CHAPTER 124: BUILDING CHEMISTRY (2)

Tommy only nodded, still unable to stop crying. There was a high chance he also had a little sister, and maybe he imagined that the one who died in the story was his own.

This was exactly why using your own family as emotional material should be avoided. The emotional backlash afterward could be too much, and sometimes, it could even affect the actor’s mental health.

"Helcia," Eric called my name as soon as Tommy left the room. He leaned forward, and his expression suddenly turned serious. "We’ve been observing you since the first audition until now, and honestly, I’ve always put you as my top choice for the role of Mia."

"When you acted with Tommy just now, I could tell he wasn’t naturally good at building chemistry. But as the scenes went on, he relaxed and opened up because of you."

The director, Brian, nodded in agreement. "I saw it too. You led him without even making it obvious. You have a way of pulling your co-star into your rhythm." He paused for a moment, smiling slightly. "That’s what makes you special, Helcia. You’re versatile, you can work with anyone and still make it feel real."

I’d heard similar things before from people I’d worked with on set. They often said I was a "versatile actress," someone who could adapt to any partner or role without losing authenticity.

They said my talent was rare because not many actors could create chemistry with just anyone.

Some even whispered that if my agency promoted me more, I’d be an A-list actress in no time.

Unfortunately, DN Entertainment preferred to promote younger actresses or those who got in through nepotism—like Madeline.

I couldn’t switch agencies either because I had signed a seven-year contract with them, and just one year before it was supposed to end, I got caught up in a major scandal.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Kai suddenly spoke, his voice breaking the silence and startling everyone in the studio. It seemed they had almost forgotten that the CEO of Brix Entertainment was still there.

"She’s clearly talented enough, so doesn’t she already meet all the requirements to be our lead actress?" Kai smiled in my direction. "You have my approval."

To others, it probably looked like Kai was going easy on me because I was his brother’s wife. But to me, it felt like he did that intentionally, hoping people would think I got the role through connections.

Still, anyone with a pair of eyes could tell I’d earned it fair and square. I didn’t need Kai Brixton’s help to prove my worth.

That much was clear from the producer’s and crew’s expressions; none of them looked hesitant when they heard that the CEO had officially approved me for the role.

"Honestly, Helcia," Eric said with a small smile, "the other actresses already went through their third round of auditions before you, because we wanted to compare their performances with yours. But I can confidently say that none of them made me feel what you just did."

Eric leaned back in his chair, still studying me. "When you act, it doesn’t feel like acting. It feels real. That’s something we can’t teach. You either have it, or you don’t. And you, Helcia—you definitely have it."

A small, genuine smile pulled at my lips. "Thank you," I said softly. "I just try to feel what the character feels."

Brian, the director, nodded in agreement. "That’s exactly what makes you stand out. The audience won’t just see Mia, they’ll feel her pain through you. That’s what this story needs."

"Alright," Eric said, finally breaking the silence. "Then it’s decided. Congratulations, Helcia. You’ve officially got the role."

For a second, I just froze, trying to process what I’d heard. Then the room burst into light applause, but all I could hear was the pounding of my own heartbeat.

A moment later, Penny’s familiar voice echoed in my mind.

[Congratulations, Host! You’ve successfully completed your mission: Make all the executives of Green Leaf Production accept you directly during the third audition round!]

[Reward: $125,000 has been credited to your account.]

[Remaining Balance: $625,976]

I held my breath for a moment. With that much money, I could easily buy around three thousand Zentra shares.

Sure, I’d probably lose half of them later, but even the remaining three hundred thousand would still be a lot.

"Thank you," I said again, bowing slightly. I tried to stay composed, but my excitement got the better of me. I jumped a little on the spot and clapped my hands together. "Thank you so much!"

It wasn’t the first time I had passed an audition, but after everything—the scandals, the humiliation, and even death itself—getting a second chance to return to this industry felt like being reborn. Wait, I was indeed reborn, but that wasn’t my point.

The euphoria was indescribable. For the first time in a long while, I felt alive again.

After finishing the talk about the administrative steps I needed to take next, I finally stepped out of the room and called Marissa to share the good news.

She was at the canteen at that moment, so she invited me to join her for lunch and discuss the next steps for organizing my upcoming schedule.

However, before I could head toward the canteen, the door behind me suddenly opened, and Kai walked out.

I instinctively took a few steps back, but not too far, just enough so he wouldn’t think I was trying to run away from him.

"Helcia, that was incredible," he said with a smile. His expression caught me off guard. Honestly, his smile reminded me a little of Lando’s, but it didn’t feel the same.

Lando rarely smiled, but when he did, it always warmed my heart. Kai, on the other hand, smiled all the time... yet his smile made me uneasy, like a chill running down my spine.

"We’ve met once before, but I don’t think we’ve ever been properly introduced," he said, stepping closer and offering his hand. "Nice to meet you, Helcia."