Reborn With a Money-Making System: Ruined Actress to Nation's Treasure-Chapter 103: The Second Audition (1)

I changed out of my school uniform and into a more professional outfit; a white shirt, a black knee-length skirt, and a blazer. I styled my hair into a bun but left a few soft curls loose around my face.

I knew this outfit was basically the stereotypical "secretary look" everyone saw in steamy shows, but honestly, what could I say? If that’s what people wanted, I’d just go along with it.

I ended up waiting for almost three hours before it was finally my turn to enter the audition room. Unlike Green Leaf Production, this company didn’t have a three-step audition, just one round, and they’d announce the results later.

Honestly, this kind of audition felt even more nerve-wracking because sometimes they only released the results after one or two months, and that long wait could easily make me fail my random mission.

"Good afternoon, everyone." I greeted them with confidence as I walked in. My black heels clicked against the floor with each step, drawing everyone’s attention toward me.

I had worried that Helcia’s soft features wouldn’t suit this kind of bold character, but once I put on bold makeup and bright red lipstick, my face surprisingly matched the sexy vibe perfectly.

Not only that, but my curly hair also added a wild and alluring touch.

"Oh my." One of the four judges evaluating my performance looked stunned by my appearance. She couldn’t help but keep staring at me for a few moments. "You look gorgeous and beautiful. Please, state your name, sweetheart."

I smiled and stepped forward. "I’m Helcia Orszebet, but you can just call me Helcia. I’m here because I’m interested in playing the role of Elena."

The woman nodded politely before gesturing toward the camera in the middle of the room. "Alright, Helcia. Please stand on the mark and introduce yourself once more. After that, you may start the script whenever you’re ready."

I nodded and walked toward the X mark taped on the floor. My heels clicked softly, echoing in the room. I stopped, straightened my blazer, and smiled confidently at the camera.

"Hello, my name is Helcia Orszebet," I said with a calm, alluring tone. "I’m auditioning for the role of Elena."

The director leaned forward slightly, watching me closely. "You may start when ready," he said.

I took a deep breath and lowered my gaze for a second, letting the character sink in. When I looked up again, my eyes carried that same dangerous mix of warmth and seduction Elena was known for.

"Mr. Croix," I began, my voice smooth and teasing, "you told me to keep our meetings strictly professional... yet here you are, standing in my office at midnight."

I took a small step forward, letting a faint smile tug at my lips. "Do you really want to discuss work, or are you just afraid to admit you missed me?"

I bit my lower lip, then slowly unbuttoned the top of my shirt. My voice turned soft and teasing as I said, "Or maybe... your bitchy wife caused trouble again?" I let out a soft sigh, my tone filled with mock sympathy. "She’s always making you stressed, isn’t she? But unlike her... I can make you feel better."

I took a small step back and leaned against the table behind me, my fingers brushing its edge. With a lazy smile, I lifted one finger and beckoned the imaginary man in front of me to come closer. "Why don’t you just leave her for good," I whispered, eyes half-lidded, "and stay with me forever, Jacob?"

Within seconds, I quickly turned my head to the side, pretending as if I had just been slapped hard.

My loose bun immediately came undone, and my curls tumbled down around my shoulders. It looked messy, wild, and perfect for the scene.

"Don’t think I don’t know anything, Elena!" the director voiced Jacob Croix’s lines. "You act all sweet in front of me, but behind my back, you’ve been stealing from me!"

Yeah, I wasn’t acting out a sexy scene for this audition. It was the moment Jacob confronted Elena after finding out his secretary had been embezzling money and secretly having an affair with the owner of his rival company.

Well, honestly, he kind of deserved it, right?I mean, the guy cheated on his wife, so why would he expect loyalty from anyone else?

Snapping back into character, I dropped to my knees, letting crocodile tears stream down my cheeks. In the script, Elena really did that.

She could cry on command within seconds. That made her character a bit tricky for me at first, because I didn’t even have enough time to use my usual "imagine your cat dying in your arms" trick.

"Mr. Croix, you’ve got it all wrong!" I cried, lifting my eyes toward the imaginary man. "Mr. Barren forced me into that relationship! He... he said he’d leak my nudes if I refused him. Please, believe me, Mr. Croix, I would never betray you!"

The director, still playing Jacob, replied coldly, "Save your tears, Elena. Do you think I’m stupid? You and that bastard Barren were together long before you met me."

In the next part, Jacob was supposed to throw a pile of photos onto the floor, pictures of Elena and Mr. Barren together for more than six years. Then he’d play an audio recording where Elena admitted she’d only used Jacob to steal company secrets and take his money.

"Cut!" the director finally said. "That was amazing, Helcia! I really mean it!"

I quickly grabbed my handkerchief and wiped away the messy mix of tears and eyeliner before standing up straight again.

"It... it really feels like I can see Elena’s character come to life now," said a woman sitting at another table. She was the book’s author, Junniper Leslie, so it seemed she was there to see how well the chosen actor fit her character.

"I know, Ms. Leslie," the director said. "I’ve read the script over and over again, and Helcia truly looks and feels like the Elena I imagined. Besides that, extra points for your curly hair because Elena has that too."