Chapter 102
Hendrick Andrew was a trending hotshot, a male celebrity who'd skyrocketed to fame with a hit historical drama. He was raking in endorsement deals left and right.
This time, he was shooting a commercial for a nationally recognized brand, and that was where Vika came in.
Upon entering the studio, they saw a man seated in a chair, surrounded by seven or eight staff members fussing over him. They were busily touching up his makeup, wiping away sweat, and adjusting his clothes.
"Hendrick, Vika's here." Steven jogged over to Hendrick and whispered.
Hendrick looked up. In person, he was as striking as he appeared on screen. His features were indeed delicate, the kind of pretty boy look that was all the rage with young women these days.
Tina stepped forward to discuss the project with Hendrick's manager, Reese White.
The shoot included promotional photos and short videos spanning three days. There were also outdoor scenes planned, making the schedule pretty tight.
Victoria decided to start with the promotional posters, figuring that nailing the style for those would set the tone for the commercial.
She walked straight towards Hendrick. Just as she was about to speak, someone stopped her. "You can say whatever you need to from there. Why are you getting so close?"
The person's tone was wary as if she were some kind of suspicious character with ill intentions.
Victoria paused, then spoke, but her voice was soft and small.
Hendrick frowned. "What did you say? Speak up, will you?"
Victoria calmly replied, "If you listen carefully, you'll hear me just fine."
Hendrick looked up from his phone, his eyes widening as he took in Victoria's appearance. A flicker of admiration crossed his face, and his attitude instantly shifted. He flashed her at charming smile.
"Sorry about that. I was just replying to a message. What were you saying? Could you repeat it?" Hendrick rose to his feet and walked towards her.
Victoria met his gaze with calm, clear eyes. She reiterated the shooting requirements and added, "Your makeup isn't quite right for this. It needs to be redone."
She explained that while his meticulously groomed eyebrows and eyes were striking, the brand emphasized a natural aesthetic, not a heavily stylized one.
"Sure, no problem," Hendrick agreed readily. "Why don't you stay and supervise? Feel free to give the makeup artist any feedback."
He reached for her hand as he spoke.
The surrounding staff members didn't bat an eye, even stepping aside to give them more space. It was clearly a familiar scene for them.
Victoria dodged him, saying flatly, "Just do as I say. I'm busy." She turned and walked away.
Hendrick sat in his chair, staring at her retreating figure, his eyes filled with a newfound interest.
He had assumed Vika was a dull, ordinary–looking woman, famous only for her photography skills. Never in his wildest dreams did he expect her to be such a stunning beauty!
The aura she exuded... he just had to have her!
He was at the top of his game in the entertainment industry, women throwing themselves at him left and right, but he found it all so tedious. Now, finally, he had found someone who truly intrigued him!
He immediately called Reese over, leaning in to whisper in his ear, "I like that woman. Figure it out."
Reese shot him a look. "Can't you keep it in your pants for a few days? The last scandal barely died down. Do you want to ruin your career?"
Hendrick chuckled. "I have faith in your abilities. Look at that body, man. Smokin' hot."
Reese's gaze also fell upon Victoria.
She was dressed simply in a shirt and jeans, her lengthy hair tied up in a bun, a clean and neat appearance. But her face was undeniably beautiful, her skin radiant and youthful. She exuded an alluring innocence.
Reese's eyes flickered with a thought, but he didn't say anything more. He turned and walked away.
Victoria was fiddling with her camera, snapping a few test. shots of the surroundings before turning the lens to Hendrick. She took a few photos of him, trying to find the perfect angle.
Hendrick, clearly aware of the camera, immediately looked over and winked.
Victoria was speechless.
She turned to Diana. "Babe," she whispered, leaning in, "I think you might have misjudged this one."
"Hmm?" Diana, who had been looking at her phone, glanced up. "What do you mean?"
"He doesn't seem like a good guy," Victoria said.
Diana paused for a moment. "The contract is signed," she replied. "The penalty for breaking it is six hundred thousand dollars."
Victoria was floored.
While six hundred thousand dollars wasn't a massive amount of money to her, she still hated the thought of throwing it away for nothing.
"Well," she thought, "it's only three days. I'll just have to grin and bear it."
Tina was entertaining Emma. The little girl was quiet and well–behaved, with an angelic face. Several staff members came over to play with her.
Emma was a charmer, calling everyone "pretty lady" and "handsome guy". In no time, she had a pile of snacks in front of her.
She picked up a small chocolate cake and ran over to Victoria. "Ms. Victoria, this is for you!"
"Thank you, sweetie," Victoria said, taking the cake.
She pointed to her cheek, and Emma immediately kissed her, then trotted back to her corner.
Victoria looked at her with a soft heart.
"I'm ready."
Just then, a voice came from behind, very close. She was startled, turned her head quickly, and saw Hendrick standing less than two steps behind her, looking at her with a grin.
Victoria immediately stepped away from him and said, "Next time you speak, don't stand so close. If your fans see us, I'll be in trouble for no reason."
Hendrick raised an eyebrow. "No, they're all very understanding. They'll support me no matter what I do."
Victoria wasn't interested in this and just said, "Since you're ready, let's go over there and start shooting."
The staff exited the set, and Hendrick went to the designated spot, posing in various ways according to Victoria's instructions.
Victoria's beautiful eyebrows gradually furrowed as she lowered her camera. "Can you stop with that cheesy smile? Can you be a little more natural?"