Chapter 24 I Am Lara
Chace Drawlord–a former child star–was blessed with strikingly handsome features. He was the embodiment of Lara’s ideal
type.
Oscar wasn’t entirely wrong. Lara’s decision to attend acting school had indeed been influenced by Chace. Who wouldn’t want to be closer to their idol? However, Lara didn’t agree with what Oscar said about her being starstruck.
Starstruck? If it weren’t for Chace, I wouldn’t have scored so high on my exam! Lara thought to herself.
“Say whatever you want, but I’m not going to the office.” She flopped onto the couch.
Recently, rumors had been swirling about Chace’s next career move. His contract with his long–time agency was coming to an end, and speculation was rife about whether he would renew it. Some claimed he was considering signing with another company, while others believed he was planning to branch out and start his own studio.
Oscar, unable to win the argument, clenched his jaw in frustration.
Fine! You want to join the entertainment industry? Go ahead. But don’t come running back to me when things get tough
With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him. Lara sat up, sticking her tongue out at the closed door. ever come crawling back.
She had scheduled a meeting with the CEO of Mayer Group over the weekend.
Despite being established just a little over a year ago, Mayer Entertainment had already built an impressive portfolio of
resources.
More importantly, it was the first film and television company to reach out to her, and that sincerity resonated with Lara
The weekend arrived quickly. Lara grabbed her keys and headed out, driving to her meeting with Donovan.
The car she drove was a graduation gift from Oscar, given to her right after she completed her studies. He might have a short temper, but deep down, he genuinely cared for her.
However, Lara’s driving skills were far from perfect. She attempted several times to park the car but failed each time. Then- bang!
The sharp sound of impact sent a chill down her spine. Her heart sank as she realized what had happened. She had backed into a Bentley. And not just any Bentley–a limited edition model.
Lara quickly pulled over, stepped out, and rushed to inspect the damage. The sight made her forehead crease in distress. She ran a hand through her hair, completely at a loss for what to do.
With only fifteen minutes left until her meeting with Donovan, Lara anxiously waited for the owner of the Bentley to appear. Five minutes passed, yet no one showed up.
After some hesitation, she pulled a sticky note from her bag, quickly scribbled down her name and contact number, and stuck it onto the car window. That would have to do for now.
She hurried into the building and took the elevator up. Upon arriving at the designated floor, she noticed someone already waiting
From behind, she could see the man’s neatly cropped short hair, exposing a slender neck. He was dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit, exuding an air of authority.
“Apologies. I’m late,” she said hurriedly. In reality, she wasn’t late at all. However, as an aspiring actress hoping to sign a contract, it felt awkward to arrive after the boss.
“It’s fine.” The man lifted his head, and only then did Lara catch a full glimpse of his face.
She was momentarily stunned. The man was exceptionally handsome–striking, even.
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Realizing that he was staring at her, Lara shifted uncomfortably. She instinctively touched her face, wondering if something was on it. If it had been anyone else, she might have assumed they were interested in her. After all, she was well aware of her own beauty.
However, Donovan didn’t seem to be staring at her for that reason.”
“Hello, Mr. Mayer. I’m Lara. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She extended her hand with a polite smile.
“Donovan Mayer.” His handshake was brief–his palm dry, fingertips slightly cold. He withdrew almost immediately.
“I heard your brother isn’t in favor of you joining the entertainment industry.”
Lara’s face fell. “Yeah… he’s not thrilled about it.”
“And why is that?” Donovan asked.
Lara hesitated, reluctant to admit that her brother viewed her pursuit of an acting career as a detour from a “proper profession. He had meticulously planned out a future for her–one that didn’t involve the unpredictability of the jentertainment industry.
Donovan, however, understood immediately. Show business might appear glamorous from the outside, but those who truly worked in it knew the struggles beneath the surface. Given Lara’s wealthy background, it was no surprise her brother to steer her toward a safer, more conventional path.
Just then, the waiter arrived, carefully setting down their meals before introducing each dish.
“Would you two like to try our complimentary mango juice?” he offered with a polite smile.
Lara shook her head. “No, thank you.”
“It’s really delicious, the waiter insisted with a smile.
“I’m allergic to mangoes,” she replied casually.
Donovan’s fingers froze mid–motion.
Shelby was also allergic to mangoes.
“He remembered the first time they went out together how he had taken her for mango sorbet, completely unaware. She had eaten two cups despite the discomfort, trying to mask the growing itchiness just to avoid ruining the moment. Later that night, she had broken out in hives.
Donovan closed his eyes for a brief moment, a sharp pang twisting in his chest.”
In the end, Lara said firmly, “I really want to sign with Mayer Group. Rest assured, Mr. Mayer, I’ll convince my brother.”
Donovan assured her, “If you sign with Mayer Group, you’ll be our top priority for resources. I can guarantee you the leading female role in a joint production with Fruity TV.”
As the elevator doors slid open, the two stepped out, one after the other. Donovan pressed B2–the underground parking
garage.
Lara glanced at her phone. No missed calls. That meant the owner of the Bentley still hadn’t noticed the scratch.
But then, to her surprise, Donovan walked straight toward that very car. Without hesitation, he plucked the sticky note from the window–the same one she had just written.
“Mr. Mayer…” she began hesitantly. “Is this your car?”
Donovan looked up and gave a slight nod. Lara was devastated.
Her name and contact information were right there in his hands–there was no getting out of this.
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Mr. Mayer, let’s exchange contact information,” Lara suggested. “Once you determine the repair costs, please let me know. I’ll make sure to cover it.”
With that, she drove out of the parking lot.
Oscar’s calls came in one after another, but she ignored them, hanging up each time.
How dare she hang up on me! Oscar bombarded her with ten messages on WhatsApp, all saying the same thing–urging her to come home.
Lara scoffed. If he knew I was meeting with Mayer Entertainment’s CEO, why didn’t he show up to confront them? The answer is obvious -he didn’t want to offend Mayer Group.
She spun the steering wheel, heading toward a pottery shop that had gone viral online. She’d been wanting to try it for a while, and today seemed like the perfect opportunity. Plus, she’d heard the shop owner was quite handsome.
Lara stepped out of the car, her gaze drifting to the pottery shop’s entrance. The wide–open door and floor–to–ceiling glass window offered a perfect view of the cozy interior,
Inside, she stumbled upon an unexpectedly delightful sight–a handsome young man in a black t–shirt and a brown apron, his sleeves rolled up as he patiently guided a student’s hands over the clay.
So, this is the famous shop owner. His features were striking–clean–cut, with a refreshingly bright and effortless charm
Lara stepped through the door just as the handsome shop owner turned his head. “Welcome,” he greeted with a warm
It was then that she noticed something peculiar–he looked somewhat familiar, bearing a striking resemblance Ch
That realization made her like him even more.
“What would you like to make?” he asked, rising to his feet while guiding the students to shape their clay. As he washed lin hands, he handed Lara a booklet.
“A cup,” she replied without hesitation.
Most beginners started with a cup, so her choice didn’t surprise him.
“I have guests over. My brother will teach you later,” the shop owner said with a smile before calling toward the back of the shop. “Bro, lend me a hand.”
Behind the curtain was a small door leading to a rest area. Lara stood by the counter, hearing the unmistakable sounds of a video game being played from within.
The moment the shopkeeper called for his brother, the game noises stopped. Footsteps approached, the curtain lifted–and as Lara looked up, she was stunned.
“Chace..” Lara breathed, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Chace nodded at her in acknowledgment.
The shopkeeper, Hugo Drawlord, said, “Chace, she wants to learn how to make a cup. You teach her.”
Even after Hugo walked away, Lara remained frozen in place, her mind struggling to catch up. Her heart pounded like a drum, the sound reverberating through her entire being.
Gathering herself, she took a deep breath and said, “Hello, Chace. My name is Lara… I’m
