Rise of the Billionaire actress

Deloise walked into the restaurant wearing a beautiful smile. Her smile grew when she spotted Doris, who didn’t miss a beat to point out her tardiness.

” Look at that, I was kept waiting by a newbie in the business, maybe this is a sign.” She stated, matching Deloise’ smile. ” Take a seat, sweetheart.”

” I apologize for my lateness.” She sat down, ” I was supposed to spend five minutes with my lines and somehow, five minutes turned into ten. I promise this isn’t a habit.”

” Oh don’t worry, I know how submerging the job can be. Believe me, it took everything to stop acting but I still can’t get over reading and interpreting a good script.” She buzzed, ” If it makes you feel any better, I just got here myself.”

” You used to act?” Deloise eyes turned the size of saucers, ” What happened? Why did you stop?”

Doris smiled at her curiosity, ” That’s a story for another day. Today is all about you,” she brought out an envelope and pushed it across the table, ” have a look.”

” What’s this about?”

” Remember the last time we spoke? When I told you about this magnificent talent management company in charge of the greats?”

” Evolve?”

” Bingo.” Doris could sense her confusion, so she continued. ” I also happen to be a talent scout and the very first day I saw you, I put in your name to be considered.”

” You what-”

” I know. This is sudden and probably weird to you, but hear me out.” Deloise stilled, the case playing before her felt familiar. ” I know you have the potential, believe me, I know when I see someone destined for greatness. Just please, give it a shot.”

Deloise swallowed, ” Can I have some time to think about this?”

” Sure! Take the time you need. I’ll be with you every step of the way and just – please consider it.”

” Thank you. I’ll be in touch.” Doris heard the finality in her tone, and nodded. ” I have to go.”

Without waiting for a reply, Deloise sauntered her way out of the place, her stomach grumbled and she realized her failure to get lunch but continued anyway. She picked up some burgers on her way home, having a lot on her plate and a decision to make.

*****

Outside Aaron’s condo, stood a black coloured vehicle that held Stella. Earlier that morning, she received a bunch of pictures from her people, detailing the progress of their job so far and she couldn’t be more pissed.

Her eyes narrowed at the unclear picture of Aaron and Deloise, on set clothes and kissing in her tent. The quality of the pictures said it was gotten from CCTV but that wasn’t her deal.

She was yet to get an intimate hug from Aaron, neither was she able to garner a peck in the lip, and yet, that wench got to suck his face? Deloise was tethering in dangerous territory and couldn’t seem to take a hint.

With a loud hiss, she tore apart the picture and struggled to reel in the anger that knitted her heart. That wench would pay for touching what’s hers and she swore with her life.

Before that, she resolved to speak with Aaron regarding the matter. If he was doing it to spite her or get her attention, he surely had it now.

Stella opened the door after donning a beautiful countenance and crossed over the front door. Without knocking, she found her way in with a smile, swaying her hips as she sought him out.

” Aaron?” Her voice squeaked, surprised to see him packing a bag. ” What’s happening?”

” You could have walked in on me dressing up, Stell.” He deadpanned, and picked up his shoe.

” That isn’t a problem. At least not to me.” She defended, and he rolled his eyes. ” Where are you off to anyway?”

” I have to do something in town. I’ll probably be back tomorrow. What do you need?” He answered without meeting her face.

Stella felt deflated, but mustered up excitement in her tone, ” Don’t tell me you’re going to see a girlfriend? Tell me, are you seeing someone?”

It pained her to ask aloud and her breath stilled in wait for his answer. Aaron wore his backpack, then turned to her, ” Stop listening to rumours. I’ll see you some other time.”

With that, he left her in the middle of his bedroom and made way into his car, leaving her without context.

Moments later, her countenance soured. She stomped her way out the house, got into her own car and zoomed off thinking the many ways she would make that wench pay.

*****

Aaron pulled to his Grandma’s with a smile. One look in the driveway and his smile withered, his grip on his backpack tightened. He couldn’t go in.

Not when they were in there, not when they played family.

A two hour journey was wasted by the presence of those people. Aaron watched their physique move around the house, loud howls of laughter made way into his ears.

That was the last straw, he turned on his engine and piloted his way back to campus incognito. Aaron arrived at Royal Arts at dusk, he parked his car and took a walk down the school park. His heart gripped and he swallowed hard, refusing to let the pain get one up on him.

He brought out his phone, mindlessly scrolled through the internet and somehow found his way to Deloise’ contact. His thumb hovered as he contemplated dailing her.

” Fuck it.” He breathed and immediately fired a text with his breath seized. Two seconds later, his phone beeped with a reply from said person. He didn’t bother sending a reply and directly called her. She picked immediately.

” Why do I feel like you’ve been waiting for my call all these while?” He spoke haughtily, but she could sense an edge of playfulness in his words.

” Yeah right. Says the person who sends a text in the middle of the night. Admit it Aaron, you missed me.”

” Such a smart mouth,” The evening wind whooshed over him and he slid his palm into his pockets. ” Maybe. I sent a text first, but let’s not forget how quickly you responded. Who knows, maybe you wanted to, I just beat you to it.”

” Whatever floats your boat, Aaron.” Deloise rolled to her back, refusing to accept or refute his claims. ” To what do I owe this unconventional call?”

” Such a smart mouth.” He tutted, ” I thought we were supposed to be friends… cordial. I thought it normal to check on my very good friend, Deloise. Who knows? Maybe she might be in need of company.”

He sounded too sweet, sugary. ” Yeah right.” She rolled her eyes. ” Tell that to someone stupid.”

That brought a genuine laugh out Aaron’s mouth. ” I didn’t know you to be so…raw.” He managed to say, ” what are you doing? Care for an evening walk?” He proposed.

” I knew it. Someone’s out there feeling lonely.” She quipped, thoroughly enjoying his perceived embarrassment. ” You’re lucky I have nothing else to do.”

” I’m at the park.”

” Be there soon.”

Donned in sweatpants, Deloise hurried to the park, surprised at her eagerness. She pushed everything to the side when she saw Aaron, and took a seat beside him.

He took a moment to acknowledge her presence. “One minute.” He said,

” What?”

” You are one minute late,” he turned towards her, and her heart raced at his sight.

” What are you? The tardy p-police?” Deloise felt her confidence simmer at the intensity of his gaze.

” Whatever floats your boat.” Aaron got up with a stretch. ” Come with me.”

” What? Where are we headed?” He shook his head at her apprehensive tone, then took hold of her palm. Sizzling electricity buzzed at their connected hands.Content bel0ngs to Nôvel(D)r/a/ma.Org.

” I don’t know about you, but I’m hungry.” He pulled her along with a smile while she feigned anger. Together, they drove in her car, speaking about everything and anything.

Safe to say, both returned to bed feeling a bit closer and better.

****

Daniel sat in his private jet, en-route to New York.

” I need everything set before I return to Chicago, and I expect prompt feedback on the situation.” He spoke on the phone, his tone- business as usual.

” Yes sir.”

Without wasting any more time, he ended the conversation, and took a sip from his glass, pondering his next string of action.

Having been dethroned to the position of a friend, he needed to get his acts straight and break through the facade she was pulling. Knowing Esther, it was a taunt to push him off, but he took everything as a challenge.

He was going to get her back, and nothing could stand in his way.

After the little escapades with the love of his life, he inevitably had to leave town to offset the pilling duty back in New York.

Daniel believed It was only a matter of time before she fell into his laps, but between that time frame, he knew, was a very long season of hardwork and convincing.

Two things that took the time he didn’t have.