Episode2
1063 Words
Chapter Two
Joel Watson looks outside the car window and sights the giant sign of the ZEE Airport. It was finally time for the one thing he has dreaded all his life. Taking over The Watson Hotels.
His father, George Watson, the founder and current CEO of The Watson Hotels, has always drummed it into his ears ever since that incident happened, even when Joel was having incessant nightmares and was battling depression and insomnia, his father never hesitated to always remind that he was now the next in line as CEO and Joel had always hated it.
He was never interested in business management, not like he had anything in particular that he was interested in, he lost every passion in him since that day, after that day he became numb and was just living a day as it comes. Joel did not want that position.
It did not belong to him.
It was his brother's. It was his dreams and aspirations.
Now taking over such a position felt like he was stealing it. He was taking what was not originally his. And that was why he ran away at first. He told his father he wanted to go into the acting industry. Being an actor was a source of escape for Joel, he loved being an actor because he was surprisingly good at it and viewers and directors loved his works.
It seemed like acting was an inborn talent for him. Being an actor also made him forget. Especially bonuses that came along with the job, the fame, the attention, and the women. It also trained him to build his walls very high, people only saw what he allowed them to.
Everything was going well for him until the spark died.
He could no longer pretend for the camera. The filming, the several photoshoots every day, the enormous fame, the stalking fans, the attention from the female celebrities, everything became tiring. He no longer found happiness in the job. Even though happiness has always been a facade, Joel now found it exhausting to even put on that facade.
Then he decided to quit.
He announced his retirement, to the shock of everybody in the industry, and called his parents that he was ready to take over The Watson Hotels as CEO.
"Mr. Joel, we're here sir" His P.A., Damien announced.
Joel released an exasperated sigh, adjusted his suit, and proceeded to come down from the car as his bodyguard opened the car door of the backseat.
‘Here goes nothing.’ Joel thought to himself.
Immediately the influx of reporters and fans sighted him, they rushed towards him. His bodyguards quickly blocked the huge crowd from reaching him. The reporters began to ask him several questions as usual.
"Joel Watson, why did you retire suddenly?"
"Was your management agency aware of your retirement?"
"Are the rumors of you taking over your family hotel business true?"
"Is it true you're retiring because you got someone pregnant?"
"Did your management fire you because you had a fistfight with Director Marcus and your retirement announcement was a cover-up?"
The reporters continue to bombard him with different kinds of questions. Most of them are ridiculous.
"Is it true you're getting engaged to Bella Fox?"
Joel stopped in his tracks at that particular question.
A "What the f**k" spew out of his mouth before he could control himself.
Damien whispered to his ears, "Ignore sir" and urged him forward, while his bodyguards continued to clear the crowd to make way for him.
"Who the f**k is Bella Fox?" Joel asked his P.A Immediately they were safe inside the car taking him to the hotel.
"Uhm....the Bella Fox..." Damien replied, with little hesitancy in his voice.
Joel threw him a blank look. Damien's forehead creased a bit.
"Mr. Joel... you don't know who Bella Fox is??"
Joel shrugged his shoulders in response.
"If I knew, I wouldn't be asking you, Damien. Who is Bella Fox and why the hell did that reporter ask if I'm engaged to her?"
Damien brought out his iPad, typed on it for a while, and gave it to Joel.
"That is Bella Fox, she's a model. A celebrity model for the famous Golden Star." Damien said.
Joel scrolled up and down and returned the iPad to Damien.
"Okay, so what does that have to do with the stupid question that the reporter asked me?" Joel countered.
Damien let out a sigh. "Mr. Joel, I think you're worried over nothing. Journalists would do anything to get your attention. It's nothing, sir."
Joel gave no reply, simply closed his eyes, and rested back on the seat.
"Mrs Carter. What do you mean I'm Joel Watson's waiting attendant? I...I don't think I'm capable of this job." Zara said to her supervisor, still utterly confused about why she was being assigned to the CEO's son.
"Zara, I mean exactly what I just said. And if I say you're capable, then you are. Besides, it's for three months. Joel's waiting attendant will be rotated every three months. And you can't change this conclusion. It's final." Mrs. Carter rationalized.
Zara nodded her head and walked out of her supervisor's office.
She doesn't know much about Joel Watson but she has heard several stories. She has heard about how impatient and arrogant he is and Natalie mentioned earlier that he is also a popular actor, so she doesn't need to be told that his personality is going to suck.
Given her intolerant personality, Zara doesn't have the confidence that she wouldn't lose her temper with him, and losing her temper with a VIP, and the next CEO at that means losing her job.
"Why did Mrs. Carter call for you?" Natalie asked immediately as Zara walked into the office.
Zara sank into her chair, rubbing her forehead.
"I'm the waiting attendant for Joel Watson."
"What??!" Natalie exclaimed loudly, drawing the attention of others in the office.
"Why??" Natalie's eyes are almost bulging out of their sockets.
Zara lets out a tired sigh. She realized she seems to be doing that a lot recently.
She's already dealing with life as it is, she doesn't think she has any mental strength to handle more, and being the waiting attendant to Joel Watson is
more than enough.
“Being his attendant can change your life for good. For better, or for worse.”
- Writer
