Maybe it was because the period of contract was ending soon, he feared that Viviana was a ticking bomb, ready to explode any second.
"What? Do you want me to babysit her or something?" Viviana asked mockingly.
"No. She doesn't need your babysitting. I just want you to do what you have been doing. Don't mind anything. And be passive."
"…"
"And don't argue with Lyra. You two are like sisters. Trained together and then came under the same agent."
"Sisters? More like enemies." Viviana murmured to herself.
"What?" The agent asked not catching what the woman had just mumbled.
"Nothing." Replied Viviana. "Is this the only thing you have to say?" She looked at Agent Yan.
"That's pretty much it."
"Then I'll be leaving." Saying that, the actress didn't wait for a word from the agent and walked out the office. Like always.
Viviana was tired from the lack of sleep. She went to bed late the night before and had to wake up early in the morning. She was glad that the agent had so little to say to her and was planning to head straight home and have a nap before lunch.
But who would have thought that her plan would be disrupted as soon as she thought of it.
"Hello Sister Vivi. How have you been?" a sweet voice came in before she could enter the elevator.
Viviana was so focused on her thoughts that she hadn't looked at the person who just came out of the elevator. She stared at the woman who had just called her so endearingly. The younger woman was wearing a white dress with blue prints. And with those doe eyes, she was looking so innocent.
But Viviana knew better than to judge a book by its cover. After all, the person in front of her changes her color with time and place. Especially in the presence of spectators.
Lyra Dezu was a chameleon. And she had seen her change her color multiple times.
"Sister Vivi? Are you okay?"
The said woman asked, her voiced filled with concern as she looked at Viviana, who was still staring at her without a word.
If Viviana didn't know better, she would've been convinced that the innocent looking lady was really concerned about her.
"You seemed to be having a bad day, Sister Vivi."
As if not noticing the sour face on Viviana, Lyra continued to have 'conversation' with the older women.
"I've seen the trend on the internet. You don't need to worry, Sister Vivi. Even if the comments are… a bit harsh, it signifies your popularity. Sometimes I wish I was as popular as you. Just a mention of your name fires up the whole nation."
"If you want it so much, then why don't you ask your Brother Yan. He's the one who made me so 'popular' after all." Viviana scoffed at the younger artist.
"I'm sure Brother Yan has a different plan for me. After all, Sister Vivi's temperament is very different from mine. I can't bring out the strong presence that you have."
"…"
Viviana just rolled her eyes and was about to walk into the elevator when Lyra stopped her again.
"Sister Vivi. I… Brother Yan must've told you that I would be joining Happy Trip Together with you right?"
"…"
"I hope we have a great time together there. It has been so long since we worked together in the same crew." The younger artist said wishfully.
"And I hope it ends soon."
In contrast, Viviana shook her off and headed to the elevator. She wanted nothing more than to escape from this obnoxious chameleon who changes color every time a person comes around.
As the doors of the elevator closed shut, the silver luster reflected the figure of the innocent looking lady. Her small frame is covered in white with blush-colored flowers blooming like spring.
But the cold disdain reflecting in her eyes, hid the story that's yet to be told. A face she hadn't shown.
Time went by. And the day of joining the Happy Trip Together had arrived. All the guests had arrived in the studio and was entertained in the lounge area. All except for Viviana and Lyra. The eight guests were waiting for the two female artists who were already late by 20 minutes.
"Youngster these days…. Have no principles."
A man, who looked like he was in his late thirties, grumbled with dissatisfaction. Tucker Lee was a retired sportsman of the national Rugby team. And tardiness was one of the most intolerable things to a principled man as himself.
All the regular and flying guests of this week have arrived. All but Viviana and Lyra. So, there were eight guests waiting for the two actresses.
After the incident with Madeline's withdrawal happened, the show planner almost jumped off the building when another guest they had invited as a temporary guest also withdrew from the show.
Thankfully, the producer had a connection and quickly filled the hole with another personality. And the person happened to be even more valuable than the previous invitee.
Daniel Miller, an actor who had played the male lead of the custom drama, 'Royal Physician' in which Lyra was the female lead and Vivianna was the third female lead.
The planner could not contain her excitement. With the three in the same frame, surely there would be some fire….
In the waiting room, besides Daniel stood his agent, Ms. Kim. The actor seemed to be bored from staying in the room for more than half an hour as he left the lounge and went to the balcony to get some fresh air.
"Do you think the two have gotten better?" Kim asked her artist.
Daniel was in the same set as Lyra and Viviana and knew how well the two got along.
"I doubt it." He replied.
"Do you really think it's okay for the three of you to be in the same frame? That Yan always plays dirty games. If you don't want to, we can just withdraw now." Agent Kim suggested.
Lyra and Viviana being in the same group means a possibility of war. And Daniel who had starred at the drama as the two, would surely be caught in the cross firing between the two.
"I promised Director Sam." Daniel said, referring to the director of the 'Royal Physician.'
When the production team of the Happy Trip Together reached out to Director Sam, he thought that it would be a great chance to promote the drama which was airing at the moment. And contacted Daniel.
"And I also don't think the company would support that now."
"That… also true." Surely, the management company Daniel was under would not allow that.
"Besides…" Daniel smirked as he saw a black nanny car being pulled up. "I came here to see their drama…"
It turned out, Daniel Miller was a gossip enthusiast who wanted to be in the front seat to watch the drama.
"So… you're ready to be eaten up like a cabbage by the wild pigs reared by the loser Yan." Kim chided Daniel referring to the Agent Yan and his two actresses.
But the actor did not say anything and only gave her a mischievous smile. Agent Kim could only sigh… 'His love for gossip is incurable…'
She joined her artist as he watched the passenger of the black car come out, only to open her mouth wide.
Viviana, as soon as she came out of the van, made the whole background disappear, leaving only her in the eyes of the looker. She was like a red rose in a bouquet of white chrysanthemums. Her short hair that reached her shoulder seemed even shorter when styled into messy waves.
The blood red leather mini, styled with a black turtle neck top and dark brown, almost black knee length boots. Adding a long red winter coat and her accessories, it looked as if she came to a fashion gala instead of a travel show.
'That's one fiery looking pretty wild pig…' Agent Kim thought referring to the comment she had previously made.
"I should head back since all the guests are here."
Saying that, Daniel strode away leaving Agent Kim to look at the commotion happening below.
'Why don't you just admit that you don't want to miss out on anything?' She screamed in her mind as she too followed her artist.
Meanwhile, Viviana and Lyra were being led to the lounge area by the staff.
"Sorry we're late." The latter apologized as soon as she entered the lounge, bowing her head.
"We had to wait for Sister Vivi to…"
The young girl paused her words as she looked at the actress who shared the same agent with her. There was doubt in her eyes and fear. It was as if she had sprouted out something she shouldn't make.
Then she changed her words.
"We took some time to dress up."
'Leh… The drama has begun.'
Viviana thought as she too bowed in courtesy but didn't say a word. She clearly knew Lyra wanted her to leave a bad impression on the rest of the guests.
And her plan succeeded. Anyone who saw Viviana thought that she was the reason the two were late.
But Viviana didn't say a word of retortion. She just let Lyra play her own game.
"Yes. We can see that." A sarcastic remark came from the back.