The door to the opposite room wasn't fully closed.
Julian's heart skipped a beat.
He glanced down the corridor to ensure no one was around. Then, he cautiously approached the door and pressed his ear to the crack.
The hotel had decent soundproofing, but a door left ajar would reveal some sounds from inside. However, there was nothing—an eerie silence.
Julian hesitated, confused. Then, without another thought, he made a bold decision.
He gently pushed the door open, slipping inside with minimal noise. He moved carefully, one step at a time, ensuring he didn't make a sound. His mind raced with the expectation of what he might find.
As he got closer, he heard it—light snoring.
That was his confirmation.
Someone was inside. But who? Was it Anita?
Julian's pulse quickened. He couldn't help but wonder what Anita's sleeping posture might be like—such a beautiful star. This could be a rare opportunity to see her in a vulnerable moment.
'Since I'm already here,' he thought, 'I might as well take a few photos.'
He moved cautiously toward the bed, trying to get a glimpse without waking her. His breath hitched as he crept closer. When he finally saw the figure on the bed, his breath caught in his throat.
There was indeed someone sleeping, their back to him, but it wasn't Anita.
It was a woman with a fantastic figure, lying on her side, naked. The pale curve of her body was facing Julian now, and his throat dried instantly.
The flames of lust surged through him. He hadn't expected this. His mind was clouded, and even though he hadn't seen her face clearly, his first instinct was to assume it was Anita. After all, it was the same hotel, the same situation.
'It must be her,' he told himself. 'What a body. This is something only a man could dream of.'
Without further hesitation, Julian pulled out his camera and snapped a few photos—one from behind, one from the side. The woman was asleep, completely unaware, so he felt emboldened to take more.
But as he clicked, his stomach twisted in confusion. He moved to take a photo from the front, and when the woman's face came into view, Julian froze.
The woman wasn't Anita.
It was Laura.
His mind went completely blank. The camera slipped from his hands, clattering to the ground.
A wave of panic hit him, followed by confusion. How could this be? He had seen John leave the room, which meant the person lying in the bed should have been Anita—not Laura.
Julian's pulse raced. He knew Laura was Anita's rival, but seeing her here in Anita's place was something he couldn't wrap his mind around.
As the camera hit the floor, a loud clatter echoed through the room.
Both Julian and Laura, who had been sleeping soundly, jumped in shock.
"Who are you?" Laura screamed as she opened her eyes.
When she saw Julian, recognition flashed in her eyes, and her expression darkened instantly.
"Why are you in my room?" she hissed, her voice cold with fury.
"Your room?" Julian stammered, his mind still racing.
Before he could offer an explanation, Laura screeched, "You son of a bitch! How dare you plot against me? Are you trying to get yourself killed?"
Her voice was sharp, and her anger was palpable.
She was completely naked. Realizing this, she jumped out of bed, her fury overpowering her vulnerability. She rushed toward Julian, her body lithe and strong.
Despite her outburst, Julian couldn't help but feel a sickening mixture of surprise and repulsion. The woman charging at him was once a major star, and her body was still stunning, but his mind struggled to catch up. His thoughts were still stuck on the fact that he had mistaken Laura for Anita.
As Laura barreled toward him, Julian stepped back in shock, trying to hold her off.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean—" Julian started, but Laura wasn't listening.
She grabbed him by the collar, her nails scratching across his face in a flurry of sharp pain.
Julian, fighting back the anger and confusion, managed to push her off. "Calm down, Laura! This is a misunderstanding. I thought you were Anita—I just wanted to take some pictures…"
"Anita? You blind bastard!" Laura shrieked, her voice full of venom. "How dare you mention her name in front of me?!"
Her words sliced through him. Julian's face stung where her nails had scratched him, but he didn't back down. He held her at arm's length, desperate to explain.
"Listen! It's not what you think! You were tricked, just like I was," he shouted. "Think about it. This is John's doing! We've both been played."
For a moment, Laura paused, confusion flickering across her face. Julian's words seemed to have gotten through to her. She looked around, taking in her unfamiliar surroundings.
"This isn't your room, is it?" Julian pressed, his voice urgent. "It's that asshole, John. He's been messing with all of us. He brought you here. I saw him leave just before you woke up."
Realization hit Laura slowly, and she looked around, the dazed look in her eyes slowly giving way to clarity. She began to piece together the puzzle, her fury now mingled with confusion.
"How did I get here?" she muttered, her voice hoarse.