Chapter 7

Lila's POV:

Days flew by and just like that it was Friday, the day for the auditions for the next beamer girl. I was a nervous wreck throughout the entire morning. I was so nervous I almost spilled the beans to Mrs. Stella, but I held myself just in time. With her finally going to work, Tessa and I had enough time to talk.

"Is everything okay, Lila? You've been acting strange all morning." Tessa asked, as she ate her breakfast.

"Well… There is something." I muttered.

"What is it?"

"I'll be going to Beamlights Entertainment today."

Tessa raised her brows at me quizzically.

"What are you going to do there?"

"There's something I have to go return to the company. I met a guy who works there, he gave me a card and told me to return it to the company."

"Wait, you met a GUY!?" Tessa squeaked.

"Tessa! Come on… don't be like this. Just keep this a secret for me, okay? I don't mom to find out I've been doing something crazy lately."

"Judging by the way you've been acting all morning, I guess it won't be long till mom discovers what's going on."

"She wouldn't know if you don't tell her." I whispered furiously. Tessa shrugged.

"Okay… My lips are sealed." She said, making that zipped up sign. I smiled.

"Thanks. I knew I can count on you."

"When are you going to be back?" She asked after a while.

"Once I'm done there. Hopefully, it won't be too long." I replied to her.

"Cool."

"Finish up your breakfast, the school bus will be here soon."

"Whatever…" Tessa muttered. I grinned.

***

(At the penthouse)

Chad's POV:

I left my room combing my hair and met the rest of the guys in the dance studio in our penthouse, fooling around.

Min ho was the first to notice that I was dressed to go out.

"Hey, going somewhere?" He asked.

"Yeah. I want to go to the auditions that would take place in the industry. You coming?"

"Eventually… If there's nothing to do here." He replied.

"Cool, see you guys later." I said and walked out of the house. Bodyguards tried to follow me, but I sent them back. I wanted to be alone on this.

***

Dean's POV:

I heard the conversation Chad and Min ho had before he left, but I paid less attention to it and focus on what I was doing–which is nothing by the way.

"Dean." Nico called. I looked up at him.

"The rest of us would go to industry too. Would you like to come along?"

"Me? No thanks. I'll just stay behind. You can go on ahead."

"You sure?" Jayden asked.

"Totally."

"You and Chad aren't fighting, are you?" Min ho asked.

"Of course not. Just been a bit too busy lately. Don't worry if I can make it, I surely show up."

"Ok. Let me go grab something for us to eat. I'm starving." Jayden said and walked out of the dance studio. I plugged in my earphones and wore them.

***

Lila's POV:

I was out of the head office of Beamlights Entertainment as I stared at the building. It was massive! No wonder it's so expensive! Really expensive cars just kept coming in and out of the company and once in a while I'd see some stars that the company has brought out so far. My head was spinning just thinking that I could be one of them one day. I blinked rapidly and took in a deep breath, walking to the security. He had a grim face on.

"Um… hello." I greeted meekly.

"Yes? How may I help you?" He asked curtly. I cleared my throat.

"Huh… I came to see someone… He works in the company." I replied.

"And who is that someone?"

"Conner?"

He didn't look too convinced. After a while, I brought out the golden card and gave it to him.

"He owns this sir." I said, as I stretched it to him. The man looked at me quizzically before collecting it.

"Wait here." He ordered and walked into the security office. I stood there and looked around. Just then a black Maserati, the latest model, drove in. Wow, these artists are really living the life here.

After what seemed like forever, the security man came out. His expression didn't change whatsoever, and I was already feeling scared. What if Conner was lying? He got to where I was and stopped. I held my hands.

"Come with me." He ordered, and I jumped slightly. Wow, Conner was serious about the card working. He led me into the company and I could see some contestants who came for the auditions all lined up with their numbers. Some of them weren't even from this country! Just to get a spot!

I kept following the officer until we got to an elevator. He pressed a button and the door opened. We walked in. After it had closed against us, he made a call. I couldn't hear anything the other person except for the 'okay sir' and 'yes sir.' the security officer kept saying. I kept quiet and stared ahead.

After a while, he pressed a floor button that was painted in gold. The trip was really quiet. Once we got to the room, the elevator dinged and opened. We walked out, and that's when I realized where we were. It was the Sparks floor!

The sides of the wall were covered with pictures and portraits of them. They looked devastatingly handsome! But what are we doing here?

I continued following the official quietly as I stared at the pictures. Then he stopped and pointed to a room. It was the Sparks dance studio.

"He said you should wait for him here." He announced.

"H… Here?" I repeated.

"Yes miss."

"O… okay." I said and pushed the door open, walking in. Once the guards were satisfied, he turned and left. I stared at the empty room and at my reflection. This is so good to be true! A song was playing below and instinctively I started dancing to it.

It felt so… Right, like I belonged here. I didn't know how much time passed while I was there, but the next thing I heard was the door opening and someone walking in. I stopped and glanced at the direction of the door. It was Conner and he was all covered up, like always.

"I see you've made yourself comfortable here." He said as he walked closer. Damn! He's even more expensively dressed than he was the last two times we met! I could spot a diamond earring in one of his ears.

"Oh… Hi Conner." I greeted with a small wave. He chuckled and stopped right in front of me.

"Please, don't call me that. My name's Chad." He said and stretched out his hand. "Nice meeting you."

"Hello… CHAD!?" I squeaked, my eyes widening to a size of saucers and brain reeling to a stop. There's one Chad that I know and he's a member in the boy bands, Sparks. If this guy's name is truly Chad… Then he's a member of the Sparks! No way!

"Yes way…" He said, as if reading my thoughts. "I'm Chad Turner, member of the boy band Sparks. Lied about my name when we first met."

I still stood there, frozen. This cannot be happening to me. He gently held my shoulders, giving it a slight shake. Oh my gosh, he's holding Me!

"Hey, are you okay? He asked, amusement in his voice.

"Ye… ah. I'm fine, just surprised." I muttered.

"Cool." He said and straightened up. "Didn't you say you wanted to take part in the auditions?"

I nodded, unsure to speak.

"Well, please come with me." He said and led the way. I stared at him at first until my brain came back to its position and that's when I ran after him. He saw and chuckled. I blushed.

We got to the elevator we used earlier, and he clicked on the button, opening it. We walked in and pressed a floor button, and the elevator door closed. I stole a glance from him as I inhaled in cologne. Oh my gosh, do I smell good? I'm freaking out! He looked at me and tried to hide another chuckle.

"Calm down Lila. I'm not eating you." He said in a musical way. I only blushed harder.

Finally! The elevator doorbell dinged and opened. We walked out, and I realized we were at the floor the auditions were taking place. Almost immediately, bodyguards surrounded the both of us. All the girls who came for the auditions couldn't stop staring at us and a few were even taking pictures! They must have felt really lucky to have met their star. I chuckled internally. I've met him twice and I didn't even know he was the one. We got to the doorstep, and he stopped. Then whispered something to the bodyguard closer to him and he nodded and walked in. I just kept staring at everything.

"Please wait a moment." He said as he turned to me. I nodded. After a while a young woman, probably in her early thirties, came out with a file in her hand. She looked at us and smiled when she saw Chad.

"Hello Chad. You finally decided to see us today!" She said quietly, but excited.

"Hi Mira. How are you?"

"As you can see, I'm very good. Just really busy." She replied.

"I can see that." Chad replied and grinned.

"What can I do for you?"

"Hmm… Mira, this is Lila Walker." Chad said as he introduced me to her.

"Hello Lila." She said as she stretched her hand. I nervously took it.

"I was hoping you could help me fix a spot for her." Chad continued.

"Oh… Is she on the list?" Mira asked.

"Um no. There wasn't enough time to do all the formalities. Don't worry everything will be on me."

"Okay, I'll see what I can do. Not like I can refuse. After Ximena and her mom, you're the next in charge."

"Thanks Mira. Knew I could count on you."

"Anytime." She replied. Chad turned to me.

"I'll leave you to her now. Anything she says that you should do, do it. Good luck out there." And with a slight pinch on my cheeks, Chad left with his bodyguards. I stood there in a daze. Someone cleared her throat. It was Mira.

"Please come with me." She said and I followed her. She took me to a set of dressing room backstage while handing me a form.

"Fill out the form and get changed. I'll have someone send you your number while you wait for your turn. Is that okay?"

"Very okay ma'am." I replied.

"Oh… Don't call me that. Mira will be just fine." She said. I stared at her fingers.

"But you're…" She cut me off.

"Married. I know. I still like to be called that. Brings out the young girl in me."

"Oh…" I trailed off. She smiled and left the place. I walked over to one of the chairs and plopped on it, using the pen she gave me and filling out the form.

***

I filled out the form, and just like Mira said, a staff member came to collect it from me and gave me my number. I changed and parking my hair in a tight ponytail, I was ready. I walked over to where the contestants stood and waited while their names were being called.

Some of them were really talented as they have practiced their whole lives, while the rest were just fumbling, maybe due to stage fright. It made me wonder if I was going to do great. A long time passed and after an even longer wait, my number was being called. I nervously took to the stage. The spotlights centered on me, almost blinding me.

"What's your name?" One judge asked.

"My name's Lila Walker." I replied. The judges looked at themselves, muttering things, but Mira assured them.

"Okay… You can continue." He said. I took in a deep breath as I prepared myself to do the stuff I knew best… And that was dancing.

The music began playing and just as I was getting ready to move to it.

"Stop!" someone yelled.

I stopped, panicking. What did I do wrong?