Director Yan took the seat that was directly opposite to Viviana. His eyes locked on her. But Viviana was looking at anything but him. The girl even after knowing that a director of her company was sitting in front of her had not yet greeted him even after everyone else had done.
Mr. Yan had come to the party as soon as he heard that Viviana had gone to it. It had been quite a while since he had seen her. The girl was harder to find than gold on the street. She seemed to make sure to avoid every route he would take.
But as soon as he entered the venue, he was engulfed with many to discuss about the investment and what not that he did not get a chance to slip away. He saw Lyra interacting with the investors and other directors and ignored it. But then he saw something he had never seen before.
A smiling Viviana… A genuine smile and not one like those she used in her dramas. Although it did not reach her eyes, the smile was expressing her relaxed emotion. She was feeling comfortable even though she was surrounded by those third-rate actors. She even laughed at their jokes.
This was a sight he had never seen. A different side of Viviana.
And Mr. Yan did not like that she showed such a side to hers easily to others. He excused himself and went straight to her direction. As soon as she caught sight of him, it happened.
All her amusement and relaxed smile had wiped off her face. Now she had that familiar unreadable face that warned everyone to not approach her.
The rest in the group noticed the tense air between the two and was quick to excuse themselves from the awkward situation. Then, only Daniel and Elisa remained with the two. Elisa because she was Viviana's assistant and she was to take care of her boss.
And Daniel… He was shameless enough to not acknowledge the sign that Mr. Yan was sending him to leave them. There was such a heavy smell of tea here, there was no way he could leave just like that.
"Mr. Miller is close to our Vivi?"
"Oh!..." Daniel looked at the said woman and met eyes with her. Then an idea came to his mind. "Yeah. We got to know each other during the shooting."
"…"
Viviana was the one who was left the most speechless by his words.
'What the fuck are you spouting out?'
They had never exchanged a single word that was unrelated to their script in the set. What 'got to know each other' was he talking about?
And apparently, Mr. Yan also did not find his answer favorable.
"Oh! I see…"
Daniel could see the smile on the older man's face but he felt the coldness even more. It was as if he was at the point of an arrow that was ready to be released from its bow.
So….
He opted for a tactical retreat.
"My agent seems to be looking for me. I'll take my leave. Director Yan." He once again shook hands with Mr. Yan.
Then he paused for a second.
Yes. He didn't want to be on the bad side of the powerful figure of the industry. But that didn't mean he couldn't have any fun messing around a bit.
He turned to Viviana who was ignoring his existence along with the director and hugged her for a blink of an eye.
Viviana: "!!!"
'What the fuck are you doing?' she was screaming in her head. 'This man is weird.'
"See you later Vivi…" He released the dumbfounded actress and then turned to her assistant who was equally shocked. "You too. Lisa…"
"Oh… Yeah…Thanks…Thanks? I mean... See you too. Mr. Millers." Elisa who was suddenly acknowledged stammered.
Then without missing a beat, the actor made his escape in a cool manner.
"How long are you going to ignore me? Little girl." With no outsider present, Director Yan called out to Viviana.
Still no response from the actress. Elisa was getting more and more uncomfortable being caught in this one sided conversation. She wanted to leave but there was no way that she would leave her boss alone with the director.
She looked around, anywhere but where the two were sitting. Then she noticed that Daniel and the others who had run away were actually not very far. And their eyes were fixed on where they were.
'I never knew that Actor Miller is such a nosy person….' She thought.
But her distraction was short-lived as the air around her suddenly seemed to become tense.
"This is not how you behave with a superior of the company Viviana. Weren't you just laughing at whatever those wet behind the ear actors were sprouting? Why so silent now? Lost your ability to talk?"
"…"
"Guess it's time to change your assistant again. Since she's not taking care of you enough to make you have a conversation."
This threat not only frightened Elisa, it finally attracted the attention of the intended person.
"What does me having a conversation have anything to do with my assistant?" Her voice is void of any emotions.
"Well… You never respond to me unless I threaten you. So… Why not?" The man poured himself a glass of wine as he replied to her.
"Huh!!!" Viviana scoffed at his response.
"And how long are you going to keep on doing this?"
Her emotionless eyes gazed straight into his. Clearly tired of his antics.
"Until you give in… Why are you so against making your life easier?"
Mr. Yan took a sip of wine. His speech was as though he was not asking, no… It was as though he was not threatening a girl to be his mistress.
"I'm not against making my life easy. But it doesn't require me to be at someone else's disposal. Especially not when I have no interest in an old man who's decades older than me."
Mr. Yan directly ignored her comment on his age and remarked,
"You're still at my disposal…"
"Not for long."
Mr. Yan: "…"
He clearly did not like what she said. Especially not the tone of her voice.
"You can never escape me, Viviana." His voice equally as threatening as his eyes.
"Try me…" Viviana did not back down. "How long can you bind me? Three months? Four months? It'll eventually end, Mr. Yan. You should learn that things don't always go your way."
"You will never be able to step into this field the moment you leave Han Entertainment. I'll not allow you to."
"Director Yan. Maybe you should make an appointment with a psychologist. You are not the ruler of the industry."
"You're very talkative now that you've grown some wings." Director Yan sneered. "Remember that I can break those wings anytime. If I wish, you would've long been a history without a page in a book."