Chapter 163

They arrived at the hotel. Lynn had secured a room, so Stacey just checked in. The "Empress" cast, including Malcolm, greeted her warmly after she unpacked. It was a joyous reunion, especially with "The Empress" airing soon. But the main focus was the "Happy Little Mango" script. Everyone needed to follow it for the show's success.

Back in their room, Malcolm’s eyes sparkled. "Becky," he whispered, "the script’s loose. We don’t have to lose to 'Rising Dragon,' right?"

Stacey, who’d already read it, simply nodded. "Right." It was an unspoken rule; A-list stars got leeway. Charlie, "Rising Dragon’s" lead, was clearly favored in the script. He'd get preferential treatment, the best lines, the most chances to shine. Others would have to yield.

But the "Empress" cast was different. Stacey, Charlie's long-lost sister, was a national sweetheart. Even if they upstaged Charlie, no one would criticize them. In fact, the sibling rivalry angle would boost ratings. Win or lose, it was a win-win. As Charlie had put it, “Relax, it’s a vacation.”

They filmed leisurely over a few days, though rehearsals were needed. Teamwork was key.

Meanwhile, Tina, screenwriter of "Her Majesty," was in despair. Her show was being sued for plagiarism. Initially, she’d been unconcerned—Janet, her client, had overpaid. But now she was blacklisted. Major companies refused her scripts, citing the plagiarism scandal.

Panic set in. Screenwriting was her life; without it, she had nothing. A friend's advice led her to Janet. It wasn't Tina who'd plagiarized; it was Janet. Tina rushed home, retrieving a voice recorder. She’d secretly recorded their conversations, anticipating trouble.

She called Janet, who coldly denied everything. "I don't know what you're talking about," Janet snapped. "You wrote it yourself!"

Tina calmly responded, "I have a recording."

Janet's face fell. "Meet me," Tina said.

Janet reluctantly agreed, giving Tina the address. That afternoon, Tina arrived, her anxiety a palpable thing.

In a private coffee shop room, Lisa, Janet's assistant, thoroughly searched Tina, confiscating her phone to prevent recording. Tina tried to retrieve it, but Lisa's hand stopped her.

"What do you want?" Janet demanded.