They Fired Me, I Inherited My Empire

Chapter 2

Using stunt doubles is no big deal in showbiz, but the problem here? I'd publicly posted on X that I never use doubles. And while I'd actually never used one, Kyla had almost the exact same body type as me.

Not perfectly identical, mind you, but we were at least 80% alike.

Everything clicked right then.

Kyla was practically bursting with smugness, but she still put on a fake, concerned act. She spoke just loud enough for everyone standing nearby to hear.

"Darla has always said she does every part of her work herself, but she must be super exhausted to use a double once in a while. It's such an honor to be her double. I've been her fan for ages. Let's not give her a hard time about this, okay?"

"Oh yeah?" I asked with a half-smirk. "Tell me exactly which scene you doubled for me in, then."

Kyla tugged on her agent's sleeve, and the agent immediately started yelling at the top of his lungs.

"Remember that horse fall scene for Director Collins' project? You were too scared of pain and too unwilling to put in the work to learn how to ride, and you forced the company to find you a double. We had no choice! Kyla has a similar build to you, so we brought her in. She got bruised all over from that fall, and you didn't even spare her a glance before you bailed."

I stared at the agent with a mocking sneer and let out a slow, drawn-out

"Ooh."

So that's why my agent, who never gave a crap if I lived or died, had showed up on set that day. All the pieces fell into place.

That horse scene only shot my back, no face on camera. No wonder they pulled this crap.

I'd done that whole stunt myself, fell two or three whole times just to get the shot perfect, and now they were acting like Kyla was the one who did it?

This wasn't just leeching off my success. They were trying to grind my reputation into the dirt.

Maybe he realized he was coming on too strong, so the agent shifted to an awkward, placating murmur.

"Darla, you don't want to leave the film festival empty-handed, right? The general manager told me to promise you the Best Actress award, but only if…"

After all this garbage, what good would a Best Actress trophy even do me? They'd just keep leeching off my name and trampling my reputation anyway.

'How delusional do they even get?'

I snorted coldly, snapped back without mincing words.

"I made this company what it is, not the other way around. And for the record? Kyla was at the very bottom of her class at the United States Film Academy. She can't even cry on cue properly, and she thinks she can play the second female lead? With that fake delicate act she's got going on, she might as well just take the female lead role. It's perfect for her usual act.

"Trust me, if you cast her as the second lead, viewers will tear her to shreds."

The last flicker of fake guilt on the agent's face vanished. He snapped at me, irritation dripping from every word.

"Darla, we've already thrown way better resources your way. Don't get greedy, or you'll end up with nothing at all!"

Kyla darted a glance at me, her eyes brimming with pure disdain, but her face twisted into a flustered, urgent expression as she rushed to explain herself.

"I'm so sorry, Darla, I never should have tried to take your role. But I just love acting so much, and I really adore this character. If you really don't want me to have it, I can work as your stand-in instead! I don't even need to show my face, no one will ever find out."

The manager rounded on me sharply. "Darla, don't be so unreasonable."

I scanned the crowd around me. Every nearby crew member and cast member had their heads bowed, and even Director White refused to meet my eyes.

I knew exactly what was going on.

"Fine. But when the show gets dragged online, don't you dare pin the blame on me."

I slung my bag over my shoulder and sauntered off set like I didn't have a care in the world. Faintly, I could hear the manager showering Kyla with compliments behind me.

"Darla's just a washed-up A-lister, no connections, no backing. She actually thinks her decent acting skills are enough to make it big in this industry? This time, she's just paving the way for your success! Once the show airs, Miss Whitmore, you're gonna blow up big, you'll be red-hot..."

"Oh, I'm not that good... I still can't hold a candle to Darla, she's been in the industry way longer than me..."

Their voices faded into the distance as I walked away.

I scoffed, grabbed my phone, and dialed a number.

"Hey, old man, you miss me? I'll swing by home to see you in a couple of days. While I'm there, we can talk about how I'm gonna inherit the family's billion-dollar fortune."