404 [BABY’S DAY-OFF] (VI)

THE assistant PD suddenly felt terrified when he saw the dark expression on Ellis face. Weren’t the two of them having a good conversation just now?

They were on the program’s mobile truck and were following and monitoring the recording of [Baby’s Day-Off]’s next episode. The agents usually accompanied the shooting like this since they couldn’t possibly accompanied their artist during the recording.

Before Astrid arrived at the house of the kid he would take care of today, the assistant PD and Ellis were still having a fun conversation. Discussing about some interesting things. But the moment she saw the kid, her expression started to change.

When she listened to the kid’s name, that’s when the assistant PD truly felt like the storm started to brew. After she heard where the two were going, that’s when the storm took a violent turn. Then, as if just waiting to explode, she finally asked him the question that resulted to the other’s current expression.

At first, the assistant PD couldn’t understand this sudden change. And then, as if the screws in his brain started to connect, he finally understood why. That’s when he remembered the PD of the program telling him not to mention certain things to Ellis Payne. But because he was so engrossed with his conversation with the other, he had completely forgotten about that. And so, when she asked about who the kid’s mother was, he didn’t think much and just answered.

Seeing the other’s reaction right now, the assistant PD knew that he made a huge mistake. He probably should call the PD now, right?

But before he could do that, he was bombarded again by a sudden question.

“Did you make a deal with her?” Ellis asked.

And the assistant PD really didn’t know how to answer that.

…..

Ellis let out a frustrated sigh. “Never mind.”

If the director somehow made a deal with that person so Astrid could be invited in this program, Ellis couldn’t help but think that the other had an ulterior motive behind her action. And that this episode might be disadvantageous for Astrid in the long run. The problem was that person wasn’t really the type to do something like that.

But then again, people could change. Just looked at how controlling she was of her son. Never in Ellis’ wildest imagination would she think that the other was capable of that. Or maybe, she just never really knew her at all.

Ellis turned to the virtual screen monitoring the recording and stared at the boy. Those turquoise eyes should have been already a red flag for her.

She closed his eyes, trying to calm down her profusely beating heart. When she opened them, she turned to the assistant PD. “If you’re planning to edit this episode in a way that would make the public see my artist in a bad light, I would do everything in my power to let everyone know that you manipulate your episodes to create issues for your guest. Even those who couldn’t enter the [Star List] would think twice before they guest at this program.”

Evil editing – that was something some programs do to gain traction and be part of [Cyberspace]’s trending topics. Although all those programs gained bad reputations in the public, people still watched them because of the drama they generated.

But because of that, hardly any decent actors or actresses would intentionally be part of programs like that. Only washed up actors and celebrities at the bottom who wanted to gain instant recognition would go to such programs.

Since this was just a new program, Ellis was sure that the program team, especially the director wouldn’t want something like that to happen. Having a tarnished reputation was a sure way for a network to quickly cancel a new program.

She also didn’t want for them to reach that point. The reason why she even agreed into putting Astrid in this program when the director reached out to her was because he found the program really promising. But now, she felt like the other had an ulterior motive for inviting Astrid.

She really hoped that that was not the case.

“Call the director and tell him what I just told you,” she added when she saw the assistant PD panicking.

The other scrambled to do just that.

Ellis returned his gaze back to the virtual screen and stared at the boy named Livi.

[Just what were you thinking… Olivia?]

———-

Astrid watched Livi played with the cats in the cat cafe they went to. The other had been smiling from ear to ear since they entered the place. One cat jumped into Livi’s arms and the kid just laughed. It was a laugh full of joy, showing just how much fun he’s having.

“Is this your first time playing with cats?” he couldn’t help but ask just by seeing how animated and happy Livi was.

Livi nodded. “Yes. But I did play with robot pets before. Although they looked very real, their not warm or very soft. Unlike this one,” he said, rubbing his cheek on the cat that he’s holding.

Astrid was surprised by that. He wanted to ask if his parents did not allow him to interact with real animals, but he held himself back. They were still recording. He didn’t want to make it seem like he was purposely making Livi’s parents looked bad. Even though they’re starting to seem that way in Astrid’s eyes.

There’s overprotective and there’s controlling. Livi’s parents were surely threading a fine line between the two. If they were already like this when their son was just only four, he wondered just how bad it would become in the future.

He ruffled the kid’s hair. “If there’s any other place you want to go to, just tell this big brother. We’ll go there after we go to the garden. Okay?”

Livi seemed to be surprised by the sudden touch in his hair, but soon a shy smile appeared on his lips. He seemed very happy by this unprecedented skin ship.

“Uhm, okay.”

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