Her Junior Sister Was Also Named Avery Hayes
Running into someone she used to know, so suddenly and completely out of the blue, sent a shockwave through Avery Hayes. She'd never imagined that the person replacing the former senior associate at Stellar Media Group would be Veronica Warner.
Veronica, who had been focused on the contract in her hands, felt Avery's stare and her cool expression tightened. She snapped her eyes up, her gaze sharp. Seeing this, Avery quickly pulled herself together and offered a small, composed nod.
The whole being-reborn thing was just too strange to be real, and she couldn't let a single soul find out.
In this new life, everyone she used to know had to be a stranger.
And if they were strangers, she had to treat them that way.
In a split second, Avery shoved down the turmoil rising in her chest and took the initiative.
"Hello, Ms. Warner," she said, her voice even.
"Hello."
The greeting was simple, but everything about her, the expression, the words, the unshakable vibe, was uncannily familiar. That calm, capable energy was practically identical to the person Veronica remembered.
Over on the side, Ethan Rhodes, who'd been slumped bonelessly against his girlfriend's shoulder, suddenly sat up. His eyes shot open, darting back and forth between Avery and Veronica.
He abruptly uncrossed his legs. "I was just wondering why Dr. Hayes felt so familiar," he said, a note of awe in his voice. "Turns out, she's just like Vee."
Earlier, Zac had been going on about how Dr. Hayes might seem distant now, but if she joined the entertainment industry, she'd eventually get sucked into its rules.
Ethan's gut told him that wasn't going to happen.
He hadn't known why he felt so sure, but now...
now he knew. It was because Dr. Hayes and his Vee were the same kind of person.
They both had a spine of steel, their pride and dignity forged from their own strength.
They would never, ever allow themselves to break.
He'd learned that firsthand. His mother had been locked in a power struggle with Veronica for years.
But Vee was completely unfazed by his aggressive, new-money mom; when it came to her career, she never backed down.
Years went by, and Vee never budged an inch.
Eventually, his mom wasn't just beaten; she was won over.
For people like them, if the industry tried to put on a leash, you could never be sure who would end up holding it.
Hearing Ethan's comment, Veronica raised her eyes to look at Avery again. Their gazes met for a brief, charged second before Veronica picked up her water glass, letting the steam hide the flicker of regret in her eyes.
If they were talking about resemblance, this Dr. Hayes reminded her more of her former mentee, the one who'd been killed by her abusive husband right at the courthouse entrance a while back.
Her mentee's name had also been Avery Hayes, same as this doctor who'd quit her job over a medical dispute.
Same name, similar story. It was just that this Avery was luckier. She had survived.
"It's getting late," Julian Shaw said, turning from his spot on the sofa to nod at Dexter Reed. "Let's eat. We can talk more after."
He stood and walked over to the wall, his movements fluid and unhurried.
His slender fingers tapped lightly on an ivory touch panel.
He carried himself with a steady confidence, his dark, well-fitted shirt outlining a lean waist.
After summoning the waiter, he took his seat at the head of the dining table and casually rolled up his cuffs, revealing a section of a firm forearm.
As soon as he was seated, Dexter pulled out the chair beside him. "Dr. Hayes, please," he said warmly. "Make yourself at home. Just think of this as a get-together with friends."
Avery gave Dexter a polite nod and sat down next to Julian.
"Is this your first time in New York City?" Julian asked, turning his head slightly. The simple gesture created a private bubble just for the two of them.
The food arrived with surprising speed, as if it had all been ordered long before they got there. The moment everyone was seated, waiters began filing in, placing one dish after another on the table.
"No, I lived here for eight years," Avery answered, her tone perfectly balanced, not too meek, not too bold. She offered a faint, polite smile. "I just moved back to Westlake City two months ago after finishing school."
There were seven people in the room, and she was familiar with five of them. It was this Julian Shaw she'd have to brace herself for.
"Dexter's told me a little about your situation," Julian said, cutting through the small talk. Just like the impression he gave off, he was sharp and direct. "He thinks very highly of you and wants you to sign with Stellar. I wonder if you have any interest?"
As the topic shifted, the air around him grew more intense. His previously detached features sharpened, settling into the stern focus of someone in charge. It was a classic power move.
"I'm definitely interested in entering the industry," Avery replied, dropping the pretense. Since he'd laid his cards on the table, she met him head-on, squaring her shoulders. "But it depends on the terms Stellar Media can offer."
"Your image is very strong," Julian said, his pace relaxed.
"But in this business, looks are just a foot in the door. You're a newcomer. There isn't much room to negotiate."
When he said the word "negotiate," a subtle pressure crept into his tone.
His dark eyes were fixed on Avery's face, his admiration for what he saw obvious.
He'd noticed her the moment she walked in, she had a presence that would make her the first person you'd see in any room.
Based on that alone, she was worth signing.
But she was still new, and no matter how much potential she had, Stellar wouldn't be handing out a top-tier contract from the start.
"If you were only interested in my looks, we wouldn't be having this dinner at The Empyrean Club," Avery said with certainty, completely unfazed by his scrutiny.
Right now, she was a product, and the quality of the product determined the price.
"Let me be blunt: Stellar Media is my first choice. But the contract has to be something we both agree on."
The smile in her eyes didn't waver, but sitting this close, Julian could see the sharp edge beneath it.
The discovery surprised him; he hadn't expected a student fresh out of school to have such a bite.
He lowered his gaze, picking up a glass of red wine and taking a slow sip to hide the flicker of emotion.
"Mr. Shaw, don't be so quick to shoot me down," Avery said, her voice calm and smooth.
"If I'm bold enough to name my terms, it's because I have the leverage to back them up. I come with my own buzz, and it's all positive. Stellar had some bad press last year and is desperate for a star who can rebuild the company's reputation. Signing me is that turning point."
Her clear, steady gaze met Julian's without flinching.
In the quiet of the private room, the only sound was her voice, coolly and accurately dissecting Stellar Media's current situation.
She knew her advantages all too well. Dexter hadn't just been contacting her because he liked her face; it was because of her public image.
A medical master's student of the renowned Professor Joel Finch who had lost her passion for medicine after a malpractice dispute, that story alone would generate a massive wave of publicity the moment it broke.
And it was publicity she could control. She couldn't be a doctor anymore, but she hadn't given up.
She'd stayed positive, pulling herself together to study for the bar exam.
If she passed, she wouldn't even need Stellar's marketing department; she would instantly become the center of public attention.
She had done her homework. Stellar was hurting for a star who could actually carry the projects they had lined up.
As long as she could leverage her story to become an online sensation and get the right acting training, she could revive the company almost single-handedly.