Director Mason had survived many things in his career.
Budget cuts.
Actor tantrums.
An entire location sinking after a freak rainstorm.
Even a leading man who insisted on bringing his emotional-support llama to set.
But nothing—
absolutely nothing—
prepared him for Aria Lane standing in front of him, looking like she'd wandered into the wrong building while searching for a snack.
He clapped his hands together with the brittle enthusiasm of a man pretending everything was fine.
"Miss Lane," he said, voice cracking once, "today's audition is simple. Very simple. Painfully simple. In fact, I want it to be boring."
Aria nodded politely.
"I can do boring."
Daniel visibly mouthed: No you can't.
The director inhaled through his nose and looked around.
"Where's Julian? He insisted on reading lines with her."
A staff member answered, "He's on his way, sir."
"Good," Mason muttered. "Maybe he can neutralize her."
Aria tilted her head.
"Neutralize?"
"Character-wise!" Mason corrected instantly.
"Nobody neutralizes anyone here—this is a workplace—there is no violence—no martial arts—no unexpected flipping off furniture—"
"I wasn't planning to flip," Aria said.
He stared at her suspiciously.
"You weren't planning… yet."
She blinked, innocent.
"…Why would I flip?"
"Exactly!" Mason shouted into the air, as if praying to a higher power.
"That's what I want! No flipping! No acrobatics! Just acting!"
Julian Arrives
The doors opened, and Julian Cross stepped in, hair perfectly styled, eyes warm, posture relaxed.
He saw Aria.
He stopped walking.
Just for a fraction of a second.
But enough.
Aria raised a hand.
"Hey."
Julian's lips curved.
"Hey."
Director Mason saw the micro-smile exchange and immediately panicked.
"No flirting!" he snapped.
Aria blinked.
"We weren't."
Julian added dryly, "I don't flirt at auditions."
Mason pointed at both of them.
"GOOD. GREAT. KEEP IT LIKE THAT. I need control in this room."
Daniel whispered behind him, "Sir, you've already lost control."
The Famous Line
Director Mason pulled out the script, rubbing his temple.
"Okay. Listen carefully."
Aria nodded.
Julian nodded.
The staff nodded.
Mason sighed.
"Aria, I want you to run the scene exactly as written. No improvising. No martial arts. No… reflex things."
Aria looked confused.
"What reflex things?"
"You know what reflex things!" Mason snapped.
"Those uncanny, terrifying, insurance-nightmare reflex things!"
One intern whispered, "Sir, you're sweating."
"BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S COMING," Mason hissed.
He thrust the script into Aria's hand.
"Just… humor the actor. Deliver the lines. Nothing else."
Aria nodded calmly.
"Okay."
Director Mason wasn't convinced.
"Say it again."
"…Okay."
"Again."
"Okay."
He exhaled shakily.
"We're doomed."
The Scene Setup
Julian moved to his mark.
Aria walked to hers.
The air changed instantly.
Staff members leaned forward.
Daniel clasped his hands in prayer.
Mason braced himself against a chair.
Julian smiled slightly.
"Ready?"
Aria nodded.
"Ready."
Mason raised his hand.
"Action."
And for one perfect second—
Everything was still.
Quiet.
Predictable.
Then Aria read the first line.
And Julian froze.
Because she didn't just read it.
She delivered it with a stillness so sharp, so centered, so lethal-in-disguise that the entire room tensed.
It wasn't acting.
It was presence.
Julian stared at her, thrown off his practiced rhythm.
"…That's not what I expected," he murmured.
Aria blinked innocently.
"Was it bad?"
"No," Julian said slowly.
"It was… real."
Mason grabbed his assistant's sleeve hard enough to tear it.
"Oh dear god we're making a masterpiece."
The scene had only just begun.
But the entire set already knew:
This audition was about to change everything.