[Amanda]
2014…
“Dom, where the hell are you taking me?” I whine for the umpteenth time, squirming in the passenger seat. It’s annoying when your eyes have been blindfolded. “Just be patient for 5 more minutes”, Dom coaxed. Today was our 1st anniversary as a couple and I knew Dominic was up to something. He seemed all secretive for the past few weeks. I tried to ask Jace, but he evaded my question skilfully, the bugger.
I huffed and leaned back in the faux leather seat. I heard him chuckle. Then, after what felt like an eternity, the car finally came to a stop. I heard Dominic get out of the car; the door clicked shut before I heard the door of the passenger seat open. “Take my hand”, Dom said softly. I promptly did so as he helped me out of the car.
Then all of a sudden I was being picked up, bridal style. “W
[Amanda]2015....“If you think that we are going to look after you then you are mistaken”, my mother said sharply, not even letting me go past the threshold of our house. I gaped at her. How can a mother be so cruel to her own child? She was looking at me with disgust and disappointment. I tried to look past her shoulder and I noticed dad peeking out of the living room but not even trying to come in and defend me. If this was family, then I was out of luck. My brother was out of the country and in no way would he ever defend me either. We were always at loggerheads, anyway.Her sharp words stung more than anything. I wanted to cry, sob at her hurtful words, but no tears would come. Maybe I was just too shocked to speak or even cry. “Then...where will I go?” I asked, hopeless and desolate. She shrugged nonchalantly as she started to push me out of the door, “What do we know
[Amanda]2015…“Did you manage to find any job?” David asked me a few days later. I could understand his impatience even though he was trying very hard not to show it and I understood...how long could a person allow another human being to live at their spare apartment for days? I chewed on my bottom lip, unable to give him any proper answer.He sighed, “Don’t take this in the wrong way okay? But if you want I can arrange for you to go to Hannah. You can even talk to her and chalk out something. You can live so miserably forever, Mandy”. His tone was almost pleading. He knew me since I was a kid. He was my brother’s friend, a few years older than him and his affection stemmed from the fact that I resembled a lot to his late younger sister.“Dominic already~” he began, but I cut him off, “I don’t want to hear any
[Dominic]I was this close...this close to divulging the secret. Damn this lie was costing me a lot. I fiddled with the cufflinks as my mind veered back to the times I have subtly tried to track down Mandy. My lips curved up involuntarily. My Mandy. She has changed. I sighed as I thought about how she had changed from the delicate girl to a woman who has weathered and has seen a lot in her life.Those good for nothing family of hers had kicked her out! The audacity they had is astounding. But in a way, I guess it was for the good. She wouldn’t want to know their current financial state. Finding her….had been tough. With my busy schedule and fame, I couldn’t track her faster. Now that I did, I am forced to behave like I don’t care for her anymore. This...this pretentious separation was taking a toll on me. These past few days I had gotten enough concerned and worried glances from my staff. They
[Dominic]“Aunt.” I acknowledged with a nod as I stepped into the dressing room. My men discreetly retreated. Even Alex left without another word. The make-up artists were nowhere to be seen. She must have asked them to leave until called.“Have you been waiting for long?” I asked politely. She leaned back on the couch and gave me a long-suffering look which was enough for me to know that it had been long enough for her.“What did you wish to talk about?” I asked without wasting another moment. She sighed, “It has come to my notice that you have not been keeping in touch with Miss Morgan.” My jaw clenched but remained quiet neither denying nor agreeing to her statement.“Dominic, you know very well that if the Morgan Group ventures into a new business with our company then it will be beneficial and this can be do
[Dominic]“She’ll be presenting an award tonight. The best film of the year.” I scowled at the information. Alex did not seem thrilled either. It was almost time for the red carpet and Mandy will be arriving soon. I couldn’t risk her meeting aunt or all will break loose and scatter everywhere. I paced in the small space, unable to decide whether I should just ask her to go back but that would be a bad move.“Should I tell Amanda that…” he began to suggest but I cut him a look. Alex shut his mouth immediately. I shook my head. “It won’t be feasible to tell her and what if she wants to come even after hearing that aunt is here just to spite her?” Alex raised an eyebrow. “Do you think that she will do something like that?” He sounded a little annoyed at my hypothesis. I gave him a questioning look.“I mean you have known her for a long time.
[Amanda]Abandoning my stilettos and my purse somewhere in the room, I stumbled towards the bed. God, I wanted to get piss drunk and just forget everything. I somehow managed to get up and reach the washroom, my makeup had already been ruined by the tears that refused to stop. I was thankful that I didn’t encounter any paparazzi on the way and that my pity party was only witnessed by Mr. Flenn.I unceremoniously grabbed a tissue paper and rubbed my face with it, roughly, haphazardly. I didn’t care if my reflection looked ugly. This incident felt like a deja vu. I should leave and never return to this place then I belatedly realised that I had nowhere to go. I huffed out a humourless laugh, dark and sarcastic. I gripped the marble sink, my tears mixing with the kohl and tons of foundation that still remained on my face. I wiped my face once again, washed it and changed the dress. Throwing the expensive piece of fabric on th
[Amanda]2015…“You have got to be joking,” I groaned into the pillow.“Babe, please try to understand. I have to go to this photoshoot,” Dominic coaxed, his voice dripping with guilt and regret. I sighed, all my earlier enthusiasm drained out after the phone call. We were supposed to leave for our much-awaited weekend outing today. For the past few months, Dominic had been very busy -- going for auditions, doing photoshoots and shooting for a movie. He was hopeful that this might just serve as his big break. I supported him completely, but lately, rumours have started to circulate that the handsome debut actor Dominic Giovanni is reportedly seeing the female lead of the movie.Even though I entered this relationship and married him knowing that this will come as added baggage with his steadily increasing fame, that did not stop me from worrying.
[Amanda]2015…I don’t know for how long I stood there, staring at the photo — my husband passionately kissing another woman and by the looks of it, this wasn’t due to any scene or photoshoot. My hand trembled and all of a sudden I felt like I was being choked. Black spots appeared at the peripheral vision. The photos slipped out of my hands and scattered on the floor again as I tried to breathe. My vision turned blurry. I crumbled on the floor, my knees felt like jelly. I gasped for breath. I was well acquainted with this feeling.I was having a panic attack and I had no one to calm me down. My cheeks were wet with tears and my heart pounded in my chest. What did I expect? That he would stay with me forever? I would have laughed had I not been the one going through this heartbreak. The otherwise silent apartment echoed with my sobs.I sh