Although he was just an ordinary agent at WMA, Scott Lambert knew very well the reputation of Linda Vargas. Being called aside by her now, his excitement was barely contained as he eagerly asked, "Ms. Vargas, is there something I can help with?"
Linda, who had been observing the young girl standing beside him, glanced up at Scott briefly before confirming, "Scott Lambert?"
"Oh, yes! I can't believe Ms. Vargas actually knows who I am," Scott replied, his tone a mix of surprise and exhilaration. He quickly fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a business card, handing it over. "Ms. Vargas, here's my card."
Linda took the card, gave it a cursory glance, then turned her attention back to the young girl, whose curious gaze now held a glimmer of hope. Linda reached out to gently lift the girl's chin. "Give me a smile."
The girl, still in her Lolita phase, obediently flashed a shy smile.
Linda shook her head. "Relax a little."
The girl hesitated but then broadened her smile slightly, revealing a pair of slightly crooked teeth. She seemed aware of this imperfection, her expression immediately faltering as she tried to look away. Linda, however, gently held her chin in place, causing the girl's expression to shift into one of unintentional vulnerability.
Linda watched the change in her face, her own lips curving into a faint smile. She turned to Scott and said, "Get her scheduled for a dental correction soon. And come with me."
Without waiting for a response, Linda turned and began walking toward the villa.
Scott Lambert, who was starting to piece things together, could hardly contain his excitement. He gestured for the young girl to follow quickly and trailed behind Linda, his mind racing with possibilities. The three made their way through the crowd and into the villa, where they approached a group chatting on one of the sofas in a corner of the living room.
Scott's eyes widened as he recognized the high-profile names in the group: Robert Redford, Brian De Palma, Al Pacino, Tim Robbins, Michelle Pfeiffer, Susan Sarandon... A gathering of individuals who, for someone like Scott, were typically out of reach. He didn't even have the courage to step forward and introduce himself.
However, Linda Vargas was completely at ease. The prominent figures greeted her warmly, with Michelle Pfeiffer even offering up her seat for Linda.
Linda sat down without hesitation and gestured for the young girl to step forward. Addressing Robert Redford, she said, "Bob, you're working on The Horse Whisperer and still looking for a young girl for the role, right? This is Scarlett. Maybe she's a fit. Simon seems to think quite highly of her."
The mere mention of Simon Westeros drew the group's attention, and their gazes collectively landed on the girl.
Taking the cue, Scarlett Johansson—despite her youth—showed remarkable composure. She quickly stepped forward and introduced herself. "Hello, Mr. Redford. My name is Scarlett Johansson. I'm 12 years old. I recently appeared in Annabelle, and I also played Sean Connery's daughter in Warner's Just Cause."
Confident children always leave a good impression, and the mention of Simon's approval only added to her favorability. Smiling, Robert Redford asked Scarlett a few more questions before agreeing to schedule a formal audition for her. He also offered her some advice, suggesting she read The Horse Whisperer to better prepare for the role.
After a brief conversation, Linda stood up and led Scarlett and Scott away, once again heading to the backyard.
Picking up a glass of red wine from a passing server, Linda took a sip and stopped near a flowerbed where the crowd was thinner. Turning to the two following her, she explained, "The Horse Whisperer is based on a bestselling novel from last year. Bob really loves the story and plans to direct and star in it. The role of Grace, the young girl, is very significant in the film. This is only an audition opportunity, though. If Scarlett doesn't perform well during the audition, not even Simon will approve her casting. So, prepare carefully, and wait for me to inform you about the audition date."
Scott Lambert nodded repeatedly, his tone reverent. After a moment of hesitation, he couldn't help but ask, "Ms. Vargas, earlier you mentioned… Mr. Westeros. Does he… um… really think highly of Scarlett?"
Linda didn't respond directly. Instead, she gave Scott a meaningful look before pulling a business card from her wallet and handing it to him. "This is the number for my office, Scott. Keep in mind, unless it's about Scarlett, don't call this number for anything else."
Though Linda hadn't answered outright, Scott understood perfectly. Struggling to remain calm, he accepted the card and repeatedly promised, "Don't worry, Ms. Vargas. I'll take good care of Scarlett."
Linda nodded faintly, then turned to the girl, reaching out to tousle her hair gently. "You're a lucky little one."
With that, she walked away.
Linda had offered no detailed explanations, but Scott was confident he had grasped the situation.
In truth, Simon Westeros hadn't shown any particular interest in Scarlett. He had simply made a few comments during the casting process for Annabelle and personally approved her for a role.
But intentions could be subtle.
Linda, always attuned to Simon's preferences, made a note of the girl. Years of securing her position within Simon's inner circle had taught her the importance of reading his unspoken cues and quietly managing potential opportunities for him.
Though Scarlett was still very young, Linda saw nothing problematic about her approach.
After all, Simon had always been discreet, and his current power made even minor indiscretions insignificant. In Hollywood, such dynamics—while not pervasive—were far from unusual.
This wasn't the first time Linda had taken such steps. During the production of The Conjuring 2 in the UK, another young girl, Keira Knightley, had caught Simon's attention. Linda had similarly taken her under her wing.
As Linda walked away, Scott Lambert's mind swirled with visions of his bright future. The smile on his face was impossible to suppress. Glancing down at Scarlett, he couldn't help but see her as his lucky charm.
Sure, she was young. But what did that matter?
Even if he couldn't directly capitalize on Scarlett in the short term, just having Linda Vargas's business card was a game-changer. He could use this connection to attract higher-profile clients, and surely Linda wouldn't leave him empty-handed after entrusting him with this responsibility.
This was an opportunity.
After some quick calculations, Scott made up his mind. Seeing Scarlett looking up at him with her green eyes, as if waiting for direction, he raised his hand to pat her head, mimicking Linda's earlier gesture. But halfway through, he hesitated and withdrew his hand.
Scarlett was now his little princess. She deserved to be treated with the utmost care.
Instead, he smiled warmly and said, "Scarlett, let's keep this between us, okay? No need to tell your mom."
The girl tilted her head and asked, "You mean about Simon Westeros liking me?"
Scott wasn't entirely sure if Simon truly liked Scarlett in that way. The man had plenty of women in his life, and this girl was so young—far from Simon's rumored preferences. But one thing was clear: Scarlett was sharp and fully aware of the situation, which made things much easier. Nodding, he said, "Yes. If you want to become a big star, it's best to keep this quiet. Your mom might complicate things."
Scarlett thought for a moment before nodding. "Okay, Scott. But what about the dental correction? How do we explain that?"
"That's easy. Just say it's a requirement for The Horse Whisperer."
The girl nodded but then added, "But orthodontics is expensive. My mom probably can't afford it."
"That's not a problem. We'll figure it out."
The two quickly came to an agreement.
Their unexpected windfall diminished their enthusiasm for the party. This wasn't really their scene, anyway. After lingering for less than half an hour, they left early.
Scarlett Johansson lived in Ocean Park, a neighborhood in southern Santa Monica. Scott drove her home, arriving just after 9 PM.
Melanie Sloan opened the door to find her daughter bounding happily into her arms. Hugging Scarlett tightly, Melanie looked up at Scott with a grateful smile. "Thank you so much, Scott," she said, stepping aside slightly. "Please, come in and have a seat."
"No problem at all. It's my job," Scott replied with a smile, stepping into the modest apartment.
The small, two-story unit was already cramped, and the addition of Scott made the space feel even tighter.
Scott was familiar with the Johanssons' circumstances. Melanie Sloan was a single mother who had once dabbled in the New York film industry. After divorcing her husband two years ago, she moved to Los Angeles to help her children pursue acting careers. She relied on odd jobs and child support payments to make ends meet.
This wasn't an uncommon story in Hollywood.
Single mothers, often disillusioned with their own failed dreams of stardom, would pin their hopes on their children, hoping to transform their lives through fame. Among the most notorious examples was Brooke Shields' mother, though such cases were far from unique.
Scott had only signed three of Melanie's four children as clients due to a referral from a mutual acquaintance in New York. Initially, he had higher hopes for Scarlett's older sister Vanessa and her brother Adrian. To his surprise
, it was the youngest, least promising sibling who delivered the biggest breakthrough.
As Scott entered, the other three Johansson children peeked out curiously before greeting him.
Scott exchanged pleasantries while discreetly assessing Vanessa Johansson. At 16, she was the eldest sibling. Taller than her petite mother, Vanessa stood at an impressive 5'9" and had a striking face with the potential for a modeling career.
But Hollywood wasn't short on pretty faces. Despite her mother's guidance, Vanessa lacked the opportunities and innate charm that made Scarlett stand out.
Scott couldn't help but glance at Scarlett again, a fleeting thought crossing his mind.
Taking a seat on the couch, Scott accepted a glass of water from Vanessa, sipping politely as Scarlett excitedly recounted her meeting with Robert Redford. Melanie Sloan's initial shock turned to joy, her wide-eyed gaze flitting between her daughter and Scott.
"Yes," Scott confirmed with a smile. "We met Mr. Redford tonight. He's preparing to direct and star in The Horse Whisperer, which is being produced by Daenerys Entertainment. According to one of the casting directors, this role is very significant. If Scarlett performs well, she'll undoubtedly become one of the most sought-after child stars."
Melanie, holding Scarlett tightly, hesitated before asking, "The Horse Whisperer... I've heard of it. A bestselling novel, right? But has Scarlett already secured the role?"
"Not yet. She'll need to audition," Scott explained. Noting Melanie's disappointment, he added, "But being personally introduced to Mr. Redford by a casting director is a huge advantage. Scarlett has a very good chance. We just need to prepare thoroughly. First, she should read the novel. Additionally, the casting director suggested Scarlett undergo dental correction."
Melanie's face clouded with concern. "Orthodontics… That's expensive. I don't know if I can afford it. By the way, Scott, if Scarlett gets the role, how much would her pay be?"
"It would definitely cover the cost of the orthodontics. But even if she gets the role, the payment won't be immediate," Scott said. After a moment's hesitation, he added, "Here's an idea. I could personally take out a loan to cover the cost for now. Once Scarlett receives her paycheck, you can reimburse me."
Melanie hesitated. She didn't understand why her agent was suddenly so generous and was worried about her ability to repay the debt. After all, dental procedures in America were notoriously expensive, often costing thousands of dollars. It wasn't uncommon for dental health to serve as a class marker in this country.
Feeling Scarlett tugging at her arm, Melanie finally relented.
Debt was debt. If Scarlett could become a star, the money would come easily. And if not… well, she could always turn to her parents or ex-husband for help.
With her mind made up, Melanie nodded at Scott, though she still planned to wait for more concrete news about the film before committing to the procedure.
Scott, satisfied with his plan to secure Scarlett's favor, nodded and began outlining the next steps for Melanie to prepare her daughter for the role.
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