Parties in Hollywood are very common. Too common.

After all, this is a very social industry, and parties are the place to meet up with influential people and get to know them better, form connections, and if lucky, the parties could lead to life-changing encounters.

A lot of stuff happens there that may or may not be legal.

Actors, producers, directors, and even singers throw parties to celebrate their success or just because they are bored. But it wasn’t easy to get into any party.

One needs to know someone who’s been invited to the party or to have an invitation card for themselves. Some people even organised the parties secretively due to the paparazzi lurking around them.

So, it was a big deal if someone had the invitation to any party from the bigshots of Hollywood.

“So, whose party is it anyway?”

Aiden asked, looking outside the car’s window as buildings and pedestrians passed by them.

“Some producer. I don’t remember the exact name, I think it was Sebastian something..”

“How did you get an invitation then?” Aiden raised an eyebrow.

“I still have my connections,” Wade smirked. “Anyway, I’m not really bringing you there to have free food or hit on girls. Though both are good if you want to try that, but the main reason I’m bringing you there is to form connections. Any contact you can get is better than what we have right now: nothing.”

Aiden nodded. Building connections was critical in Hollywood or any other industry. One never knows when they will need help, so having considerable connections was always a good thing.

He knew Grey in the music industry, which could be considered a good enough connection for a newbie. But in Hollywood, he hardly had any connections.

Maybe, Lincoln or Leo could be considered one. But Aiden knew he couldn’t rely on them. This was why tonight’s party was a good chance for him to make connections or if he was lucky, then leave an impression on some big director.

“Do you know any prominent people who would be there?” He asked after thinking about something.

“I heard some A-listers would be there. Some rappers. Models who aspire to be actresses – a lot of those. But try to get connections with the business folk. They are the ones who truly control the money in movies.”

“How will I recognise them?”

“They have a certain aura about them. And when the time comes, you will know.”

Wade shrugged his shoulders. They arrived at the location in around half an hour and got out of the car._.

‘I can hear the music from here.’

Aiden thought, walking towards the doorman. Wade told him his name, and the doorman marked it off on his notepad before allowing him and Aiden inside.

After walking inside, Aiden felt a bit surprised. 

‘I recognise a lot of the people here.’

An actor he had liked in a movie franchise was in one corner, with a beautiful woman in his arms. He had only heard rumours that the actor was a playboy, but it seemed true.

On the other hand, an actress he recognised from a tv series was laughing about something amongst a group of people. 

Like that, there were many other people that he had seen in movies or magazines.

“It’s a high-profile party,” Aiden muttered.

“It’s good to have a grasp of where we are. This is a treasure trove for you, Aiden. Try to make some ‘friends’ today. I’m going to check out what drinks they have in stock.”

Nodding at the young actor beside him, Wade finished his words and left.

Aiden pursed his lips, wondering how he would make connections.

‘I don’t think they will like it if I suddenly barge in on their conversations.’

Everyone at the party already seemed to have a clique of their own. It was hard for him to try to be a part of it suddenly.

Shaking his head, he walked around the party before taking a drink from one of the waiters and sitting on one of the empty couches.

‘I don’t know about making connections, but at least I can celebrate my success in the audition.’

He smiled before taking a sip of the drink, which seemed to be whiskey.

At that moment, a man suddenly walked up to him. He was wearing a suit with a sharp face and tanned skin. Aiden could also see a partly hidden tattoo on his neck.

The man didn’t seem to be American. Maybe he was mixed?

Aiden didn’t pay much attention because he wasn’t expecting the former to converse with him. After all, he hadn’t even met the guy before.

But to his surprise, the man gestured at the couch and asked.

“May I?”

“Yeah, sure,” Aiden nodded. The couch was spacious enough.

The man nodded, and as he took sat down on the couch, a waiter approached them and offered drinks.

The man slightly frowned while staring at the tray.

“Sebastian’s wine collection is sh*t. Bring me whiskey.”

The waiter nodded and left.

The man then glanced at Aiden.

“You look familiar, but I can’t seem to recall your name.”

“I am Aiden. Aiden Silvereye.” Aiden replied.

“Oh,” The man just nodded. The name seemed familiar.

“What do you do?” The man asked with a curious expression, “Are you a director?”

“No,” Aiden shook his head, “I am an Actor.”

“Actor… ah,” The man nodded, “So that’s how I know your name.”

“You know me?” Aiden was genuinely surprised. He was sure he wasn’t famous enough to be recognised by anyone at this party. 

“Well, knowing you would be quite a far-fetched description. Let’s say I have heard of your name. But then where have I seen you? Do you do anything else other than acting?”

Aiden nodded.

“I sing too.”

“Ah… Aiden Silvereye,” The man nodded his head, this time a bit more vigorously, “I remember it now. A friend mentioned you in the passing and showed me a clip. Are you the one who sang with Grey?”

“Yes,” Aiden affirmed.

“That’s good,” The man nodded, and just then, the waiter had returned.

Picking up a shot glass of whiskey, the man raised it in front of Aiden.

-clink!

“Cheers!” “Cheers!”

The glasses clinked, and the man said, “I am Omar. Omar Alshaikh. I’m a… well, let’s say, an investor.” After a slight pause, he added, “Did you come alone?”

“No, my agent brought me here, but I don’t know anyone here, and he’s busy with something else, so I’m just sitting here alone.”

“Ah, he must have brought you here for the connections,” Omar replied after taking a sip.

Aiden was a bit taken aback by the latter’s straightforwardness.

Aiden could only nod at this. 

Omar smiled, “Chill and relax. Aren’t you here to celebrate?”

“Yeah…” Again, Aiden was taken aback, “How… do you know?”

Omar shrugged, “Didn’t I tell ya that your name is familiar? It’s because I heard that Zavier mentioned your name. He’s the casting director of the movie, [Black Saints].”

“Ah…” Aiden nodded as a face of a young man flashed in his mind, “Are you also a part of the movie?”

“I am investing in the movie,” Omar replied.

“Oh…”

“Yeah,” Omar chuckled, “So you better act well. I don’t want my money to go down the drain.”

Aiden smiled, a bit relaxed now, “You won’t be disappointed.”

Omar nodded. Then finishing his whiskey in one gulp, he said.

“Well, I have invested in some movies from Granite in the past, so I know the company’s inner workings. The studio is a good one, and if you act well, this could help you get a lot of clouts.”

Omar sounded like it was not a big deal, but Aiden thought of something else.

‘An investor.’

Aiden hadn’t missed this word when Omar had mentioned it earlier, but now he had a better grasp of Omar’s background.

For a moment, he felt like Omar was one of the business folks that Wade was talking about. He didn’t know if the latter was a part of any studio, but he surely was not an ordinary guy.

Aiden felt like his luck was running good today that he had suddenly encountered an investor.

“Hey Omar, come here!”

Suddenly, a scrawny-looking guy waved at Omar from a corner. A group of people were gathered there.

Omar gestured to Aiden to follow him, and they walked towards the group, mainly consisting of young people who looked like models and Skygram influencers.

None of them even looked to be in their 30s.

“What happened, Brian?” Omar asked the scrawny-looking guy.

“You are involved in the new project by Granite films, right? That gangster-crime drama flick. Saint something?”

Omar nodded, and Brian pointed at the man in the group’s centre. This tall and muscular man looked like he played a lot of football in high school.

“Tyler just told us that he auditioned for a role in it. Do you know if he got the role?”

Tyler Reed, the person in the question, just gave a charming smile and added.

“My agent told me that results would be out by tomorrow, but I’m pretty curious about it as I worked really hard for the role.”

As he said that, a girl standing beside him held his hand slowly and replied, “Tyler, don’t worry, I’m pretty sure the role is as good as yours.”

At her words, others also chimed in.

“Yeah, you are a great actor, Tyler. There’s no way anyone else bagged the role.”

“I’m pretty sure your agent will call you soon and say that the role is yours.”

“Just going by your earlier performances, they will cast you.”

Seeing that, Aiden couldn’t help but think that the whole group was just a bunch of lackeys for Tyler. 

They were trying hard to please him at every step due to him being a godson of a big Hollywood personality.

Until now, Aiden had only heard that many people would act like bootlickers just to stay in a circle that could get them more opportunities. It was an intelligent strategy, too, but he felt like too many people were trying the same approach.

Not like bootlicking guaranteed that they would rise in their careers.

“Anyway, do you know anything about the casting?”

Tyler asked, silencing his lackeys. Omar was just about to reply when he suddenly glanced at Aiden, who was silently standing till now. Smirking, he replied.

“Actually, I do know. I just learned about the results, and Aiden here has bagged the role.”

With those words, suddenly, the group’s attention was on Aiden.

…

//DreamNote//

Bonus chapters: [2 Due] [4 Unclaimed]

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