"E cento trappole a a prima di cedere a a
faro giocar a a arr..."
"Woah! you did great, Celie, just hit the highest pitch you had ever made, congratulations."
"Thank you so much, director Connor, I promise to show more and tried more of my talent and make my fans proud," she said, smiling deeply.
"That kind of you, Celie. I'm always in support of your achievement and your beautiful talent. And this comes to the end of today's practice, I hope you all return home safely." The director announced and everyone left.
****
At Dè Zari residence, Celie's apartment.
Tension filled the air like a storm ready to unleash its fury. Karlie paced anxiously, her mind racing with concern for her cousin. She knew Celie's obsession with Adrian was spiraling out of control, and the evidence in those photos only fueled the fire within her.
As Celie's trembling hands picked up the photos, her face twisted with a mix of anger and betrayal. Her grip tightened, crumpling the edges of the images, and she let out a primal scream that echoed through the apartment. The sound of breaking glass pierced the air as she hurled her wine glass onto the tiled floor, shattering it into a million sparkling fragments.
"Calm down, Celie, this isn't something you should be crazy about," Karlie attempted to reason, but her words fell on deaf ears. Celie's eyes turned black with rage, her gaze fixated on the unknown woman in the pictures.
"Who is she?" Celie's voice trembled with anger as she spat the words, her every muscle tense with fury.
"Who is she to come near him?" Her voice grew louder, her hands trembling with a mix of rage and desperation.
Karlie took a step back, sensing the intensity of Celie's emotions. "Celie, he already left you. Let him go. Not that he had any feelings for you from the start," she cautiously advised, earning a deadly glare from her cousin.
"Who said he doesn't have any feelings for me?" Celie's voice dropped to a hushed tone, her face contorting with madness. "It's distinct he doesn't, Celie. He doesn't do love, he told you that," Karlie reminded her, concern evident in her stance.
A maniacal glint appeared in Celie's eyes as she declared, "If he doesn't do love, I will make him love me and want me. Even if it means getting that pest out of the way. I will do anything to have Adrian."
"I love him, Karlie. I love him," Celie cried, her hands running messily through her hair, disheveled with emotions.
Karlie's frustration grew, and her voice carried a hint of anger. "How old are you, Celie? Sixteen? You're twenty-four, a grown-up woman like you shouldn't be crying for love when he doesn't want you."
Celie's tear-streaked face contorted with anguish as she vehemently disagreed. "The love you should have is business. Everything you do should mean business. We are in the world of money, Celie, not love," Karlie strongly advised.
"Shut up, Karlie! You're making me go crazy. Having everything in the world doesn't matter more than having your heart beat for someone. Your life isn't complete without a partner by your side," Celie squealed, her voice cracking with desperation. Tears streamed down her cheeks, mingling with her anguish.
"Money won't kiss you, go to bed with you, cuddle you, or say 'I love you' to you. It won't, Karlie," Celie snapped, her discontent evident in her tone.
Karlie's eyes glowed with furiousness as she fired back, "So, if you're this crazy about love, I think you should look for a man who will love you more than you do. Instead of being hysterically obsessed with one who doesn't give a shit about you."
"No! I don't want somebody else. All I want is Adrian, and I will do anything and everything just to get him," Celie declared, her voice laced with determination.
Karlie's tone turned serious as she cautioned, "And if I can't have Adrian, no one else should." A devilish smirk curled up on Celie's lips as she wiped away the tears with the back of her palm.
"You must be insane, Celie. Did you forget that you have a profession to protect? You're only going to get your reputation tarnished when you start acting more nutty," Karlie warned with intensity.
"I don't need you anyway. You can get lost if you want to," Celie chirped angrily, her voice laced with defiance.
Karlie shook her head, her resolve unwavering. "Say all you want right now. I'm not leaving you, not yet time to do so." She took a sip of her wine, her eyes fixed on her troubled cousin.
Celie's mind was made up. Her obsession had reached its peak. "Forget it. What should I do with her? I can't stand any other woman with him. I need to get rid of her," she stated humorlessly, her eyes glinting with a dark determination.
"Don't go to extremes, Celie. I advise you to watch her first before harming an innocent woman," Karlie suggested, dropping her glass of wine on the tablewith a resolute thud.
A sinister smile danced on Celie's lips as she dismissed Karlie's advice. "Watch her? No, Karlie, that won't satisfy me. I want her out of the picture, permanently."
Karlie's eyes widened in shock at Celie's chilling words. "Celie, you're crossing a dangerous line. You're jeopardizing not only your reputation but your freedom too. Think about the consequences."
But Celie's mind was clouded with obsession. "Consequences be damned! I won't let anyone stand in the way of my happiness with Adrian. I'm willing to do whatever it takes, no matter how dark."
Karlie's face turned pale, her voice trembling with fear and concern. "Celie, this isn't like you. You're losing yourself in this obsession. Please, reconsider before it's too late."
But Celie had already made up her mind. Her eyes burned with a fanatical determination. "I won't back down, Karlie. Adrian will be mine, and I won't let anyone, not even an innocent woman, come between us."
Karlie's heart sank, realizing the depth of Celie's descent into madness. "I can't believe what I'm hearing. You're willing to destroy everything for a man who doesn't love you. You're throwing away your career, your sanity, and even our relationship."
Celie's face hardened, her voice dripping with defiance. "I don't need you or anyone else to understand. This is my life, and I'll do whatever it takes to make it complete."
With those final words, Celie grabbed her bag and stormed out of the apartment, leaving Karlie behind, torn between protecting her cousin and preserving her own safety.