Chapter 162 - A Set Up...

'What do you think? Are you satisfied with the way your office is?'' Daniel asked as they walked out of the office.

''Of course, she will be satisfied. I made every detail of it'' Solace said, walking towards them.

''Darling, you are already back from your business meeting?'' Daniel asked as he hugged Solace.

''Mm. Natalie, did I capture everything perfectly?'' Solace hugged Daniel halfway and turned to ask Natalie.

''Mm, I love everything about it''

''Are you done here?''

''Yes, I was just about to leave with Lucy''

''Alright, let's have our dinner then''

''You are having dinner without me? Solace, you should have told me earlier. It would have become a welcome dinner for Natalie''

''You can organise that once she joins the company officially. I just want to have dinner with Natalie alone tonight''

''Sure, go ahead. We will talk again tomorrow. Solace, let's have a little chat in my office''

''Natalie, I will meet you in the lobby later''

''Alright'' Natalie nodded her head and went away with Lucy.

….

''Since when did you become so close to Natalie? Even inviting her out to dinner?''

''Why? Does it bother you that I am getting close to her?''

''Solace, I hope you don't have funny ideas? You know the consequences of messing with me, right?''

''Daniel, you look scared. are you afraid that your plans will not come to fruition? You seem to be doubting yourself lately''

''What?''

''You should slow down on the antidepressants. They are messing with your brains… obviously''

Daniel pushed Solace and she hit her back against the door. He gritted his teeth angrily and said to her, 'listen to me Solace Ash. Your life and that of your daughter's are in my hands. One wrong move and you both will die in my hands. Don't think that I don't know what you are doing. Stop snubbing around my affairs. Even if you find the evidence that you are looking for, no one will be able to do shit about it. I rule this city. the police are in my hands and everyone else does my bidding''

Solace laughed and spat into his face. She pushed him away and opened the door and walked out proudly, adjusting her dressing as she walked away.

…

Matt got down from the car and greeted Natalie, ''hello, Natalie''

''Hi, Matt''

''I will leave first, Natalie''

''Mm, go ahead. Let's talk tomorrow''

''Bye, Natalie''

''Bye, Matt'' Natalie waved at them before turning to look at the entrance. She saw Solace walking out of the elevator.

''Natalie…'' Solace walked to her.

''Mother''

''Let's use my car. I will get someone to send yours home''

''Alright'' Natalie followed Solace to the car and they got in. A while later, Daniel who was looking down at them from his office glass ceiling said to someone over the phone.

''Follow them and let me know whatever they are going to discuss'' he hung up and his frown deepened.

…..

''Where are we going?'' Natalie asked when she noticed Solace was taking a roundabout route which was leading them back to the same junction.

''I'm sorry but we have to take a rain check on the dinner. We have a tail behind us''

Natalie turned and saw the black car following them.

''Daniel sent him, right?''

''You still got it in you. let's go for a ride instead. I will send you home after another round''

''Okay'' Natalie replied and looked at the car trailing behind them.

…

Grove Production Studios.

''That will be all for the script reading. I hope that the energy we came here with and started with will remain with us when we start filming next week. Thank you all for coming here'' The director of the drama, ''Inayah's Kismet' said after they closed the script reading.

Everyone started chatting amongst themselves, some introducing themselves and making new acquaintances.

''Hey, tell me how was your dinner date with the in laws?'' Alice turned to Zeya who was sitting next to her.

''Stop messing with me. It was just a dinner with my bosses. Tell you what, it wasn't so bad. Mrs. Bassey even gave me some pieces of advice''

''I see. Then, I won't be worried anymore. Since the mother in law likes you, you don't have a problem. What is left is now to make him yours''

''You…''

''Hi, Sister Zeya, sister Alice. I am Gladia, playing the role of Sandra'' a young petite girl walked to them and introduced herself.

''Hi Gladia, you did quite well today for someone whose first role is in this drama'' Alice said to the girl.

''Thank you. I hope you can look after me in the future''

''We should be telling you that. You passed the audition and beat a lot of experienced actresses to play the role of Sandra'' Zeya said to her.

''Which agency do you belong to?'' Alice asked.

''Wind Entertainment''

''Even if you suck up to a lot of people, you will still have to prove with your acting if not the role will be taken from you, Gladia. Don't be so smug yet'' another girl covered in heavy makeup said as she passed by them.

Alice and Zeya turned to look at the girl. Gladia flushed and bit her lips nervously. Alice noticing it frowned and asked.

''Do you two know each other?''

''Sister Alice, Sister Zeya, hi. I am Yvonne playing the role of Safaree'' the girl called Yvonne said proudly.

''I see'' Zeya said half-heartedly and turned to Gladia, ''what did she mean by that?''

''We are from the same agency but some people got in through the backdoor. With no experience, playing the role of Sandra isn't just chicken and soup. Sandra's character is that of an eccentric high school girl who got pregnant in the story for the male lead's best friend who is a doctor. There are a lot of things that she would have to go through in order to grow. Being a newbie, I am afraid that she might not be able to portray Sandra so well and bring shame to the agency''

''Are you calling the director and writer that qualified her blind?'' Alice asked.

''Huh? I don't understand what you mean, sister Alice'' Yvonne's face changed immediately.

Because Alice's voice was also high, it made everyone to turn and look at them.

Alice smiled and stood up. She folded her arms and lifted her brows at the girl who was trying to feign innocence.

''Sister Alice, did I do something wrong? if you tell me, I would apologise immediately'' Yvonne said immediately when she saw that everyone's attention was now on them.

''Good going, but do you really want to take this route?'' Alice asked and smiled.

''Is Alice bullying the girl? Alice, why are you already bullying a small time actress? Aren't you tired of doing this all the time?''

Lin Yan who was sitting quietly a distance away decidedly to speak at that moment. She stood up and walked to them.

When she said that, the people began to murmur, some looking down on Alice. Lin Yan gave a subtle look at Yvonne and smiled. She looked away immediately but her actions didn't go unnoticed by a pair of eagle eyes that sat a seat away from Zeya. He was busy playing with his phone.

''What kind of situation is this? Whoa, I can't believe this'' Alice tussled her hair as she looked at Lin Yan. She had purposefully avoided her because she didn't want to waste her precious energy on her but it seemed Lin Yan had other plans.

''What is going on here, Alice?'' the director walked to them and asked.

Alice looked at them and smiled. ''Director Xuan, I believe this is a simply misunderstanding…''

''What kind of misunderstanding can it be? Everyone saw how you were bullying Yvonne''

''That is not true, sister Alice was just advising and teaching me. I acted rashly just now. She wasn't bullying me. Director Xuan, don't misunderstand Alice'' Yvonne quickly said. 

On the surface, it seemed that she was accepting Alice's guidance but everyone could make a deeper understanding of the situation.

Alice was bullying Yvonne. But, Yvonne didn't want to admit it because it could cause her to lose!

'The filming hasn't even started and you are already bullying your juniors. I wonder what will happen when filming begins? Alice, I thought that you would change after leaving our agency but it seems you have become even more brazen''

''You are right, the filming hasn't started and a lot of drama is already going on. First, it involved these two people…'' the one who spoke pointed at Zeya and Sebastian who was speaking on phone by the door, then he turned to Alice, ''now it is you two former label mates. Even in real life, you still act so well. right, Miss Lin Yan?'' he now turned his focus on Lin Yan.

''Reynolds, what do you mean?'' Lin Yan asked with a frown.

''Director Xuan, Writer Paige, listen to this first…''

Reynolds finally stood up and walked to them. He placed his phone on the table and pressed on a recording.