simple talent agent. His presence alone commanded quiet respect. He was someone important, someone successful.
The party ended, and the guests had to leave. Fortunately, Aida's friends behaved and didn't do anything scandalous. Thankfully, only a few cellphone brands around this era had cameras, and the quality was blurry, so no one took pictures.
"...We have to clean, huh," Aida muttered as she saw the place in disarray. Empty bottles, cups, paper plates, and crumbs were scattered all over the living room floor. Collin and Evelyn started cleaning the house, and Aida joined in.
"Collin, happy birthday," Aida greeted her brother. A soft smile appeared on her face despite her fatigue. This surprise party was worth it.
"Thank you." Collin had drunk a bit, so he forgot that Aida didn't like it whenever he patted her head.
"Stop patting my head!" Aida pouted, crossing her arms as Evelyn chuckled quietly in the background.
......
...
...
In October and November, Lawrence and Axel focused on their projects.
Lawrence worked with Director Summerbelt for the second time. Since they already had experience working together, their interaction was much better. Lawrence trusted and respected Director Summerbelt because he acknowledged the director's talent.
Director Summerbelt also had the same sentiment. You couldn't hate an actor who always did his job perfectly. Whenever Lawrence was on screen, he stole the moment. The camera seemed to adore him. However, Director Summerbelt could see that the actor he had worked with a few years ago had changed.
Lawrence now had the aura of a superstar, and sometimes he did arrogant things. The once-humble actor now carried an air of superiority, subtle but undeniable. In fact, a fan had snuck into the studio just to get an autograph from Lawrence, and the actor didn't like it at all. He still signed the autograph, but he clearly didn't enjoy the interaction. His forced smile and stiff shoulders revealed his irritation.
Lawrence had reached the point in his career where he hated getting interrupted by fans. He also hated the fact that someone had snuck into the studio just to make a scene. He valued professionalism and privacy.
As for Axel, this tall actor had a tougher situation than Lawrence. Unlike Lawrence, who only had to memorize his lines, Axel had to participate in physical training. He had to practice stunts and action choreography.
Fortunately, Axel was a retired soldier, so physical training was nothing new to him. The production studio that cast him was satisfied when they realized that Axel could actually participate in the training with ease. His discipline and endurance impressed even the stunt coordinators. Of course, Axel had a stunt double to take his place if the action stunt was dangerous.
Because he was going to star in an action movie, Axel needed a stunt double. He was against having a stunt double for some dangerous scenes because he wanted to prove that he could do them himself. Collin had to convince him otherwise. The conversation was long and serious. Collin's calm yet firm tone eventually made Axel realize the risk he was taking. Collin said that if an accident happened, it could lead to the end of his career, or worse, his life. If he lost his job, then he would fail to provide for his son. If he lost his life, then his son would be lonely.
After thinking about it, Axel agreed and let the stunt double handle the dangerous stunts. He realized that his life was important. The stunt double resembled his body size so that it wouldn't look off in front of the camera.
As for Jennifer, she was still hosting The Singing Voice. She was also busy, but unlike a few years ago, when she felt jealous of others, she didn't feel bitter anymore. There was contentment in her eyes now whenever she stepped onto the brightly lit stage. Collin was right, she would find her place in this industry. She didn't regret stepping away from acting, especially when being the host of a famous singing competition earned her huge money. She even had brand deals lately. She was happy and thankful to Collin, who had found an opportunity for her. She owed him a lot.