A/N: Ready for another one?

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Chapter-2: The Opportune Moment

"Isabella, honey, come over here for a minute." Hearing the slutty stage manager, Victoria's venomous voice sounding sugary sweet, she stops in her tracks.

Closing her eyes, she curses the rotten day James had picked Victoria to be the manager. Then she lets the straps of her bag slip from her fingers before making her way toward where Victoria stands with a middle-aged man.

The man looks to be in his early forties. With the brushed back dirty blond hair and hazy gray eyes, he gives a vibe of danger, but his wardrobe of tailor-made suit and tie indicates that he's a businessman before anything else.

She watches as his eyes sweep over her from head to toe before a satisfied smile comes over his face. He doesn't speak to her, instead looks at Victoria and says, "Yes, she'll do perfectly."

Unable to take it anymore when they're clearly speaking of her, Isabella clears her throat. Only then does the man look back at her. With the smile still on his face, he holds a hand out to her. "Hello, Isa," he greets. "I'm Royce King."

Isabella eyes his hand and then without reaching for it, replies, "My name is Isabella."

He looks at her as if she has lost her mind. "I know, and I'm the Royce King."

Shaking her head, she says, "It didn't seem like you knew my name. You called me Isa. And adding a the before your name doesn't make it unique, you know?"

The man, Royce King, stares at her in disbelief as Victoria gives a nervous chuckle. "She's got a sharp tongue on her, Mr. King," she says, wrapping an arm around Isabella. Leaning her head down, she whispers in her ear, "Stop tongue wagging. He's a big time movie producer and he's interested in your work. So do yourself a favor and shut up."

Isabella shakes her hand off and narrows her eyes at Victoria. "What do you mean interested in my work?"

It's Royce who answers her. "Ah you see, Isa," he starts. "I am about to start on a new movie and my lead actress just quit. So I need a new replacement, and quickly."

Taken aback by the sudden opportunity, Isabella asks, "Don't I have to audition?"

"No, no, there's not enough time for auditions," he answers shaking his head. "I saw your play this evening. You are perfect for the job. Hell, you even have the right hair color."

She can't rein in her curiosity and asks again, "Why did she quit? Your lead actress?"

"Because that dumb bimbo has lost her mind," he says before looking at her closely. "You don't mix work with your personal life, do you? That's where she went wrong."

"No," she replies quickly. "My professional and personal lives are very separate."

He makes a sound of satisfaction and beams at Victoria. "You were right then. She will be perfect." Turning to Isabella, he adds, "I'll have the contract sent over at your house tonight. Go through it carefully and then sign. Isa Swan, you are going to be the next Rose Hale."

Isabella waits until Royce is out of the theatre before cornering Victoria. "Thanks, Victoria," she says quietly. "Although I still don't know why you did that for me."

Victoria waves a hand to point out to their shabby dressing room. "You are meant for better things, Isabella, and I didn't want you to rot in here."

"You also didn't want me around James," Isabella states in a softer voice. When Victoria doesn't deny her allegations, she smiles. "I would've never looked at James, you know? But thank you anyway. You have given me an opportunity for a better life."

At home, Isabella sits on her couch and reads through the contract several times, making sure that she wasn't signing up for something she doesn't want. Then seizing the moment of opportunity, she writes down her name on the dotted line.

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Ann