Groggy and irritable, she stepped out for some coffee.
Energized by caffeine, she made her way to the film set to gauge the crew’s progress and then visited the set of the variety show
to ensure its smooth operation.
Thanks to her new assistant’s diligence, everything appeared to be in order.
Given the Appetizer Squad’s soaring popularity and with their primary competitor, Rollingrock Media, no longer in the picture,
Ariana was confident the show would proceed without any major issues.
The group and its members were amassing fans at an impressive rate.
Now, Ariana’s focus shifted to charting their course post-finals.
The film was her inaugural investment since her return, so naturally, she harbored high hopes for its success. And with Sadie’s
presence on set, it was all the more important for Ariana to personally oversee its production.
Upon reaching the set, Ariana’s dark circles under her eyes were evident. Most of the crew had already assembled.
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Tyler was the first to spot her. He approached, saying, “You look like you’ve had a rough night.” His eyes held genuine concern.
Ariana responded with a weary chuckle, meeting his gaze.
“Just couldn’t sleep,” she said, not wanting to discuss the break-in.
After a few more exchanges, Ariana scanned the area and inquired, “Is everyone here?”
“Except for Sadie, everyone is here,” Tyler informed her as they headed to the backstage.
A quick assessment confirmed Tyler’s words: Everyone was present and ready, except for the conspicuous absence of Sadie.
Time ticked on, and with every passing minute, Ariana’s patience wore thin. Her frown deepened with each glance at her watch.
She couldn’t shake off the feeling that Sadie’s tardiness was an intentional act.
Growing restless, Ariana addressed the crew, saying, “Has anyone heard from Sadie? Someone needs to reach out to her.”
The team exchanged apprehensive looks, with someone murmuring, “Should we maybe give her a bit more time?”
Given Sadie’s influential connections, no one was eager to confront her.
Ariana felt trapped. She didn’t have Sadie’s number, nor did she want to bother Holden or Shawn over such a trifling matter. She
could do nothing but wait, growing more agitated with each moment.
An hour later, Sadie finally graced the set with her presence, strolling in nonchalantly.
What was even more unexpected was her solo entrance. No assistants, managers, or stylists accompanied her.
With Sadie’s arrival, the anxious production team hastened to resume work. But, before they could make significant progress,
Sadie casually sat down and gestured at a water glass on a table. Then, she turned to Ariana, demanding, “Pour me some water
and bring me my coat from the car.”