….

  [Same Time]

  Iique Talent Agency HQ.

  CEO Office.

  "How did the csses go? Think they will help?" Christopher asked, his voice light but probing.

  Grace paused for a moment, her gaze distant. "They were good. I am leaning toward the one-month course."

  "That makes sense." Christave a thoughtful nod. "We should probably hold off on auditions for now - unless something big es up."

  Grace didn't answer right away, her thoughts seemingly elsewhere.

  "...I agree." She murmured, barely paying attention.

  "Grace?" Christopher pressed. "You with me?"

  "...?sorry." Graapped back.

  Christopher's eyes narrowed. "Alright, what's going on?"

  Grace turhoughtful at that, hesitating, but something ged as she exhaled slowly before meeting Christaze.

  She finally spoke. "I know this might be asking a lot, but… I need a favor."

  Christopher's face turhoughtful. "What kind of favor?"

  "It's abal and our film." Grace admitted, her voice steady but tinged with worry. "I just got a call from Seren, and it seems he is having trouble finding a distributor."

  "That's a tough break." Christopher nodded in uanding, but he kept his tone measured, adding. "But we are a talent agency, Graot a distributiowork."

  "I know." Grace replied quietly, though there was a flicker of hope in her eyes. "But maybe you could help - introduce him to someone who ."

  Fingers drumming lightly against the edge of the table, Christopher sidered the request. "Have you two thought about going to the film festival? Plenty of es there."

  Grace's shoulders slumped, and she shook her head. "There isn't any major one anytime soon. Also, I think Regal didn't seem practically ied in the idea."

  "Really? Why not?" Christopher raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "It's the easiest route if you think the film has potential... and if you get lucky, maybe even win something. That could seriously boost its reputation."

  Grace couldn't answer, her lips pressing together. Christopher's logic was airtight, and she didn't have an ao justify her stand.

  Sensing the pause, Christopher leaned back, shifting the topic. "Have you even watched it? The film?"

  Grace blinked, caught off guard. "Uh… no."

  A smirk tugged at Christopher's lips in response. "So, you are bag it without even seeing it?"

  "I believe it will be good." Grace's tone immediately turned defensive about the film.

  ….

  Christopher turhoughtful at that.

  Actually, unaware of Grace, Regal had invited him to a private sing this ing weekend.

  The iion behind the invitation was clear - remarkably simir to what Grace had just suggested.

  In fact, Regal hadn't cloaked his request in vague pleasantries - it retty straightforward and unapologetically deliberate.

  And Christopher appreciated that.

  He had only met Regal briefly during the tract signing with Grace, but that short iio an impression.

  Regal carried himself like someone who kly what he was doing, someoh a sense of purpose and trol.

  It was a rare attitude, one Christopher seldom entered, and it had immediately stood out to him.

  Of course, there was alsal's reputation as the author of the ret phenomenon, [Harry Potter] - that alone was enough to make him a figure worth paying attention to.

  F a good e with someone like Regal, or making him owe him something, was always a wele opportunity for Christopher.

  And from the way Regal handled certain decisions, Christopher could tell he values and remembers the help and will definitely keep up to it ter.

  For him, that kind of person was always worth knowing.

  Still, any of this doesn't matter if his product was mediocre.

  Even if it turned out to be exceptional, he doesn't have the capabilities to help him - all he will be able to do is ect him to someone who , and the rest is again in his hands.

  …..

  Christopher shot back, amused. "Alright. Here is the deal. I will watch the film. Then we will talk."

  "Thank you." Grace's eyes widened.

  "I nning to do that even if you didn't ask for it." Christopher shrugged. He added. "However, just remember, I am not promising anything. It all depends on the film."

  Graodded fidently. "I uand."

  ….

  [Same Day - Evening]

  "Sir, I have tacted Mr. Regal. While there are minor ges to the hosting arra, the sing will proceed as pnned." Aned.

  Christave a slight nod, processing the update.He uood what she was implying: Regal might not be present during the show.

  If he remembered correctly, this was the first sing - a debut director's film.

  For the director to skip su importa, something more pressing must have e up.

  Is it another meeting with a distribution pany? He wondered.

  "…It seems the trials are still going on." Anne added, breaking the silence.

  "Who will be handling the session then?" Christopher asked.

  Anne added. "One of the main cast from the film. Keanu Reeves."

  Christopher was slightly surprised. "Keanu, huh?"

  He had done his homework when taking on the tract with Grace, digging into the key pyers behind the film.

  Keanu Reeves - it was his debut film, and he hadn't made a notable mark before this. As such, Christopher had set his profile aside for now.

  Andrew, another member of the cast, had caught his attention a bit more - but only marginally.

  In his books, her had been signifit enough to warrant deeper scruti.

  And for Christopher, the real assessment would only e ter - whes mattered.

  "Whatever, I hope the film turns out det… because I am really in no mood to be fgged by this dude." Christopher muttered in a wishful tone as he stared at the tact he was dialing.

  It was saved uhe name: [Stephen Hawking Jr.]

  "Sir, I don't think you will be able to make it to the sing." Just then, Anne added, gng at her phone as a new message popped up.

  ….

  Day - Sunday.

  .

  Stephen Hawking - a young man in his early twenties, leaned against his car, staring up at the four-story building with '[ITA]' embzoned on it.

  His phone pressed to his ear as he waited for a response from the other line.

  ["Stephen, I am not in the office."] Christopher's calm voice finally came through. ["Anne will be apanying you instead."]

  A frown tugged at Stephen's lips. His gaze narrowed at the building as if it had somehow betrayed him. "How does that make any sense? You are the one who invited me."

  ["Are you done? If so, help me behave during the sing too."] Christopher replied, brushing aside his pints with effortless ease.

  tut-!

  Before Stephen could protest, he heard the click of the line going dead.

  "Tsk… I am not a kid." Staring at the s, Stephen muttered.

  He shoved the phoo his pocket, the preakness still simmering as he climbed into the driver's seat.

  ….

  Soon after, Anne appeared, striding quickly toward the car. She slid into the passenger seat, a polite nod as she buckled up.

  Stephen put the car in gear, pulling out onto the street. "Got any idea what this film's about?"

  "It's an indie project. Written and directed by Regal Serephsail. He is 22." Anne replied, her tone measured. "The film's title [Following]."

  Stephen g her, an eyebrow arched in silent question. "And what am I supposed to do with that? You all could have just tacted the old man directly. Would have been simpler."

  "...." Anne didn't answer, her eyes fixed ahead on the road.

  She uood the frustration but k wasn't her decision to make.

  No point in defending the process.

  Stephen's voice broke the stillness, low and frustrated. "Damn, you people…"

  He huffed, his tone sharp. "Don't ask me to be polite if the movie turns out to be shit."

  ….

  Before long, they found themselves standing outside a modest apartment building.

  Stephen adjusted his jacket, casting a skeptical g the structure. "This is the pce, right?"

  Without answering, Anne moved ahead, pressed the buzzer, and waited.

  "Yeah, ing!" - a quick, clear voice called from inside.

  Seds ter, the door swung open, revealing a striking figure - Keanu Reeves. His ly bed bck hair framed sharp features that drew their immediate attention.

  "We are looking fal Serephsail." Aated, her voice direct as she locked eyes with him.

  "You have got the right pce." Keanu nodded and stepped aside, gesturing for them to enter. "e on in."

  They entered, and Keanu closed the door behind them with a soft click.

  "Regal is tied up with something, but don't worry. I will be handling the sing today." He expined, leading them into a sleek room.

  Aook in the surroundings, the yout.

  It was the same space she had visited to sign Grace's tract for the film.

  However, there were some noticeable ges. The long table had been pushed to the side and leaned against a wall, its legs detached. All the chairs were ly stacked on the opposite side. The projector, still promily positioned, remained in pce, and the door at the far end of the room was unged.

  In the ter, though the arra was different, there was now a long couked by two smaller ones oher side.

  Keanu came to a stop and turo face them, extending a hand with an easy grin. "Keanu Reeves. I am in the film you are about to see."

  Anne nodded, her expressioral yet polite. "I am Kaira. Mr. Christopher couldn't make it today. And in his stead, his guest will apany me."

  At that, Stephen came forward and shook Keanu's hand. "I am Stephen Hawking. Thanks for having us."

  "Not a problem. Regal mentiohere would be two of you. I was expeg pany." Keanu motiooward the projector. "Let's get started. I believe you will enjoy this."

  "Thanks." Stephen could feel Keanu's easy going demeanor, and that was enough for his curiosity to get the better of him. "So, you are the main lead in the film?"

  Keanu, who was making the final adjustments to the projectave a small, self-assured smile. "Nah. Sed lead, actually."

  That caught Stephen off guard. Keanu had a presehat practically dematention.

  The idea of casting him as anythihan the lead felt... off.

  Especially for an indie film as they purely focus oing as much attention.

  There was something about his aura that remiephen of someone else he knew - someoh an unmistakable air of and.

  Obviously, Keanu didn't quite match up to that person, not even close, but Stephehe resembnce was there.

  Still, he held back his thoughts.

  Better to wait until after the movie.

  Keaured toward the couch. "Make yourselves fortable. The setup is done, so we start whenever you are ready."

  Anne exged a quice with Stephen before nodding. "We are ready."

  "Yep, me too." Stephen added, settling bato the couch.

  "Alright." Keanu moved across the room. He closed each window manually, ensuring the room was dark and distra-free.

  The faint hum of the projector broke the quiet, and within moments, the s fred to life, casting a soft, flickering glow across the room.

  Keanu stepped back, his figure framed by the light from the s.

  "All set." He said, his toeady but charged with undercurreement and nervousness.

  As the opening se began to unfold, Anne and Stephehemselves remove any and every distra, bringing their attention to the images on the s.

  The room sank into stillness, save for the gentle whirring of the projector and the story pulling them in frame by frame.

  ….

  After exactly y-seven minutes and some seds -

  Cp! Cp!

  - a single resounding cp filled the small room.

  .

  ….

  [To be tinued…

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