There was a moment of silence, one so thorough it made the apartment feel empty. After a while, Glenn took a deep breath, but kept her voice steady:
"Sharon, do you realize what you are saying? That endorsement is like a pie falling from the sky. You are just lucky to be at the peak of your wave when the light shone, and that is why it fell on you. Do you realize its true value?"
"Can I just say that I don't like the project? And it is so out of the way."
By the end of her words, Sharon was already muttering, and she became unable to hold Glenn's gaze. But, though she averted her eyes, and let out a silent, almost cute pout, that did nothing to prevent her manager from giving her a hard look as she asked, an unforgiving cutting edge to her tone:
"And don't you know of the Group behind that project? Any young and beautiful actress, especially any one riding on the crest of a wave of popularity and with the same target audience as you, can take up that contract and get the benefits you seem to be disdaining, including but not limited to a greater exposure, a rise in popularity, a rise in value, and all of that on top of more opportunities. Did you really think this through?"
Glenn's voice became low in the end, the anger bleeding into her words making it as heavy as her eyes were hard.
Sharon lowered her head, and focused on tearing the plastic covering of the plate of strawberries, then opening the pot of yogurt. Her manager followed her movements without a word, her gaze deep, then let out a breath when she took a spoon, picked up the snacks, and returned to the sofa in the living room where she put her feet on the coffee table and turned on the TV before starting to stuff herself.
Glenn took a deep breath, picked up her handbag to return to the couch too. She put her handbag to the side, leaned back in her seat, then her eyes turned cold. And when she spoke again, her voice was only colder, and sharper than a blade:
"Tell me the truth, Sharon. Why did you refuse the endorsement contract? Why don't you want to do it?"
She gave Sharon a deep look, and asked the last question with emphasis:
"Tell me, what happened?"
The movement of Sharon's hand paused, before it resumed, and she brought the strawberry with a dab of yogurt at its tip to the intended destination. Her eyes didn't move, and remained on the mute TV, though her breathing became deeper than normal, and her limbs tensed slightly.
Glenn looked at the blonde deeply, taking in all her reactions. She swept her gaze over Sharon one more time, then turned away. She said nothing more, and silence descended inside the apartment. After a while, while still looking at the silent TV, she broke the calm atmosphere, her tone even, without a trace of the previous coldness:
"There will be an event the day after tomorrow. It will be good for you to go."
Sharon's reply was just as calm:
"What kind of event?"
"A racing party, with rich kids."
Sharon frowned slightly, but didn't interrupt, and Glenn continued:
"There will be many people there who will be of help to your career. Even the idlest ones among the rich heirs who will be present have contacts that may prove useful for you. You are beautiful, and right now, you are very popular. You should get a positive response if you try to get to know some and get along with them."
Sharon's frown deepened, and she plunged her spoon into the pot with deep dissatisfaction, before speaking with deep scorn:
"It is just a bunch of fickle degenerates. Even if they can help me, they can also put obstacles in front of me just out of spite if I refuse their advances, or just to please others who are willing to spread their legs for them. Why should I go?"
Glenn casually glanced at the blonde, and spoke calmly:
"I heard that Lance Lotter will be there. He is one of the organizers, but more importantly, he might manage to invite his best friend, Alex Lenner, the true big shot among the influential younger generation. Even without looking beyond his superficial reputation, his influence is deeper than it seems."
Sharon's hand froze with the spoonful of yogurt before her red lips, and the corner of her eyes twitched. She swallowed the yogurt and pursed her lips, but said nothing.
Seeing Sharon still remain unmoved, Glenn didn't get flustered. She lightly added:
"The races will allow bets, voluntary, in many forms that don't include cash, and without limits."
Sharon froze, then as she thought, her blue eyes started shining, starting softly, but soon turning bright like blue stars as her thoughts moved, and her heart pounded. She hastily turned to her manager, seeking to confirm the authenticity of the words and the truth of the matter, her excitement already bleeding through her forced composure.
"Is it true?"
The corner of Glenn's lips rose up slightly, and she nodded, while substantiating:
"Of course, it is true. Do I have a reason to lie to you?"
The light in Sharon's eyes immediately spread to her face, and she energetically nodded as she promptly changed her tune:
"I understand. I will go. Can you rent a car for me? Help me rent a sports car."
Glenn looked at the bright face and the shining blue eyes, and nodded slowly:
"Well, participating will be a good way to integrate into the circle. Do you want a specific car? I could get it for you and write the cost into your networking and socializing expenses. So long as you don't go too wild, it will not fail to pass the review."
Even before the last sentence, Sharon was already left with her mouth open but unable to come up with an answer. Her excitement could not make up for her lack of expert knowledge about sports cars. She might have become an enthusiast, but she remained an amateur.
Seeing her like that, Glenn took her bag and stood up, before looking at her and speaking in a flat tone:
"I will send you the possible options for you to make your choice later. Remember not to take too long. There will be a process to go through."
Sharon let out a breath, then smiled brightly:
"Thank you, Glenn. I don't know what I would do without you."
"You would crash your career and burn along with it."
With that confident retort, the redhead spun on her heels and left with a graceful sway of her hips, leaving only her reliable back for the blonde to see her off.