A Reborn Bride Pearl Emerging from Dust by Sally Garcia

The interviews hadn't started yet, but the director and the rest of the team were already settled in, prepping for the day. As soon as Calliope walked in, they waved her over with easy smiles.

"We've already done a first round of cuts," one of them explained. "Everyone coming in now is a pretty solid fit."

"We've handed out the sides already. The actors will be reading with one of our assistants. All that's left is to see how they do."

Calliope took a seat next to Zachary. He slid over a stack of headshots and résumés for her to look through.

"These are the ones who look and fit the part best," he said quietly. "And their acting chops aren't half bad, either."

"But we can only pick five. So, even with this smaller group, the pressure's on. Our job is just to find the ones who really click with the roles and, of course, can act."

Calliope nodded, flipping through the files. Halfway through, she paused,

surprised to see Ulysses' name staring back at her.

She hadn't expected that. Ulysses was auditioning, too?

Then again, it made sense. Zachary was a big name in the industry, and the script had been getting some buzz. Plus, with a powerhouse production company backing this show, pretty much everyone in the business would want a shot.

Ulysses was just another actor trying his luck. Nothing strange about that.

realized she was here as well.

biggest fans these days. They seemed to believe she'd stolen everything from them when her grandfather passed, inheriting what they thought was

let it

up, Callie? Spot someone you know? You know I'm not usually one for favoritism, but if it's

was usually all business, a total stickler

So for him to say

showed just

Chow mu

he trusted

times before, and he knew she had a

s

shook her head with a light laugh. "No need. Let's just

"Fair enough, Zachary agreed,

unsurprised. If

cast someone

one would've

was the show's biggest investor. She could have anyone

wasn't