REBORN AS THE CEO’s DIVA

Best Actress.

Three months later.

The Golden Globes awards. The Livingston, New York.

Zoey sat in the front row, looking at the stage with so much enthusiasm. She wore gold, not red this time around. Gold, according to her, was for winning. Her hair was packed up in a bun and her gold jewelries complemented her skin so well. She sat with a straight back and a straight face, nothing was really funny until she was declared winner.

Ethan Cole sat next to her with his hand on the armrest, just one inch from hers. He wore a black shirt and a white suit with dark shades to complement the look.

“Are you nervous?” He asked her, loud enough for only her to hear.

“No.” She bluntly lied. “But, are you?”

He looked at her. “I don’t get nervous, Zee.”

The host opened up the envelope. “And the Golden Globes awards for Best Actress goes to…”

The entire room went silent, their eyes lingering on the big screen to reveal the winner.

Mia was in row 20. She wore a fake smile, pretending to be happy for Zoey. Ever since the premiere, her career had died.

Adrian wasn’t even invited. The hashtag, “AdrianGreyhoundIsOver never stopped and he had resulted to drinking himself to stupor. He had been posting drunk videos for the past three months but no one really cared.

“…Zoey Walker! Crimson Throne!”

The room exploded with screams and flashing lights.

Zoey stood up and walked slowly to the stage. She wanted to cry but couldn’t, she controlled her shaking legs with confidence,

“I can’t break down right now.” She said to herself and held her head up high.

She walked up to the stage and took the award. It was so heavy. It was gold, good lord, real gold.

She looked at the cameras, at Mia’s hate, at Adrian, from wherever he was watching, then at Ethan.

“Thank you,” she said with a clear voice.

“Five years ago, I died. My name was Sophia Taylor, my boyfriend hit me, my best friend betrayed me and stole my entire life, then they killed me.”

The room went completely silent.

“But I came back, as a force.” She held the award up. “My name is Zoey Walker, and I don’t die twice!”

She continued.

“This is for every girl who was told to be quiet. Don’t be, queen! Be loud! Win, and make them watch.”

The crowd completely lost it. The whole room applauded, screamed and stood up for her. “Thank you once again.”

She walked off the stage and didn’t look back.”

Ethan was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps. He didn’t clap nor smile at her, he simply held out his hand to her.

“Clause 12b,” he said. “You won, now I have you, Zee.”

Zoey didn’t argue, she put her award in his hand and also put her hand in his.

“Okay, you can have me now.”

He closed his fingers around hers, so tight.

“Not here.” He pulled her past the crowd and cameras and went into a quiet hall.

He pushed her against the wall, not hard, but close to it. With his body blocking hers from the world, like he owned her entire existence.

“You made me wait for so long,” he said. “Three full months of your spicy red dresses and your smart mouth and your ‘not yet’, I was losing it.”

“You know I had to win first.” She said with her breaths rising. “Sophia waited for men, but Zoey makes men wait.”

Ethan laughed for real this time. “And now?”

“Now, I’m done waiting.”

He kissed her. It was nothing like the kiss from the photo shoot, that kiss was war but this was fire. His mouth was more than hungry. His hands were all over her body, on her waist, her neck and in her hair. She pulled him closer and bit his lip again. He growled loudly.

The gold award fell and hit the floor but neither of them cared.

BANG. A loud sound suddenly came from outside.

Ethan moved fast and pushed Zoey behind him, with his whole image covering hers.

BANG! BANG!

They could hear loud screams from inside the hall.

“ADRIAN!” Someone yelled. “HE HAS A GUN!”

Zoey looked past Ethan’s shoulder.

It was Adrian, he stood at the end of the hall, drunk and crying, with his gun shaking in his hand.

“You took everything!” He screamed at Zoey.

“My career, my life! She was mine! Sophia was mine!”

“Sophia is dead!” Zoey said and stepped out from behind Ethan. “You killed Sophia, I’m Zoey! And I’m not yours!”

Adrian lifted the gun and pointed it at her.

Ethan immediately stepped in front. “Before you get to her, you have to get through to me first.

“Ethan! No!” Zoey grabbed his arm.

“Enough!” Security guards ran in fast and took Adrian down. His gun fell and he screamed like an injured animal.

The hall suddenly became quiet except Adrian crying on the floor.

Zoey was shaking but not from fear, but from anger. She was seeing red at that point. She started walking to Adrian and Ethan tried to stop her but she pushed past him.

“Last life, you killed me and walked freely.” Her voice was cold as ice. “This life, you go to jail and I go home with him!” She pointed at Ethan.

“Take him away.” Ethan ordered. He screamed at the top of his lungs but it was futile.

Ethan returned his gaze back to her. His eyes were proud and hungry.

“You okay?” He asked.

“No.” She walked to him and put her hands on his chest. “But I will be. Take me home, Ethan.”

He picked up her award from the floor and put it in her hand. Then he picked her up like she weighed nothing.

“Clause 12b starts now,” he said against her mouth. “And, I’m not gentle.”