"Roxanne, please… I won't take much of your time. Please…" Hera's pleading voice was a first for Roxanne, and her interest was suddenly piqued. She wanted to know what the manager had to say that was so important that she was ready to beg her among so many people.
Even though Hera only spoke to Roxanne's hearing, the onlookers could easily interpret her demeanor as that of someone who was begging or pleading for something.
"Fine. You have five minutes." Roxanne's decisive words made Hera's heart skip a beat, but she steeled her resolve and nodded gratefully, indicating that she would be done within the stipulated time. It's not like she had a choice otherwise.
"Speak!" Roxanne didn't have the patience to stand in the corridor and watch Hera fidgeting in front of her.
"Please, don't do this. It won't end well, Roxanne." Hera's first words she spoke were to dissuade Roxanne, and the latter had a murderous look on her face.
Hera had to take a step back unconsciously. She couldn't explain what was happening, but Roxanne suddenly had a look that caused her knees to go weak. It was as if, if she said one wrong word again, Roxanne could tear her to shreds.
"I'm supposed to walk away from Rejuvenation because you sold the deal to the highest bidder? That's why I'm out here?" Roxanne's words caused Hera's mind to go on overdrive, and she couldn't recover in time to explain herself. No one ever prepared Hera for the knowledge that Roxanne already knew about how she usually sold her deals to the highest bidder. Everything was supposed to be kept a secret, after all.
"Next time you waste my time like this, you'll regret it!"
Roxanne had no plans of breathing the same air as her manager, hence, she turned around and was ready to return to the conference room. However, before she could take a single step, she felt a tug on her wrist, followed by a strong pull.
"What the heck!" She blurted out angrily, ready to land a heavy slap across Hera's face, when the woman quickly let go of her hand and said,
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get all touchy. I'm sorry, Roxxy." Hera was shocked at how she suddenly grabbed Roxanne, but she did it without thinking. Seeing Roxanne turn her back on her, Hera lost her mind, throwing all caution out to the wind.
"You don't get to call me Roxxy, we're not so close."
Even though Hera felt a sudden pang in her chest, she quickly nodded, "Well noted, Roxanne. I'll be careful next time."
The manager's understanding attitude was getting on Roxanne's nerves, and she could only push for her to speak up or cease wasting her time. "What do you want?"
"I heard what you told the HR. That's why I said you shouldn't take such hasty steps. It could go against you, Roxanne. Please, it's not too late to reconsider your decision."
"Tsk! I already made up my mind, and you don't get to have a say in it." Hera didn't expect Roxanne to be so assertive, as far as the issue was concerned. Roxanne never really took her career to heart, and the situation went on for about two years.
Hera couldn't get what was on Roxanne's mind, but she was not ready to give up either.
"Please, let me go with you." Blurting out those words felt so wrong, but Hera wasn't ready to allow her feelings to get in the way. She wanted to follow her intuition, and it has never let her down before.
"Hmpphh! You must really take me for a fool, don't you? Tsk!"
…
Sebastian sat on the massive king-sized bed, his back resting against the headboard. His undivided attention was on the television hanging on the wall. Since Roxanne was in the habit of spending her time cooped up in the bedroom, Sebastian fixed a television in the room, so she wouldn't get bored, just because she was avoiding him.
Now, the TV came in handy, as he tried to watch Roxanne's press conference, at the same time respond to some whatsapp dms and emails he missed during the day. He fought the thought running through his mind, but it kept coming back.
"It's already eight o'clock, yet you're not back home. So much for being a changed person, huh?'
"I'm grateful for the confidence you have in me, sir. Let's take Rejuvenation to the next level." Roxanne gave a quick bow to the CEO of Nirvana Cosmetics, makers of the Rejuvenation skin care products.
The company had a lot of products in the market, and the CEO wasn't particularly an idle person, but he decided to grace the signing event when he heard Roxanne accepted their ambassadorship deal. It meant a lot to him, and he decided to switch places with the representative who was scheduled to attend the event.
There were loud gasps as the cameras lingered on the CEO for a while more than necessary. He was clearly checking her out.
Roxanne then turned to the reporters and continued.
"Thank you all for coming. I wish to announce that my journey with Starlets and Stars Entertainment comes to an end today. From henceforth, I am no longer an artist of this company. I hope Emperor Vibes Entertainment will accept me under their wings."
Roxanne was all smiles as she said this, and everyone could feel her joy. However, it came as a shock to many reporters who didn't know she wasn't signed to her husband's company, yet, she always got deals handed to her by them.
Soon, everyone recovered from their shock, and questions started flying from the reporters. "I only wish to say that I have taken enough from Emperor Vibes Entertainment to finally pay my dues. I hope to contribute my quota to my husband's business." Roxanne winked at the reporters, who felt that she was toying with them. No one expected her to be so blatant in her confession to her husband, something she has never done in public. The best she always did was to avoid mentioning his name altogether.
"Did your husband force you to do this?"
"Is Sebastian Sinclair still abusing you?"
"Roxxy, do you need help?"
"This is your chance to speak up, Roxxy. Tell us everything. No one is above the law."
"Are you retiring?"
"What happens next, Roxxy?"
"Did your husband put you up to this?"
"Is this the condition for your divorce?"
"Is this your punishment for cheating on your husband?"
The whole place went silent at those words, and Roxanne felt all her blood rushing to her head. All eyes were on her at this moment. Roxanne was so quiet that some reporters felt the reporter who asked the question might have caught onto what she wanted to hide. However, before they could get ahead of themselves, Roxanne beat them to it.
"I am married to a very good man, but because of a misunderstanding between us, I have done a lot of silly stuff. However, cheating on my husband is not one of them." Roxanne's words took a while to settle in their minds, but a few stubborn reporters recovered their wits and bombarded her with more questions.
"Are you not getting a divorce anymore? Are the rumors wrong?"
"Why did you have a sudden change of heart?"
"What kind of man is your husband?"
"What childish stuff did you do, Roxanne? Tell your fans."
Roxanne tuned out everyone's words, except the person who asked her about the childish acts she committed.
"One most childish act I committed was allowing all of you to speculate about my husband's attitude. Sebastin would never lay his hands on a woman, and I hope everyone can rest assured that I'm married to the most wonderful man in the world. However, if you feel your man is the real deal, treat him well. Let your partner know how you feel, and always talk out misunderstandings. Don't allow them to grow into irreparable consequences. Yes, I'll give anything so my husband doesn't divorce me. Well, that's enough marriage advice from me for today."
The room was filled with gasps, as the reporters and every other person present caught onto Roxanne's unspoken words-her husband wanted a divorce, but she didn't wish for the same.
"Thank you all for your time." Roxanne handed the microphone back to the MC of the program, and was about to step away from the stage, when she felt a sharp pain in the right side of her abdomen. She thought she could endure till she reached her seat, but everything went blank after she took only two steps.
There were gasps everywhere, as Roxanne's white dress was suddenly filled with blood, and more blood was oozing out.
"The heck…"