Chapter 50 Eyes Meet
After checking the main bedroom for a while, Jessica walked out, passing by the dining table.
Gabriel glanced down with a slight movement of his pale lips, "Put your shoes on."
Why was he using that commanding tone again? Jessica turned around, somewhat displeased, locking eyes with him, and then looked down to realize she had forgotten to put on her slippers after getting off the couch. She had been walking around barefoot for quite a while. His gaze accidentally crossed hers, and instinctively, her toes curled slightly. She quickly slipped into her shoes and continued her search for her next roaches without changing her expression.
Deborah treated the whole crew to Starbucks, and after Jessica finished her two scenes, she returned to the dressing room to change. She noticed a Starbucks cup placed at her spot.
These to-go coffee cups also had lids that could be opened. She opened it to check, didn't drink, and put it back in its place before sitting down to change.
When Deborah entered the makeup room, she glanced in Jessica's direction before being swarmed by several makeup artists who escorted her to the VIP dressing area. As she passed by, a waft of perfume lingered.
A makeup artist asked Jessica, "You and Deborah get along well?"
Jessica glimpsed at the makeup artist behind her in the mirror and replied, "Why do you ask?"
"It's nothing," the makeup artist said as they straightened Jessica's head and styled her hair for the show. "Deborah treated everyone to Starbucks, and her assistant made sure to deliver one, especially for you, double-checking where you were sitting before leaving it here."
Jessica remained silent, glancing again at the coffee in front of her.
Professional makeup artists like hers, who had been part of many production crews, had seen plenty of clandestine rivalries between actresses. The casual inquiry seemed like a veiled reminder to Jessica that this coffee had been "specially" placed there for her.
On the first day of shooting, Jessica gave this makeup artist, who would frequently style her in the coming months, a red envelope—a gesture of goodwill. This little tip-off was a quiet acknowledgment of that understanding.
How could Jessica not know? Given Deborah's schemes, she definitely wouldn't dare do anything outrageous—poison was out of the question. The worst she might do was add a bit extra expired enzyme powder, which wouldn't cause much harm. At worst, Jessica might find herself running to the bathroom every fifteen minutes, which would disrupt the filming schedule and annoy the crew and the director alike.
Besides, even if this were taken to a hospital, a doctor would likely dismiss it as a common mistake among female stars trying to maintain their figure through misuse of enzyme supplements. No one would suspect foul play, and making a fuss about it would only lead to being labeled as overly dramatic.
In the American entertainment industry, these kinds of small-scale tactics among women were not uncommon, but many chose to keep their conflicts low-key and steer clear of public drama. Those actresses who did openly clash typically wielded considerable influence and power.
Although Deborah currently had quite a following, her reputation in the industry needed to be solidified, and she could be replaced by the next breakout star at any moment. She wouldn't dare take too drastic of an action, but Jessica figured that these annoying little ploys would likely continue in the days to come.
The makeup room door swung open continuously due to the constant traffic of staff and actors. Then, suddenly, it opened once more, and the room fell into an unusual calm.
Jessica, her head buried in the script, didn't notice at first, but the silence was oddly unnerving, prompting her to look up.
She found herself unexpectedly locking eyes with the newcomer.
