Chapter 6
2109 Words
Linda
Third day.
My judgment day.
Since the day I lost my job, I’d been spending time in my house. Mostly, in my room. I told my parents what happened. They were shocked. Unexpected. Dad was one second to visit the theater to demand explanations but I told him not to. No matter how much money he had, I didn’t want to do something dirty as bargaining with someone to get my job back. Mom…well, like moms usually did, she held me and comforted me to erase my disappointment. I almost cried when I told them the news. I held them back. I couldn’t show my weakness in front of them. Not in front of my parents.
Staring from one side of my room to another, I didn’t know what to do. Looking for a normal job was not really my style. I hated sitting down in front of a computer and typing something. I think I could scream in frustration if I worked as an administrative or something. Absolutely hell to the no. Not that I was insulting that position. Of course, administrations were necessary but it was just not for me. “I am so confused,” I sighed.
I had no idea what to do.
I’d been thinking…to give up. After all, I was half serious about this dream. The reason why I did it was none other because of Jason. He was the reason why I wanted to be an actress. Because he told me I looked like one and I would succeed in this industry. That was it. All because of one man.
Because of him, I threw my real dream away.
People would consider me stupid because I abandoned my dream for a man. Just because of simple words from Jason and bye-bye, dream.
I didn’t want to be an actress.
I wanted to be—
My thought was disturbed when my mobile vibrated on my nightstand. Pushing myself up, I grabbed it. Seeing a message from James.
Hi, Linda.
I heard from Eve you got the role.
Congratulations, but how come you didn’t tell me? I want to properly celebrate it.
When I go there with Eve or you’re coming here, we can have dinner together.
Let us know when the show is. We’ll be there no matter what.
What a sad life.
Everyone was waiting for it. I couldn’t tell him, any of them, that I’d failed. Well, not exactly failed but somebody else stole the job.
I didn’t understand. Why all of this had to happen to me? Everything was perfect. So smooth. Although I was half serious but I was so happy when I got the role. I thought I could go on with this one. I wanted to show my family and friends that I could do this. Was this my punishment because I was doing something that was not meant for me? A hint from the universe that I should pursue my real one?
Maybe I should tell James that I’d lost it. He might be reacted the same as Dad and would figure out who was the asshole responsible for this mess. Not that I would let him.
Before I could text him back, there was a call. From Jason. “Oh, shit.” My eyes widened a bit and I felt nothing but hesitation to pick it up. But it was rare for Jason to call me. He probably heard the news from James. Oh, man. How was I supposed to tell them this devastating news?
But what an i***t I was, I picked up. “Hello?”
“Hi, Linda! Been a while. How’ve you been?”
“I’m…doing great. What about you? How’s London?” What a liar I was. Doing great? I scoffed mentally. Jason didn’t answer. I could imagine his handsome face was blank and was staring at nothing. Sometimes I found that side of Jason incredibly cute. “Jason?”
“Oh, sorry. Um, are you sure you’re all right?” Oh, f**k.
“Why do you say so?”
“You sound…I don’t know, different. Unlike the usual cheerful Linda. You sound…sad. What’s wrong, little one? I want to congratulate you here but if something is bothering you, I’m all ears,” he explained. Although Jason could be airheaded, I couldn’t look down on him. He was a master of reading people’s expressions no matter how stoic our faces were.
“Did you hear anything from James?”
“Nope, I heard it from Cathy. I was so busy these past two weeks and I just heard everything yesterday.”
“I see.”
“So, what happened?”
What should I do? Should I tell him the truth? No one knew what really happened. I only told my parents that the show was canceled. They didn’t know the truth. I was too embarrassed to tell them they got rid of me with somebody else. Something that never happened in my life. In my twenty-three years, I had always been everybody’s number one choice. It kind of hurt my ego. “I…lost the job.”
“What? Why? And how?”
“They got a new one. I think she’s the one everyone wanted to do the role but since she’s from Hollywood, they couldn’t afford her. But then, she changed her mind and wants to do the role. So…yeah. They got rid of the newbie and use the experienced one.”
“That’s ridiculous! Oh, man, I can’t believe this happens to you. Hey, cheer up, okay? I’m sure you will get something even better.” I guessed I was. Something better…from the devil.
“Um, actually, I got an offer in New York?”
“New York? Seriously? That’s amazing! You will accept it, right?”
“I’m still confused. I mean, that’s great but don’t you think it’s kind of weird that they want to debut me as their new actress? Isn’t it too fast?”
“I don’t think so. Look at the bright side, Lin. They kick you out but you receive something big. Maybe you lost the job because you deserve to get something even better. You’re meant to be there, Linda, in New York where you can achieve your dream.” He had no idea about my dream. But his words managed to touch me. The only irritating part was he said the same thing as that bastard. I guessed I shouldn’t tell him about Alex. I had this bizarre feeling that Jason probably knew Alex.
Don't you think by losing your role here is because you're meant for something even greater?
I hated it.
I hated it when Jason’s words exactly the same as Alex.
Because it made me think about him again. I didn’t want to. I knew he was a danger but his offer was incredibly inviting. Alex was giving me a free pass. And Jason was supporting my dream. My half-ass dream. In that case…
“I think you’ve decided, Linda. You already have ever since you received the offer but you made it so difficult in your head. But whatever you will choose, I will always support you,” Jason said.
I smiled at his words. “Thank you, Jason.” And I love you. I wanted to say that to him. I really do. I wanted him to know my feelings. My hidden feeling. My one-sided feeling.
“No problem.”
“But can you promise to not say anything to James or even anyone? I haven’t told this to anyone beside you.”
“Sure thing. My lips are tightly sealed, sweetie.” f**k, don’t call me that! “Well, I should go now. Crystal is looking for me.” Crystal? Oh, his unofficial secretary. I think he called her that.
“Sure. Good luck there.”
“And best of luck to you, Linda. Bye!” I turn off the call.
That was…weird. Or not. Just by talking with Jason, I knew what to do now. The weight on my shoulders for three days had been lifted. I was grateful he called me at the right time. He helped me find my resolve.
“All right then.” I jumped off the bed and changed my clothes. It was still evening and I knew he would be there, waiting for me.
I walked out of the house and headed to that bar. As I entered, he was there sitting on the stool, the same one as three days ago. I never been here after that day. Although he couldn’t see me behind him, he knew I was here. I walked toward him, seeing him wrapped in his black coat. His spicy cologne entered my nostrils. f**k, he smelled good. I sat and turned to the bartender, the same one too. “Tequila.” He nodded and went to make my drink.
We were in complete silence until he let out his voice, “Have you decided?”
“Before I tell you my answer, let me ask you something about this…offer of yours.” My tequila arrived and just like the bartender noticed we were about to talk about something important, he walked away. I turned to Alex, “Why did you offer me this? There are plenty of talents out there. Not just me.”
He sipped his drink. “Like I told you before, Linda, I only want to help you. But at the same time, this is business. I have a project, remember? I want you to do it for me. Here’s the deal, I’m helping you to reach your dream, you’re helping me to get money. It’s a win-win situation, Miss Greene. That’s it.” Hearing him said that, again, there was something behind his words. Explaining that he only did it purely for business besides helping me still sounded fishy to me.
“If that’s so… What do you think if I tell you that I will do anything for this offer?”
He chuckled. “Anything, you say?”
“Yes. Anything.”
“Interesting.” He turned his head, looking straight into my eyes. While I…was trying to find something from his dark eyes. Nothing. Lily once told me eyes couldn’t lie. They were the window to our soul. We could see whether people were lying or not just by looking at their eyes. What they felt. But with Alex, I found nothing. Almost like his eyes were empty. Soulless. He hid his emotion and intention so easily, too deep I couldn’t even reach it. Like he’d been doing it for a long time. Same as James before. Not until he found Eva, but this guy… I didn’t know. Not everyone could be saved by a woman anyway.
To be honest, I didn’t know anything about Alexander Browning. Cathy told me he was the co-owner of the Browning Enterprise. Besides that, I had zero knowledge about this guy and I had never planned to look. He told me before we bumped into each other at his hotel…which I had forgotten until he mentioned it. He was with a woman that night. A woman who I knew was not his girlfriend, probably his w***e. One of his whores. And the second time we met was at his nightclub. When he held Eva as his hostage. Damn, I hated it when someone was trying to attack a woman by keeping her hostage.
Or…was he attracted to Eva? Was he trying to steal Eva from James? Or maybe…he just wanted to play with her. A man like him didn’t love a woman. He was merely using them. Just like he was about to use me. And I was about to use him too. His offer was leading me to my dream.
“So? Your answer?” he asked, making me blink. He took another sip of his drink. I swore, just by looking at his lips…fuck, he looked sexy. I wonder what he could do with those sinful-looking lips? Seriously, Lin?
You know, I didn’t know what would I get if I accepted his offer.
Maybe you lost the job because you deserve to get something even better. You’re meant to be there, Linda, in New York where you can achieve your dream.
I really hoped his words would come true.
I deserved to be there, in New York, at Alex’s agency so I could achieve my dream. So I could be an actress. So Jason would see me. As a woman.
Although I had no idea that my decision…
“I accept your offer.”
…Would be my downfall.
- Writer
