Chapter 9 She Is Going To Be My Mommy

"You! You're perfect!" Carter was shouting as he got to his feet,

fearing that Wendy might slip out of his hands.

"What was your name again?"

"Wendy Finch."

"That's right.Wendy Finch, come here." He waved his assistant over.

"Bring me the contract as soon as possible!"

His face was flushed with undeniable excitement.

Mason and Carter had collaborated several times in the past, and they

were quite attuned to each other's minds.

Seeing his friend practically jumping in joy, Mason couldn't stop

himself from teasing him.

"There are still other girls waiting for their turn to audition.Aren't you

afraid of missing out on a better actress?"

"There won't be a better actress than her!"

The truth was that shooting had already begun, and every role had

already been cast.

But Carter was not satisfied with the actress playing Lady Faye.

He had searched through the roster of actresses the entertainment

circle could provide, but all the women either had good looks with no

skills, or passable skills with unacceptable looks.

Even today, he had almost given up after seeing a horde of annoying

performances.

He had actually been considering holding another audition if today's

event had proven to be fruitless.

Well, he was fortunate to have found a gem among the aspiring

participants.

Wendy walked up to Carter and he looked her up and down.

The more he saw, the more satisfied he became with his decision.

He hadn't looked carefully before, but he was slowly recognizing just

how beautiful this woman was.

Her eyes, in particular, had a quality that hinted at temptation. Wasn't

this exactly the Lady Faye he had been looking for?

They chatted for a bit before the assistant returned with the contract

and a pen.

"Wendy Finch, please review the contract we offer and see if you are

okay with the terMs.If there are no problems then we will proceed with

signing you into the project.You will join the crew and start to shoot

tomorrow." That gave Wendy pause.

Did he mean to say that he had already made up his mind to give her

the role just like that? Hadn't Roger said that there was supposed to

be two rounds of audition? And she had been ready for the second

round, too.

When a moment passed without her response, Carter stepped forward

and placed the contract directly on her hands.

"Look it over now!"

"Uh...Yes, thank you!"

The document had been prepared in advance, and only then did

Wendy realize how big of a project the TV show actually was.

The contract was quite good and generous, especially in terms of her

commission.

Considering that she was basically a newcomer, it was astounding to

learn that she could earn nearly a million from this one show alone.

She kept staring in disbelief at the numbers printed on the paper.

So engrossed was she that it slipped her mind to actually sign the

contract.

Carter could only watch and grow anxious by the minute.

"Miss Finch, are you perhaps dissatisfied with our offer? If there is

anything wrong with the stipulations, we are very much open to

negotiations!"

"Oh, that's not necessary at all! I'm very pleased with the terms."

Without any further ado, Wendy grabbed the pen and signed her

name.

Then Carter took out the seal and stamped it on the document.

The contract was official.

Carter found himself sighing in relief.

"I've read your information.You graduated from the New York Acting

College, didn't you?"

"Yes."He nodded.

"All right, give me your contact details.If nothing else comes up, we

will start shooting tomorrow.Do you think you have some time to

spare? We're actually producing The Story of Concubine Ivanka here

in Studio City.I was thinking we could ask the staff to take you to the

site so you could familiarize the environment beforehand."

The director was so straightforward with his approach that even if

Wendy didn't have time, she didn't think she could refuse at all.

"Okay."

When the deal was finally settled, employee took Wendy and

facilitated her early payment.

She was well- acquainted with the salary setup in the country; she

would get 30% of her fee at the start of filming, and the rest would be

paid after the shoot was over.

While 30% may not be a significant portion, this time it was equivalent

to more than three hundred thousand, and it was more than enough to

help her deal with her most pressing probleMs.Back at the office, Luke

held a handkerchief to his bleeding nose, still staring in amazement at

Wendy through the screen.

Oh, God! He was the sort of man who enjoyed female company all

year round.

He had seen many beautiful women in his time.

But when he had watched Wendy Finch perform, he had been

reduced to a simpering young boy who had been struck with love for

the first time.

"Oh my God!'' He had had to plug his nose almost immediately.

"Uncle Luke, you're disgusting!"

Precious curled her lip at him in disdain.

"I'm warning you though, don't even think about seducing this beautiful

auntie!"

She gave him a little push to emphasize her words.

"Precious, surely you know I don't fall for a woman so easily."

"Humph! You say that but you were all over the tabloids last time with

a sexy star.And then there was the time you traveled with a

model.And before that. In any case! You are not allowed to get close

to the beautiful aunt.She's going to be my mommy!"

"Mommy?" Luke wiped his nose.

"Precious, are you serious about that?"

The little girl shook her head and sniffed.

"Did I ever joke about it?"

I Luke's head shot up to look at Ryan.

His brother's eyes were still on the screen, his face devoid of

expression.To Luke, however, that alone was a reaction in itself.

"Ryan..."

"Tell Kane to sign a contract with Wendy Finch."

"Uh..."

"Tell him to draw up a contract that would remain valid for at least ten

years."

"Okay!"

"Make sure there's a condition forbidding her to get romantically

involved with any man within the time period.If this isn't met, she will

have to pay a penalty of one billion."

Luke's jaw hung open in shock.

Wendy was ushered to the shooting site by an employee, the very

same that had befriended her prior to the audition.

He was obviously in a good mood, and he was blushing constantly.

"Miss Finch,"he said excitedly.

"I knew you would definitely ace the audition!"

"Thank you."

The young man smiled shyly.

They didn't have to walk very far, and when they arrived, the camera

was rolling with the assistant director at the helm.

They presented their cards and were let in.

The shooting was going on.

The setting of the scene was in a palace bedroom, and Eris was the

one in action.

Wendy and the young man looked on from a distance.

"That is Eris Finch,"he whispered.

"She is the leading actress in the play.She has a beautiful face and

good acting skills, but more importantly, she has a gentle

character.She's rather soft-spoken as well, and is renowned for her

amicable temper.You'll see this for yourself once you get to know her."

Eris had a gentle character? She was amicable? She was gentle?

'Ha!' Wendy sneered inwardly as she stared at Eris through a prop

window.

She had been prepared to meet her stepsister on the way to the site,

but despite that, Wendy found all her dark hatred bubbling to the

surface when she finally saw Eris.

Tragedy had struck her one after another all because of this woman!

Eris had drugged her.

Eris had stolen her boyfriend.

Eris was responsible for the death of one of her children, and the fact

that Wendy and Ray had been forced to stay abroad for three years.

Wendy's hands clenched into tight fists.

Eris Finch! Weren't you always fond of acting innocent victim? You're

such an expert after all.

Just wait for me to reveal your true face in front of everyone!' ° Her

gaze must have been too sharp that Eris' senses picked up on it.

While in the middle of the shoot, she suddenly turned to the direction

of the piercing glare.

Their eyes met.

Wendy gave her a slow smile.

Eris paled in an instant, as though she had seen a ghost.

She got to her feet in one sudden motion, knocking over the teacup

she was holding.

The hot liquid splashed onto her hand, She gasped in pain. And just

like that, the shoot was suspended, and everyone scrambled all over

the place in a mess.

Eris' assistant rushed over with the ice bag to apply on her scalded

skin.

"Are you okay, Eris?"

The actress' heart was pounding furiously inside her chest.

She looked back out of the prop window.

No one was there now.

'Wendy Finch!' Eris was certain that the woman just now was none

other than Wendy Finch.