Behind The Spotlight

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 94

"I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to leave now," Wyatt said quietly, admitting defeat to himself. He realized that bars like this just weren't for him.

"Wait, what? But I thought we were having a good time?" the woman asked, visibly shocked, her eyebrows twitching in disbelief. She had planned to use Wyatt to land a role or at least secure a valuable connection.

On top of that, she hated being rejected, especially by someone like him. In her eyes, a fat guy like Wyatt shouldn't have the audacity to say no to her. It bruised her ego as an attractive woman.

'Fatso, I'm giving you a chance here. Don't waste it. You can have sex with me. I know you probably won't last long in bed since you're fat, and I know I won't enjoy it. So I'm already a saintess by giving you the chance to tap my ass.' She scoffed inwardly, masking her irritation behind a forced smile, her teeth clenched behind it.

"I'm sorry, it's just me. I don't think I belong in places like this. Going to parties, meeting strangers, having one-night stands, it's not the kind of lifestyle I should be chasing. If I keep walking this path, I'll ruin myself. Fortunately, I realized that just now... before it's too late."

Wyatt apologized sincerely and began walking away, his steps slow and heavy. The woman tried to grab his arm to stop him, but the crowd of dancers became a wall between them, blocking her way.

Outside, Wyatt inhaled deeply as the cool night air brushed against his face. He pulled out a cigarette and lit it. Smoking had become a habit during film productions, a coping mechanism against stress and emotional turmoil. Whenever things became too much, a cigarette helped him calm down. And right now, he needed it.

"... I just realized how hard it might be to find someone who will truly appreciate me for who I am, not what I can offer. Is there even someone out there who can truly love a person... and sacrifice everything?" he asked softly, as if the wind itself were the only one listening.

Someone had almost fit that description once, a long time ago. But he suffered terribly for it. Since then, that guy chose to trust only his family and closest friends.

Wyatt walked away from the bar, making a quiet promise to himself: never again would he look for love in places like that. Especially not in Los Angeles, where the nightlife crowd, men and women alike, were known for being promiscuous and opportunistic.

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...

Collin received a call from Axel, who told him he was at a high-class bar. The kind that played soft jazz music and offered a quiet calming atmosphere for people who wanted to drink in peace.

Collin and Axel had been friends ever since they first met. Their first conversation happened when both were tipsy, and despite being strangers, they opened up to each other like old friends. Axel shared how his ex-wife had betrayed and destroyed him, and from that moment, Collin felt a strong connection. A friendship forged through shared pain. In return, he shared his own story.

He told Axel about his ex-girlfriend, who had nearly convinced him to raise a child that wasn't his. He had almost gone through with the wedding, until the real father showed up at the reception, claiming the baby in her womb and exposing the lie in front of everyone.

It shattered him.

After that, Collin signed Axel not just for business reasons but because he believed in redemption. He saw himself in Axel, and helping him rise to fame felt like helping himself, too. It was more than professional, it was personal. Maybe, deep down, Collin wanted to prove that they could both come back stronger.

He arrived and spotted Axel sitting alone at the bar counter, rubbing the rim of a wineglass with his thumb, his eyes fixed on the swirling red liquid inside as if searching for answers at the bottom.

"Axel, what happened?" Collin asked, his voice low and careful to match the heavy mood.

Axel looked up slowly. He was far from okay.

Collin immediately recognized the pain in his friend's eyes. It reminded him of the day he learned he wasn't the father. That hollow, broken look, a face twisted by grief and betrayal.

"Collin, remember when you said you'd make me famous?"

"Yeah, I remember. We talked about it when I offered you the contract," Collin replied, sitting down beside him.

"Back then, I was skeptical and scared. I had already given up on my dream of becoming an actor. All I wanted was a job that paid well enough so I could send money to John... So he wouldn't end up living a miserable life like mine."

He let out a bitter smile.

"I got shot in the shoulder and leg when I was a soldier deployed to the Middle East, my second tour. After retiring, I was lost. I was broken. I didn't have a family. My parents abandoned me. They divorced and chose their own paths without me. But then I met Cynthia... and she changed my life. When John was born, I thought I'd finally found my home. I thought I had a place in this world."

Axel choked up, and Collin stayed quiet, letting him speak.

The bartender nearby watched silently, as if respecting the emotion unfolding in front of him.

"I can't believe she'd do this to me. She lied. She lied!" Axel's voice cracked, the pain raw and deep.

"I did my best, Collin. I swear to God, I did my best. I worked so damn hard, just to make sure I never missed a single child support payment. I thought... I hoped it would at least make John's life a little better."

He sobbed harder.

"But then he looked me in the eyes and told me he hates me. Do you know what that feels like? It's like a knife carving your heart out, over and over, and you can't even breathe."

"What's worse is that he said I abandoned them. But I didn't leave! I spent three whole years trying to find them! I begged the court, I knelt just to get information. And nothing helped. Night after night, I'd lie awake, thinking of my son, staring at the ceiling, pretending I was okay. But I wasn't. I was doing all of it for him. I love him... but when he looked at me like I was some monster, it destroyed me."

He clenched his fists, trembling.

"Collin, I did my best. I swear I did my best. So why? Why is this happening to me!?"

Axel broke down completely, sobbing uncontrollably. His shoulders shook with each breath, unable to hold anything in anymore.

Collin didn't say a word. He gently tapped Axel's back and sat with him in the silence, knowing that nothing he said right now could fix what had already been broken. But he could at least stay, so Axel wouldn't be alone.

 

[Pujimaki]

Behind The Spotlight Chapter 95

In the first place, when Collin experienced betrayal from his ex-girlfriend, he had no one to lean on. He endured the emotional pain alone and never showed weakness in front of his family, no matter how much it hurt. He didn't want them to worry. Because of that, he didn't know how to console someone going through the same kind of suffering.

All he could do now was gently tap Axel's back, a quiet gesture of support and silent understanding.

The actor began crying, and the other guests glanced at them with mixed expressions of curiosity and concern. The bartender continued serving drinks but didn't interfere. Axel needed to let it out. Otherwise, all that pain would bottle up inside until it broke him in a much worse way.

For people like them, crying meant exposing vulnerability. You could only cry in front of someone you truly trusted. The fact that Axel called Collin to hear his story meant he trusted his agent more than anyone else at that moment.

After pouring out all his frustration, Axel let out a faint, bitter laugh. He wiped his tears and apologized.

Collin didn't mind. Not at all.

"Axel, you have nothing to apologize for. We're friends. We'll find a way for you and your son to reconcile."

"Thank you, Collin. I don't hate John. I understand what's going on in his mind… But I don't think I can forgive Cynthia for all the lies she told him, for how she turned my son against me. All the love I had for her is gone."

"That's the spirit. I'll find the best lawyer for you. Someone who can walk you through this step by step until we fix it."

"I'm glad I have a friend like you, Collin. But I'm not sure if Cynthia will stay in one place. She might have heard about me from John. I feel like she's avoiding me, and for obvious reasons. It's frustrating just thinking about it."

"Then we'll hire private investigators. We need to know where she is and what she's been telling your son."

"I don't care how much it costs. I just don't want to carry this painful regret anymore. I want to change my life for the better… I want to be free," Axel added.

"Collin, I'm sorry. We just established a foothold in Hollywood, and now all our hard work might be at risk because of this mess. You always warned us to stay away from scandals, no matter how small."

Axel felt guilty. He knew this could spiral into a scandal if not handled carefully.

Collin had always reminded his clients to avoid doing anything illegal or reckless, because the media never forgives. He warned them about paparazzi, stalkers, and scammers, things that could ruin their lives.

…But none of his clients ever listened.

Why? Because you can't force people to change unless they truly want to.

He had told Wyatt to avoid one-night stands, warning him about possible exploitation or blackmail. And yet, the director kept doing it. He almost walked right into a "trap", if you know what I mean.

He warned Lawrence to stay away from wild parties and drugs to protect his image and health. But the actor didn't listen either.

He even told Jennifer to stop swearing… and you can guess how that went.

As an agent, Collin made sure to constantly remind his clients to stay away from scandals and dangerous people. But you can't make people give up the things they're addicted to, especially the thrill of bad habits. At the end of the day, Collin was just a talent agent, with limited power over personal choices.

The best he could do was to prevent things from spiraling out of control.

It didn't help that Collin was always busy. He supported them from behind the scenes while juggling multiple responsibilities. He looked for promising projects that could advance their careers. He traded favors to get good scripts. He even befriended people he didn't like just to open doors of opportunity.

He built favors. He built a network. He wasn't sitting idly.

If Collin had just moped around, none of his clients would've been successful in such a competitive industry. Lawrence wouldn't be a superstar. Wyatt wouldn't have gotten a chance to direct a film. Jennifer wouldn't be a host on a singing competition. And Axel? He wouldn't have found work at all.

If Collin did nothing, none of those achievements would've happened.

People aren't perfect. And if you expect perfection, you'll never find it anywhere in this world.

"If you're worried about a potential scandal, our team will take care of it," Collin said. "You just need to stay strong. And don't forget, you still have an action movie to film. Focus on your role and don't stress over things you can't control. You have to trust me."

"I'll do my best. I feel better now that I've said everything out loud. Thank you, Collin. I feel like something inside me has changed... though I can't explain it."

The next day, Collin began looking for lawyers and private investigators, particularly family lawyers who specialized in custody battles.

Now that Collin had heard the full story from Axel, he understood that this was a serious matter requiring professional legal intervention. It was clear that John was not in a healthy environment to grow up properly. Axel made the decision to fight for custody and reopen the case to correct the injustice that had been done to him.

Determined to give Axel a fighting chance, Collin set out to find the best family lawyer in Los Angeles, no, in all of California if he had to.

After many days of combing through law firms and scrutinizing the words floating above each lawyer's head while meticulously comparing their records, he finally found someone. It had taken a long time, but Collin didn't regret a single second of the effort he poured into the search. If they were going to hire a lawyer, it should be the best.

At last, he found the fourth person who had the Golden Talent.

-- Zaul Greatman

-- Ultimate Legal Expertise(Gold)

Even better, Zaul Greatman's fee was within Axel's budget. Zaul had been practicing family law for two years and had won nearly all of his cases. He was still a rising star, so his rate wasn't too expensive yet.

Collin informed Axel about Zaul, and the actor decided to trust him without hesitation. He knew Collin always had his best interests at heart. In this situation, he trusted his agent more than anyone else.

As for the private detective, unfortunately, Collin could only find someone with a Yellow Talent. Not the best, but still reliable.

.........

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...

"Cut—!"

Lee Kim, holding his megaphone, called for a break in his usual tone. He was the director of Face: Swap, a Korean filmmaker who had made it to Hollywood through perseverance and a bit of luck.

The movie revolved around an FBI agent and a terrorist swapping faces. It was backed by Touchpebbles Pictures, a studio under Wash Dismay created to produce mature-themed live-action films aimed at older audiences.

Lee Kim had been working on the project for over a month and was starting to see something truly impressive emerge from one of his actors.

He walked over to the tall actor, Axel Gunner.

"Axel, you're doing great. Keep it up."

"Thank you."

Axel appreciated the compliment. Just like Lee Kim, he also felt that something in him had shifted ever since that emotional night.

'At first, I was skeptical about casting this actor because he's taller than the character I imagined, which might've affected the visual dynamic. Even his audition was just average and didn't stand out. If not for his recent popularity and affordable fee, I wouldn't have chosen him for the role. But now...'

Lee Kim reviewed the footage they had just filmed. In the scene, Axel grinned like a madman while threatening the male lead, vowing to destroy his face. The scene was breathtaking. Lee Kim felt chills run down his spine.

He hadn't expected Axel to deliver such a powerful performance with terrifying intensity. It was a complete departure from the goofy roles Axel had taken in those lackluster comedy films that wasted his true potential. He wasn't meant for such forgettable comedies that masked his real talent!

.........

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...

A few minutes later, Collin arrived at the Face: Swap filming location. With him was the private detective they had hired a month earlier to investigate Cynthia's whereabouts. Zaul Greatman had advised them to gather more evidence to strengthen Axel's case in court.

Collin scanned the area and saw that the crew was filming a dramatic confrontation scene. The cameras were rolling, and the entire set was silent with anticipation. Only Axel and the lead actor were speaking, their lines filled with emotion.

In the scene, Axel held a shard of glass close to his face, grinning like a man with nothing to lose.

"Wow, I can't believe Axel can act like that. He's improving fast," one crew member murmured in awe.

Collin heard the remark but didn't pay much attention. His focus was elsewhere, he was locked onto something above Axel's head that he hadn't expected to see that day.

'You got to be kidding me,' he thought, blinking in astonishment.

-- Axel Gunner

-- Adapting like a Chameleon Actor (White turning to Yellow)

The words above Axel's head were white, slowly blending into yellow. His talent was evolving so rapidly, it was visibly changing before Collin's eyes.

He was speechless. He hadn't anticipated this outcome.