Chapter 34
Chapter 34
20
Derrick was never great at reading between the lines. He thought it over for a while and still couldn’t figure out what Katherine’s hidden meaning was.
But he wasn’t the type to waste time on something like that. A simple name wasn’t something he’d care about. If Katherine liked that name, he was fine with it.
All the business registration stuff and paperwork ended up on Wyatt’s plate. As someone who’d clawed his way up over almost ten years, Wyatt was not thrilled about being an errand boy.
Still, the boss paid well, so he didn’t complain too much. Especially after Derrick promised that thirty percent of the personal investment money would be Wyatt’s cut. That meant if Wyatt did his job right, he’d have a rightful share of the company too.
After that, any hint of grumbling vanished, and nobody was more motivated than he was.
Katherine didn’t slack off either. She dug into Jasmine’s background. Turned out her background was complicated. She started her career as a child model, then got picked up by Korita’s company to get trained for her debut.
Later, she got blacklisted for refusing to sleep with big shots. She spent almost ten years struggling abroad, yet she came back still as a hobody, working as an extra at a film studio.
All that intel came from Wyatt’s digging.
“Man, that’s rough. She’s had it bad,” Katherine muttered, watching a video of Jasmine training until her sweat poured and muscles twitched.
Katherine thought, ‘All those years of work were ruined just because she wouldn’t sleep with someone? Pathetic.
Wyatt, looking at things from the business angle, added, “So far, we found no real dirt on her. But her education level could be a weakness. People might use it against her.”
Katherine waved that off. “Who cares? If she can act well, she can always attend school to improve herself.
To Katherine, not everyone needed a fancy degree. As long as one earned their way with real skills, that was what mattered.
Wyatt, who did have a decent degree, just gave a small sigh. “Alright. I’ll talk with her and see if she’s willing to sign.”
“I’m coming with you,” Katherine said.
The film studio was on the outskirts of Riverporsh, surrounded by sprawling estates. Lots of productions shot there.
When they arrived, they parked the big black van over by the curb. Wyatt gave Katherine a quick update. “She should be filming right now, playing a inaid, but with quite a few lines.”
Katherine was about to hop out when Wyatt stopped her. “Mrs. Graham, why don’t you wait in the car? It’s hot outside. I’ve already talked to the coordinator. Once she’s done with the scene, they’ll bring her over.”
Katherine narrowed her eyes and looked him up and down, picking up on something. She asked, “Derrick had a private chat with you, didn’t he?”
Wyatt went quiet for a second, but before he could answer, Katherine’s tone sharpened with a hint of pressure Wyatt remembered all too well. “Tell the truth, or you can walk away right now.”
Wyatt let out a long sigh, talking to himself, ‘Man… Stuck between them is just my luck.
Still, the thought of those future shares. He gritted his teeth and replied, “Yeah, Mr. Graham told me to keep an eye on your health, especially…”
His gaze flicked downward, right on her belly.
Of course, Derrick hadn’t kept her pregnancy from him–hard to take care of her otherwise.
In fact, when Wyatt first heard Katherine was pregnant, he nearly bailed on the whole job. He thought, ‘If something happens to her, how the hell would I even take responsibility?‘
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7:54 PM P P
Chapter 34
“I knew it,” Katherine muttered.
5
‘I should’ve guessed Derrick wouldn’t just let me wander around on my own. Turns out he’s planted another “Maeve” on me. Whatever, let him,’ she sighed inwardly.
“Fine, I’ll wait in the car,” she said, giving up on going to find Jasmine herself.
She did need to take it easy–she was pregnant, after all.
Half an hour later, Jasmine showed up, still in her heavy costume. The plain dress gave her a gentle vibe, but that refined, slightly aloof face made Katherine think, ‘Yep, no wonder she made a name since childhood.
‘With a face like that, she could’ve made it as a model easily. Too bad she got pulled off track halfway.
“Hi, Jasmine.” Katherine pushed the car door open, motioning for her to get in. But Jasmine shook her head, staying outside.
She studied Katherine–around her age, but dressed like she’d walked out of a fashion spread–and frowned. “Do I… know you? Is there anything you wanna talk about with me?”
Katherine smiled, “You don’t know me, but I’ve seen plenty of your work.”
She pulled out a business card–one she’d rushed to have made—and handed it over. “I’m the owner of Riverbend Media. Wondering if you’re interested in signing with a company?”
In fact, Katherine was a little nervous. The last time Jasmine signed with another company, they had used the contract as bait, wasting years of her life.
“Got a contract?” Jasmine asked, looking at the card for a moment. Surprisingly, there wasn’t much resistance in her tone.
Her face stayed cool, like she’d heard this kind of offer before and wasn’t particularly impressed.
“Of course,” Katherine said. “But this isn’t really the place to talk. Do you still have scenes to shoot today?”
Jasmine had just started to shake her head when another girl in a maid costume ran over, yelling, “Jasmine, they’re re–shooting a scene. The director wants us to be there.”
Jasmine’s perfect brows drew together upon hearing that.
“Go ahead,” Katherine told her. “We’ll wait here.”
Jasmine looked at Katherine for a long moment, tightening her grip on the card. “Alright. I’ll be quick.”
Then she ran off, skirts gathered in one hand, back straight, every move radiating that rich–girl grace.
Katherine watched her perfect figure and posture, muttering, “Perfect model.”
Shaking herself out of it, she turned to Wyatt. “Well? Think she’s interested?”
Wyatt chuckled. “Mrs. Graham, you already know the answer, don’t you?”
If Jasmine had no interest, she would’ve shot them down the moment she got the card. And the way she’d acted just now was like she’d been expecting them.
“Check something for me,” Katherine said. “See how many companies have already tried to sign her.”
Katherine’s gut told her Jasmine had been through this pitch more than once. Still, she also looked like someone tired of drifting around
as a nameless extra.
After all, being called back at a moment’s notice to re–shoot a scene was enough to make anyone want out.
With Riverbend Group’s connections, Wyatt could find out any information fast. A few calls later, he had the answer.
He reported to Katherine, “You know what? Turns out a bunch of companies are interested in her.”
Katherine wasn’t surprised at all. She asked, “So she offended someone, huh?”
Wyatt gave her a knowing look and asked, “Impressive. How did you know that?”
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7:54 PM P P
Chapter 34
“Told you,” Katherine said with a little shrug.
@
With a face like Jasmine’s, plus the poise, and the fact she’d landed the main character’s personal maid role as an extra, Katherine knew her acting had to be at least decent.
Even if she only had average acting skills, she could get work with her stunning appearance. After all, half the market was full of actors who couldn’t act.
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