Hollywood: Behind The SpotLight Chapter 120

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 120

Being tall with long legs and spending years in the gym, Collin was healthy and could run for hours if he wanted to. Years of disciplined exercise had given him stamina, and his long strides allowed him to cover distance quickly.

It didn't take long for him to catch up to the woman. His heart raced slightly, not from exertion, but from the tension of the situation.

"Please, just listen to ."

"Ahhh—!!"

The woman scread as Collin touched her shoulder. Her sudden reaction drew the attention of passersby, who stared at the scene with suspicion and curiosity. To them, Collin appeared like a potential stalker.

"Wait, wait—! I'm not a bad person. I'm just a talent agent." He raised his hands in a calming gesture, hoping to convey that he ant no harm. As the crowd slowly gathered, Collin quickly explained himself and handed his business card to the woman.

The dark-skinned woman glanced at the card before looking back at Collin. She remained cautious, assessing whether he could be trusted.

"I'm a talent agent at Apex Network Talent. Just give a few minutes to explain."

"Hey miss, is this guy bothering you?" one passerby asked Chantal Beaumont, coldly staring at Collin. The conversation was in French, and Collin caught a few words, realizing they likely misunderstood the situation.

"I'm not a bad person. I'm a talent agent," he said in French, doing his best to explain. Though his grammar was slightly off, she could at least understand the essence of his words, and it seed to calm her slightly.

Chantal studied the business card. It looked expensive and professional, with thick paper, a refined logo, and golden lettering. She still had no idea what Apex Network Talent was, but the card gave the impression of legitimacy.

"Is he bothering you?" the concerned citizen asked again.

Chantal stared at Collin for a few seconds, then shook her head. Her eyes flickered between curiosity and wariness as she evaluated whether he was genuine.

"No, he's not bothering . Thank you for your help," she replied in French.

Collin sighed in relief as the people dispersed, grateful that the misunderstanding hadn't escalated further.

"Thanks. I know you're probably skeptical, but I don't have bad intentions. I'm Collin East from Apex Network Talent. The reason I want to talk to you is that I'm interested in signing you. I'm captivated by your voice, and I want to make you a star." He softened his tone, hoping she would sense his genuine admiration for her talent.

He extended his hand for a handshake.

Chantal frowned and didn't take it. She was still skeptical.

"You're not a human trafficker?" she asked in English, her French accent thick.

"What? Of course not! Do I look like one?" He was stunned.

"Human traffickers often use handso n to lure young won."

"What?" Collin was speechless. He had expected skepticism, but not such extre concern.

"Human trafficking is a real problem in Europe," she explained.

Indeed, even countries known for elegance and culture had dark corners few wanted to acknowledge. Sex trafficking was a cri that persisted for decades, and it would remain unsolved in many places.

No wonder Chantal was so defensive. Her caution wasn't paranoia, it was survival instinct.

Collin hadn't anticipated such a reaction. He quickly realized that so countries had unique dangers.

'Well, to be fair, kidnapping is also a problem in the U.S. I've heard cartels are involved in human trafficking,' he thought, deciding that transparency was his best approach to earn her trust.

"First of all, I'm not a human trafficker. Do you know Axel Gunner? He's promoting his movie in Paris today."

Chantal shook her head.

"Erm, have you watched Face: Swap, Week On A Cruise Ship, or The Accidental Wedding Crashers?"

"I watched The Accidental Wedding Crashers."

"That's great," Collin smiled. "Axel, my client, is one of the actors in that movie. He's the tall guy."

"Tall guy? You an the one who made a wedding speech in the movie? That scene was hilarious."

"Yes, that's him. I'm his agent."

Her guarded expression softened slightly, showing she was intrigued.

"Then, have you heard of Lawrence Terrence?"

"The na rings a bell."

"He plays Jacky in Passionate Island. I'm his agent too."

"What? Really!? You're not lying!? I love Passionate Island! I love it!" The young woman began fangirling, her excitent breaking through her initial caution. She had even cried while watching the movie.

"I swear to God."

"This isn't so Modus Operandi?"

"Modus what?" Collin asked, confused.

"You're not lying and using so trick to kidnap ?"

"You still don't believe I'm a real agent?"

"Well..." She laughed awkwardly.

Collin realized this would require patience. He decided to step back and let her think.

"Look, it's up to you if you believe or not. I don't have bad intentions. I just saw sothing in you and believe I can make you famous. I'll be in Paris for a week. You can call if you're interested. My contact info is on the business card."

He slightly regretted not pressing further but knew pushing too hard might drive her away. Patience was often the best strategy with new talent, especially soone cautious who hadn't even introduced herself.

"Well then, I have sothing to do. Call if you want to beco a star."

Collin excused himself and walked away.

Chantal Beaumont watched him leave. She studied the business card, uncertain whether to keep it. Her mind raced with skepticism and intrigue, wondering if this stranger could really offer the career she dread of.

......

...

...

Collin reached the train just in ti. He felt a pang of regret for not signing a deal with her, replaying the encounter in his head and analyzing every word, gesture, and reaction. He hoped Chantal would contact him. Missing a talent of this caliber would sting professionally and personally.

Every instinct in his body scread that she could beco a future star. And, of course, the potential stardom and money were tempting as well. Yes, it was always about money. No one could fault him for that.

After disembarking at his stop, Collin walked a few minutes to the building he had co for: Diore.

Diore was a French luxury fashion house renowned for producing high-end goods. Its flagship store glead with polished marble and gold, reflecting decades of elegance and prestige. The brand was famous for its fragrance, makeup, skincare, and n's products.

Collin's goal was to form a deal for his clients with the brand. He had studied their campaigns, analyzed which celebrities had worked with them, and prepared detailed proposals to impress the executives.

He intended to pitch Lawrence, Axel, and Jennifer as ambassadors of this prestigious luxury brand. The thought of pairing his clients with Diore's image excited him.

Collin prepared his voice recorder before entering Diore's headquarters, double-checking the battery and microphone to ensure every word would be captured clearly.

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[Author's Note: I don't feel well lately. It didn't help that my father's salary was delayed this month, so we've had to eat rice and eggs every day. Anyway, thank you all for your support.]