Reborn from heartbreak; Soraya's story.

SORAYA The casting building looked exactly the same as I remembered – all glass and steel. This time, I wasn't the broken girl who'd missed her shot. This time, I was here to take back what was mine. My heels clicked confidently on the marble floor as I headed toward the audition area. I had changed into my best dress, fixed my makeup, and for the first time in months, I actually looked like myself again. The hallway was mostly empty – just a few other actresses waiting their turn, looking nervous. That's when I heard it. Low sounds coming from one of the side rooms. Moaning. I almost kept walking – none of my business what people did in their private time. But something made me pause. The door was cracked open just enough to see inside, and what I saw made my blood freeze. Reid, who was supposed to be at work right now. He was pressed against the wall with someone wrapped around him, and that someone was definitely not me. It was Marissa. Again. I should have been shocked, but I wasn't. I'd already lived through discovering their affair once. What I hadn't expected was to witness it here, at this time. "God, yes," Marissa gasped, her legs wrapped around his waist. "Zayne..." Reid stopped moving so suddenly that Marissa's eyes flew open. "What did you just say?" His voice was dangerous. Marissa looked confused for a second, then laughed breathlessly. "What? I didn't say anything." "You said his name." Reid's grip on her got tighter. "Zayne Kings." "I did not." "Don't lie to me, Marissa." She rolled her eyes, but I could see the calculation behind them. "Fine, maybe I did. So what? You're not exactly the only man in the world." "Stay away from him," Reid warned, his voice deadly serious. "Zayne Kings goes through women like he goes through cars – fast then moves on to the next model." Marissa laughed, running her fingers through Reid's hair. "Jealous?" "Protective. There's a difference." "Of what? Your investment?" She smirked. "Relax, baby. I like men I can control. Like you." Reid's jaw tightened, but he didn't deny it. "Besides," Marissa continued, "we need you to focus on the prize. Three months, Reid. Three months until you marry my boring little cousin, and then everything she inherited from Uncle Frank belongs to us." My hands clenched into fists. Uncle Frank. That's what she'd always called my father, even though he wasn't her uncle – just her mother's brother-in-law. But she'd said it like they were close, like she had any right to his legacy. "Three months feels like forever," Reid groaned, pressing his face against her neck. "It'll fly by. And Soraya's so trusting, she'll never suspect her perfect fiancé is really mine." "What about after? The plan?" Marissa's smile turned cold. "After the wedding, we wait a decent amount of time. Maybe six months. Then we arranged a little accident. Something tragic but believable. And as her devoted husband, you inherit everything." The same plan. Exactly the same plan they'd used in my previous life. "She's been getting stronger lately," Reid said. "Don't worry about it. I'll handle Soraya." "How?" "The same way I always have. She's weak, Reid. Always has been. A few tears, a sob story about how much I need her, and she'll do whatever I want." Reid started moving again, and I forced myself to step back from the door. I'd heard enough. More than enough. I walked quietly down the hall until I was far enough away that they wouldn't hear my footsteps, then made noise walking back – humming a little, my heels clicking normally on the marble. When I turned the corner, they were just stepping out of the side room, both of them looking flushed and trying to act casual. "Soraya!" Marissa's voice was bright and fake. "What are you doing here?" "My audition," I said simply, smiling like nothing had happened. "The one I was supposed to have today." Reid looked uncomfortable. "I thought you were supposed to rest today. Dr. Chen said-" "Dr. Chen doesn't work for me anymore," I interrupted cheerfully. "I fired him this morning. And Patricia too." Marissa's smile faltered slightly. "Why would you do that? They were helping you." "Were they? Because Patricia told me you'd given them specific instructions to keep me in bed. Something about managing my condition?" The silence stretched between us. Reid shifted his weight, and Marissa's eyes got that calculating look again. "I was worried about you," she said finally. "After Uncle Frank died, you were so fragile. I just wanted to make sure you were getting proper care." "How thoughtful," I said, "But I feel better than I have in years. Clear-headed, energetic. I'm even thinking about making some changes." "What kind of changes?" Reid asked, and I could hear the tension in his voice. "Oh, you know. Updating my will, setting up some trusts, maybe putting some protections in place in case of accidents." I watched their faces carefully. "It's amazing how much clearer your priorities become when you stop taking unnecessary medications." Both of them went very still. "That's... very responsible of you," Marissa said slowly. "I thought so too." I stepped closer to her and held out my hand. "Well, may the best woman win today." Marissa took my hand automatically, and I squeezed just hard enough to make her wince. Her fake smile slipped for just a second, and I saw something like fear flicker in her eyes. Good. Marissa watched me a little before speaking. "You seem... different today." "Do I? I feel like myself for the first time in months." "That's great," she said, but her voice was flat. "I should go get ready for my audition too." "Of course. See you in there." She walked away, but I could feel her looking back at me. Let her wonder what had changed. I made my way to the waiting area, but before I could sit my name was called sooner than I expected. I smoothing my dress, and headed toward the audition room. I was almost there when someone slammed into me from the side. My purse went flying, spilling everything across the floor. "Shit, I'm sorry," a deep voice said. "I wasn't watching where I was going." "It's fine," I started to say, then looked up. The man kneeling beside me was gorgeous in the most dangerous way that made you want to do stupid things. Dark hair, sharp jawline, expensive suit that fit him like it was made specifically for his body. But it was his eyes that made me pause. Dark, intense, like he could see right through you and was deciding whether you were worth his time. Our fingers brushed as we both reached for my phone at the same time, and I felt something electric shoot up my arm. "Zayne Kings," he said, and my heart skipped. This was him. The man Marissa had moaned about while Reid was inside her. The man Reid was so worried about. "Soraya Levin" I said, taking his offered hand to help me stand. His grip lingered longer than necessary, and his eyes traveled over my face like he was memorizing it. "If you were a scene in a film," he said slowly, "I'd watch it on repeat." I couldn't help but laugh – not the fake laugh I'd been using with Marissa and Reid, but a real one. "Careful. I might make you the star instead." His smile was slow and dangerous. "Tempting but I'm hard to resist, and you look like danger I'd enjoy diving into." There was something about the way he said it – not cheesy, but confident. Like he knew exactly what effect he had on women and wasn't apologetic about it. "You have no idea," I said, tilting my head to look at him better. For a moment, we just stood there. I could see other women staring at him, but his attention was completely focused on me. "Break a leg in there," he said finally, but his eyes lingered on my face as he started to walk away. "Thank you." He disappeared around the corner, leaving me standing in the hallway with my heart racing and my mind spinning. Zayne Kings. The man who could change everything. I walked into the audition room with a new plan forming in my mind. Reid and Marissa thought they could use me, but this time, I was going to use every weapon at my disposal – including the one man who could destroy them both. The casting director looked up as I entered. "Soraya Levin?" "That's me," I said, and my voice was strong and clear. Let the games begin.