Chapter 116
Just the thought of Calvin always stirred a lingering sense of unease within Loretta. After all, up until
now, the former had never truly “touched” her.
However, no matter what, she was the official girlfriend of Calvin now.
As for Rosalie, Loretta would ensure she understood the meaning of “prosperity and decline never
last.” Back then, when she had begged Rosalie for help, thetter refused. Now, she would ensure
thetterprehended the consequences of saying “no” and the price she would pay!
Before the official shooting began, Samuel had the group rehearse twice. During the rehearsal,
Rosalie did not spot Yvette. Instead, it was Yvette’s stand in who helped her with her positioning.
However. Loretta did not have her stand in help with her positioning. Instead, she personally took
the stage and stood beside the male lead.
In that film. Loretta yed the role of the second female lead, who was the male lead’s mistress.
She had several scenes with Yvette.
Initially. Calvin gave Loretta a few scripts to choose from, and she directly chose that particr film.
At that time, Calvin even added, “I thought you would choose a female lead role. This is just the
second female lead.”
“But this film is a major production. The director is well-known, and the male lead has won the best
actor award twice. The female lead. Yvette, is currently very popr. Being part of such a film crew,
even as the second feinale lead, is better than being the female lead in other low-budget TV series!”
That was how Loretta responded at that time.
Yet, only Loretta herself understood that those were just excuses. She joined this production solely
to hold her head high in front of Yvette.
In the beginning. Yvette did not hold Loretta in high regard at all! When she went to plead with
Zachary for a role, Yvette treated her with a bad attitude.
Now, Loretta was determined to make Yvette realize that even if she was just acting as the second
female lead in this film, she could still overshadow thetter, the female lead.
However, to her surprise. Rosalie became a background actor as well!
The fact that Loretta could hold her head high in front of the two brought her immense satisfaction
and joy.
Just as the second rehearsal wasing to an end and Samuel was preparing for the official shoot,
Loretta suddenly spoke up. “Mr. Gardner, I think the kneeling scene just now didn’t look very
uniform.”
“Not uniform?” Samuel paused for a moment, slightly taken aback. He thought it was all right,
considering they were just background actors. It was impossible to expect them to be perfectly
uniform like soldiers.
“Yes, not uniform. I feel like it affects the visual appeal. How about they kneel a few more times to
practice being more in sync? I don’t mind practicing with them if it’s for a better oue in the end,”
Loretta said in a dedicated manner, seemingly for the sake of the production’s quality.
Although Samuel found Loretta’s sudden request puzzling, he could not afford to offend her, given
that she was the new girlfriend of Calvin. At least for now, he had to try his best to meet her
demands.
So, at Samuel’smand, the background actors once again got down on their knees.
Naturally, Rosalie also knelt and lowered her head along with the rest of the group.
Especially at that moment, Loretta intentionally positioned herself in front of Rosalie, almost as if the
latter was kneeling and bowing to her.
Rosalie understood Loretta’s actions were deliberate. However, it seemed even Samuel was
consciously going along with Loretta’s suggestions. Unless she was willing to forgo the extra pay,
she would have to continue to follow orders.
Thinking about the unpaid medical expenses for Wilma that were still owed to Lillian, Rosalie gritted
her teeth and kept reminding herself to persevere.
Although Rosalie knew Lillian would not rush her to repay the money, she already owed thetter
quite a bit. She could not keep umting debt like that.
Again and again, Rosalie knelt down, bowed, and then stood up, repeating the cycle over and over.
Meanwhile, the other background actors around her were getting increasingly restless and uneasy
as they repeated the process of kneeling. Some even startedining loudly, demanding extra
payment for enduring that ordeal.
Seeing the background actors bing more and more agitated, Samuel had Jenny go over and
inquire about Loretta’s
intentions.
Upon seeing that, Loretta pretended to ponder and suggested, “How about this? I think this person
is doing quite well. Her posture is quite standard, and she’s timing it perfectly. Why not have her
demonstrate to the other background actors? They
can watch closely, understand, and then practice. It would save them from getting so tired.”
The person Loretta was referring to was Rosalie.
“But I’m not sure if this background actor is willing to demonstrate for everyone. After all, this will
make her more tired than the others.” Loretta added and appeared considerate of the other person’s
well-being.
“What’s there to be unwilling about? Adding extra payment should solve the issue, Jenny responded
enthusiastically. Most of all, tiring out one background actor was still better than tiring out a whole
group of them.
If all those background actors were to go on strike suddenly, it would not only be difficult to find a
recement for so many people at once, but it could also potentially lead to disturbances.
Just having one person kneel and bow would indeed be much easier.
So, Jenny asked Rosalie to step forward and directly offered her an additional 40 dors to
demonstrate. She exined that if thetter refused, even the base pay for the day would be
forfeited due to breach of contract.
Rosalie looked at Loretta, who was standing a few steps away and felt her smile ringly bright.
Rosalie knew Loretta did that on purpose. The idea of a demonstration was just meant to
embarrass her further. However, now, earning 65 dors for the day was already quite significant for
her.
Moreover, Rosalie’s knees had long be ustomed to bending. She had endured much
greater humiliation during her time in prison. Kneeling and bowing like this now was actually much
better than the torment she had endured back then.
Rosalie’s gaze fixed firmly beyond the assistant director, locking onto Loretta’s eyes. Then, her lips
slowly curled into a
faint. smile as she responded with utmost certainty, “Sure, I’ll kneel”
Rosalie walked straight up to Loretta. The former’s face disyed an expression of calmness,
devoid of sadness or happiness. She simply asked thetter in a calm tone, “Are we starting the
demonstration for everyone here?”
Loretta stuttered for a moment before replying. ‘Ah… Yes!”
After all, Rosalie’s response was different from what Loretta had expected. At the very least, there
should be humiliation, reluctance, or perhaps a mix of sorrow and anger in the former’s reaction.
Only in that way could Loretta feel triumphant and revel in the fact that she had the upper hand in
front of Rosalie.
Yet, now Rosalie demonstrated the kneeling and bowing process with a perfectly standard posture
and a nk expression. There was no room for criticism, but Loretta also felt aplete absence of
the satisfaction she had anticipated.
It was as if she, Loretta, was the one being embarrassed and humiliated! She simmered with inner
resentment and thought, “Fine! Since Rosalie wants to be a robot, then I shall have her kneel
to my heart’s content!
ConTEent bel0ngs to N?v(e)lD/rama(.)Org .
Seated in the air-conditioned room, Yvette listened as Colleen described the scene on set. The
latter had even captured. Rosalie kneeling on her phone and handed it to Yvette to look at.