"Well..." the director, Mr. Bellamy said, rising from his chair on the other side of the table and slowly walking towards Rina, who was on the verge of hopping out of her chair from discomfort.
"As you might already know, a lot of things have changed in your five years of being a housewife. So I thought it best to inform you..." Rina cringed as she felt both his hands on her shoulders. Immediately, she hopped out of her seat. "Get your filthy hands off me," she ordered, irritated by the thought of what the man was about to do. "Mr. Bellamy," she said, her voice cold and firm. "I came here to discuss a role, not to be propositioned. I won't be part of your sick games." Mr. Bellamy's smile vanished, replaced by a sneer. "You think you're too good for this? Too good for me?" Back then when she was an A-list Actress, maybe. But now... He returned to his seat and leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing. "With your current reputation, you still dare to act high and mighty? You're no longer the esteemed signee of Scottsdale entertainment, do you still dare to carry that attitude? You'll never make it with that attitude of yours." Rina stood her ground. "I'd rather leave this industry with my dignity intact than give in to your disgusting demands." Mr. Bellamy's face contorted with anger, he slammed his fist on the desk. "You ungrateful little bitch," he spat. "Get out of my office. Your career is as good as dead." Rina didn't flinch. She turned on her heel and walked out, her head held high. As she exited the office, she felt a mix of fear and anger. Fear of what her new fate had installed for her. And anger at the director's audacity. In the past, no one tried to treat her poorly. Everyone respected her, both young and old. She had started as a child star and had grown into a game, hence she never faced such harassment in her ten years in the industry. But today, that old hag had dared to touch her! She was going to regain her position and teach him a lesson. Once outside, she pulled out her phone and dialed her agent's number. George was in a meeting with the media department of TL Groups, finalizing an ambassadorial deal for one of the actors under him. Seeing Rina's call, he excused himself to answer it. "Rina, how did the meeting go?" he asked, his voice a small whisper. He was standing in one of the large corridors of the company's building, where several staff members were walking past him. After the scandal two years ago, Rina's name had become a silent stigma in the entertainment industry. Now with the new scandal, she had overnight turned into a curse within the industry. George couldn't afford to say her name out loud for the sake of his signee's future and the other new acts under him. "Not as expected," Rina said, her voice calm and clear. "He asked for something in exchange." Rina needn't say more, George clearly understood what she meant. In the entertainment industry, nothing goes for nothing. In the past, Rina had been at the top and so unreachable to artists and ordinary directors. Plus, she had started as a child actress, Hence, she had never experienced that side of the entertainment industry. Now that she was down and in need, these lowly directors wanted to take advantage of her. Thinking about this, George felt his blood boil. "That bastard. Are you okay?" "I will be," Rina replied rather calmly. "That's good," George said. "Let's talk later, I'm in the middle of something. Take care of yourself and do not go reading comments online." Rina nodded and said, "mm!" Then she hung up the phone. That afternoon, as soon as she left the director's office, her phone was bombarded with notifications. A sense of foreboding suddenly washed over her. She quickly took out her phone and realized they were all push notifications from various marketing accounts on I*******m and TikTok. Then she watched as the hashtag #Rina Power's comeback# quickly climbed up the trending list, pushing down the previously top trending hashtags, #Rina Powers' cheats# And #Rina Powers' Divorce# Following closely behind it was another. #Rina Powers' dirty deal# Seeing these, fear gripped Rina's heart. She clicked on the hashtag and saw photos of her disguised and entering a low-level hotel. With her current reputation and the trending news of her cheating and divorce, this photo was enough to make netizens speculate. 'Gosh! This woman, has she no shame?' 'Tsk! Tsk! Rina Powers is a cheap bitch.' 'So sad. I never knew Rina Powers had such disgusting traits in her. So shameless!" 'Y'all, how many people have had a taste of Rina Powers so far? She's industry property now, I think everyone will have a taste of her soon." 'Can someone be this shameless? She has no self-respect or dignity left. And she still dares to desire a comeback?' Seeing the news, Rina's heart sank. She didn't have the heart to read through the comments section. She knew they'd be terrible. Seeing how this was online, it was obvious someone had tailed her down here. Other than George, Mr. Bellamy, and herself, who else could have known about her schedule? Had Mr. Bellamy planned this? Thinking about this, Rina gritted in anger, her fingers curling into tight fists. ************* "What! Rina is making a comeback?" In the exclusive waiting room in Scottsdale Entertainment, Kayla Reese suddenly stood up, her eyes blazing with fury. How was this possible? Rina Powers was currently an outcast in the entertainment industry. Wherever her name was said, a disgusted remark usually followed. Yet, she was thinking of making a comeback. "Y-yes!" Kayla's assistant, Lisa, stuttered, frightened as she handed the phone to Kayla. "The news was released just a few minutes ago!" Kayla snatched the phone from her assistant rudely. And when she saw the number one trending hashtag? Her fingers curled into tight fists. Rina Powers! What game was she playing? "Miss Reese, what do we do now?" Her assistant couldn't help asking. Five years ago, before retiring to become a supportive housewife, Rina Powers was the queen of Scottsdale entertainment and the entire entertainment industry in country A. Now she was making a comeback, would she threaten Kayla's position as the new queen? Kayla took a deep breath and returned to her seat. Making a comeback five years ago would have been possible when she still had a clean slate and her loyal fans. But now, with the scandal from two years back, and the current scandal of infidelity and Rina's trending divorce everywhere on the internet, making a comeback? Right now, she was just a wagged-out actress with zero resources and no backing. Whether she could successfully make a comeback was still a matter open to debate. And so what if she successfully makes a comeback?' Kayla thought to herself. "She doesn't scare me." In the past, she was a hotshot with various resources at her disposal. But after her scandal broke out, everyone turned on her like a pack of wolves, tearing her down to her lowest and taking all that she had. Her resources, her talent, and her fans. All those who had stepped on her back were currently big shots in the industry. Would they allow her to make a successful comeback despite their past mistreatment? A sinister smile spread across Kayla's lips. "Rina Powers, bring it on."It was late in the evenig when Rina decided to return home. She had stayed at a coffee shop after leaving Mr Bellamy’s office. And seeing as someone had trailed her to the director’s, who was to say there weren’t others reporters lurkinng around her. With her current reputation, she had angered a lot of internet users. If her address were to be found out and shared on the internet…she shivered at the thought of what they’d do. In the entertainment industry, there’s been cases where celebrities have angered netizens. Like four years ago, after Rina had quit on her career to focus on her marriage, netizens had longed for another capable face and talent to grace their screens and soon found her. Jennifer Viagro, one of the industry prinncesses. She was a very great talent, diverse in her field and if not for Rina’s extraordinary skills, she would have easily become a competition. She was a great actress who could easily play any role given to her. With her talent and Rina’s retirement
The sterile white walls of the Medical Hospital seemed to close in on Rina as she sat in the cold, sterile room. The doctor's words echoed in her mind, a relentless refrain of despair. "I'm sorry, Ms. Powers, but you've lost the baby."Her vision blurred as tears welled up, blinding her to the world around her. Rina had been so full of hope, she had been so certain that this pregnancy would be the new beginning she desperately needed in her marriage. She had clung to that hope, nurtured it with dreams of a family reunion, of a second chance at happiness.But now, all those dreams were shattered like fragile glass, leaving nothing but a painful ache in her chest. She clutched the edge of the hospital bed, her knuckles white, her heart heavy. "No," she sobbed, weakly denying the harsh reality.As she left the hospital, her steps were slow and heavy, as if the weight of the world was pressing down on her shoulders. The taxi ride home was a blur of city lights and rain-slicked streets. Ri
The woman was dressed in a long bright red dress that accentuated her curves, and her honey brown hair highlighted her elegance. Her every move exuded the aura of an international star.She was Kayla, Rina's best friend and the only daughter of the top third family in Country G, Rayer. She was also currently the most popular actress in the country - Kayla Rayer. Kayla Rayer had invited her two nights ago to celebrate her birthday.Kayla strode into the room, her high heels tapping on the marble floor like a warning. She was a vision of beauty, her features delicate and her smile as sharp as a knife. With a cruel glint in her eyes, her presence oozed confidence, and she reveled in Rina's vulnerable state."Rina, are you okay?"Seeing her best friend, Rina broke into more tears. "Kay, what do I do? Why did things turn out this way? I remember not taking any alcohol, how was there a man in my bed?" "Because someone spiked your juice!" Kayla said."What?" Rina suddenly raised her head,
The night air was chilly as Rina walked away from the imposing three-story mansion that stood as a proof to her past generosity. She had once held the keys to that house, and had been welcomed with open arms as the beloved daughter-in-law of the family. But now, she was nothing more than an outcast.Her footsteps echoed in the silence of the empty street, each one a painful reminder of the life she had lost. She clutched the divorce papers in her hand, the inked signature a stark symbol of her shattered dreams. The tears that had dried on her cheeks left a trail of salt in their wake.As Rina walked further from the mansion, she couldn't help but replay the scene in her mind. She had arrived at her in-laws' home, her last hope for a place to stay, and had mustered the courage to explain her situation. The divorce, the betrayal, the plea for shelter.But instead of compassion or understanding, what she had received was cold indifference. Her in-laws, the people who had once smiled upon
The following morning, she sat down for breakfast, her mind filled with determination. Slipping into a floral white dress, she couldn't help but feel the sharp contrast it posed to the somber occasion ahead. White, a symbol of purity, now took on new meaning. Today marked the beginning of her transformation, a rebirth of sorts. For herself and the memory of her tragically lost child, she vowed to reclaim her life and find solace once more.She put on a white sun hat and slipped into a pair of white stilettos. Gave herself a once over in front of the mirror, then picked a designer bag she hadn’t used in a long while. She took a cab to the city hall.On getting there, Finn and his lawyer were yet to arrive. She glanced at her wrist watch. It was almost Ten PM. She picked up her phone and dialed the lawyer’s number. On the second ring, the call was connected.“Hello, Mr. Attorney!”“Ms Powers, hello! My client is still having breakfast, could you wait a moment, we’ll be there soon.”Rina