Chapter 184

“No. I am not leaving this room until I get that dress,” Cassandra said, crossing her arms. Her manager, Gena, who had been leaning against the wall checking her phone, sighed and stepped forward.

“Cass, come on. It’s not worth the trouble,” Gena said. “You’re making a scene, and it’s not going to help.”

Cassandra didn’t budge. They were back in Cassandra’s dressing room. The black dress was gone. Cassandra had been forced to leave the fitting room earlier when Cindy threatened to call security and “let the media cover a tantrum in real time.” Gena didn’t want the press involved, so she’d dragged Cassandra out before things escalated.

Cassandra paced in front of the mirror, arms still crossed. “I’m not wearing anything else,” she muttered.

Gena dropped her bag on the couch and sat down. “Cass, you’re exhausting today.”

“I’m serious. That dress was mine.”

Gena leaned forward. “That dress was never yours. And Cindy wasn’t bluffing. Do you think she won’t let this explode online? She’d love the PR. You’re not the only one who knows how to use media.”

Again, Cassandra didn’t respond. Gena stood up. “Look. The white one is still here. You know—the silk with the hand-stitched pearl overlay? Deep V-neck, sheer sleeves, low back. It fits you better than the black one ever would. You’ll look taller, and your skin will pop under the lights. Plus, the slit in the black one made your knees look weird last time.”

Cassandra turned sharply. “I told Lawrence I’d wear black. I promised him.”

Gena stared. “Then call him. Let him handle it. Lawrence has pull with Cindy. If this really matters, he’ll step in.”

Cassandra mumbled something but pulled out her phone. She dialed Lawrence’s number; it connected after one ring. “Lawrence,” she said quickly, “We have a problem.”

She didn’t wait for a response. “I’m at the venue, and that woman Cindy gave the black dress to someone else. Some woman named Isabella. I don’t know who she is, but she was laughing—like actually enjoying this. I’m telling you, they were both looking down on me.”

Gena rolled her eyes. “I tried to be polite,” Cassandra continued. “I even offered money. A promotion. And Cindy just shut me down. She treated me like I was nobody. Like I’m just an actress who doesn’t matter.”

“I mean…would you allow them to treat me like this?” She paused, pressing her lips together, waiting for his reply. Then added, “That woman just insulted me. Are you going to let her get away with this?”

“Cass,” a deep voice responded, “I’m still in a meeting. Just wear what you want. Let’s talk later.”

“What?” Before Cassandra could say more, Lawrence ended the call. Cassandra’s face flushed. She looked at Gena, eyes wide with disbelief. “Did—did that just happen?”

Their conversation was interrupted by a knock. They quickly looked at the woman who entered.

“Miss,” the woman said. She was one of Cassandra’s PAs, Cleo. “I found out something about that woman in the dressing room.”

Cleo quickly handed Cassandra a tablet. “She’s called Isabella Rossi, and apparently, she has ties to the Rossi Group. But I checked, and she’s not an executive. She’s currently working for Weiss Inc. And get this…Miss Pamella Johnson’s fiancé is her direct head!”

“Pamella?” Cassandra frowned. She knew Pamella; they’d gone to school together in New York. Pamella had helped Cassandra get started in acting.

Cassandra scrolled through the tablet, pausing at a highlighted line. “Isabella Rossi,” she read aloud. “Affiliated with Weiss Inc…. previously linked to Calen Weiss…And heiress?”

She kept reading. A rumor about Isabella being Calen’s ex-girlfriend surfaced. Another article speculated about a workplace romance gone sour. Cassandra’s eyes narrowed. She tapped the tablet and glanced at Cleo.

“She’s not even listed on Rossi Group’s executive board. No formal title. If she’s really an heiress, why is she working for someone else?”

Gena shrugged. “Some like to ‘build experience,’ remember?”

Cassandra didn’t respond. She’d met many people in the industry who claimed connections based solely on shared last names. If Isabella had been with Calen before, the pieces fit.

“An office romance,” she muttered. “She tried to seduce Calen Weiss. Got dumped for Pamella.”

Cleo shifted. “Should I call Miss Pamella and let her know what happened?”

Cassandra looked up. “You haven’t yet?”

“I already did,” Cleo replied guiltily. “I called to confirm. She said Miss Rossi isn’t affiliated with Mr. Weiss anymore and is leaving Weiss Inc. Miss Pamella said you could do whatever you want.”

Cassandra smiled, setting the tablet down. She’d heard about Pamella’s engagement a few days ago. Pamella saying Isabella Rossi was no longer associated with Weiss Inc.?

“Good. That’s all I needed to know.”

Cassandra leaned back, crossing her legs, her fingers tapping the tablet. “So that’s why she left. The engagement.”

Gena raised an eyebrow. “You think Calen asked her to leave?”

“She probably had no choice,” Cassandra replied. “Pamella gets engaged, and suddenly the ex-girlfriend is packing up her desk? It’s obvious. They had a thing, it ended, and now she’s out.”

She grabbed water and took a sip. “She must’ve found another backer. Probably some rich heir with a trust fund and no idea what he’s getting into. That would explain why she’s here. Dressed by Cindy. Attending events she has no real standing to be at.”

Cleo tilted her head. “You think she’s trying to move up the usual way?”

Cassandra shrugged. “What else? No title. No position. No credentials with Rossi Group. And yet she’s at a high-profile launch party in a couture dress meant for me?”

She stood and walked to the mirror, staring at her reflection. “She’s trying to seduce someone again. Maybe Calen Weiss didn’t work out, so now she’s moving on to another heir. That’s what this is. That’s why she’s here.”

She wondered who was behind Isabella. Cleo and Gena were silent. Cassandra looked at them through the mirror.

“Well, she’s not going to pull that off tonight,” she said. “Not while I’m here.”