The Number One Star in the Interstellar Era

CHRIS had to stop and looked at the person carefully to make sure that his eyes wasn't playing tricks on him.  The person sitting in the waiting room was a tall woman.  She was wearing neatly pressed black suit that suited her strict demeanor.  Her short auburn hair was combed in a pretty chic style.  Behind his silver-rimmed glasses was a pair of blue eyes. 

One look and anyone could see that she was not easy to mess with.  It's not just her demeanor.  It's her overall atmosphere.  Like a lady boss who wouldn't allow her subordinates to make any mistakes.

Chris was now certain that he was not seeing things.  The one in front of him was indeed Ellis Payne.  The then famous agent who once brought an artist to the top five of the Star List. 

It became such an amazing feat because both the agent and the artist were fairly new to the entertainment industry.  It wasn't even five years yet since the two entered the industry.  Granted that they were both working under Kaleido.  But being under the biggest company in the Empire didn't necessarily mean that one would rise to stardom and even enter the top 5 of the Star List. 

It just not showed the acting ability of that artist but also the ability of Ellis Payne as her agent.  But what surprised everyone even more was that a few months after that artist attained that rank, she suddenly announced her retirement.  If that wasn't enough, a few days later, she dropped another bomb again – her marriage to a certain noble.

All that happened three years ago.  Ellis Payne suddenly resigned from Kaleido and nothing was heard about her since.  Many speculated that the other was probably heartbroken because of her artist.  Other simply said that she had enough of the industry.  Many felt that her talent as an agent was wasted. 

Chris was one of those who felt pity for the wasted talent.  He admired Ellis' ability as an agent.  Especially since the both of them started in this job almost at the same time.  She was like some sort of role model to young agents like him back then.  That's why he felt a bit at a loss when the other just disappeared like that. 

But who would have thought that she would suddenly appear in Polaris like this three years later?  Then his brain seemed to suddenly start working.  Ellis Payne was now here inside the office of the president's office.  Although they were still in the waiting room, it could be seen that the other had an appointment with the president.

If that was the case, then could it be--?  Thinking of the possibility he had in mind, Chris' eyes just brightened up with enthusiasm.  He quickly walked towards the sitting woman.

"Hello, Miss Payne," he greeted enthusiastically.

The other only glanced at him and then nodded.

Chris didn't mind this cold attitude.  In his view, someone as capable as Ellis Payne had the privilege to be a bit arrogant.  Or maybe his fan filter was simply too thick that he would never think badly of the other no matter what she did.

"I'm Christopher Taylor, I'm one of the agents here at Polaris," he introduced himself and stretched out his hand for a handshake.

Ellis looked at his hand as if wondering if she should shake it or not.  But at the end, she still reached out and shook it once.  After that, she no longer paid attention to Chris.  But despite that, the agent still showed a hippy smile.

Lauren, who was standing on the side, was shocked seeing the way his agent acted towards this woman.  Was this still the agent who loved to nag and scold him at every turn? 

He looked at the woman but didn't recognize her.  He first wondered if the other was an actress or something.  She might not look classically beautiful, but she had that charm that other women simply loved.  But he quickly rejected that thought because even if the woman had the looks, her temperament simply contradicted that.  She seemed more like the boss of some company rather than an artist.

The woman seemed to notice his gaze because she suddenly glanced at his direction.  That simple sharp glance almost made him sweat coldly.  He subconsciously looked away.  But the moment he did, he felt inexplicable.  Why did he have to look away?

Chris wanted to ask Ellis if she was meeting the president because she was planning to be part of Polaris as an agent, but before he could do so, a virtual screen appeared in the reception room telling them that they could now go inside the president's office. 

The top floor, which was below the roof deck greenhouse and parking space, was solely dedicated to the president.  Employees and artists alike fondly referred to it as the 'president's floor'. 

It consisted of a reception area, a waiting room, a lounge area, the president's office, and a suite where the president could stay whenever he did an overtime.

The three walked towards the office.  Inside, their Polaris' president was sitting behind his desk, looking through files via his Terminal. 

His grayish-blue hair was cleanly swept back with a few naughty strands falling down his forehead.  His sword eyebrows were currently wrinkled as if thinking about something.  He had a crooked nose as if it was broken in a fight or something.  His hazel eyes were probably the only soft-looking feature he had. 

The man was well-built.  Even with the suit he was wearing, one could easily see his bulging muscles.  He didn't wear any tie and two of his shirt buttons were simply unbuttoned.  Showing everyone his sexy clavicle.  Instead of looking like a company president, he looked more like a boss of the underground world.

This was the president of Polaris – Grant Fleming.

The moment they walked inside, Grant raised his head and looked at them.  His expression was still normal when he saw Ellis because he had an appointment with the other.  But that changed a bit when he saw Chris and Lauren.

"Why are you two also here?"