Behind The Spotlight Chapter 22
"You sure you don't want to consult a lawyer first? I just want you to make sure." Collin was surprised by how quickly Lawrence made his decision. It was faster than he had anticipated.
He thought the actor would contact a lawyer first, as most cautious newcomers usually did. But then again, consulting a lawyer might cost money Lawrence probably couldn't afford right now.
"I decided to trust you." Lawrence offered a bitter smile, his eyes reflecting both caution and optimism.
"Besides, I've been thinking of leaving Hollywood this year if I couldn't find even a small success in my acting career. Signing this contract is my way of showing perseverance and determination. One last attempt at achieving my dream before I give it all up."
"You and I will make sure you achieve that dream, no matter how hard we have to work."
"Thanks for believing in me."
Lawrence nodded with a small but firm motion. Deep down, he was still unsure about the decision. But he chose to trust his gut for once, instead of overthinking. This was the first time an agent had reached out to him and proposed a partnership.
That alone brought him a bit of happiness, something to hold onto. At least there was someone who saw something in him and decided to help when no one else would. He was happy, more than words could express.
He knew so many aspiring actors and actresses who dreamed of being scouted by an agent and signed.
But only a chosen few ever experienced that moment of validation.
Besides, he had to sign the contract if he wanted the lead role in Wyatt Bray's project. He might regret it forever if he let this opportunity, which had practically fallen into his lap. If he let it slip away, he could only blame himself.
As for any possible traps or loopholes in the contract… he decided to believe that Hollywood wasn't so corrupt that it would destroy his life.
Surely not everyone in the industry was a predator or a fraud…
To be fair, Hollywood was corrupt enough to destroy many lives.
Fortunately for Lawrence, Collin was a good person with no intention of participating in the industry's darkest side. Lawrence got lucky that it was Collin who discovered him.
In fact, a few months from now, Lawrence would come to realize that signing the contract with Collin was the best decision he had ever made. A turning point that marked the true beginning of his career.
It would turn his life around in ways he never imagined.
Lawrence signed the contract and shook Collin's hand in a firm, symbolic gesture of trust and partnership.
"We'll work hard for a better future." Collin sighed in relief, the tension in his shoulders finally easing. He thought recruiting Lawrence would take some time, maybe even a week of convincing. He hadn't expected it to take just a single day.
Anyway, he was pleased with the deal… especially since the contract stipulated a 15% commission. Some clients negotiated it down to 10%, but Lawrence was different. He accepted it without complaint. So yeah, a great deal for Collin and a promising client to work with.
'If Lawrence reached stardom, and that's a good thing for both of us, we might have to renegotiate the contract and lower the commission rate to keep him happy. But that's a matter for the future. A future that now feels a little more possible,' Collin thought.
"For the better future," Lawrence repeated softly, his voice full of quiet determination.
......
...
...
The wedding ceremony was in full swing, rich with tradition and elegance. A large, old church overflowed with flowers in white and soft pink. People dressed in their finest attire, silk dresses, tailored suits, polished shoes.
The Father stood before the altar, solemn and serious in his flowing white robes. He delivered a heartfelt sermon about love, devotion, and sacred union, his voice filled with deep reverence.
"Marriage… is not merely a contract. It is a covenant. A divine union of two souls, bound not only in law but in the eyes of God..." the Father stated slowly, letting each word echo throughout the sacred space.
The camera cut to Jess (Lawrence) and his male co-star, Sam (Axel). The two sat in the front row, dressed in tuxedos with matching ties. Sam was barely functioning, drunk for the entire ceremony, his glassy eyes and slouched posture barely holding together.
Jess, on the other hand, was shifting uncomfortably in his seat as tension built in his stomach. His face contorted slightly as he fought against the inevitable.
"For love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast..." the Father solemnly continued, as if reciting sacred poetry.
Suddenly, an earth-shattering FART erupted from Jess. A long, loud, unapologetic blast echoed like thunder off the marble walls of the church, reverberating with all the force of a sonic boom.
PPPPPPPPPFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFTTTTTTTTTTT!
Silence. Everyone froze, as if struck by a spell. The bride gasped in horror. A child dropped her juice box with a loud splat.
The Father nearly dropped the scripture in his hands, his eyes wide with shock.
Jess (Lawrence) stared ahead, trying to act nonchalant despite the growing horror on his face. His wide, teary eyes said otherwise. He was dying inside.
Sam (Axel) slowly turned to him, mortified beyond words. His drunkenness was gone, awoken by the earth shattering fart.
"You didn't," Sam muttered in disbelief, still reeling from the auditory assault.
"I thought it would be silent... and... polite. Like a whisper in the wind."
Cut to the groom's grandmother fainting in dramatic slow motion. The groom tried to hold back laughter, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably. Honestly, he had no idea who these two were, but they were unexpectedly entertaining.
The musicians stopped playing mid-note, their hands frozen in the air. Someone coughed loudly, attempting to break the silence and restore order.
The Father blinked once, then again, before continuing like a true professional trying to keep the ceremony afloat.
"As I was saying... love is also... forgiving and merciful, even in moments like these."
Sam facepalmed so hard it echoed like a slap. Jess slowly slumped his shoulders in defeat, trying to disappear as giggles rippled through the church.
"I had garlic knots for breakfast," Jess confessed with the shame of a man admitting his sins.
"You had a death wish for breakfast. This is just like what you said earlier, 2:75 PM my ass. There's no 2:75 PM, Jess! That's not how time works."
"What? Then why do they say it's quarter to three? That doesn't make sense."
Cue the church bells ringing awkwardly as the scene faded out, the camera pulling upward toward the ceiling.
"Okay, cut--!"
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