The Sinister Screen Queen

Tanya spotted the girl sitting in the corner, her shoulders trembling as she sniffled quietly.

Her makeup was slightly smudged, and her hands clutched at her lap. Tanya approached the crying girl and sat beside her.

"I saw what he did to you." Tanya said softly.

The girl's head snapped up, her tear-streaked face full of shame.

"You saw?" She murmured, wiping at her eyes.

Tanya leaned in, her voice steady. "That guy. He didn't want you out there because he had another model lined up."

"She was probably doing him favors."

The girl's expression darkened. "I know."

"He always said I only have a pretty face and no talent."

Tanya smirked. "Well, lucky for you, I'm here to prove him wrong."

"Come with me, represent our brand, and show him exactly what he lost."

The girl hesitated, looking doubtful. "I... I don't think I can. Not today."

"I'll talk to my agent and organize something else later, but thank you for the offer."

She moved to stand, but Tanya grabbed her hand.

 The girl froze, startled by the sudden aggressive contact.

"You're not going anywhere." Tanya told her the law.

Tanya had spent 1000 EP on this girl and she wasn't going to let her go.

"I didn't ask. You're coming with me."

"T-that's not—" the girl stammered, but Tanya pulled her up and began dragging her toward the dressing area.

The girl struggled weakly, too stunned by Tanya's assertiveness to put up a resistance.

As they rounded the corner, Tanya spotted Keira on stage.

She stood stiffly under the bright lights, her discomfort visible in the way she seemed to try too hard.

Tanya paused, gripping the girl's wrist to stop her from bolting.

The audience buzzed with quiet murmurs.

Keira's steps were hesitant but carefully placed as if she was scared.

Tanya nodded slightly. Not bad. She's doing okay.

Keira stumbled.

Her foot caught the hem of the dress, and she wobbled dangerously before managing to regain her balance before disaster struck.

The crowd let out a collective gasp, and Keira's face flushed as she powered through.

Spoke too soon

Tanya groaned. "Of course."

Tanya finally reached Allegra, who sat on a stool with a thousand-yard stare.

She barely reacted as Tanya approached, but she shot to her feet the moment she registered who it was.

"Dove sei stata?!" Allegra exclaimed, waving her arms dramatically.

"Noi are being murdered out there!"

Keira stumbled into the room, looking shaken. "I can't go back out there. I won't!"

Allegra spun to Tanya, desperation in her eyes. "Did you find a modella? Per favore tell me you found someone meglio di così!" Allegra pointed at Keira.

Keira's gaze also turned hopeful, but it faltered when Tanya pushed the girl forward.

The newcomer looked young, her cheeks still marked with a faint wet streak from crying. Her timid demeanor only added to the hopeless vibe.

Allegra's hopeful expression twisted into confusion.

Allegra stared, aghast. "Che diavolo è questo?! What are you bringing me, Tanya!?"

Keira winced sympathetically, and the poor girl looked like she might flee again.

Tanya planted herself firmly between Allegra and the girl. "I brought you the best model at this show."

Allegra's jaw dropped. "Look at her!"

"I am looking," Tanya said coolly.

"And I see someone with potential. No, scratch that I see someone who's going to make this entire show remember her shining performance."

Even though doubts flickered in her mind, Tanya doubled down, holding her head high.

Allegra threw up her hands. "This is a joke, no? It has to be a joke."

"We don't have time for jokes." Tanya snapped.

"You don't have another option unless you want Keira out there again looking ready to faint."

Keira winced but didn't argue.

Allegra's gaze shifted between Keira and the girl, her internal struggle evident.

Finally, she sighed and gestured to the crying girl.

"Fine! Vieni qui!" Allegra said, grabbing her arm. "If you ruin this, I'll kill you."

Tanya smirked. "That's the spirit."

The chatter outside was as vibrant as the dazzling lights on the runway.

Famous personalities mingled, sipping champagne and conversations ebbed and flowed, punctuated by gasps and exclamations as models showcased the latest collections.

Anna Wintour adjusted her iconic sunglasses. "Balmain's use of metallic textures is striking, though a bit overdone."

Karl Lagerfeld smirked, leaning back in his seat. "Certainly, but it's all too predictable. I want to be surprised."

"Did you see that one girl from Versace? She looked petrified. Very surprising." Karl Lagerfeld chuckled.

Nearby, a young lady whispered to Lucrezia Fioravanti. "Did you hear about the chaos backstage at Versace? I heard Allegra's team fell apart."

Lucrezia snorts at that. "Of course they are, who thought to leave a child in charge was a good idea."

Lucrezia and her friends laugh and spread her rival's misfortune and incompetence through the room.

Where Allegra might have only gotten a few comments on her misconduct, now she has been flung into the spotlight.

A handsome man raised an eyebrow. "They're saying she's putting out a last-minute, untrained model. Poor thing's probably going to trip and bring the whole house down."

One of Allegra's friends defended her. "Or, she could have her Cinderella moment. You never know what could happen."

The guy doesn't buy it. "But untrained? She's taking a massive risk."

Keira's 'friends' were also discussing the events.

"I can't believe Keira is actually out there, she is doing…quite well." Hesitantly says Stella McCartney.

Naomi Campbell rolls her eyes. "Darling, I've walked in shoes like that. She's inexperienced, no doubt."

"But let's see what Versace does next, their on thin ice."

Victoria tries to help out Keira. "I don't know… That last dress looked promising. There's still hope."

"Backstage problems or not, if they flop, it's on the young Italian girl."

"This industry doesn't forgive weakness."

The murmurs quieted as the lights dimmed and the music changed tempo, signaling the arrival of another Versace model.

Whispers rippled through the crowd.

"Is this the untrained girl?" Anna Wintour asked, sitting up slightly.

"Let's see how bad this goes." Karl muttered, wanting to see how bad they failed.

Lucrezia waited gleefully for everything to collapse.

Then she appeared.

A blond beauty stepped onto the runway with a presence that made everyone sit up straighter.

The dress, a shimmering cascade of frost-like material, caught the light as she moved with precision. Her posture was impeccable, her movements deliberate and smooth, each step exuding an ethereal chill.

Her commanding gaze seemed to freeze the room, capturing the essence of winter is upon you.

"She's... astonishing." Victoria breathed.

"Where did she come from?" Naomi leans forward.

The now amazing girl reached the end of the runway and paused.

She then flicked her hair and spun the long train of her dress in a hypnotic whirl before stopping dead still, staring down the cameras with a gaze that could freeze fire.

The audience was dazzled.

She turned and walked back, her pace as calm and controlled as when she arrived.

The room was silent for a beat before applause erupted like a thunderstorm.

"She's a goddess." Anna broke her usual cool reserve.

Karl, for once, had no snarky comment. "Impressive."

Allegra, Keira, and the remaining team jumped and screamed in excitement as the tear-stricken girl now super sensation returned.

Her expression transformed into a grateful smile.

Allegra jumped up and down, her hands flying in disbelief. "Mio Dio! Did you see that? Era incredibile!"

Keira hugged Tanya tightly, laughing. "She nailed it! She did it!"

The crew members hugged each other, their earlier frustrations forgotten.

The blonde still glowing from the performance, smiled at them all. "It wasn't me. We all made this happen."

Allegra clapped her hands. "Bene! We celebrate later. We still have a few more dresses to show. Ragazzi, get ready!"

She turned to her newfound treasure. "And you! Sei un miracolo! You must do it again."

She nodded quickly, her confidence growing from her success.

She glanced at the director who had insulted her and chased her away.

His face was pale with shock, his mouth slightly agape. The people around him seemed to glare holes into his skull.

She smirked, tilting her head provocatively, her victory sweetened by his defeat.

Then her eyes landed on Tanya, the one who made this all possible.

Stood off to the side, staring intently at... a packet of tomato seeds?

"Uh, Tanya?" She nervously asked remembering her earlier aggressiveness.

Tanya held the packet up, inspecting it as if it were the key to life itself. "Seeds. Tomato seeds. How do they grow into something so... useful?"