****
Back Home Again…
After arriving at the airport, I took a taxi straight home.
‘Yes I'm back to where it all started’ I said to myself, took a deep breath, and walked into the mansion. Everyone, the maids, and guards looked at me with awe looks on their faces.
‘I was no longer the little, naive, shy, innocent, and calm girl they once knew. Now…hahaha…. I was crazy. Yeah, though I was a small actress in the local acting industry, I still fought for my dreams.’ I halted when I saw my father, his wife, and their daughter.
I smiled dryly and said, "I'm home…..who missed me?"
"Why are you back?!" Father said.
"Honey, calm down, she just came back, why don’t we let her rest first….." Marie, my stepmom said. She was a quiet devil….a pretender…she was a good actress too, in front of my father…I guessed her daughter got professional acting skills from her.
"Sister…. Welcome home," said Jolene.
"A point for correction Jolly, I AM NOT YOUR SISTER!" I glanced at her.
"Get out…..out….you ungrateful bitch….you bad egg….." Dad yelled.
"Honey, calm down she’s just a child," Marie said.
"Yes, daddy I’ll talk to the sister," Jolene said.
"You should be thankful to your mother and sister….. if not for them, I’d have abandoned you by now," Father yelled.
"Mother? I don’t remember having one, and as for my father……I don’t even believe I have any." I said and walked down to the basement where I’ve lived all my childhood and youth.
I started cleaning the basement and arranging my stuff when the two witches from the Eastside entered.
"Seems, you know your place in this mansion," said Marie.
"Of course I do, unlike others who only know their place is in another man’s bedroom," I answered with a smile as if nothing happened.
"You slut! why are you back?" Jolene yelled.
"To see if I can move around like your mother…. Looking for married men to snatch." I said. I could see them burning up in anger, I was winning their little game.
"Gem….don’t anger me or else you want to see your dead mother," said Marie.
"Of course, I’d see her. But as for you two? hahaha…..you big daddy Mr. devil is waiting for you……" Marie got too angry as she raised her hand and slapped me.
"I promise you….you will not live long….just like your mother…." She said.
"Let’s see who gets to meet big daddy first," Jolene said and danced after her mother. I gnashed my teeth in anger.
"Oh and by the way…..I hope you haven’t forgotten what I said when we were 16? I promised that I’d take everything away from you…. EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AND CHERISH." Jolene said.
I picked up my phone and saw my company calling me. I cleared my throat.
"Hello?"
"Miss Gem?"
"On the line."
"Yes…. We’ll be expecting you tomorrow….your manager has been selected and auditions are already lined up for you…. Please be here very early tomorrow."
"I will, thanks."
I sighed……Let’s see how tomorrow goes.
Jolene stole the spotlight in a press conference.
"Aww…..she’s a goddess " The girls praised. Every man wished to be with her, while every woman dreamt of being her.
The press would soon begin.
"Wow, goddess Jolene….you’re really sparkling today…." The lady who was interviewing her said.
"Aww….stop it I'm blushing," Jolene said.
Both ladies laughed.
"There are rumours that you’ll be acting as the female lead in a new movie ‘Rate My Heart RMH’?"
"Oh yes…..and auditioning is already out….. we’ll be working with other acting industries this time." Jolene said.
"Speaking of industries….has our goddess ever dreamt of entering the IM Industry?" She asked.
Jolene smiled brightly and sigh "It’s every actress and actor's dream to be there. I know that one day I won’t only get there, I’ll be there." Jolene was so confident.
"I heard rumours that the President of IM is very handsome and charming but keeps a low profile!"
"I’ve heard that too," Jolene said.
"Have you ever imagined marrying the king of entertainment, that is the President of IM, and becoming entertainment's first lady?" She asked. Jolene was a donkey who danced happily when a shining carrot is thrown at it.
"I don’t know…..I can’t make decisions now…..who knows if my future husband is watching this show….." she jokingly said and everyone laughed.
"Back to business….how is your next movie RMH going to be?"
"Well….I'm gonna put all my effort to be the best….let’s just wait till the movie is out….. you’ll gonna love it." She said, winked, and smiled.
"Thank you, goddess Jolene….."
I was seating with my new manager and our industry President.
"I want you in that movie….., try and get the spot of being Jolene's elder sister in the movie. I’ve heard of your acting grades back in the States, I hope you can do well" Mr Festus said.
"But sir….that role is a little too hard…. Remember it’s just her first movie….."
"Manager Ruth…..I’ll do it…..no…. in fact, I can do it…..let me see the script reading……", she looked at me in surprise and gave me the script "Show me the hardest scene," I said and she showed me. It’s when the elder sister who was a psycho has acted hurt, happy, plain, and filled at the same time. "Ha…..piece of cake…..let’s go," I said.
"Go where?" Ruth asked.
"To the auditioning, we don’t want to miss it," I said.
"But you’ve not practised" she protested.
"Don’t worry…..I'm already loaded….let’s go…we don’t have much time." I said and she looked at Mr Festus who only smiled and nodded.
After our little makeup and outfit session, we arrived at the auditioning.
We were a bit late but we were able to still cover up due to Ruth's smart move.
All eyes were on me. Eyes that were saying who is she? why’s she here? what’s with her dressing?.
I didn’t mind them, I just took my seat and closed my eyes relaxing, waiting for my name to be called. Ruth was not happy with my behaviour, I was too relaxed and calm while she was shaking all over, getting nervous on my behalf.
"Miss G, are you sure about this?" She asked I didn’t answer. Well, that’s because I’ve fallen asleep. "Oh God…..help me please…let the ground just swallow me up.
"Number 34." They called and Ruth woke me up. My eyes were red and I looked tired.
"Am I up next?" I asked as I yawned and she nodded.
We both went in.
"Number 34 Miss Gem….from VYV industry……you’re the one taking the role of Tartan? He asked but I gave him a deadly glance. I later smiled and nodded cutely.
"Ok, what part are you taking today in the script?"
"The hardest of it all," I said and they burst into laughter.
"Young woman, don’t waste our time here," The female judge said.
"No….you’re the one wasting my time …..I'm ready whenever you are!" I said.
"Ok, act 356……scene 14….. action."
The sweet smile on my face was wiped away as my face turned blank and dark instantly.
I bit my lower lip and smirked.
"I'm not crazy…..I'm not insane" I said calmly no one knew what I was thinking. Suddenly my eyes turned red……very red as tears gathered up in my eyes that refused to drop.
I crushed my little gown in my hands
"She….he…." I said slowly but later yelled "GONE!" the judge shivered. "Gone! they left me…..me…..me…..I'm not….crazy…..they….left me…..pains….I feel in here" I touched my heart as the cute smile appeared on my face again. The smile mixed with my red and teary eyes made my emotions unreadable…….I danced around like a kid but soon stopped, turned my back to the judges, and said.
"Gone….." And the tears finally dropped. Finished, I wiped my face and smiled again.
"That’s it," I said and the judges were in shock.
"Why did you stop?"
"I want to see more of your acting."
"Fabulous….. splendid….. you got the role……" They all praised me with a round of applause.
I thanked them and left.
Ruth kept on looking at me.
"What?" I asked.
"You are….. AWESOME." She said raising her thumbs. And I smiled.
"Let’s go celebrate… let’s go get a drink," I said. We entered a bar.
After drinking and drinking…. Forgetting that I was a slave of alcohol…….each time I drank…..I became a princess searching for a prince….due to alcohol….I hugged any handsome guy I saw and held him tight until I fell asleep before I let go…… because I was too excited tonight, I forgot.
They were hosting a mask party in the bar…..only a few of us were unmasked.
"Miss Gem….slow down….you’ll get drunk," Ruth warned me but it was too late…with just one glass I was going into the pool of alcohol but today I had taken like 5 before she stopped me. I told her all my childhood stories….Ruth was touched and even cried.
"Ah….don’t cry…Sister Ruru ……I'm strong n..now…I….ii…fight…them ….with…..bottle… hehe."
"Don’t worry Gem that Jolene devil will never take me away from you." She said crying.
"That’s what they ... all said ….b…but….all my friends ran to her and became her friends…..boring Bozo’s, Ruru…. Manager Ruru….Ruru."
"It’s Ruth…..Gem." She said now smiling.
"Shhh…….who's that handsome man over there?" I asked. Before Ruth could look, I stood up and went to sit on his lap.
Leon who was bored with the party, his friends forced him to come and was surprised when something warm sat on his lap and wrapped its hands around his neck.
"Mmmmmm ma prince…..I’ve missed you…."
"Miss……oh no…." Ruth ran to them. "I'm sorry…..I'm so sorry…..she’s….just drunk…. G let go…let’s go home hmm."
"Nah, Nah, Nah…..I'm not leaving ma prince again….. I’ve found him." She hooked her hands tighter on his neck. Leon saw his friends laughing and mocking him.
"Miss, let me pull her away no problem." His deep voice and aura brought a shiver to Ruth. ‘This was no ordinary person she thought.
Leon tried to pull her away but the more he tried the more the little-bodied girl hugged him tighter, never wanting to let go. If he used more force he’d surely pull her away but he might hurt her. He hated hurting women, especially girls.
"Miss…..miss…..wake up…. You’ve got the wrong person." He tried to wake her up but the girl started crying.
"It’s all your fault for leaving me first. Now they blame it all on me…..how can I let you go……ma prince please don’t hate me too….don’t hate me too please… please….. don’t hate me!" She burst into a loud cry. Screaming, don't hate me don’t live me please…….. making Leon embarrassed as the cry drew attention to him.
The old waiter walked up to him.
"Sir, console you girl or do something, don’t just leave her crying…..I can see she really loves you." He said.
"She’s not my girlfriend…..I don’t even know her." Leon yelled in anger as his friends laughed even more.
"Please do something about her, she's distracting the party," the man said.
Leon tried to pull her away with strength…..this time he didn’t care if he hurt her….she was annoying.
"Get off me….." He said and pulled her away. But the girl yelled again.
"Prince….. you’re mean….. aaahhh ……. aaahhh….. you’re not as good as my book says ….. you won’t hug me…. aaahhh." she started screaming, pointing at Leon who had no choice but to play along.
"Ok, princess….. I'm sorry….come here." He said with a small smile and the drunk girl ran to his embrace again. Sitting on his lap on hugging his neck. Leon started rubbing her back, calming her down.
"It’s okay I'm here." He said. His friends laughed and laughed while Ruth kept on apologizing on Gem’s behalf.
She soon fell asleep and Leon carried her to Ruth's car.
"Sir, please give me your address or information…so we can apologize to you properly"
"Never mind…just don’t appear in front of me again…. Goodnight." he left in anger.
"Phew…..Gem let’s go home now…. Alcohol addict." Ruth said and drove home.
.
.
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......
IN SEARCH OF A BODYGUARD I woke up the next morning feeling sore all over. I held my head because it felt like it would soon fall off. "Awwwww.." I cried, rubbing my temple. "Having a hangover? Here take this." Ruth said, handing me some drugs. "Get it out of my face. I don’t take drugs…. I’ll be fine. Where am I?." I asked lying down again. "My house….you were too drunk last night, you even put an innocent guy in trouble.." "What!?..... did I…..." just then I heard a voice in my head "prince, don’t leave me…. Prince, you’re mean." ‘Wait, wait, wait, whose voice is that? it sounds like mine, and…. ‘ I finally remembered as I jumped off the bed and landed on the floor holding my head. "I'm dead….oh no Gem you’ve done another thing." I cried rubbing my legs on the floor like a little child. "It’s okay, thank God, he was a gentleman," Ruth said. "We have to find him….let me apologize," I said. "He doesn’t seem like he wants to meet you again….I told him we’ll like to apologize
******* After walking out of the bar, I was still in a daze. "It’s you?" Leon said. "Do….do you know me?" I asked. "Oh ..it’s the guy from yesterday!" Ruth whispered to me. "Let’s go, Kelvin," Leon said walking away in haste. "No, wait please…." I ran in front of him blocking his way. "Move….." He said. "No, please….. I…. I need your help." I said. "Sorry, I don’t have any help to render." He said coldly about to walk away again but I grabbed his arms. "I’ll pay you any amount…. all you have to do is…is to be my BODYGUARD!" I said. "What?!" Kelvin yelled. "I….I’m the true heiress of the J corp. industry….and my stepmom is trying to kill me. Please……" I said but he didn’t spare me another glance as he pushed my arms away and left in a taxi. The other guy looked at me and could only smile and walk away. ********************** Leon got home and took off his clothes and entered the shower. He was done bathing when Kelvin came in. "Dude…..what do you think about it?"
****Body….what? I was confused. "Miss Gem….sorry I'm late…did anyone bully you?" He asked. Everyone was shocked….how could a handsome man who was fit to be a model or an idol be standing here as a bodyguard. "Uhmm…. uhmm…. I… uh." I didn’t know what to say….I mean a bodyguard came out of nowhere. "Let’s go, Miss." He said and dragged me with him. He pushed me in a flashy car and drove a few distances before he stopped and handed me a file. "Sign it….and I’ll officially be your bodyguard." He said, "Sign it before I change my mind." Without thinking I signed the file. He collected it. "So my salary is 40 thousand ..." "What!" I yelled, "That’s too expensive Mr, that’s like almost my salary." "Well, you’ve already signed the file…. so it’s too late to complain. My stuff is in my car so…" "Your car…..you mean this baby is your?" I asked and he nodded proudly. "Wow... my bodyguard is quite richer than me," I said in jealousy. "So as I was saying…..I’d be moving in with you.
*****I was so angry. I didn’t know why but I just was. My heart felt sore to see Leon talking to my family. "Kitten?..." he called and I stopped in my tracks. And stubbed my feet in anger. "Don’t call me that!" "You look even cute when you are angry….." He said. "Don’t call me cute, I'm your boss, you work for me…. and… and…. I’ll tell you what to do…. you must not talk to anyone except me ….." I yelled. "Wow…. wow… came down kitten… I was just being polite to your family." "They are not my family," I yelled, I didn’t know even know I was crying until his hands caressed my cheeks wiping my tears "Don’t cry kitten…. I'm here for you…. don’t be sad… I'm here to protect you…. I won’t talk to them anymore if you don’t want to…" He said with a soft voice. "I'm sorry, ex… excuse me…" I was so embarrassed…. why should I cry in front of him. I knew I had never been this close to the opposite sex. I guessed that was why my body is behaving like this.********* Leon went to his roo
Kelvin ran over to Leon’s house."Bro…what’s up?" he asked."She’s upstairs," he answered."you brought her home…. dude, are you insane….what if she finds out your identity?" Kelv said."She won’t….she’s too naïve and easy to fool….she will surely believe whatever I say," Leon said."So, what do you plan to do with her?" Kelv asked."She seems special…I don’t know but there is something unique about her….her aura is strong." He said."I don’t get you?" Kelvin cut in."The IV kept an orphan in their care…don’t you think it’s suspicious?" Leon said."So, what is your plan?" Kelv asked again"I'm going to find her identity and use her," Leon said with a smirk."Ooh…. so you still want to flirt with her…..what about Rosemary? (Leon’s fiancée)" Kelvin asked.But Leon’s face darkened with hearing her name."what about her?""Well… she….""I don’t want to hear….I’ll go check up on the kitten," Leon said about to go."Kitten?.... you gave her a pet name already? Bro do you like this girl?" Ke
*****Jolene was already on the set with her people."Oh, goddess Jolene, you are so beautiful…." The makeup artist teased."Aww… stop teasing me…" Jolene smiled, one of her worshippers came to whisper something in her ears."Hmmm…. looks like the little mosquito decided to show up…." Jolene's face darkened."She brought her bodyguard too." the girl said."Who said he’ll be her bodyguard for long? he’ll be by my side soon…." She said.Leon was in a light t-shirt…. his muscles were showing….. he was hot….just too hot…I felt my eyes burning with desire.Leon saw how the little girl was busy eyeing his body. He smiled as her fair face began to blush."Kitten, your eyes are burning my body!" he said but Gem was far in her imaginary world. She didn’t hear Leon talking. "Hey….hey….A gem!" she finally snapped back to reality."Hmm….!" I said."You’re drooling!" he said pointing at my mouth. I quickly wiped my mouth but there was nothing there."Hey…. there is nothing….."I yelled. Leon laughe
******The man pushed me down."What do you want?" I said. But the man smiled….I was scared to death. That was not good. I tried to stand up but he dragged my legs back and pulled me to himself."Let me go….. help…….. help …… please…… somebody…… help me." I cried but he slapped me and punched my stomach….I cried in pain."Stupid girl," he whispered."Please…… please, don’t hurt me…… please, I didn’t do anything wrong…… I swear…… please sir……" I cried as I dragged my painful body to the floor trying to get away from him."Shut up….." He said and grabbed me…. his rough hands hurt my skin as I struggled to break free."Let me go….. let me go….." I yelled. But he put a dirty rag on my nose and mouth as I dozed off. I felt him carry me on his shoulders…… I felt helpless….. no one would come for me……maybe this was my end.Leon called his assistant."Release my special force and find the girl, I have sent you her pictures." He said."But sir, we can’t…….""Just do as I say and make sure you
*******Kelvin watched Leon showing affection to Gem."Leon, let’s talk." He said and Leon nodded. He kissed her forehead again and whispered to her."I’ll be back."Leon walked up to Kelvin."Bro, what's that, just now?" He asked looking angry."What’s what?" Leon asked looking confused."I asked you before… do you love her?" He asked."And I told you I don’t….. I only pity her!" Leon said."Pity her by kissing her?" He asked."……" Leon was speechless."What about Rosemary?" Kelvin asked. "She’s still your fiancée……" Leon's face darkened and he didn’t speak. "Look, Leon, even though you’re my friend I won’t stand for it if you date another girl.""Kelvin….. watch your mouth…..as far as I know I don’t have a fiancée…… she left me two years ago…. and I'm sick and tired of waiting for her….. as for Gem and I ….. stay out of our issue." He said and Kelvin shivered in fear. Leon went back to Gem's room. He watched Gem….her small figure was hidden under the thick bed sheet. She was so cute