The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era [BL]

Chapter 665 TO BELLMONT THEATRE

ASTRID opened the door to the passenger's seat and sat down inside the car. Ellis, who was driving, immediately started the car, and with a low hum of the engine, they pulled away from the curb.

Their destination for today was the Bellmont Theatre, a small venue known for hosting plays and musicals. With a small capacity of around 500 seats, it primarily showcased performances by amateur actors and aspiring artists just beginning their journey in the world of theater.

Director McCann chose this venue for two main reasons. Firstly, it was significantly cheaper to rent than a larger venue. Secondly, given that the auditions were spread across two days, they anticipated a turnout that would comfortably remain under 500 people, making the theater's size ideal.

"How was your trip back home?" Ellis asked after a moment.

Astrid glanced at Ellis and suddenly remembered his promise to himself: he needed to tell his agent about his family situation. As his representative, Ellis had a right to know about anything that might impact his career. And being a Grimaldi—with a mother presumed dead and a father on the most-wanted list—was definitely something that could have serious consequences for his career.

But he decided it could wait until after the audition. It wasn't about putting it off—he just didn't want to overwhelm Ellis right now. They had enough to focus on, and bringing up something so serious would only complicate things. Yes, that was definitely the reason.

Definitely.

After convincing himself it was the right decision to wait, Astrid finally responded to Ellis's earlier question. "It was... quite fruitful."

Ellis arched a brow. "That's a good thing, I assume?"

Astrid thought back to his visit and everything that had happened. "Yeah."

"It's better to be early than late," Astrid said with a polite smile. Truthfully, he also wanted to avoid arriving when a crowd had already formed outside for the auditions.

"That's true," McCann said, then gestured to the woman beside him. "This is the casting director I mentioned earlier, Camilla Hughes."

"Hello, it's a pleasure to finally meet you both, Mr. Townsend and Miss Ellis," Camilla said warmly. "And thank you for trusting my friend and believing in his vision."

Astrid smiled. "No need to thank me. After reading the Director's script, it was clear the story had something special. I just couldn't pass it up."

Director McCann's cheeks showed a faint blush, clearly embarrassed by the compliment. He cleared his throat. "By the way, that's Joseph Hamilton, our director of photography," he said, motioning toward the man adjusting the cameras. "Hey, Joe! Say hi to our Dr. Stevens!"

The man glanced in their direction, raised a hand in a casual wave, and offered a polite nod.

Astrid acknowledged the gesture with a smile and a small wave in return.

The four of them then walked towards the table in front of the stage.

"Astrid, I know you said you wouldn't interfere with our casting decisions," Director McCann said, his tone thoughtful. "However, I'd still like to hear your opinion. It would be great if you could sit with us later during the auditions."

Astrid was a bit taken aback by the request, but seeing no reason to decline, he simply nodded and said, "Sure."