Valeria was shocked to see Benjamin in the van, she knows he will be at the meeting but not in the van with her.
"So shocked to see my handsome face?" Benjie asked teasingly
"Who please? You? No!" Valeria replied laughing
"Gem" Benjie called
"I'm Valeria not that" Valeria protested
"You have a fan base on instagram named Gem FC, this people see you to be rare and special. Very soon they will grow more and the only way to keep them is consistency and you obviously can't be consistent with this attitude of yours which means you need a social media manager" Benjamin explained
"I really don't want this celebrity life" Valeria said sadly
"There's nothing you can do about it dear" Benjie said
"I have only one hour to be out since I will be resuming school early" Valeria said
"Seems Hannah is resuming early too" Benjie said
"Yeah she said so" Valeria replied
"We are here!" Benjie announced. They alighted and walked towards the small building with a sign 'MAC ENTERTAINMENT'. Benjie talked to the receptionist and he lead the way, they entered an office that seems to be the CEO office.
"Maco" Benjamin greeted happily
"Benjie Baker" The tall guy sitting on a swivel chair stand up and they shake each other
"Good morning" Valeria greeted
"Good morning" The guy greeted back
"Have a seat" The guy said showing them to a couch
"Maco meet Valeria the new face of EmJay" Benjamin introduced
"Wow! She's more beautiful in person" Maco said admiring her
"Valeria this is Maco my childhood friend" Benjamin introduced
"Nice to meet you Maco" Valeria greeted with a smile.
"I'm Mackenzie and only this dickhead calls me Maco and few other people he introduced" Maco said and Benjamin laugh
"Let's get to business Mackenzie" Benjamin said
"I need a manager for her and I don't mind if it can be you" Benjamin added
"How did she become a star without a manager?" Maco asked
"Story for another day" Benjamin replied
"I'm managing two stars already and I have other business to do too so maybe I will assign someone to her" Maco said
"I want you to manage her and no one else" Benjamin said and Mackenzie sigh knowing he's serious
"Benjamin I'm really tight and I have no space" Maco said calmly
"Maybe I should take her to your ex-girlfriend company" Benjamin said standing up to leave.
"Is it a must he manages me himself?" Valeria asked knowing if she doesn't say something then they might fight
"I don't trust those guys" Benjamin replied calmly.
"We have a policy Benjie" Maco said trying to calm him and Valeria watch still not understanding why it has to be Mackenzie
"Policy? And that bastard smashed my girl" Benjamin said angrily. After the statement Valeria now understands where his pain and anger is coming from.
"Fine, I will manage her myself but with a team" Maco said finally accepting
"As long as the direct contact is with you I don't mind" Benjamin said and Maco chuckle
"Valeria, I will like to have your social medias log in. Don't worry they are in safe hands" Maco said smiling
"I only have instagram page" Valeria replied
"We will open the rest and the social media manager won't post anything without your consent" Maco said
"Okay thank you" Valeria replied
"We still have to meet properly, I will introduce you to the team and we do a video of you signing a deal with our company. We will discuss other things when next you come" Maco explain
"I should be able to come this weekend" Valeria said
"Okay that's nice. It was nice meeting you" Maco said shaking Valeria.
"Maco! Kenzie! Kenzo!" Benjamin teased and Maco laugh. Valeria and Benjamin leave the office with Maco seeing them off. Soon they were alone in the van
"Benjie, you gave your friend a hard time" Valeria said looking at him
"I only wanted a competent person for the job that's why. I can't recommend nonsense to you" Benjamin replied with a smile that would make you believe every word that comes out of the mouth.
"Thank you Benjie Baker" Valeria said sweetly. The van moves and they were quiet throughout the trip.
****
Esmeralda has been a lot busy this past few days that she hadn't called Valeria to check up on her and know how she's dealing with celebrity lifestyle.
"Miss Esmeralda" Esmeralda's personal assistant called as she walked in
"How may I help you Jane?" Esmeralda asked looking at her assistant
"People are requesting for Gem in the latest sunshade design" Jane said professionally
"Gem is not part of the material or design so why are they requesting? It won't even look good on the shades" Esmeralda said getting angry with people request on designs when they are only meant to enjoy and appreciate the masterpiece.
"I'm so sorry Miss Esmeralda. The gem I was talking about is the model signed few days back and not a material" Jane said realizing Esmeralda has been too busy to check the internet recently
"Valeria is called gem? She has a fan base?" Esmeralda asked not believing her ears
"And her instagram is growing fast too" Jane said
"Gosh! How's my girl handling the fame? We have to get her a manager as soon as possible" Esmeralda said panicking with excitement
"Some girls posted a picture of her today, she seems to be working with Mac Entertainment" Jane replied
"Mackenzie? Valeria won't take a big step without telling me about it" Esmeralda said not believing Jane and Jane showed her the picture, she was angry but didn't show it to Jane.
"I will get her here for the shoot, I will take it myself, edit it and send it to the team mail" Esmeralda said not wanting to talk about the picture.
"You have meeting with a patient by four" Jane said
"I will tell you when to schedule the shoot after talking to Valeria, she has the decision here" Esmeralda said still feeling bad but trying her best to control herself. She dismiss Jane before she says anything else. She start contemplating whether to call Valeria and ask her about it or call to check up on her.
"Either ways I'm still calling her" Esmeralda said and pick up her phone to call her
"Longest time Valeria" Esmeralda said trying to control the urge of asking
"Hi Miss Esmeralda" Valeria greeted back happily.
"How have you been?" Esmeralda asked hoping she'll say what she wants to hear
"A moment Miss Esmeralda. Thank you for the ride Benjie Baker, talk to you later" Valeria said and Benjamin wave to her as she walk inside the compound.
"Are you two dating now?" Esmeralda asked excitedly like a teenager seeing two adults in love
"Not at all Miss Esmeralda" Valeria replied laughing
"So what was that for?" Esmeralda asked
"He was concerned about my well being as a new celebrity which I didn't know I had become to the extent of having fan base calling themselves gem. He took me to his friend that manages celebrities and asked him to be my manager" Valeria explained
"Do you have a manager now?" Esmeralda asked with obvious sadness in her voice
"Not yet because we haven't sign the deal yet" Valeria replied noticing the sadness
"Can you cancel him?" Esmeralda asked hoping she will say yes
"Why ma'am? Do you have a better manager for me?" Valeria asked trying not to sound rude.
"The thing is.... I have a past with Mackenzie" Esmeralda replied nervously
"You two dated? Or he managed you?" Valeria asked wanting to understand the story
"He dated my friend, I caught her cheating on him with one of the celebrity he manages and didn't say anything. She's my friend I definitely won't snitch on her but he took it wrong when he found out about it" Esmeralda explained sadly
"None of that is your fault, you're only been loyal to your friend" Valeria said knowing she would do the same even if she will scold her friend.
"Mackenzie is my step brother, he has been the one managing most of my brand models before the incident but now my friend does" Esmeralda replied
"Oh! Does Benjie Baker know you?" Valeria asked remembering the conversation of Ex the two friends had.
"Yes but only Mackenzie knows I own the brand even my friend doesn't know" Esmeralda replied
"Are you not ready to face him yet?" Valeria asked
"Maybe not. Think about dropping him and let me know about it" Esmeralda replied and end the call before Valeria could reply. She felt happy she told her about it and also wished she didn't tell her about Mackenzie
****
Valeria was surprised to hear Esmeralda's confession and the fact that their mending and separating is in her hands.
"I'm home mother" Valeria announced as she enter the room
"Freshen up and get ready to leave for school" Geraldine said from where she was helping Valeria to pack her clothes. Valeria go to the toilet to freshen up, she came back few minutes later, dressed up and walk up to her mother.
"Mackenzie is my manager not official yet but should be soon" Valeria said smiling
"That's good, don't forget to focus in school too" Geraldine said
"I will miss you mother" Valeria said sitting next to her mother
"I bought cereals and beverages for you" Geraldine said ignoring her
"Thank you mother" Valeria said hugging her mother who was ignoring her
"Eat wisely and spend wisely too" Geraldine said controlling her tears
"Your father got you this card, it's for your allowance, there's up to a thousand dollar in it currently. I will send money to you but if only you promise not to tell your father so he won't feel insecure about it and I will make sure your brothers send money to you atleast once in two weeks. Anytime I'm here, I will let you know so you can come for homemade meals. Be the...." Geraldine said in one breath in an attempt to hide her tears and Valeria cut her off with a hug.
"Be calm mother" Valeria said holding her tears in
"Be the good girl you've always been, keep your scholarship, avoid scandals especially now that you're a celebrity, call me for advise as always" Geraldine said and kiss her daughters forehead
"I will mother" Valeria said and hug her mother again. The mother and daughter hug for a while crying and consoling each other.