Titan 36

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lan’s face was flushed with fever, his lips pale, but none of it could dull the sharp, surprised light that flared in his eyes when he saw Yolanda.

Yolanda turned, offered a brief thanks to the lingering crew member, and waited until they were alone. Then she stepped inside, closing the door behind her and turning the lock.

The room was cramped, barely large enough for the queen–sized bed that dominated the space. His opent backpack and suitcase served as a makeshift closet nearby.

Yolanda dropped two bags of medical supplies onto the mattress, her anger palpable. “Take your shirt off. Let

the see.

He was silent for a beat before slowly sitting on the edge of the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head, revealing a map of dark bruises across his muscular back. It was a stark testament to how painful that fall must

have been

She drew a sharp breath, her hand flying to his forehead. He was still burning up. “I told you to call me if you didn’t feel well,” she said, frantically digging through her bag for the fever reducers.

“I thought you… wouldn’t want to hear from me,” he murmured.

Yolanda went still. She had been avoiding him all week. After all, things had been awkward since the last time. She’d needed space to clear her head, never imagining he’d been having a rough time quietly.

“Just take these first,” she said, her voice softening as she held the pills to his lips. “And don’t worry about Wayne. He’ll be taken care of.”

He sat on the edge of the bed, looking up at her with an unreadable expression.

Before she could wonder if something was on her face, his arms circled her waist. He buried his face against her stomach.

She stood frozen for a moment, then her hand came up to tentatively touch his hair. It was coarse but soft, and carried the clean scent of recent rain.

His long arms held her carefully, and he nuzzled his head against her waist like a large, wounded animal seeking comfort.

A shiver ran through her. Yolanda pushed him away, grabbed his hand, and pressed the pills into his palm. before turning to fetch a glass of water.

lan remained on the edge of the bed, staring down at the medicine in his hand, his lips pressed into a tight

line.

She returned and thrust a glass of water at him. “Take them. Get the fever down first. There are anti- inflammatories in the bag. Take two. And you can spray the bruise spray yourself,” she instructed, her tone deliberately flat.

He took the water silently and swallowed the pills.

7:44 Thu, Sep 11

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Suddenly feeling flushed, Yolanda tugged at her collar, fanning herself for a second before heading for the

door.

Ian instinctively began to rise to follow, but her words stopped him cold. “Stay here and rest. I’m going to see Wayne.

Wayne had just finished filming his scene when his assistant hurried over and whispered. “Ms. Owens called.”

As the male lead starring opposite a top actress, Wayne had been riding high lately. Everyone on set knew he had a grudge against lan. And that was why they would have given the sewcomer such a hard time.

He was about to ask what Rachael wanted when a stinging slap landed hard across his cheek. His head snapped to the side, and he tasted blood.

He touched his face in shock, staring at Yolanda in the hat and mask. Though he couldn’t see her face, her presence commanded attention. “You bitch,” he snarled.

Yolanda just said, “Rachael sends her regards.”

The name made him freeze. Almost no one knew about his affair with Rachael, and she had just called. And then he got slapped. Swallowing his rage, he growled, “Who are you?”

Yolanda flexed her stinging hand. “Tessa. Already forgot me, Wayne? I’ve been meeting with your sugar mommy’s partner. Does she know you’ve been stirring up trouble on set?”

Wayne went pale. His assistant leaned in, whispering urgently, “Ms. Owens told you not to make waves. This might be about that co–star you went after-

Wayne seethed, teeth clenched. “Tessa, what gives you the right to lecture me?”

Yolanda smiled, “Let’s just say I’m on good terms with the executives at Starlight Entertainment. I haven’t even brought up the drugging incident yet. Keep this up, and I’ll have you replaced before the day is over.”

Wayne had worked hard to secure Rachael’s support. He couldn’t afford to lose that. And Yolanda’s confidence shook him. Is she lan’s real backer, not just his agent? But she’s pretty. He’s lucked out with a woman like her.

His assistant spoke up again, voice tense. “Wayne, Ms. Owens is furious. Maybe it’s better to let this go.”

Wayne forced a smile, covering his reddening cheek. “My apologies. I misjudged the situation, lan and I are actually on good terms.”

The whole crew had seen the exchange. They’d thought Ian had no support, but even Wayne had been put in his place.

Yolanda’s voice was icy. “You have your backer. Ian has his. Next time, look twice before you cross a line.”

Wayne’s face darkened again. He wanted nothing more than to wipe that smug look off her face.

Zack had watched the entire scene unfold, stunned that the usually composed Yolanda could unleash such

7:44 Thu, Sep 11

fury.

Her cold gaze landed on him. “Mr. White, she began, her voice sharp enough to cut glass, “when I brought Jan to you, my instructions were clear: look after him. Or did that slip your mind?”

He hadn’t expected to be called out so directly. Flustered, he started to form an excuse, but she cut him off. ‘1 assume Starlight Entertainment’s executives have taken the orders by now? Are they planning to pull some strings on my behalf?”

Zack went very still. She was referring to the high–profile coffee endorsement. Everyone said Tessa had landed it on Charles’s direct orders. So she was telling the truth.

As a Starlight man himself. Zack had assumed that after Charles’s infidelity, he’d have washed his hands of his ex–wife. Apparently, he wouldn’t.

Zack had never been fond of Yolanda. He’d secretly enjoyed watching Wayne make fan’s life miserable. Now, he was squirming. “Tessa, let’s be reasonable. This is all one big misunderstanding.”

“You know better than anyone whether it’s a misunderstanding.” Yolanda shot back, her tone leaving no room for argument. “I see more than I let on. Push this further, and I promise you, no one wins.”

A cold dread washed over Zack. She was threatening him–that damn recording was still out there. If Charles decided to act on her behalf, his career would be over before he saw it coming-

He wiped a bead of sweat from his temple. “Of–of course. I’ll keep a much closer eye on things from now on. You have my word.”

Even the director had fallen silent. The rest of the crew watched, utterly cowed, reassessing the woman named Tessa. She was new, yet she’d publicly humiliated Wayne and dressed down Zack without breaking a

Sweat

With backing like that, they wondered why lan had taken the bullying for so long. Only a fool would do that.

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