Bailey Avery.
Even before her official debut, Bailey already carried herself like a superstar. Her manager led the way, with two assistants trailing behind her like eager puppies.
And Bailey? She strutted along, wearing a pair of sunglasses, exuding confidence.
Julia had just stepped out of the restroom when she spotted Bailey. Instantly, she retreated back inside, not wanting to run into her here.
Seeing Bailey surrounded by her entourage made many aspiring actors waiting for their auditions envious.
"Hey, did you hear? Bailey is going to be the future Mrs. Edwards of Artis International. This audition is just a formality for her. But she's only auditioning for the second female lead, so it doesn't affect us."
"Thank goodness she's not competing with us. Otherwise, we'd be here for nothing!"
"Yeah, exactly. With Mr. Edwards backing her, she's bound to become a huge star. No matter how hard we work, it's nothing compared to having a wealthy and powerful husband!"
Listening to the others' conversations, Julia couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
If time could go back a year, all of this might have been hers, and she wouldn't still be here auditioning.
Julia touched up her makeup in the mirror and regained her calm composure.
The auditions for the lead and second lead roles were held separately from the other roles, which gave Julia a sense of relief. This way, she wouldn't have to run into Bailey.
Although Bailey was her half-sister, every time Julia saw her, she couldn't help but picture Harry Edwards and Bailey tangled up in bed. The thought made her utterly nauseous.
Over thirty actresses were waiting in the lounge for the audition for the third female lead. Some were carefully reading the character profiles provided by the crew, while others chatted in small groups.
Julia stood in a corner, deep in thought.
In another lounge
This lounge was reserved for the first and second female leads. The seats were luxurious sofas, and there were only a few people present. Bailey looked around and saw only unfamiliar faces.
Even well-known stars in the industry needed to audition, but their busy schedules meant they had to arrange separate times with the director.
Although Bailey had the backing of Harry Edwards, she was still a newcomer with no notable works and no other commitments. Thus, she was scheduled to audition with everyone else.
Her assistant, Celeste, approached cautiously and whispered in Bailey's ear, "Sister Bailey, I just saw Julia."
Bailey frowned, "What's she doing here?"
"She's here for the audition. I checked; she's auditioning for the third female lead, so there's no conflict with you."
A look of disdain crossed Bailey's face. "Of course there's no conflict. She doesn't even have an agent, so she can't possibly land a good role. But..."
Bailey beckoned Celeste closer, and Celeste leaned in to listen as they whispered.
"Sister Bailey, is this really necessary? Even if she gets the role, she won't steal your spotlight. The second female lead has almost as much screen time as the first."
"You don't understand. Julia is not simple. If she rises, she'll be my biggest rival. Just do as I say!"
Celeste nodded in agreement.
In the waiting room, Julia was still preparing herself. One by one, actors went in for their auditions and came out looking dejected, which only made her more nervous.
The audition for the third female lead was being conducted by two assistant directors, not even Director Blithe yet, and it was already so strict. It was said that even if you passed the assistant directors, you still had to get through Director Blithe.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door, and everyone looked up to see who was standing there.
It was someone in work attire. There were quite a few staff members on site today to keep things organized with so many people auditioning.
"Who is Julia Avery?"
Julia frowned but stood up. "I am."
"Come with me for a moment."
Julia followed the staff member out, feeling a bit suspicious. The staff member pulled her aside and looked her up and down. "So, you're Julia Avery?"
"Yes, is there something wrong?"
"Oh, it's like this. Director Blithe just reviewed your profile and is quite interested in meeting you personally," the staff member said with a smile.
Julia was quite surprised. "But my profile is almost empty. Why would Director Blithe be interested in me?"
When it comes to looks, every actor is stunning, and even if they weren't naturally beautiful, they could always get plastic surgery. As for her resume, she had only ever played minor roles and had no significant works to her name.
"That's exactly why Director Blithe is interested in you! You see, Director Blithe prefers newcomers in the industry because they have more potential to develop. Many others have embellished their profiles, but yours is the cleanest, which caught Director Blithe's eye."
"But..."
What he said was true. Director Blithe was famous in the industry for favoring newcomers, but Julia still felt uneasy.
Wasn't this a bit too lucky?
"But what? Are you going to pass up such a great opportunity? Let me tell you, today's auditions are just a formality. Many roles have already been decided. If you don't go, you'll have wasted your trip here."
Julia bit her lip. Although the industry was messy and full of hidden rules, what harm could come from just going?
If she really encountered any shady deals, she could always refuse!
With that thought, Julia nodded. "Alright, I'll go."
"Good, follow me."
The staff member led Julia away.
Julia wasn't familiar with the studio, so she had to follow the staff member closely. They twisted and turned through so many corridors that she lost track of the way. Still, they hadn't arrived.
She couldn't help but feel suspicious.
"Excuse me, could you tell me which room Director Blithe is in? Why haven't we arrived yet?"
"Why do you ask so many questions, girl? Director Blithe is a big shot. Do you think he would just use any room? Of course, it has to be a private one."
"Oh..."
Julia didn't think much of it and continued to follow the staff member.
After a series of twists and turns, Julia completely lost track of the way they had come, only knowing that they had descended to the basement level.
It wasn't unusual for a recording studio to have a basement; some of the larger ones even had multiple underground levels.
This area was unlit and pitch dark, making Julia feel uneasy as she glanced around nervously.
They arrived at a large red double door, and the staff member pointed towards it.
"Alright, we're here. You can go in."
"Aren't you coming with me?" Julia asked.
"I'm not the one auditioning. I have other things to do. You go ahead." He opened the door.
Julia hesitated and slowly approached the door. As soon as she peeked her head in, she felt a push from behind and fell straight to the ground.