Chapter 490 A Woman in the Shadows

Chapter 490: Chapter 490 A Woman in the Shadows

The assistant hurried back over.

“Director, there’s a problem. Sophie Clarke’s dressing room overlaps with Crystal’s, and neither of them is willing to give up the space.”

Diana frowned.

A fight over a dressing room?

Rose couldn’t help glancing at Sophie. Her name sounded familiar. She seemed to have made a name for herself only recently, though Rose had no idea how long she’d been in the industry.

What caught her attention, however, was Sophie’s face. 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ

She looked remarkably like Diana.

Of course, Sophie was a celebrity, with a more polished appearance and striking features. She was tall and curvaceous, with the kind of beauty that immediately drew attention.

Sophie strolled over and gave Diana a casual once-over.

“I’ve brought quite a few makeup artists with me, and we have a lot of outfits to shoot today. Would you mind letting us use the larger dressing room?”

Diana had also noticed the resemblance between them. She studied Sophie for another moment before answering.

“The company assigned the dressing rooms in advance. Crystal is scheduled to arrive for her shoot in an hour. If you want to use her room, you’ll need to arrange it beforehand and follow the terms of the contract.”

She made no effort to soften her tone.

That was simply how the industry worked. If you were in a position of authority and acted too accommodating, people would take advantage of you.

Celebrities and entertainers were often accustomed to getting their way. Everyone wanted the best treatment, just as everyone wanted the lead role.

“Do you even know who Sophie is?” her assistant snapped. “It’s just a dressing room. Surely you can make one phone call and sort this out. Why are you being so difficult?”

Diana’s expression turned cold.

She hated it when people tried to throw their connections around to get what they wanted.

She might not have enormous influence, but she wasn’t powerless, either.

“Then tell me who you are,” Diana replied coolly. “And who’s the big shot you’re relying on? I’d love to meet someone powerful enough to make me break a contract and take orders from you.”

Sophie glanced at Diana but didn’t seem interested in getting into an argument with her.

“Forget it,” she told her assistant. “Let’s get on with the shoot.”

With that, she turned and walked away.

Diana waved her hand at the staff.

“All right, everyone. Back to work.”

Rose watched Sophie disappear before strolling over to Diana.

“I never would’ve guessed our Diana could be so strict and impartial at work. I’m impressed.”

Diana immediately dropped her stern expression and lifted her chin with playful pride.

“Hmph. Do you have any idea how many people I have to manage? Half of them are celebrities who think the world revolves around them. If I were a pushover, they’d walk all over me every single day.”

If she didn’t stand her ground, she’d never keep the whole production under control.

Rose chuckled. “But what’s the deal with Sophie? Her assistant was practically picking a fight on her behalf, and then the moment you stood your ground, Sophie just walked away.”

Rose was fairly sure Sophie had given her assistant the green light to make a fuss. It had almost seemed as though she wanted to provoke Diana.

Perhaps Diana’s response had caught her off guard. Either way, Sophie hadn’t pushed the matter any further.

“Sophie...” Diana mused.

“She made a comeback a few months ago after starring in a web series. Apparently, the whole thing was practically tailor-made for her, and she got some incredible resources out of it. Now she’s even landing endorsements for this brand’s seasonal collection.”

Her career had taken off remarkably quickly. She’d gone from an obscure actress to a recognizable second-tier star in a matter of months.

“Still, she’s genuinely beautiful,” Diana added. “Give someone like her the right opportunities, and it’s not hard to see how she could make a comeback.”

“I think she looks a lot like you,” Rose remarked.

“Me?”

Diana smiled, perfectly aware of her own limitations.

“She’s a celebrity. She’s much prettier and more polished than I am.”

Rose looked at her seriously. “In my eyes, nobody compares to you.”

Diana’s heart melted. She threw her arms around Rose.

“You’re the only person who’s ever been this good to me.”

“What about Liam?” Rose asked.

Diana blinked. “He’s wonderful, too, obviously. You know I wouldn’t be where I am today without him.”

Rose pressed her lips together, thinking for a moment before asking, “Do you think people change?”

Diana laughed.

“I can’t speak for everyone, but Liam won’t change. We’ve been together for years, and our feelings are just as strong as ever. We haven’t even been affected by the so-called seven-year itch.”

Listening to the confidence and happiness in Diana’s voice, Rose ultimately chose to remain silent.

Instead, she stayed by Diana’s side and helped her with the work.

Not long afterward, Diana received a call from her boss.

“Sophie has a packed schedule, and she’s a priority. Find a way to give her a dressing room. I’ll take care of the rest.”

Diana was taken aback.

“It’s just a dressing room. Are you seriously calling me about this?”

“Don’t ask questions,” her boss replied. “She’s got someone backing her.”

Diana was left bewildered.

Still, she couldn’t help looking at Sophie with a new sense of respect.

It made sense. Making a comeback in the cutthroat entertainment industry and rising so quickly was rarely possible without powerful connections.

As for who was backing Sophie, that was beyond Diana’s responsibilities.

“What are your plans for tonight?” Rose asked.

Diana thought for a moment.

“Liam’s going on a business trip, so I can just sleep in my office.”

Rose slipped an arm around Diana’s shoulders and waved her phone, which was still open to her chat with Ryan.

“What do you mean, sleep in your office? Finish your work today, and let’s go have some fun. One of Ryan’s friends just opened a resort and invited us to check it out. Ryan has some things to take care of, so he asked me to bring you along.”

A luxury experience like that was too good to pass up.

Diana considered the offer.

Liam wouldn’t be around anyway. He was always rushing from one commitment to the next, and she had no reason to spend another night at the office.

“All right, then.”

Rose immediately messaged Ryan and asked him to make the arrangements.

He replied that he’d come over a little later and told them to head to the resort first.

By the time Diana finished work, it was already past six in the evening.

Ryan had arranged a car to pick them up. The drive took nearly two hours.

The resort was hosting a private preview for people in the industry before its official opening, a way to build goodwill and spread the word.

“Oh my God! This place is ridiculously luxurious!”

The moment Diana stepped into the villa, she darted from one place to another, excitedly taking everything in.

Rose was equally stunned.

So this was how the truly wealthy lived. Their idea of luxury seemed to have no limits.

Ryan’s friend had arranged the best villa on the property, complete with spectacular views and every amenity imaginable.

The enormous swimming pool shimmered beneath the evening light, and the villa had everything they could possibly need.

Beyond the doors stretched a landscaped mountain forest, so beautiful and secluded that it felt like a hidden paradise.

“Your husband really knows how to pull strings,” Diana said, hurrying back to Rose and giving her a thumbs-up. “I can’t even imagine how much one night here costs.”

Rose was curious herself. She looked up the price and turned her phone toward Diana.

“Here. More than six hundred thousand for one night.”

Diana stared at the screen.

“...”

A chill ran down her spine.

“I hate capitalists.”

Rose burst out laughing. “Don’t forget, you’re married to one now, too. Liam’s at the height of his career. You’d better get used to being a wealthy wife sooner or later.”

“Oh.” Diana paused, then sighed. “He’s worked so hard to get where he is. He wants to give me the best of everything, so I can’t exactly go around spending money recklessly, can I?”

Rose hesitated. For a moment, it seemed as though she wanted to say something, but she ultimately held back.

“I’m starving. Let’s order some food and try the complimentary dishes,” Diana said over her shoulder before hurrying toward the back garden. “I’m going to walk around and take some more pictures!”

Rose followed her outside.

Every detail of the grounds had been meticulously designed. The flowers, the grass, the trees, and the shrubs had all been carefully arranged, while even the pine and cypress trees transplanted into the courtyard were reportedly worth tens of millions.

Diana had long been in the habit of sharing every little detail of her life with Liam.

Over the years, it had become second nature to her. Whatever she ate or drank, wherever she went, whatever she happened to be doing, she always let him know.

She took several pictures and opened WhatsApp.

Liam’s chat was pinned at the top of her conversations.

She had just tapped on it when a coquettish female voice drifted over from nearby.

“How long can you stay with me this time?”

Diana froze.

That voice...

It was so sweet and alluring that she could hardly imagine any man being immune to it.

She instinctively turned toward the sound.

Their villa wasn’t the only one in the area. Several others stood a short distance away, surrounded by the same lush greenery and carefully landscaped grounds.

Through the foliage, Diana spotted two figures.

The woman was clinging to the man, while he stood with one hand in his pocket, looking completely at ease.