As soon as Averie climbed into the taxi, Hyerin asked, "How was the audition?"
"Perfect," he replied.
Hyerin wasn't expecting anything to begin with, but seeing her friend satisfied made the day worth it.
"Should we have a nice lunch?" she asked, looking up restaurants in the area. "What would you like?"
"Pancakes."
Her brows furrowed. "In the afternoon?"
"I am craving something sweet today."
Soon, they found themselves chowing down on pancakes and waffles. Averie silently kept ordering watermelon juice. He was planning to pee out the Hell from his system, whether that made sense or not.
"So, what next?" asked Hyerin, enjoying a piece of chocolate cake for dessert. "More auditions?"
"No. I need to prepare," Averie answered, licking his fork clean.
"For what?"
At that moment, Hyerin's phone rang.
"Why is she calling now?" she muttered and picked up the phone.
A moment passed as she intently listened to the voice from the other side.
Hyerin's brows furrowed as she looked up at her friend in surprise and amazement.
He was smiling knowingly.
"Are you certain?" she asked her caller. "Really?"
Suddenly, Averie's phone rang. He picked up the call.
"Hello, am I speaking to Mr. Averie Quinn Auclair?" a gentle voice asked.
"Yes, you are, Director," Averie answered, enjoying his desert as he stared at Hyerin.
The man on the other side chuckled.
"You have sharp ears, Mr. Auclair," Director Lee exclaimed. "Well, I called to congratulate you on passing the audition."
"Thank you."
"You don't sound surprised."
"When I came across the script," Averie continued, "I knew the role was mine."
"And when did you come across it?"
"Yesterday."
For a moment, there was silence.
"You are being serious, right?" asked the director.
"Yes."
The director laughed, and for a while, two people who loved films and artistry spoke at length.
Finally, when the call was over, Hyerin rushed to his side and tackled him in an attempt to hug him.
"You got it! You got it!" she chanted, smiling like an idiot. "You got the role!"
Everyone in the restaurant was staring at her, and it was making Averie chuckle.
"Where and when did you learn to act?" she asked. "My friend, who just called me, said there was no discussion about the other candidates. Your performance was so convincing that they unanimously selected you."
She jumped around the place.
"I can't believe you got a role on your very first audition. This literally never happens." She took her phone and started dialing numbers. "I'm going to tell Mom and Dad—oh, and your grandma and cousin too."
'No, don't do that,' Averie thought. 'I don't even know them.'
But Hyerin was so excited she even called her neighbors who, for some reason, started crying while mumbling about how he had grown up. It made no sense, but Averie was enjoying the chaos. It reminded him so much of Hell that he shed a tear.
Hyerin was so knee-deep in delusion that she concluded that Averie's three hours of sleep before the audition was most definitely the charm of a natural actor.
"Hey, let's go watch a movie. You won't get to enjoy this freedom once you get famous," Hyerin uttered, pulling him by the arm.
Her enthusiasm was refreshing to Averie. He had long forgotten the joy of passing an audition. Even though half a century had passed since his last audition, it still felt like a formality. That's why he was glad there was someone who celebrated his achievements so joyfully.
'Gene Conti is no more,' he thought. 'This is Averie Quinn Auclair's celebration.'
The two friends spent the evening watching generic movies and relaxing in the park.
Sitting on a bench by the flowerbeds, Hyerin suddenly voiced a worry of hers.
"I wish the role was different though. It's not exactly a pleasant character, is it? You will have to perform in uncomfortable scenes. I know it's not wise, but you can still back out, you know?"
"I'll be fine," Averie laughed.
He was known as a sex icon in his past life. He had led the second sexual revolution. He was the one who played cards with Lucifer daily and lost nothing of his by the end. He was the man who escaped Hell with his memories. Why would he be scared of a few uncomfortable scenes?
'It is going to be fun,' Averie thought.
Looking at him, Hyerin felt vigor surge in. "Contract signing is tomorrow, right? I'll come with you to negotiate. Otherwise, they will fleece you good."
Honestly, Averie was willing to accept a few pennies and a quarter for his role. The only thing he cared for was acting. A role like this was enough to make him abandon his dignity.
"You have work tomorrow, don't you?" he asked.
"I can take a day off." She took out her phone and started messaging her superior at work. "Without someone to negotiate on your behalf, they will exploit you. I won't let that happen."
***
The next morning, Averie arrived early at the office of Elvin Productions alongside Hyerin.
They met up with the director and the producer in the corridor.
"Mr. Auclair, good morning."
Beaming with joy, it was Director Lee who greeted them first.
His mood was much brighter than the day before. He kept inquiring about Averie—whether he was trained as an actor and if his mostly empty CV was a lie.
He asked about his family descent and assured Averie that his mixed heritage wouldn't be a problem, as the setting of Binsfeld family was rather unique.
"Because of you, our biggest problem is solved," he said.
But only the Director knew that his improved mood wasn't all because of Averie. It was partly because of his smooth bowel movements. He had been rid of his worries. Constipation was no more. He felt like a new man.
The man was taller than Averie had previously assumed. He looked just about in his fifties. His hair was neatly combed, and his turtle neck went well with his profession.
"You have no idea how much trouble this role gave us," he uttered.
And the producer agreed. "Yes, now that we have you, we can start production soon."
"And this is?" the director asked, studying at Hyerin.
"I am here to negotiate the contract on Mr. Auclair's behalf," she answered sternly and professionally.
She was smart. She had seen how much Director Lee favored Averie, and she wasn't about to lower his value.
Averie found this sudden change respectable, but the producer's face fell drastically. He looked like a man who had taken a whiff of the most rancid food in the world.
"I didn't know Mr. Averie was signed with an agency," he exclaimed, his expression that of a judgemental mother-in-law.
"He isn't," Hyerin replied bluntly.
She didn't find it necessary to explain any further. She was practically yelling none of your business, old man.
"But negotiation?" the producer grumbled. "We have already printed the contract."
Averie truly didn't care, but seeing the producer's reluctance made him want to loot him blind. He could watch this spectacle all day. Hell, he wanted to make him hurt more.
"So, you can't print a revised contract?" Averie threw the bait.
He knew the old grumbler would bite. And bite, he did.
"Well, you are new to this industry, Mr. Auclair. It is a bit presumptuous to demand more than what is provided," he complained.
Ah, this was it. This was what Averie craved. He had him in the palm of his hand. Oh, how he loved toying with morons like these.
"I am new, aren't I?" Averie uttered, groaning like his ass was damp and itchy. "So, I am sure you will find someone better to play the role."
"No!" the director screamed in horror.
He could already feel his dire case of constipation returning.
He held the producer by the arms and shook him wildly. "Don't ruin it for me!"
The sight spread joy through Averie's rotten heart.