Rise of the Billionaire actress

After a night at the club, Anna stood by the sidewalk, waiting for a cab back to the hotel. Her satin-thigh-split dress left little to the imagination on a Monday morning.

Somehow, despite how blurred her night was, she managed to get out of the club house intact. Unlike people who lost their belongings while in a haze, she got lucky.

Grumbling about the chilly weather, she spotted her hotel across the road and mindlessly dashed towards it. Unknown to her, the lights turned red. A black SUV screeched to a stop in front of her.

Before the assailant could step out, her sight was spotted and she fell unconscious. In that state, Anna got bundled into the car, headed to the nearest hospital.

She felt herself in motion after a few minutes and immediately sat up, eyes aghast. ” Who are you? Let me go!”

” Sit tight. We’re going to the hospital. Do you have a contact? Maybe your mother?” Her abductor said, and she couldn’t help but notice his tightened grip.

Suddenly, everything returned to her. She gasped, ” You almost killed me!”

” Correction. You crashed into my car, what are you? Blind?” Anna didn’t expect such lashing from him, at least not in the moment.

” Drop me off.” She hissed,

” Gladly. Unfortunately, I need to be sure you are in good condition. Smile through the pain and next time, look both sides before you fucking cross.”

” Don’t raise your voice at me, Mr..”

” Moses. The name’s Moses. This is my car and I’ll talk to you however the hell I want.”

Anna didn’t notice the car stop.

” Get down, I’m already late as is.” Moses walked around the car, while she watched dumbfoundedly. He pulled the door open and raised an impatient brow.

Soon, they were in the hospital and arguing for the nth time.

” I need your parents number. Somebody has to be responsible for you and I’m done doing that.” He ruffled his hair. ” Don’t be a brat.”

” Can I go now? I’m not dead yet. Isn’t that enough proof?” This time, she didn’t wait for an answer and walked out the examination room.

” Fucking childish.” Moses muttered and followed suit, leaving the medical professional who gauged them with an amused smile.

*****

For the first time in a while, Deloise arrived ten minutes early. She took a spot by the set, rehearsing her lines in preparation for the day’s shoot. Unlike other days, she felt pressured to be at an immortal level with her craft.

It wasn’t news – the rivalry between the top female leads of the production. A rivalry that somehow managed to spread through the set, creating a competitive air around the two women.

It grew to a point where her skills were always measured to that of Stella – who was more than happy to be in the toxic judgemental cycle. Deloise prepped her mind for the day’s job, with all her scenes involving Stella, she armoured herself for the judgment that undoubtedly followed their interaction.

” Hello there,” Stella’s unpleasantly sharp voice jolted her from the brewing thoughts. ” I see you’re still learning the lines.”

” Revising.” Deloise’s voice was taut. She glanced over the clock,” there’s still extra five minutes.” She informed, praying the little devil walked away, but no such luck.

” Great! That would be enough time for me to brush you up – I mean- brush over the lines with you.” She suggested, and without waiting for a reply, plummeted beside her, script in hand.

“Yeah..” Deloise muttered underneath her breath. Apparently, she couldn’t take a hint.

” Where do we start?” Stella tutted, ” Surely, you should know how to take demeaning words, it’s going to be very easy seeing how simple you are. What do you think?” She taunted,

” Not interested.”

The coldness in Deloise’ voice struck a surprise chord.

” Why? Scared I’ll best you? It’s only a rehearsal, no need to be upright.”

Deloise didn’t speak. She resolved to keep Stella at arms length until the need be. A decision that prepared her for the day she knew would be filled with poorly hidden jabs.

Towards the end of the five hour shoot, Ms. Ema stepped on set, causing a ruckus with her presence. Deloise stiffened at her presence but continued her shoot nonetheless.

This time, she gave twice as much as she did. With every eye on her performance, it gradually became clear where their loyalty lied.

It didn’t surprise her though, what surprised her was the sharp attacks at her performance afterwards.

” What is this?” Came the piercing voice of Ms Ema. ” This scene is supposed to portray the scorn of a woman who lost her child. All I see is a display of forced acting.” She sneered, ” If you got this role by underhanded means, you should at least try to do a good job at it.”

Deloise retained her peace, which didn’t seem to go well with Ms Ema- who immediately called her out.

” Don’t just stand there like you didn’t hear me, Deloise! Get back out there and redo these shots. You make the others look terrible with your poor acting!”

Heads were turned, and the atmosphere was riddled with bad electricity. Deloise could feel all eyes on her, expecting to see her lose her cool or do something.

Deloise returned to the set, redoing the shots alone while more jabs and insults got thrown her way. Unknown to her, Mr. Daniel arrived at the scene, just in time to see the entire drama unfold with Mr Austin in tow.

” What is going on here?” His voice thundered his displeasure. ” Both of you, in my office, now.”

Deloise tiredly made her way towards Daniel. She refused to slouch or bow as she passed Ms. Ema who couldn’t stand her presence.

Moments after Deloise was gone, Daniel remained in his place, waiting for her to oblige. ” I believe I made myself clear, Ms. Ema.” His tone signaled his warning.

With a huff, Ema sashayed her way into the building, muttering how disrespectful he was along the way. Inside the office, Daniel took a seat behind the table, facing the two women.

” What happened back there?” He asked, controlling his anger.

Deloise spoke first, ” I’m sorry about that. It was a misunderstanding that wouldn’t repeat itself-”

” I wasn’t asking you.” He gritted, ” Ms. Ema, kindly explain to me why you decided to turn my set into stupid display of power.”

” Excuse you! I demand an apology.” She hissed, ” I was only trying to do my job. This is my script for crying out loud, excuse me for demanding the best.” She fumed, ” infact, I want her out of the set. Stella is more fit for the position. I want her out.”

” Let me make this clear.” Daniel started, ” this is my show, and if you still want to be a part of it, I suggest you know your place and quit disrupting my set or actors.” He hissed, ” let this be my first and last warning.”

” I see you brought me in here to insult me.” She picked up her bag, ” I’ll see myself out.”

With that, Ms Ema walked out of the office, brimming with anger at the disrespect dished out to her in the presence of the swine.