In an upscale boutique, Aurora strolled inside with Ava by her side, her eyes scanning the luxurious displays.
The Academy Awards were just around the corner, and although her latest film wasn't high-budget, it had garnered attention.
For Aurora, that was enough.
Her career was building, and she was determined to show up looking stunning.
As they walked through the racks, Aurora's gaze landed on a particular dress.
It was elegant, shimmering softly under the boutique's lights, with intricate beadwork that caught her eye.
She reached out, running a hand over the fabric, admiring the craftsmanship.
Ava stood beside her, looking at a few pieces of her own, but even she couldn't help but notice the dress Aurora was focused on.
"That one's a showstopper," Ava commented, glancing at Aurora with a smile.
Before Aurora could respond, a voice interrupted their quiet admiration.
"Well, well, what do we have here?" The tone was dripping with disdain.
Aurora turned slowly to find Julia standing a few feet away, flanked by a couple of her friends—both minor actresses who thrived in the shadow of Julia's fame.
Julia's eyes were locked on Aurora, a sneer twisting her lips as she made her way over, her posture screaming arrogance.
Her presence immediately shifted the atmosphere, the tension clear as her gaze flickered from Aurora to the dress she had just touched.
"What's someone like you doing in a place like this?" Julia's voice was sharp, designed to sting. "I didn't realize low-budget film stars could shop here."
Aurora kept her expression neutral, refusing to rise to the bait. "Just browsing," she replied coolly, turning her attention back to the dress.
But Julia wasn't done. She moved in closer, brushing past Aurora to stand directly in front of the sales associate.
"I'll take that one," she said, pointing to the very dress Aurora had been admiring.
The sales associate's demeanor shifted instantly, her eyes lighting up at the sight of Julia's expensive handbag and designer shoes.
Without a second glance at Aurora, she smiled warmly at Julia. "Of course, Miss. That's an excellent choice."
Aurora blinked, momentarily thrown off by the blatant disregard, but kept her composure.
The associate continued, her voice dripping with politeness. "We only have a few of these in stock. It's very exclusive. You have wonderful taste."
Aurora's smile faded as she realized the associate had no intention of offering her the dress.
She turned to Ava, who was watching the exchange with growing irritation.
"It's fine," Aurora said quietly, her voice steady. "Let her have it."
Ava opened her mouth to protest, but Aurora shook her head.
There was no point in escalating the situation.
Julia, sensing her small victory, tilted her head in mock sympathy. "I didn't think you could afford it anyway," she said with a sweet, aloof smirk. "Must be tough, huh? Working in those cheap films, barely making ends meet."
The sales associate, fully aligning with Julia, handed the dress over with a gleam of approval.
Julia accepted it with a triumphant glint in her eyes, not even sparing Aurora another glance.
Ava clenched her fists, but Aurora simply rolled her eyes and turned away, moving to another section of the store.
She wasn't going to let Julia get under her skin.
Julia, however, wasn't finished with her little show.
After picking out a few more dresses, she made her way to the cashier, her friends trailing behind her like obedient shadows.
"Ladies," she said loudly enough for the entire boutique to hear, "watch and learn."
She handed her credit card to the cashier with a flourish, glancing over her shoulder at Aurora as if to make sure she was still watching.
Aurora, however, had already moved on, her eyes scanning another beautiful gown she had just discovered—a sleek, deep emerald dress that outshone anything Julia had picked out.
The cashier swiped Julia's card, but a moment later, an uncomfortable silence settled over the counter.
He tried again, his brow furrowing.
"I'm sorry, ma'am," he said, his voice hesitant. "It appears your card has been declined."
Julia's face froze, the confident smirk vanishing in an instant.
Her friends exchanged awkward glances, stepping back slightly as the air in the room shifted.
The cashier swiped the card one more time, but the result was the same.
"Impossible," Julia snapped, snatching the card back from him. "There's plenty of money on that card. Try again!"
The cashier looked apologetic but shook his head. "I'm afraid there's nothing more I can do. Perhaps you have another form of payment?"
The boutique had fallen silent, all eyes now on Julia.
Her face reddened as whispers began to spread through the store. Her friends shifted uncomfortably beside her, their loyalty wavering in the face of public humiliation.
Before Julia could respond, Aurora stepped forward, holding the emerald dress she had selected.
"I'll pay for mine," she said, handing her card to the cashier with a calm smile.
Her tone was casual, but the subtle gleam in her eyes showed she wasn't above enjoying Julia's moment of embarrassment.
The cashier quickly processed Aurora's payment, the card going through without a hitch.
Aurora signed the receipt, then she turned to Julia with a cool smirk, her eyes sparkling with a dangerous edge.
"You know, Julia," she said smoothly, "if you can't even afford a dress, maybe you should reconsider your priorities before trying to take someone else's." Her voice was calm, but the underlying bite in her words was unmistakable.
Julia's eyes widened, her fists clenching as she struggled to maintain her composure.
"What did you say?" she hissed, clearly taken aback by Aurora's sudden boldness.
"I said," Aurora replied, her tone unfazed, "you should learn to pick your battles. You might think you can walk over anyone, but not everyone will let you."
She glanced at the sales associate, who now avoided making eye contact, her earlier support for Julia clearly gone.
"Besides," Aurora added with a mocking smile, "that dress you so desperately wanted? I was never really interested in it. It doesn't suit me at all." She gave a casual shrug, "But I figured you'd go for it—just like you always do."
Julia was left speechless, her mouth opening and closing in disbelief.
Ava, standing nearby, bit back a grin as the tension between the two women crackled.
Aurora, now completely in control, picked up her shopping bags. "Enjoy the dress, Julia. I'm sure it'll look great—if you ever manage to pay for it."
With that, she turned and walked confidently toward the exit, Ava trailing behind her.
As soon as they stepped outside, Ava burst into laughter, nudging Aurora playfully. "That was perfect! You really let her have it."
Aurora smiled, her demeanor far more relaxed now. "I knew exactly how she'd react the moment I saw her. Julia's always been predictable—she thinks taking something from me is a victory. So, I let her have it."
Ava tilted her head, her laughter subsiding into a curious smile. "Wait, so you didn't even like that dress?"
Aurora shook her head. "Not at all. I just pretended to admire it because I knew she'd jump at the chance to take it. Julia's always more concerned with trying to one-up me than anything else."
Ava's eyes sparkled with admiration. "And the card thing? That was genius."
Aurora's smirk deepened. "Let's just say I made a quick call to someone who owed me a favor. I had her card flagged for a little… inconvenience." She gave a satisfied shrug. "Julia wanted to humiliate me, so I gave her a taste of her own medicine."
Ava grinned, shaking her head in disbelief. "You're devious."
"Just giving her a little lesson in humility," Aurora replied, her tone light. "And if she keeps this up, that scene in the boutique will only be the tip of the iceberg."