?


    Dave took his seat next to Leda with a well-mannered grace, then picked up his ss to begin making the rounds with toasts.


    "Sorry for beingte, folks. Let me start by drinking to your good health."


    After three apologetic shots, he continued his rounds with a smile.


    The man of the hour was Zander Hawkes, seated at the head of the table. He was the mogul behind Velvet Curtain Entertainment, a titan in the entertainment industry.


    His gaze fell on Leda and he smiled, "Since when did you find the entertainment business intriguing?"


    "Just dabbling for fun," she replied nonchntly.


    "Fun is good. Need any help diving into it?" Zander didn''t pay much attention to Dave''s toasts, focusing instead on chatting with Leda.


    "Thanks, Zander, but I''m just messing around. I''m clueless about this industry, so let''s not joke about it."


    Zander and Leda''s father, Desmond Reynolds, were old friends.


    Dave''s expression subtly shifted from surprise to understanding in just a blink.


    No wonder Levi had stressed the importance of bringing Leda tonight. There was more to this than met the eye.


    "Mr. Hawkes, Leda isn''t really into the entertainment scene. She''s mentioned before that some things are better appreciated from afar. Getting too close spoils the fun."


    "Ha... that does sound like something she would say. And you are?"


    Zander finally gave Dave his full attention.


    With a respectful bend, the man introduced himself, "I''m Dave, signed with Twilight Revel Media. Been in the business for two years with nothing noteworthy to my name yet."


    "Hmm, at least you''re honest. Straight talk is rare."


    Dave quickly waved off thepliment, "In front of a giant like you, who would dare exaggerate?"


    Watching the exchange and the flow of drinks, Leda suddenly found it all tedious.


    Not one to force herself to stay where she wasn''t enjoying, she stood up decisively.


    "Sorry, but something just came up, and I have to leave."


    Zander wasn''t put off in the slightest, "No worries, go ahead. We''ll catch up some other time, maybe over a coffee with your dad."


    "Sounds good."


    Dave, however, looked visibly shaken and excused himself to follow her.Text ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Leda "


    She stopped and turned, her voice cool, "Yes?"


    "Why are you so cold to me?"


    His eyes could well up onmand, a talent of his craft, yet Leda remained unmoved. "Don''t you know why?"


    "Did I... do something wrong?" He looked genuinely innocent, with a hint of hurt in his gaze.


    Actors, she mused, could outperform anyone when it came to feigning innocence.


    Leda scoffed, then gave him a thorough once-over, from head to toe and back again.


    Dave felt unnerved under her gazet


    but reminded himself of the image


    Yel


    he had in her life: the indulged younger brother,vishly spoiled.


    There was no reason to fear.


    Or so he thought.


    "Dave," Leda suddenly addressed him by name, "do you understand how things work?"


    "What do you mean?"


    "I support you, spend on you, nearly always say ''yes''. In return, you should be loyal, decent, and savvy."


    "Leda..."


    "If you want resources or connections from me, just ask. If I''m in the mood, I might help; if not, I won''t. But—" Her chin lifted slightly, her eyes turned icy, and her words were sharp. "You can''t y me. Understand?"


    "It''s like having a dog. If it''s hungry, it


    wags its tail, and I know to feed it But if the dog gets restless, trying to steat more than its share, do you think it''s still a good dog?"