Don't think you've won

Emmaline breathed out in a slow, steady exhalation. 

She knew this character and she knew this scene. 

Ethan gave her the cue again and like water flowing through a channel, the next line from the original script came to her, naturally and easily. 

It's all there, she told herself, you just need to bring it to the front of your memory. 

Just as she had rehearsed it countless time, she acted the part in the original script. 

Out of pure spite, she put in her best effort, making sure that every emotion was shown, every facial expression on point. 

When the scene ended, Ethan gave her a thumbs up. 

"Just needed to warm up first eh?" He joked and she smiled in response. 

He had been respectful and easygoing so far. Which was a surprise because his British Korean features had garnered him such a huge following of thirsty fangirls that Emmaline had expected him to be cocky or standoffish. 

But he had proven to be a very friendly, relaxed colleague. Something you didn't find often in this industry. 

"Well done, everyone," Director Slater called out, "That was good, I don't think we need another take."

Among the pleased murmurs, Ethan bumped his shoulder into Emmaline's in celebration and headed to his manager. 

"Spelt," Producer Penhas called and Emmaline felt her heartbeat quicken. 

Bracing herself, she headed over, waiting to be scolded. 

"I knew you seemed familiar when I first saw you," Jun Slater leaned back in his chair and pinned her with his famously dark, brooding gaze. 

Producer Penhas glanced at him, "It's the surname, isn't it? Spelt?"

"Yeah, and when we met she was wearing a mask. Now that I can see her properly, she looks almost exactly like her mother," The corner of Jun's lips tilted up. 

"It's both a blessing and a curse to have your mother's good looks," Producer Penhas commented casually. 

Emmaline nodded, unsure where this was going. 

"I see you also got her acting chops," Jun added, "Good work out there, Spelt. I was worried that we lost you for a second."

Relief coasted through Emmaline. 

"Thank you. I'm sorry about earlier, I…" Emmaline didn't want to give the real reason she had stalled. Snitching and running to the director and producer for this seemed petty somehow. 

"I just wasn't as focused as I should have been at the start," She finished. 

Producer Penhas gave her a critical look. 

Director Jun also looked a little skeptical at her excuse but he gave a small nod. 

"Go take your break and keep it up," It was a dismissal and Emmaline knew it. 

Speed walking back to the make up room, she knew she would have to reapply some of her make up. 

She had been sweating bullets the whole time she was talking to the two talented men and now she was a triumphant but icky mess. 

"Don't think you've won just yet," Priscilla scowled at her from the doorway. 

Emmaline didn't even bother turning around from where she sat at the common dressing table. She simply locked gazes with Priscilla through the mirror. 

"If you think some dumb trick like that is enough to take me down, think again," She said in a low, even tone. 

"That was just… Just luck!" Priscilla whined. 

"Luck, my foot," Emmaline retorted, "Unlike you, I don't wait until a couple of days before to learn my lines. That's why your little prank didn't succeed."

With a shrill sound and a stomp of her foot, Priscilla spun on her heel and left. 

When footsteps sounded near the door again, Emmaline thought it might be Priscilla again. 

Instead, it was Crystal. 

"So?" She asked, waggling her perfectly drawn brows, "What did Director Slater talk to you about so privately?"

Emmaline snorted, "It wasn't in private and it was just about today's scene."

Crystal sighed, flopping down on the chair next to Emmaline. 

"I looked her up, Jun Slater's mysterious woman," She mumbled dejectedly, "I don't stand a chance."

Emmaline looked at her curiously, "Why? Is she some top model or heiress?"

"I wish!" Crystal wailed, "Worse, she's a researcher which means she's super smart on top of looking like that."

"I stalked her and check this out," Crystal turned her phone screen to show Emmaline. 

She swiped through various photos of Georgiana, each in different styles. In one, she had straight pale blonde hair and glasses. In another, she had luscious auburn curls and in yet another, she had a short bob of dark blonde. 

"No matter what she does to her hair she still looks drop dead gorgeous," Crystal lamented, "My hair grows an inch too long or I dye it one shade too dark and I'm no longer cute. Do you see the injustice of this?"

"She can't be human," Emmaline murmured, studying the photos, "I hate to say it but I don't know how any mere mortal could compete with her."

"Right?!" 

"You're in luck though," Emmaline smiled, "She doesn't seem to want to cross any lines with him so you have a chance, I guess."

Crystal leapt up and hugged Emmaline before racing off to the set for her shoot.

Staring at herself in the mirror, Emmaline knew that with just a single brown wig she could pass off as a guy. 

So she guessed that hair really made a difference. 

Emmaline knew she was running out of time, she had to tell Ashton the truth before the first episode of the drama aired. 

Since they were still filming, she had a little bit of buffer, but sooner or later the truth would be out if he watched the show. 

She had to get her two million dollars before then and pay for her mother's transplant. If he wanted it back after he discovered who she really was, she would slowly pay him back. 

But her mother needed the money now, more urgently than Emmaline could make. 

Pulling out her phone, she sent a brief text to Ashton. 

Em: Hey, should we arrange to meet your family again soon?

Instead of getting a reply, her phone buzzed with a call. 

"Hey," She said in as deep a voice as she could muster. 

"Em," Ashton's familiar voice greeted her, "About that, let's talk about it when we meet."

"Alright," She agreed, "When do you want to meet?"

"Let me see," She could hear the smile in his voice, "In about thirty minutes?"

Emmaline's mouth fell open in shock. 

Too soon! She still had scenes to film as a girl! 

"What?" She blurted before she regained her composure, "I mean, I can't, I'm sorry I'm still filming now."

"I know," Now the grin was super evident in his tone, "I'm coming to you with a little surprise."

Emmaline had no response because she was panicking too hard. 

"See you soon," Ashton said in lieu of a goodbye. 

"Spelt, scene's starting!" Someone in the crew called to her. 

Emmaline looked at herself in the mirror, looked at her phone and then to the doorway. 

How was she going to pull this off?