Bianca woke up with tired eyes on the second morning and rubbed her head. She had been dreaming about Dave all night, and it felt like he was always on her mind.
Feeling frustrated, she threw off the covers and got up, hoping to shake off thoughts of him.
But despite trying to distract herself, she couldn’t resist the urge to look at the necklace in the jewelry box again.
She remembered that she had promised to take Sophia to meet Vincent at his place that day.
Bianca took a taxi to Vincent’s quiet seaside villa at ten o’clock. The atmosphere there was calm and peaceful.
A taxi pulled up, and Sophia got out.
She wore a plain black dress with tassels and large sunglasses that covered most of her face. Her hair fell casually around her shoulders.
To anyone watching, she looked nothing like the famous actress she used to be.
“Sorry for making you wait, Bianca. Traffic was terrible,” Sophia apologized, even though she was only a minute late.
Years of being controlled by Gabriel had made Sophia less confident, and now she was overly cautious and humble.
Bianca gave Sophia a comforting smile and linked arms with her. “You’re right on time. I’m the one who came early,” she comforted her.
They approached Vincent’s house like good friends and rang the bell.
A servant quickly greeted them and led them inside.
Sophia and Vincent wished they had met each other earlier and enjoyed a lively conversation.
Impressed by Sophia’s charm, Vincent chose her as the lead for his upcoming film. However, since the movie was still in its early stages and Sophia had recently attracted media attention, he decided to keep it secret until the time was right.
Moreover, Sophia didn’t hold back her praise for Bianca while chatting with Vincent. When she learned that Bianca was the one who helped her break free from Gabriel and return to showbiz, Vincent’s admiration for Bianca grew even stronger.
“I knew it. I’ve always had an eye for talent. Bianca is truly unique,” Paige said as she walked in, having finished tending to the balcony garden. She looked at Bianca with an affectionate warmth in her eyes, then sat down beside Vincent, linking her arm through his. “I have to admit, Bianca is much better than Zoey. Since Zoey took over at Phoenix Entertainment, it’s been disappointment after disappointment. And Natalie? She’s been nothing but trouble, following Zoey’s lead.”
Vincent could only sigh in agreement.
“Oh, by the way,” Paige interrupted, her face lighting up with a sudden recollection. She turned to Bianca and Sophia with a warm smile. “Next weekend is our twentieth anniversary. We’re having a dinner party at our place. You should come.”
Vincent added, grateful for Paige’s reminder, “It’s the perfect opportunity to welcome Sophia back into our world.”
An invitation from Vincent and Paige was a big deal in showbiz, and Bianca knew it would be unwise to decline.
Sophia, with a modest smile, expressed her gratitude, “Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Lopez. Bianca and I wouldn’t miss it.”
Paige warmly invited Bianca and Sophia to lunch at her house. After the meal, Bianca and Sophia said goodbye to Paige and Vincent before leaving.
Vincent went back to his sofa, reading a magazine. Nearby, Paige sat, picking an apple from a fruit tray and carefully peeling it.
“I really like Bianca. We should introduce her to our godson at our dinner party next weekend. He’s getting older, and it’s time he thought about getting married,” Paige said.
Vincent looked at Paige over his reading glasses. “You’re thinking of Bianca as a match for Blake? Would his father agree?”
Paige scoffed. “Blake’s father has never really been involved in his life. I’d forget he even has a dad if it weren’t for occasional reminders.”
“Ah… Blake had a tough time. Losing his mother at a young age, and then his father turning his back on him. If we hadn’t taken Blake in, I hate to think where he’d be now,” Vincent reflected on the past with a sigh.
Paige fed Vincent a slice of the peeled apple, her voice bitter. “There’s not one good person in the Lawson family. Blake’s better off staying away. We’re all he needs.”
Vincent looked at Paige, sensing her anger, and decided to stay quiet.
Paige was usually kind-hearted, but she became upset whenever the Lawson family was mentioned. She made it clear she disliked them whenever they were mentioned.
Her dislike is rooted in the past. Paige’s best friend suffered because of the Lawson family, who disowned Blake. Over time, Paige’s resentment toward them had only grown stronger.
Paige would have changed it if it hadn’t been for her friend’s unfortunate love for that cruel man, which led to Blake having his father’s last name.
But Vincent agreed with Paige’s words. They could give Blake everything the Lawson family could and even more. For Blake, they were everything he needed.
****
After leaving Vincent’s house, Bianca went back to the company.
Once she organized the information about Sophia, she headed to meet with Zoey.
Zoey was on a phone call when Bianca arrived at her office. She was sitting in a leather chair, dressed in a professional yet attractive outfit: a white shirt with a low-cut silk neckline, a fitted skirt accentuating her slim waist, black stockings, and pointed heels.
She crossed her legs, twirling a pen, looking excited and flushed with anticipation.
Zoey’s cheerful phone conversation was interrupted by a knock at her office door.
“I’ve got someone here. We’ll chat later,” Zoey said after ending her call. Then, she raised her voice, calling out, “Come in,” as the door opened.
Bianca entered and approached Zoey.
“Bianca, what’s wrong?” Zoey’s expression turned serious as she saw Bianca. She put her pen down on the desk quickly.
Bianca handed some papers to Zoey and asked, “Miss Carter, you know about Sophia Johnson, the famous actress who left showbiz five years ago, right?”
Zoey’s brows knitted together as she looked at the papers Bianca gave her.
“Yes, I know about her. What’s up?”
“I’ve been in touch with her lately. She’s thinking about coming back. I want to bring her to our company, Phoenix Entertainment. Sophia is a big-name actress. If she signs with us, it’d be a huge win. I want to be the one to seal the deal for Phoenix Entertainment.”
Zoey was surprised. She didn’t expect Bianca to reach Sophia successfully.
She knew that after Sophia’s announcement, many entertainment companies tried to sign her, offering great deals. One of them was Orion Entertainment, a big competitor of Phoenix Entertainment.