Stars of My Heart

The sun was slowly rising in a sky tinged with gold and pink, illuminating M City with a soft light that promised the beginning of a new day. The first rays invaded Emily's room, revealing a serene and organized environment, except for the phone vibrating on the desk next to her bed.

"Hmm..." Emily mumbled, pulling the blanket over her head in an attempt to muffle the annoying sound.

Still drowsy and grimacing in pain, she got up clumsily from the floor, where she had fallen at some point during the night. Rubbing her eyes, she picked up her cell phone and answered the call.

"H-hello?"

"Emi, why did it take you so long to answer? Oh, never mind," Gabriela, her manager, replied in a flustered tone on the other end of the line.

Emily barely had time to compose herself before Gabriela continued, now with enthusiasm in her voice:

"I just got the news from the company... you've been promoted to the B-list!"

"What?!" Emily blinked, still confused, as she processed Gabriela's words. "What do you mean?"

"Your recent work has been getting great reviews! And look, your fans have helped a lot too," Gabriela explained, clearly excited about the news.

"My fans? What do they have to do with this?" Emily asked, confused. "Excuse my ignorance, but I'm still kind of new to this world of entertainment."

Gabriela laughed lightly on the other end of the line before explaining patiently.

"Well, it's thanks to their support that your popularity has grown so much. Fans comment, share your work, make more people notice you. And this directly influences your status as an artist."

Emily took a deep breath, feeling a mixture of gratitude and surprise.

Understanding was slowly dawning on Emily as Gabriela continued:

"These changes aren't just symbolic, Emi. With B-list status, you get more opportunities. Bigger projects, more prominent roles, and of course, a much more generous salary," Gabriela commented, with a hint of pride.

Emily bit her lip, trying to contain a smile. "So... does that mean... more people are actually enjoying my work?"

"Yes! You've been gaining a loyal following, Emi. Your fan club, 'Emily's Essence,' has been making waves on social media. They organize to promote you, they share your scenes, they discuss every detail of your performances." Gabriela paused for a moment, as if letting the information sink in. "It's... essential to your career."

Emily chuckled at Gabriela's choice of words, and for a moment she imagined herself making a dramatic pause to thank her fans, like she'd seen in award speeches.

"I think I underestimated all of this," she confessed, now more awake. "I always thought acting was just about living another life on screen, and not about… connecting with other people in that way."

"Well, acting is that too, but connecting with the audience is what makes you grow. Now, listen, Emi," Gabriela adopted a serious tone, "this means that more eyes will be on you. That's why it's important that you stay focused. I'll send you a list of roles and projects we've received since the news broke. If you want, we can go through them together and see what's most strategic for your image."

Emily nodded, feeling a growing excitement. "Of course, Gabi! I'd love to go over everything with you. Thank you for always being there for me."

"This is just the beginning, Emi. But what comes next will depend on your commitment. I believe in you."

The call ended with Gabriela giving one last piece of encouragement, and Emily allowed herself a smile of satisfaction, feeling that a new chapter was opening. She looked out the window and saw the sun shining brightly now, as if the world around her was also celebrating her progress.

Excited, Emily couldn't wait to tell Matthew the news. They had agreed to meet that day for coffee, so she hurried to get ready. She chose a simple but elegant blouse and jeans that showed off her figure without being overly so. Despite all the excitement, she wanted to look casual.

When she arrived at the café where they had agreed, she saw Matthew sitting at the table, focused on his cell phone. He seemed immersed in some kind of reading, his expression serious, but his eyes soon softened when they noticed her presence.

"Good morning, Emily," he said with a smile, standing up to greet her.

"Good morning!" she replied, sitting across from him, trying to contain a smile that insisted on escaping.

Matthew raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "You look different today. Did something happen?"

Emily laughed, putting her hand over her mouth, trying to hide it. "Well, I have some news, but I've been waiting for the right time to tell you."

"Oh, then I won't pressure you," he joked, but his curiosity was evident. "Shall we order first, or are you going to make me wait until the end of the coffee?"

She leaned forward, her eyes shining. "Okay, okay... I've been promoted to B-list artist!"

Matthew smiled genuinely, reflecting her joy. "Emily, this is amazing! Congratulations!"

"I couldn't believe it when Gabriela told me. I always thought these things took a long time to happen," she said, still in disbelief. "But apparently my last few works have gotten good reviews, and my fan base… well, they've been amazing."

Matthew watched her in admiration. "These fans know what they're doing. Of course you deserve this recognition."

She looked down, slightly embarrassed by the compliment. "Thank you, Matthew. I… I never imagined I'd come this far this quickly. And I think part of it is because you always believed in me, even when I still doubted myself."

"You've achieved all this on your own talent, Emily. I've only been here to support you," he said with a smile. "But I'm so proud to see you moving forward. Now, what are your next steps?"

"Gabriela will help me choose projects that fit this new phase. She said that the options will increase and that now I can choose roles with more prominence," Emily said excitedly.

Matthew seemed to think for a moment. "That means more challenges too. Are you ready?"

Emily looked at him, her eyes steady. "I'm more than ready. This is the chance I've waited for for a long time, and I'm going to make it worth it."

Matthew nodded, seeming satisfied with the answer. "I didn't expect anything different. You deserve every achievement, Emily."

The two clinked their coffee cups in a symbolic gesture, and Emily felt that the world around her seemed a little brighter, full of new possibilities.