CHAPTER 127

Chapter 127

Sierra, the stylist, looked puzzled.

Vicky was confused too, but she quickly shook it off, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she asked, “You have a ton of clothes?”

Stacey thought about all the stuff her parents and brothers had gotten her over the years and nodded. “Yeah, quite a bit.”

“I’ve got pictures. You can see if there’s anything that fits, Stacey said, thinking out loud.

As she spoke, Stacey pulled out her phone and showed the director and the stylist the photos she’d taken. She had quietly snapped some shots of her wardrobe and storage back at Carter Manor, filled with clothes and accessories.

At first, Vicky and Sierra just figured that as a Carter, Becky’s clothes would be pretty nice, way better than what the crew had put together. But when they saw the photos, they were floored.

Both Vicky and Sierra were fashion–forward women, so they could instantly recognize the brands and designers of the clothes, bags, and accessories in the photos. They could even remember which year some of them were produced. Usually, the latest trends were what everyone wanted, and last season’s stuff wasn’t cool in high society. But there was one exception: limited edition items.

For a moment, Vicky and Sierra were speechless. They scrolled through the photos, zooming in on each one, their eyes glued to the screen. Every piece of clothing in the photos seemed extraordinary. What was even more shocking was that there was more than one photo, each filled with dozens, maybe even hundreds of clothes. And there were not just clothes, but bags and all sorts of accessories, too.

Vicky and Sierra were so engrossed in the photos that they forgot they were on the clock, completely mesmerized by the images.

Malcolm, who had finished his styling, was oddly left out. Despite being ignored, he was in a great mood. One could even say he was thrilled.

He had secretly studied the original novel of The Empress before his audition. The characters were crucial–the female lead and the male lead were both incredibly

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wealthy and attractive, exuding an air of nobility wherever they went.

For this drama to take off, it wasn’t just about the acting. The costumes and makeup were key..

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He knew Becky was in this crew and figured the costumes and makeup would be top–notch.

But now, seeing that Becky looked down on what the crew had prepared and that she could bring in much more valuable, even limited–edition clothes and accessories, he thought it was clear that their show was set to outshine even the biggest domestic productions in terms of costume and makeup. He felt The Empress was bound to be a massive hit.

Meanwhile, Sierra and Vicky were so excited about the clothes that they were. almost in tears. They believed that with these clothes, along with Becky’s and Malcolm’s acting skills, The Empress would be a smash hit in no time.

At Evergrande Entertainment, Janet tossed and turned every night since learning The Empress had been snatched up by Becky. She’d coolly told Lisa to scout for a better script, but who was she kidding? If top–tier scripts grew on trees, guys in showbiz wouldn’t be scrambling for the next big hit.

If she couldn’t find a script better than The Empress, Rebecca would steal her spotlight for good. The ladies of the Mitchell family’s friends, who’d watched her and Rebecca grow up, were already snickering behind her back. She needed to outshine Rebecca fast, o she’d be the laughingstock at the next high–society shindig.

That night, sleep didn’t come easy to Janet. Her mind raced with thoughts, but in the end, she hit on a plan.

She thought, Vicky’s not casting me, but what if I commission a script? I’ll model the characters after The Empress.

‘Copyright laws were a joke in our country. Plagiarism and piracy are the norm. Original works got ripped off left and right, and by the time the dust settles from legal battles, the knock–offs are already raking in the dough with fans across the globe.

‘And let’s not forget the fans of the knock–offs. They despised the original creators,

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accusing them of being envious and money–hungry. The real artists ended up as the villains in the public eye. If I pay for a script and produce it, any backlash will land on the writer, not me.

‘All I have to do is move fast. My show had to premiere before The Empress. First impressions matter. Whichever show airs first will be seen as the original, others as the copycat. Even if The Empress proves to be original, it wouldn’t matter. The audience will be smitten with the first show they saw.

“Though it’s the same storyline, the crowd will be blown away by the first one they lay eyes on. The later show will get compared, and no matter the outcome, it just falls short. It’s called the first impression effect.

‘Plus, I’m Janet, the movie queen. Rebecca’s just a flash in the pan, a newbie who lucked into a hit. If our shows air back–to–back, Rebecca will be setting herself up for humiliation. Unless, of course, Rebecca’s acting is so phenomenal that it can outshine mine, but is that even possible?

‘Rebecca is nothing but a pretty face, propped up by the Carter family’s deep pockets. Lovey Princess had been a fluke, a product of the Carter family’s wealth and PR prowess.

‘Now that Rebecca’s true ties to the Carter family are out in the open, what else does she have to bank on? Nothing!”

The more Janet thought about it, the better she felt. She could already see the headlines: Janet’s acting skills versus Rebecca’s, and Rebecca coming out as the loser.

With years in the industry under her belt, Janet knew her fair share of scriptwriters. She had several in her contacts.

Wasting no time, Janet reached out to the writer she knew, setting up a meeting.

Now, the money talked. If she was willing to pay, there was always a writer ready to write a script. She was ready to double the fee just to get the job done quickly.

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