Lissa's POV
After Megan helped me settle, she stayed close, making sure I was okay. She offered to take me home, but I declined. Once I felt steady, I asked her to introduce me to Kaylee.
Megan hesitated. "Kaylee doesn't like it when people cut corners," she said. "But trust me… she's going to notice you soon. She's looking for talent like you."
Before I could respond, Megan was called away to attend to some other guests. My eyes went to Kaylee. My mind wandered back to the time I had declined her offer. She had told me then to come find her if I changed my mind. Well, whatever is meant to happen, let it happen.
I took a deep breath and made my way toward Kaylee. She was talking to someone, but the moment she saw me, she excused herself from the conversation and motioned me over.
"Look, who's here, Lissa?" she smirked.
Wait, she just called my name—meaning she still remembers me, right? My heart skipped. "You… remember me?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
Her smile widened. "Your face isn't something I'd forget. Took you long enough to come find me."
I felt a blush rise to my cheeks, but before I could respond, Sebastian's mother appeared. She was handing something to Kaylee, and her eyes lingered on me. "You look familiar," she said slowly. "Have we met?"
I froze in fear.
Kaylee chuckled lightly. "She's an actress. You might have seen her in a film or two."
Sebastian's mother just nodded, her gaze flicking to me briefly before she turned her face away.
Kaylee's eyes returned to me. "Lissa, you're the talent I've been looking for all these years. Do you know how I looked for you? I didn't even know you you were back until I saw you in a movie last year. Even though you were there for not even ten minutes, I recognized you immediately. I had been trying to reach you through Megan, but you never picked up once, and even declined the roles given to you."
I blinked in confusion. "Me? But… I—I've never refused a role. I hardly even get offers, and my phone… there is no way it would ring and I wouldn't pick up."
Kaylee shook her head gently. "I reserved three roles from different movies for you, but you declined my offer. They weren't even side roles, yet you declined. I just thought maybe you didn't want to work with me."
I furrowed my brows, confused. "No… I haven't refused any role. Megan helped me get small parts, but I've never said no."
She smiled knowingly. "I thought maybe you didn't want to work with me. But now I see, you just weren't aware. That's why I'm giving you this." She handed me her business card. "I'm counting on you, Lissa."
The mention of my name made Sebastian's mother glance at me again. My stomach twisted. Please don't remember me… please.
I bowed my head in respect and left their midst.
---
The crowd had almost decreased and the movie premiere had already ended. I was about to go home when I spotted Sebastian across the hall. He was staggering slightly, a little off balance; he was probably drunk. I wasn't supposed to go near him after everything I did… but I couldn't just leave him.
I hurried over and helped him sit down. He leaned back, wobbly but trying to compose himself. I decided to leave him but he grabbed my hands quickly.
"Where are you going? You're not leaving me again, are you?" His voice was low and desperate.
I froze. "Sebastian… you're drunk. You'll regret this when you sober up."
"I'm not drunk," he said, his eyes locking onto mine. "I only had the non-alcoholic wine Megan gave me." His words were calm, but his behavior said otherwise.
"I'll get Megan to help you," I insisted, trying to pull my hands away.
But he wouldn't let go. He tugged me closer, making me sit on his lap. "Don't go. I know you will leave me again if I let you go."
I struggled, trying to escape his grip, but it was firm. I glanced across the hall and sighted Megan, but before I could call her, she turned away, leaving. For a moment, I thought I'd imagined seeing her.
Then, suddenly, a girl I recognized as Sebastian's elder sister -- Aria appeared, though I had never seen her before, only in photos Sebastian had shown me. She was his elder sister.
"Do you know, mom and I have been looking for you for hours now?" Without hesitation, she grabbed him, trying to pull him away. He resisted, mumbling gibberish, clearly not ready to let me go. She apologized quickly to me.
"He isn't always like this. I don't know what came over him," she murmured.
Before anyone could intervene further, Sebastian's mother arrived. With a sharp knock on his head, he released me.
"I told you to stop drinking alcohol, Sebastian!" she shouted.
"I didn't drink alcohol!" he protested, his voice slightly angry. "I only had the wine Megan gave me, and it was non-alcoholic!"
Sebastian's mother was about to apologize to me, but then her eyes fell on me. They widened for a seconds, and my heart skipped. Hope she didn't recognize me? Damn it, this would make it the second time we'd seen each other today.
Without another word, they dragged Sebastian away. But his mother turned to look back at me; fear gripped me immediately. She recognized me?
I took a shaky breath, trying to steady myself. My hands went to the back of my pocket, taking out the card Kaylee gave me, at least I achieved something today. I hesitantly dialled her number, but surprisingly, her number was already on my phone—but blocked.
I blocked Kaylee? How?