The moment Aster stepped into the company lobby, he knew this wasn't the kind of agency that took walk-ins.
Marble floors. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows. A discreet gold sign that read Zephyr Entertainment, polished to perfection. Even the receptionist looked like she could be on the cover of a luxury magazine.
Jace walked ahead of him like he owned the building. Yanna stuck to his side, buzzing with excitement.
"Mr. Aster, welcome," the receptionist said with a bright, professional smile. "CEO Ren is expecting you upstairs."
Aster blinked. "CEO?"
He barely had time to ask before they were escorted into a private elevator. It went straight to the top floor.
The signing was... strange.
Aster had walked into the company with Jace, dressed in a borrowed jacket and slightly too-tight jeans, expecting some generic admin officer to hand him a folder and shove a pen into his hand.
Instead, the CEO himself—Ren Yu, a man famous in entertainment circles for turning unknowns into household names—greeted him at the top floor with a wide grin.
"You're him?" Ren said, eyes flicking over him with amused approval. "Damn, no wonder he's investing."
"Huh?"
"I mean—pleasure to meet you, Mr. Aster," the man said quickly. "Everything's ready for you."
Aster had sat down and opened the contract—half expecting a soul-crushing standard deal like he'd signed in his first life.
Instead, his jaw nearly hit the floor.
Profit shares. Name credit. Clause-free script selection. Image rights control. Guaranteed project support for the next three years—even though his initial agreement with Adrian was only six months.
It was the kind of contract S-level movie stars begged for.
Adrian had called it a "starter contract."
Aster had asked—half stammering—"Isn't this too much?"
Ren had laughed and simply said, "Talk to the boss."
------
"Fitting room's here," Yanna said, snapping him out of his thoughts as they turned into a private styling suite.
Rows of designer clothing lined the racks. A full team of stylists were already waiting. Makeup artists. Hair consultants. Even someone just to handle accessories.
One of them blinked at Aster. "He's even better looking in person..."
Aster flushed.
The next hour was a whirlwind—outfits, shoes, coats, poses, head tilts.
He stood in front of the camera, the flash catching every angle.
And for a moment—
Something clicked.
Aster held his breath.
The lights. The click of the shutter. The slight weight of styled clothes against his skin. The makeup brush tapping his cheek. The tiny voice of the photographer muttering, "That's it. Just like that. Perfect."
It was like stepping into a memory.
He'd felt this before.
In his first life, during his rise—before everything fell apart.
Back then, his face was fresh. His acting raw but magnetic. His name just starting to show up in fan forums and casting calls.
Then came the start of his downfall.
The actress under the same Manager who said she loved him. The sudden pregnancy. The sudden marriage.
And then came the betrayal.
His career had collapsed under rumors and scandals. His fans turned. His agency backed off. His manager—his own friend—disappeared with his savings. Along with his wife.
When his brother needed care, he had no one left to turn to.
Until Adrian.
And now, somehow, here he was again. In a better studio. Wearing clothes ten times more expensive. Standing in front of a team who treated him like a future star—not a liability.
After the shoot, he changed into comfortable clothes again and sat on a plush couch in a lounge with Jace and Yanna. They handed him a tablet with several highlighted scripts and audition options.
"You don't have to decide now," Jace said. "Take a few days. But personally, I think you'd nail this one—" he tapped the top script, "it's a Revenge Fantasy film. High production."
Aster scrolled through.
He tried to stay focused on the text, but his thoughts wandered.
He glanced sideways at Jace.
"Hey... this contract I signed. It's a lot. Like—more than generous. Is Adrian really okay with that?"
Jace raised a brow. "Do you really think the boss cares about making money off you right away?"
"Well—"
"If he wanted a fast investment, he wouldn't have handpicked a manager, assistant, and PR team for you. This wasn't a business deal. It was a setup."
"That's what worries me."
"Why?"
Aster hesitated. Then looked away.
"...Because it feels too good to be real."
Jace didn't answer that. Just watched him for a moment.
Then said quietly, "Maybe you're just not used to being treated right."
They left the company around three in the afternoon.
Yanna was still chatting about project schedules and designer brands. Jace was reviewing emails.
Aster sat by the window again, hugging the tablet to his chest.
He glanced out at the city skyline.
This company. This team. This contract.
It was nothing like the cramped, corner-office agency he'd signed with in his first life. No shady fine print. No pressuring.
No betrayal waiting in the wings.
It really was like stepping into another world.
He just didn't know how long he'd be allowed to stay.