Phoebe found herself back in the office, meticulously organizing Vanessa’s upcoming schedule. The actress was on the brink of embarking on a film project, directed by the renowned Hank, which necessitated the clearing of her calendar for the ensuing months.

“A Hank Black movie?” John’s surprise was evident as he regarded Phoebe.

Aware of the implications of his query, Phoebe swiftly clarified, “I didn’t broker the deal, I lack that level of influence.”

A chuckle escaped John, the insinuation clear that this golden opportunity had been secured with a substantial financial investment. Vanessa, after all, was attached to some significantly influential figures.

It was no wonder she dismissed lesser opportunities, setting her sights on a breakout role instead.

“That’s still quite an achievement. This is Hank we’re talking about,” John commented. Even a minor role in one of Hank’s films could etch the actress’s name into the minds of the audience, let alone playing the part of the leading lady’s main adversary.

It was widely acknowledged that in Hank’s films, the leads merely served as a backdrop, while the secondary female roles seized the spotlight, outshining the leads in every possible way.

“Indeed, that’s Hank for you,” Phoebe concurred, nodding in agreement.

From an industry perspective, Vanessa was at an awkward age. She was past the age for teen dramas, yet not quite mature enough for serious leading roles.

Securing a role in a Hank film, particularly one destined to be a hit, would have been unattainable without Theodore’s financial assistance.

“So, you’re not scheduling any more appearances for Miss Fitzroy?” John queried.

“Correct, she’s lost interest in the minor productions. We’ll delegate those to the other talents who are sitting idle at home, providing them an opportunity for exposure,” Phoebe replied.

The entertainment industry was ruthless and calculative: popular artists were inundated with roles and endorsements, while the aspiring but unknown talents were left idle in their homes, occasionally posting selfies to maintain relevance.

After finalizing the tasks at hand, Phoebe had a meeting arranged with a producer from Extraordinary Entertainments.

They had agreed to convene at Starbucks. Upon her arrival, the producer was already present, seated by the window. As she approached, Phoebe spotted a familiar figure beside him and paused.

Edward glanced up and greeted her with a wave, “Phoebe, over here! Allow me to introduce you this is Mr. White from Extraordinary Entertainments.”

Phoebe promptly approached and extended her hand to Mr. White, “Hello Mr. White, I’m Phoebe, the director at QUEEN Entertainment.”

“Please, take a seat, Miss Ziegler. Mr. Vanderbilt and I were just discussing your work. QUEEN Entertainment has made quite the impression in just three months. Your client Noah Myers is particularly remarkable,” Mr. White stated. Phoebe scanned the area and noticed Mr. White sitting alone at one end of the table, while Edward had already shifted, leaving a seat open for her. With no other option, she took the seat beside Edward.

She remarked, “Noah Myers’s talent truly astounded me. I assumed with his good looks, he’d easily join a group and make a debut, but it turned out he relied solely on his talent in the end.”

Mr. White erupted into hearty laughter at her wit, “Miss Ziegler, you’ve quite the discerning eye. When we first met, I thought you too relied on your looks, but after getting to know you, I realized you’re got the substance to prove your competence.”

Previously, Phoebe had negotiated with Extraordinary Entertainments on Noah’s behalf, following his spectacular premiere performance. At that time, the production had already decided on the debut positions and central roles, but with her eloquent persuasive skills, Phoebe managed to secure a debut spot for Noah.

After his third performance, where he excelled in both singing and dancing, earning himself the title of Best VIP of the show, enabling her to negotiate once more with the producers. This time, leveraging Noah’s popularity and top ranking, allowing her to secure the coveted central role for his debut.

This was the truth behind Hanks’ remark, “Behind every artist stands a mighty agent,” which reflected the entertainment industry’s reality. No matter how talented an artist might be, without a strong manager to strategize for them, their stardom would shine bright momentarily like a comet, only to fade into the vast darkness.

Phoebe responded with a smile, “Thank you Mr. White, for your kind acknowledgements, I’m so pleased to be hearing that from you.”

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