"What is she doing?"
Ignoring the low mumbles from the crew and co actors and actresses, she remained knelt on the ground. Enduring the tiny stones that pierced into her skin. She thought if only she could show the director how sorry she was, it'd calm the anger in him and alter his mind. She remained knelt and hung her head, under the scorching sun. Burning with embarrassment as her mind traveled back to the night she embarrassed herself in front of that many people.
The director said another video of her leaving the penthouse was circulating the net. Who is secretly stalking her and monitoring her everyday activities? Like what was the person's aim in taking pictures or videos of her? That penthouse was in a secluded area although around the city so who is stalking her?
She brushed off the questions bustling inside her, determined to remain kneeling. Hoping the director would be moved.
"Cut!" The director's voice rang, being carried away by the wind. "You two did a good job." He commended Ashley and the male actor.
"Let's take a break and begin the next scene." He announced and flew his gaze on Jane, she met his gaze as well, pleading with her eyes. Praying it would alter his mind.
"I told you, you can leave," he said. "There's no role for you to play…..your role has already been given to Ashley so be on your way out now."
Still remaining in that position, Jane scurried closer to him. Enduring the pain the tiny stones on the ground inflicted on her body. "You told me, no one is fit for the role except me—- why then did you give my role to her?"
"Because you have been acting stupid lately," the cold response from the director pierced her bones like a stray bullet but she braced herself for more. "You are everywhere on the net, netizens are wagging their tongues....I figured out you need to get your acts together for now."
"I'm not completely removing you from this agency or future roles if you act accordingly...but if you keep creating problems for yourself and for this industry, I'd take actions against you."
Jane gulped and nodded. "It won't happen again, I promise you."
"I hope you don't cause a stir on the internet again. You are already branded as an attention seeker—by the way, do perhaps know the guy who carried you out of the stage? You didn't sound like you were meeting him for the first time and even helping you after you humiliated you in public..."
"Is he some actor and if he does, you need to contact his agency and make a public apology addressing the issue or else it might be good for you or me."
"I don't know who he is," Jane shook her head.
"And you aren't secretly having an affair with him?"
"Nope," she shook her head. "I honestly don't know who he is and I'm not having an affair with him. The media is getting it all twisted up."
"I see...." The director rubbed a finger on his chin for a couple of seconds before letting out a deep breath. "Right now, you have to keep a low profile and don't go stirring the entire internet. Once all the questions and curiosity among netizens die down, you can return."
"For now, stay low."
"But how would I do that?" Jane queried, gaping at the director in surprise. "What if an untrue and manipulated story about me is published again?"
"No one is going to manipulate stories if you don't start it first. That's why I suggest you lay low...also give a public apology to the guy who helped you that night. I wonder what would have become of you if it hadn't been for him."
"Take a month off….."
"Month? That's too long," she widened her eyes, startled.
"If you want these rumors about you flying around to stop, I suggest you take a long break. In the meantime, engage yourself with something else until I call you back."
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
She got up to her feet, the pain greased on her knees transported over her body, causing her to shudder. Shoulders slouched and eyes directed to the ground, she paved her way from the cabin, feeling conflicted. How stupid could she be to pull off a stunt like that and why did she have this notion that Ashley could be behind all these. She didn't want to suspect or accuse another person but Ashley was giving her all the signals to suspect her. First she accused her of working her way into the acting world by sleeping with politicians, sponsors and stuff— now she took her role.
Feeling dejected and numb, she paid no attention to the low mumbles from the crew and fellow actors.
"Honestly, I'd never show myself in public if I were you." A voice prompted and it belonged to no other than Ashley Mckenzie. Jane raised her gaze from the ground to her, her eyes meeting the accusation and judgemental look in there. Her lips were twitched in a condescending smile.
Jane wanted to respond to her but something in her compelled her to remain calm. She bit her tongue and swallowed back her comeback.
"You ought to be embarrassed at what you did at that bar," Ashley continued. "And I stand with the netizens, you are really an attention seeker. Why did you do all that? To gain the attention of people? To gain more popularity?"
"Also, is that guy not really someone you know? Why would he help you even after all you said?" She threw her a look of disdain. "You want us all to believe there's nothing going between you and that guy? Are you trying to hide his identity?"
"You seem invested in what I do and who I meet?" Jane was forced to give a comeback, turned and walked her way up to her. "Why? Do you feel threatened by me?"
"Hah!" Ashley let out a startled sarcastic chuckle, a flicker of surprise showed in her eyes. "You must be delusional. Why would I feel threatened by you?"
"Why else would you take up my role?" Jane challenged. "The director didn't see anyone else to give my role to— but you?" She lifted a brow, accusing her with her gaze.
"It has become your job to taunt and belittle me any minute you get. You always wanted to find dirt on me and why do I feel you are behind all this to take away the role..."
"Accusing me now?" Ashley glared at her. "Like you did to that guy…. Why do you always blame others for your stupidity and shortcomings?"
Jane shook her head, shaking a finger. "Nope, you are wrong. I'm not accusing anyone. I'm simply saying I found you suspicious…..and also why does it matter if I did have an affair with some politician or something? Don't act so innocent..." She shifted her gaze to the other actors and actresses.
"Especially you," she directed her gaze back to Ashley. Without sparing them another glance, Jane spun away from them and headed out. She was trying to keep her cool, why would she always try to ruin it? Painting her as if she was the worst sinner on earth.
Having videos or photos of her flying about doesn't give her the right to think she earned her way by tossing away her woman's integrity.
"Listen, Jane, I was never threatened by you and never will I be," her voice yelled after her.
Jane paid deaf ears, climbed her car and drove off.
●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●●
"Girl, no matter how depressed you are, you shouldn't drink to that extent," Matilda reprimanded her, pulling a seat opposite her table, and planted her butt on it.
"I don't know," Jane shut her eyes, tightening her eye muscles. She lifted two fingers to rub on her temple. Massaging the ache there. Her head and eyes had been spinning right from the movie set venue to the moment she left. A strong migraine attacked her as she tried to massage it away.
"My head was blank, and wasn't processing anything at the moment. And my heart was too weak to comprehend what was going on. I had no other choice but to get myself drunk and that's when he came along."
"But you shouldn't have accused anyone." Matilda went further to scold, a look of disappointment perched across her face. Her brows were etched into a frown. "Why'd you go and say he drugged you? Man, when I saw that video...I was embarrassed on your behalf as well."
"Matilda, I drove over to your place of work to be consoled by you, not you scolding me. Everyone seems to be scolding me these days. I'm not the first actress to embarrass herself in a drunken state."
"This isn't about embarrassing yourself, girl you are caught up in a scandalous act..."
'What do you mean?" Jane furrowed a brow at her.
"Didn't you read the comments under your numerous videos? Don't you check the internet?..... Can I have your phone? I can't use mine until I clock out."
Reluctantly, Jane handed her her phone. Her fingers roamed through her phone's screen until they came to a halt. "Look?" Matilda turned to the screen to her view, a finger mindlessly scrolling through the screen.
Jane read the comments under the video of her leaving the penthouse. "Did she spend the night in the mask guy's house?" A female commenter wrote.
"Who is he?" Another wrote.
"I bet she's having some affair with some top actor or influential man, otherwise that dude wouldn't cover up his face. Plus why do I feel this is staged to draw more attention to herself."
"I thought I had seen it all when I saw her panties and now this…..she really is striving hard to make a name for herself."
"I had a low key crush on her because of her acting skill but with her acting like this in public is so uncalled for no matter how drunk she was." A male commenter wrote.
"I read she was to star along with Toro Wilson in a historical romance drama." Another wrote. "With the stunt she pulled at the bar, I have a feeling Wonder Prism Studio will withdraw that role."
"And I can't imagine an A-list star actor acting alongside a crazy weird woman like her."
Jane's body was becoming numb as she read the mean, heart wrenching comments. To save herself the heart ache, she stopped reading and pulled away from the phone. She lifted her gaze, freezing at the spot when her eyes flew at the one person who walked in.
Cold blood ran down her veins when she saw him and when his gaze rested on her.