C3 Chapter Three

Keisha’s footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway of her apartment building. The casting call earlier that day had been a step forward, but her emotions were a tangled mess. Part of her felt proud for finally showing up, but doubt clung to her like a shadow. Had she done enough? Would her nerves ruin whatever small chance she had?

She unlocked the door to her apartment, stepping into the familiar clutter of mismatched furniture and stacks of old acting books. Setting her bag down on the couch, she collapsed onto the cushions, staring at the ceiling.

The memory of the audition replayed in her mind—the panel of blank-faced directors, the dry quiver in her voice as she delivered her lines. She didn’t regret going, but the vulnerability of putting herself out there again left her feeling raw.

Her phone buzzed on the coffee table, pulling her back to the present. She leaned over, expecting a text from Hazel, but instead, it was a notification from her side gig app.

Client Inquiry: Friday evening, dinner date. Duration: 3 hours. Location: Emerson Hotel.

Keisha stared at the screen, her stomach twisting. These notifications always carried a sense of unease, but she couldn’t afford to ignore them. Bills had to be paid, and the audition hadn’t magically changed her financial situation.

She accepted the job with a sigh, resolving to deal with the details later. For now, she needed to decompress.

She shuffled to the kitchen, reheating leftover pasta from the night before. As she ate, her mind drifted back to Hazel’s relentless encouragement. Hazel always had a way of making things seem possible, even when Keisha felt like they weren’t.

But Hazel didn’t know everything.

Keisha’s fork froze midway to her mouth as the memories came rushing back. The audition that had shattered her confidence wasn’t just a bad day—it had been a humiliation so deep that it still stung years later.

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It had been her first real audition out of high school, an opportunity that felt like the beginning of something great. She’d spent weeks preparing, practicing her monologue in front of the mirror until the words felt like they were etched into her soul. Her dream had never felt more real.

She’d arrived at the casting studio bright-eyed and hopeful, her heart pounding with excitement. The room was packed with other hopefuls, each of them buzzing with the same nervous energy.

When her name was called, she’d stepped into the audition room, clutching her script like a lifeline. The casting director was an older man with a stern face, flanked by two assistants who barely glanced up from their notebooks.

“Go ahead,” he’d said, his tone dismissive.

Keisha had launched into her monologue, pouring every ounce of passion and vulnerability into her performance. She’d imagined the judges being moved, maybe even impressed.

Instead, the casting director had cut her off midway through.

“Stop,” he’d said, holding up a hand. “That’s enough.”

She’d stared at him, her heart sinking.

“You’re not memorable,” he’d said bluntly, tapping his pen against the table. “There’s nothing about you that stands out. Next!”

Keisha had walked out of that room feeling like the ground had been ripped out from under her. She’d cried in her car for an hour before driving home, her dream feeling further away than ever.

---

The sound of her microwave beeping brought her back to the present. She set her fork down, the memory leaving a bitter taste in her mouth.

“Not memorable,” she muttered under her breath, the words haunting her even now.

She hated how much power those words still held over her. No matter how much time had passed, they lingered in the back of her mind, whispering that she wasn’t good enough.

But she had to try. Hazel was right about that. If she let the fear win, she’d never know what she was capable of.

---

The rest of the week passed in a blur of work shifts and rehearsals. Keisha found herself replaying the audition in her mind, trying to convince herself that she’d done better than she thought. Hazel’s constant encouragement helped, though Keisha still couldn’t shake the anxiety.

By the time Friday rolled around, she was ready for a distraction. The dinner date with her new client wasn’t exactly her idea of a good time, but it would keep her mind off the audition results—for a few hours, at least.

She arrived at the Emerson Hotel wearing a navy-blue dress, her hair styled in soft waves. The client, a middle-aged man named Richard, greeted her in the lobby with a warm smile.

“You must be Keisha,” he said, extending a hand.

“That’s me,” she replied, slipping easily into her role.

Richard was polite and charming, the kind of client who made her job almost bearable. They dined at the hotel’s upscale restaurant, making small talk over filet mignon and glasses of red wine. Keisha played the part of the attentive date, laughing at his jokes and nodding at the right moments.

As the evening wore on, she found herself relaxing slightly. Richard wasn’t demanding or inappropriate, and the conversation stayed light. But just as she was beginning to think the night would pass without incident, she noticed a familiar figure entering the restaurant.

Adrian Kane.

Keisha’s breath hitched as she spotted him, his presence commanding the room as easily as it had at the party. He was dressed in a tailored black suit, his sharp features accentuated by the dim lighting.

To her dismay, he spotted her almost immediately. Their eyes met across the room, and a flicker of recognition passed over his face.

“Is everything alright?” Richard asked, noticing her sudden stillness.

Keisha forced a smile. “Yes, of course.”

But her heart was racing as Adrian began walking toward their table.

“Fancy seeing you here,” he said, his voice smooth as he stopped beside them.

Keisha looked up at him, struggling to maintain her composure. “Mr. Kane. Small world.”

Richard frowned, glancing between them. “You two know each other?”

“Not exactly,” Adrian said, his gaze never leaving Keisha. “We’ve crossed paths before.”

Keisha’s stomach churned. The last thing she needed was for Adrian to blow her cover.

“Well, I hope you’re enjoying your evening,” she said, trying to steer the conversation away.

Adrian smirked, clearly enjoying her discomfort. “I am now.”

Before she could respond, he turned and walked away, leaving her flustered and annoyed.

---

Later that night, after the date had ended and Richard had thanked her with a generous tip, Keisha found herself replaying the encounter with Adrian.

What was his deal? Why did he seem so intent on making her life difficult?

As she lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, she couldn’t shake the feeling that Adrian Kane was going to be a problem—a very big problem.

But for now, she had bigger things to worry about.

The audition callback list would be posted tomorrow, and the thought of it made her stomach twist with nerves. Would her name be on it? Or would she face another rejection?

Keisha took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Whatever happened, she knew one thing for sure: she couldn’t let fear hold her back any longer.

She had come this far. She had to keep going.