The Tycoon's Odyssey
Chapter 82: 82:Acting

"Your expression is so still," the director commented, with a deep frustration evident on his face.

"Cut!" He exclaimed again.

His loud scream echoed through the studio. "Wrong dialogue... Cut!"

Then,a repetitive cycle of takes began, each one feeling more harsh than the last.

Evan, the supposed villain of all of this, was starting to feel numb to it all. His eyes, usually filled with determination, now held a glaze of frustration.

While Evan was moving to and fro, all Suri did was to sit in her place.He even gazed at her asking for help but this made her laugh.

While all this was going on, Evan also noticed Aria seemingly recording all this.

'Don't tell me, she is sending all this to that bitch Maria.'

Another thing that shook him was in this role play, the boss was named Maria.Now, he can definitely feel this.

That demoness was targeting him.

Also, Suri's manager Martha was also doing something while pointing the camera at him.

Was she also stashing his videos?

He wanted to say something, when he heard the loud bark of the director.

"Evan, what the hell is wrong with you?" the director barked. "Can't you act a bit more natural? Draw out the lines with some grace!"

Evan stared back with dead eyes, his patience was wearing out. He was almost ready to tear the script to shreds out of sheer frustration.

"Suri," the director turned to the assistant, "please help him. He's not getting it."

Suri approached Evan, signaling for the director to calm down before turning her attention to him.

"Evan, forget the script," she said gently.

"Huh?" Evan was taken aback, not expecting such a suggestion.

"I don't think it's about memory," Suri continued in an empathetic tone and rubbed her chin. "You're struggling with how to express it, right?"

Evan nodded, a bitter smile crossing his lips.

"Then let's try something different," Suri suggested. "Just act naturally. Imagine yourself in the scene. How would you react? What would you say? Forget the lines and focus on the emotion.

That's how the best actors work."

"Just be yourself," she added softly. "Leave everything else behind.No need to follow the dialogues, just say what you want."

Saying this, Suri looked at the director who just shook his head,"It's your team who wrote the script not me.As long as the scene is perfect for the employer, it's no problem."

Alas, if only he knew that the boss behind the add was standing before him whom he had cursed several times, the director might have already ran away in fear.

"Okay..."Evan gave a brief nod while observing the system panel which gave him an unusual surprise.

Beginner Acting[19/100]

With each scene he took and acted, the experience was slowly accumulating.

Though, he felt odd but..

'Maybe it's not bad.'

The director sighed wondering if the shoot could be completed today itself. Each prolonged day meant another burn of money.

Initially, he was resistant to direct such a newbie but all the cost was borne by Suri, and from what he got to know Suri was in charge of all this but was wrongly dragged here.

In fact, he also felt pity for the poor child stuck with such a high-caliber actor like Suri.

Putting a heavy stone in his heart, he prepared again.

"SHOOT!"

Giving the signal, he focused on recording, and he then noticed the unusual.

The man's body language had changed. It wasn't significant but subtle enough to detect. The way of walking, the figure speech everything had slowly encompassed with script.

Shock flashed his face followed by a gentle smile.

'Maybe...Maybe he can pull this off.'

Certainly! Here's an improved version with enhanced expressions and clarity:

---

Knock!

"May I come in?"

"Yes!"A cold voice resonated in the place.

CRUNG!

The door swung open, revealing a handsome man in a formal suit, carefully holding a cup. It was Roy's first day as Lady Boss secretary.Previously, he was in other department until the previous secretary left and he was determined to make a perfect impression.

Approaching his Boss Maria's desk, cluttered with a myriad of documents, he bowed respectfully and placed the cup before her.

Maria lowered her spectacles, eyeing Roy with curiosity before extending her hand towards the cup. However, just before she could take a sip, she paused.

"What's this?" Her tone chilled the air, sending a shiver down Roy's spine.

Before Roy could answer, an angry voice interrupted.

"Hasn't anyone briefed you? I drink coffee, not tea!"

"I know, but Madam President, you should try it," Roy stammered nervously. "This tea is from a famous place called Brew Heaven. They have a tagline 'The first sip makes you feel like heaven, and the second sip takes you there.' And believe me, it's true."

"I can personally attest to it.."

Maria's expression turned icy and rigid as she glared at Roy. "What kind of nonsense is this? How dare you disregard protocol and act so presumptuously on your first day? Do you want to lose your job?"

Roy shrank back in fear, lowering his head further, which only seemed to irk Maria more. "Stop acting foolish and bring me coffee."

"Yes, Madam President!" Roy almost saluted before hastily retreating from the room.

Maria felt increasingly frustrated, staring at the tea on her desk. It smelled pleasant, and wasting it seemed a shame. With some hesitation, she took a sip.

Despite no liking, she felt she shouldn't throw this.

The moment the tea touched her lips, a burst of flavor exploded in her mouth. Her eyes widened in surprise, feeling all her weariness melt away, replaced by a pleasant sensation.

Maria's expression as she took the taste of the tea evolved from initial skepticism and frustration to surprise and then pleasure.

Initially, her face was set in a rigid, icy expression as she reluctantly decided to taste the tea despite her annoyance.

However, as the flavor exploded in her mouth, her eyes widened in surprise. The taste was delightful, and this unexpected pleasure softened her features, breaking through her usual cold demeanor. A moment of genuine enjoyment crossed her face, transforming her expression from stern to pleasantly surprised, hinting at a rare moment of vulnerability and satisfaction.

The delightful taste softened Maria's expression, breaking through her usual cold demeanor.

She almost moaned in pleasure but managed to get the hang out of it at the last moment.

Getting out of trance, she saw her new secretary walking out with a gloomy expression.

"Wait!"

Roy, who was about to leave, stopped in his tracks, snapping his head back with a robotic motion.

"Yes, Madam President?"

"From now on, I want you to serve me this every day."

"Huh? But you said—"

"Shut up and do as I say. I'm the boss here, not you."

After Roy hurriedly left, Maria removed her spectacles and began to hum softly, a pleasant tone in her voice.

"The first sip makes you feel like heaven, and the second sip takes you there..."

"So, is this what heaven really feel like?"

[Cut]

....

As Evan walked out the door, relief flooded over him, but his heart still raced with uncertainty.

"Did I make a mistake?" he wondered aloud.

"No, you were great!" came a voice from behind. "Damn, that was nice."

"Thanks," Evan replied, his nerves settling a bit.

'Did I really pull this?'

'Hmm!I knew it..Those shady and cheesy dialogue was the problem.'

"Do you want to pursue acting? You've got the looks," the director remarked with a hopeful tone. "You just need to learn the craft."

Evan glanced at his modest acting skills, then shook his head. "Nah, not for me."

"Okay, whatever," the director sighed, signaling for everyone to wrap up.

Evan headed toward a secluded corner where he noticed Aria and Martha chatting animatedly.

"Ah, it's finally over..." Evan sighed, ready to relax.

But just as he began to unwind, Suri appeared and patted him on the shoulder.

"It's not over," she said with a mischievous smile that sent a shiver down his spine.

"What do you mean?" Evan asked, his heart skipping a beat.

"There's a part two of the ad," Suri explained excitedly. "If this one succeeds, the next part will be even more captivating, full of suspense."

"Another part?"

"Yeah another..It was planned to be a romantic theme play.The first was to set the stage and second would unite the boss and secretary,"Suri spoke, giving Evan a wink.

Before he could respond, Suri's hand on his shoulder was abruptly yanked by another person, who screamed loudly.

"Suri, how dare you replace another man?"