Chapter 2
I snapped, "With that shovel-shaped face and empty head, you don't even qualify as a rising star. You're more like a rookie fresh out of the womb. Influencer king? Please. Your bio says you've been acting for eight years, but your face has barely made it on camera for two minutes, and most of that was just the back of your head."
I added, "Even a background extra like me has had 11 more seconds of screen time than you. How do you even have the guts?"
"Iris, you..." Luke stammered.
I snorted dismissively, let go of his shirt, brushed off my hands, and turned to walk away.
No way I was letting him walk away with the last word after I just roasted him.
During the evening shoot, I made sure to give Luke no slack at all.
I deliberately avoided any physical contact with him and shoved all the dirty and tiring work his way.
With the cameras rolling, he had no choice but to put up with it and act like nothing was wrong.
The comments went wild.
[Why is she always bossing Luke around?]
[Luke's working so hard! Let me give him a hug!]
[Seriously, what's her deal? Who does she think she is, acting all high and mighty?]
Once the cameras were off, Luke looked absolutely pissed, like he'd just swallowed a whole lemon.
"Just two more episodes and they'll reshuffle our ships. Iris, when I finally blow up, you'll be eating your words!" he snapped.
I casually cleaned out my ear, treating his rant like it was nothing but hot air.
The second episode was a group activity. All of us were headed to Ascend Mall, the most high-end, luxurious spot in Oraton, to pick out gifts for each other.
When we got to the entrance, I just stopped in my tracks. I remembered Jasper gifted this mall to me. It seemed I couldn't hide things anymore.
Alexia saw me frozen at the entrance and rushed over, making a scene with her loud, mocking voice.
She snarked, "Iris, why are you spacing out? Never set foot in a place like this, have you? Figures. A cheapskate who licks the yogurt lid probably wouldn't even get past the front door."
I couldn't be bothered to waste my breath on her, but she just wouldn't let up.
Alexia pulled out a sleek black card from her bag.
She flashed it and bragged, "Not gonna lie, this is the ultra-exclusive black card from Ascend Group. The vice president gave it to me personally. There are fewer than fifty of these in the whole world, and even the top VIPs at Ascend Group can't buy one!"
She added, putting on her best coy act, "The vice president treats me like his own sister-in-law, so he gave me this as a welcome gift. Otherwise, I wouldn't even get the chance to show it off to you guys."
I was stunned. The president of Ascend Group was me, and the vice president was Jasper's older sister. And she claimed the vice president treated her like a sister-in-law, then what about me?
As soon as she finished, everyone immediately flocked to her, eager to get close.
Alexia was already the queen bee of this show, and now that she'd revealed her connection to the vice president of Ascend Group, everyone was scrambling to get on her good side.
The director rubbed his hands together, all smiles and flattery.
"Miss Burke, would you mind leading us inside and showing us around?" he asked with a flattering tone.
Alexia put on her best shy-girl act, grabbed her purse, and gave her hips a little wiggle as she walked up to the front desk. She held up her black card for the receptionist to see.
The cameras started rolling, ready to catch every bit of her performance.
The stream chat instantly clocked the card.
[Whoa, that's the Ascend Group black card! Alexia's a legit rich queen!]
[Ugh, I'm dying of envy! Alexia's living that main character life!]
The receptionist looked a bit overwhelmed, clearly out of her depth with all the commotion. She swiped the card and ushered everyone toward the owner's exclusive VIP elevator.
But there were just too many of us, and the elevator immediately flashed an "Overweight" warning.
Alexia put on a fake-shocked face and called out, "Iris, looks like you've been hitting the snacks a little too hard lately. Guess you're the reason we're over the weight limit. Maybe you should hop off first?"
Before I could even say anything, the rest of the crew shoved me out of the elevator.
I didn't want to squeeze in anyway, so I waited for the next one.
An attendant swaggered over, wearing a smug look. "Miss, without a black card, you can't use this elevator. There's a stairwell at the back. Please use that."
I gave him a blank stare. "So, no card means I have to take the stairs? Isn't there a regular elevator for everyone just around the corner?" I replied, not even fazed.
His smug smile froze when he realized I knew this place better than he did.
He sneered. "Sorry, miss. But you just don't qualify for my service."
I went along with it and nodded, not bothered in the slightest.
"Then go get your manager," I said coolly.
The attendant gave me a dismissive side-eye and just stood there, refusing to budge.
I couldn't help but laugh in disbelief. I had done for keeping a low profile.
I whipped out my phone and dialed up Jasper's sister.
"Hey, Estelle. Can you swing by Ascend Mall?" I asked.
The attendant heard me on the phone and snickered, but that smug grin vanished real quick.
Soon, Estelle Leonard's Bentley rolled up to the entrance. Attendants scrambled to open the door and valet the car.
When she saw me lingering at the entrance, she hurried over.
"Iris, sweetie, why are you just standing here? Why aren't you inside?" Estelle asked.