Never Too Far Novel

Chapter 1351-1360

“Queenie’s with Nigel.” Julian glanced over at the couple to point them out to Jessie.

She nodded at once. “Oh! I see her. Thanks.”

He stood there with a glass of wine in his hand, his eyes staring straight at her. The chandelier above them reflected in his eyes and made them sparkle like the stars in galaxies.

What a pair of bewitching eyes. Jessie had felt pretty confident about herself thanks to her makeover, but she quickly lost it all under his gaze. She was afraid that he wouldn’t find her attractive.

However, to her absolute surprise, Julian commented, “You look very beautiful tonight.”

She became bashful at his praise and returned him a compliment as well. “You look very handsome too, Mr. Gilmore!”

“Don’t call me Mr. Gilmore. You can just call me Julian.”

“Okay!” Jessie nodded in agreement. She didn’t mind the new way of addressing him at all.

Just then, two young women came over. “Oh my goodness! It’s Julian Gilmore!”

The two young women were thrilled! They never thought they’d run into their celebrity crush while attending a dinner party with their parents. It was such a surprise to see him at the event.

These two young women were Jessie’s cousins, who were distant relatives of the Silversteins, and at this very moment, no one could miss just how ecstatic they were.

Jessie stepped aside and allowed the two fans to talk to Julian upon noticing that.

Since they were related to the family, she wanted to let them have a good time tonight.

However, Julian was a little annoyed by the two young women’s exuberance. He raised his hand and addressed them politely, “Please excuse me. I have something to discuss with Miss Silverstein.”

Then, he came over to Jessie and took her by the hand before ushering her off with him. She was stunned, and her cheeks were aflame as she stared disbelievingly at their entwined hands.

He led her to a private lounge. Once he closed the door behind them, he sighed. “This is why I don’t like going out much. The fans are too noisy.”

“What about me? Do you find me noisy too?” Jessie teased as she recalled joining his fans in welcoming him at the airport some time ago.

Julian cocked his eyebrows. “Are you a fan of mine?”

“Yeah, I’m your fan.” She nodded in all seriousness. Although she wasn’t one of the more passionate fans, he was the only young actor she admired in the industry, apart from all the older, more experienced actors.

He smiled. “Tell me what it feels like to succeed as a fan, then!”

She chuckled. “It’s amazing. I get to eat dinner and have a conversation with my favorite celebrity. It’s like a dream come true.”

“Alright, alright. You should go back to your guests,” he said. He didn’t want to take up all of her time tonight. She was the star of the show, after all.

Jessie nodded and went off. Now that he was here, she no longer felt disappointed.

Julian’s phone started ringing then. “Hello?”

“Julian, Eva Duncan’s schedule is full, so the production team has decided to find someone else to play the female lead. Do you have anyone you want to recommend?” It was a call from Marlon Warner, who was part of the production team for his latest filming project.

Julian’s eyes flickered in thought for a moment before his lips curved into a smile. “Hold off on selecting someone for the female lead first.”

“Why? Do you have someone to recommend? Tell me who it is! I’ll check and see if she’s available.”

“I know she’s available.”

“How can you be sure? We have only just decided to change the actress!”

“Either way, I’ll handle filling the role of the female lead. You guys can continue with the pre-production preparations,” Julian drawled.

“Alright! We’re looking forward to seeing whom you’ve chosen for the female lead. I’m sure you won’t let us down!”

Julian’s eyes flickered in amusement. No, you’ll all be disappointed, but it doesn’t matter as long as I’m not disappointed.

At this very moment, the entire entertainment industry was in an uproar as many actresses heard the news and wanted to take the role of the leading lady opposite Julian. However, they were not going to get their chance.

Julian had chosen his leading lady—Jessie, who had yet to make her debut.

Once all the guests arrived, the first item on the agenda was Brandon’s announcement that his youngest daughter had been found. Jessie went up on stage accompanied by her older sister, and the guests were shocked by the sight of the happily reunited family.

Everyone in the crowd was thinking the same thing. They’re twins, alright! They look exactly the same.

Many of the young men in the crowd were beginning to get ideas. The Silversteins’ fortune was going to go to the two sisters in the future, so if they became the Silversteins’ son-in-law, they would get to take possession of half of the family’s fortune!

Nigel and Julian were leaning against a pillar by the stage. They each had a glass of wine in their hands as they gazed at the pair of gorgeous young women up on the stage. Then, Nigel’s sharp hearing picked up on the words coming from a young man. “Wow! I think the elder Miss Silverstein has inherited the company. I’m sure I can easily sign a deal with Silverstein Enterprise if I manage to woo her.”

Nigel smirked at that. He walked over to that man and tapped him on the shoulder. The man was startled and turned around to see a tall, handsome man behind him. “Yes?”

“I’m just here to give you a friendly reminder. The elder Miss Silverstein is my fiancée. You’ll have to be careful if you try to get any ideas about her.” Nigel’s sharp gaze paired well with his warning tone.

The man started apologizing awkwardly, “I’m so sorry. I was just blabbing. I didn’t mean any of it.”

With that, he quickly fled with his friends.

It was hard for the guests to tell the two young women on stage apart, but for those who took the time to understand them, it wasn’t hard at all.

Nigel and Julian could both easily tell them apart with just one look.

With the crowd acting as the witnesses to Jessie’s return to the family, the Silversteins shared a group hug, and the crowd rang out in applause at the sight of the heart-warming family reunion.

Jessie’s eyes were red as she hugged her mother close. Brandon patted her on the shoulder, whereas Queenie reached out to hug her sister as well.

“Dig in, everyone! I hope you all have a wonderful time tonight!” Brandon addressed the crowd cheerfully.

Applause thundered out once more, and soon, the guests started coming over to congratulate the Silverstein couple. The Manson couple was among them. As future in-laws, they were genuinely happy for the Silversteins too.

Queenie brought Jessie over to the two men, who were still standing by the pillar. Jessie was a little red-faced as she glanced at Julian.

“I have a gift for you, Miss Jessie Silverstein,” Julian declared.

She blinked. “That’s not necessary at all, Mr. Gilmore. I’m already honored that you came. I can’t accept a gift from you.”

“No, you must accept this gift,” he insisted.

Nigel and Queenie were both waiting to see what the gift was. Jessie was a little embarrassed. “What do you wish to give me, Mr. Gilmore?”

“Eva Duncan isn’t free to play the female lead in my upcoming drama. The production team wants me to recommend someone. I’m recommending you.”

“What?!” Jessie was dumbstruck and covered her mouth in shock. Me?!

He wants me to play the female lead in his upcoming drama? How can I possibly do that?! This gift is too much.

“Jessie, don’t let his kindness go to waste. I’m sure you can do a great job,” Nigel said.

“That’s right, Jessie. You have all of us supporting you. I’m sure you’ll become a successful actress with Julian helping you with your debut.” Queenie was pleased on Jessie’s behalf. Seems to me that Julian really is taking good care of Jessie! This was great news to her as she hoped that Jessie would get together with Julian in the future.

Jessie was red from all her excitement. She glanced at Queenie before turning to Julian and said gratefully, “Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Mr. Gilmore. I won’t let you down.”

“Jessie, why don’t you toast Julian?” Queenie suggested with a smile.

Jessie quickly took a glass of red wine from the server and said bashfully, “Here’s a toast to you, Mr. Gilmore.”

Julian raised his glass and tapped it against Jessie’s. As soon as she finished the glass, Maggie came over to get her. She wanted to introduce Jessie to the guests. Queenie and Nigel went over to the restaurant, and a few more young women quickly crowded around Julian. Even a few older ladies came over to ask if he was married. They were keen to introduce their daughters to him!

He was somewhat exasperated, but he remained pleasant and amiable the whole time.

At the restaurant, Nigel and Queenie sat down at a table after filling their plates. As they took in the view of the night sky, Queenie exhaled in joy. “We’ve finally reunited.”

“That means we have time to consider our future now.” Nigel stared at her with his dark, affectionate eyes.

She looked back at him a little guiltily. Amid all the commotion of finding her sister, she ended up neglecting him a fair bit. She nodded and agreed, “Yeah! I’ll bring it up with my parents.”

“I’ll bring my parents to your house three days later to formally ask for your hand in marriage,” he informed her of his plan.

Queenie’s cheeks grew a little warm as she nodded shyly. “Okay.”

Meanwhile, back at the grand hall, Jessie followed her parents around as they introduced her to everyone. The guests were very warm and welcoming, and she ended up drinking a lot each time they toasted her, leaving her feeling rather tipsy.

At last, while her parents were caught up in conversation with a few other guests, she made her escape. She wanted to look for Queenie but couldn’t find her anywhere. Jessie felt a little light-headed and decided to take a seat. One of the young men, who wanted to approach her, immediately seized this chance to come over.

“Are you alright, Miss Silverstein? Allow me to take you to the lounge to rest.”

“It’s alright. I’m fine, thank you,” she declined politely.

“But, you seem drunk to me. Are you sure you’re alright?” The young man didn’t want to miss this opportunity. Since she was drunk, it was the perfect time for him to make a good impression!

Jessie wanted to walk away, but as soon as she tried to take a step, her head became woozy, and she fell back down onto the chair. The man reached out to hold her steady.

At the same time, a man’s voice rang out. “I’ll take care of Miss Silverstein.”

The man turned around to see who was trying to steal this opportunity from him, but the moment he saw who it was, he deflated at once. Julian was not only an award-winning actor, but he was someone with a mysterious family background. Most people dared not offend him.

In the end, that young man left sheepishly. Jessie raised her head to look at Julian. Her face seemed to glow under the light. It made her look even more beautiful than before.

“Why did you drink so much? No one’s forcing you.” He sat down beside her and poured her a cup of tea.

She took the cup and smiled. “I’m happy today. It’s fine if I drink a bit more than usual. I don’t have a very good tolerance for alcohol, though.”

Her tipsiness seemed to embolden her as she asked, “Can I really play the part of your female lead? Will the producers and the director approve of me? Won’t I end up ruining your show?”

“It’ll be fine. I believe you’ll do a good job,” Julian assured her.

“But I don’t have any real experience when it comes to acting, apart from being a stunt double for several years. Although I do enjoy acting, I never learned it properly and I don’t have experience. I’m afraid I’ll ruin your show.” The alcohol gave Jessie the courage to share her innermost thoughts with Julian.

She genuinely liked him and admired him. Thus, she didn’t want to trouble him. She wanted to help him stay as perfect as he was.

Julian had seen a lot of actresses who were willing to go to extreme lengths just to get the parts they wanted. It was his first time meeting someone like Jessie, who showed consideration for someone else instead. It was a rare quality in the entertainment industry. She was truly a kind-hearted soul.

“Don’t worry about all that, Jessie. Just follow my lead. I will teach you anything you need to know about acting,” he promised sincerely as he tried to reassure her.

Jessie stared at him with hazy eyes before nodding and agreeing obediently, “Okay. I will do my best to learn acting from you.”

“Have some tea.” Julian poured her a cup of tea.

Jessie drank it and asked, “Mr. Gilmore, why do you do so much for me?”

He fell into deep thought upon hearing that question. In all honesty, I’m not so sure about that as well. Is it because you’re Queenie’s sister and that she’s my best friend’s fiancée? Is that why I care about you so much? “What? Are you complaining about it? Do you really have to ask for a reason?” He evaded her question as he had no answer for it.

“I guess not. Don’t mind me. That was a stupid question. I should be happy that someone is nice to me.” She beamed giddily. It was evident that she had gotten really drunk.

“I should see my dad and mom now.” She pushed herself up and tried to leave. I can walk, no problem. However, walking when she was drunk felt like stepping on clouds. She had only taken a few steps before losing her balance and falling right into Julian’s arms.

He quickly placed his arm around her waist and helped her back to her seat. “Don’t go around. Stay here.”

Jessie was cute when she was drunk. She patted her cheeks, her eyes telling a hundred stories at the same time. Then, she huddled closer. “Mr. Gilmore, can I ask you something? It’s private, but I promise it’s just a question. I won’t tell anyone.”

“What is it?”

“Are you dating Eva? Is she your girlfriend?” she asked curiously. The only one who was rumored to be dating him was Eva, the actress he had worked with many times. Jessie wanted to know if they were

dating for real.

“Is that important to you?” Julian narrowed his eyes.

She chuckled. “Not really. Just wanna know. You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

“No, we are not dating. Eva and I are only partners,” he answered seriously.

Jessie blinked. Oh, he denies it. That means it’s merely a rumor. He’s still single.

Right then, Brandon and Maggie approached them. The old couple felt for Jessie seeing her getting this drunk, though they were also amused. Lots of people had raised a toast to her earlier, and she had no idea how to deal with them, so as a result, she had a bit too much to drink.

“Where’s Queenie? I don’t see her anywhere. She could’ve helped Jessie upstairs,” Brandon said.

They still had to entertain many guests, so they couldn’t leave. Just then, Jessie stood up. “Don’t worry about me, Dad, Mom. I can go upstairs by myself.”

“No. You are drunk. I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She then turned around to look at the man by her side. “Can you take me to my room, Mr. Gilmore?”

The Silversteins felt a little awkward. She’s really drunk. She’s actually asking Julian to take her to her room. That’s inappropriate.

Julian was awkward as well. This wasn’t something he should do. After all, he was a guy, and she was a girl, not to mention a drunk one. There was no way he would say yes, not when her parents were around.

However, Maggie smiled. “We’re counting on you, then. Queenie’s not here, and we can’t leave. So, we’ll leave her in your hands.”

Bewildered, Brandon looked at his wife, but Maggie shot him a look. Hey, I want him to marry Jessie. Let him do something for her, alright?

The husband immediately caught onto her intention, and he patted Julian’s shoulder. “We’re counting on you, Julian.”

Well, if they’re trusting me so much, I guess I have to do this. Julian nodded. “Of course, Mr. and Mrs. Silverstein. I’ll take care of her.”

“Go on. There are too many people here. She should get some rest.”

With that, the Silverstein couple left. As soon as Jessie stood up, Julian offered his arm for her to steady herself. She held it as he led her to the lobby.

After he checked into the hotel, Julian took a keycard and went to the elevator.

Jessie was getting dizzier in the elevator and rested her head on Julian’s shoulder. He looked down and saw her full, luscious lips. For some reason, it aroused him a little.

He turned away his gaze from her tempting lips to regain focus, and the elevator door swung open soon after. Though, he realized the girl beside him couldn’t even be bothered to walk anymore.

“My head is spinning,” she muttered.

Julian had no choice but to pick her up; holding her up was a hassle but carrying her was not.

Jessie kept her weight under control, thanks to her job. And she was a dancer, too. Julian thought she felt light and soft as he carried her in his arms.

Once they reached their room, he opened the door and put her on the bed. Jessie still had her arms wrapped around his neck as he laid her down, so he ended up getting pulled toward her. Her face was

only millimeters away from his. They were so close to each other that he could even hear her breathing. “Miss Silverstein, let go,” he whispered.

“Oh!” Jessie let go of him quickly upon realizing she was still hugging his neck.

While Julian felt his heart racing a mile, the drunken lady didn’t think much of the incident that transpired just now and fell asleep soon after.

Julian stayed with her in case anything was to happen.

Meanwhile, Nigel and Queenie were on the top floor enjoying the view, or rather, they were making out. Kissing their lover under the starry sky was the most memorable thing that ever happened to them.

As they were getting lovey-dovey with each other, Queenie received a call from her parents and felt rather embarrassed for a few moments. Then, she and Nigel headed for the elevator.

Nigel called Julian and asked him where Jessie was. After a short while, they showed up in the room.

After getting drunk, all Jessie wanted to do was sleep. Even with Julian beside her, she didn’t wake up at all. Though, she would have felt embarrassed if she did.

Queenie stayed back to keep an eye on her while the gentlemen left. The Silversteins stayed at the hotel for the night, with the parents sharing a room while Queenie and Jessie shared another.

Morning came, and Jessie woke up with a little hangover. Queenie, who was lying on the bed beside her, sat up and asked, “How do you feel, Jessie?”

“Queenie, how did I get here?” She had forgotten what had happened last night.

Queenie smirked teasingly. “Think long and hard. Someone took you back here.”

“Was it you?”

She shook her head. “No. Think harder.”

Jessie blinked and tilted her head. She then remembered hugging Julian’s neck, and it made her blush. That piece of memory made her remember everything that had happened, and she was overcome by mortification. I can’t believe I did that in front of Julian.

The Silversteins had lunch at the hotel and went back home after that.

Jessie’s room was refurbished. Julian called her that afternoon, telling her he had registered her for the performance class at Averna University’s School of Performance Arts. The class would last for a week. He wanted her to build up some basics for her debut.

Jessie was touched by what he did for her. She promised she would study hard and not let him down.

Brandon felt healthier than ever after finding his missing daughter. He returned to the company and told Queenie to spend some time handling her wedding.

The next morning, Queenie took Jessie to school. She had to stay there for a whole day, so Queenie went to see Nigel. They were deeply in love. Not seeing each other for an hour felt like an eternity.

Jessie reported for class. Thanks to Julian’s arrangement, she had made it to the classroom without a hitch.

Jessie picked a spot and sat down. Everyone in the class looked at her upon her arrival. Some recognized who she was, and they broke out into hushed discussion.

“Hey, isn’t she a stuntwoman? Why is she here?”

“Yeah. Is it even necessary for her to take this class? Not like she’s gonna be on camera.”

“She’s probably switching lanes. Got tired of the stuntwoman job, perhaps.”

“She should stay in her lane, though. Not everyone is talented enough to be an actress,” one arrogant woman sneered.

The lecture hall was quiet, and Jessie heard everything despite their whispering. She took her notebook out and ignored the gossip. Content rights by NôvelDr//ama.Org.

“Hey. What’s your name?” a girl asked.

“Jessie. Jessie Silverstein.”

“Who recommended you?” the girl asked curiously. A famous professor would be giving the lessons, and only the elites of the performing arts school could attend. An outsider would need a recommendation.

“My friend,” Jessie answered.

“Wow. They must be a big shot,” the girl said enviously. She loved how beautiful Jessie looked. Beauties were a dime a dozen in the industry, but anyone who wanted to be famous had to have the looks.

A lady professor came in and looked at everyone. Then, she started teaching. Her lecture was filled with facts and practical tips. Everyone fortunate to be in the class learned a lot from her.

Jessie had also taken a lot of notes. Like a sponge, she kept absorbing the knowledge given by the professor.

The professor had some tea and announced, “Alright, I need someone to perform on stage.”

At that, the arrogant lady from earlier went up to the stage. She requested, “Professor, I’d like to pick a partner.”

“Very well.”

The girl looked around and stared at Jessie. “I’ll go with her.”

Jessie blinked. She was still in a daze, and the girl beside her said, “That’s Xandra Limerick. Madonna of the performance arts course.”

Jessie had no idea about the industry’s gossip as she had been busy with her work. She stood up from her seat and approached Xandra. “What would you want me to do?”

“What kind of role can you play?”

“I…” She had no answer for that.

“Oh, sorry. Forgot you’re a stuntwoman. You were never professionally trained. Sorry for asking you to help me out. I wanted to play some roles in the textbook, but I guess you can’t do it, huh?” Mockery filled Xandra’s eyes as she said that.

The class burst into laughter—they loved seeing Jessie get humiliated. She was in very fashionable attire, and the ladies thought she was a threat to them.

“Oh, you must be Miss Silverstein. The one Julian recommended,” the professor said.

Well, if the professor is asking me, I have no reason to hide it. She nodded. “Yes, Professor Larson.”

“He told me about you. Come to my office this afternoon. I have a few books I’d like you to have.” The stern expression on the professor’s face was replaced by a warm smile.

Jessie smiled and nodded. “Of course, professor.”

Xandra was shocked. Things just got awkward and embarrassing for her. All she wanted was to mock Jessie, but never did she expect Julian to be the one who recommended her. “I need more time to

prepare, professor,” she said sheepishly and returned to her place.

Jessie went back to her spot as well, but everyone was now looking at her in a new light. Julian’s the one who recommended her? Who is she? Why does Julian care so much for her? She’s just a no- name stuntwoman.

The girl beside Jessie turned around, her eyes filled with envy. “So, your friend is Julian? Are you guys dating?”

“No. We’re just friends.” Jessie smiled. She raised her head and was met with Xandra’s icy glare. She blamed Jessie for the embarrassment she suffered earlier.

Jessie shot her a look as well. She never did anything to her, and she wouldn’t let Xandra bully her, either.

After class was over, the professor asked Jessie to come with her. Xandra approached them happily. “Professor Larson, I have a few questions I’d like to ask. Can I come as well?”

“Of course.” The professor nodded.

Xandra shot Jessie a smug look. She felt superior just because she was a part of the performance arts course, while Jessie was just a no-name stuntwoman.

The professor gave Jessie three books and told her she could come to her anytime. She even gave Jessie her number.

Jessie was grateful for the professor’s help and even more thankful for Julian’s as she wouldn’t have had this opportunity to learn the arts of performing if not for him.

When she emerged from the office, the girl who had talked to her earlier came and said hello. She kept asking her questions, especially things related to Julian. Jessie had already been in the industry for

years and knew she had to deny everything, so she told the girl she wasn’t familiar with Julian. Seeing that she couldn’t get anything out of Jessie, the girl left.

However, little did Jessie know that any news about Julian would be twisted and written into articles that were nothing but lies. It was especially so when a no-name stuntwoman like her received a favor from Julian; the news outlets would make use of their wildest imagination to brew some juicy gossip for their readers.

Before Jessie could even leave the school, Lexie called her. “Hey, Lexie.”

“Jessie, is it true? Are you dating Julian?”

“Who said that?”

“Every news outlet. They said he recommended you to join the performance class at Averna’s University’s School of Performance Arts.”

Jessie’s head buzzed. How did they find out so fast? She explained, “No. Lemme check the news.” She sat down under a tree and scrolled through all the news related to Julian. However, she noticed the news wasn’t about Julian; it was about her!

‘An unnamed stuntwoman seduced Julian, and her endeavor was successful. Julian recommended her to a class at the school of performance arts.’

‘Fans say an unnamed stuntwoman spent a whole day with Julian in his hotel. Claims were made that her sexual prowess is incredible.’

Jessie’s face turned red, and her cheeks burned. Damn, they sure are good at making up lies. This is fake news. We did nothing at the hotel. They even used photos of me at work; it was clear that they were talking about me. The comment section was filled with nothing but insults at that point.

She was getting a headache as she read through all that. Right at this moment, someone approached her and sneered, “Did you see the news, Jessie? No wonder you got the chance to attend this class.” Xandra and her sycophants mocked Jessie.

“Hey, someone’s great in bed. Not like us.”

“Oh, god! Julian, you have no taste at all.”

“It’s a misunderstanding. These are all fabricated. We’re innocent,” Jessie explained.

“Of course, we know that. Julian wouldn’t fall for an ugly woman like you. I bet you dragged him in just to make a name for yourself. Now, tell me who’s the guy you slept with. Bet he’s a fat, old man.” Xandra crossed her arms as she mocked.

They’re being unreasonable. Jessie then took her bag. “I’m not talking to you.”

“Hey, that’s a limited-edition bag.”

Xandra and her sycophants were brimming with jealousy. So, not only is her backer powerful, but they’re rich too.

Jessie didn’t ask Queenie to pick her up. Instead, she wanted to get a ride home. Before that, she wanted to look around the place as the scenery of Averna University was exceptionally beautiful. Halfway through her stroll, her phone rang. She wondered who it was, but when she saw the caller’s name, she froze. Julian. She quickly picked it up. “Hello, Mr. Gilmore.”

“Ignore the news.” An attractive voice came from the other end of the line.

“No, I’m fine. But this is going to affect your reputation, though.” She was worried about him. She was fine with what the Internet thought about her, but she didn’t want Julian’s reputation to be affected.

“Your reputation is equally important,” he answered calmly.

Jessie blinked. She was reminded of the raunchier articles that were posted, and her cheeks burned. “I just hope you aren’t affected.”

“Where are you?”

“Just got out of school. I wanna take a stroll around.”

“I’m nearby. I’ll pick you up, and we can talk about the script,” Julian said.

“Now? Is it okay?” Jessie asked.

“Yeah. Give me your location and wait for me.”

“Sure.” She sent him her location. While she was waiting, she scrolled through social media and covered her mouth in shock as she came across something—the news of her and Julian was second on trending, and they were fast catching up to the top spot. That was only a few minutes ago.

And the search term was Jessie the stuntwoman. The comments amounted to over ninety thousand, and all of them were insulting her. Jessie stopped reading after the first dozen lines. She wasn’t surprised this would happen, given how famous Julian was. Ten minutes later, Jessie was still engrossed in her phone when a black SUV appeared before her.

Someone opened the door, and the man within called out to her. “Get in, Jessie.”

She was delighted, but she looked around before she surreptitiously got into the car and closed the door.

Julian was amused seeing her so nervous. “What are you scared about?”

“The news outlets. The reporters. Your fans.” She was terrified as she had been called all kinds of names on the Internet, after all.

He knew how she felt and consoled her. “Don’t worry. My assistants are dealing with the matter.”

“Can they keep it down?” She blinked.

He kept quiet for a moment before he said, “Jessie, there’s a banquet tonight, and I’d like you to come with me.”

She froze for a few moments. The scandal’s already making the rounds. If I go with him, they’re going to think we’re dating. “I-I’ve never attended any banquets before.” She didn’t want to embarrass herself, not to mention she had no work under her belt. I don’t have the qualifications to join.

Julian respected her choice and nodded. “Sure, next time, then. Now, let’s go to my brother’s company.”

“Why?”

“To sign you up.” He was planning on letting her debut soon.

Jessie took a deep breath. She nodded. “Sure.”

Stardom was the leader of the industry. It monopolized about seventy percent of the industry’s resources in the nation, and it had a few thousand A-listers working for it. Profits were staggering every year. All female celebrities saw working for Stardom as a form of pride, but Stardom’s test was brutal.

Jessie stood before the building, staring up at the dazzling window. The whole building was shining, just like its achievements.

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Julian smiled. “Feeling the heat?”

Jessie nodded. She was really nervous. Coming here meant her life would take a new turn. The path ahead would be laden with challenges.

He took her to the thirty-eighth floor and entered an office before he handed her over to one of the managers around. “Brief her about the contract.”

“Of course, Master Julian.” The manager smiled. She called him Master.

Julian then turned to Jessie and said, “Just go through the process. You’ll be getting everything an A- lister gets.”

“Huh?” Her eyes went wide with shock. I get what an A-lister gets too? But I don’t even have any work produced yet. The pressure was mounting as she was worried that she might let him down.

“Come with me, Miss Silverstein,” the manager said.

Julian left soon after as Jessie followed the manager. She printed out the contract and gently told Jessie where to sign her name. Aside from that, she said nothing more.

The signing took about ten minutes. Jessie took a rough look at the contract and was shocked to see the sign-on bonus being 1.4 million dollars. She felt her heart thumping furiously. How am I supposed to make that kind of money in a year? She wasn’t doubting herself; she just didn’t feel confident enough.

After signing the contract, Julian’s assistant served her snacks and coffee. She asked Jessie to wait around.

At the same time, Julian was on the top floor. He was sitting on a sofa with his legs crossed, his eyes on his brother.

His brother, Louie Gilmore, was about thirty years old and looked like Julian, albeit a lot more mature than he was.

“You sure you want to help her out?” Louie asked, his voice deep and calm.

“I can make her famous.” Julian cocked his eyebrow slightly. He was confident in the matter.

“Sure. I won’t object to this.” Louie closed the document on his desk. Coolly, he said, “But you know the rules. I don’t need useless people on my team.”

Julian narrowed his eyes. “I know.”

“Do you like her?” Louie asked.

Julian stretched his arms as he responded, “I don’t have to tell you everything, do I?”

“Well, I’m your brother.” A smile tugged on Louie’s lips.

Julian languidly picked his teacup up. “And that’s the reason you tried to butt into my life since we were kids. Can’t I have some privacy?”

“Fine. I won’t ask.” Louie stood up and straightened his collar out. “Time for a meeting.”

Julian looked at the time and thought, She should be done signing by now. He then went downstairs.

Jessie was sitting before the French window, staring at the view outside. She felt a lot calmer now. She spaced out as she was deep in thought and didn’t notice Julian was already standing behind her. So, it gave her a shock when she finally noticed his presence.

He stared at her in amusement. She’s simply adorable. “Done with the signing?”

“Yeah.”

“You’ll start working tomorrow. From now on, we’re going to create your persona and market you to the public. Be prepared. Everyone’s going to see your photos, and you’re gonna make the news.”

Jessie nodded. “Since I have decided to debut, I’ve been prepared for this.”

“Don’t worry. No matter what happens, I’ll stand by you.” Julian sat before her. He looked at her like she was not a sculpted gemstone. All she needed was some work, and she would shine bright.

Suddenly, Jessie had the urge to relieve herself and stood up. “I need to use the bathroom.

Jessie came to the restroom. There was barely anyone in the cubicles, so she picked the innermost one. Not long after she went inside, a few ladies came in as they chatted along. The biggest news of the day was Julian’s scandal with a no-name stuntwoman. They hadn’t received any orders to keep the news down, so they thought Julian must be letting the news make the rounds.

“Who is that stuntwoman? Why does Master Julian care about her so much? She even gets everything an A-lister gets.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah. I printed the contract myself and even took a look at it. She’s getting an A-lister’s resources, alright.”

“I wonder how he managed to convince President Gilmore to sign this. We would never have signed on someone with no acting chops otherwise.”

“Yeah. Master Julian must have faced a lot of pressure for this.”

“Of course. President Gilmore is someone who doesn’t care about anyone. The company’s profit comes first.”

Jessie hid in the cubicle, and her face turned red as she listened to their conversation. She had conflicting emotions about it.

So, he had to endure so much just to sign me on. She emerged from the restroom and looked at Julian, who was sitting before the French window. She swore to herself she would keep going on, no matter how hard the path would be, just for him.

The sun shone on him, and it added some charms to his exquisite features, but for some reason, Jessie had sensed an air of solitude about him. She felt a twinge in her heart as she looked at him. She then walked over and sat beside him. “Thanks for signing me on. I won’t let you down.”

“Don’t feel pressured. Just do your best.” There was confidence in his eyes. He believed she would do well.

Jessie loved acting. Since becoming a stuntwoman, being an actress had been her dream. She wanted to play different roles and challenge herself. It was the reason she worked so hard, and now she would work even harder. She would never let Julian down.

“Let’s go. I’ll take you home.”

“There’s no need for that. I can just get a ride.”

“No. The scandal is making the rounds fast. Some of the more raving fans might hurt you. I need to make sure you get home safe and sound,” he said seriously.

Meanwhile, Lina heard the news of Nigel’s engagement that morning, and it shocked her. If Nigel were to be engaged, she would have no chance to get close to him. She still had the photos Bonnie sent her

last time. It wasn’t the first time she observed them, but no matter how many times she looked at them, she still thought the woman in the photos looked like Queenie. She really wanted to make these photos public, but she had lost contact with Bonnie for days.

Deleting the photos would be a waste, though. She wanted to use them somehow, as this was her only chance to win Nigel over. If these photos managed to ruin Nigel’s engagement, she would have had a chance to get close to Nigel.

However, Lina wasn’t going to expose herself as the mastermind. The Mansons were too powerful. If they realized this was all her doing, they would come after her family. She wasn’t so stupid as to put her family and her life on the line. All she wanted was to sabotage Queenie and obstruct her engagement.

First things first, she had to get her hands on Penelope’s number and send her these photos. Rumors said Penelope was a powerful woman who was a part of the Manson Family. Nobody would ever dare to cross her.