“Just… someone.”
Before Zoe could ask more, a casting assistant stepped into the room.
“Macy Cole?”
Macy jumped up.
“That’s me.”
Her heart pounded as she walked into the audition room.
Inside sat three judges.
And at the center—
Director Jack Hunter.
He looked up from the script.
Recognition flickered in his eyes.
“Ah,” Jack said slowly.
“The stunt girl.”
Macy forced a smile.
“That’s me.”
Jack leaned back in his chair.
“Let’s see if you can act.”
Twenty minutes later, Macy walked out of the room in a daze.
Zoe jumped to her feet.
“How did it go?”
“I… don’t know.”
Which was true.
The audition had felt surreal.
Jack had watched her performance carefully.
Then whispered something to the other judges.
They nodded.
Now Macy waited.
An hour later, the casting assistant returned.
“Macy Cole?”
Macy stood again.
“Yes?”
The assistant smiled.
“Congratulations. You got the role.”
Everything went silent.
Zoe gasped.
Macy blinked.
“I… what?”
“You start filming next week.”
Macy’s knees nearly gave out.
She laughed in disbelief.
“I got it.”
Zoe hugged her tightly.
“Oh my God, Macy! You did it!”
But as Macy celebrated—
Zoe’s smile slowly faded.
Because deep down, she already suspected the truth.
Someone powerful had made that audition happen.
And it wasn’t her.
Later that evening, inside a dim bar near the studio, Zoe sat alone nursing a drink.
Anger simmered in her chest.
Macy had always been lucky.
Always landing opportunities Zoe wanted.
And now—
Now she had Nicholas Thorne helping her.
A shadow slid into the seat beside her.
“Jealousy is a dangerous emotion.”
Zoe turned sharply.
A tall man with dark eyes watched her calmly.
His smile looked almost predatory.
“Do I know you?” Zoe asked cautiously.
“No.”
He extended a hand.
“But I know you.”
His voice was smooth.
“My name is Valentino.”
Zoe didn’t shake his hand.
“What do you want?”
Valentino leaned closer.
“You want Macy Cole’s life.”
Zoe stiffened.
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
His eyes gleamed in the dim bar light.
“You want her job. Her opportunities. Her billionaire admirer.”
Her stomach twisted.
“You’re insane.”
Valentino chuckled softly.
“Am I?”
He leaned back.
“I can help you replace her.”
Zoe’s pulse quickened.
“How?”
“Simple.”
His voice turned cold.
“Remove the obstacle.”
Zoe stared at him.
“Macy is your friend,” Valentino continued smoothly.
“Which means she trusts you.”
Silence stretched between them.
Then Zoe whispered the question she knew she shouldn’t ask.
“What do you get out of it?”
Valentino’s smile widened.
“Let’s just say… Macy Cole is standing in the way of something very important.”
Zoe looked down at her drink.
Her reflection stared back.
Ambition.
Jealousy.
Opportunity.
Finally, she looked up again.
“What do you need me to do?”
Valentino’s eyes glowed faintly in the darkness.
“Excellent choice.”
The film set buzzed with activity the next afternoon.
Cameras rolled.
Crew members rushed between equipment.
Macy Cole stood near the stage lights, gripping her script.
Her first real acting role.
Her hands trembled with excitement.
“Drink this,” Zoe said, handing her a bottle of water.
“You look nervous.”
Macy laughed.
“I feel like I’m going to faint.”
Zoe smiled sweetly.
“You’ll be amazing.”
Macy took a sip.
Neither of them noticed the faint white powder dissolving in the water.
Across the set, a tall figure watched quietly from the shadows.
Nicholas Thorne.
His sharp gaze followed Macy carefully.
Something felt wrong.
He could sense it.
A strange heaviness in the air.
On set, Macy suddenly blinked.
Her vision blurred.
“Whoa…”
The ground swayed beneath her feet.
“Macy?” Jack called. “You ready?”
She tried to answer.
Instead her knees buckled.
Nicholas moved before anyone else even realized something was wrong.
In a flash he reached her side, catching her before she hit the ground.
The cold touch of his hand steadied her.
“Macy.”
Her hazy vision focused slowly on his face.
“You came,” she murmured.
Nicholas frowned.
Something was very wrong.
And across the set—
Valentino watched with quiet satisfaction.
The game had begun.