Chapter 182 - 181
Joanna Kennedy wasn’t actually that worried. After all, when it came to powerful backing, few in the entertainment industry could compete with hers.
That’s right, that was exactly what she thought. She wasn’t one to put on a noble act and claim she had to rely on herself. Since she had Simon Lockwood’s backing, why not use it?
Was she just supposed to let others bully her for no reason? She wasn’t that stupid.
She wouldn’t use her connection to Simon Lockwood to secure resources for herself, but she also wouldn’t let others use their special privileges to bully her.
Even so, she knew it was wise to be on guard. Joanna Kennedy remained somewhat vigilant.
The assistants’ cars were waiting outside, so they had a short walk. On the way, Todd Crowe was called back by the production team to re-record something.
He said to Joanna Kennedy, "Let’s work together again if we get the chance."
"Of course. You go ahead, Brother Crowe," Joanna Kennedy said.
She hadn’t taken more than a few steps when a commotion erupted behind her. It was Zachary Carter’s impatient voice, apparently arguing with a staff member in a very unpleasant tone.
Joanna Kennedy quickened her pace, but Zachary Carter spotted her anyway. He strode over, his tone blunt. "Stop right there!"
’We’re not even out of the recording area yet and he’s already this brazen. I guess he’s done pretending.’
’Idiot.’
Joanna Kennedy stopped and said nonchalantly, "Is there something you need, Mr. Carter?"
"There’s no one else here, so cut the act!" Zachary Carter’s passably handsome face was contorted with rage.
He had just sent his agent to negotiate with the production team, demanding they delete the footage of her solving the code, but he had been flatly refused.
Ever since Zachary Carter had gotten in with a powerful business tycoon, he was used to being put on a pedestal everywhere he went. He’d never been slighted like this before. The more he looked at Joanna Kennedy, the more he couldn’t stand the sight of her.
Generating hype was supposed to be mutually beneficial, yet here was Joanna Kennedy, a minor celebrity who was just getting a taste of fame, daring to humiliate him like this!
The more Zachary Carter thought about it, the angrier he became. "On the show just now, you did that on purpose, didn’t you?!"
"If you can’t handle the heat, you shouldn’t be on a reality show. If the role didn’t require it, do you think I’d ever get close to you?" Zachary Carter said. "I was kind enough to help you get more screen time, and this is how you repay me? I never thought you were this kind of person!"
’He deliberately took advantage of me, then dressed it up as "helping me get more screen time," and now he’s trying to pin the blame on me. Truly one of a kind.’
Joanna Kennedy watched his display of righteous indignation and was so amused she almost believed he was sincere. "Zachary Carter," she chuckled, "I think you’d be a hit if you actually tried acting."
"Is that any way to speak to a senior in the industry?!" Zachary Carter’s voice dropped menacingly.
Joanna Kennedy recalled that he had trained in Korea for a while before debuting in a boy band. Her voice was flat. "Sorry, that whole senior-junior thing isn’t really a big deal in our entertainment industry."
For some former boy band idols trying to transition into new careers, having their past brought up was a sore spot.
Meeting Zachary Carter’s humiliated and furious gaze, Joanna Kennedy’s expression remained unchanged. "If there’s nothing else, I’ll be leaving."
...
Joanna Kennedy was long gone, but the sound of Zachary Carter’s furious curses and the staff’s quiet attempts to placate him hadn’t stopped.
"What are you all crowding around me for!" Zachary Carter shoved his petite female assistant aside. "Hurry up and figure out a way to talk to the director! That code-breaking scene has to be cut!"
’My high-IQ persona absolutely cannot crumble!’
The female assistant stumbled but managed to steady herself. Fighting back her indignation, she explained, "Carter, the director won’t budge. There’s nothing I can do..."
She was just a junior assistant with no real say. When she went to see the director, she hadn’t even finished a sentence before she was given the brush-off and ushered out.
Zachary Carter, with his "genius" persona, losing to Joanna Kennedy, a high-school dropout—the moment that aired, it would be a massive sensation. The production team wasn’t stupid; why would they give up on all that free publicity just for him?
Seeing that Zachary Carter was about to start shouting again, his male agent spoke up. "At this point, there’s only one option."
"What is it?!"
"Zachary, you need to talk to Mr. Yates. Have the Yates family send someone to negotiate with the production team."
The director might not care about the talent, but he’d have a completely different attitude when faced with their financial backers.
Zachary Carter was annoyed with himself. He’d been so panicked that he’d completely forgotten.
’That’s right, I have backing. Tonight, I’ll have a good talk with Mr. Yates about this. That old man is really into me right now; he definitely won’t ignore me. While I’m at it, I can spin the story a bit, add some details... maybe I can even get Joanna Kennedy blacklisted.’
At this thought, Zachary Carter calmed down, his mood improving considerably. "You’re always the one who thinks things through," he said to his agent.
The agent simply smiled, not taking any credit. This made Zachary Carter even more pleased. His gaze fell on the female assistant, and his irritation returned. He frowned and gave her another shove. "Who are you making that long face for?"
"You can’t do a single thing right! I don’t know why I even bother paying you such a high salary every month!"
Thinking of her 4,000-a-month salary—from which inexplicable deductions were often made—the female assistant felt even more aggrieved. She was furious but didn’t dare say a word. In her heart, she made a firm decision: she was resigning next month.
Meanwhile, Joanna Kennedy left the recording area and spotted a white Volkswagen parked on the side of the road. She quickened her pace and walked toward it.
She had been a last-minute addition to the show, so not many of her fans knew she was there. It was getting dark and the road was mostly empty, so Joanna Kennedy hadn’t bothered with a mask, simply pulling up the hood of her white sweatshirt.
Just as she was about to reach the car, a man darted out from behind a large tree on the roadside.
"Joanna Kennedy! It-it’s really you!" the man said excitedly.
He looked very young and had a trendy shock of grayish-blue hair.
Given her past experiences, Joanna Kennedy couldn’t tell if he was a fan or an anti-fan. She took two wary steps back and said politely, "Hello."
Just then, Julie got out of the car and stood in front of Joanna Kennedy. "I’m sorry, this is her private time. No autographs or photos."
"No, that’s not what I mean," the young man said, seeming very anxious. Looking at the girl who was now blocked from his view, he said urgently, "Joanna Kennedy, don’t you recognize me?"
The young man’s expression and tone were insistent. Joanna Kennedy glanced at his face; he looked vaguely familiar, but only just.
The girl remained silent, her delicate face even more beautiful than he remembered. He couldn’t help but blurt out, "Kyle Aldrich! I’m Kyle Aldrich! We’ve met before!"
Kyle Aldrich...
Joanna Kennedy frowned, a hint of impatience in her voice. "You have the wrong person."
Seeing that she was about to get into the car, Kyle Aldrich gritted his teeth and said, "I’m Simon Lockwood’s cousin!"
"Now you remember, don’t you..." Seeing her stop as he had hoped, Kyle Aldrich felt both relieved and a little deflated.
’She doesn’t remember me, but she stops the second she hears Simon Lockwood’s name...’
Joanna Kennedy, however, paid no mind to his dejected mood. Hearing his words, a muscle in her brow twitched.
’Kyle Aldrich... Simon Lockwood’s cousin... doesn’t that make him Shauna Lockwood’s son?’
She recalled that Shauna Lockwood had been trying to corner Simon Lockwood recently, and now Kyle Aldrich was here to corner her. Joanna Kennedy put the pieces together. Instead of leaving, she asked, "What do you want?"