Chapter 348: Chapter 348

"Miss Thornton, your performance just now left a very deep impression on me, it was truly amazing."

"Third Master Hawthorne, you overpraise me!" Anna Thornton responded modestly.

"Of course, the Hawthorne Family is so famous, and Third Master Hawthorne often appears in financial news and magazines."

Upon hearing this, Mason Hawthorne raised his eyebrows slightly: "Then we’re acquainted, I wonder if I’d have the honor of inviting Miss Thornton to lunch?"

"I’m sorry, it might not be possible." Mary smoothly interjected, "Anna has other work arrangements this afternoon."

Apart from being a sidekick carrying bags, Mary had cooperated with Anna for so long that she was in sync as a shield.

This Third Master Hawthorne was clearly plotting something devious, just like those rotten men previously trying to take advantage of Anna.

But he was an investor, and offending him might cause trouble.

Luckily, Mason Hawthorne didn’t persist much, he just politely smiled after being rejected.

He had played around with many actresses; some liked the tactic of playing hard to get.

No problem, for a rare human masterpiece like Anna Thornton, he could afford a little more patience.

However, after Mason Hawthorne left, Anna Thornton suddenly met Zoe Bowen’s inexplicable gaze.

Because of Director Nash’s words, she and Zoe Bowen were kept until the end for another audition.

All the other artists who came to audition had left, Zoe Bowen originally intended to wait for Director Nash to come out and have a lunch date, so they could reconnect and probe the results of the audition.

But just now Mason Hawthorne came out and directly ignored her, he went to invite Anna Thornton, wasn’t the implication clear?

Mason Hawthorne was the biggest investor in this drama, which means he has the greatest say.

Having stayed in the entertainment industry for so long, how could she not know those dirty backdoor deals and unwritten rules?

Hearing staff say Director Nash was busy going back to discuss the script with the writers, it seemed the new drama would soon start production.

Zoe Bowen didn’t get to meet Director Nash, and before leaving, she gave Anna Thornton another glance and even smiled.

"Anna, why do I feel her smile is a bit creepy?"

The casting of Director Nash’s new drama "Step by Step" has always been the focus of media attention, after all, so many popular actresses participated in the audition.

However, there has been no official news yet on who will get the role.

It was Zoe Bowen who participated in a talk show a few days after the audition.

During the show, the host asked her if she could reveal her upcoming work schedule, and Zoe Bowen said she was also waiting for the results of this audition, and expressed her great liking and anticipation for the second collaboration with Director Nash, but there might be many uncertainties.

Zoe Bowen’s words on the show were very vague, yet subtly leading the topic towards unwritten rules.

Soon, discussions about the casting of "Step by Step" hit the trending list, everyone was guessing who was the uncertain factor Zoe Bowen mentioned, the one involved in unwritten rules.

"This Zoe Bowen is so shady! She deliberately says ambiguous things on the show, clearly putting pressure on the casting team of the drama. When the female lead is decided, as long as it’s not her, whoever it is will get criticized."

Mary looked at the news clicking her tongue in amazement, the tricks in the entertainment industry constantly refresh her world view.

There’s no craziest, only crazier.

"She’s worked hard for so many years to become popular, thought she was a low-key, capable actress, but turns out she’s quite the schemer."

Mary was just complaining when her phone rang suddenly.

She guessed it was news from the crew, quickly answering: "Hello? Assistant Director Lewis?"

"Is this Miss Thornton’s agent?"

"Yes, yes, I’m Mary!"

"I have good news for you, after discussion by the director’s team, it’s decided that Miss Thornton will play the female lead in ’Step by Step’." Follow current ɴᴏᴠᴇʟs on Novᴇl_Fire(.)net

Mary was so happy she raised her voice by eight degrees.

Then her mood quickly settled.

She just said, Zoe Bowen dug a pit, who would be unlucky enough to bump into it and become the target?

Turns out it’s her artist!

Mary didn’t know whether to be happy or worried for a moment.

"There’s also an event tonight, the main creative team will have a get-together." Assistant Director Lewis continued, "Remember to have Miss Thornton come, don’t be too happy and forget."

After hanging up the phone, Mary first sent a text to Anna Thornton.

After all, being selected as the female lead by Director Nash is a good thing, she was reporting it as good news.

Now announcing the casting news in this situation is very likely to attract criticism, Mary got busy contacting Henry Willow to discuss strategies for coping.

Anna Thornton showed up on time for the get-together, only to find that the so-called main creative team consisted of just her as the only actor.

There weren’t any other people in the private room, just Mason Hawthorne alone.

Mary took a deep breath as she stepped in and saw the situation, thankful she came along.

With her professional sensitivity, Mary looked around outside a few more times.

If this scene was secretly photographed by paparazzi, wouldn’t it solidify the unwritten rules rumors?

But since they were already there, even knowing Mason Hawthorne’s intentions, they had no choice but to bite the bullet and go in.

"Miss Thornton, you’re here?"

Mason Hawthorne beckoned Anna Thornton to sit, with a flicker of displeasure when his gaze crossed Mary.

He thought she would understand his intentions, but didn’t expect her to bring the agent along.

Mary, wearing the halo of a third wheel, stubbornly sat next to Mason Hawthorne... where the spot was originally reserved for Anna Thornton.

"President Hawthorne, isn’t this supposed to be a main creative team’s gathering? Where are the others?"

Mason Hawthorne: "..."

For an agent lacking insight , Mason Hawthorne didn’t want to engage with her.

Whether she truly didn’t understand or was just pretending.

In the past, other agents who received his invitations couldn’t wait to bundle their artists straight into his bed, their eager flattering couldn’t be hidden.

Where was such an out-of-tune agent like Mary?

But considering Anna Thornton, Mason Hawthorne reluctantly squeezed out a trace of a smile: "The director has an urgent matter."

"Then what about the staff? The whole main creative team can’t just coincidentally all be busy, right?"

Mason Hawthorne’s face was about to lose composure.

Mary and Anna had worked together for so many years, they didn’t care if it was President Hawthorne feeling like cursing her bright bulb presence.

Yet she stubbornly performed being oblivious: "What about the assistant director? I’ll give him a call, having just one artist doesn’t count as a crew gathering, does it?"

"Currently, other roles in the drama aren’t decided yet, it was suggested by me and Director Nash to first decide the female lead role!" Mason Hawthorne’s hint in his words was very obvious.

All but explicitly inviting Anna Thornton to cozy up to him.

With the conversation at this point, Anna Thornton had no choice but to smile in thanks: "Thank you, President Hawthorne!"

"Are you just planning to thank me verbally?" Mason Hawthorne asked her.

"Of course not, once the crew starts shooting I’ll definitely act well, and not disappoint your expectations, President Hawthorne."

Mason Hawthorne: "..."

He finally understood why there was an agent lacking insight.

Turns out artist and agent were just stupid together!

Despite having hinted this much, they still couldn’t understand?

Anna Thornton and Mary were not ignorant, they were simply too familiar with this kind of scenario.

Having developed experience in dealing with it, naturally, pretending to be oblivious came off more genuine.

Throughout the meal tonight, Mary consistently sat between Mason Hawthorne and Anna Thornton, preventing him from making any inappropriate advances, leaving him exasperated.

Especially since Mary seemed totally blind, despite being glared at several times by Mason Hawthorne, she didn’t respond.

The three-person gathering lasted until the end, Anna Thornton ate and drank her fill, along with helping Mary, who blocked drinks for her until she couldn’t stand, say goodbye to Mason Hawthorne: "Thank you for your hospitality today, President Hawthorne, but since other members of the crew didn’t come, we’re afraid we might not have another chance to reciprocate. So to save you from the expense, we’ve already settled the bill for myself and Mary."

At that moment, Mason Hawthorne realized it wasn’t a lack of insight at all?

These two were sharp all along, skillfully avoiding unwritten rules, even settling the dinner bill with Mason Hawthorne to draw a clear boundary, leaving no loophole to exploit.