Chapter 185 You’re on Fire
Calista grinned as she looked at the highly emotional Lucian and spoke mockingly, “Mr Northwood, how can I repay the three million dollars if I’m not making money?”
Lucian was surprised.
“I never asked you to repay.”
He had initially suggested that Calista repay the money to dissuade her from going through with the divorce. However, he didn’t bring it up again once she was determined to divorce.
Furthermore, the new divorce agreement he prepared didn’t include that provision. Calista had rushed to sign the divorce documents without reading them carefully.
Somewhat unexpectedly, Calista paused momentarily before speaking, “It’s better to clarify. That money was originally agreed upon as a loan.”
”
“So, have you decided to work at Paul’s company?” Lucian asked.
“Yes,” Calista replied.
Lucian looked at her and chuckled softly, “Is it for the money or him?”
Calista was annoyed. She snatched the contract from his hand before Lucian could mock her.
“What does it have to do with you, ex–husband?” she retorted.
Just as the elevator doors opened, a group of people exited. Calista seized the chance and slipped
inside. Lucian watched helplessly as the doors closed right before him.
In the afternoon, the waiter from earlier reached out to Calista on WhatsApp.
“Hey there,” he greeted, attaching an endearing picture of himself.
Calista stared at the picture, finding it hard to believe that such a well–behaved young man was a playboy.
“Are you up for some part–time work? It involves shooting a few hand double scenes,” Calista inquired.
The waiter responded, “Sounds good to me. Are you acting or directing for that show?”
+15 BONUS
Calista immediately gave Lucas the waiter’s contact information and then blocked the waiter. She preferred to keep her contact list clean, reserving it for clients and friends only.
Lucas messaged Calista, “The show will air at 8 pm tonight. If you have a work–related Facebook
account, feel free to share it.”
Lucas wasn’t expecting much. Although Callie had some recognition in their niche community, it
was limited to 50 thousand people.
The previous documentary had gained attention primarily due to the drama surrounding Callie and Bryan’s pairing and people’s curiosity about her appearance.
Lucas had also invited Bryan. Male and female guests were recorded separately for the first
season.
Initially, Lucas had hoped that Bryan and Calista would generate some online buzz, maybe even
create a celebrity pairing sensation.
But things took an unexpected turn when Lucian unexpectedly entered the picture.
Things were looking pretty bleak for Lucas and his show. Just when he thought the drama was
contained to the set, things worsened.
Lucian and Calista’s divorce, along with a scandal involving cheating and love triangles, posed a
significant threat to everything.
Lucas felt the pressure to salvage the situation and ensure it didn’t cause a backlash. As the
director, he knew he was responsible for doing everything he could to turn things around.
Calista replied, “Sure, I’ll catch the show. Thanks, Mr. Meyer.”
Even though Lucas had informed her about the show’s airtime earlier in the year, she had
completely forgotten about it due to her busy schedule.
The show wasn’t anticipated to be a big hit, as it had a low budget, an all–amateur cast, and was
surrounded by controversy.
Calista switched on the TV and continued with her tasks.
She wanted to complete her freelance work before joining the CrossTime project. She understood
it would be unfair to expect everyone to work overtime with her.
After Lucas‘ show had finished airing, Yara called Calista.
“Hey, you’re trending, or your work is.”
Calista was puzzled.
“What are you talking about?”
Yara explained, “Remember that restoration project you worked on for three years? The one depicting the Golden Age of the Celestial Dynasty? Someone posted the original image, the damaged version, and your restored version online. Even the big–shot media folks are giving you props for your skills.”
Yara continued, “Some top experts say they couldn’t have done better with such a heavily
damaged piece. I bet by tomorrow at the latest, the most prestigious museum in the country will offer you a gesture of goodwill to recognize your achievements. You’ll be a famous restorer in no
time.”
Calista still remembered that painting. It depicted a scene in the imperial palace of the Celestial Dynasty, where the palace ladies gathered to watch a play.
It featured intricate pavilions, towering buildings, and an abundance of jewels and pearls, all intricately detailed on a canvas measuring approximately 39 inches by 195 inches.
Paintings of this size from ancient times were rarely found, and this particular one had been passed down through a prestigious family for generations.
Due to inadequate conservation practices and the turbulent wartime period, the painting suffered significant damage. Thankfully, replicas of the artwork were available for reference.
Calista logged into Facebook, and as anticipated, the post about the painting had been widely
shared.
Given the painting owner’s prestigious background and social status, the international media picked up the story, too. The comment sections were amazed at Calista’s remarkable restoration
skills.
Calista experienced a sudden surge in popularity, overshadowing the other show guests, who
received relatively subdued reactions. Alongside her, Lily was also a hot topic among netizens.
“Seriously, why compete with Callie for a guy? I mean, Lucian would go for someone like Callie.
Her exceptional heritage skills add a whole new level of class. This profession is like finding a
unicorn in the corporate world, you know.”
+15 BONUS
“Yeah, I don’t get it Lily’s dancing is just okay. How did she become a world–class dancer?”
“Maybe she’s excellent at something specific, which impressed the bigwigs. She even snatched
the title of world’s best, thanks to Lucian, right?”
“Callie’s got the looks and body, while Lily’s always got romance on her brain. If you’re a dancer,
stick to the dance floor, right? But she’s constantly chasing guys. Is Lucian blind or something?
Must’ve fallen under het spell, I guess.”
“They say the grass is always greener on the other side. But cheating is unforgivable!”
Just as Calista casually indulged in the comment section, Lucas called.
“Congratulations, Callie! Are you interested in the entertainment industry? I can recommend you
to a good talent agency. You have the potential to become a top–tier celebrity with your current
online buzz
“It’s alright, Mr. Meyer. Stop pulling my leg,” Calista responded.
Meanwhile, things were looking grim on Lily’s end. She tightly gripped her phone, almost on the
verge of crushing it.
“Queenie, are you ditching me too?” Lily asked.
Queenie calmly replied, “It’s not about giving up. Our contract ended, and parting ways was always
in the plan.”
Lily asked, “Did you intend not to renew the contract from the start, or is it because of this current
scandal that you want out?”
Queenie hesitated and remained silent. Lily nodded determinedly.
“Okay, I get your point, Queenie. I’ll show you that one day, I’ll achieve even more than before, and
by then, you won’t have a shot at returning.”
Queenie stood up, clutching her copy of the document, but before she left, she had some advice to
offer.
“Lily, considering our years of collaboration, allow me to share some advice. Concentrate on your work and avoid daydreaming about things not within your reach.”
