Off to the side, Eve was making sarcastic comments, enjoying the drama. As the PR manager, she didn't need to worry about or intervene in Anson's career choices.
Edgar wanted to point out that Anson's public image was part of Eve's job. They had worked hard to craft a new persona for him, and if Anson took on a terrible role or starred in a flop, all their efforts would be wasted, and it would impact Eve's work too.
One small move could affect the entire situation.
But at this moment, Edgar didn't have time to argue with Eve. His full attention was on Anson.
He trusted Anson. At least, he wanted to trust Anson.
However, as his agent, Edgar's instincts were still screaming at him. He wished he could understand and control the whole situation, hoping things wouldn't spiral out of control or into chaos.
The scene before him made Edgar's stomach churn, his muscles tensing as he struggled to hold himself in place.
Edgar and Anson locked eyes.
Eve could clearly see that Anson was provoking Edgar—testing or challenging him, maybe both. But this time, Edgar chose patience and trust.
Not just Edgar—Eve found it more intriguing as well.
At first, this job had seemed like a simple task, nothing special. But slowly, things were becoming interesting.
So, Eve wondered, did Anson really know what he was doing? And what exactly was Anson planning?
Obviously, Anson wasn't some naive kid who would foolishly tell Gary the whole truth—that would be idiotic. If Anson did that, Eve was sure she'd take his earlier advice and end their partnership immediately, distancing herself from such an idealist.
But if that wasn't the case, what was Anson's game here, calling Gary without consulting Edgar?
There was a bit of excitement.
In their minds, countless thoughts were racing in just a split second, but in reality, it was only a brief exchange of glances.
The air felt quiet, and if you listened closely, you could almost hear Gary's voice on the other end of the line.
"'The Princess Diaries'? What about it?"
Hearts skipped a beat.
Anson: …
"I'm very sorry I missed out on that project. I wanted to formally apologize."
Phew.
Breathing resumed as both Edgar and Eve sighed in relief.
"But, director, what's going on with the script?"
With that one line, the tension in the room surged again.
"Anson, you're reopening old wounds," Gary chuckled awkwardly, shaking his head. He had no idea about the tense undercurrents on the other end of the call, but he had plenty of thoughts himself.
Clearly, "The Princess Diaries 2" had become a mess, and no one understood that better than Gary.
After a long exhale, Gary decided to speak. "Honestly, we didn't know what to do with you."
"I know you didn't mind playing a secondary role, but Disney wasn't happy. They have ambition but no vision; they have desire but refuse to pay the price."
"It's been a disaster."
"Maybe stepping away from the project was the right move. You might've saved us. Now, we can start fresh and create something new without the baggage."
"Sorry, Anson, no offense meant."
Anson smiled, "Director, I'm hurt. So, next time I'm in L.A., you owe me a martini, right?"
Gary laughed heartily, "Of course, no problem."
Actually, things could've ended smoothly—
Disney wanted to milk Anson's value, but the creative team couldn't find a balance or entry point. Anson stepping back was, in the end, a happy resolution for everyone.
So, Edgar's judgment had been correct.
But what started as a simple matter became complicated due to Edgar's stubbornness.
Now, in all of this, who was right and who was wrong? How could you even begin to calculate?
Anson glanced meaningfully at Edgar. The tension in the room remained, but the conversation continued.
"In fact, the reason I called the director today, besides apologizing, was to share an idea. But now it seems like it's unnecessary."
Gary's eyes widened—was this the real purpose behind the call?
"Oh? An idea? What idea?" Gary admitted he was curious.
Anson didn't drag it out. "In the first movie, Michael and Mia had a happy ending. If Michael isn't in the sequel, there has to be a reason. I wouldn't mind making a cameo—whether it's a voiceover, a video clip, or a letter."
Gary lit up, "That would be perfect! We've been worried about that, actually. It wouldn't make sense for the male lead from the first movie to just disappear in the sequel. If you're willing to make a cameo…"
Anson: "For free. It's a free cameo."
Gary: "Oh, well then, our production team has hit the jackpot!"
Anson noticed Edgar's look of exasperation and grinned, "Well, maybe free isn't great. How about you pay me a symbolic one dollar?"
Gary burst into laughter, "No problem, I can afford that paycheck."
Anson laughed too. "As for Michael's exit, I have an idea. Doesn't Michael have a hobby band? Maybe the band could be on a European tour, and he and Mia decide to take a break."
Gary's mouth dropped open, speechless.
Not just Gary—Edgar and Eve exchanged a glance, and inspiration hit them both at once.
Of course, Anson was still Anson. They never had to worry about him messing up. On the contrary, Anson always managed to find a fresh angle, bringing surprise and turning the situation around completely.
Worried?
No need. Now, it was time to be ecstatic.
In a flash of inspiration, Eve was already imagining her next steps.
First, she could link Michael's band tour with "The Princess Diaries 2" in the publicity campaign. It was free promotion, after all—why waste it?
Second, from a PR angle, this was the perfect chance to repair Anson's image for missing out on the sequel.
Earlier, news about Anson's schedule conflict and his absence from the sequel, though reasonable and common in Hollywood, had still sparked gossip.
The more famous you are, the more people talk.
Some even mocked Anson, saying he was too big of a star for "The Princess Diaries 2."
At the time, Eve hadn't responded because there was no need. That kind of gossip happens every day in Hollywood, and those bitter comments didn't deserve attention. But now that they had a chance to clap back and rebuild Anson's image, Eve wasn't going to let it slip.
Look, didn't all those people get it wrong?
Now, despite missing the sequel, Anson had never forgotten Gary Marshall's mentorship. No matter what people said, Anson had a great relationship with the team, and he was still contributing in his own way to the sequel, making up for his absence.
That's the real story.