Chapter 38: Ungrateful

Yuna’s conspicuous predicament made it clear to the production assistant that the actress was making things as difficult as possible for the young girl.

Rachel Farris was a respected veteran actress within the industry.

While there were occasional rumors about her being "high-maintenance" on set, no one had ever publicly accused her of being harsh with her team.

Because Rachel’s on-screen roles were of the wholesome variety, people who didn’t know her would assume she was easygoing in her private life.

Just then, Yuna, exhausted by the heat, swayed on her feet.

The momentary lapse in the umbrella’s shadow earned her a glare from Rachel, whose eyes were filled with harshness.

"Ms. Frost, this current scene is almost finished," the production assistant whispered, touching Isabella’s arm. "Could you wait a little while before approaching? The director is running a master shot right now."

No matter what her rising status was at Apex Studios, Isabella was still a junior compared to a veteran like Rachel Farris.

Although Isabella was angry, she understood set etiquette. She didn’t want to ruin a take for the crew, so she just nodded and waited off to the side of the camera tracks.

When the director called "Cut!" and the scene wrapped, the crowd grew noisy. Isabella walked toward Rachel Farris’s tent.

"Rachel, your next scene isn’t until this evening," Yuna’s weak voice drifted over as Isabella approached. "Why don’t you go rest in your air-conditioned car for a bit?"

Yuna really couldn’t hold on any longer.

Unexpectedly, Rachel didn’t bother to glance up, "My doctor said I have too much dampness in my body and my joints have been aching. He told me to get more natural sun."

Yuna lowered her head.

She was angry and didn’t dare show it to the actress, only saying with grievance, "Rachel, I really can’t hold on much longer. I think I’m going to pass out. How about I go get Linda to take care of you for a while?"

"Linda? She’s a clumsy newcomer who just joined the management company. What would she possibly know about being a personal assistant?" Rachel shot Yuna a sharp glance, her tone unkind. "I let you follow me because I think highly of you. Do you think just anyone gets an opportunity like this? Don’t be ungrateful for the blessings you have."

Yuna was speechless.

Anyone with eyes could see she was being tormented for no logical reason.

Yuna knew why she was being targeted.

Rachel had wanted a different script that had gone to another Apex actress, and she was taking her frustration out on the closest subordinate.

Just then, a familiar voice called her name across the asphalt.

"Yuna!"

Her legs gave out, and she collapsed onto the ground.

The sun umbrella and the fan in her hands fell to the side.

Startled by the sudden noise and the loss of her shade, Rachel shot up from her rocking chair in annoyance. "What is wrong with you, you clumsy idiot?!"

The commotion drew the glances of other actors and crew members.

However, seeing it was just Rachel making things difficult for her assistant again, they went back to their own business, unwilling to get involved with the diva.

"S-Sorry, I lost my footing."

Yuna apologized from the ground. Isabella rushed to her side in a couple of quick strides, reaching out to help her up. "Yuna, are you okay? You’re burning up."

"Isabella?"

Yuna stared in surprise at Isabella Frost’s pretty face.

The next second, her eyes reddened as she asked, her voice choking up with emotion, "W-What are you doing here?"

"I came to get you and Finn," Isabella said, pulling the backpack off Yuna’s shoulder and setting it aside.

Originally, she had just wanted to visit them on the backlot...

But after witnessing everything that had happened, Isabella had made up her mind.

She was taking them with her today.

"Who are you?"

Rachel Farris stared at the young woman for a moment before demanding an answer.

Isabella helped Yuna to her feet, steadying the trembling girl, before turning to face Rachel. "Hello, Ms. Farris. My name is Isabella Frost."

"Isabella Frost?" Rachel’s gaze swept over Isabella doubtfully from head to toe before a look of realization dawned on her face. "Oh, right, I remember now. I’ve heard people at the management company mention you."

As she spoke, her lips curled into a smile as she looked past Isabella to the red-eyed Yuna.

"Yuna was your personal assistant before, wasn’t she? And that Finn guy?"

Isabella nodded, keeping her posture straight, "I’m about to start a new prestige project for the studio, so I came to take them back today. If you’re currently short-staffed, Ms. Farris, you can request more people from the company."

"Huh?" Rachel’s mouth fell open in surprise.

She looked around the set before turning back to Isabella. "Do you have any idea how things work in this industry? The management company assigned these assistants to me for the full duration of this project. If they don’t finish the project, they breach their contracts, and I can’t pay them."

"That’s fine. I’ll pay their salaries," Isabella said without missing a beat, then turned to Yuna. "Hand over everything you have that belongs to Ms. Farris, then go get Finn and come with me."

Every single day serving Rachel felt like walking to her own execution.

"Hold on!"

Seeing how Isabella was showing her disrespect in front of the crew, Rachel’s expression darkened drastically. "Little girl, are you actually trying to snatch people right out from under me on my own set?"

Facing a twenty-something Isabella, Rachel’s presence flared up, frightening Yuna so much that the poor assistant didn’t dare move.

Isabella’s face remained calm, but inwardly she was nervous.

This nervousness didn’t come from fear of Rachel, but from the fact that her current actions were the complete opposite of her usual personality.

"Ms. Farris, I’m not snatching them from you. I’m simply asking for them back," Isabella said, still maintaining a reasonable tone. "They’ve been with me ever since I joined the company, and I’ve grown very accustomed to having them take care of me."

Isabella took a deep breath. "Back when I was about to take my workshop break, I told Connie that if the company was short-staffed, they could reassign them, but they’d come back to me the moment I was ready to start my next project. Connie agreed to those terms at the time."

Rachel’s brows shot up in anger. "Are you trying to use Connie to pressure me? Do you think dropping a senior manager’s name scares me?"

"That’s not my intention at all. I’m just informing you of the situation exactly as it was established," Isabella replied.

As she said this, she was already pulling out her phone from her purse.

"Or perhaps I should give Connie a call right now so you can confirm with her directly?"