“How do you even know Ruby?"

“Oh, Ruby and I go way back; high school days, Lilah replied with a casual shrug.

Effie's face scrunched up, confusion evident. "Seriously? You, friends with someone like her? And isn't she promoting Xavier Jewelers? I mean, aren't they your competitor?"

Lilah sighed, "Sometimes, certain decisions are out of our hands. It might just be a business move on her end."

“But Ruby is really..." Effie hesitated, her eyes searching Lilah's face. Then, she took a deep breath and warned, “Just watch your back around her. She might not always have your best interests at heart.”

Lilah's heart tugged in different directions. She wasn't one to let rumors cloud her judgment about her friends, but today's events had sown seeds of doubt. She looked at Ruby with fresh eyes; was she missing something?

Instead of diving into that topic, Lilah shifted gears. "Why were they so aggressive toward you?"

Effie's eyes sparked with a fire of indignation, “It's all about a role I've just got. Apparently, Ruby's friend believes I swiped it from under her. Can you believe it? She wanted to ‘teach me a lesson’ for it!"

While she usually had the comfort of bodyguards on her side, she had chosen to ask them to stay outside the hotel that day. It was this decision that had put her in such a tight spot. But fortunately, Lilah, Like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day, had stepped in.

Lilah, not too savvy with the ins and outs of showbiz, felt a pang of sympathy. “Promise me you'll be more careful next time. Your clothes are soaked; how about a quick shopping spree to get something fresh to wear?"

Effie shook her head, her wet locks flicking water. "My car is in the parking lot. Mind accompanying me back home?"

Seeing her disheveled state, Lilah nodded without hesitation.

Arriving at her cozy villa, Effie soon headed to freshen up, leaving Lilah alone, lost in her thoughts about her recent work dilemmas. Out of the blue, her phone buzzed with Ruby's name lighting up the screen.

Ruby's voice dripped with regret. “I'm so sorry, Lilah. I bet you were scared by today's events."

Pushing her feelings aside, Lilah responded, “It's not about me. It's just wrong to torment someone like that."

Ruby sighed, "Those two have a reputation. They love their Little gangs and bullying people out. I'm no fan, but we've got to play the game; it's just how the industry rolls.”

Her voice trembled with frustration as she added, "Those two targeted Effie because they're threatened by her rising fame. They needed an excuse to knock her down. It's sickening. I won't be associating with them after this."

As Lilah listened, a pang of remorse hit her. Perhaps she had been too quick to judge Ruby.

She replied, "I see where you're coming from. The showbiz world can be a tough place. Thank goodness Effie's okay. You should watch your back too."

A hint of caution edged into Ruby's voice. “Lilah, I heard you snapped some pictures in there?"

Lilah paused briefly before admitting, "I did."

Ruby's voice softened with concern. "Would you mind deleting them?

It's not just about them; it's about you. That room was filled with big names. They can be relentless. And if pictures like that surface, you'll be the first they'd point fingers at."

Lilah, sensing Ruby's genuine concern, nodded, even though Ruby couldn't see. "Fine, I'll delete them."