"So Selene, after you are done auditioning, let’s hang out?" She offered.


    The smile that was on thetter’s lips immediately faltered but she immediatelyposed herself.


    "I’m sorry but I’m going to be busy practicing my lines. I’m sure all you need to do is just look at the scripts and you are good to go but I need to practice, Michelle," she politely declined the invitation, adding a bit ofpliment to make Michelle gloat.


    "Come on, I’m not that good. But alright, let’s hang out another time and you practice your lines. Give your best and make sure you get epted," Michelle wished her while Selene smiled at her.


    All of a sudden, ady tapped Michelle on the shoulder, grabbing her attention.


    "Yes?"


    Thedy held a script in her hand which meant she was also part of the people who were auditioning for a role. She was shaking with her head lowered.


    "P-please can I take a-a picture with you?" She requested.


    Michelle smiled at her. "Of course, darling."


    Michelle took a pic with her and other people took the chance to request a picture from Michelle until Mia thought it was enough.


    Michelle waved Selene a <i>goodbye</i> as she exited the hall and Selene returned it.


    "Now I’m curious, why is she acting like the both of you are besties? I mean, you too just met," Kace wondered out loud.


    "It’s definitely part of their n," Selene replied.


    When it was finally Selene’s turn to audition, she excused herself while Kace wished her luck.


    Selene entered the room and her eyesnded on the judges, she immediately bowed respectfully. The aura in the room was so intense that her palms only sweated even more.


    The judges were quite surprised with her good manners. When Michelle had walked in, she didn’t even bother to greet them.


    She had apanied Michelle to many auditions in the past when she was still her assistant, and she knew a few things to do when you want to audition. <i>Always be polite, it gives extra credit. </i>


    But since this was the first time she was auditioning for a role, she was pressured.


    "Good day, may we know your name please?" A judge asked, the only overweight one among them.


    "I’m Selene Jones," she replied respectfully with a bow.


    "Selene Jones? A rookie actress?" Another one asked and she nodded.


    "Yes, sir."


    "In that case, what do you have to show us today?"


    Selene brought out her script before she replied, "I will be ying the part where Queen Jammiah catches King Ardine on the bed with his concubine," she replied.


    The judges shared a look. Director Jeunes’ eyes narrowed at Selene Jones.


    She was only a rookie and she was already aiming for the female lead role.


    ’You have to be kidding me,’ he thought to himself.


    "The stage is all yours."


    Selene nodded.


    She closed her eyes, taking a deep breath. When she opened them, her entire demeanor had transformed, embodying the essence of Queen Jammiah. Disbelief and sadness were etched into her expression, her eyes turning red with a seething rage. Tears naturally pooled in her eyes,pleting her metamorphosis into the tormented queen.


    "So you have been cheating on me with this good-for-nothing whore you brought to this pce?" She asked. "You yed me like a fool. You told me you loved me but you still cheated on me?"


    Selene didn’t get the chance to say her other lines when she heard someone pping from the judge’s table.


    Her eyesnded on Director Jeunes, who was pping with a broad smile on his face. The other judges followed suit, their apuse filling the room. Anastasia’s heart swelled with a mix of relief and triumph as she took in their approving expressions.


    "Marvelous, Ms. Jones, that was simply marvelous," said director Jeunes. "


    Selene bowed happily as she exited the room. She resisted the urge to hop towards Kace when she found him waiting for her.


    "So you got in?" He asked her.


    "I’m not sure, but director Jeunes pped for me. I will just wait for the list toe out first," she replied.


    **


    Michelle was at the Wace garden. She was seated with her legs crossed as she sipped from her ss of juice. It’s been two days since the day of the audition and none of the judges had called her yet.


    She decided to go to the website where the list of people who passed the auditions will be posted.


    Michelle’s eyes lit up with a smile when she saw the role she had auditioned for. However, when her gazended on the name listed beneath it, her expression darkened. Her grip tightened involuntarily, shattering the ss cup in her hands.


    <i>Queen Jammiah</i>


    <i>Selene Jones</i>


    "That bitch!"