From 280 Pounds To The Red Carpet Chapter 03
The Preparation
Ten AM. I walked into Stellaris.
After the contract was signed, Nora handed me my copy.
“Top-tier new talent contract. Only one of these given out in the past three years.”
“Once tonight’s announcement goes live, people are gonna come for you. Be ready.”
I put the contract away.
“Including Jessica?”
Nora scoffed.
“Her? Failed the audition three times.”
“Didn’t even make it past the first round. She even tried pulling strings, asking if the company had something against her.”
“When she finds out they signed you, she’s gonna lose it.”
My phone buzzed. Jessica had posted a photo in the group chat.
The private room at The Monarch. My old gym shirt hanging front and center on the wall.
The digital scale placed in the middle of the floor. Two chairs pushed together side by side.
And a sign taped to the back of the chairs: SERA’S SPECIAL WIDE SEAT.
Matt: lmaooo jessica you’re so thoughtful 💀
Kayla: two chairs enough?? should we add a third ðŸ˜
Tyler Reeves: forget chairs just get her a bench lol
Jessica Hart: sera we’re all set for you 🥰 dont let us down tonight okay??
I didn’t reply. I just saved the photo.
None of them knew that Stellaris wasn’t just announcing a signing tonight.
They were also announcing my first film.
Directed by Daniel Kross. The Daniel Kross — international award winner.
Last year Jessica camped outside his studio for an entire week trying to land a role with three lines of dialogue.
She didn’t even get a slot on the audition list.
What I got was the supporting lead.
That afternoon, the styling team came in for my fitting. The black velvet gown hugged every curve and fell straight to my ankles.
When I stepped out of the dressing room, the whole place went quiet.
The makeup artist snapped out of it first, grabbed her phone.
“Don’t move. I need to get this.”
Nora stood with her arms crossed, looked me up and down, and nodded.
“Perfect.”
“Tonight you won’t even have to open your mouth. Just stand there and watch them all fall apart.”
She had the team take a few shots and picked one to send to the PR department.
In the photo, I stood by the floor-to-ceiling window. Side profile, every curve on full display.
The post was ready to go.
“Thrilled to welcome @SeraMalone to the Stellaris family. Her first project: THE LONG DARK, directed by @DanielKross. This is just the beginning. 🖤”
Scheduled for eight PM sharp.
I was looking it over when Tyler messaged me again.
“Sera, are you coming or not?”
“My girlfriend’s already there.”
He sent a photo. His girlfriend Kayla in a white mini dress, leaning against his shoulder, tiny little waist.
Then he added: “She’s kind of blunt. Don’t be too sensitive when you show up.”
I almost laughed.
I hadn’t even arrived yet and he was already covering for his girlfriend before I even got there.
I didn’t reply.
A video popped up in the group chat. Live from the venue.
Jessica stood next to the scale, holding up my old shirt.
“When Sera gets here, first thing we do is weigh her.”
“If she’s heavier than high school, Tyler doesn’t have to hug her. Don’t wanna catch a body.”
The camera panned to Tyler. He had his arm around Kayla, smiling lazily.
“Well then, I appreciate her not showing up.”
Kayla covered her mouth and giggled.
“Don’t be mean.”
“She was obsessed with you for three years. She’d crawl here tonight if she had to.”
The whole room erupted.
I saved the video. Same folder as Jessica’s recording.
Nora saw the look on my face. Her expression went cold.
“You sure you don’t want me to send someone with you?”
“No.”
I picked up the earrings from the table and put them on slowly.
I’d waited five years for this reunion.
I wanted to see, with my own eyes, what their faces looked like the moment they recognized me.
At six-fifty, the driver messaged. Car’s downstairs.
Nora put my coat over my shoulders.
“Top floor gala starts at seven-fifty. Don’t stay too long.”
I stepped into the elevator in heels.
As the doors closed, one last message from Jessica popped up.
Jessica Hart: sera your seat is still empty 🥰 we’re waaaaaiting
I glanced at it. Didn’t reply.
Forty minutes.
Let them laugh.
There wasn’t much time left for that anyway.