Before she could say anything, however, the host came to save the day, “Excuse me, ladies, we just got the votes from our online audiences. Just as you know, our online audiences also have the right to decide whether a competitor should leave or stay. Thea’s performance just brought millions of audiences into our live-stream room. And her performance just got the highest votes. So, according to the rules, Thea just entered the official competition. She’s one of our 101 competitors now. Let’s congratulate the girl!”
The audience broke into a deafening cheer.
Paris’s face almost twisted with anger when she saw the camera before her.
So she forced out a smile and clapped a bit, “Congrats, Thea. You will be great.”
“Thank you, Paris,” Thea said happily, the smile on her face stinging Paris’s face, “I’ll make sure to stay very long in this show. I enjoy your company.”
Thea waved and blew some kisses as she walked down the stage. When she went backstage, the employees of the show reminded her to check out her phone.
She pulled out her phone and checked out the votes. For now, she got the highest votes among everyone.
Thea bounced on the floor a bit and kissed her phone.
And then, a message just burped in. It was a message from Cody.
“How could you lie to me, Thea Todd? You’re doomed.”
Thea’s eyes widened.
Cody found out that she had only been pretending.
How did he even find out?
Who told him?
Thea swallowed and slid her phone into her pocket immediately. Cody’s company held this show.
Would he give her a shit? But she had never done anything to harm him, had she?
Thea was still scared when she went back to her apartment.
“Thea!” Someone suddenly yelled behind her back as she took out her keys, trying to open the door.
Thea gasped and whipped around, “Derek? What the heck are you doing here?”
Derek Dawson felt complicated as he looked at Thea’s beautiful face. Her beauty made his heartache, but he knew things between them would never return.
He took a step forward, towering over her as his eyes fixed on Thea’s shocking eyes.
“You haven’t answered me yet,” Thea frowned as she stepped back, her back pressing against the door, “What the heck are you doing in my apartment?”
Derek swallowed, his tongue flicking out to wet his bottom lip. “I’m here to help you. I saw you on that show. What you did was perfect. People online absolutely adored you. I just want to help you. You don’t even have an agent yet. You can come to my company.”
“Are you fucking serious?” Thea angrily pushed her ex-boyfriend away, “After what you did to me, you expect me to come back? Are you out of your mind? Or you don’t remember what happened before? You almost sent me to another man’s bed! Stay. The. fuck. Away. From. Me! It’s over!”
Derek narrowed his eyes dangerously, “Really? I am the best option you left, Thea. You know, I can make you famous if I want. But I can also destroy you if you insist on being so stubborn.”
Derek was telling the truth. His connections and resources in this industry were tremendous. However, he would easily destroy anyone if he wanted to.
Thea would stand no chance.
But this man’s presence alone disgusted her. After that, Thea didn’t even want to have anything to do with him anymore.
She pushed him again, hissing, “I don’t need your help! Get the fuck off my face and don’t show up ever again! Or I will call the police!”
With that, she just got into her apartment and slammed the door in his face.
Thea would never forgive this man or Paris Dunn.
Without these people, she would have become an actress after studying.
****
According to the rules of the competition, all the competitors who got into the official competition needed to move into the building of the show. And all their daily lives and competitions that happened in that building would be recorded and posted online.
Thea didn’t bring much stuff when she moved into her new dorm. She got four roommates, Jessica, Tiffany, and Beth.
Jessica was a sweet and quiet girl with long black hair. She asked Thea to switch beds with her because she had a light sleep and couldn’t sleep near the window.
Thea had always been a fast sleeper. She wouldn’t mind the environment. She wanted to make more friends, so she exchanged her bed with Jessica anyway.
Tiffany brought a lot of things into the dorm, including three big suitcases and one assistant.
The director said she couldn’t take her personal assistant, so she pouted and told her assistant to leave.
Tiffany seemed rich and privileged. All lip-pursing and frowning as she checked around the room for four. She asked if she could use two of Thea’s closets because she brought too many things. Thea gave her some space, acting all friendly and nice.
Beth didn’t like how snobby Tiffany acted. She pulled Thea into a corner and said with a hushed voice, “You’re being way too nice to other people. You don’t have to do those things for them.”
“I know,” Thea smiled, “But I don’t care. Helping people makes me happy.”
Beth thought the girl was too innocent. She knew girls like Jessica and Tiffany too well. They only cared about themselves. Beth thus decided to protect Thea when she got the chance.
Beth’s opinion about Tiffany was, unfortunately, right.
That girl was calling someone loudly at 1 am on the balcony.
All her roommates just had to tolerate her when she played music and giggled on the phone.
She was clearly flirting with someone, and she giggled like a dolphin.
Beth buried her head under the pillow, and Jessica just tossed around and sobbed. Tomorrow, they still had official competitions. Jessica thought she couldn’t perform well if she couldn’t get enough sleep. But Tiffany didn’t care.
Thea, however, had already blacked out. She had fallen asleep pretty fast.
When the next morning came, Thea woke up by her alarm and stretched. She felt full of energy. Yet Beth and Jessica looked pale. They looked like they didn’t sleep all night, having dark circles under their eyes.
Tiffany was sitting before the vanity and putting makeup on. She looked like she didn’t need any sleep.
“Tiffany, don’t you think it’s a bit rude to speak on the phone that loudly in the middle of the night?” Beth asked angrily.
“Rude?” Tiffany blinked, “What do you mean? I have to talk to my boyfriend.”