Never Mistake a Queen for a Lapdog novel Chapter 1007

Claire had just wrapped up a jewelry commercial and was about to call Noreen to say she was booking a flight to see her immediately.

But then Sandra received an audition offer for a major film project.

It was a movie by Director Zachariah, Claire's absolute favorite arthouse filmmaker!

The kind of project that was virtually guaranteed to win awards.

She wrestled with herself for a moment before finally surrendering to the call of prestige.

She sent Noreen a barrage of hugging and kissing emojis, texting, "Babe, I'll fly back to celebrate with you on your birthday! Love you!"

Director Zachariah loved Claire's audition. They hit it off instantly and signed a letter of intent right on the spot.

On the ride back, Claire made Sandra pinch her arm.

She was terrified it was all a dream.

"It's not a dream, it's real! Director Zachariah genuinely loves your work!" Sandra's eyes were red with unshed tears. "You've finally made it."

Sandra had watched Claire suffer through the trenches for years.

She had never understood how someone so talented and hardworking kept getting passed over for decent projects.

But finally, all the suffering had paid off.

Claire's own eyes were shining with tears, but she gave a bright, carefree laugh to comfort her agent. "Gold always shines eventually, right? Isn't that what you always told me?"

It was the exact phrase Sandra had used to keep Claire going during her darkest, most hopeless slumps.

Sandra wiped the tears from her eyes. "That's right. Gold always shines. Even if someone tries their hardest to bury it, they can't hide your brilliance forever."

Claire frowned slightly. "Who tried to bury me?"

There was no point in hiding it anymore. Sandra took a deep breath and told her the truth. "To be completely honest, Director Zachariah reached out to me a long time ago. She wanted you for the movie that just swept the international film festivals."

"Why did you never tell me?"

She would have killed for an opportunity like that.

Sandra's expression darkened. "Mr. Quigley put the word out. He blocked you from doing those kinds of films, saying there were too many intimate scenes."

But it was never about her talent. It was never about bad luck.

It was all Felix.

The man she had once viewed as her rock.

The man who had dragged her out of hell.

He was the one standing in the shadows, ruthlessly snapping her wings the moment she tried to fly.

A nauseating wave of absolute disgust clawed at her throat.

Claire dug her fingernails into her palms, using the sharp, biting pain to keep herself tethered to reality.

Who the hell did he think he was?

Rage and betrayal crashed over her in a suffocating tidal wave.

She looked up, her eyes bloodshot, her voice shaking violently. "Sandra, are you telling me... all my hard work over the years was just a joke to him? Something he could crush whenever he felt like it?"