Chapter 195


    “Know you’re busy with the shoot; I’ll keep it down.”


    “That still doesn’t cut it!”


    Samuel felt strange by her repeated refusals, “Xan, why do you seem so tense? It’s like you’re scared


    of something. Got a secret lover hidden in the house?”


    Xanthea stumbled for a moment, and thenughed off hisment, “Samuel, are you joking? That’s


    not funny at all. By the way, what sort of fun gifts did you get today?”


    She deliberately changed the subject, sessfully diverting Samuel’s attention, “Apart from Simon’s


    golf club, everything else was pretty mundane. Oh, but there was this weird gift, a music box with a little


    girl. dancing ballet inside. It even had a note attached to it, don’t know who sent that. I mean,e on,


    I’m


    not a woman; what do I want with that?”


    “A ballet–dancing girl? Maybe it’s from some high–societydy secretly in love with you. You’re totally


    missing the romantic gesture. Was there no name on the note?”


    Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g


    “Nope.”


    Samuel pulled out the note as he spoke, “Here it is, just says ‘Happy Birthday. I was wondering who it


    could be from.”


    Xanthea took the note and inspected it. Nothing unusual caught her eye, except…


    “Samuel, don’t you think the handwriting looks a bit like mine?”


    Now that she mentioned it, Samuel could see the resemnce. It wasn’t a natural simrity, but more


    of a


    deliberate imitation.


    “Who would go to such lengths?”


    Xanthea shook her head, “No idea. If it’s not a coincidence, then someone doesn’t want you to know


    who


    she is.”


    The next day, Samuel drove Xanthea to the on the northern outskirts. As soon as they arrived, they


    were met with amotion.


    “What’s going on?”


    She walked in just as Benjamin, dressed for his scene, came out of the dressing room, “Xan, it’s


    chaotic here; how aboute sit in my dressing room for a bit?”


    “What happened?”


    “Your next scene was supposed to be shot at Equestrian Meadows Stables, and the crew had


    coordinated. with them in advance. But due to some oversight by the stable staff, two crews got


    double–booked. The other crew got there first, and when the staff came to negotiate, Director Smith


    wouldn’t back down, and it turned into a big argument. Doesn’t look like it’ll be resolved anytime soon.”


    As he finished, they heard Kevin shouting angrily at his assistant, “Kick them out!”


    Xanthea said, “Looks like it really blew up.”


    Kevin was dussing out furiously, and as he saw Xanthea, he approached her, helpless, “Xan, your


    scene might not happen today. Equestrian Meadows Stables broke the agreementst minute, and


    Crestwood


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    12:17


    Chapter 195


    doesn’t have another venue thatrge. We might need to switch to a different scene, but you probably


    weren’t prepped for that, were you? It’s my fault; I stressed how important this scene was and told


    focus solely on these lines.”


    you to


    “I do know of a private ranch in Crestwood that’s evenrger than Equestrian Meadows Stables, but I’m


    not sure if the owner would lend it to us.”


    Samuel interrupted, and upon hearing it, Kevin eagerly inquired, “Really? There’s a private ranchrger


    than Equestrian Meadows Stables?”


    “Gallop de Ranch – a high–end racecourse near Horizon Ventures Ltd., it’s Crestwood’srgest


    private ranch, spanning a hundred thousand square feet,plete with entertainment and racing


    facilities. The owner is Orion.”