At six o’clock that evening, Eric clocked out promptly, his nerves on edge. Hadley was about to take her test, and he couldn’t shake his anxiety. He had to be there, waiting outside the exam room for her.
Phillips joined him, chuckling at Eric’s restless pacing. “Mr. Scott, take a deep breath. Even if she fails the test, you’ve got her back, don’t you?”
Eric shot him a pointed glare. “Don’t jinx it with that kind of talk!”
“Oh, my mistake!” Phillips backpedaled, startled. “I didn’t mean it!”
Eric’s frown deepened. “Hadley is going to ace this, no question.”
“Of course,” Phillips agreed, nodding vigorously.
Just then, Hadley emerged, her eyes red and swollen, a clear sign she had been crying.
Eric and Phillips exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking in unison.
Witnessing Hadley’s tears, Eric and Phillips concluded she had failed the evaluation. Phillips quickly clamped his hand over his mouth in horror.
Eric shot him a withering look. “Look what you’ve accomplished!”
He spun around and rushed toward Hadley.
“Hadley.” Positioning himself before her, he studied her swollen, tear-stained eyes and experienced a sharp stab of pain. Fury ignited within his chest.
“Who does this supposedly brilliant screenwriter think she is? If she can’t recognize your worth, we’ll manage without her! We don’t want any part of this mediocre production!”
The production hadn’t even commenced, yet obstacles multiplied endlessly! Each day brought fresh complications!
Hadley’s wide eyes fluttered as she ventured, “You discovered I angered Ms. Beckett, didn’t you?”
“Yes, let her rage to her heart’s content!” Eric’s sneer dripped with contempt. “We’ll locate a superior screenwriter! Someone who will craft a custom script specifically for you… Does she genuinely believe she’s invincible? Is she the sole screenwriter on earth?”
? glnov?l.m
Hadley’s lips formed a small pout. “Don’t speak that way. Ms. Beckett possesses genuine talent.”
“What concerns you?” Eric challenged boldly. “She dismissed you, yet you continue defending her? Don’t worry, I’ll ensure she—”
“Who claimed I was dismissed?” Hadley’s eyes rolled skyward in exasperation. “Do you consider me that incompetent?”
“No… wait, what?” Eric’s head shook reflexively before he froze mid-gesture.
“So, did you succeed?”
“Uh-huh.” Hadley angled her face upward, traces of tears still evident in her eyes, though a radiant smile bloomed across her entire expression.
She executed a delighted little hop. “I passed the evaluation!”
“Really?” Witnessing her joy, Eric found his own smile emerging involuntarily.
“Yes!” Hadley’s head bobbed enthusiastically. “Ms. Beckett complimented me! She declared I was exceptionally dedicated and performed brilliantly!”
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