She Is the Kind of Person Who Changes the Color of the Dye Vat
Avery Hayes actually knew a little something about Stellar Media Group.
Even though it wasn't some old, established firm, the company had made a huge splash when it launched a few years back, coming out of nowhere like a true dark horse. But then one of their biggest stars got into some trouble, and the whole thing just fizzled out.
Honestly, the way the company went down was suspicious.
One scandal seemed to follow another, with rumors flying that the company forced its talent to go out drinking with clients, which led to things like DUIs.
If an old classmate of hers hadn't been working there and casually mentioned a few things, even Avery might have believed the stories.
Leo Foster turned his head, glancing at her in surprise.
He clearly hadn't expected her to know what had happened to Stellar Media a year ago.
The entertainment industry moves fast, after all.
Once that big star got into trouble, you hardly ever heard the name "Stellar Media Group" anymore.
In the internet age, being irrelevant is the scariest thing of all.
"So, you know a bit about us, Dr. Hayes," Leo said. "If you've done your research, then you should know Stellar Media has a reputation for treating its talent pretty well."
Avery's gaze drifted downward. Her voice was soft, but her words were sharp. "You have a good reputation on the surface, but who knows what's really going on behind closed doors."
She didn't know all the details, but she'd heard things about their contracts. They'd gotten incredibly restrictive, especially after the incident. No matter what kind of artist you were, signing with them meant a minimum ten-year term with an astronomical penalty for breaking the contract.
Once bitten, twice shy. She could understand why Stellar Media had tightened its grip; so many artists had jumped ship and terminated their agreements a year ago that it nearly destroyed the company.
But that was their problem, not hers. She had no intention of being led around by a contract designed to trap her.
If she was going to sign, the terms would have to be reasonable.
The car passed through an intersection. Avery glanced at the blue street sign for the upcoming turn, then noticed Leo was already in the left-turn lane. He was obviously planning to take her straight to Stellar Media.
She frowned, thinking for a moment before saying flatly, "Let's skip lunch. How about the day after tomorrow? Pick me up at the University of Finance and Economics at five-thirty. If Mr. Reed has time then, we can sit down and talk."
Her schedule was already tight. She'd made plans with Owen Bowen to visit his film crew right after the Bar Exam, and her flight to Hollywood was booked for three days from now. If they wanted to talk, the evening of the day after tomorrow was the only window she had.
"Deal. I'll pick you up then." Hearing that she was at least willing to talk to Dexter Reed, Leo raised his eyebrows. He smoothly turned the steering wheel, guiding the car out of the turn lane and back into the flow of traffic.
Now that he'd gotten what he wanted, he casually tried another angle. "New York City is a lot different from Westlake City. Are you free tomorrow, Dr. Hayes? There's a 'Stellar Age' exhibition at the Center for Art and Culture. It's supposed to be pretty cool. Want to check it out?"
His time on the film crew had taught him that while Dr. Hayes didn't say much, she was actually easy to get along with.
And relationships are built by spending time together.
You hang out, you get to know someone. Dexter and Julian wanted to sign her, right?
If he could just get on her good side, a little persuasion here and there might be all it took.
"I'm not a doctor anymore. You can just call me Avery," she said, a faint, teasing smile on her lips. "And tomorrow's not going to work. I don't have a spare minute before the exam."
Leo sighed dramatically. "Wow, you're a busy woman. I was hoping to show you around, have some fun."
"Maybe some other time," Avery said coolly.
As they spoke, the car entered University Heights.
After a few more stoplights, the walls of the University of Finance and Economics came into view.
The sycamore trees lining the road had turned from green to gold, and fallen leaves drifted on the wind, blanketing the city in a soft autumn haze.
Students walked along the sidewalks, their laughter and chatter filling the air with youthful energy.
Avery had booked a hotel online the night before and gave Leo the name. He followed the GPS and pulled up a few minutes later.
"I'm actually staying near the university for the next couple of days, too," Leo said, not ready to give up as he popped the trunk and pulled out her suitcase. "We should grab dinner tonight. It won't take long."
If the mountain won't come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain. The woman was busy, sure, but everyone had to eat. She could definitely spare enough time for one meal.
"You're really something else," Avery said, glancing at him.
His persistence felt like gum stuck to the bottom of her shoe.
She thought for a moment, then nodded. "Fine. We can figure it out later."
At this point, she couldn't really say no again, and as long as it didn't cut into her study time, a meal was just a meal.
With that, she took her suitcase from him and walked into the hotel. She checked in at the front desk, got her key, and headed for the elevator without a backward glance.
The three of them, Leo, Zachary Bell, and Ethan Rhodes, watched her go inside before leaning back against the car. Zachary pulled out a pack of cigarettes, expertly tapping out three. He handed one to Leo and one to Ethan.
"This Avery Hayes has a bit of an attitude, doesn't she?"
Zachary teased, sticking a cigarette between his lips and cupping his hands around the flame of his lighter.
After a long drag, he gestured toward the hotel with it.
"All those little starlets we used to meet, their eyes would light up the second they saw us. But her? From the moment she got in the car to the moment she left, she barely gave us a second look."
Leo blew out a slow, wobbly smoke ring. "Dexter's been in this business for decades. Did you really think someone who impressed him that much would be just another wannabe trying to climb the ladder?"
"I don't know about that," Zachary disagreed, a playful look in his eyes. "That world chews people up. She's got a spine now, sure, but that's only because reality hasn't beaten her down yet. Give her a year or two in the game, and we'll see what she's like."
Ethan hadn't lit his cigarette. He just kept flicking his lighter open and closed with a sharp *click*. He glanced at the hotel's clean glass doors, his expression thoughtful. "I don't think she's the type to get swallowed up."
He let out a soft chuckle. "She seems more like the type who would change the game, not let it change her."
Zachary and Leo both froze, turning to stare at him. "What do you mean by that?"
Ethan explained, "From the second she got in the car, we were driving the conversation, but she never took the bait. No matter what we threw at her, her answer was always the same: after the Bar Exam. She never even hinted if she was interested in a contract.
All she agreed to was a meeting with Dexter."
He paused. "Does that sound like someone who's easily influenced?"
Leo stared at Ethan, his eyes wide with surprise, as if he'd just grown a second head. "Whoa, since when did you get so deep? You're actually making sense. Wait a second." He leaned in close, squinting at Ethan's face. "I know this look. Don't tell me you're back with your ex-girlfriend again?"
As guys who'd grown up together, Leo knew the cycle. Every time Ethan started using his brain like this, it was right after getting back together with his on-again, off-again girlfriend.
Ethan rolled his eyes and shoved Leo's face away. "What are you talking about, 'back together'? It's a strategic cool-down period. We never actually broke up."