Chapter 249 - 248: Be My Boyfriend
He stepped forward instinctively, unsure what he would say, when Monica suddenly turned—and their eyes locked.
For a second, her aloof persona remained aloof and elegant, and her expression cold and distant, the practiced mask of a seasoned actress. Screaming untouchable. But then her gaze subtly flicked behind her, to the small group of men watching her from the shadows, holding drinks and fake smiles.
She wasn’t naive or stupid. In fact, she was pretty sharp—had to be. She had survived in Hollywood long enough to know better. Only fools believed this industry was glamorous beneath the surface. And fools didn’t last. She’d heard enough horror stories, the whispered stories, the cautionary tales passed between young actresses like survival tips about these kinds of parties to know they were more than just glitz and glam.
That’s exactly why she usually avoided them. But this time, she hadn’t had much of a choice. It was a direct order from her agency’s CEO, and her agent had practically begged her to show up. Swore it would be safe. Reassured her it was just for appearances and would be good for her career.
That’s why despite her reluctance, she had to come here. But she came prepared.
She’d been cautious the moment she stepped inside. This wasn’t her first rodeo, and she knew better than to let her guard down—not in a place like this. She hadn’t touched the food, not even the cute little macarons on gold-plated trays. And she hadn’t sipped a single drink, no matter how many times someone offered to get her one. Not even water. Rule number one in these kinds of places: trust no one.
She kept her phone in her hand, stayed near exits, and avoided wandering into side rooms that seemed just a little too quiet. Most importantly, she hadn’t let herself get cornered or caught alone for even a second.
She knew exactly how tempting she looked—people reminded her of it every damn day. "Too beautiful for your own good," some casting director had told her once with a wink that made her skin crawl. Compliments always came with a catch in this industry. So yeah, she’d stayed sharp.
But after stepping away for five minutes. Just five. Just to check her makeup and take a breather in the restroom. The noise and fake smiles had started to get under her skin, and she needed a second to breathe.
When she came back, her group of fake, plastic friends gone. Just disappeared.