The shooting came to an end as a result had been announced. It was almost 2 am, and everyone was pretty tired.
When the shooting was over and the cameras had been closed, all the girls returned to their dorms, dragging their feet.
Thea went to the dressing room, but it was already packed. She couldn’t even find a seat to take off her makeup. Thus, she left the room, deciding to go back to her dorm first.
However, she was stopped by Candace and Cody on her way back.
Candace thrust a bouquet of roses into her arms with a big smile on her face, “Good job, Thea. Your stage performance was perfect.”
“Wow! Thank you, Candace.” Thea was thrilled to accept the huge bouquet of flowers. She struggled as she hugged Candace with one arm, leaving a kiss on her cheek, “Once again, thank you, Candace. This is so lovely.”
Her eyes darted toward Cody. Cody was not in a suit today. He looked weirdly boyish in his grey shirt and sweatpants. He was wearing a cap, but Thea could still see his jawline.
Thea didn’t recognize him immediately until he spoke to her, “I saw you did great during the show. You’re not affected by those things, are you?”
Thea blinked and realized what he was talking about, “Oh, of course. I’m feeling pretty good now, not bothered by those comments anymore.”
Cody nodded, his lips curling up into a charming smile, “Good. You handle pressure really well.”
Thea smiled, “Well… I didn’t do anything. A couple of comments wouldn’t make me meltdown.”
Cody’s eyebrow raised, “You couldn’t meltdown even if you had done something bad. This is basic for a star if you want to become big.”
Thea frowned, feeling a bit lost for words. Candace cut in, “Geez! Can you spare Thea the lecture, brother? She needs to get some rest. Just go get your makeup off, Thea. I just sent my assistant. She will take care of it for you. Just go.”
Candace pushed Thea into a small private room beside the public makeup room. And then, she came back to her brother, “Cody, should we go back now? Thea seems pretty good. I don’t feel worried anymore.”
Cody nodded before turning to his employees and following him backstage, “Get the girl some nutritious snacks, low-cal and low-fat. Healthy, mostly.”
“Of course, sir.” The employees answered. Candace wriggled her eyebrows as she clung to her brother’s muscled arm, “So you’re not entirely cold-blooded, Cody Bradley? That’s pretty, one of the sweetest things you’ve ever done for a girl.”
Cody arched an eyebrow, “Candace Bradley, do you still want the right to get in and out of this building to spy on Dylan or not?”
“Geez!” Candace pulled away as she stuck her tongue out, “Stingy!”
Cody rolled his eyes.
Candace thought briefly and laughed, “Cody, I am your sister, and you need to tell me the truth. Do you think Thea is pretty?”
Cody blinked. His thought returned to the moment he saw Thea on the stage. She was the brightest star among all the girls. The cameras followed her everywhere she went. And those cameramen couldn’t even find an angle where she didn’t look like an angel.
So… Fairly speaking!
“Yes, she is pretty,” Cody answered matter-of-factly. She would become a big star and earn much money for his company.
“That’s it?” Candace frowned.
“What else do you expect me to say?” Cody asked confusingly.
“I give up.” Candace looked so defeated.
She thought her question would make her brother realize something.
But an idiot would always be an idiot.
Even Cody Bradley was literally a genius.
He would be an idiot forever…a single idiot who could never find himself a girlfriend.
****
The crew was giving the girls one day off. Thea left the building with Beth. When they got to the lobby of the building, there were already journalists waiting. Beth frowned and took Thea to leave from the backdoor. When they finally managed to hide away from those paparazzi, Beth blew a breath out and waved at Thea, “See you tomorrow, Thea.”
Thea left a kiss on her cheek, “See ya.”
Thea got in a taxi. Beth waited for a while until a super fancy black car came to pick her up.
Thea, however, got a phone call the minute her taxi started.
It was from Candace, “Thea, your apartment has been surrounded by journalists. You will walk right into their trap if you go back there.”
“Huh? Really?” Thea was a bit pale, “Then I will just go back…”
“No… no…no… Are you in a taxi at this moment? Tell the driver to pull over at the central park. I will come to pick you up,” With that, Candace just hung up the phone. She didn’t even give Thea any chance to ask a question.
Picking her up? Thea frowned while staring at her phone, but she still did what Candace told her.
There were not so many people at the park today. Candace was dressing like a normal employee of the building when she showed up in a black car, “Get in. We’re going to Cody’s house. Everyone’s missing you.”
Thea blinked, “I feel a bit embarrassed always bothering you guys.”
Candace winked at her, “Come on, Thea. You know none of us will call it ‘bothering.’ We’re all glad to see you. Just get in. Or those journalists will get you on the camera again and put up some lies about you on the internet.”
Thea shook her head and got in the car immediately.
Zoey made her favorite food when they arrived. Thea couldn’t take her eyes away from those dishes. Zoey was such a great cook. Candace said today’s dessert was also Thea’s favorite.
“Wow! You guys are so sweet!” Thea forked a piece of meat onto her plate and started to chew on it, making cute noises in the back of her throat as she enjoyed its rich flavor. She had been eating healthy food to keep her weight for weeks.
These dishes tasted divine.
“Gosh… Thea… You’re even skinnier than the last time I saw you.” Lily pinched Thea’s cheek.
“Can’t overeat.” Thea mumbled as she chewed, “Cameras these days are picking.”
Someone suddenly coughed behind her at the moment. Thea jumped in her seat and whipped around to look. Cody Bradley was standing behind her at his full height, as charming and discreet as always.
Thea didn’t know why, but she just automatically put her fork down. Cody approached her and checked her out closely. “Your appearance management is great. Just don’t mind me and start to eat. Or people would think I’m abusing my artists.”
Thea blushed, “I… I don’t remember I signed any contracts with you.”
Cody arched an eyebrow, “So you’re considering other companies? Don’t make me remind you, Thea Todd. I can make you a star, but I also can make you a nobody.”
Holy… Did she just offend her future boss?
Thea hurried to explain, No… no…no… Boss … I said that because I can’t wait to be your artist. When are we gonna sign the contract exactly?”
Cody’s lips curled up into a smile. So this was what she meant, huh?
Cody walked over to the sofa and sat down, opening a magazine leisurely. “It depends on how you’ll act in the next few episodes. We can discuss the terms if you can maintain your popularity like this.”
Candace rolled her eyes as she saw the lost look on Thea’s pretty face.
This sadist brother of hers started to get all bluff and bluster again.
He acted like he didn’t remember how eager he was when he sent Matt to get the contract written almost 3000 years ago.