The air at the Volkov family estate was heavy with a history Anya could feel but not yet understand. The sprawling mansion, nestled in a private, guarded valley, was a fortress of old-world power. Lex's grip on her hand was a constant, reassuring presence as they walked toward the main doors.
"Remember what I told you," he murmured, his voice low. "Don't let her intimidate you. You're my choice, and that's all that matters."
Anya took a deep breath. She had faced down her stepsisters and stepfather, but meeting the woman who was the true matriarch of the Volkov family felt like an entirely different battle.
They were greeted by a butler, who led them into a grand sitting room. And there she was: a woman with a face etched with the wisdom of a thousand years, sitting with a delicate teacup in her hands. Grandmother Volkov looked every bit the powerful figure Lex had described. She gave Anya a long, appraising look that made her feel as if her very soul was being weighed.
"So this is the girl who has my grandson so distracted," the old woman said, her voice soft but with an undeniable edge. "Anya. You have a quiet strength about you."
Anya managed a small smile. "Thank you, ma'am. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Just then, a voice from the doorway made Anya's blood run cold. "Grandma! I just had to come and see you!"
Eva sauntered into the room, looking impossibly elegant in a designer dress. Her smile was aimed at Grandmother Volkov, but her eyes held a triumphant glint as they landed on Anya.
"Eva, my dear. What a surprise," the matriarch said, a slight frown on her face. "You know I have a busy schedule."
"I know, but I had to come and tell you what a wonderful time I'm having back in Oakhaven," Eva said, her words dripping with false sweetness. She then turned to Lex, ignoring Anya completely. "Lex, darling, I had no idea you would be here. What a lovely coincidence. It's almost like old times, isn't it?"
Anya felt a flash of anger. The woman was a master of subtle manipulation.
Grandmother Volkov's eyes narrowed. "Eva, you are being very rude. My grandson has a guest. This is Anya."
Eva gave a little giggle. "Oh, I know. We've met. She's so… sweet. Not the type I'd have imagined with Lex. I've always thought he needed someone who understood his world, with all its complexities and secrets. Someone from a powerful family, like mine, who could truly be an asset."
The unspoken words hung in the air: not a corporate nobody who had only recently come into the company.
Lex stepped forward, his hand on the small of Anya's back. "Anya is more than enough for me, Grandma. Her courage and strength are worth more than any connections. She's the only one I want by my side."
The matriarch's gaze shifted from Eva's smug face to Anya's steady one. She said nothing more on the matter, but Anya felt a silent judgment, a weighing of her worth. Eva, seeing her words had landed, excused herself shortly after, a triumphant smile on her face. She had done enough damage for one visit.
The movie set was a hive of controlled chaos. Zara was running lines in her dressing room when the door opened. A young woman with a kind face and a clipboard in her hand stepped inside.
"Hi, Zara," she said. "I'm Emily. The company just hired me to be your assistant. Anything you need, I'm here."
Zara felt a wave of relief. "Oh, thank you so much! I'm so glad to meet you. The other day was... a little crazy."
"I heard," Emily said with a knowing smile. "Don't worry about it. Isabella is... a special case. You'll be fine as long as you steer clear of her."
On the other side of the set, Mark was in his special room, going over his scenes. His assistant, James, a man with a sharp wit and an even sharper eye for detail, was reviewing the day's schedule. Mark was calm and focused, his long-standing career a testament to his professionalism. He was a superstar, but he carried none of the arrogance. He was well-liked and respected by everyone on the set, except for Isabella.
Isabella, in her lavish dressing room, was getting a touch-up from her makeup artist. Her two female assistants hovered around her, catering to her every whim. She was still fuming about the coffee incident, but the humiliation of Mark's concern for Zara, not her, was what stung.
"That little actress is going to regret what she did," Isabella said, her voice low and menacing. "I want you to find out everything you can about her. Her background, her friends, everything."
Her two assistants, scared of her wrath, nodded in unison. They were used to her dramatic antics, but this was a new level of fury.
Later, during a scene, Isabella was supposed to have a small altercation with Zara. The scene was meant to be a simple argument, but Isabella, driven by her anger, changed the lines and the choreography at the last minute. She pushed Zara much harder than intended, causing her to lose her footing and almost fall. Mark, watching from the side, saw what happened. He immediately stopped the tape.
"Cut!" he yelled. "Are you okay, Zara?"
He rushed to her side, his concern genuine.
"I'm fine," she said, a little shaken. "I just... lost my balance."
Isabella just smirked, a look of triumph on her face. "My bad. I got a little into character."
"No, you didn't," Mark said, his voice flat. He was known for his calm, but his face was now a mask of cold anger. "That wasn't in the script, Isabella. You could have hurt her. A professional doesn't do that."
Isabella's jaw dropped. She was used to getting her way and having people cater to her every desire. Mark's public rebuke was a severe blow to her ego. She stormed off the set, her two assistants trailing behind her. The director, a veteran of the industry, simply shook his head and ordered a break. He had seen this kind of drama before, but not with Mark.
Back in her dressing room, Isabella's assistants tried to calm her down.
"He's never spoken to me like that before!" she ranted. "He's just trying to impress that new girl!"
She picked up her phone and made a call to her powerful family. The Zhenya name was not one to be trifled with, and she would make sure zara knew who he was dealing with.