As Avery predicted, there was a swamp of bodyguards in black suits and wires all over their bodies, but she looked terrible and it made both her brother and her manager, Jennie panic.
"God! Look at you! Are you okay?" Jennie asked.
She squinted and said, "Happy to see you too" then let them into the apartment and they immediately started asking questions. She was hungover so she had a headache but all everyone talked about was if she could identify the stalker so that they could take him down. Aubrey was on a call and Jennie kept asking her about the appearance stalker.
Dixie and Evie came out and saw Avery sitting on the couch— resting her head with her face looking up but her eyes shut— being bombarded with questions, but she did not respond, instead she got up and walked to the kitchen and poured herself a cup of milk. Everyone watched her gulp it down and when she was done, she walked to the sofa, sat on it and finally said, "There is no stalker, guys. It's a misunderstanding."
"What do you mean there's no stalker?" Aubrey asked, he was stunned by the revelation that he cut his call short.
"Avery, it's all over the news. I saw the video, you said there was a guy that was everywhere you went." Jennie asked.
"Yeah—Unless... Is he threatening you?" Aubrey walked closer to her to find any clue of coercion on his sister.
"Again, you guys, It's a misunderstanding. The guy in question just lives opposite us, and goes to the same school as us."
"So you mean the person making you uncomfortable lives next door? I'll go bust his face!" Aubrey said and started making his way out but Avery his back and said, "What the fuck Aubrey?! I didn't say he made me uncomfortable, you can't just barge into people's apartment and fucking hit them, what is wrong with you?"
"Your live video implied that you were uncomfortable."
"Yeah, when I didn't know what I found out later on."
"What do you mean?" Jennie asked.
"The places I saw him are places he ought to be at the times I saw him. I just said those things because he'd just been staring at me too much, and didn't say anything till last night. The video was a mistake from Evie, she did know she was still live when we were having that private conversation. It was before he and I spoke." Avery explained.
"So, where are these places you saw him?" Aubrey inquired.
"Airport, his apartment that I didn't know was his till he told me when we spoke, the party that we were exclusively invited to. He is friends with the host of the party, so everything pretty much summed up."
"Damn! Dad and mum are literally canceling all their appointments, they're on their way here." Aubrey said
"Fuck!" Luna cussed under her breathe. She knew this incident might result in her mum relapsing and that was not something she wanted. She was going to ask Aubrey about their mum when it'll just be them alone. She was not comfortable discussing her mother's alcohol problems with her friends or her manager.
"That's not all, there's a bunch of bodyguards questioning everyone who is in the building. Let's not forget the fact that you're still trending." Jennie added
"I just got here. My life is basically ruined." Avery murmured as she slowly walked to the couch in the living room and just sat on it.
"Dad swore not to let this go until—and I quote, his little baby angel is safe even if it means bringing down everything this city has ever owned. At this point Avery, it's bigger than you think. There's a whole lot going on outside that door." Aubrey continued.
Avery sank deep in the sofa and held her stomach as she moaned out.
Evie already started crying. When Avery heard her sobs, she shut her a dirty look that made her run to throw up in her bathroom in fear. Dixie followed her.
"Is this a fucking joke? My college life is about to be ruined and she's the one crying?" Avery yelled, she was in disbelief.
Aubrey just stared at the direction that the girls took, then his gaze shifted to his sister. He was sorry for the mistake, he knew this might leave a strain on her social life, especially since she just came in. He knew Evie was a lot of things but he knew she would not want to destroy Avery's social life, she also benefitted from it but more importantly, they needed each other in this new environment.
"Avery, cut Evie some slacks. You know she didn't do this on purpose. She has always had your back." Jennie said.
"I'm not mad at her, I'm just saying I should be one crying and throwing up, if there should be any tears or throwing up. That's not exactly helping anyone right now."
"You can't blame her, she has always been sensitive." Jennie replied.
"Let's work on making this go away." Aubrey said
"Yes please. How soon can we get this over with? I just want everything to go away like it never happened."
"I know how we can try. Maybe, do a video, preferably a live one and just say it was a mistake." Aubrey suggested.
"Or, we could bank from this publicity, what do you say?" Jennie asked.
Aubrey shot Jennie a dirty look and asked, "What kind of manager thinks about business in chaos?"
"Look, right now, Avery is in the spotlight, brands will be reaching out. What if you wait this one out for a day or two before coming out with the video or something, it will give us enough time to get more—"
"It's bad publicity." Avery interrupted.
"There's no such thing as bad publicity." Jennie corrected. "You have to be more careful now, everyone at your school now knows a big shot is at their school. Expect cameras in your face every time you go out. Everyone will want to invite you for their parties. This is actually a good thing, you will be in the limelight. I think now is a good thing for the PR thingy Randall was talking to me about."
"PR thing? what PR thing?" Avery asked.
"I don't know, isn't this going to actually bring real stalkers to her? Look, I don't want anything to happen to another—" Aubrey asked concerned.
"Another?" Avery looked at Aubrey. He tried to wave it off but she knew something was wrong and he was not telling her. She guessed it had something to do with their mum. Just as she was about to say something, Aubrey said, "Jennie? Do you have a better plan?"
Jennie smiled and asked, "You don't know what's going on, do you?"
They shook their heads.
"Avery, do you know who your parents really are? It's risky if anything happens to you right now. Your school will protect you while on campus to avoid the wrath of the Musk clan. Your father is rumoured to be ruthless—no offence guys."
"None taken" they replied. They knew Jennie was right. Their father, Dawne Musk was feared by all, not just because he controlled a large percentage of the media but because he was closely associated with the government. He had multiple businesses and some of them had to do with highly influential government officials.
"Have you seen the security situation of this estate since that video came out? The residents of this building might even try to rob off of your new fame. Check your socials, it's blowing up. Your fan base has drastically blown up by more than 10000%!" Jennie continued
"That's nice but my dad will not see what you're saying." Avery said.
"Yeah, he literally cancelled his business trips to come here." Aubrey added. Turning to Avery, he said, "Have you texted them yet?"
"Are they not flying right now?" Jennie queried.
"Yeah, but it's okay, they can still contact us. It's a private jet" Avery answered.
As soon as Evie and Dixie got back from the bathroom, Jennie announced, "Evie, I need you to be extra careful next time, but this is not unfixable."
Evie nodded her head and looked over at Avery who was trying to send a message to her parents. Her father video called immediately he got her message. She answered and the first thing he said was, "My Booba, don't worry, we will get whoever is responsible for this, I promise"
"Dad, please, this is a misunderstanding." Avery started
"What do you mean? Ulani, is this person threatening you? What do you mean—"
"Dad, no, he is not a stalker, I misjudged the situation."
"I don't understand. You can explain it to me soon, I will soon be in town. I love you."
She let out a deep sign of exasperation and said, "Love you too, Dad"
She was going to ask if he was coming with her mum but she guessed her suspicions were right; her mum might have gone back to rehab. Her heart sunk but she already made a promise not to let anyone know about what was happening in her family, right now, her manager and get friends were here and she could not let them find out. Luckily, she had perfected the art of facial expression and she planned on using it till she was alone with Aubrey.
"So, where were we?" She asked with a neutral expression as she returned to the rest.
"Avery, I'm so sorry." Evie said again with a genuine remorseful expression on her face.
Avery just looked at her and said, "Oh my God, Evie, I'm not upset with you. I'm cool. I accept your apology." She turned to Jennie who finished with the call she was on, and said "What's next?"
"Well, I just got a call and youou have your contract signing and possible first photoshoot with Swavroski tomorrow."
"Wait what? Isn't this going to be too soon? Let's focus on one thing at a time." Aubrey interjected. He was not involved in his sister's social life but he tried to look out for her in any way that he could.
"It'll be right after her live video." Jennie explained.
"Live video?" Avery asked.
"Yes. And Evie will join the video. You'll both clear the air and talk about why you thought you were being stalked. Educate people about stalkers and a few things they should watch out for. Encourage people who feel like they being stalked to talk to the police and other authorities. You girls can do that right?"
"Sure."
"Okay, fix your hair, face and get the live stream set up."
"What can I do to help?" Dixie asked Jennie who told her to help the girls get their face ready.
When they had set everything up, Avery turned on her live video on social media and with the most enthusiastic voice they had all ever heard, she said, "Hey Avenators! I know you've all been worried sick. My attention was called to the trends and the headlines in the news where I said something about a "stalker" that was totally spun out of context. It is all a big misunderstanding. I was talking to my friend about this guy whom I thought was everywhere I was but getting to know him now, he was just at the places he should've been, just like I was. I personally don't think stalking or stalkers should be something anyone should joke about. It's serious and there are thousands of women and men that have gotten in trouble or worse, killed, by their stalkers. I'm going to invite my best friend, Evie on this live. Hang on..."
"Hey Avery" Evie said immediately she joined the live stream