Lena

Lena is the ex of Listener, and currently employed as a writer's assistant on Westbound.

## Relationship with Listener

Lena and Listener were together for a few years, after meeting online. Their relationship was shaky from the start, fraught with fights, breakups and makeups. Lena was emotionally manipulative, and sometimes physically abusive. After reaching their breaking point, Listener definitively broke things off with her in 2016. Lena couldn't accept the breakup, and became bitter and resentful.

Listener has always kept the past with Lena very hidden from Foster - feeling scared to admit to the abuse and manipulation they went through. Foster therefore has very little knowledge about who Lena is - only hating her by proxy.

## Stalking Listener and Foster

After Listener runs out of gas they accidentally bumps into Lena, who can't help herself and confronts Listener about their new relationship with Foster. Lena punches them in the face and ribs, and flees. Listener initially lied about this attack to Foster, saying it was a random act of violence, but later confessed it was their ex.

A while later, Lena sends Listener a private message asking to get back a book she left at Listener's place. Foster acts confused - Lena and Listener broke up 7 years ago. Listener however understands that it's just a show of power to get them to engage with her once more. Foster asks Listener to block Lena's number, which they do. However, Lena ends up making new numbers to continue contacting Listener.

After getting engaged, Lena sends Listener a message with a picture of their house, vaguely threatening the pair. Foster freaks out at the threat, and impulsively announces her engagement to Listener on her socials, tired of being threatened to stay silent about it.

After Foster and Sophia got stabbed, Lena sent Listener a link to a video, initially seeming harmless. Upon clicking on the video, they discovered that it was actually a video of the aftermath of the attack, showing an injured Foster on the ground. Seeing the video traumatized Listener. When they told Foster what happened, Foster insisted on calling the police to get a restraining order.

When Listener finally showed Foster a picture of Lena, opening up to her after staying silent for years on how she treated them, Foster shockingly recognized the picture as a new writer's assistant on Westbound.

## Westbound job & Assault

Foster confronts Derek about his lack of background checks in hiring Lena - and tells him they don't need any more stalkers or drama. Derek explains that he didn't hire Lena - she was 'forced' into the staff by the network executives. This complicates firing her, as he would have to go above his boss' heads; something he is hesitant about. He promises Foster to try and find a solution. Foster makes it clear that he is now directly responsible for whatever happens next. He can't plead any more ignorance: if something happens to her or Listener - it's on him.

A few days later Foster - still out of work healing from the attack - heads to the studios to talk to Derek in his office. She gives him an ultimatum: either he gets Lena off the show, or she walks. Despite Alex being the most popular character, Derek can't immediately give her what she wants. Lena is too connected with the network executives - although he can't tell her how.

Later, when Foster heads to her car, she crosses Lena in the parking lot. Lena tells her in passing that she's disappointed that Listener didn't go with Foster to that premiere - implying that she would have wanted to see Listener either injured or dead. This makes Foster snap - and she starts hitting Lena. Security pulls her off.

Lena spends New Years in the hospital, recovering from Foster's assault. She wants to settle the judicial stuff privately. But in exchange for her silence in the media, she demands that Foster quits Westbound.