I was trying to be subtle with my very obvious glances.
He looks at me and then looks away.
I held myself back with all my power by gripping the simple straight-backed chair tightly. This man dared to order coffee in my favorite shop and pretend as if nothing had happened! Does he dare to click selfies with all his fans making innocent faces?! I don't think I can hold myself back, with every moment that he was standing in front of me, he made me feel the urge to walk up to him and slap him.
He is my rival, trying to pull me off my pedestal and I will not let that happen. His eyes, the more that I stare at them, the more familiar that they seem. Maybe because of how many pictures of him I've seen online cause all that half the media channels do is gush about him and his ugly face. At this point, I realize that my roasts sound like I'm five and that I am being very irrational but I don't care, he brings out this side of me.
Blaze's pov:
The weather outside is chilly. As soon as I enter the warm cafe, I notice that a young lady has occupied my usual seat, she looks familiar. Her long black hair that runs down her back till her waist, her plump red lips that touch the rim of the glass every time she sips water leave a mark on it, and her emerald eyes that are brought out by her white attire all seem remarkably familiar. I then take a few steps toward her but almost immediately, hold myself back. That's NYX!
The war between us was surely on a professional front but she had made it personal. I respected her as an artist and humanitarian but with how she has been a hindrance in my path, I detest her and her undesirable presence. Even the air around her makes me suffocate. I should leave before I do something which I will regret, I don't want to be the cause of a scandal. I take a few selfies with my fans. I try my best to pose like I'm delighted. Then, I leave the cafe. My favorite cafe.
Cynthia's pov:
I see him storm out of the place as though he had been fired on the first day of his job. Well, good for me. I can eat in peace. I finish up and pay with my black card. We've invested here and in exchange, we get free food and drinks. I get a text from Ivy, asking me to visit Alexandra. So, I drive up to my vocal coach, Alexandra. Alex for short. Their house is ravishing and spacious with a lush green garden decorating the tiled entrance. I greet them with a hug, and we smile at each other pleasantly. I tell them about my encounter with Blaze. After that, I said, "I think his parents should've named him ice, cause, his eyes contradict his name, but they speak the most."
I think about using those lines as inspiration for my next song. Alex then said, "Look, I'm not here to pick sides, but there's one thing that I want to tell you. Blaze is a very nice man and I'm saying this from personal experience, I do not believe that he would do something out of order until and unless he has some serious reasons, and trust me when I say that beating you on the way to the top cannot be one of them because he has had three years to do so, why would he turn against you now? Why conspire now when he could've done it ages ago?" They had a point. I asked them to elaborate on their personal experience.
They said, "It was a year ago that I met your brother to discuss and sign the contract to become your vocal coach for five years. Not to brag, but both the Shaw's and the Rinaldi's knew that I was the best at the time, I mean come on, I had twenty years of experience and unique teaching skills. Blaze's father, Keith Shaw was determined on hiring me just to sabotage your career, however, Blaze stepped in to help you. He understood the need for you to have a good vocal coach, and his intention has never been set on being at the top, he is just passionate about music as well as performing. The media sure does portray him as ruthless when it comes to competing, but it is far from the reality."
I mean, they were not wrong from their point of view. I've met Blaze two times in my life, and although the first one told me that he was a nice man, the other one proved to be the opposite. Rick is exceptionally good at reading people because he runs background checks, and his gut feelings are on point. Since he is a computer whizz and a Rinaldi, I trust him with all that I have. So, when he told me that Shaw was a nice man, I always believed him, until Blaze ended up disappointing me.
I stray from that conversation, and we continue with the vocal sessions. After three hours of demanding work, I walk out proud of them and myself. I see my driver waiting for me at the end of the road, I get into my car, and while thinking about Rick and checking my phone, I text Ivy.
C: I'm on the road, where to next?
I: You're off to meet the new band members, make sure you make them feel motivated, tonight is their big competition.
C: Sure, I'll try my best.
I: Everything okay?
C: I mean, it's not every day that my brother is on bed rest after getting shot.
I: I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to say that.
C: No, it's okay. I'm sorry that sounded rude. I was just thinking about him right now and those were the words that came to my mind. Besides, we've got to pretend as if nothing has happened anyway.
(2 minutes later)
I: Yeah…that.
(4 minutes later)
C: Bye
I: Take care, bye
It is good that I have a busy schedule to keep myself occupied, it helps me to quit moping around and actually focus on becoming successful. I did not mean to say that on text, but once you hit send, there is no going back. I was excited to meet the band and I wish I could give them some feedback from yesterday's performance, but I had not paid any attention, so I guess I've got to wing it. The driver said with a smile, "We're here, have a nice day!"
They were always forced to act happy or like emotionless bots and I didn't like that, but I kept to myself because I was in no mood to stir up a conversation with him right now. I said, "You too!" And left. I went inside a place that looked like an abandoned shed. I saw the girls under the spotlight, tuning their guitars, fixing their fingers on the pianos, and setting their grip on the mics. They looked adorable. They started performing. I took my time to observe each one of them. Probably, fifteen to seventeen years old with a million dreams each set in their minds.
All four of them were very good and in sync, their harmonies sounded beautiful. This, oddly, reminded me of my dream, the one in which Bee was present. Each one with a unique voice but united moves, just as I liked. Four girls were performing and mid-way through the song, the fifth one enters with a rap verse. I gasped lightly but had to put on a poker face as I realized that she was Bee. Brianna? What are you doing here?
I wanted to question her, but my lips were shut tightly. I could only focus on her, I couldn't hear her rap, and I couldn't see anyone else perform. I was in shock. No wonder why I got the feeling that I had heard one of their voices during yesterday's concert. We keep crossing each other's paths, there is a reason as to why this is happening and I need to know. I got a grip on myself and tried to enjoy the performance, but I felt restless, I wanted to talk to Brianna.
This explains my dream. My subconscious mind probably noticed her being there at the concert last evening. This is getting easier to cope with. All the girls pull out their final charms and I clap. I ask them to form a circle around me as I seat myself on the stage. I say with a firm tone, "It is never easy to decode the minds of the audience or the media but when you are true to yourself and give your all in your performances, trust me, you will flourish. This industry is not easy to cope with, but if you've got a fire in your heart and can turn up the heat on the floor, you will make it. I'm not saying this cause of what I've heard from someone else but rather from my own experience. All of you have it in you, I see that you have the chemistry and the moves, so I'm putting my confidence in you. Do your best and don't worry if you fall, 'cause there's always light at the end of the tunnel, however long the tunnel runs." In my head, I pat myself on the back. The girls are moved by my words and they thank me as they leave.
I say, "Brianna." All the girls turn back except her, I continue, "Stay back, we've got to work on your performance." She stands still while the other girls walk away from her. Her back still facing me. I wait until the four girls walk out the door and then, I lock it. I ask the stage men and women to leave as well. I walk in front of her and raise my eyebrow at her while she stares at me.
I ask her to sit with me for a while, and she does so with no tantrums. I tell her, "I don't know why you think I'm putting on a nice face, but believe me when I say, I don't have any reason to put on a nice face. I mean if you think about it, I can be mean to my fans and have my team clean up my mess by hiding it but I don't do that now do I?"
After saying that, I realize that it isn't the best thing to say while trying to convince someone that you're on their side, but I couldn't swallow my words back from the air, so I let that go. She sighed. I asked her my first question, "Why did you tell me that you didn't like performing when that is literally what you are doing?" She ignored me. Next, I asked her why she thought I was putting on an innocent face, but she ignored that as well. Then, I asked her how she knew that I would be starring in a movie. Finally, I asked, "Are you in any kind of trouble? Do you need my help? If yes, then raise your hand, if no, then leave the room right now."
She raised her hand, then, stood up to walk out of the room. I stopped her, then, she screamed, "Look, you were always my favorite idol while growing up. I used to admire you until I joined this agency, which comes under your team. I am training to become an idol but your team pressurizes us so much because of your constant orders that it is slowly killing us, mentally as well as physically. We train twelve hours a day, that is fine but we are forced to starve ourselves, we are sexualized by the directors and are constantly criticized, destructively. Despite all this, we are threatened to keep our mouths shut. So, please, don't try to act like you have done nothing." I am sorry, what did she just say? Our agency was set up so as to bring awareness about body positivity and mental health to the youth. I am truly disgusted with all that I have heard.
Her tear-filled eyes were enough for me to stop my interrogation. She sat there in absolute silence. The silence was deafening. I cracked my knuckles, and it echoed around the room. I said, "I am sorry for all that has happened so far, but I assure you that I had no hand in it and that it will be put to rest immediately. Know that if you need help with anything else, I'm here for you. Remember that there's always light at the end of the tunnel and that the power to determine the length of the tunnel lies in our hands. And today, by telling me all this, you have saved thousands of lives, so, thank you."
She says calmly, "I don't know if I can trust you, but I will let you know that I still have some faith in you." I give her a feeble smile and turn away from her. I walk out of the ghostly place and sit in the car.
I text Hans and let him in on all that I had heard from Bee. I ask him to investigate and find proof to present it in court. I surely hope that my father and my brother are not involved in this, cause if they are, they will be going to jail and I shall not show them any mercy.
This might hurt our company's reputation, but I don't think I care enough about it to sacrifice the lives of thousands. I don't know what to think or say anymore. All of this happened under my nose and I couldn't figure it out.
I never paid attention to our agency, I only set the core values and hoped that the rest would function as defined, but turns out that I was wrong. Ivy texts me about my next meeting, which is to discuss the script for an upcoming movie that I'm starring in. I want to skip, but I can't let my emotions get the best of me.
So, I show up. With a smile. Be it fake or real, it gets the work done and that's what matters, in father Rinaldi's words. I read the script. The plot is college life oriented including two people belonging to different niches who are set to fall in love, from enemies to lovers. There are a lot of misunderstandings on the way, but they solve them and get together in the end. Cliché huh? Yeah. But do I love it? Absolutely!
The more that I read the script, the more that I realize that the female lead and I are polar opposites, this part will be truly challenging to play but that is exactly what I am here for. So, I sign the contract and seal plenty of millions. My dad would be proud, but my mom would not. She does not care about money, only passion, and hard work.
I called them and let them know about it, I'd rather they hear about it from me than my manager. Their reactions are as expected. The director of the movie was in a dilemma about whether to cast me or Cara Elixir for the role, but after our auditions and fame analysis, I was chosen. Not going to lie, I was not sure if I would land the role but I gave my all in my second audition, despite the first being terrible and I think that has let him put his confidence in me. I will not let him down.
Outside the well-built globulous building, I call Hans.
H: Cynthia, I have dug up just enough to ensure that your company stays intact and such that the ill-doers are punished as well.
C: Well, who is it?
H: I will let you know soon enough.
C: I need to know, ASAP.
H: You've got to wait.
C: Fine, whatever, but you better hand the information over tomorrow and keep this a top secret.
H: Our deals are always listed off that way, so, I obviously know that.
C: Not even father should find out this time, be more subtle.
H: I always am.
C: Sure, you are. Now, meet me tomorrow morning and let me know how we can put an end to this.
H: I will.
He cuts the call. He has been this way ever since he returned, but it does not bother me. More like I don't have enough time to be bothered. I am glad that we have enough information to stop these things from happening, but we must be careful so that we don't end up hurting any of the trainees. I hope Hans is able to dig up the case and reach its root at the earliest. I want to show up to the training sessions and monitor them, but the stage members have seen me with Bee today and it will be suspicious if I start showing up suddenly the day after that especially after skipping for two whole years.
I am only two miles away from home, so I switch to my jogging attire in the car when the driver steps out and let him know that I'll jog my way home. I needed this jog. I pick up the pace with my jog and now, I'm running. I am in no position to stop until I reach home.
The well-placed footpath adds to my smooth running experience alongside my air-cushioned boots. The streetlights turn on one by one as I cross them. I plug my earphones into my phone and listen to a tune from my playlist. Then, his song starts playing. Blaze Shaw. I didn't want to skip the songs, I told myself that I was too lazy. The tacky chorus grabs my attention.
'Sweet dreams that keep me awake,
Happy moments that let me live.
You and I are meant to be,
Oh, meant to be.'