Natalie was already a bit taller than Mandy, and now, standing up straight, she looked even more commanding. Her calm presence was a sharp contrast to Mandy’s arrogance.

“Do you own this place?” Natalie’s voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone nearby. “Or this is your private lounge? No, obviously. So, I’m not moving.” Her tone was flat, revealing nothing, but her words were crisp and logical, leaving Mandy at a loss for words.

Mandy couldn’t believe Natalie actually had the nerve to talk back to her in front of everyone.

The crowd’s curious stares made her embarrassed. She jabbed a finger at Natalie, her voice shrill. “Who do you think you are? How dare you talk to me like that? Don’t think I can’t get you kicked off this crew.”

Natalie tilted her head, as if she were actually considering it.

Mandy sneered. ‘Ha, weak bitch, just as I thought.“‘”

“You know, I’m not unreasonable. Here’s the deal. You leave the crew right now and never show your face in front of me again, and I’ll-”

Before she could finish, Natalie cut her off, her tone unhurried, “I don’t think so.”

Mandy narrowed her eyes. “What?”

Natalie kept her expression flat, looking the airhead with a big chest up and down. “I don’t think you can make me leave.”

She paused for a moment and then let out a sneer when she got what Natalie was saying. “You think I can’t? That’s hilarious.

“I’m the lead actress here. If I just tell the director, do you really think you, just a nobody with a couple of lines, can stick around?”

Natalie smiled, her eyes glinting. “Be my guest.”

Mandy gritted her teeth at Natalie’s indifference and then spun around, ready to complain to the director, Graham Hayes.

But as Mandy turned around, she nearly bumped into two people walking in. One of them was Claire Moore, a woman dressed in a pink dress, her long straight hair making her look like the picture of innocence.

Mandy was about to ignore them, but then she realized the woman beside Claire was Jason’s assistant Zoe. However, Zoe had just stepped out to take a call.

Claire caught Mandy’s eye and looked right back at her. “Oh, Mandy? You’re here, too? Small world,” Claire chirped.

Mandy paused, her tone annoyed. “I’m the lead actress, so obviously, I’m supposed to be here. But what about you? Why’d you show up?”

Claire grinned, almost teasing. “Good for you. I’m here for a cameo.”

Mandy rolled her eyes. ‘Seriously, what’s she so proud of? It’s just a cameo.

1/4

19:39 Thu, 30 Apr

Che

“How come you’re walking in with Zoe?” Mandy asked.

Claire licked her lips, thinking, ‘Finally, she’s getting to the point.‘

65 vouchers

She cleared her throat. “Oh, it’s nothing big. I just signed with Jason’s company, and he recommended me for this role. I didn’t expect Jason to be so invested in me. He even had Zoe wait for me outside and said he’d take me to his trailer to

chill later.”

When Claire first showed up, she got stopped at the entrance, but as soon as she mentioned her last name, Zoe came over and treated her super politely.

When she realized Zoe was Jason’s assistant, Claire felt really special. Zoe even said Jason had sent her out just to wait for

Claire.

Mandy’s knuckles turned white as she clenched her fists under her loose robe. ‘Man, she really hit the jackpot with this

one.‘

She kept her cool on the outside, forcing a stiff, fake smile. “Congrats. By the way, what’s your role?”

fraud.”

Her voice was so loud that even more crew members and actors turned to stare.

Natalie’s brows furrowed ever so slightly, but she was back to calm in no time.

She realized it was just a simple misunderstanding. ‘She must be another Moore, too.‘

“Looks like there was a mix–up. I’ll go change,” Natalie said simply, not making a fuss. It was just a trivial matter, nothing worth getting worked up about.

As Natalie turned to head to the dressing room, Claire grabbed her sleeve.

Claire definitely wasn’t going to let this go. No way she’d just drop it.

She had finally landed a chance to act opposite Jason, hoping to use it to build buzz and raise her profile.

Now Natalie had appeared out of nowhere and stolen the spotlight. Worse, Natalie was already in costume and makeup, drawing everyone’s attention the moment she stepped out.

“Stop right there,” Claire snapped, stepping right in front of Natalie.

“You wore my costume, hogged my makeup slot, and almost took my part. You think you can just walk away after all this? You think I’ll just let you steal my spotlight? No way that’s happening.”

Natalie frowned, her irritation clear as Claire’s sudden grab and relentless attitude crossed the line. She halted, turning to face Claire, her eyes now icy cold. “Let go.” Natalie’s voice wasn’t loud, but it left no room for argument.

Her gaze dropped pointedly to Claire’s hand, still clutching her sleeve with unmistakable authority.

Claire flinched under Natalie’s icy stare, instinctively letting go. But as soon as she realized she’d backed down, embarrassment and anger bubbled up.

She straightened up and fired back, “Are you seriously telling me what to do,