After I Lost Weight They Knelt And Begged For Forgiveness Chapter 03
At ten a.m., I went to Stellar Entertainment.
Once the contract was signed, Lauren handed me my copy.
“Top-tier talent deal. The company has only offered one other in the last three years.”
“After the announcement drops at eight tonight, plenty of people are going to want to climb over you to get somewhere.”
I tucked the contract away.
“Including Jenna?”
Lauren gave a cold little laugh.
“Her?”
“Three auditions. She didn’t even get a callback. Then she pulled strings asking if the company was blacklisting her on purpose.”
“If she finds out tonight that you’re the one we signed, she’ll be sobbing in a hotel bathroom by nine.”
My phone buzzed.
Jenna had just posted a photo of the private banquet room.
That old varsity T-shirt of mine hung dead center on the wall.
Next to it sat the digital scale, and two chairs had been shoved together.
On the back of the chairs, a sign:
【RESERVED FOR SIENNA REED · EXTRA WIDE.】
The chat erupted in laughter.
【Jenna, you’re too thoughtful.】
【Two chairs enough? Should we add a third?】
【Don’t. Any more and the hotel’s going to charge us for a conference table.】
Jenna tagged me.
【Sienna, we’re all set. Don’t let us down.】
I didn’t respond. I just saved the photo.
What they didn’t know was that Stellar wasn’t only announcing the signing tonight.
They were also revealing my first film.
Directed by Oscar-nominated David Sterling.
Last year, Jenna had camped outside Sterling’s studio for a full week just to fight for a role with three lines of dialogue.
She never even got put on the audition list.
The role I got?
One of the film’s two female leads.
That afternoon, my stylist rushed over to fit me.
The black velvet gown hugged my waist, the hem falling all the way to my ankles.
The moment I stepped out of the dressing room, the whole room went quiet.
The stylist recovered first and whipped out her phone.
“Don’t move. I have to get this.”
Lauren stood with her arms crossed, giving me a slow, satisfied once-over.
“Perfect.”
“You don’t need to say a word tonight. Just stand there. Not one of them will manage to spit out a single insult.”
She had someone take a few shots, picked the best one, and forwarded it to the PR team.
In the photo, I was turned slightly toward the floor-to-ceiling window, my features sharp and cool, my waist so slender it looked like a single hand could circle it.
The announcement copy was already drafted.
【Welcome Sienna Reed to Stellar Entertainment. A new journey begins with acclaimed director David Sterling.】
Post time: 8:00 p.m.
I was still looking at the draft when Ryan’s message came in.
【Sienna, are you actually coming or not?】
【My girlfriend’s already here.】
Then he sent a couples photo.
Ashley Quinn in a white minidress, leaning against his shoulder, her figure slim and toned.
Ryan added another line.
【She’s pretty blunt. Don’t be too sensitive when you get here.】
I actually laughed.
I hadn’t even shown up yet, and he was already pre-writing excuses for his girlfriend’s cruelty.
I didn’t reply.
A live video popped into the group chat.
Jenna, standing next to the scale, held up that old T-shirt.
“When Sienna gets here, we’re going to weigh her first.”
“If she’s even heavier than she was in high school, Ryan, forget the hug. Don’t send someone to the ER.”
The camera swung to Ryan.
He had one arm around Ashley. He gave a lazy little laugh.
“Then I’d thank her.”
Ashley covered her mouth, giggling.
“Don’t say that.”
“She had a crush on you for three years. She’ll crawl over here tonight if she has to.”
The room burst out laughing.
I closed the video and saved it to the same folder as Jenna’s recording.
Lauren caught sight of it. Her face darkened.
“You sure you don’t want me to send someone with you?”
“I’m sure.”
I picked up my earrings from the vanity and slid them in slowly.
I’d been waiting for this reunion for five years.
I wanted to see the look on every face that had once laughed at me when they realized who I was.
At six-fifty, my driver texted.
The car was downstairs.
Lauren draped the coat over my shoulders.
“Rooftop starts at seven-fifty. Don’t drag it out.”
I stepped into the elevator in my heels.
Right as the doors slid shut, Jenna sent another group message.
【Sienna, your seat’s still empty over here.】
I glanced at it. Didn’t respond.
Forty minutes to go.
Let them laugh.
They didn’t have much time left to enjoy themselves.