Episode 3: Lights, Camera, Action

This story is not mine……….. read the discription for more information.

The crowd sat in silent anticipation as the item of the night was announced to be presented by none other than Stella Peterson.

She was one of Hollywood's most promising up-and-coming actresses and her slim physique was one that was raved about for quite a long time upon her debut.

Emily gave a nod of approval before they lifted her up on stage in the fancily decorated chair. With the mask on, if one was to point out one distinguishing feature between her and Stella, other than that of their varying height which her lack of was compensated for with high heels, it would have to be Emily's neck. Besides that, no one could tell the difference.

It didn't matter though.

She has something better up her sleeves.

The show had already reached its climax when Emily, disguised as Stella, ascended gracefully to the stage on the chair.

All the spotlights immediately focused on her.

Emily held the necklace as if it was the most precious thing in the world, as it ought to be treated and she secured it around her neck. Her fingers brushed against the surface of the gemstones, and all the attention diverted onto her perfect neck. The smooth flawless skin she had made them all fall into a trance, completely spellbound, the item of the night completely abandoned in thought as they paid attention to the supposed Stella.

Her neck stretched amazingly as she arched herself to sit in model-like positions to be selling the brand.

Just like during a photoshoot.

And slowly, the cameras were raised.

The flashes from them were insistently bright but desperate to capture the essence of her.

Emily continued to work it, however, deep down she was preparing for the surprise attack.

Just by the way the necklace looked so elegant on her had many women set on purchasing the item already.

Her influence was ludicrous.

As the audience rose to give her a round of applause upon her marvellous ease in presenting the beautiful object, the lights went out.

The crowd was shocked to see such a technical issue

occur.

Mr. Hall was upset and embarrassed.

He was yelling in the dark for them to get things running again.

Emily took the chance to try and escape as planned.

Key word: try.

As the lights turned back on, they were given the shock of their lives, seeing a face who was not Stella's having been revealed.

They all gasped.

The actress pretended to be just as petrified about being caught and frantically put back on the mask.

She couldn't see in it to flee properly after all.

The fake Stella stood on stage like the perfect mannequin.

The fully greyed man, from the crown of his head all the way to his white beard, looked at Stella in horror as he tugged at his already rumbled up designer suit.

He had initially been blown away by her performance tonight but after seeing this he knew what the favour Starz Entertainment's co-owner had asked of him; not to allow anyone to speak to Stella meant. Jake hadn't told him the reason why that ought to be a part of their deal, but her silence had been a necessity for a sly reason unbeknownst to him.

"Emily Pinault? What are you doing here?"

Everyone was confused as to how another actress magically took Stella's place...

And was wearing her dress.

Mr. Hall's face darkened as he pointed at the woman in front of him. "What is the meaning of this? I personally hired Stella Peterson for the night as a representative of Janel. Where did she go? And why are you wearing her dress?!"

"I knew that wasn't Stella!" Somebody yelled from the crowd.

"I've been a fan of her for years, even saw her recently up close and she doesn't have such a long neck! And she sure as hell does not look like that!"

Thank God for dedicated fans.

All eyes zoomed onto Emily and the truth couldn't be denied.

Slowly but surely, all mouths began to drop to the floor in astonishment as they realized Stella's fanboy was right.

This was not Stella.

It hadn't been her all along.

Emily Pinault?

The washed up actress? What was she doing here pretending to be Stella?

Lights went off in a frenzy as the reporters all tried to get a snap at her.

"Miss Pinault! Miss Pinault! What exactly is going on? From what we all know, Stella Peterson was the one who was to attend today's show, so why are you here instead?"

"Emily, you were blacklisted two years ago by FG.

The public hasn't heard from you apart from a few modeling gigs here and there. Since they're no longer the top entertainment company in the business, are you trying to take this opportunity to announce your return to the big screen?"

"As a dried up actress, are you trying to take Stella's gigs? Are you that desperate that you had to try and steal her chance of becoming a brand name's ambassador? Are you knowingly trying to create a buzz over this? Emily- did you plan this?!"

By this time, Talia had enough of this ridiculous situation and went on stage to escort her off.

However, she wasn't enough of a force for the rowdy reporters.

She looked around in panic.

Just as she was about to start throwing things in order for them to see she was dead serious, two men came over to help Emily off the stage.

The woman shrunk back at the sight of their muscular build thinking they were going to attack her but they assured her differently by saying, "Mr. King sent us."

Emily's eyes quickly surveyed the area in shock at the new piece of information, but she saw no sign of the man mentioned.

She allowed the bodyguards to escort her down the stage anyway and away from the bombarding reporters.

"I'll see you in court, Emily Pinault! I won't let you nor your company get away with embarrassing me like this!" She heard Mr. Hall yell in outrage.

She didn't feel the least bit threatened nor remorseful about what happened.

It was what she had been hoping for after all.

Backstage in a secluded area where the big men who had escorted her down took guard, Emily saw the man that she was looking for.

He was dressed in a Gucci suit that made him look incredibly edible admist all this chaos. She could jump his bones right then and there, not caring about the consequences. These inappropriate thoughts that floated in her mind had Emily blushing a deep red though.

Too bad Nicholas thought the new colour on her face was from the embarrassing moment on stage.

"Are you a complete imbecile?" The roughness of his question startled Emily.

His voice was stern and unapologetic.

"The moment they saw you when the lights came on you should have ran off the stage, not stand there like an idiot trying to put the mask back on!"

Emily's heartbeat stopped for a moment.

"I know what I'm doing."

"Oh, really? It didn't look like that two minutes ago."

He cocked his head at her in ridicule.

Nicholas didn't know why he was so riled up.

Seeing Emily vulnerable on stage with all the cameras shoved in her face and insults being hurled at her made his blood pressure rise.

He wanted to make each and every person that had something vile to say to her pay.

He was set to attend this event but had initially turned it down. After David got a hold of the little secret about his new wife's humiliating act of standing in for another actress, he reconsidered it.

You see, Nicholas King was a man that had eyes and ears everywhere.

Emily's lips made a thin line at his rude attitude.

"I thought I told you to stay out of my business," she reminded him tersely. "Mr. King, I never took you for not being a man of your words."

Nicholas stood there, a wound crafted by the emotionless jab at him by the woman he had been pitying a moment ago.

Was she that empty-headed that she would allow her company to walk over her like this?

By the cool and collected expression on her face, Nicholas guessed she was.

He was thoroughly embarrassed that he had married a pushover.

Oh, how humiliating.

What had he been thinking?

"Fine," he spat angrily, "Do as you please. Even though your decisions are entirely moronic. The next time this happens, because it is bound to, I will not so much as bat an eyelash at you when you're stuck in a bind."

"Thank you." Emily nodded politely at him.

Nicholas felt his fists ball up at her dismissal.

"Good night, Miss Pinault." He said in a clipped tone.

With that, Nicholas King walked away feeling more deflated than he ever had in his life.

If she had asked, he would have ended those stupid fuckers who were behind this! Emily knew he could do that much yet she was so unwilling to run the idea by him.

It was clear to Nicholas that she was going to deal with the abuse by herself.

And with the generous, Mother Teresa-like standing she was living by, he knew that meant she was going to do nothing about it.

That made him even more infuriated.

How could she be this stupid?

While Emily understood where Nicholas was coming from with his judgement on her actions, she didn't want him involved in this.

This was her fight.

Plus, she didn't know him that well and was scared of what his reaction would be if she told him about her personal issues after being so keen about not wanting to share them. Emily didn't want to get comfortable too quickly because that meant becoming shameless enough to ask him for help.

Nicholas was the king of the entertainment industry.

With one statement release, he could have Jake eating out of her palm if she wanted him to.

But she didn't want to use him more than she already was in this fake marriage of theirs.

It would be completely selfish of her to do that. To take such an advantage of him with thoughts of having a divorce still running through her mind. At least it would be a quiet one without any drama since nobody knew about them. But she was the one that asked him. Why should she be so thoughtless of his situation and bring forth such a proposition?

In addition to that, Nicholas King was infamous for dealing with the people who had tried to take advantage of him in the past. Nasty revenges with public humiliation were always involved, and the offenders were dragged down to the dirt and completely ruined.

Wife or not, Emily did not want to be the next victim on his list.

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