Behind The Spotlight Chapter 111
He kicked the producer, who was two decades older than him, with enough force to make the man grunt in pain and stagger back. Producer Perberto groaned and released the garbage bin. He glared at Arnold with eyes filled with rage and humiliation, but he received another kick instead, this time right to the ribs, knocking the breath out of him.
Collin arrived and sighed in relief when he found that everything was under control. Both assailants had fainted.
Arnold immediately opened the garbage bin, confirming his assumptions as his pulse raced with both fear and urgency. His hands trembled as he hugged Jolyne Robs tightly, almost afraid that letting go would make her disappear. He inspected her from head to toe and felt elated when he found no wounds or visible injuries that could indicate serious harm. The woman was simply sleeping, perhaps drugged with something meant to keep her unconscious during the abduction.
Collin watched the scene and realized something rather awkward.
'... So I'm the 3rd wheel here?'
He realized he was the side character this time, a background extra in someone else's dramatic love story.
"Jolyne, are you okay? Please wake up."
Jolyne frowned as she heard someone calling her name. She weakly opened her eyes and saw Arnold staring at her with deep worry etched into his face. She cupped his cheek and lightly kissed his lips in a soft, almost fleeting gesture.
"Dummy, you're too loud."
She smiled before falling asleep again, her breathing relaxed. She believed it was a dream and that the warmth she felt was simply her imagination.
Arnold was stunned, frozen in place by the unexpected gesture, while Collin watched the scene like he was trapped in a forced Mexican telenovela.
'What the hell? So I'm really the 3rd wheel in this situation.'
He sighed and rubbed the back of his neck. Today's drama was quite a hassle and far from anything he had signed up for when he woke up this morning. Who would have thought two people would kidnap an actress, and he'd get caught in the incident without even being part of the main cast of this ridiculous scenario?
Collin looked for his phone on the ground and smiled when he found it safe despite the earlier scuffle. It was still working, although there were some scratches that made him wince.
'I'll ask Arnold to pay for the damages,' he thought with a petty sense of satisfaction.
Collin started calling the police, then his agency in quick succession, making sure both parties were informed before rumors could spread further. He knew this incident would hit the news because it was exactly the kind of serious topic tabloids and gossip shows would devour instantly. He had to contact his agency as soon as possible so they could prevent a bigger problem and prepare an official statement.
In the first place, Jolyne was the victim here, and her reputation needed to be protected at all costs.
However, Collin couldn't help but feel bad for the production team of Bride Runaway.
'Now that I think about it, Wash Dismay Studio has suffered from two scandals, and I'm included in both… Damn, we're probably going to get blacklisted. They might think my clients and I are jinxed or cursed in some bizarre way. Fuck, that might affect my client's career. This is not good, I have to talk to the agency to prevent this scandal from blowing up into something worse.'
He rubbed his forehead while waiting for the call to connect and exhaled slowly to steady his nerves.
"It's me, Collin. I want to contact the CEO. Yes, this is a serious matter. Someone tried to kidnap Jolyne Robs."
Collin began explaining in a calm yet urgent tone, detailing everything.
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A few minutes ago, Jolyne was fuming with hatred over today's situation and the sheer frustration it brought. Her co-star, Lawrence Terrence, was such a bastard. He had already ruined her day.
However, Arnold's appearance somehow made her day worse in ways she didn't want to admit to herself. She couldn't help but glare at him for reasons she couldn't explain, a messy tangle of irritation, longing, and confusion.
Jolyne was Arnold's first client back when he was still building his career from scratch. He had helped the actress reach her superstar status through relentless hard work and unshakable loyalty. When they first met, Arnold had a girlfriend, but they broke up a year later. Jolyne felt nothing at that time aside from mild curiosity. She had only seen Arnold as her agent, nothing more.
She didn't know when her feelings began to change or why she suddenly started noticing the little things about him. Perhaps it was when Arnold began working tirelessly, shamelessly negotiating with arrogant people to get her a role, never caring how much pride he had to swallow. She even witnessed him kneeling in front of a producer, begging for a chance for her to audition. She realized Arnold did everything for her, and her feelings slowly shifted into something far more complicated than professional respect.
Unfortunately, she knew Arnold only saw her as a pure client, no romantic intention at all, at least not that she could tell.
Since then, Jolyne had tried meeting other men, going on a few dates that went nowhere, leaving her even more frustrated. She did her best to bury her feelings under work and public appearances.
But a few months ago, she heard from Arnold himself that he was dating a teacher. He'd said it with a proud, almost happy smile that made her chest ache. It didn't sit well with her. She tried to act mature and composed whenever the topic came up, but even the best actress of the era couldn't completely hide the cracks this time.
"You dummy… You should only look at me, like always."
Jolyne whispered while staring at the trailer's door. She now understood why ANT prohibited agents and their clients from having relationships, it would affect business and blur professional boundaries.
While in this melancholic state, someone knocked on her door. Jolyne thought it was her assistant or Arnold, so she opened it without hesitation.
Two people dressed in cleaner's uniforms entered the trailer with mops and a garbage bin large enough to fit a person. Jolyne assumed they were there to clean… or so she thought.
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Just as Collin expected, the incident blew up on entertainment news outlets within hours. Apex Network Talent did their best to cover the story, but things quickly spiraled out of control.
Fortunately, Jolyne was painted in a good light, and many people felt sympathy for her. Her fans expressed their worries and concerns, waiting outside the hospital where she was confined, they were holding banners, flowers, and handwritten letters.
The two assailants, Producer Perberto and his son, were sent to jail after a swift police investigation. Apparently, the pair had been planning to kidnap Jolyne for weeks, maybe even months. The evidence found in their house included detailed notes, disguises, and a map of the filming location.
As for the production of Bride Runaway, the studio had to postpone it indefinitely while damage control was in full swing.
Wash Dismay Studio received backlash as fans blamed their lack of security and the reckless oversight that allowed strangers near the trailers. The fact that Jolyne was abducted on the set proved how weak their security was and how badly they needed to reassess their safety protocols.
Thankfully, Collin wasn't blamed this time. No one thought he was a jinx, at least not for now.
He even received praise from both the public and some industry insiders who admired his quick thinking. He appeared on TV for an interview about the incident, looking slightly uncomfortable under the spotlight. Collin had no choice but to speak the truth and also give credit to Arnold for the rescue.
Now, Wash Dismay Studio faced the dilemma of whether to continue the project or end it prematurely, weighing financial loss against public backlash.
Producer Jeremiah and Director Nelson were also suffering from the fallout.
Fortunately, Jolyne stated she wouldn't file a case against the production as long as certain conditions were met. She wanted to settle through an increased box office share to compensate for the stress and damage to her image. The studio had no choice but to agree reluctantly, knowing it was the lesser evil compared to a legal battle.
Two weeks later, the filming of Bride Runaway resumed under strict security and with cameras installed everywhere. This time, even the actors had to undergo checks before stepping onto the set.
Lawrence hadn't made fun of Jolyne since, although the actress still had a bad attitude.
As for Jolyne and Arnold's relationship… well, that might be tackled later.
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[Author's Note: Did you find this development surprising? I've been cooking this scenario for dozens of chapters. Anyway, I want to say thank you for all of your support. Also, you can read more on my Pat reon.]