Chapter 237
“I’ve got time, if you can afford it.”
The male influencer lounged back in his chair and shot a wink at Ruby. “But just so we’re clear, I don’t guarantee sales, and i don’t take on any risks.
“If anything goes wrong with the product, that’s on you. And if it damages my reputation, you’ll be covering that too.”
Usually, brands came begging influencers to promote their products, offering generous commissions, and in some cases, even writing little scripts for them to act out during livestreams.
But this company had gathered several influencers for a group meeting. Either they had no clue how the industry worked, or they were ridiculously confident in their product.
The male influencer had never even heard of the brand. So, he figured it had to be the first case, amateurs.
And if they didn’t know the game, that just made them easy to squeeze.
The product manager from StrideVestment, Bruce Zade, checked his watch and was about to speak when the conference room door opened.
“Sorry I’m late!” Audrey walked in briskly, confident and unapologetic. “My fault for keeping you all waiting.”
She turned to Bruce. “Please give everyone a small token of apology for the delay.”
“Of course.” Bruce stood and pulled out a chair for her.
The influencers glanced at Audrey, sizing her up. Nothing about her appearance stood out, but she clearly thought highly of herself.
Someone let out a faint scoff.
Audrey looked toward the sound. It came from Ruby, seated at the center of the table.
Ruby had enjoyed a brief moment of fame from a drama role. Then she’d tried her luck on reality TV, but her bad attitude quickly tanked her popularity. Since then, her career had flatlined.
“I assume everyone here received the invitation,” Audrey began, her tone calm and assured. “If you showed up today, I’ll take that as a sign you’re at least open to our approach.”
She wasn’t interested in doing the usual discount–pushing promo content.
Instead, her plan was to produce short, scripted dramas where the product would be naturally integrated into the story.
The goal was to create emotional value for viewers, while showcasing the product in a more authentic, relatable way.
After laying out the company’s vision, Audrey turned to the micro–influencers at the table. Her eyes finally settled on Ruby. “If your team’s script passes our review and the video hits a certain number of views, there’ll be a bonus commission.”
Ruby cut in abruptly, “So who’s playing the male lead? I know I’m not as big as I used to be, but I’m not acting opposite some nobody.”
Audrey smiled politely. “Sorry, in our script, you’re the manipulative side character. There’s no love line for you.”
“Excuse me?” Ruby’s eyes widened in disbelief. “You want me to play the villain?”
She shot to her feet and glanced around the room, clearly stunned.
“Who here could even pull off the lead role?”
Audrey kept her expression pleasant, though her tone cooled slightly. “If you’re not interested in being involved, I’m not at liberty to share our casting
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Chapter 237
plans.”
Ruby looked over at the male influencer, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully.
Her fame was slipping fast. If she didn’t get some kind of exposure soon, her product deals would dry up, leaving her with nothing but a few loyal fans,
If she could at least act alongside that guy, maybe it wouldn’t be a total loss.
“If he’s the male lead, I guess I can work with that.”
The influencer straightened up instantly, a smug grin spreading across his face.
Audrey gave him a polite nod. “In our script, he’s the cheating ex.”
The smile froze on his lips. A second later, he jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over. “You want me to play the scumbag?!”
Someone behind him caught the chair before it hit the floor and quietly set it back up.
“If you’re not interested,” Audrey said calmly, “you’re free to leave.”
She glanced at Bruce, who silently pulled out two envelopes and walked over to hand them out.
Ruby and the influencer took the cash with obvious disdain and stormed out of the room.
The four remaining influencers exchanged uncertain glances. Eventually, all eyes settled on Audrey.
“We’re not trained actors,” one of them said hesitantly. “We’ve never done anything like this. Are you sure we can pull off a short drama?”
Audrey didn’t answer immediately. She continued flipping through the folder in front of her, already well aware of their backgrounds.
Her team had done a thorough review. None of them had a massive following or impressive sales numbers, but their content connected with everyday people. And for what Audrey had in mind, that was more than enough.
Downstairs in the parking lot, Ruby and the male influencer had parted ways.
But not long after, Ruby found herself circling back.
She couldn’t afford to sit idle any longer. The short dramas might be low–budget and a little rough, but if marketed right, they still had the power to reach people and win them over. She just had one condition–she wouldn’t play the villain.
Ruby waited in the stairwell opposite the conference room for over an hour. Eventually, the door opened.
The remaining four influencers stepped out one by one, chatting quietly. Their faces were lit up with excitement and cautious optimism.
As soon as they entered the elevator, Ruby moved. She walked quickly toward the room.
Before she could knock, the door swung open.
“Come on in,” Emilia said, stepping aside smoothly, as if she’d been expecting her all along.
Ruby hesitated, thrown off by how casual it all felt/Somehow, they’d known she’d return.
Inside, Audrey was still at the head of the table, speaking quietly with Bruce. When she noticed Ruby standing in the doorway, she simply gestured toward the chair in the center.
Ruby stepped inside. “I’ve played leading roles before. Audiences liked me because I was lively and relatable. Even if I’m not the lead this time, I should still be a likable character.”
Audrey clasped her hands on the table and brought up the variety show Ruby had been on.
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In that show, Ruby had come across as helpless and high maintenance, more of a grown child than an adult. Every time she opened her mouth, it seemed to rub people the wrong way,
“I don’t know if that was really you, or just the role the producers gave you,” Audrey continued. “But either way, it felt… very real”
Ruby’s face darkened. Her lips pressed together, and her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
What looked like reality on screen had actually been a carefully scripted performance. Shooting a single meal could take half a day. The final forty- minute episode was a patchwork of cuts, rearranged and sharpened to provoke emotion.
The bigger names were protected. Editors couldn’t afford to make them look bad. But Ruby had been new, easy to exploit and blame.
Audrey said nothing more. She simply waited, letting the silence settle, giving Ruby space to breathe.
When the redness in Ruby’s eyes had faded and her shoulders relaxed slightly, Audrey spoke again, gently this time. “Pulling off a villain that convincingly? That’s talent too.”
Ruby’s head snapped up, startled. But there was no judgment in Audrey’s expression, just a quiet certainty and encouragement.
“I believe in what I’m selling. And I believe in you.” Audrey rose from her seat, extending her hand.
Ruby hesitated for only a second before gripping it tightly. “Thank you,” she said, her voice low but firm.
Audrey nodded toward Bruce, who stepped forward and handed over the contract.
Everyone they’d invited today had been vetted carefully. Big names cost too much. High–profile influencers were hard to control. And with a new product, the marketing budget had limits.
Ruby signed her name without hesitation.
As Bruce began preparing the next steps and Emilia left to finalize the paperwork, Audrey stepped out of the building and received a call from Brooke.
“You busy this weekend?”
“I’m in Ashbourne,” Audrey replied. “Won’t be back for a few days. Fight with Mr. Gomez again?”
“Nope!” Brooke’s voice was cheerful. “I took your advice. Proving my worth, remember? That short script I wrote? It actually sold really well. I was thinking we could grab dinner and celebrate.”
“That’s great. I’m just starting a short series myself. Want to write the script?” As Audrey spoke, she glanced at the crosswalk. A small crowd had gathered nearby, and the smell of something sweet drifted through the air.
A pastry shop had just opened, handing out samples to anyone who passed.
A little girl in a floral dress stood at the edge of the crowd, staring up at the tray in a shop worker’s hands.
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