I'm pursued by superstar after betrayed

Violeta Reynolds swore off messy, complicated relationships long ago. Even with all the messy feelings churning inside her, she kept her head in the game, focused on what was right in front of her.

A few feet away, Charlie Snyder suddenly leaned in. "Did you hear? Raiden’s here today. He brought some artist in to audition. You knew about this, right?"

Given how things stood between everyone, if Raiden Evans really showed up without Violeta having a heads up? Letting just anyone walk through that door could have major consequences. Raiden’s pull was not something to mess with.

Charlie waved off her worry quick. "Relax, I already talked to him."

Charlie huffed out a relieved breath. Not too far off, Lenora Kelly was throwing one of her over-the-top fits, and he couldn’t help but mutter, "God, she’s so much more dramatic than she needs to be."

Violeta never saw any comparison to Lenora as a compliment—if anything, it was just embarrassing. Lenora was shallow, clawing her way up the social ladder by sending late-night selfies to any guy who’d look her way.

But then again… from an outsider’s point of view, was Violeta really that different? She was relying on Raiden, after all. That thought must’ve crossed more than a few people’s minds.

Anyone who didn’t chase a career of their own got side-eye around here. The whole "stay-at-home wife" thing sounded utterly ridiculous to her. Foolish, even.

Jittery, especially with Lenora carrying on so close, Violeta made an excuse. "Charlie, I’m just gonna run to the restroom."

The words barely left her mouth when Raiden walked in, flanked by a whole group of people. His eyes locked with Violeta’s for just a split second. Lenora practically sprinted over to him, her eyes glinting like Christmas morning.

She hung all over his arm, gazing up at him like he hung the moon. Raiden always indulged her every little whim—even schmoozing directors to get her whatever she wanted.

A sharp-dressed, handsome man caught Violeta’s eye, and that familiar knot of unease twisted in her stomach again. She’d just found out minutes earlier this guy was a talent agent, here with an actor auditioning for the second male lead.

Lenora pouted a little, batting her eyelashes and turning on the charm for Raiden. "Raiden, can’t I have a say in who gets that second lead spot?"

Raiden arched an eyebrow, his gaze sliding over to Violeta—who still carried that soft, youthful glow everyone noticed.

"Why the sudden interest?"

"Isn’t it obvious? Don’t girls usually get whatever they want when they turn on the sweet talk? Or am I just bad at it? C’mon, that’s old-school, right? I should get a little say, shouldn’t I?"

He chuckled, and Charlie cut in fast. "Raiden."

Charlie wasn’t about to let anyone make a fool of Violeta right in front of him—not when he could keep this whole thing a playful back-and-forth with Raiden instead.

Violeta was right there in the room, after all.

Raiden gently brushed Lenora off his arm, his tone cooling a degree or two. "Lenora can handle picking the second lead."

Charlie wiped the sweat off his brow. "Raiden, there’s been a misunderstanding here—"

Before he could get the whole sentence out, Lenora cut him off.

"Raiden, I found the person who was sneaking photos of us earlier. They know Charlie, and I already gave ‘em a warning."

Raiden’s face darkened for a heartbeat.

Charlie’s brows pinched together. It clicked—this had to be the moment Violeta walked in on everything. He glanced back over at her, sitting quiet as a mouse in the corner of the room.

Violeta had stepped out earlier, and come back looking pale as a sheet. Yeah—she’d seen the whole thing go down.

How could Raiden not realize his own wife was the one who’d caught him red-handed?

"Charlie, what’s the problem here?" Raiden’s presence loomed over the room, and those words hit Charlie’s chest like a sledgehammer.

He knew keeping Violeta in her position here would be next to impossible without Raiden’s stamp of approval.

Charlie hesitated, glanced at Violeta’s unreadable calm face, and exhaled a heavy sigh.

"No problem. I’ll do whatever you say, Raiden."

Raiden gave a short, indifferent nod. "See if you can slot Violeta into a suitable role down the line," he added offhand.

Charlie shared a quick look with Lenora, but eventually just asked the question hanging in the air. "Do I take orders from Lenora, or from Violeta?"

Before he could even finish, Lenora was clinging tighter to Raiden’s arm, batting her lashes and whispering his name all breathy: "Raiden…"

Raiden smiled that indulgent smile of his, like Lenora’s little power grab wasn’t even a blip on his radar—didn’t even register as a threat to Violeta.

"We’ll go with whatever Lenora wants for now."

Charlie was left speechless, and snuck a quick glance over at Violeta.

But Violeta didn’t even bat an eye. She’d turned her full attention to Quincy Lawrence, walking him through what to expect at his audition in a soft, steady voice—like the whole drama by the door might as well have been happening on another planet.

The second lead auditions were about to start anyway.

Charlie trundled back to his seat and sighed.

"Tessa, with what’s going on with Raiden and Violeta’s marriage…"

"Charlie, let’s get the auditions started," Violeta cut in, her voice calm and steady as ever.

Charlie remembered how bright they’d both looked when they first got married. He’d been meaning to warn her—Raiden was running around with half a dozen women on the side, and playing by the old rules just left you open to getting stabbed in the back.

"Let’s get this going, then, yeah?"

Out of all the second lead candidates, Quincy Lawrence stood out head and shoulders above the rest. He fit the role like it was made for him. Even if a few people muttered that the part was already locked in for someone else, no one could deny how talented he was.

Violeta watched him go, genuine admiration softening her gaze, full appreciation for what he could do.

Charlie felt pleased, finally able to breathe easy as he got ready to sign off on the casting—then Lenora stepped right in front of him.

She tilted her chin up just so, her lipstick half gone, like she’d been making out with someone five minutes earlier.

"Charlie, I don’t want this guy for second lead. I get to pick."

She waved over another actor, who looked stunned by the sudden opening—over the moon that he might actually get his big break.

Everyone knew Lenora had connections.

If she picked you, you were basically guaranteed the part.

Violeta’s expression didn’t shift an inch. "Quincy’s performance was stellar. He’s perfect for this role."

Lenora crossed her arms over her chest and arched a brow. "Performance? I didn’t feel a damn thing. And do you know who my boyfriend is? I can make a career or break it with a snap of my fingers. My guy has that kind of power."

Sweet-talking Raiden was one thing. Throwing that power around in front of everyone else? That was a whole other level.

Charlie finally couldn’t hold it in anymore and cut in. "Do you even know who you’re talking to?"

Violeta lowered her eyes. She knew fighting Lenora out of jealousy was a waste of time. Whoever won depended entirely on where Raiden stood—and he was clearly on Lenora’s side. Fighting for her pride wasn’t gonna get her anywhere.

She smiled, cool as a cucumber. "I don’t know who Lenora’s boyfriend is. But I do know a certain married man over there, right? Do you really think parading an affair around like this is smart, Lenora? Chill out. What you’re doing right now could ruin everything you’ve worked for. Laying low would be the smart move here."

Lenora’s face twisted for a second. She’d forgotten she was supposed to keep her relationship with Raiden under wraps.

"I warn you! If any of this leaks to the press, no other artist will work here! This industry doesn’t have room for mouthy people who can’t keep a secret!"

Violeta huffed a laugh. She could see Lenora’s insecurity clear as day. Lenora was rattled because none of her cheap tricks were phasing her.

She turned back to Charlie. "Charlie, I’m taking Quincy with me."

Lenora’s face twisted into something ugly. "Just wait! You’ll see! You’ll regret this!"

She screamed the words after Violeta, who was already halfway out the door, Lenora’s furious shouts bouncing off the walls behind her.

The tall man following right behind Violeta suddenly paused and turned back. His gaze was so intense, Lenora froze solid, couldn’t move an inch.

By the time she came back to her senses, her face was burning with embarrassment. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she ran off, dead set on complaining to Raiden and making that man pay for embarrassing her.