Natalie was furious but couldn’t come up with a good response. Bianca was right; she had underestimated the contestants from Bianca’s company.
However, she believed that winning the show wasn’t just about talent. With a challenging smile, Natalie turned and walked away.
Back in the agent’s lounge, Bianca sat comfortably, feeling satisfied. Just as she was about to relax, there was a knock at the door.
Expecting Blake or Reese, she was surprised to find Dave’s “cousin,” Skylar, standing outside.
Skylar’s comments were fair, and they left Bianca with a good impression of her.
Bianca smiled politely at Skylar. “Hi, Miss Larson. Are you looking for someone?”
Skylar smiled back warmly. “I’m looking for you. Your team’s performance was really impressive. It caught me off guard.”
Proud of her team, Bianca stepped aside and said, “Please, have a seat.”
“By the way, what’s your name?” Skylar asked with a friendly smile as she walked in.
“I’m Bianca Scott, the founder of Emerald Artists Agency. I also represent Blake and Reese. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in collaborating with them,” Bianca said as she pulled out a business card from her bag and handed it to Skylar.
Skylar’s eyes narrowed slightly when she saw the name Bianca Scott on the card.
She quickly realized that Bianca was the same woman who had tried to get close to Dave, a man who probably didn’t even know her name.
Even though this made Skylar feel more distaste toward Bianca, she kept a polite smile and nodded.
Skylar glanced at Bianca again. Her eyes fell on the elegant red diamond necklace around Bianca’s neck, which was shining brightly in the light.
The necklace’s high-quality diamond and deep red color perfectly matched Bianca’s skin tone. But what stood out the most was its droplet shape.
Wasn’t this the same necklace from the big auction in Mubluosia? Back then, billionaires were fighting over it, and rumors said a mysterious bidder bought it for an unbelievable price of one billion dollars. After that, the necklace disappeared from the public eye. How on earth was it now around this agent’s neck?
Although no one knew who the bidder was, Skylar had heard that someone from the powerful Evans family was present at the auction. After all, only selected rich people could afford something like that.
At the time, Skylar wondered if Dave had bought the necklace to give to her when they met. Now, seeing it here, she couldn’t stop thinking about the connection between this and what Blake had mentioned…
‘Could Dave have given this necklace to Bianca?’
That didn’t seem likely. Dave had said he didn’t even know who Bianca was.
‘Was he pretending for her safety? Or maybe he was putting on a show for Lucas?’
The doubt started to eat away at Skylar. But the idea that Dave could be interested in Bianca and would spend such a huge amount on her just didn’t seem possible.
Trying to shift her focus, Skylar complimented the necklace. “Miss Scott, that’s a stunning piece. It looks very expensive and finely made.”
Bianca glanced down at the red diamond on her collarbone and replied casually, “It’s a gift from my boyfriend. I don’t really know how much it cost.”
Skylar’s expression darkened for a moment, though she kept a polite smile. She decided to dig a little deeper. “Your boyfriend must be quite wealthy.”
Bianca looked confused. “Why do you say that?”
Skylar smiled and explained, “The red diamond you’re wearing weighs about fifteen grams, and it’s cut in a rare teardrop shape with such vibrant color. There are only two diamonds like that in the world. One of them is the necklace you have on.”
Bianca’s eyes widened. “And the other?”
Skylar gave Bianca a knowing smile. “The other one is set in the crown of the queen of Mubluosia.”
“Oh wow!” Bianca was surprised but quickly regained her composure. “I don’t think my boyfriend would spend that much on a necklace. This red diamond might just look like the rare one you mentioned.”
“Is that so?” Skylar replied with a smile. “This particular diamond was auctioned off. You can check the official site if you’re curious. I’ll send you the link.”
Bianca wasn’t too concerned. Knowing Dave’s comfortable but not extravagant income, she doubted he’d spent on such an expensive piece.
Still, to be polite, she didn’t dismiss Skylar’s offer. With a friendly smile, she said, “Why don’t we exchange contact info?”
After they swapped numbers, Skylar stood up and left.
The more Skylar thought about it, the more unusual it seemed.
Having grown up with a deep understanding of luxury and even taking courses at university to sharpen her eye for high-end items, she was confident in her ability to tell real from fake. The necklace Bianca wore had all the marks of authenticity, from its flawless color to its craftsmanship.
What kind of man would Bianca’s boyfriend have to be to give her such an extravagant gift? Could her boyfriend actually be Dave?
Skylar was confused, trying to figure things out. Then, she noticed someone in dark blue sitting nearby-Natalie, a fellow judge, seated on her left.
She remembered seeing Natalie talking to Bianca after she left the stage. They seemed to know each other.
Back in the lounge, Natalie kicked off her high heels without caring about her appearance and collapsed onto the couch, her frustration obvious. She angrily poked at the cushions with her fingers, hitting them a few more times to release her irritation.
“Who do you think you are to talk to me like that? Do you think you’re something without other people’s help? Pathetic woman,” Natalie spat out, her voice full of venom.
“You really think you can defeat Orion Entertainment? Just wait, Bianca!” she fumed.
There was a knock at the door in the middle of her rant. Assuming it was her assistant, Natalie, too irritated to move, shouted, “Come in.”
As Skylar stepped into the room, she saw the famous actress lounging on the couch, her high heels tossed aside.
Recognizing Skylar, Natalie quickly straightened up, sitting at the edge of the sofa. “Miss Larson, how can I help you? Please, take a seat.”
Skylar smiled politely, eyeing the messy couch with a hint of distaste, and chose to sit in a nearby chair instead.
“What brings you here?” Natalie asked, a bit unsure, as this was their first time meeting, having only crossed paths earlier during the shoot.
Skylar greeted her warmly. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. King. I’ve followed your performances while living abroad, and your talent is really captivating. I’m actually one of your biggest fans.”