"cut!! cut!"
The director's voice thundered across the set echoing off the painted castle walls.crew members froze mid-motion the boom mic wobbled in the air,and her co-star visibly sagged with relief.
Fiona ripped off her velvet crown tossed it onto the floor and narrowed her eyes at the director
"This script is a joke"she declared,her voice sharp enough to slice through the heavy sharp enough to slice through the heavy silence"do you honestly expect me to deliver such ridiculous lines?.i am not some simpering princess waiting to be rescued- i'm fiona Sinclair- i am the scene"
The director pinched the bridges of his nose.he had dealt with her tantrums before,but today was worse.cameras still rolling,extras shifting uncomfortably in armor that looked more like tin foil than steel,and fiona queen of every spotlight refused to cooperate
Fiona Sinclair was the kind of woman.who made cameras fall in love at first glance,with her emerald eyes and a smile sharp enough to cut glance,she didn't just walk into a room she owned it her skin light with a subtle warm glow her hair long with golden highlights that gleam under stage lights
"Fiona"The director said carefully as though speaking to a ticking bomb"stick to the script just one clean take that all i'm asking"
"Honestly"fiona said flipping her hair over her shoulder "if you expect me to say that line with a straight face you should have hired an amateur.fiona Sinclair doesn't beg for help not on screen not anywhere"
"fiona"the director said with tiredness"just continue lets wrap this scene"
Her perfectly lined eyes narrowed. "Director, maybe the problem isn't me. Maybe the script is just flat. Who in their right mind would cry over a man this pathetic?" She flicked a manicured finger at her co-star, who flinched under the jab.
Gasps rippled across the crew. Nobody dared talk back to Fiona Sinclair—the star whose face sold out concerts, whose films dominated box offices, whose arrogance was as legendary as her talent.
"But miss fiona i-"before he could say anymore word fiona interrupted"forget it i am tired.we will continue tomorrow"she left without the director agreeing.
*****************************************
The driver dropped Fiona off in front of her penthouse apartment, the city lights glittering like they had been hung just for her. She stepped out, sunglasses still on though it was nearly midnight, and strutted inside without sparing the paparazzi a glance.
Fiona stepped inside seeing her best friend maya laying on her couch eating snacks and watching tv
"Maya that couch is expensive and you are getting your snacks correction my snacks all over it"
Maya stretched her hand and rolled her eyes"good to see you too"
"What are you even doing here*Fiona sat down next to her and changed the programme
"Just slacking my place is boring my mom can't give me peace so i came here after all luxury food and sleeping in an air conditioned place"they both laughed
"How was your shooting today*maya asked eating her snacks
"Don't even get me started"fiona muttered throwing her arm over her face."the director a complete fool.i told him the angle was wrong but he insisted on his 'vision'.then Han- don't get me started on him forget his lines again"
Maya rolled her eyes,but still smiling.around her,fiona's sharp edges dulled.she could whine,brag without worrying about headlines or paparazzi
Fiona and maya had been childhood friends they shared everything together.maya is pretty black hair but not as fiona.maya is the only person who sees fiona as just fiona.one might think they are sisters.
Fiona was scrolling through her phone, humming absentmindedly. The melody was smooth, haunting, the kind of tune that would get stuck in anyone's head.
Maya raised an eyebrow. "That's new. Don't tell me you finally wrote the breakup song your fans have been begging for."
Fiona smirked, tossing her hair. "Please. I don't write breakup songs. Too cliché."
"Mm-hm." Maya leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. "So what's this one about then? Because it sounds like someone's screaming for help behind all that glitter."
Fiona's lips twitched, but she kept her chin high. "It's called Crown of Ashes. It's about power, fame, being untouchable. My fans will eat it up."
"Right…" Maya said slowly, studying her. "Except the chorus sounds like you're lonely. Like you're standing on top of the world but it's crumbling under your feet."
Fiona grabbed a pillow and threw it at her. "Ugh, why do you always ruin everything? Can't you just let me be a glorious diva for once?"
Maya caught the pillow and hugged it with a grin. "Because I'm the only one who knows when you're pretending."
For a moment, Fiona didn't reply. Her gaze dropped, and the humming stopped. "I miss my mom and dad the song is for them"
"Oh sorry i didn't mean it"maya apologised
Fiona laughed"its ok just missing them i never got to see their face or how they look like"
Maya gave fiona a hug
"It will be alright"