The Sinister Screen Queen

Tanya swirled the red wine in her glass, letting its aroma waft into her senses as she leaned casually against a column.

The room buzzed with chatter, laughter, and the faint hum of a string quartet playing in the background.

She recognized many of the attendees famous actors, artists, and socialites though none of them particularly interested her.

Her gaze wandered until it landed on Keira, who was animatedly conversing with a glamorous woman.

Tanya tilted her head, squinting to make out the face. It was Victoria Beckham.

"Figures." Tanya muttered, rolling her eyes.

She took another sip of her wine, savouring the moment of solitude amidst the clamour.

"Aren't you a little young to drink?" a voice interrupted her thoughts.

Tanya turned, raising an unimpressed eyebrow at the tall, statuesque blonde in front of her.

The woman's features were striking bright eyes, perfect cheekbones, and the kind of effortless poise that screamed sexy.

Taking a deliberate, slow sip of her wine, Tanya replied. "Old enough for sex, old enough to drink."

The woman's eyes widened for a moment before she laughed, a rich, genuine sound. "Das ist gut."

"But no, I don't think you're old enough for either."

Tanya's expression became playful. "Well, I already have my period. My body says it's okay. If you have a problem, take it up with biology."

The woman chuckled again, shaking her head. "You're cute. What's your name?"

"Tanya Pendragon. And you?"

"Heidi Klum."

Tanya blinked, her expression shifting. "Wait...you're some German model, right?"

"Ja, just some German model." Heidi said, clearly entertained by Tanya's blasé attitude.

Tanya studied her for a moment before shrugging. "Figured. You've got the look."

Heidi raised an eyebrow. "And what exactly am I supposed to look like?"

"Tall, elegant, drop-dead gorgeous," Tanya said casually, taking another sip. "You're one hell of a figure for modelling."

Heidi laughed again. "You're a cheeky one, aren't you? What are you doing here? I don't recognize you."

"Do you want to call security?" Tanya asked flatly.

Heidi snorted unladylike. "No need for that."

Heidi then plucked the wine glass from Tanya's hand. "Ease up on the wine, Fräulein. It's bad for your complexion."

Tanya watched as Heidi's attention shifted to a tall man walking by. "That's my husband. Nice meeting you."

As Heidi walked away, Tanya's eyes lingered on her. "Well, she's got the figure."

"Guess that's why she's a supermodel."

Later, as Tanya wandered through the crowd, she noticed Keira waving at her from across the room.

Tanya hesitated but eventually made her way over. Keira stood in a circle of well-dressed women, all radiating influence and affluence.

"Tanya, meet Victoria." Keira said with a warm smile.

"And." Keira said, gesturing to the circle. "Let me introduce you to Naomi Campbell, Stella McCartney, and Sophie Ellis-Bextor."

"And everyone, this is my freeloading little sister."

Tanya raised a brow but played along, offering a cheeky grin. "Nice to meet you. And yes, I'm the freeloading sister who's waiting for Keira to become a millionaire and take care of me."

The women laughed, Victoria included.

"She has a sense of humour." Victoria said approvingly.

"Oh, she's full of surprises." Keira replied, giving Tanya a knowing look.

Naomi gave Tanya a once-over, her signature smirk playing on her lips. "Freeloading is it?"

"Proudly." Tanya replied.

"Keira promised to buy me a mansion. I only have to keep her from blowing it all on handbags first."

The group laughed, even Naomi cracking a grin. "I like her."

"Are you a model, too?" Sophie asked, her accent soft and curious.

"Not yet." Tanya said, maybe Casey would give her skill for it.

"But give me a runway and a pair of stilettos, and I'll strut circles around all of you."

Stella chuckled. "Confidence is half the battle."

The conversation ebbed and flowed, mostly about topics Tanya found dull—fashion, charity events, and high society gossip.

She gave Keira a cheeky smile. "Find me later?"

"Of course." Keira replied, her tone cautious.

Before she left, Tanya glanced back at Keira, catching her eye. Keira gave her a slight wave, and Tanya decided to have a bit of fun.

She walked over, leaned in, and pressed a quick kiss to Keira's lips, causing a collective gasp from the group.

Keira's eyes widened, but her actress instincts kicked in.

"Oh, sibling affection." She said with a laugh that sounded forced.

"See you later." Tanya said cheekily, flashing a grin at the stunned group.

Tanya leaves Keira to fend off the amused remarks of the group.

As Tanya walked away, she could hear Victoria murmuring something to Keira about how "modern" siblings were these days.

Cheeky Casey's tone almost impressed.

"You noticed?" Tanya replied dryly.

"Keira didn't want to come tonight, and now she's practically a social butterfly."

The irony is delicious Casey agreed.

Now find someone else to torment

"Gladly." Tanya scanned the crowd for her next victim.

Claudia Schiffer and Kate Moss were near the champagne bar, exuding the effortless glamour that made them icons. They were engrossed in a conversation.

Tanya, who had grown tired of meaningless chatter with the other guests, decided to approach when she overheard a pointed phrase.

"Experience and legacy matter more than fleeting trends." Claudia said, her polished voice carrying just enough edge to suggest an ongoing debate.

Kate replied, her raspy tone tinged with amusement. "Sure, but Legacy doesn't book campaigns. It's the new faces that everyone wants."

This sounded like her kind of conversation.

Wine glass in hand, she sauntered over.

Tanya slid into the space between them like she belonged there. "Sounds like someone's feeling the heat from the next generation."

Both women turned to her, their expressions shifting to polite curiosity.

"And you are?" Claudia asked, her tone cool but not dismissive—yet.

"Tanya Pendragon." She said confidently, flashing a sly grin. "Future legend, and someone who knows how to spot a good debate."

Kate tilted her head, intrigued. "And what does the 'future legend' have to say about this?"

Tanya took a slow sip of her wine. "I say she's got a point." She nodded toward Kate.

"The industry is brutal. The younger, fresher faces are always edging out the veterans. It's not about legacy, it's about who can sell now."

Claudia's expression hardened. "Legacy isn't about age. It's about influence. Trends come and go, but icons endure."

Tanya shrugged. "Icons endure in memory, sure. But when was the last time your name alone booked you a cover without a nostalgia angle? Be honest."

Kate bit back a smile, clearly enjoying Tanya's audacity, but Claudia's gaze turned icy.

"You speak as though you understand this business." Claudia said. "Do you?"

Tanya leaned in slightly, her grin widening. "I understand enough to know the new girls aren't just hungry, they're ravenous."

"They'll work for less, push boundaries, and do whatever it takes to stay relevant. And that's what clients want. You think legacy pays the bills? No. Relevance does."

Kate laughed, though there was a bitter edge to it. "She's got a point, Claudia. Even we were the 'new faces' once, pushing out the older crowd. That's the cycle."

Claudia's jaw tightened, but she didn't back down. "There's more to this industry than pandering to trends. There's craft, artistry. The new models might have their moment, but they lack depth."

"Depth?" Tanya echoed, raising an eyebrow. "Depth isn't what sells handbags or perfume. It's buzz. And buzz is a young woman's game."

Kate nodded, though her expression was contemplative. "She's right about the buzz, but it's not that simple. It's not just youth. Models who reinvent themselves stay on top longer."

Tanya agreed easily but there was a but. "Adaptability is useful, but there's a shelf life, even for reinvention."

"The public has a short attention span, and the industry knows it. They don't want 'depth.' They want what's shiny and new."

Claudia folded her arms, her gaze piercing. "And when the 'shiny and new' tarnishes, what then? You talk about legacy as though it's a weakness. It's what gives us staying power."

Tanya shrugged again. "Maybe. But staying power doesn't stop someone younger from being cast in your place. You might have legacy, but the fresh faces have time on their side."

The tension in the air was palpable after Tanya's pointed remarks.

Claudia's irritation was practically radiating, and even Kate, typically unflappable, seemed caught between amusement and contemplation.

 Before anyone could escalate further, Heidi Klum appeared her elegant strides as commanding as ever.

"Ladies." Heidi's German accent lent a certain authority. "I hope you're not forgetting you've got preparations to make. The show doesn't wait for anyone, not even legends."

Claudia turned to Heidi. "Heidi, but some of us are perfectly capable of managing our time without a babysitter."

Tanya sipped her wine to hide a grin.

Heidi's smile didn't falter. "Oh, Claudia, always so... gracious."

She stepped closer. "Don't bite off more than you can chew. This industry's hard enough without unnötiges drama."

Kate chuckled softly, her neutral stance as much an attempt to diffuse tension as to remain uninvolved. "Well, Heidi does have a point."

"We should get moving."

Claudia straightened, her icy demeanor thawing only slightly. "I'll be there shortly."

Tanya, ever the troublemaker. "Better hurry. Don't want those 'shiny new faces' stealing all your spotlight."

Claudia shot Tanya a withering glare, but Tanya merely grinned.

Heidi, clearly amused by Tanya's boldness simply rolled her eyes.

"Come on, Kate. Let's leave her to cool off."

Kate followed Heidi with a shrug, leaving Claudia to compose herself.

Tanya watched them go, her mind already spinning with thoughts of the power dynamics she'd witnessed.

Claudia finally broke the silence. "You're bold, Junge dame, but be careful. This world doesn't always reward boldness the way you think."

Tanya tilted her head. "Good thing I'm not waiting for anyone's reward."

Claudia scoffed and walked off.

Tanya sipped the last of her wine which she had successfully disguised from Heidi and mentally congratulated herself.

She wasn't here to play nice.

She was here to milk.

+100 EP

+100 EP

…

And it was an interesting conversation.

As Tanya lounged by the edge of the room, nursing another glass of wine and scanning the crowd for her next target, a commanding figure approached.

Anna Wintour, clad in her signature chic ensemble, exuded an aura of quiet authority. Her iconic bob and ever-present dark sunglasses made her instantly recognizable.

"Tanya Pendragon." Anna said coolly.

Tanya blinked, momentarily thrown off by the precision of her address. "Ms. Wintour. To what do I owe this honor? You don't usually mingle with the rabble."

Anna didn't take the bait, her expression as composed as ever. "Oh, I make exceptions for intriguing personalities. And you've certainly been making yourself... noticeable."

Tanya leaned back, swirling her wine. "Noticed, huh? Guess I'm doing something right."

"Or wrong." Anna countered smoothly.

Tanya grinned. "Let me guess, you're here to lecture me about how I'm disrupting the high society flow, right?"

"Let's debate." Tanya keenly proposed.

"Tradition versus rebellion. Old guard versus new blood. You might find I'm pretty persuasive."

Anna's brow arched faintly above her sunglasses. "Debate with you? Tempting, but unnecessary. I don't engage in battles I've already won."

Casey's laughter echoed in her She's got you there, babe

Tanya took a sip to cover her irritation. "Fine, then. What's your angle?"

Anna tilted her gaze slightly. "I was simply curious. How's your grandmother these days? Still sprightly as ever, I imagine."

The comment landed like a thunderbolt. Tanya froze, her smirk vanishing.

"Wait... what?" Tanya stammered.

Anna's faint smile didn't falter. "Oh, don't look so shocked, dear. You might try to stay low-key, but I always make it a point to know who's who—and where they come from. Your grandmother and I go back quite a ways."

Tanya blinked, uncharacteristically thrown.

"She's good." Tany said after a moment. "Had a great Christmas. Still... sprightly."

Anna nodded approvingly. "Good to hear. She always had a lively spirit, just like you, it seems. Though she wielded hers with a touch more... finesse."

Tanya rolled her eyes, trying to regain her footing. "Yeah, yeah, I get it. 'Behave, Tanya.'"

Anna leaned in slightly, her voice soft but firm. "Not just behave. Be careful. Troublemaking is fine if you know when to stop. Otherwise, you risk losing control of your narrative."

Tanya scoffed. "I'll keep that in mind."

Anna straightened, her demeanor as poised as ever. "I do hope so. It would be a shame to see potential squandered."

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Tanya standing there, her mind spinning. Casey's voice broke the silence in her head.

Well, that was... unexpected. Guess you're not as mysterious as you thought.

Tanya sighed, shaking her head. "Guess not. And for the record, I'm always in control of my narrative."

Casey chuckled. Sure you are, baby girl. Sure you are

Tanya drained her glass, muttering under her breath.

"Old guard always has to have the last word."