Watching the Show

The next day, Irene sat in first class on a flight to New York, engrossed in the latest fashion magazine.

Just before the plane doors were set to close, a familiar figure appeared beside her seat. It was none other than Robert Smith, the former head of marketing at MGM, who had been the driving force behind the successful release of Legally Blonde.

Although they hadn't been able to continue working together due to strategic shifts within MGM's upper management, she knew well that it wasn't Robert's fault. On the contrary, his precise market insight and efficient execution had left a deep impression on her.

Robert spotted her as well, a flash of surprise crossing his eyes. "Director Irene? What a coincidence."

"Mr. Smith," Irene nodded with a smile. "It's been a long time; this is quite an unexpected surprise."

Once the plane reached a steady altitude, Irene closed her book and naturally opened the conversation.

"Is Mr. Smith heading to New York for work?" Irene asked in a calm tone.

Robert paused for a second while reaching into his bag, then offered a helpless smile. "My current work is quite leisurely, so I'm taking the opportunity to visit my daughter who is studying in New York."

Being transferred from head of marketing to head of the Home Entertainment Department was like being sent from California to Mississippi; far from the company's core projects and relegated to scraps, it had stifled the ambition he once held to improve the company.

And the source of all these hardships was the young girl sitting right in front of him.

Irene didn't press the issue, nodding thoughtfully instead, as Shelly had already told her about his situation. She knew the feeling of being exiled to the frontier was far from pleasant.

She carefully organized her words, trying to avoid causing him any further distress. "Come to think of it, I never found the right opportunity to thank you in person. The success of Legally Blonde was largely due to your hard work and precise judgment. I believe your efforts will be recognized by the company."

"You are too kind, Director Irene," the smile on Robert's lips became a bit more genuine than before. "The success was because Legally Blonde was an excellent film in its own right. Speaking of which, although I won't have the chance to assist with your new film, I will still make sure to go watch it in theaters."

"Thank you for your support, Mr. Smith. If you aren't happy at MGM, perhaps taking a break to rest for a while could help clear your head. Who knows, better opportunities might be waiting for you." Irene smiled slightly; the thought of poaching him had been bubbling in her mind since the moment she saw him.

He had worked in MGM's marketing department for years and was an expert in film promotion. She couldn't just invest in her own films forever; that wouldn't make real money.

Therefore, she needed someone to help her scout films with market potential, or perhaps even acquire a distribution company in the future.

Robert was a smart man and immediately caught the subtext, but he didn't commit. She was too young, and he needed to see if her success was a matter of destiny or mere coincidence.

"That sounds like a decent suggestion." It was a tentative response, signaling that he had received the signal.

"I can't promise much else, but I do know a thing or two about having a good time. If you ever need me, Mr. Smith, feel free to reach out." Irene took a business card from her handbag and handed it to Robert.

If you like this book, please remember to add it to your bookshelf so you don't lose it next time.

Robert took the card, glanced at it, and tucked it away carefully. "Director Irene is too modest. I hope we have the chance to work together."

The conversation ended there. To an observer, it seemed like nothing more than a casual greeting, but in the air, the seeds of a potential partnership were quietly germinating.

Irene turned her gaze back to the clouds outside the window. Another piece of her team's puzzle had been found; once she finished filming this action movie, it would be time for her to truly show what she was capable of.

As soon as she stepped off the plane, Irene received a call from Britney.

"Irene, come out through the VIP channel, take exit 2, and head to the C-zone parking lot. My car is already waiting for you there—it's a black Mercedes-Benz business van." Britney's voice over the phone was filled with the excitement of freedom.

"Got it, I'll be there in a moment."

There weren't many people in the VIP channel, and since Irene didn't have any luggage, she reached the parking lot quickly.

It was midday, and the parking lot was crowded with vehicles picking up passengers. Black Mercedes vans were common, and for a moment, Irene didn't know which one to approach.

That was until she saw a pitch-black van parked in the lane. The privacy tint on the windows made it impossible to tell if it was Britney's car.

Just as she was about to walk up to check, the window slowly rolled down, revealing half of a familiar face.

She didn't hesitate any longer and strode toward it. The door opened exactly one second before she arrived. She stepped inside without hesitation, and the door slammed shut behind her in one fluid motion.

Before Irene could even catch her breath, Britney immediately laid out the upcoming itinerary. "We're going to LV to look at clothes first, then to Van Cleef & Arpels for jewelry, and then..."

"Wait, wait, wait," Irene interrupted quickly. "I haven't even had lunch yet. Besides, we're going to watch a show, not walk in one. Do we really need to buy new clothes?"

"Tonight's show is special. It's the first time Victoria's Secret is using a pre-recorded format, so there will be a lot of media and reporters there. Even though we're just watching, it's a way to promote ourselves. I've already contacted them to put you in the front row. The cameras will sweep over you, so naturally, you need to be dressed to impress," Shelly's voice came from the passenger seat.

"Exactly, exactly! It's a very important show, and we need to look beautiful. I'll have my assistant buy you lunch later; we can just eat at LV. Edward said he's footing the bill for today's outfits!"

Irene couldn't help but praise Edward in her heart. Providing tickets, paying for clothes and jewelry—where could one find such a perfect boyfriend?

Yes, Edward had originally wanted to invite Irene to attend Victoria's Secret Night since Britney was busy, but Irene felt it would be awkward to go to a lingerie show with her best friend's boyfriend. She had told Britney about it.

She didn't know how Britney had convinced Jive to let her go, but it ended up being the two of them attending together, leaving Edward, who had provided the tickets, behind. Fortunately, he had a good temper and was used to his girlfriend loving her best friend more than him; he had handed over the tickets without a fuss and even sponsored their outfits.

Once Shelly heard the news, he immediately contacted the media to build hype for Britney and increase her exposure. Come to think of it, Britney was indeed the first among all the young singers to attend the Victoria's Secret Night in person, which was undoubtedly a great promotional opportunity for both parties.