Bianca paused, remembering that Paige’s last invite to the hot spring resort had been a sneaky plan to set her up with Blake. With a slight frown, she replied, “Sorry, Blake, I already have plans tonight.”
“Is it with your boyfriend?” Blake asked, worry creeping into his voice.
“No, not really…” Bianca lied, noticing the furrow in Blake’s brow. She tilted her head and asked, “Blake, why do you keep bringing up my boyfriend today?”
“Just curious,” Blake replied, eyes darting away.
“That’s it? I should get going.” Bianca gave him a small smile and walked into her office, closing the door behind her. Blake stood there, looking troubled.
At 2 p. m., Bianca called Reese and Blake into her office.
“What’s up, Bianca?” Reese asked, standing across from her.
Blake remained silent, just frowning.
Bianca looked at the attractive pair in front of her and smiled.
“You two have been training for a while now. I’m thinking of putting you on the talent show Star Search. It’s your chance to shine.”
“Star Search?” Reese’s eyes lit up as she pressed her hands to her chest. “The big talent show that happens every two years? The one that made Nicolas Foster famous?”
“Yes, that’s the one.” Bianca smiled softly and continued, “It’s the biggest and most popular talent show. I’ve been negotiating with the crew for a month, and today, they finally agreed to let you both join. You should start getting ready; the show is coming up soon. Winning could lead to a bright future for you.”
“I won’t let you down, Bianca!” Reese replied, her face beaming with excitement. Blake, on the other hand, looked distracted.
Bianca turned to Blake.
“Blake?” she called, but he didn’t respond. She raised her voice, “Blake!”
That got his attention, and he looked up at her.
“Were you daydreaming? Did you hear what I just said?” Bianca asked, noticing something was off with him.
“Yeah, I heard. The talent show, right? I’ll be there,” Blake replied, sounding uninterested.
Bianca frowned and asked, “Don’t you want to go?”
“No,” Blake replied flatly, giving her a quick glance. “If that’s all, I’m leaving.”
Bianca was taken aback by his cold attitude but couldn’t think of anything to say, so she just nodded.
As Blake walked out, Reese turned to Bianca. “What’s up with him? He didn’t seem happy. Does he… not want to be in the talent show with me?”
“No, that’s not like Blake. Don’t worry about it,” Bianca assured her.
Reese nodded and left the office, leaving Bianca alone with her thoughts, her expression growing more serious.
When Bianca was about to leave work, she ran into Blake.
He was carrying a big canvas bag over his shoulder. When he saw Bianca, he stopped.
“Hey, Blake, didn’t you say this morning that Mrs. Lopez wanted to have dinner with me? My plans got canceled, so I’m free now. Want to grab dinner instead?”
Blake looked away for a moment before answering, “You said you had plans, so she’s already out with a friend tonight.”
“What about you? Are you free? It’s my treat,” Bianca offered, smiling warmly at him.
Blake looked up, clearly surprised.
“You’ve been a big help to me before, and I’ve been wanting to thank you,” Bianca said, still smiling.
Blake hesitated for a moment before replying, “I… yeah, I’m free.” He glanced away, a small smile appearing on his lips.
Bianca’s grin grew wider.
They headed to the top floor of a mall, where Bianca’s favorite French restaurant was located. She was excited to share her favorite dessert with Blake.
As they sat down, Bianca looked at Blake with curiosity. “What do you think of Reese?” she asked.
Blake hesitated before replying, “Well, I don’t really know her well. We’re just friends.”
Bianca’s smile turned a bit playful. “Did it bother you that I paired you with her for the talent show today?”
Blake’s eyes widened, and he took a moment before answering, “No, it’s not that.”
Bianca’s smile softened. “So, you were just upset?”
Blake was lost for words, surprised at how easily Bianca could leave him speechless.
He looked down and bit his lip. “The food’s getting cold. Let’s eat,” he deflected, starting his meal without answering her question.
Bianca didn’t push him. She said sincerely, “Blake, you’re not just an artist at my company; you’re a dear friend. If you’re having troubles, don’t keep them to yourself. Share them with me. We can work through them together. Reese’s a great girl. It’d be good for you to connect with her more, especially with the upcoming show. Being new to showbiz is tough. She could use your support, and she really seems to care about you.”
Blake set down his fork, looked directly at Bianca, and cut her off. “Bianca, you are my agent. I’ll follow your professional advice. But my personal life? That’s not part of the deal. Let’s not talk about this again.”
Bianca was taken aback by his honesty.
She realized she had overstepped, getting involved in his personal life. She had no response to that.
After a brief silence, she said softly, “Okay, I won’t bring this up again. But as your friend, I just want you to be happy. Unlike other agencies, I don’t control artists’ personal lives. I believe talent, not a fake image, should attract fans. So, if there’s someone special, go for it. You have my full support.”
Blake let out a quiet chuckle as if amused by her words.
Bianca, puzzled, noticed him staring at her with bright, clear eyes.
“Do you really not know who I’m interested in, Bianca, or are you just pretending?” he asked.
Bianca felt a sudden rush of worry, a voice in her head telling her to stop asking questions.
So, she decided to keep eating. The atmosphere between them became tense and awkward.
Blake noticed her discomfort and quietly ate his meal, looking heavy-hearted.
After dinner, they walked through the mall, chatting but carefully avoiding the topic they had just discussed.
It felt like they had never even brought it up.
As Bianca looked around, memories flooded back. She remembered the first time she visited this mall with Dave, filled with laughter and their fun shopping trips.
A smile crept onto her face without her realizing it.
Suddenly, a memory popped into her mind-when Dave used a fake VIP card to embarrass her rival, Carla. That funny moment had led to Bianca getting a stunning dress worth 560, 000 for free.
Lost in thought, Bianca found herself drifting toward the entrance of a clothing store.