Chapter 22

The audition waiting room buzzed with nervous energy as early arrivals clustered in small groups.

Vivian Hartley stepped through the doors, her entrance causing an immediate hush to fall over the space. Every head turned toward the unfamiliar beauty who carried herself with quiet confidence.

Among the sea of stunning actresses vying for the lead role, Vivian stood out like a diamond among rhinestones. The other women exchanged wary glances, their competitive instincts flaring at the sight of such formidable competition.

"Who is she?" someone whispered behind a script.

"Never seen her before," came the hissed reply. "Probably another pretty face with no real experience."

The murmurs grew louder as more actresses joined in the speculation. Their dismissive tones suggested Vivian was just another hopeful trying to luck into a big break without putting in the work.

Then the atmosphere shifted dramatically when Serena Whitmore made her grand entrance, surrounded by her usual entourage.

All eyes immediately darted between the two women, noting the brief but charged moment when Serena's gaze locked onto Vivian before deliberately looking away. The unspoken tension crackled through the room.

Several actresses quickly repositioned themselves near Serena, their voices dripping with false sweetness.

"Serena, darling, we all know this role was written for you," gushed one, flipping her hair. "The rest of us are just here to make the selection process look fair."

"Absolutely," another chimed in. "Though it seems some people actually believe they stand a chance against you." Her pointed glance at Vivian didn't go unnoticed.

Laughter rippled through the group as more joined in the thinly veiled insults. "Maybe she thinks looking pretty is enough? Has she even acted before?"

"At best she could play some vapid supporting character," someone sneered. "She certainly doesn't have Serena's commanding screen presence."

Vivian remained composed under the barrage of cattiness, though her grip tightened slightly on her script. Lydia opened her mouth to retaliate, but Vivian gave a nearly imperceptible shake of her head.

The message was clear: they wouldn't give these women the satisfaction of a reaction. The real competition would happen on the audition floor, not in petty backstage drama.