Web Fic
Chapter 497
Mirabella had only ever been on the live show Country Comfort once before, so when she first started shooting the commercial, she was understandably a bit rusty. She flubbed her lines twice. But by the third. take, she had fully gotten into the swing of things. She slipped into her role with such ease that it was as if she was born for the camera. On the other hand, Leo, her co–star, seemed to struggle with every take.
Leo was no stranger to endorsements, having done a few commercials himself. You’d think, with his experience, he’d outshine his sister, but as the shoot went on, Mirabella set the pace, leading Leo into the rhythm needed to wrap up the shoot.
The brand manager had been sweating bullets at the start, but as the takes got smoother, he could finally breathe a sigh of relief. Once they wrapped, he reviewed the footage, particularly taken with Mirabella’s mysterious, cool demeanor that shone through even without showing her face. He couldn’t have been more pleased.
He was convinced–his insistence on casting her was spot on. Plus, this was just the raw vlog footage. Once they added sound effects in post–production, the sales were going to skyrocket.
The manager was bursting with excitement. He whipped out his phone and instructed the ad department to buckle down and finish the production that very night–even if it meant working overtime. A good ad delayed by even a day was a significant loss.
Just after wrapping up, Leo sneezed so hard it seemed to shake his very core. Mirabella glanced at him, noticing the pallor of his skin against the cold, and remarked, “Leo, your immune system could use some
work.”
Before Leo could respond, he was interrupted by another sneeze. Collins came over, draping his coat over Leo’s shoulders, then handed Mirabella her jacket as well.
As she slipped on her coat, Mirabella asked, “Collins, we’re all done here, right? No more shots needed?”
Collins pondered for a moment before replying. “Well, if this ad does well, I reckon we might need some additional photoshoots.”
Mirabella’s eyebrows shot up. “Will that be a separate charge?
Collins gave her a silent look.
“I recall clause 12, subsection 3 of the contract states the fee covers this commercial shoot only, not any additional photography,” she added.
Collins‘ eyes widened in disbelief. How did she remember that? He recalled how Mirabella had only skimmed the contract when signing it, and he had thought she was merely putting on an act, not really understanding the details.
Now… Collins touched his nose self–consciously. “Mira, how do you remember all that?”
“Is it that hard?” Mirabella shot back.
Feeling like his intelligence was being mocked, Collins muttered to himself. “Was it not difficult? She had pinpointed it down to the exact clause and subsection!”
Leo, rubbing his nose and sounding a bit nasal, chimed in matter–of–factly, “Collins, have you forgotten my sister’s a straight–A student?”
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Collins shot him a look. Being a straight–A student and having a photographic memory were entirely different things, thank you very much!
Not in the mood to argue with Leo, Collins turned back to Mirabella and said, “If the brand wants additional photos, well renegotiate the fees.”
“Mhmm, Mirabella nodded, pleased as punch, as if she was already counting the extra cash that would soon be hers
Leo turned away, unable to watch his sister’s mercenary glee. She was such a money grubber.
Suddenly, Collins remembered something. He quickly fished Mirabella’s phone out of his bag and handed it to her. “Oh right, Mira, someone tried to call you earlier. I didn’t pick up.”
Mirabella took her phone and checked the missed calls. Her eyes narrowed slightly, her fingertips grazing the phone’s edge. She didn’t call back but instead slipped the phone back into her pocket.