Defying Fate: The Unstoppable Eileen



Carrol knew that Egbert was coming over that night. He had a whole bunch of grievances to air out, so he made a special run to the store for a couple of cases of beer and some snacks to munch on, planning to have a good old chinwag with Egbert when he got there.

One in the morning came and went, but Egbert didn't show up.

One-thirty rolled around, still no Egbert.

Two o'clock hit, and that's when the stage manager rang up Carrol, "Boss, Mr. Reed's here. The night crew spotted him heading over to the set."

Carrol sat up from his slump on the couch and asked, "Why isn't he coming to the hotel? What's he doing at the set?"

The stage manager replied, "Ms. Lopez had a couple of night scenes that needed reshooting. They've just wrapped up. He's probably here to pick up Ms. Lopez. Hold on, where's Ms. Lopez gone? I just saw her a second ago, and now she's vanished."

Eileen was actually being whisked away by Egbert in her own car, usually driven by Janice. But it was late, and Eileen told her to head back and get some sleep. Eileen planned to drive herself after the shoot.

Now, inside the spacious car, Egbert was seated in the driver's seat, turning to help her with her seatbelt.

Eileen, her head bowed, muttered, "I can do it myself." As she reached for the seatbelt, Egbert caught her hand with a swift move. His deep eyes seemed heavy as he looked at her and said, "You've had a long day. Let me."

Eileen blinked, a bit startled. Egbert seemed off today.

Once he fastened her seatbelt, Egbert started the car and they were on the road.

Eileen kept stealing glances at Egbert, pretty sure she knew why he'd come in the dead of night.

It was painfully obvious. It had to be because of what Paulina said!

Eileen scratched her ear, and after a long pause, she finally asked, "Why... did you come back?"

Egbert took a turn and said in a flat voice, "Doing some environmental research for Barton."

Eileen was taken aback. "Huh?"

He looked at her. "What's up?"

Eileen shook her head, confused for a moment, but then asked, "So when are you leaving?"

"Tomorrow," Egbert replied.

Eileen was speechless.

Arriving tonight and leaving tomorrow? You might as well have not come at all!

Suddenly, Egbert asked, "What's the deal with Chester?"

Eileen frowned. "You mean about me hitting him?"

Egbert looked at her. "No, I mean him as a person."

Eileen snorted and relayed the dirt Gentry had dug up on Chester.

Egbert's brow furrowing slightly before he said, "Yeah, there's a business of that sort."

Eileen looked puzzled. "business?"

"It's like a grey industry within the industry. Using an asset you don't need to secure one you do need. They call these under-the-table deals a win- win."

Egbert had been around the block long enough to have seen all sorts of shady deals, but Eileen was relatively new to the scene and had been well- guarded by Ophelia at EchoWave Media Group. She likely wasn't aware of these murky practices.

But as soon as Egbert finished explaining, Eileen had a flash of realization. "Are you talking about resource brokering?"

Egbert was taken aback. "You know about it?"

Eileen did know, but only by hearsay, never having witnessed it firsthand. And that was something she remembered from her past life.

Resource brokering, that's what Chester was doing.

For instance, take the production of "Feathers of Fate." At the outset, some big players wanted the leading lady and the supporting lady roles for their own starlets.

But Carrol was a stickler and wouldn't let investors influence casting decisions. When the big players couldn't push their choices through, they turned to more cunning tactics.

Once they discovered Chester was open to deals, they made a deal with him to make Carrol recast. Whether through temptation or other means, they didn't care about the how - just the outcome.

In return, they promised Chester a handsome "commission" upon success - maybe a lead role in another project, a wad of cash, or even a property. Chester had risen through the ranks by playing the game, no stranger to the unsavory side of the business.

He probably studied Carrol, realizing that the director wasn't swayed by beauty or bribes, and so Chester

decided to pit Paulina and Eileen et

against each other, fueling a feud

that could get them both kicked out.

If he got lucky, they might not even realize he was the instigator, still smitten with him even as they walked out the door.

Best case, Chester walked away with both roles with no fuss. Second best, he got one and made half a profit. Worst case, he messed up and made enemies of both women.

But Chester didn't sweat it. With backing from the investors, he could afford to fail a deal here and there. If one scheme didn't pan out, he'd just move on to the next.

As long as there's demand, there will always be "resource brokers" like Chester, thriving on the underbelly of the industry.

Eileen hadn't expected Chester to be playing the resource broker. But now, she knew the game all too well.

In the cutthroat world of showbiz, it

was the small-time actors who always got the raw end of the deal tangled up with shady middlemen. The A-listers rarely got their hands dirty it was simply beneath them.

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Egbert spoke up, "The money backing Chester has got to be from Silverthread Media Network."

Eileen pondered for a moment before replying, "It's more than that."

The photos Eileen had dug up

showed Chester schmoozing with both men and women. Sure, he was seen with the head honcho of Silverthread Media Network at

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various hotels quite often, but his liaisons with other big-timers

seemed even more intimate.

She shook her head, sighing, "It's like a tangled web - this isn't the work of just one company. There are too many fingers in this pie."

And because the mess was so widespread, Chester strutted around as if he were untouchable.

Eileen wrinkled her nose in disgust, "Showbiz is so filthy."

Egbert chuckled lightly, his eyes on the road ahead, "It's always been, Eileen."

She squinted her eyes, not quite willing to accept that, "That doesn't mean I'm going to let that jerk off the hook so easily!"

Egbert glanced at Eileen and said calmly, "There might be a way."

Surprised, she turned to him, "How?"

With a sly smile, he teased, "Start by calling me 'honey'."

Eileen stunned for a second, then she smacked his shoulder, "Cut the crap and talk sense!"

Egbert replied nonchalantly, "Don't worry, I'll handle it."

As Eileen eyed him, a sudden thought struck her, "You didn't come back just for that market research for Barton, did you? You came to deal with this mess for me, didn't you?"

Egbert pressed the gas pedal a little harder and remained silent.

The car fell into a sudden stillness.

Eileen was genuinely surprised. She'd never expected someone to come swooping in to defend her. She was used to dealing with her own problems.

They soon arrived at the hotel, and after parking, they headed to the elevator together. Eileen pressed the button for her floor but noticed that Egbert hadn't selected one.

The elevator ascended, and despite her curiosity, Eileen didn't ask whether Egbert had booked a room or where he would be staying that night. When the elevator door slid open at her floor, both of them froze.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

There, in the hallway, was Carrol, nursing a beer bottle, pacing back and forth in apparent boredom.

Upon seeing Egbert, Carrol looked like he was about to sob with relief. "You finally decided to show up! I've been waiting ages!"

Eileen gave Egbert a quick, questioning look, "So, you're here for him?"

Egbert was speechless.

Suppressing a snicker, Eileen headed into her own room.

Carrol grabbed Egbert by the arm, pleading, "Come on, let's have a drink in my room!"

Egbert frowned, pulling his arm back, "I don't drink."

Carrol persisted, "Then at least keep me company! I'm about to go stir-crazy here!"

Egbert's expression darkened, "No."

Carrol blurted out, "Where the hell are you going to sleep then? The hotel's fully booked!"

Egbert didn't know what to say.

Just then, Eileen, who had entered her room, reopened the door. She poked her head out and told Carrol, "He's sleeping with me." Then she looked

at Egbert, "Well, are you coming in or what?"