Chapter 272

At 6:15 PM, Emily Smith removed her headphones and rubbed her stiff neck.

The hallway outside the recording studio was dimly lit. She pulled out her phone, the screen displaying six missed calls—four from the same landline number, and two from her friend Ethan He, a producer at Flying Fish Productions.

As her finger hovered over the screen, the landline number flashed again.

"Hello, this is Flying Fish Animation," a professionally cheerful voice greeted her. "Congratulations, Miss Smith. You've been selected to voice the second lead role in Rolly's Wonderful Journey."

Emily tightened her grip on the phone, her knuckles turning white. "You mean... the fox?"

"Yes. Can you come in tomorrow at 10 AM to sign the contract?"

By the time she hung up, her palm was damp with sweat. Ethan leaned against the wall nearby, forcing a smile.

"Congratulations," he said, his voice strained. "I knew you could do it."

Emily noticed the dark circles under his eyes. "What about your audition—"

"Rejected." He shrugged. "They found a better fit for Rolly."

Of course, he wouldn't mention that the decision had been personally vetoed by William Johnson. That man scowled if Ethan even got within three meters of Emily.

As the elevator descended, Emily flipped through the script. Through the rearview mirror, her driver James saw her curl up in the seat, her eyelids gradually drooping.

The black sedan glided silently into the underground garage of BestTech Tower.

On the 67th floor, in the executive office, William raised a hand, cutting off the finance director's report. "That's all for today."

The elevator numbers descended steadily. The garage lights cast a cold white glow as his polished shoes clicked against the concrete floor.

Michael Thompson stepped out of the employee elevator just in time to see William duck into a sedan. As the door closed, he caught a glimpse of a familiar profile.

"Emily... Smith?"

The car's interior was warm. Emily felt herself being lifted, the crisp scent of cedar enveloping her. Blinking groggily, her gaze landed on William's throat, mere inches from her face.

"Awake?" His amused voice came from above.

Before she could respond, his lips met hers. By the time Emily fully registered what was happening, her fingers were already clutching the front of his shirt.