CHAPTER 21
~Xena's POV~
I blinked at the woman, momentarily stunned—not because of her insult, but because I finally recognised her up close.
"To think that Director Xade made you the lead actress over me is an insult in itself," she added, as if to belittle me, but I did not fret.
Crystal Voss.
The Crystal Voss.
The newest rising A-list actress and media's favourite spoiled darling. The same woman who boldly declared in an interview that she was "basically destined" to be the lead in Director Xade's next film — this movie.
I scoffed.
So that was where all this venom came from.
My shock faded, replaced with a slow, amused smirk.
Crystal's eyes narrowed at the expression on my face. She clearly didn't expect confidence.
"The fact that I'm the lead actress," I said calmly, letting each word hit her in the ego, "should tell you what you already know but are too afraid to accept."
Her jaw tightened, and my smile grew, spilling into my eyes.
"I, Xena Winter," I added smoothly, "am better than you."
A muscle twitched in Crystal's cheek. "Excuse me? You said what?"
I tilted my head slightly, smiling like I was schooling a little kid. "I'm pretty sure that big, pretty empty brain of yours can recall everything I just said. If not, I doubt you can act any role, let alone the lead role of Director Xade's movie."
Gasps echoed from the background. Even a makeup artist froze. It was then I realised I might have spoken a little too loudly to their little Princess Bee star.
Crystal's face turned bright red, and she lunged forward, hand raised to slap me, but she never made it.
My hand shot up, catching her wrist mid-air. Her eyes widened as she tried to yank it back, but I held firm.
Whispers flowed out like a bunch of buzzing bees. I knew at once what this would garner, and the last thing I wanted was Xade's wrath on me when I was just coming back.
Especially after our little issue at Xavier's restaurant.
In annoyance, I released her finally, and she stumbled backwards a step, nearly tripping on her own heels.
A few people snickered. And honestly, I wasn't at all concerned about those who didn't like her either.
I glared once before turning away. Dominic had appeared in the distance, waving me over. I took a step toward him, only for Crystal to screech behind me and launch herself again, going for my hair this time.
I prepared myself for the impact. I wasn't going to react like before. Instead, I planned on letting her ruin her image, screeching like a banshee, and maybe, just maybe, she'd get the cold glare from her admirable Director.
However, before she could lay a finger on me, a hand clamped around her wrist, stopping her cold.
The person stepped between us like a wall, shielding me from her.
Everyone around us fell silent as they all watched and waited to see what was happening.
It was a good thing Xae was probably in a room or something, and not here to witness this fiasco.
I looked up, my gaze falling on the tall, broad shoulders and long silver hair tied loosely behind him.
I exhaled, my chest tightening in anticipation. The presence kind of felt familiar, but I wasn't sure until he half turned.
Sharp jawlines greeted me, followed by cold blue eyes that could freeze a room.
Raiden Ken.
My jaw almost dropped.
Raiden-freaking-Ken — the industry's golden boy and women's universal hallucination. The man who once did a swimming scene that nearly broke the internet because his boxers looked like they needed divine intervention to stay on.
I couldn't believe he was standing a foot away from me.
"Raiden, let go," Crystal whined, her voice suddenly becoming soft and trembling. "You're hurting me."
He released her wrist, but didn't spare her another glance. Instead, he turned fully toward me.
"Are you okay?" he asked in that low voice that made one's heart flutter.
I swallowed my inner fangirl aggressively and nodded. "Yes. Thank you for your help."
He gave a single nod before finally looking at Crystal.
"Maybe," he said dryly, "if you spent more time improving your acting than faking tears, you wouldn't embarrass yourself so often."
Crystal's mouth fell open, and I was pretty sure a few people watching had their jaws dropping. Her fake cry died instantly.
Raiden didn't stay long enough for a response. He turned and walked away, hands sliding into his pockets like he hadn't just obliterated someone's confidence in public.
I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing and followed a few steps behind him. Not because I knew where he was going—I definitely didn't—but because my feet moved on their own.
Three steps in, I paused, realizing how I probably looked, trailing him like a puppy.
I shifted back, my gaze darting around in search of Dominic.
"Where could you be? There's no way you hadn't seen that spectacle."
No sooner had those thoughts crossed my mind than I felt a thick, heated gaze drilling into my back. The kind that made my skin prickle and a slow shiver crawl down my spine.
Against my better judgment, I turned.
Xade stood there.
Director Xade.
He held a thin folder in his hand. His posture was straight, his eyes locked on me with a look I couldn't decipher. Dominic stood beside him, stiff and awkward, clearly unsure if he should interrupt.
Xade's stare didn't move, blink, or soften. And for some reason… it made it suddenly hard to breathe.
Xade still did not say anything, he didn't have to. His eyes alone made my spine straighten and my pulse trip over itself.
Honestly, I wasn't sure what was on his mind anymore. Was it the incident yesterday with Xavier or was it this one with Crystal?
The silence felt heavier than the script folder in his hand. Dominic opened his mouth, probably to rescue me from the stare-down, but someone from the lighting crew suddenly jogged over.
"Director Xade! We're ready whenever you are," the man said, panting slightly. "The tech team needs you to check the final setup."
That tiny interruption snapped the tension between us. Xade finally blinked. His expression shifting into a more professional look, controlled, like nothing had happened.
Instinctively, I looked away, trying to distract myself on my phone wen he stepped forward to address the room.
"Everyone," he called out in his deep, firm voice.
Heads turned instantly. Even Crystal stopped pretending to sniff dramatically.
"Gather around," he added, lifting the folder slightly. "We're moving to the presentation hall."
The actors and crew formed a loose semicircle around him. The room quieted, the way it always did when someone respected, or feared, the person speaking.
Xade scanned the crowd once, then continued.
"Today isn't for filming or rehearsal," he said. "It's for introduction. Getting familiar with the cast, the working environment, and each other. Food and drinks are prepared in the next hall. After that, we'll go over the project outline."
Excited murmurs spread. A few actors practically skipped.
"Everyone may head in," he said calmly, gesturing towards the west wing.
People began moving immediately. It was perfect. Crowds made the best cover.
I exhaled, ready to slip in between two younger artists and disappear into the herd like a very determined ant.
One step.
Two steps.
And just when I was almost away…
"Ms. Winter."