Serena Lockwood frowned. 'See? This is what happens when you go after a big-shot CEO. You hit a wall.' The facts were laid bare—he wasn't interested in the project. Stella was just digging her own grave.
She was starting to think this wasn't worth it. 'Offering yourself up just to be insulted is too humiliating,' she thought. 'Stella shouldn't have to endure this. You run in the circles that match your status. Trying to cross that boundary brings nothing but self-inflicted humiliation.'
It wasn't that she looked down on Stella; the harsh reality was simply undeniable.
But Stella Lockwood didn't react as she usually did when faced with rejection—flushing red and growing too embarrassed to utter a single word.
She appeared extremely calm, continuing her pitch in a steady, unhurried voice. "You're right. For you, Mr. Quinn, there are better options. But for me, you are the only choice.
"I love acting, and in order to keep acting, I have to fight for this. To achieve my dream, I must face any hardship head-on. I remember that your favorite saying is: 'A person can be poor, but they can't be without a dream. With a dream, a person has a direction to strive for...'
"Mr. Quinn, I know I'm just an insignificant actress, completely beneath your notice, and I really don't have the right to be your partner. But if you partner with a superstar, your presence will merely be icing on the cake. If you choose me, however, you will be the one who shines. I'll just be the backdrop. You can use this as an opportunity to build a more approachable image—because you wouldn't be looking down on a low-class actress. You can inspire more people to achieve their dreams... showing them that as long as they have a dream, it can come true... that there is still hope in The Mortal Realm..."
Sean Quinn's gaze deepened. She was incredibly eloquent—her words were moving and persuasive, as if she had rehearsed them beforehand.
'Compared to a partnership of equals,' he mused, 'a pairing between him and her would be far more controversial. With the right marketing, it could generate significant buzz and spark all kinds of speculation.'
'But in reality, that reason alone wasn't enough to completely sway him. Strictly from a business perspective, if he absolutely had to join this project, Stella Lockwood was far from a worthy partner.'
'Besides, he had no interest in participating in such a tedious show.'
His bodyguard, Philip Lefevre, also figured his boss would refuse. 'After all,' he thought, 'Mr. Quinn's schedule is completely packed. Where would he find the time for this kind of entertainment activity?'
Sean Quinn suddenly glanced over at the indoor rock-climbing wall. After a moment's thought, he asked, "Do you know how to rock climb?"
The topic changed abruptly.
Stella Lockwood was taken aback for a moment, her eyes drawn to the towering climbing wall. It had to be over ten meters high, the kind that required a safety rope. As she stared up at the height, she couldn't help but gulp, a strange chill running down her spine...
But Sean Quinn simply pointed to the climbing wall and laid down his terms. "If you can climb to the top, I'll accept your invitation."
Stella Lockwood's eyes instantly lit up. "You'll keep your word...?"
A corner of Sean Quinn's mouth curled up. "But there's a condition..."
"Name it."
"You have to free solo it. No safety rope."
Damn. This was just a roundabout way of saying no.
Generally speaking, a safety rope isn't needed for climbs under five meters. But for anything higher, a rope is mandatory for safety. From that height, if she fell—even with the thick padding on the floor—she could still be seriously injured...
The color drained from Serena Lockwood's face. She immediately cried out, "Mr. Quinn, you're deliberately making things difficult! My sister has never done this kind of extreme sport before, and you want her to free solo that high? What if she falls and gets hurt, or crippled? Stella, let's go. We're going home... This VIP, Mr. Quinn, is someone we can't afford to get involved with!"
But Stella Lockwood took a deep breath, shaking off Serena, who was trying to pull her away. She agreed without hesitation. "Fine. It's a deal. I'll climb."