The Queen of a Thousand Masks Chapter 2

The reality show was a live-streamed event called Truth or Dare: Hollywood Edition. It was the kind of show that could either make a career or end one.

When I arrived, the air was thick with tension. There were two "Mystery Guests" yet to be revealed.

The producers decided to play a game: the six regular cast members had to use their personal networks to invite the mystery guests to the set. Whoever succeeded would get a "Secret Grand Prize."

I sat on the velvet sofa, planning to stay invisible. I had enough money; I was actually planning to retire from the exhausting movie star life anyway.

Then, the first name flashed on the screen:

Caleb Vance.

Not that jerk, I thought, sinking deeper into the sofa.

Caleb Vance was a billionaire tech mogul now, but we grew up in the same group home. He was two years older and spent my entire childhood teasing me. We went our separate ways as adults. When I first started acting, he invited me to join his talent agency. I told him to go to hell.

The first person to speak was a rising starlet named Seraphina.

She smiled sweetly at the camera. "I have Mr. Vance’s private number. I can try, but no promises."

The chat went wild.

[Wait, isn't Seraphina signed to Vance Media? Are the rumors true? The CEO and the muse?]

[I heard Caleb Vance set aside a massive budget three years ago just to sign one specific girl. Seraphina signed right around then!]

Among the "Caleb + Seraphina" shippers, one user named "Aria's-Husband" was getting bullied for saying: [Caleb only wanted to sign Aria Thorne!]

Seraphina dialed. The phone rang for five seconds, then he hung up on her.

The room went silent. Seraphina forced a smile. "He’s a very busy man. He must be in a board meeting."

I hid a smirk. Caleb wasn't busy. He was never busy when it came to causing trouble.

Once, because he knew I was allergic to roses, he rented a helicopter to drop a thousand red roses onto my balcony. I spent two days in the ER and cursed him for an hour.

Another time, he secretly planted a forest of weeds under my window because I once said I liked "natural greenery." I only found out when the HOA fined me.

The guy next to Seraphina, a B-list actor named Xander, looked at me. "Aria, you’re smiling. Do you think you can get Mr. Vance to show up?"

I shook my head instantly. "No. I don't even know him."

"Then were you laughing at Seraphina?" Xander pressed.

"No," I lied. "I just remembered a funny video of my cat."

The silence in the room was judgmental.

"Aria, this is a professional show. Try to be more mature," Xander said, playing the moral high ground.

Then, Blair, another actress from my agency, chimed in. "Seraphina, why don't you try again? Someone like Mr. Vance wouldn't just ignore a call from someone as 'special' as you."

Seraphina bit her lip and dialed again. This time, he picked up.

"Who is this?" Caleb’s cold, bored voice filled the studio.

"It's... it's Seraphina, from the agency. We met last week at the gala..."

"Don't know you," Caleb said, and the line went dead.

The chat was stunned. Except for "Aria's-Husband," who was laughing in all caps.

Suddenly, Xander grabbed a business card from the production table and shoved it at me. "Since you’re so relaxed, Aria, why don't you give it a shot?"

I froze. This idiot.

I only had one phone with me. It had two SIM cards: my Aria Thorne number and my Sloane Winter number. I didn't know if Caleb had my Aria number saved, but I couldn't risk the Sloane number.

I looked at my smartwatch. It had a standalone LTE chip I almost never used. I checked the battery: 5%.

I dialed.

[Wait, is she using a kid's smartwatch?]

[Watching her fail is going to be the highlight of my week.]

The call went through. He picked up on the first ring.

"Hello?" His voice was suddenly warm, almost playful.

I pitched my voice higher, trying to sound like a generic PR rep. "Hi, Mr. Vance. I'm a guest on Truth or Dare. We’d love to have you join us."

"I know," Caleb said. "I'm watching the stream."

"What?"

"I know it's you, Aria," he drawled. "I'm already in the car. I'll be there in ten minutes."

"I'm bringing a gift. And no, it's not red roses this time..."

Before he could finish, I tapped my watch and pretended it died. "Oh, no. Out of battery."

The chat exploded.

[HE KNEW HER?!]

[He said 'I know it's you, Aria' so gently... I'm screaming.]

[Seraphina's face right now... someone call an ambulance.]