Chapter 5

Dorian suppressed his rage. "I allow you to be willful in every other matter, but it's non-negotiable when it comes to leaving me. Once you think this through, come to me, and I'll forget this ever happened." Lila looked at him, the irony getting more palpable by the second. He was the one who betrayed her, yet she was supposed to beg for his forgiveness? She coldly broke free from him. "Say whatever you want, but I'm done with you." With that, she left without turning her head. Looking at her retreating figure, Dorian slowly became gloomy. Billy paced back and forth in his office countless times, brainstorming a solution for Lila's situation that balanced everyone's interests. He couldn't possibly offend Emmett, never mind Kieran. That said, he didn't want to keep a ticking time bomb on his hands, so he planned to have Lila cut her losses. By then, Lila had arrived at his office. With a sizable beer belly, he warmly gestured for her to take a seat. "Oh, Lila. We all know how capable you are, always delivering year after year and contributing to Dorian's success. Of course, you must've endured a lot. I'm very grateful that you work for us." Lila pursed her lips, politely awaiting his next words. "How about you manage two new talents, huh?" She knitted her brows. "I've never been an agent, so I'm afraid it'll be a no." "Don't look down on yourself. Everyone knows you created Dorian Blake; he's all the accreditation you need! Trust me, you'll have no issue with it." Billy resorted to an encouraging approach. "But I'm more skilled in directing and photography." Directing was Lila's profession, while photography was her amateur passion—both were pursuits she truly loved. Although her work in photography had dwindled significantly in the past few years due to her busy schedule with Dorian, she hadn't completely neglected it. Especially in the last two years, after stepping down as Dorian's agent, she had participated in a few small productions, all of which received positive feedback. "That's perfect, then." Billy appeared to know what Lila wanted. "I've arranged for these two new talents to be in a film. Sure, they only have a few scenes, but the director is the renowned Christopher Nelson! "This is a golden opportunity for you to learn. I'll pull some strings and make you the assistant director. How about that?" Lila was speechless, thinking, "You might be oversimplifying things here…" Seemingly realizing the flaw in his words, he said, "It might have some challenges, but you can definitely become an intern there. What matters most is the chance to learn. Am I right?" Notoriously, an intern was essentially a gofer, earning the least amount of money while doing the most exhausting tasks. They would end up taking the blame for everything and facing the harshest criticism. However, things were different with Christopher, the renowned director, in the picture. As she weighed the pros and cons, Billy assumed she was hesitating. Noticing her unconcealable weariness, he offered, "You don't have to rush to a decision just yet. There's still plenty of time before the filming starts. I'll grant you two weeks of paid leave. How about that?" Lila pinched between her brows, agreeing that she indeed needed a rest. Upon reflection of her current situation, she nodded. "Alright. Once I return from my break, I'll consider—" Before she could finish saying, "Managing the new talents," she was interrupted. "Okay! You're tentatively assigned as their agent. Oh, Lila. I know you're a good one. No wonder Dorian keeps you around for so many years—" As if realizing he was stepping out of line, he concluded, "Me and my mouth! Anyway, get some rest. Once you return, we'll create history again!" Lila had no choice but to concur. After some proper contemplation, she realized it wouldn't be a challenging task. After all, when Dorian first debuted, his first agent rarely had time to focus on him and spend all their effort on higher-rated celebrities. In the end, Lila had to take on all responsibilities alone. She didn't hold the title of an agent, yet she did more than an agent would. It wasn't until Dorian gained some fame that she finally earned her position as an agent. When Lila exited Billy's office, she faintly heard him mumbling something about whether Mr. Morgan would blame him. She couldn't hear him clearly, so she paid no heed to it. Arriving at the lobby, she prepared to call a cab and return home when she suddenly saw the familiar black Maybach, which Kieran usually rode in. Cole alighted and waved at her. She immediately canceled the cab ride. "Why are you here, Mr. Mason?" "Mr. Morgan said he wants to take you out for dinner tonight. Since he's in a last-minute meeting, he told me to pick you up first." At that, Lila nodded and entered the car. Lying neatly in the backseat was Kieran's suit jacket. She touched it and suddenly recalled his lustful gaze from last night. She withdrew her hand like she was electrocuted. "Mr. Mason, is Uncle Kieran dating someone?" "What?" Cole reacted shockingly, startling Lila. "I'm sorry, Ms. Hart." He calmed down and replied, "That's impossible. Well, he'll date when elephants finally fly. Where did you hear that rumor from?" Lila's gaze flickered. There was no way she would ever disclose what happened last night. "Just that… he seems quite off to me. But since you said no, I suppose my intuition was wrong." Cole quickly reviewed his memories, trying to remember if he had overlooked any important clues, oblivious to her fleeting awkwardness. Afraid to continue this conversation, she quickly shifted the topic. She would just investigate it herself when she had the chance. However, of course, Kieran was as secretive as an FBI agent, so she held little hope of uncovering anything. During dinner, Kieran and Lila had a pleasant meal, as if the kiss had never happened. Naturally, she was deeply conflicted. Although they weren't blood-related, she had always regarded him as an elder. He sensed her strangeness. "If you're tired, you can just take a few days off before you decide about work." His voice was clear and soothing, with a measured pace that carried a gentle warmth. She looked up at him, her thoughts unclear, and forced a smile. "They've given me a two-week paid leave, so I plan to visit Mr. and Mrs. Foster tomorrow." Lila's mentor, Taylor Foster, was an internationally known director. Having worked in the industry for many years, he had produced numerous award-winning films, and many well-known directors were his former students. The list of artists he had nurtured was naturally countless. Taylor was already in his 60s and had reduced his work significantly in the past two years, yet he still held significant authority in the industry. Lila was his prized student, and Dorian's first role as a supporting character was in one of his films. He appreciated the wild growth and determination that both of them displayed. The first time she and Dorian met was at Taylor's place. In a way, Taylor and his wife, Camille Gallagher, could be considered their matchmakers. The married couple was childless, and after finding out Lila and Dorian were orphans, they looked after them like they were their own. Later, Taylor and Camille were delighted to see Lila and Dorian becoming a couple. They were also the ones who witnessed the growth of their relationship. Now that they had broken up, the former would likely be disappointed. With that said, Lila had no plan to conceal the truth. The next day, she visited Taylor's place early in the morning. "Lila! It's been a while since I saw you. Camille is always talking about you and Dorian." Taylor was delighted to see Lila at the door, his face wrinkling with a smile. He wore a sweater vest, which seemed to be Camille's work, and looked spirited today. The man in his 60s was chubby and smiled kindly, a stark contrast to his serious and strict demeanor when directing. Lila held him in high regard. When he grinned, she couldn't contain her smile either. Subsequently, she pursed her lips as though bothered by something. "Is Mrs. Foster here? I have something to tell you guys today." At that, Taylor's smile faded. "Is it about you and Dorian?"