CHAPTER 243

The drive to the production office was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. I couldn’t stop replaying Aunt Lou and my cousins' words of encouragement in my head, reminding myself that I’d made it this far, that this was just the beginning. But as I pulled up to the sleek, modern building where the meeting was being held, a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach.

I took a deep breath, adjusted the strap of my purse, and stepped out of the car. You’ve got this, I reminded myself as I walked through the glass doors into the lobby.

The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile, and after a quick check-in, I was led down a long corridor to a large conference room. The walls were adorned with posters from past movies, some of them critically acclaimed blockbusters. It was a reminder of the gravity of the industry I was about to step into. This is real, I thought. This is happening.

The door opened, and I stepped inside. The producers, seated around a large wooden table, turned to look at m