Sweet Love 2x: Miss Ruthless CEO for our Superstar Uncle-Chapter 51: Under the Bright Lights
Noah Hart arrived at the set one hour before the call time. The car slowed to a stop, and security rushed to greet him. They cleared the pathways without a word, and before Noah could step out, staff appeared in a hurry as he exited the car. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎
Dark sunglasses covered his eyes. He was dressed in a pristine white dress shirt and slightly fitted dark pants. Behind him, Monica greeted the staff of the morning show with a broad smile, holding a bag that carried Noah’s essential items.
The staff led Noah into the set of the morning show he was guesting on. The studio occupied the eastern part of the building, separated from the main hall by temporary partitions and cables taped flat against the floor.
Heads turned as he passed. Work resumed without comment.
The delay board at the side of the corridor updated as he moved past it. A segment originally scheduled to begin at nine was pushed back by five minutes.
No one questioned the change. Assistants relayed updates through headsets, adjusting camera tests and lighting cues to accommodate his presence.
Noah noticed the changes without reacting. This was not the first time a schedule had bent around him, and it would not be the last. His presence did not require acknowledgment. It required adjustment.
A crew member came forward and instructed Noah to follow her. She led them to his designated dressing room, where he could rest before the show started.
Noah didn’t enter immediately. Instead, he allowed his PA to go in alone.
Monica set the bag she was carrying on top of the table before checking the room, ensuring there were no other people inside aside from them. She also conducted a quick sweep for hidden cameras, especially in the small washroom.
A routine she did not skip. Familiarity never replaced caution.
When Monica gave him a go-signal, Noah entered without preamble.
Monica repositioned the chair by a few centimeters, aligning it with the mirror lights before stepping aside. The arrangement was precise enough to be repeatable. This room was used often enough by high-profile guests that its layout no longer catered to comfort. It catered to efficiency.
Noah adjusted to the setup without comment. He had learned early that spaces like this were not personal.
The dressing room itself was nothing special. A massive mirror hung on one side of the wall, with a long counter beside it. A couch was placed nearby, next to a clothes rack.
The door remained within Monica’s line of sight from the counter, while the washroom was positioned just beyond the mirror’s edge.
He sat in his designated seat, with the name "Noah Hart" printed on the back. A staff member arrived with a tray bearing the standard refreshments offered to guests. Noah checked his phone once, then put it away.
Monica stepped closer to fix his hair and makeup. Her movements were swift and deliberate; no words were exchanged between them.
Noah shut his eyes, allowing Monica to finish her work.
She stepped back once she finished applying loose powder, then pressed the setting spray to finalize everything.
Daryll arrived with a maroon coat draped over his shoulder.
"Oh, good. You’re here," he said as soon as he saw Noah. "Here’s the script for today’s interview. You already know how to answer. You don’t need coaching, right?"
Noah accepted the document from his manager and skimmed it.
"Don’t worry about it. Leave it to me," he assured him.
Daryll unconsciously glanced at Noah’s injured shoulder.
"Are you still in pain?" he asked. "Be careful not to strain it."
"There’s still a restriction," Noah said.
Daryll said nothing and folded the script once.
"Let’s do guestings and modeling for now. I won’t accept any serious roles unless you receive a go-signal from your doctors," he told Noah.
Another injury wasn’t an option—not here. There was no margin left for error.
Daryll checked his watch, then the corridor camera feed on his phone. "Three brands are waiting for confirmation," he added. "All short-term. All conditional."
Noah did not ask for details. He already understood what conditional meant. Visibility had to be maintained without escalation—exposure without risk. The balance was narrow, and any misstep would be amplified long before it could be corrected.
Daryll slipped the phone back into his pocket. "We’ll revisit after this," he said.
Noah acknowledged the statement and remained where he was.
He already expected he wouldn’t be getting any movie projects anytime soon. Expectations, once lowered, were easier to manage.
Outside the dressing room, the press had begun to gather, waiting for a chance to get an exclusive scoop about Noah Hart’s return from his long hiatus.
"Be careful when you step outside, Noah. The press might ambush you for an interview. Don’t say anything that could make them doubt your recovery," Daryll reminded him.
Noah gave a brief nod and waited for the cue.
A knock on the door broke the silence inside the dressing room.
"Mr. Hart, it’s almost time." A crew member arrived to bring him to the stage.
Noah rose from his seat and followed.
The corridor narrowed outside the dressing rooms, forcing movement into a single lane. Security formed a staggered line ahead of him as the noise rose.
Sound carried first—shutter clicks, overlapping voices, movement compressed into the narrow space. Security adjusted formation without instruction, tightening the line as they advanced.
"Noah, do you have a comeback series anytime soon?"
"How’s your injury?"
"What have you been doing for the past six months?"
They were barraged with questions, but Noah continued walking without comment.
The press tried to push closer, but security moved in and cleared the path ahead of him.
The stage set at the center was brighter than the surrounding space. Two hosts were already seated on a couch, while an empty chair waited across from them. Behind them, a massive screen flashed Noah’s image.
Security tightened the perimeter as sound levels spiked.
He did not look toward the barricades.
Cameras came online one by one.
