Demon CEO's Hidden Love: Mr Grayson Stole Me From My Abusive Husband-Chapter 91: Stepping Into The Light

Brooke sat in-between Sadie and Damien, with her hands tucked into her thighs, and her eyes glued to the round table in front of her. She could feel Damien’s harsh glare on her, and wished that Thane was around.

But sadly, he wasn’t, and Matthew who had started the whole mess was nowhere to be seen.

"I’m going to be brief with you three. We’ll have the main leads swapped, Sadie will be the female lead, and Brooke will play the supporting role." Director Flynn announced.

Sadie folded her arms, "I refuse. This isn’t right-"

"Don’t talk like a child." Damien sharply interjected.

"Excuse you?" Sadie turned to him, "She auditioned for this role and got it. It wouldn’t be right to have it stripped away because of your bruised ego."

Damien rolled his eyes, "We are actors girlie, this is our job, morality has no leeway in casting. You are an obviously the better suited choice, that’s why I insisted you take the part. But if you don’t want it, no one is forcing you. However, I won’t act with this woman, and that is my final decision."

Sadie parted her lips to speak, but Lucas chimed, "As it stands, Damien’s reputation will help to serande the general public, from a profitable standpoint it is paramount that he becomes the male lead. His experience, talent and fame will be the backbone of this movie." He softened his gaze at Sadie.

"Try to understand, please." He said, hoping to get through to her.

But Sadie wasn’t having it, "Do you think our sponsor will take it lightly? Having her role stripped off her? He won’t." She said.

Damien scoffed, "Brooke, you really are something else, you’re willing to drag the quality of the film under as long as you get a chance to shine. That’s both admirable and disgusting." He lashed out at her.

But she kept silent, something that irritated him.

To Damien, Brooke was like a zombie, he hated docile women like her, he much preferred Sadie’s types, the type who could challenge him and go toe to toe.

Placing her insufferable manager aside, he just could not sense any worth in her, and he wasn’t willing to hold anyone’s hand or lower his acting quality just to match hers.

Lucas glared sharply at him, "Damien!"

Damien reclined into his seat, "Am I lying? This ham actress pops out of nowhere and is suddenly the centre of attention? We’ve seen her type in this industry countless times-"

Sadie interjected, "You talk a lot of nonsense for someone so talented, why don’t you watch her act before spewing all this nonsense?!"

The director snarled at her, "Sadie! You keep quiet! You have no right to speak when you haven’t resolved your rumours. Not only did you pick a fight with Luther Crane, but you’re rumoured to be involved with the producer. You’re not out of the clear yet."

Lucas sighed, he knew this would be a mess the second Damien brought up the idea. But what was he to do? Casting Sadie was the only right choice, Brooke was simply too problematic to show to the public.

And the director was adamant, he wanted Damien’s years of refined acting, and for that he was willing to cast Brooke’s unpolished talent.

"Brooke, what do you say to all of this?" Lucas asked, shining a spotlight on Brooke.

She blinked twice and raised her head, "M-Me?"

Damien sighed, "You are impossible." He muttered under his breath.

Sadie turned to her, and held her hands "Tell him you won’t do it. You worked hard for this, don’t let it all go to waste-"

Brooke smiled weakly, "Actually, I think the director is right."

Sadie’s countenance fell. "W-What?" She asked in disbelief, as Brooke withdrew her hand. She looked around the room, only to see everyone including Damien was just as shocked as she was.

Brooke cleared her throat and clearly spoke up, "I’m saying that you’re a better fit for this role. I’m willing to step down and take the supporting role."

"Brooke are you sure about that?" Lucas asked, a part of him feeling guilty.

She nodded, "As it stands, I’m much too inexperienced, so I’d like to use this movie as a learning experience, if that’s okay with everyone."

Sadie gripped her shoulders, "What are you saying? Don’t you want to act-"

"I am acting, and that’s already more than I can ask for." She said, peeling Sadie’s hands off her shoulders. She averted her gaze to Damien, who had his eyes trained on her. He blinked twice and looked away, making it too obvious he had been staring.

"I apologize on behalf of my assistant for causing you trouble. For the sake of this movie, and everyone working hard, I’ll take responsibility and play the supporting role." She announced.

Damien frowned, ’She’s still the same timid person, but somehow she seems different than some moments ago.’ he thought, wondering why he was unable to get a good read on this woman.

Brooke went on, "As for the sponsor, I’d like to assure you that no repercussions will be met because of this decision."

"Good." The director replied. "The supporting role we have for you is important, you’ll be taking over Sadie’s role as the sickly younger sister of the female lead. And while it may seem easy, it’s a role that requires technical acting." He said, trying to smooth over the deal.

Sadie watched in disbelief as Brooke wore a smile, and nodded to everything being said. She leveled her eyes at the tight fists Brooke made under the table, and the slight dampness in her eyes.

It broke her heart to see Brooke putting up a bold front just to please everyone.

"Yes, I agree, that would be best for the film." Brooke concurred.

Lucas exhaled sharply as he got up, "If that’s all, then I call this meeting to a close." He announced then left. The director called Damien outside to have a word with him, leaving behind Sadie and Brooke.

"Brooke! I can convince them! You don’t have to do this, please-" she begged, but Brooke refused to waver.

"Sadie, I’m fine."

"But-"

"No, I really am. It’s my first time in a film, I’m glad that it’s actually happening. So I don’t care what role I get to play, I could even be a corpse if that’s what they wanted." She said.

Sadie frowned, "You may be okay with this but I can’t accept it."

Brooke rested her hand on her shoulder, "If anyone were to ask me, I’d say you deserve this role the most. You came here despite everything going on, you challenged Damien for my sake and you’re a brilliant actress. I’m always left in awe whenever I see you perform." she said, her eyes watery.

"But, Brooke-"

She inhaled sharply, "And besides, Cassie has done more than enough to put you down. Don’t you think it’s time you finally stood up to her? You are no longer in her shadow, Sadie, it’s time for you to step into the light."