The smell of hot asphalt baking in the New York sun evaporates, mixing with the smell of exhaust fumes and the aroma of roasted peanuts from roadside stands. Scarlett Aurora Whitmore took a deep breath, trying to suppress the rumbling in her chest that came not from enthusiasm, but acute anxiety. In her hand, a physical map that was worn out from being folded too often became her only compass in this concrete wilderness.
"One more block, Scarlett. Just one block, and you'll be at the audition," she whispered to herself.
Her voice sounded strange to her own ears, a contrast to the bustle of Manhattan. Scarlett missed the breeze among the cypress trees and the calm waves of Carmel-by-the-Sea. In California, life felt like a slow watercolor painting, but here, amidst this chaotic intersection, everything felt like an action movie playing at double speed.
However, this city seemed to have other plans to welcome her arrival.
Right at the intersection leading to Broadway, a yellow taxi sped by without paying attention to the traffic lights that had just changed color. At the same time, an elderly woman in an elegant tweed coat stepped down from the sidewalk, her eyes glued to the cell phone in her hand, completely blind to the death roaring towards her.
"Watch out!"
Scarlett's voice broke. Without thinking, her feet moved faster than her logic. She threw her backpack in any direction and hit the woman's body.
BROKE!
The world seemed to spin. Scarlett felt the hard impact of the asphalt on her elbow, a sudden stinging feeling, and the smell of expensive rose perfume from the fabric of the old woman's coat. The car tires screeched loudly, leaving behind the smell of burning rubber that stung the nose. Only a few centimeters from their toes, the taxi finally stopped.
Scarlett's breath was ragged, panting like a marathon runner. Her heart was pounding so hard that her ears were ringing. She was still hugging the old woman's shoulder, the two of them sat cross-legged in the middle of the road which was suddenly noisy with horns and people's screams.
"You... are you okay?" asked Scarlett in a trembling voice. She tried to control her breathing, even though her hands were shaking violently as she helped the woman sit up straight.
The woman, who even though her white hair was a little messy, still exuded an aura of authority, looked at Scarlett with sharp but calm gray eyes. She didn't seem hysterical. Instead, she observed Scarlett with strange calm.
"I'm fine. But it looks like you're the one who's not fine," the woman answered, her voice calm and classy. Her eyes turned to Scarlett's bruised and bleeding elbow.
"Just a small scratch," Scarlett tried to smile, even though she couldn't hide the painful grin completely. She stood up, the dust of New York streets staining her faded jeans. When she turned to look at her bag lying there, a harsh reality hit her harder than the asphalt.
The bag is open. Her wallet, which contained all the money she had saved to survive in this city, was gone. Someone must have taken advantage of her amidst the chaos just now.
Perfect, Scarlett thought bitterly. Welcome to New York, Scarlett. You just became the world's most optimistic bum.
"What's your name, darling?"
The old woman introduced herself as Victoria. They were now sitting on a small park bench on the side of the road, after Victoria insisted that Scarlett calm down for a moment.
"Scarlett. Scarlett Aurora Whitmore," she answered quietly. She tried to pat the dust off her clothes, feeling very inappropriate sitting next to the woman who was wearing a real pearl brooch.
Victoria nodded slowly, as if she was spelling the name in her head. "What a beautiful name. You don't look like a native here. Where are you from?"
"Carmel, California," Scarlett answered, a hint of longing in her voice at the mention of her peaceful hometown. "I want to become an actress, Madam. I have an audition scheduled this morning, but... " She hung up his sentence, not wanting to sound pathetic by saying that she had just been pickpocketed.
"But you lost everything in that mess, didn't you?" Victoria guessed with frightening accuracy.
"I'll be fine," Scarlett lied, trying to put on a brave face. "Just need to... find the police station."
Victoria smiled slightly. "The police station won't give you a bed, Scarlett. And looking at your condition, you won't be able to audition in torn clothes like that."
Victoria stood up, her movements graceful. "Come with me. Consider this a thank you because you saved this old man's life from that crazy taxi driver earlier."
"Oh, no need, Madam. I don't want to be a bother..."
"I don't accept rejection," Victoria interrupted gently but firmly. "Besides, I think we have a lot to talk about about that dream of yours."
Scarlett felt like Cinderella had gone to the wrong address when they arrived at a luxurious penthouse on the Upper East Side. The building was towering and heavily guarded. When the elevator doors opened directly into a large, high-ceilinged room, Scarlett was stunned.
A giant glass wall offers a bird's eye view of the green Central Park. The scent of sandalwood and luxurious aromatherapy candles fill the air. She glanced at her reflection in the large mirror in the hall: her face was pale with dirt stains, contrasting with the luxury around her.
"Don't stand there like a statue, Scarlett. Make yourself at home," Victoria handed her coat to a servant.
"This house... is extraordinary, Madam Victoria," whispered Scarlett honestly.
"Thank you. Sometimes this place feels too big for me alone, unless my grandson is not busy with his shooting schedule," Victoria walked towards the living room, then turned around with a playful glint in her eyes. "Speaking of acting, you must know Julian Theodore Caldwell?"
Scarlett's steps stopped. Her heart seemed to stop beating for a moment. "Julian... Theodore Caldwell? That actor who won three Best Actor trophies in a row? His face is on every billboard in Times Square!"
Victoria chuckled. "Yes, that stubborn one. He's my grandson. He's staying here during promotions for his latest film."
Scarlett felt her knees go weak. Julian Caldwell was the reason she dared to leave the comfort of Carmel. And now, she was under the same roof as her idol?
"He might be a little...cold," Victoria continued. "But I have a plan for him. And maybe, you are the answer I'm looking for."
The atmosphere in the room suddenly changed. The air that was previously warm seemed to freeze.
A man appeared from the inner corridor. He wore a black shirt with the sleeves rolled up, highlighting his strong arm muscles. His face was perfectly chiseled, but his eyes, dark blue like the ocean in a storm, stared intently at them.
Those eyes were fixed directly on Scarlett with a judgmental look.
"Grandma," the man's voice was deep and full of authority. He didn't even glance at Victoria as he spoke. "Who is this woman? And why is there a stranger who looks like she just fell off a dump truck in our living room?"
Scarlett gasped. The awe that had filled her chest evaporated, replaced by shame that burned her cheeks.
"Julian, watch your mouth," said Victoria calmly. "This is Scarlett. She saved my life this morning."
Julian walked closer, his every step exuding an aura of dominance. He stopped right in front of Scarlett, so close that Scarlett could smell the masculine scent of citrus and leather.
Julian looked at Scarlett from head to toe, his gaze cynical. "Saved your life? Or just an old ploy to get in here because she knows who lives here?"
"Mr. Caldwell, I didn't..." Scarlett tried to defend herself, her voice shaking with anger.
"Shut up," interrupted Julian coldly. "I've seen thousands of girls like you from small towns who came to New York with dreams that were too big. Your acting is not bad for a villager, but here, I get to decide who gets to stay."
Julian turned to look at his grandmother. "I don't agree with her staying here. Give her money, then send her away."
"Julian!" Victoria's voice rose, but Julian had already turned around.
Before leaving, Julian glanced briefly, giving a sharp gaze as if he wanted to lock out Scarlett's presence as an intruder.
"One more thing," said Julian. "Don't expect to get a role through me. You don't have any star aura at all."
The bedroom door closed with a loud bang. Scarlett stood still, angry tears welling up in her eyes. New York turns out to be not as beautiful as she imagined, and the hero she worships turns out to be just an arrogant man.
Victoria touched Scarlett's shoulder. "Ignore him, Scarlett. He just doesn't know what will happen next."