Following my departure, I held sway over the entire entertainment industry

I'm a Z-list celebrity, barely known. During an interview, the host asked me what I planned to do after leaving the entertainment industry. Without missing a beat, I replied, "Go home and inherit my family's billion-dollar fortune."

The live stream chat exploded. Everyone was ripping me apart, accusing me of making up stories for attention. The clip even went viral, trending number one everywhere.

The funny thing is, after I left the industry, I actually did become a major power player, the kind who could make or break careers in Hollywood.

1.

It all started on a reality show. After filming wrapped, we did a live interview. I shared the stage with Sarah Miller, another actress. We’d debuted in the same TV series three years prior. I was still a nobody, while Sarah was an A-lister. Clearly, the producers had invited me as a foil to Sarah, hoping to stir up some drama and boost ratings.

Their plan wasn't exactly working. The audience only cared about Sarah. I was just background noise. Whatever. I didn't care. Bored, I glanced at the comments scrolling across the screen. It was a wall of praise for Sarah, with the occasional jab at me.

[Same debut, worlds apart. How can Susan Evans even stand next to our Sarah? So shameless, trying to leech off her fame.]

[LOL! Remember that rumor about Susan and Leo Thompson? I almost fell for it.]

[As if Leo would date a nobody like Susan! She probably photoshopped herself next to him. What a schemer!]

[OMG!!! When will our Sarah queen share the screen with Leo again? We need some couple content! Feed us the sugar!]

[I ship them so hard! Sarah and Leo are meant to be!]

Meant to be? I scoffed. Leo had chased after me when I first started out, back when the studio was actually trying to build me up. He claimed it was love at first sight, that he couldn’t live without me, that he dreamt of me every night. He wanted me to be his secret girlfriend, afraid going public would hurt my career.

2.

I wasn't interested in him, especially not after knowing him for only a few days. I turned him down, but out of some misplaced guilt, I pulled some strings and got him a few roles. He used those roles to climb the ladder while I stayed stuck in the mud.

Once he was famous, he showed up at my door in the middle of the night. He threw a wad of cash at me and offered to make me his mistress. When I refused, he tried to force himself on me. I screamed for help, and luckily, a security guard on patrol scared him off. After that, I hired a personal bodyguard and got him an apartment nearby, instructing him to act like a regular guy while keeping an eye on me.

I didn't see Leo sneaking around after that, but he did sport a few bruises whenever I saw him at events. I didn't care. Wasn't my fault if he kept tripping over things.

"Sarah, what would you do if you left the entertainment industry?" the host asked.

Sarah paused, then said, "I'd be a homemaker. I want to be there for the person I love, cook for him, and just live...