A dubbing tract awaited a petite woman with a slim resume. She oised to quer the voiceover world, almost like a strategic chess game. She ositioo earn 9,000 for voice roles and potentially 300,000 for a film role, with the possibility of reag 500,000 if, within the hree years, she was reized as a major actress through nominations or awards from BAFTA, SAG, and other prestigious anizations.

  -It’s absurd… but Billy Carson is a great friend you should sider. That man always draws attention and makes movies at an unusual pace—having at least one role a year could cover yency fees and expenses. You might even nd more roles, making it possible; your eyes are captivating, - the agent remarked, with an implicit suggestion that she didn’t dismiss. The young man’s appeal resonated with her, and she replied, “Why not?” She didn’t care; he was young, handsome, successful, and disgustingly rich—richer than any Afri mogul she knew of.

  -I sider it, but he’s like an iron wall blog my way… I’ve tried everything; he’s like a sculpture of ice. I flirted shamelessly, at least… I did everything I could,- Charlize ented.

  -That’s true… he’s n. He’s a man who doesn’t attend many parties, just the occasional random gathering. Few details, but I know you , darling. Try to get him to help improve your standing in Hollywood; at least he’s her old nor fat,- the agent said, shining with his dubious insinuations and behaviors. She was struggling for a reason, havied the red sofa four times and the advances of an old man who was anything but charming and only wao get into her pants.

  -Thanks, but…- Charlize smiled, uo deny how unavaible the situatio.

  -You’re brilliant; don’t waste this opportunity. You’ve been through so much, and dreams won’t pay the bills,- he responded, revealing the secret plicity of foolish triumph. A woman who was failing, her best years being her youth, her best asset being her delicate body. How else could she succeed if she allowed herself to fail? How else could a fhrive in a world as cruel as Hollywood?

  …

  -Yes, Mom.- She hung up the phone and checked her at—1,200. She o buy a dress, fag the chill ency. Rent was due, and she o find work—she needed so many things… but she was just a woman without luck. She hoped to get paid for the ercial she participated in han two weeks ago, but payment was deyed.

  She sighed and took a sip of gin. She ughed at a joke oV while stretg her feet onto a footstool. She he beach, a pce where the breeze could lift her spirits. Anything but the nagging sense of following a dream, a flicker in the air. She resolved it entirely—she wao be part of a se; she o be a better actress. She felt she had failed because of her ag skills, that she had lost out simply because she wasn’t capable of being a great actress. How foolish she had been to think that only a beautiful face was enough.

  ***

  -e this way; I love this pce, - Monica said, leading Billy through the architectural marvels born from the medieval era and perfectly jured in the Renaissance. A pagnifit iions.

  Monica wore a fitted browhat hugged her body, revealing her abdomen and back, with two golden straps that started from her lower bad twisted upward, like a fabric embrace that sculpted her figure.

  -The light here is spectacur,- Billy remarked, admiring the intricate details of the fortress. It was like a frenzy of beauty; he could already see some exquisite designs emerging from the architecture, the walls toug, reflected between dark and luminous rocks, earth, and stone.

  Monica's haed on Billy's calloused fingers. They smiled at each other, together as ohe woman with dark hair groomed herself and gazed at the beautiful aian beside her, full of vibrancy. The weight of the news now burdened her thoughts.

  Taking her hand, he brought her wrist to his lips.

  Would you bme me for being ical? - Billy asked.

  -As long as you don’t hurt me, I wouldn’t,- Monica replied.

  -Would you bme me for doing things solely for my be? A man who is selfish and takes everything he has, a man who abandons his morals and what he’s always been taught in pursuit of his goals. I don’t apologize, but my as aren’t driven by malice. I fear I want to be both envious and cowardly,- Billy fessed, kissing Monica's lips, as warm and sweet as the first time he had kissed her.

  -Why do you say that? - she asked, intrigued and slightly nervous. A man’s decision be decisive, and one like Billy’s could be even more so; they merely outlihe truth and take it for themselves.

  -I want to marry you, but I know our retionship won’t withstand the tides of Hollywood. I see it as clearly as day. I won’t settle down for at least ten years. My career matters more to me than anything else. I give you what I give you now, but nothing beyond that. You deserve a man who build a family with you. Raising someone requires two people, and I see it in your eyes—you want to be a mother,- Billy said, with a whistle, there y his blossoming truth. More than anything, Anne was likely pregnant, and now he wao end things with Monica. Ironically, he failed by leaving the space for children bnk but questioned everything.

  Two people uhe dark-haired woman pted Billy's words with great care and a poised demeanor. She carried in her sleeve the mistakes that gradually and surely shaped their anxious enviro; their retionship would pivot based on his words.

  -You ask for my loyalty, but you don’t offer your own. You’re itted to your job. The entire pany is important, and even now, your mind is on work… do you want to pick up a pencil and draw? And what about love—would you always make love to me? Even iy years? Would you still find me beautiful in old age? What happens to a woman who dedicates her years to a man faithfully? Fotten like a painting that loses its charm, or a tower that bees too costly to maintain?- Monica asked.

  Promises from me a secure pce to dwell, and promises are tied to their realization. A man makes a vow, and he must fulfill it, but such cases have bee rare over time; even before, they often igheir itments. What one do if he only asks for a pce that perhaps he doesn’t belong to?

  ***

  -Do you want an 8,000 advan the dubbing tract?- Jim Waiit then asked, a bit uain about the girl’s words. He wasn’t quite sure if she was a friend of Billy’s, but rejeg her wasn’t an option for two simple reasons—he might be sleeping with her ht need her for his work. Beautiful faces are always in demand.

  -I’ll ask around, and if I get the green light, I’ll call tomorrow m for the deposit, - she replied, pletely focused, on a script she had prepared for Billy. Maybe by year, he would have the time to make another film, but for now, he was so absorbed that everythi unfamiliar to him.

  -Puff, call Billy and tell him I’m Charlie. I don’t think he’ll mind if they pay me at the end of the month, but I he money; what’s wrong with that? - Charlize said, nervous and caught in the chaos. Her bank bance of 1,200 had now dwio 24 after she made a purchase for a beautiful dress tailored to her fit, and of course, there were the weekly expenses. If they could advahose bills to her, it would be fantastic for her and for him.

  ...