You are my super star

Shady Agents

In the following days, Leon had no contact with Zero.

"Zero's here to see you." Angela Sharp, Leon's agent, seemed exasperated. "Leon, what's up with you?"

Leon sat on a chair, playing on his phone. "I'm busy with my job. I don't have time. What did you tell him?"

Angela shook her head. "I know, but what happened?"

Leon's let out a breath in a defeated manner. He dropped his phone on his desk, then picked up a nearby glass of orange juice. "He wants me to persuade Jules to enter his agency. But I won't."

"It's absolutely none of your business to get involved, but that doesn't mean you need to avoid him. I thought you had done something wrong, that's why I came."

Leon had been in the crew for two months. However, it was the first time Angela had come to see him in his voice.

"Why are you worrying about me so much?"Leon frowned."Have you not got any other work to do?"

"Isn't it my job to keep you out of trouble?" Angela asked, puzzled.

Leon was silent.

He wasn't used to working through an agency, like Jules was.

At the beginning, he worked for his uncle's company. After graduation, he left and set up his own studio. Angela and others had been working with him ever since.

He was the only actor in the studio, so he was the only source of income for the team. Despite of its small scale, it had a complete team with competitive resources.

Leon's assets and operations were managed by another special organization and, in addition, the studio provided a good salary but only dealt with few businesses.

The all worked to support Leon, helping with his career plan, resource management, as well as taking care of public relations and other odd affairs.

Adjusting her well-combed curly hair, Angela replied jokingly. "Each time you take on a new project, we feel lonely... But that's okay. Just have a good rest and prepare for your return to exploit us."

Leon didn't reply.

Leon picked up his phone again and started playing on it.

"Please, tell me. It would help us to know about it." Angela asked, concern evident in her tone.

Leon's touched his phone's screen with a slender finger. He answered without averting his gaze. "I had promised to help Zero persuade Jules to enter his company, but then I changed my mind. I told him to just forget about it but he never gives up."

Angela was confused. ''What changed your mind? Did Jules do anything?"

"No, it's not that.'' Leon's eyes were still fixated on the game. "He's a great actor."

Angela sounded anxious. "So why then?"

Leon put down his phone, sighing, then raised his head to look at Angela. "You must know the situation at Zero's company."

Angela said. "Times Media, founded by Zero and his previous boss, an investor who still provides them funding. The corporation has booming for the last two years."

"Booming?"Leon scoffed.'' Zero gets everything. Do you think that the so-called stars there ever get big and successful?"

Angela laughed. "Are you kidding? They are not like you. They have to work and create their own luck."

"Are you like the others who think that my success is only because of luck?" Leon asked.

"No. Sorry. Of course not. You're great at acting."Angela apologized profusely. "Nobody doubts your acting skills!"

"Nonsense.'' Leon said. "I'm successful because of my looks."

Angela laughed.

Vivian burst out laughing. Leon and Angela turned to her. She covered her face with her hands, looking in the long distance.

Angela was surprised at Leon's Jules line. He had become shameless. Too stubborn to flatter.

Angela seemingly agreed with Leon. "Yes, we have been relying on your looks to earn a living. But, I think Zero's commercial route is also okay."

"But it's not Jules's way. Also, Zero is not that great, you know. He has great resources, but that also means excessive social engagements. Jules is not fit for that." Leon said.

Angela nodded in agreement.

She was told that Zero preferred those even-tempered actors, who were easy to work with.

Leon smiled. "At the party, Zero got his actors to serve me. Is that normal?"

Leon thought back to the cold night, when he was on the road with Jules, who was shaking too much to speak.

He recalled Jules telling him that he was his fan.

Leon hated hearing that. He tended to ignore compliments like this.

However, as he imagined Jules bending down to serve strangers for Zero, he closed his mouth.

Angela knew that Leon looked down on that. She smiled. "Maybe Jules is willing to do that, Leon. One should have ambition."

"It's none of my business." Leon pulled out a cigarette, but he did not light it, as he was considerate of the two ladies near him.

"Zero can get in touch with Jules in a different way. He just wants to use me as a shortcut. I don't want any part in this."

Angela smiled. "Why are you so worried about Jules?"

Leon narrowed his eyes. "He is a man now and has been in this circle for two years. He should understand what Zero's company is about. I think he's too prudent to do it. It's not his style.''

"What if he'd be happy to accept? What if he'll be mad at you for not letting him know about it?"

Leon bit the cigarette, smiling cynically. "So what? Should I be scared of him?"

Having been with Leon for a decade, Angela couldn't help being attracted to him from time to time. She closed her eyes for a second, then spoke her mind. "And what if he rejects it?" She asked.

Leon gave no answer.

Angela spoke with hesitation. ''Considering his popularity, it's a waste for him to stay with his current agency; similarly, it's not fit for him to work for Zero. Maybe his place is at your uncle's Star Media."

Leon's blood uncle, Hawkins Walsh, was the head of Star Media.

Star Media belonged to Galaxy Film and Television Media Group, one of the largest media companies in this country. The corporation focused on cultivating serious-play oriented actors.

Having worked there for nearly two years, Leon knew well the Group.

Angela tried to figure out a plan for Leon. "If Jules rejects Zero, I want to ask Hawkins. I want to be the middle woman."

Leon drank the juice and handed the empty glass to Vivian, saying nothing.

(1099 words)