It had been a week since the audition, and the silence from the producers was deafening. Every morning, I would check my phone, my emails—anything that might indicate whether I had landed the role or not. But each time, there was nothing. As the days passed, I started to convince myself that maybe it just wasn’t meant to be.I wasn’t sure if I was more disappointed or relieved. Part of me wanted this so badly. The idea of stepping into a role, of being someone else for a while, had reignited something in me that I hadn’t felt in years. But the other part of me, the one that doubted every step I took, told me that maybe this was for the best. I hadn’t acted in so long. Maybe it was foolish to think I could just waltz back into the industry like I belonged there.“Lucas, slow down!” I called as I watched my little boy zoom around the living room, making car noises as he pushed a toy car across the floor.He giggled but didn’t listen. Instead, he sped up, making the car crash into the wa
The drive to the production office was a whirlwind of nerves and excitement. I couldn’t stop replaying Aunt Lou and my cousins' words of encouragement in my head, reminding myself that I’d made it this far, that this was just the beginning. But as I pulled up to the sleek, modern building where the meeting was being held, a knot of anxiety formed in my stomach. I took a deep breath, adjusted the strap of my purse, and stepped out of the car. You’ve got this, I reminded myself as I walked through the glass doors into the lobby. The receptionist greeted me with a warm smile, and after a quick check-in, I was led down a long corridor to a large conference room. The walls were adorned with posters from past movies, some of them critically acclaimed blockbusters. It was a reminder of the gravity of the industry I was about to step into. This is real, I thought. This is happening.The door opened, and I stepped inside. The producers, seated around a large wooden table, turned to look at m
The tapings had become my daily routine now, and I threw myself into the work with everything I had. I was determined to prove myself, not only to Scarlet but to everyone who doubted me. I woke up early, made sure I was the first one on set, and stayed focused throughout the day. Every scene, every line—I treated it like it was my last chance to shine.But even with all the dedication I poured into the job, Lucas was always at the back of my mind. Coming home to him was the highlight of my day. I’d always make it a point to rush home after shooting wrapped up, just so I could spend a few precious hours with him before bed. I was lucky to have Lena and Letty, who took turns taking care of him while I was away. It was reassuring knowing that Lucas was in good hands with my cousins, but still, I missed him terribly while I was on set.One day after filming, just as I was about to leave the studio, I received a call from William.“I’m close by, at the studio submitting some papers,” he s
I decided it was time to take a different approach with Scarlet. Instead of letting her sabotage get to me, I would play my own game—discreetly and smartly. I didn’t want to stoop to her level, but I needed to show her that I wasn’t the pushover she thought I was.The day after our last confrontation, I arrived on set with a calm resolve. I greeted the crew warmly, made small talk with the makeup artists, and ensured I was visible, friendly, and professional.No one would ever be able to accuse me of being difficult to work with. It was clear Scarlet had been spreading rumors, her whispers weaving a narrative that I was a diva trying to rise in the industry by flirting with William. But I would make sure her words came back to bite her.
Things had been going well, or so I thought. After weeks of dealing with Scarlet's schemes, I finally felt like I was coming out on top. I had gained the respect of the crew, and my performance on set was being praised. It felt like I was proving myself, slowly but surely. But, of course, that was just a fragile illusion.One afternoon, after wrapping up a particularly difficult scene, I was headed back to my dressing room when I overheard two of the crew members talking in hushed voices."I don’t know, man. Did you see what happened with Scarlet yesterday? Poor thing’s been dealing with so much drama. It's like Margarette’s really out to get her."My heart sank. *Out to get her?* What were they talking about? I wasn’t the one causing tr
I wasn’t sure when I’d made the decision to confront Scarlet. Maybe it was after another long day on set, when the glares and whispers had worn me down. Or maybe it was seeing Lucas’ innocent face when I came home, reminding me why I couldn’t let someone like Scarlet win.Either way, I knew that I had to face her, no more avoiding the issue.I waited until the day’s taping wrapped up. The lights dimmed, and the crew started packing up. I could feel the weight of my decision pressing down on me, but I kept moving forward. Scarlet was at her usual spot by the dressing room, talking with her assistant and giggling as if she hadn’t spent the entire day undermining me.“Scarlet,” I called out, my voice steady des
I had been counting down the days until the movie wrapped up, and finally, my daily encounters with Scarlet eventually had come to an end. And in all fairness, I was proud of myself that I had endured her jabs, her attempts to sabotage my work, and her never-ending smug attitude on set for far too long. When the final scene was shot, and we were done, I felt like I could finally breathe again.But that relief was short-lived.A few weeks later, just as I was beginning to put the nightmare behind me, I received an invitation to an awards night. Vancouver Film & Artist Awards (VFAA). It was prestigious, hosted by one of the largest networks, and to my shock, I had been nominated for Best Newcomer Artist. I wasn’t sure how to feel about it—excited, maybe, but mostly, I was hesitant. The idea of possibly winning and then standing in front of all those people, being in the same room as industry legends, it felt too overwhelming. And then above all those things, there was the fact that S
The hum of the party buzzed in the distance as William stood by my side, his hand resting gently on my shoulder, grounding me as I fought to keep my emotions in check. My heart pounded, and I had to remind myself to breathe. I wasn’t about to let Scarlet’s petty cruelty ruin this night for me. Not after everything I had been through to get here. Not when I had just tasted victory.William's phone buzzed, breaking the tense silence between us. He glanced at the screen and nodded curtly, motioning for me to follow. "My friend’s waiting outside. She’s a stylist. She’ll fix this,” he said, his tone reassuring, as though it was a given that the evening wasn’t going to end in humiliation.As we slipped through the dimly lit hallways, I kept my head down, my heart thudding in my chest. The ink stain on my gown was spreading, its inky tendrils a visible reminder of Scarlet’s latest attempt to sabotage me. But I couldn’t let her win. Not tonight. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of seeing