Valeria ended the call with her friends after they've talked about everything needed to be talked about. She went back to instagram to enjoy reels when she saw a trending reel of her when she was taking pictures, the video was of her changing pose naturally, for a moment she felt proud of herself and again felt used because she didn't know about the video. She angrily opened the comment section to drop a comment
[What more of me will I see without my consent? When I was bathing?].
She left instagram angrily, she didn't bother to off her internet connection since she was too angry to remember. It kept beeping with notifications from instagram before a call entered. She picked it up angrily since it was from who she wanted to talk to.
"Was this a mistake too?" Valeria asked angrily
"Did you even download everything I sent to you?" Esmeralda asked calmly
"What does that have to do with this? I didn't even know you made this video" Valeria said angrily
"I sent it to you Valeria" Esmeralda said calmly
"Even though Miss Esmeralda. I'm not expecting anything else without my consent except from the one I've seen" Valeria protested angrily
"I'm sorry for not letting you it was a scheduled post, I've sent screenshot to you" Esmeralda said calmly
"One excuse or the other, scheduled post can be deleted" Valeria protested angrily
"I really didn't know about it until your comment called my attention" Esmeralda said still calm. She knows Valeria's anger is justified and the comment was necessary.
"These are mistakes that could cost a brand" Valeria said feeling calm now
"I'm sorry Valeria, I will be more careful. I took the video secretly because I wanted you to be comfortable and free, if you knew, it won't come out this great" Esmeralda said calmly and remorsefully.
"I'm sorry for my comment, it might cost your brand" Valeria said realizing the damage she might have caused
"It might not be that much but a word from you might rectify it" Esmeralda replied smiling
"A press statement?" Valeria asked
"Yes Valeria, it might be virtual or live" Esmeralda replied and Valeria sigh
"I will write something on my instagram story and tag the page" Valeria said and Esmeralda gave a sigh of relief. Valeria end the call and checked her instagram notifications, her followers grew from twenty to hundred and people were still following, she had fifty replies under her comment, some were hate comments for her while some were hate comments for EmJay and few was for the fantasized handsome CEO. She knew she has to rectify it before it affects the brand so much.
[I will like to clarify my comment. I didn't know the team already sent me this video and talked to my manager about posting it because it was in the contract that nothing will be posted without I and/or my manager's consent. The picture was supposed to be posted tomorrow but the social media manager scheduled it mistakenly for today and I got angry seeing it. I'm sorry if my comment had brought hate comments to the brand and the chief executive officer of the brand. I meant no harm, love and light @emjay].
Valeria posted the press media she had composed, she felt proud of herself. A message popped up from @benjiebaker, she opened it with a smile and was surprised to see she didn't respond to his message earlier.
[Internet Sensation! I can be your manager]
She smiled reading the message, he's such a funny person.
@valeriamelvin[Hi Benjie Baker]
@benjiebaker[You left me on read celebrity]
@valeriamelvin[I thought I replied. Sorry Benjie Baker]
@benjiebaker[I will love to be your manager regardless]
@valeriamelvin[apply within]
@benjiebaker[Funny girl! When did you leave last night?]
@valeriamelvin[Before midnight. Where were you last night?]
@benjiebaker[Did you miss me?]
@valeriamelvin[No Benjie dreamer! How's Hannah and the other girls?]
@benjiebaker[They are fine. TTYL]
Valeria looked at the message and smile, he's such a funny person and obviously fun to be with too.
****
Valeria's father, Mark Melvin was sitting amongst his colleagues, they were on break, all of a sudden Mr Davis screamed his name.
"Why are you screaming?" Mark asked looking at the surprised man
"Why are you still working here if your daughter signed such a big deal?" Mr Davis asked and Mark look at him puzzled not understanding what he meant by that.
"You should be at home enjoying hundred thousands of dollars not here constructing" Mr Davis said and Mark was still giving him a puzzled look. He collected the phone from him so he can understand, he was surprised to see Valeria in a trending reel and the caption shows she was signed as a model in a big clothing brand, he didn't know about this since he doesn't have time for internet, he would rather look for a part-time job than go online.
"Oh the video is out and doing well" Mark said hiding his surprise, he doesn't want his friends to think he's not man enough.
"And you didn't tell me this? That's bad" Mr Davis said fuming
"They called her yesterday evening and I wasn't expecting it to be this soon" Mark said since he had read his daughter's comment.
"Your daughter is a big shot even before resuming school, it won't be hard for her to make friends" Mr Davis said happily and Mark fake a smile. He felt less important in his family and couldn't just wait to get home.
****
Valeria had just finish eating and was craving for a drink, since she had money on her, she left the room to get drink at a nearby store.
"Good afternoon Miss" Valeria greeted the cashier dropping the drink she got on the table
"Good afternoon Miss" The cashier said looking up and open her mouth at the sight of Valeria.
"Take Miss" Valeria said giving her money and the cashier mouth was still wide agape.
"It's really you! You look so beautiful" The lady said blushing
"What?" Valeria asked clueless more like she had forgotten she's now a mini celebrity.
"Can I take pictures with you?" The lady asked excitedly
"Sure" Valeria replied and turn to take a picture with her.
"Thank you! The jumpsuit looked more beautiful on you and your dress sense is adorable" The lady said and Valeria realised what she was talking about
"Thank you. Can I leave now?" Valeria asked and the lady nod packing up the drink. Valeria left the store in a hurry before someone else would recognize her, she walked hurriedly to her father's apartment.
"That was creepy" Valeria said breathing heavily since she has been walking so fast.
"I'm not ready for this! I want my ordinary life not hide and seek" Valeria said to herself opening the drink.
"You have to deal with it" Valeria heard her mother's voice.
"Mother?!" Valeria called out and walk deep inside the room
"Yes Valeria. You can never live an ordinary life with this anymore" Geraldine said.
"I love my simple lifestyle" Valeria said now hoping Esmeralda never posted that picture.
"You will have to deal with trolls from now on" Geraldine said finally looking at her scared daughter.
"Don't be scared! You only have to pay the price, you will be fine and use to it soon" Geraldine said holding the sad Valeria's hand.
"Miss Esmeralda is one to look up to and that's why I'm being calm in this situation, I'm really freaking out" Valeria said sitting next to her mother
"It means you really like her. What made you like her in a short period of time?" Geraldine asked
"I've always looked up to her before meeting her, she was in my field of study and also doing pretty well for herself" Valeria replied smiling
"Do you want to be like her?" Geraldine asked and Valeria looked at her with a smile
"Career wise, maybe but I'm not sure I can take all that careers at once like she's doing now but I will love to be as successful as she is in the biological science field" Valeria replied sincerly and with care trying to not hurt her mother's feeling.
"I'm so glad there's someone you look up to when it comes to choosing your future. I checked the internet about her and she's one to look up to and spend time with. How can a woman take so much career and be successful in all, she also has a fashion brand, she's lucky" Geraldine said not feeling hurt and also hurt at the same time. Valeria could see this and knows her mother feels bad because she couldn't fulfill her dreams and she also by all chance ignores the story of her life
"She's lucky and will also have flaws behind her success story, no one makes it without having something to say about how rough it was, the journey is never smooth" Valeria said and her mother smile
"You are becoming more like me day by day" Geraldine said with a smile.
"I definitely want to take after you. You are the smartest woman I know and if I was asked who I want as my mother in my next life, I will choose you again and again" Valeria said and Geraldine burst into tears. Valeria consoled her, after few seconds, they both smile and laugh at Geraldine.
"Do you think I've made mistakes in my life?" Geraldine asked looking at Valeria's eyes intensely for a reaction
"Obviously Mother. We all make mistakes at a point in our life, the only way to mend it is to learn and put it past us" Valeria replied with care so she won't hurt her.
"You are smart and you will need that smartness to deal with your father when he comes" Geraldine said after reading a message on her phone. Valeria was perplexed at first but then understand what her mother meant.