The meeting soon drew to an end and the esteemed guests were escorted out by Mr Austin. Deloise didn't move, she hoped to leave when the room was at least halfway emptied out. She felt lucky to be ignored the whole time by Ms Ema after the lashing she received.
This experience wasn't the prettiest for her but it sobered her to the fact that she needed to take her job and life more seriously if she was going to last. It was a rude awakening - the fact that she could be dropped at the slightest misconduct.
She had to be extremely careful and conscious of slip ups because this was the last chance at her dreams and life. She didn't have anything else. She couldn't fail at this.
While pondering these thoughts, Deloise didn't notice Stella approach her. She jolted in surprise when she heard the sharp voice of Stella.
" What? Aren't you leaving?" She asked with a smile which Deloise detected as faux and mocking.
When she didn't reply, Stella tutted and with graceful steps encircled her while she spoke.
" Don't be too worried. You actually look good in those.. What's it called? Maternity gowns?" Stella sported an unsure look, perfectly acting like she meant no harm, acting was natural to her.
" Regardless of what it is, it definitely suits you so you shouldn't feel too conscious. You're the lead female after all."
Deloise didn't say a word. She didn't even spare a glance at Stella who threw innocent and perfectly hidden jabs at her person, competence and general outlook.
The worst part was the fact that some people were still hanging around, waiting for who she believed to be the director as he was out for sometime.
She was also waiting for Mr Austin. Deloise thought it right to apologize for the tardiness and embarrassment she caused the academy and production.
With the words of Ms Ema, she came to realize that her role was very important and needed to be handled with true discipline. She couldn't afford people thinking she wasn't serious or cut out for the job.
After waiting for over thirty minutes, Deloise figured the director wasn't planning on returning anytime soon and left the building.
She headed back to her home, making mental notes on all that was discussed in the meeting and preparing to read, and if possible, act out her designated role in preparation.
Immediately Deloise entered her home, she headed straight for a much needed bath. She remembered the merciless insults that were thrown at her earlier and scrubbed with more intensity.
She wished the first few hours of the day didn't happen, but no such luck. She lived it and it's constant reminder wasn't leaving anytime soon.
Deloise was fresh and clean when she jumped on her bed with the script for the film she played the leading female.
The story followed a woman who had her only child poisoned and killed by her husband's Mistress. It told the tale of a scorned woman who made it a goal to take vengeance upon all her adversaries while simultaneously winning the love of her husband.
Deloise was more than excited to play the part, and as she read her character's script; the fears, desires and arc of her character grew in her heart.
She was determined to portray every single trait, conflict and perk of her character. She couldn't wait to get on set and the more she went through her lines, the more she looked forward to the challenging parts of it.
The only downside of the deal was the fact that she had to play marriage with the jerk. There were some steamy scenes involved as the story followed an enemies to lovers trope.
Deloise was a lover of fairy tales, but deep within, she didn't believe in it. She believed that happily ever afters didn't exist in real life but was ecstatic to partake in creating some feel good fictional movies where it was preached.
The satisfying part of the book was that her character was to transform into a strong woman from the weak and defeated person she used to be. It was like the death of her son killed something yet resurrected something in her.
The storyline gave her the feel of the rise of a phoenix. No doubt - Ema Bennett was one hell of a storyteller!
She was woman enough to tell the truth despite how she felt about her.
While basking in her fictional realm, Deloise's phone suddenly rang, jolting her away from her reading. Her interest was piqued when she found out it was an unknown number.
Deloise hesitated for a moment before swiping the answer button and placed the phone on her ears, waiting for the caller's introduction.
"Come to the administrative building now!" A thick male voice said without context.
" Sorry, who is this? "
Her question was met with a beep sound, signaling the end of the call. Deloise didn't know what to think and wondered if someone was trying to play a joke on her. She returned the call a few more times but was directed to voicemail.
Having had enough, Deloise continued her reading. She figured that if it was important, then the call would be returned.
Soon enough, Deloise was passed out on her bed, script in hand, while she slept soundly. She had managed to cover a tangible amount of the script and decided to take a much needed nap.
Meanwhile, In the office of the director, the cast of the production was gathered and waiting for the arrival of Deloise. This time around, Aaron was on seat with the rest of the crew and cast members, including Mr Austin while they awaited the female lead for yet another time in one day.
Mr Austin was growing agitated at the tardiness and made it a point to ask Aaron if he actually called her as earlier instructed.
With every single affirmation, his countenance grew poorer.
The entire room was filled with murmurs on just how irresponsible she was being and notions to drop her were gaining momentum. The only thing this did was fuel the anger of Mr Austin, who was struggling to keep it in.
She had somehow managed to arrive late for two meetings, without explanation or reasonable context. Mr Austin was a firm believer that talent without discipline was a recipe for disaster.
They were yet to begin filming and she was already acting in such an uncouth manner! Maybe Ms. Ema wasn't wrong after all. There were many serious individuals ready to take on the job and he wasn't about to settle for anything less than perfection.
That was the criteria for Royal Arts. The academy wouldn't have attained such a great level of mastery if they allowed such incompetence amongst their candidates.
Deloise wasn't going to be an exception.
" Give me a moment." Mr Austin requested from the guests, picked up his phone and walked out of the office with a mysterious look etched upon his face.
On getting outside, he took two steps from his office door and quickly drafted a message which he forwarded to Deloise.
Without a moment's thought, he proceeded back inside the office and addressed the people.
" Let's begin." He said and the meeting ensued.
*****
Two hours later, Deloise stirred from her sleep. She felt nourished from the nap and immediately sat up to check if her roommate was in the room.
These days, it felt like they barely had time to connect. They both had different schedules and lifestyles which made it hard to find ample time to know themselves better.
After verifying that she was alone, she picked up the script on her bed with the intention to put it away when her phone came into view.
She dropped the script and picked it up wanting to check if the strange number had finally returned the call, only to be met with the shock of her life.
It was a message from the director. She didn't have his number saved but it wasn't hard to tell when the same email which saw her through her transfer process sent a message which read:
" If you are no longer interested in the role, Kindly turn in the script. But if you don't, make sure you are here before the meeting elapses. Mr Austin, director - Royal Arts Academy. "
The email oozed the threat behind the words and immediately, everything began to add up. The call to meet at the administration building -which also is a host to the director's office- the cast members staying around, and now, the message that nearly made her cough up blood.
She checked the time she received the email and upon seeing the two hours ago mark, one thing was certain.
She was fucked.
Deloise jumped off her bed like a deranged woman, had a change of clothes, threw her hair in a messy bun and ran out of the dorm like her life depended on it.
It actually did.
For the second time today, Deloise arrived at the office building out of breath and in a frenzy. On getting to the door of the office, it was suddenly pulled open and people trooped out of the office, signaling the end of the meeting.
As the crew and cast members walked by her, some gave her the stink eye while some went as far as making faces and throwing some poorly minced words about how she was unfit and irresponsible.
To each and every jab, Deloise took with good faith, praying she didn't get cut out by the director. She was a tad bit later than he had instructed and her heart was erratic at the thought of what the repercussions might be.
Soon enough, the office emptied and she was finally able to get in. On seeing the look on the director's face at her arrival, she immediately got on her knees to plead her case.
" I'm so sorry sir, I didn't mean to arrive late. I had no idea there was a meeting and when the message was sent I was asleep. I really want to do this. Please, forgive me just this once."
Deloise hands were clasped together and shaking in fear of her world being destroyed. She couldn't afford to be dropped. She worked way too hard to get here.
" One time you said? You didn't receive a call asking you to come over here?" Mr Austin inquired with an eerie calmness.
Aaron sat by the corner, watching it all unfold.
" I received a call to come to the–"
" Oh so you did. And yet you choose to ignore the invitation, because?" He interrupted her, his countenance growing poorer as he interrogated her.
" I didn't realize. I'm sorry. Please don't cut me off. I promise to be better. Please sir."
" Leave."
" Please sir, it was a mistake! One that would never repeat itself, please give me one more chance." Deloise was close to tears. She saw her life flash before her eyes. She couldn't believe this was happening.
" Not you. Aaron." Mr Austin corrected, revealing the fact that Aaron was in the room. Immediately he stepped out, and the director began.
" I don't know what happened today, Ms Tanner. But I sure as hell wouldn't stand for such irresponsible acts onwards! You are the lead of this production and I expect a certain amount of discipline and commitment from you; and so help me God if I don't see it in no distant time, you'll be out of this gig. Do you understand? " He asked with fire in his eyes to a stupefied Deloise who only nodded her head in affirmation, unable to speak.
" Good. Now get out. " He barked, residual anger still brewing within.
Deloise scrambled on her feet with tears in her eyes. This was the first time she was being spoken to in such a manner by the ever supportive Mr Austin.
By the time she was out the door, the floodgates opened and irresistible tears poured from her eyes, heart and soul.
*****
Aaron was in the male restroom of the building. After being rudely asked out by Mr Austin, he figured he might as well relieve himself before leaving the building.
On getting out to the hallways, he witnessed Deloise rush out of the office and after a few steps, plopped shakily on the floor with her head bowed.
" Was she…crying?"
Aaron thought, unsure of what was going on. He carefully took steps forward, not knowing how to approach the situation. As he got closer, her sobs got louder and the fact she was crying became glaring.
He knew that Mr Austin was pretty angry at the situation and the fact she was a no-show. But he felt it couldn't have been that bad.
Knowing Mr Austin, it was going to be a warning at most. It wasn't something he expected his firecracker to be bawling her eyes over.
Aaron stood in a standoffish stance before Deloise. A part of him wanted to move on with his business like he didn't care but something within him hindered his movement. He couldn't stand seeing her look so destroyed over something that was probably nothing.
If there was one thing he hated, it was crying girls. He believed that women in general were a nuisance but a crying woman took it to another level.
He tended to avoid situations where women were involved, more less when the woman in question was bawling her heart out. The fact that he wasn't running the other way was something he couldn't explain.
" Hey… are you alright? " He managed to speak before he convinced himself otherwise. For the first time in a long time, he was making an attempt to talk to a woman of his own accord.
Deloise's face was reddened. Her face was a sight for sore eyes and she had snot all over. Safe to say she wasn't the prettiest at the moment.
Despite her blocked nose, the beautiful and alluring scent of cinnamon and fresh wood filled her senses as footsteps approached where she sat on the floor, cradling herself.
" Are you alright? It couldn't have been that bad."
Deloise was brought to her senses at the intrusion of the voice. A male voice which she found oddly familiar. She let her eyes seek out the owner of the voice and in no time, she was looking at the brown orbs of Aaron.
Upon seeing her face, it took a shitload of willpower on Aaron's side not to burst out with laughter. Not the mocking kind of laughter but a truly genuine one.
Looking down at the firecracker, all he could see was a little child. One who was making a fuss in order to gain the attention of others around. The fire she once exuded was gone; like it was never there to begin with!
Unknown to him, his stoic facade was cracked and his hidden smile wasn't so hidden anymore. Something Deloise was quick to pick up.
" What's funny?" She asked with an eerily calm tone and made to get up on her feet. Displeasure written all over her. " Is there some joke you want to share with me?"
Aaron wasn't a fan of her tone and immediately responded with as much attitude." Maybe if you weren't such a killjoy you would understand that one doesn't need a joke to smile. Happiness is free." He said while sporting a smile that quickly converted into a smirk.
" Yeah right. I'm a killjoy because I am upset I nearly got cut off from a job I've prepared my entire life for. All because some prick failed at his job to properly disperse information! " She said, anger flowing through her veins.
" Okay, now that I wouldn't agree. You got the prior notice but you choose not to show up. Don't shoot the messenger alright?"
Aaron was defensive. He couldn't stand and watch her proportion blame on him for no justified reason. He made sure to personally reach out to her when he was directed to inform her.
She couldn't pretend like she didn't get the information he rightly and personally passed across to her. He wasn't going to let her. At least not on his watch.
" You have no idea what I'm talking about. Maybe you were escorted to the venue but normal people like me, didn't even get the notice."
" I hate liars. If you were busy or didn't feel like showing up at the time, just say so. There's literally no point lying about it."
" I see no reason why I should explain anything to you. Why are we even having this pointless conversation again?" Deloise pondered aloud. Not understanding what his problem was.
" Pointless you say? I called you and informed you about the damned meeting and here you are trying to blame somebody for what I believe was as a result of your carelessness. " Aaron jabbed, still not having it.
Deloise was losing it at this point. Her fist clenched in anger and she saw Aaron in a different light. He was the reason she got in this mess!
If only he'd done his job properly then all of these would have been avoided. The nerve he had to call her careless made the veins in her forehead pulse.
" Oh… you were the person who supposedly informed me about the damned meeting?!"
" Correction. I told you about the meeting." He snapped his fingers as though trying to get her attention." The one who called and instructed that you head over to this building? Remember? " He spoke as one trying to explain things to a little child.
Deloise's eyebrows creased in confusion as she tried to understand what the hell he was talking about. Suddenly, a light bulb went off in her head and immediately, everything made sense. The only downside was, she wasn't just angry. She was seething!
" You're that guy?! You told me to come to the ' Administrative block', you dare to call that an information to come for the meeting?! " Her eyes widened in disbelief at what he was saying.
" Last time I checked, this is the administrative building." He said offhandedly. " You know another bizarre fact about this building? It holds the office of the director. Ring a bell?"
Aaron spoke in the most sarcastic voice he could muster. Which only fueled Deloise's anger and frustrations at what was fast becoming her life.
" You must be crazy. Hell, are you stupid? In what world does calling a random person and instructing her to ' head to the administrative block ' translate to my invitation to meet the director?"
" I don't care what you think. It's clear that you received the information but decided to play dumb with it."
" Can you listen to yourself? You caused this and you still have the nerve to show up before me and spew crap? You couldn't even apologize for what you've caused me? This! All of this?! It's all your fault and you stand there to tell me I'm dumb?! "
" Okay, that's enough. It's not my fault that you want to be spoon-fed everything. I am not responsible for your sheer carelessness and incompetence. I'm not your mother and you can go shed more crocodile tears elsewhere, it's disgusting."
Aaron didn't spare her another glance and walked away. He ultimately regretted speaking to her. Now his mood was soured.
Upon hearing his last words, Deloise felt stupefied. Of course he wasn't her mother. What was she expecting coming out here alone to pursue a dream that seemed to move farther the more she drew closer.
Defeated, she stood up and walked out of the building, envisioning her bed as she went. She wanted to sleep and never wake up. It seemed like everyone was right about her all along. What was she doing thinking that she was going to surprise them and actually make something out of this?
Just a few weeks in and she was already at the verge of losing everything. She lost her mother, her friends and now she was on the verge of losing the dream that caused her the former things.
The moment she entered her room, her throat tightened as she saw every single negative word thrown at her from the past regain life and torment her afresh.
Filled with self doubt and in isolation, Deloise broke down in the middle of her room and cried so hard she wondered if there were any more tears left in her.
She couldn't do this. Her mother was tight after all. She had made a terrible mistake coming here and leaving the life she knew all too well into the unknown.
Now she was paying for dreaming too big. It felt like the world was having a laugh at her. As Deloise thought about every single event from Ms Ema, Stella, Mr Austin, Aaron and her supposed colleagues. She was demoralized and with the lowest mood, she crawled into her bed: and for the first time, wished that it was all a dream.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the coin, Ms Esther's phone was attacked by a consistent inflow of sweet messages. Sweet and very familiar messages.
At every point in ti
me, her phone beeped with an all new message along the lines of how he was going to wait until she gave him an audience. The last message she got caused something to flutter within her. It read:
" I'm on the rooftop. Please come to me. My Queen."