Chapter 345
Anna Ross was caught off guard by his sudden enthusiasm.
They had only met once before.
His words felt strangely abrupt.
Leon Castillo took a sip of his drink.
He rested his hands casually on his knees.
"Don't be surprised, Miss Ross." His tone remained calm. "I know we only met once at the Lowell Corporation conference room."
Anna looked down and sipped her drink.
Her fingers absently traced the rim of her glass.
Howard Lowell reached into his suit jacket.
He produced a refined business card.
"This is my card." His voice was steady. "Besides being president of Lowell Group, I also run an entertainment company."
He gently slid the card toward her.
Anna glanced down at it.
SJ Entertainment.
Specializing in singer development.
Their newcomers had been gaining significant attention lately.
Leon studied her expression.
"What are your thoughts, Miss Ross?" He asked directly. "I'm interested in signing you. It depends on your decision."
Anna fell silent.
A childhood dream suddenly felt within reach.
Memories of past competition failures surfaced.
The opportunity was right here.
Yet she hesitated.
After a long pause.
She looked up with an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry." Her voice was soft but firm. "I'm not considering signing with any company. Thank you for your offer."
She slowly pushed the card back.
Leon was visibly surprised.
SJ was usually highly sought after.
Being rejected outright was unexpected.
"Won't you reconsider, Miss Ross?" He tried to persuade her. "This is truly a rare opportunity."
With her talent, some polishing would make her shine brightly.
Anna shook her head gently.
"I might not adapt well to that lifestyle." She said calmly. "So I've never considered it."
Over the years, her passion had faded.
Her current life felt secure.
Besides, she didn't plan to stay here long.
Leon's eyes showed regret.
He didn't push further.
"What a pity." He sighed. "But the offer remains open for you."
He pushed the card toward her again.
This time, Anna didn't refuse.
She carefully placed it in her bag.
After Leon left, the bar owner hurried over.
She glanced toward the door and lowered her voice.
"What did he say to you?"
Anna smiled slightly.
"He wanted to sign me to his company."
The owner immediately looked concerned.
"What did you tell him?"
Anna finished her drink.
"I'll always stay here." Her tone was resolute. "Don't worry, Pamela."
Pamela breathed a sigh of relief.
As Anna prepared to go on stage, her phone rang.
Mia Lawrence's name flashed on the screen.
She stepped outside to take the call.
Mia's voice sounded muffled.
"Anna, I'm sorry about that night. I had too much to drink."
Anna suddenly remembered something important.
"Mia, actually Julian—" She explained urgently. "The girl we saw that night was his sister."
Mia had been upset about this for so long.
It was all a huge misunderstanding.