Behind The Spotlight Chapter 124
Three days after Collin met Chantal Beaumont for the first time, he had already created a plan for her stardom. The agent wasted no time drafting multiple strategies in his notebook, carefully considering every possible angle.
"My first plan is to let you compete in The Singing Voice."
"You can do that?" Chantal was surprised, her eyes widening and her accent thickening in a way that made her words even more charming and authentic. The disbelief in her tone was unmistakable.
She had heard of The Singing Voice. In fact, the show was also broadcast in France, though dubbed in French except for the singing parts. Chantal often dreamed of participating in it, imagining herself turning all four coaches' chairs, hearing the audience cheer, and feeling the thrill of proving herself. She dreamed of winning the competition, becoming a successful singer, hearing her songs on the radio, and seeing her face printed on posters.
She never expected Collin to be able to place her on that show without her going through the usual struggle of sending tapes, and begging for auditions like so many others.
"My client is the host of The Singing Voice."
"Jennifer Randon?" Chantal was even more shocked, almost falling back into her chair. She knew exactly who Jennifer Randon was, she had watched her on the show.
"That's right." Collin nodded with calm confidence.
"I can attest to that. Jennifer is my friend, and we are both Collin's clients," Axel testified, his words carrying assurance.
"Wait, this is too much of a coincidence. Are you telling me that not only Axel Gunner and Lawrence Terrence, but also Jennifer Randon, are your clients? Are you telling me you're really that great of an agent?" Isabella butted in, frowning at Collin. Her skeptical eyes narrowed, as if trying to see through him. She found it hard to believe that this agent truly represented so many successful clients.
"That's why Miss Beaumont here is lucky that Collin took an interest in her," Axel replied with a knowing grin.
"I know you're still skeptical. At the end of the day, it's Chantal's decision whether she wants to work with me or not," Collin added. His tone was both gentle and firm, showing he wasn't trying to force anyone.
Chantal was touched that her friend was worried about her. Isabella held her hand, silently reassuring her with a comforting squeeze. Chantal felt, maybe for the first time, that someone truly believed she was worth fighting for. Still, she was eager to hear more of Collin's proposed plan.
"What's your other plan?" she asked.
"The second plan is the usual one. I'll find a record label that can help you break into the music industry. Don't worry, I'll meticulously check every record label that meets your criteria. You probably haven't heard of it, but ANT has worked with many record labels."
Chantal listened intently, absorbing every word Collin said. She and Isabella exchanged a look, and in that shared silence, both women understood this was a turning point.
Having nothing and being a nobody, Chantal knew this opportunity might never come again, the kind of chance that only appeared once in a lifetime. Besides, with Axel Gunner as living proof that Collin was not some kind of trafficker or scammer, she felt this meeting could very well determine her future.
Should she decline and find her own way? Should she continue singing at the train station, earning a few hundred francs each day, her voice echoing against the cold stone walls as strangers passed her by? Should she wait for another talent agent to discover her? Was that even possible, or was she only fooling herself?
Or should she take Collin's hand and fight for her dream?
She bit her lip and made her decision.
"Collin, please make me a star."
When she said that, Collin couldn't help but smile, not the polished smile of an agent sealing a deal, but a genuine one that carried both relief and determination.
"I will make you a star," Collin replied, shaking hands with the young woman.
"You don't have to worry. If there's anyone who can help you become famous, Collin is the best choice. You might not understand now, but you'll see later. Collin East is famous for being the hidden ace of ANT," Axel assured the two women.
Isabella and Chantal looked at Collin, who only shrugged his shoulders. Honestly, he still had no idea why he was called the so-called hidden ace of ANT, a title that felt both flattering and burdensome. In his mind, he was just doing his job.
The fact that this title had begun spreading through the company was alarming, but Collin didn't know how to stop it.
Every agent in the company had heard about Collin's story. They knew he managed four promising clients and helped build their careers from scratch. Yes, Collin was shy about the way his story had spread, and the whispers in the hallways often embarrassed him.
'The story started getting out of control around the time I saved Jolyne Robs. I swear, they used me as the frontman.' Collin sighed. His story had been exaggerated to cover up Jolyne's kidnapping incident.
Collin and Chantal made an agreement. He would provide her with money to prepare her documents since she needed to travel to the United States to pursue her career. She was free to take Isabella with her if she wished, knowing that having a friend by her side would make the transition less frightening.
Later that day, Chantal and Isabella discussed it seriously. That evening, Isabella's parents returned home and the family gathered to watch television.
When the commercials came on, a promotion for Face: Swap appeared. The cast of the movie was being interviewed. Isabella and Chantal saw Axel's interview on the red carpet and even caught a glimpse of Collin in the background.
The two young women stared at each other. After that, they didn't hesitate anymore.
Chantal explained everything to Isabella's parents, who were happy to hear she had something promising ahead. Isabella also told them she wanted to go to the United States to help Chantal. Her parents agreed, but only gave her a year to live with her friend. After that, Isabella would have to find her own way.
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Collin returned to the United States while Axel stayed in Europe. The actor still needed to go to Italy to promote the movie before returning to America.
Collin made an international call to Chantal and was satisfied to hear that she was already sorting her documents. Her voice sounded excited, full of hope. As for Collin, he had his own preparations to make.
He needed to find her a safe and comfortable place to stay. He also had to research the record labels ANT worked with, narrowing down which ones would be best for a newcomer like Chantal.
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Just like that, August arrived, and with it came the premiere of Bride Runaway.
August 1, 1998. Friday.
Lawrence Terrence and Jolyne Robs stepped onto the red carpet, holding hands. Both smiled at the cameras, looking sweet together, though they kept just enough distance to suggest they were "just friends." It was a careful balance, affection mixed with restraint.
But the truth was, they weren't friends at all. They hated each other. Still, because this was the red carpet for Bride Runaway, they had to maintain the façade, hiding sharp daggers behind practiced smiles.