Chapter 4Straight? Think Again

When I got home, I immediately started researching Juliana.

In my last life, I knew very little about her, other than that she was a brilliant actress with a terrible reputation. She was notoriously difficult to work with and had a penchant for tormenting newcomers.

That wasn't just a rumor. I had seen it with my own eyes.

The strange thing was, the young actress she had tormented was the one who ended up co-starring with her in this very show. After the series wrapped, Juliana left the country and transitioned to international films. She never came back.

The internet had a million theories. But the most persistent one was that the two of them had been in a relationship.

I didn't buy it. Based on how Juliana had treated her, it looked less like love and more like she wanted the girl dead.

Soon enough, Sarah called with good news: the audition was set.

Determined not to lose this chance, I memorized the script backward and forward. When it was my turn, I nailed it. The director was so impressed that he offered me the role on the spot. We signed the contract that day.

Sarah finally looked relieved. She clapped me on the shoulder. "I knew you had it in you. That was a great performance. With time, you're going to be a huge star."

"You're exaggerating, Sarah," I said with a bashful smile, but my eyes were drawn to a woman who had just stood up across the room.

It was her—the young actress who had gotten the role in my past life. The one the tabloids claimed had grown up with Juliana.

Juliana's beauty had been apparent from a young age, and she was discovered and mentored by a famous director. This actress, Ava, was her childhood friend. While not as stunning as Juliana, she was still pretty. After Juliana made it big, she tried to recommend Ava to her director.

But Ava took it as an act of pity. She lashed out at Juliana, and their friendship crumbled. They hadn't seen each other since.

Until this show brought them back together. When their history was dug up, the fans called it a story of a "broken mirror made whole again," a testament to their enduring love.

If I hadn't seen what I saw in that parking garage all those years ago, I might have believed it too. Their backstory sounded like something out of a novel. But only Ava knew the cold, hard reality.

I clenched my fists, took a deep breath, and walked over to her. I was about to introduce myself when she shot me a look of pure venom.

"Shameless thief."

She spat the words and stalked away.

I stood there, stunned.

Sarah, who had overheard, looked at me, confused. "Do you know her?"

"No," I said, then quickly added, "I saw her at the audition. We were both trying out for the same part."

That seemed to satisfy Sarah. She told me not to worry about it. And I wouldn't. I had more important things to do. Getting the role was just the first step.

"Sarah," I said, "I need you to do something for me."

"What is it?"

"I need you to dig up some dirt on someone." I leaned in and whispered a name in her ear. She gave me a long, searching look but left without another word.