"Don't you have a shooting to do today?" Jane tightened her eyes shut as the morning light streamed through the window. Ivy parted the curtains, watching the lazy Jane pull the blanket over her face to shield herself from the invading sunlight.
Jane groaned and turned to her side. Too lazy and weak to open her eyes or to get up.
"Are you still worried about that?" Ivy queried, a worried pale look etched across her face as she took a place on the bed. Trying to pull the blanket from her face. Technically, they both struggled, Jane gripped on the blanket tightly and Ivy tried to snatch the blanket from her face. In the end, Ivy won.
Jane drew in an exasperated sigh, squinting her eyes open. She gaped at the ceiling as if she could find console to her troubled mind. Memories of yesterday crashed in.
The words of Ashley Mckenzie really broke her even though she tried to compose herself. Why was she misjuded, musquoted and misinterpreted?
"Bet this was her way of climbing the social ladder," Ashley's words echoed back in her ears.
"Tell what did you do? Wonder Prism Studio is a top production company. How did you get the role?" Hugo's words came flooding in too causing the ache on her chest to become ten times unbearable. Even if she was being accused and judged by other people, she didn't expect Hugo to accuse her, to question her as well.
His accusing words and condemning voice shattered her spirit and she couldn't bring herself to tell him about her one night stand with an unknown guy. She wondered what or how he must be feeling after watching that video. The video has circulated almost the nooks and crannies of Las Vegas. She thought he would call to query her but he never did. Is it that he hasn't seen the video or?
"You don't have to depress yourself over that," Ivy tried to sound comforting, patting a hand on her shoulder. "This is just a matter of fact, news on social medias don't last long. Just give it time. Once another captivating story comes out, your story will fade."
"So get up and live like you always did." Ivy tried to pull her up but she remained on the bed. "Your acting career might be on the stake but it's a matter of time. It hasn't gone down the drain, you know."
"My shooting was rescheduled to next week Wednesday." Jane announced and closed her eyes momentarily before snapping them open. And sat up immediately, startling Ivy a bit.
"I just don't get it, how did everything happen so quickly in a blink?" She queried rhetorically, more like she was asking and answering herself at the same time. "How? Was the person who took those photos and took that video of me waiting for the golden moment of my life? Why must it been after I secured that big gig?"
"And most importantly, the mystery I'm yet to unravel is who is that guy? How did I end up in that room, in that situation?"
"Hm….." Ivy let out a worried sigh, placing a finger under her chin, and pulled her brows in a thoughtful manner. "I also don't know anything, like everything happened in a flash...." She trailed off, picking Jane's hand and giving her an apologetic look.
"I'm sorry for being so wasted that night, you wouldn't have been in this situation...…."
"That masked hooded guy, did you notice any weird vibe oozing from him that night?" Jane asked. Cutting her short.
"What guy? I didn't notice any hooded guy. Maybe he was there but I didn't notice. Why? Did something happen with this hooded guy?"
Jane gaped at the worry and curiosity laced in her sister's eyes for a fleeting moment and shook her head. Maybe she was overthinking this, she shouldn't go accusing an innocent guy.
"Never mind."
"Alright if you insist—--- but what about Indy, your assistant, what's she doing in all this mayhem going on?"
"I messaged her to look into the source of that video and to track who might posted it." Jane sighed. Drooping her shoulders as she pulled her gaze from Ivy and channeled it to the floor of her room.
"She hasn't gotten any information on how the video came to be but I might visit the bar and ask the bartender myself."
"I see…. But don't try to draw more light on yourself, just keep a low profile. The internet is blazing hot with your issue. Your scandalous act is topping the mainstream of internet gossips."
"Is that supposed to comfort me or make feel worse?" Jane glared at her a little.
Ivy laughed and tugged her to her feet. "Come on, I know what's going to pull you out of your misery state... shopping. It will pull you out of your wallowing state, also mom already set breakfast."
Though they lived under the same roof, Jane barely strike conversations with her step mother. Didn't know why, was it because she was the one who broke her parents apart? And no matter how hard she tried not hold a grudge against her, Jane always blamed her for her parent's separation and divorce. But Ivy is such a sweet sis, she shouldn't pay for her mom's mistakes.
She returned to live with her father after losing her mom to lung cancer. Not that she didn't want to live alone but knowing she and her mom had beautiful memories in that house, and it was the very house she took her last breath. Guilt and pain couldn't let her stay there anymore.
"Jane, I made your favorite, tortilla potatoes," a beautiful and inviting smile lit up Ivy's mother Mrs Fiona's face. She wasn't used to her or seeing her smile like this but she tried to return the smile.
"Thank you." She smiled. Watching as she dished out her food. Was she and her daughter doing this to pull her out of her depressed state? Well, she did appreciate her kind gesture but it wouldn't ride off the fact that she was constantly reminded she came in between her parents whenever she saw her.
"Where's my favorite?" Ivy lifted a brow in question. "Or you playing favorites right now?"
"Have what's on your plate," Mrs Fiona pointed at the mashed egg potato salad and sliced boiled eggs as the topping, plus the hot dogs on Ivy's plate. "You know the reason I did this, your sister is having it rough right now."
Ivy looked like she was going to argue but instead she digged into her food.
Watching Ivy and her mother, an overwhelming feeling of loneliness surged over her. In that moment, she was reminded of her mother and she missed her so badly, she craved hard for that golden comfort and touch from her mother but like fate would have it, she was practically an orphan.
She digged in her tortilla potatoes, stuffing her mouth with it that she started choking. Ivy's mom was quick to pour her a glass of water which she helped her drink. She patted her back.
When Jane regained herself from choking, she flinched away from the comfort of Mrs Fiona's hand. It felt she'd be betraying her mom if she leaned more on Ivy's mother. She fight back the tears building in her eyes.
"I'm fine. Thank you." She didn't meet her gaze but she had this feeling Ivy's mother was a bit or rather startled at her act.
"You should be more careful...don't try to get yourself killed over this little bad phase of your life. It will get better. Don't beat yourself over this, I have seen worse scenarios than this."
Jane didn't know how to feel or what to make of her words, so she ended up throwing her a weak smile.
●●●●●●●●●●●
"Umm, I'm not really interested in anything." Jane prompted irrespective that Ivy dragged her out here against her will. It was a multi merchandise mall where everything was basically sold.
"Nah, I'm not taking that as an answer. You must try something out," Ivy insisted, trailing her fingers on the rack of clothes until a long floral gown caught her attention. "Here, try this on?"
"Honestly, I appreciate what you are doing but I'm not interested in trying out any stuff also don't waste your money on me, don't."
Despite her words, Ivy did as she pleased, well Jane half expected it. She groaned as Ivy placed the gown on her body, nodding in satisfaction.
"This is perfect. It will look great on you. Please, just try it on…..I know you don't want but don't make me feel bad."
"Alright," Jane reluctantly took the floral dress with strap hands and entered the changing room. Minute later, she stepped out.
"My God," Ivy's eyes shot up in admiration, running her eyes on how the clothes fitted her body, showing a bit of her cleavage. "You look ravishing hot. Man, no man would want to take their eyes off you."
"Okay, that's enough of the flatter..." Jane trailed off when she felt a bit the abdominal pain she felt earlier on their way here. She tried to brush it off but it was slowly getting intense. "I'm not feeling too good. I will get back."
She ran to the pharmacy store built inside the mall. The pain was intensifying slowly and in a hurry to the seller desk, she bumped into someone, making them drop the things they held on the ground. She wanted to help pick them up but her abdominal pain wasn't letting her.
Why was her stomach acting up? She only had the tortilla potatoes her stepmother prepared for her.
"I'm sorry." She reached out to help pick the medicines on the ground but when she rose and met the person she bumped into. She was rather startled.
The hooded masked guy stood before her. Her hand hung in mid air as she extended his stuff to him. Mouth dropped open.
"You?" She didn't know when that word flew from her mouth.