"Please take a seat," Lucius said, glancing down at the paper he was holding.
"Thank you," Estella replied as she sat down.
He didn't look at her when he asked, "Why do you want to be an actress?" Estella thinks he is a snob and has a hostile personality, despite his handsome appearance.
She sat properly before responding to the question. "Simple answer. I'd like to help my family get through poverty. I want to be known for my own talents, and capabilities and I want to make a lot of money. I'd like to get rich immediately." She answered confidently.
The young man gazed at her for the first time, giving her a serious look. Estella had already seen Lucius' face at that point. His attractiveness stems from his wide eyes and lengthy eyelashes in a single setting. That appears to be flawless. He's God's personal favorite because he appeared to be a perfect human being.
She couldn't take her gaze away from Lucius' attractiveness. He's tall, and he's clearly a gym enthusiast. He had a body to die for, and she could feel her heart racing with excitement. She was drawn to him like a magnet, unable to control her attraction. His muscles flexed as he moved, and she felt a warmth in her chest as she looked at him.
"Are you serious?" He asked coldly.
"Yes, I'm serious." Her response was self-assured.
Lucius exhaled deeply and crossed his arms as he leaned his back to his chair. "So, are you saying that you only audition for money?" Lucius asked and laughed while nodding his head. Estella's body went frigid as she gulped hard. As a result, she felt a little self-conscious.
"Let me remind you that this isn't a bank, it's a building for auditionees who want to showcase their talents," Lucius said calmly.
Estella gasped in annoyance. She just stated the true purpose of her audition, but the young man laughed and humiliated her. She feels she's being insulted.
"You don't understand how poverty is killing me, my family, and my dreams because you're rich," she said, holding back tears. Because she was annoyed, she wanted to cry at such moments. This is precisely how the wealthy are. Looking at the destitute like her makes you feel insignificant.
Because of her answer, Lucius regained his wits and stopped questioning the young woman. "You're free to leave now; it's finished." He stated matter-of-factly.
Estella walked out of the room without hesitation, cursing Lucius in her head.
Before the break time, he went through a slew of more interviews. He'll be one of the judges in the studio where the auditionees will prove their acting skills. He proceeded to the next studio after their short break and sat close to the other judges.
"You don't understand! I only did it because I love you, Joshua!" the young woman said as she performed a scene, which surprised the judges.
The woman played great, and Lucius locked his gaze on the name written on paper, which he read in hushed tones.
Estella Velazquez...
If he's not incorrect, this lady is the one who rebuked him earlier in the interview. In the interview, he gave her a poor score, but today, based on its proven acting, he rated it with a high score.
***
Despite his exhaustion, Lucius managed to attend a friend's wedding. Kian, his best friend with Sandra, his cousin. He did not attend the party after the wedding. He had to rest. There are too many projects accepted by his management, and he no longer has time for himself.
"My son, why don't you even say hello to Kelly? She personally came to congratulate you." Her mother greeted him as he walked into their home. He has a condominium property, but he prefers to stay at their family's home sometimes. He can't leave his bedroom because he misses it.
Lucius locked his gaze on Kelly for a second. He moved closer to his mother and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you for coming. But I'll have to excuse myself since I need to take a rest."
“Lucius!”
He ignored his mother's call and went straight to his room. Despite their wealthy state, he would rather do shows, showcase his talent, and spend his own money than be the boss of their own company. He and his father are at odds. His father wanted him to be the new founder, but he hesitated. Lucius also despises his father when he's secretly cheating on her mother.
He didn't want to be in charge of the corporation since it wasn't in his dignity to deal with jobs that aren't up to his standards. A wacky posse of porn stars, prostitutes, and other nasty work. For him, it's obscene. He despises them all.
***
Estella's aura brightened when a manager contacted her and mentioned that he wanted her to work as an actress. The manager will test her if she is well-liked by both the audience and the management.
"Mom! No! Mom! Wake up!”
When she heard her siblings screaming, she ran fast inside their house. Estella appeared unhappy when she saw her mother lying on the floor with blood on her nose.
Her siblings approached her as soon as she entered the house.
"She just fainted out!" Her siblings screamed in terror. Even though she was at a loss for what to do, she must not be disheartened; her siblings rely on her, so she must be strong.
"Help! Our mother! " Her voice turned hoarse just to ask for help from their neighbors. Their neighbors came out of their houses right away to help them.
Several people helped in the lifting of her mother. They were sent to an ambulance. She prayed continuously while the ambulance was moving. She fights back tears while looking at her mother. Estella doesn't want to make her siblings think that she is weak.
Her two siblings were sobbing till they got to the hospital, and she was soothing them. Assuring them that everything will be fine.
"We are cash-strapped... I'm not sure how we're going to get Mom out of here. " Her younger brother stated. He may be young, but he understands how poverty affects their families.
"I'll take care of it, okay?" She said as she caressed her sibling's hair.
After a few moments, the doctor emerged from the emergency room and approached Estella.
"The patient must remain in this facility. She must be restrained." The doctor said, then paused. He sighed and took his surgical gloves off his hands
"I'd like to be straightforward. Your mother needs surgery due to a large lump in her belly. That's causing internal hemorrhage. There is no other option than surgery, so be prepared to spend a lot of money." The doctor added. Making Estella freeze.
"You must sign this waiver before we begin the operation." She was handed a piece of paper by the doctor. "I'm also reminding you of something. The patient's health is under threat. She only has a 50% chance of surviving. So. We're speeding up the process, and you'll make your decision tonight. " Even though she didn't have the money yet, she undoubtedly signed it.
She'll also figure out a method to make a lot of money tomorrow. She'll talk to the manager and give her a lot of projects just to have money for her mother's operation. She'll beg for projects in desperation and she'll do whatever it takes to make money.
When Carla heard the news, she went to the hospital right away.
"What are you up to now?" Carla asked Estella.
"I'll talk to the management about giving additional projects, so I can pay for Mother's surgery."
Her friend regrettably averted her gaze. "If I had money, I would have lent it to you. This is why-"
"I understand you have a family as well; as long as you support me, that will be enough."
They exchanged a friendly smile. "You'll be able to get through it all. You're strong." Carla's words of encouragement made her cry, and tears welled up in her eyes.
***
She left the hospital as soon as she saw the sunrise in the morning. Her sisters were in the care of Carla, a friend who was staying with them all day.
"Please, no acting practices for me. I need projects that can be completed quickly. " Estella is like a dog, crying for a manager to accept her, but the management refused since she needed to go through rehearsal acting first.
"I'm so sorry, but-"
"As long as I have projects, I'll do anything, in whatever role. Just please help me," she pleaded as she knelt. Her eyes welled up with tears.
The manager took her hand and helped her stand. "Fine, I'll figure something out. Just make sure you don't let me down," said the manager.
Estella's lips curved into a smile. Her grin was contagious. "Yes, yes. Promise! Thank you very much."
Estella sat in her manager's office, waiting. She wandered across the office. She stood in awe at the portraits of well-known artists in the entertainment industry in her manager's workplace, until the manager arrived. She and someone with her who looked decent, so she was happy to greet the lady.
"Good morning," she greeted.
The lady gave a forced smile before speaking. "I spoke with the Chairman. Vanessa from Skyrim Entertainment has returned, according to the Chairman. As a result, Lucius has a partner and there are no open projects for a beginner. Because you're a newbie, you won't get anything right away. So, no more explanation. Please excuse me, I have to go."
She can't return to the hospital since she doesn't have enough money to pay for her mother's surgery.
"Estella-"
She ran away, crying, and didn't know what to do. She has no idea where to go as long as she runs while shedding tears in her eyes. Estella doesn't know what to do next. She was slowly losing hope.
Her cellphone, which had a keypad, unexpectedly rang as she was running. She stopped in the park and sat down. Only numbers were revealed. She felt a little jittery and hesitant to pick up the phone. But, in the end, she answered.
"Hello, Estella. I'm Delia, one of the best managers in Skyrim Entertainment. Someone will pick you up there in the park, just wait for a moment, and we can talk about your price. "
And then the call ended.
When the call abruptly stopped, she would have responded. She felt jittery and unsure. She didn't know where she got her number or even who she was. There are questions banging in her head. Her mind wanders to the question, but she needs money. The van sped away and was parked in the large parking lot in a matter of minutes.
"Good morning, Ms. Estella Velasquez. We can discuss my offers here," a woman said as she walked inside the van.
"W-Who are you?" She stuttered while asking due to nervousness.
Delia gave a big smile. "My name is Delia. I heard you need money, a lot of money for your mother's operation, am I correct? "
"What do you want from me? Why do you know those things, who told you these?" she asked the lady, her expression astonished. She didn't know the woman, and Delia didn't know her at all, but why did she know these details?
"Are you looking for fast cash?"
"Yes, you are correct; I need immediate funds; do you have an offer for me? I can do anything as long as the exchange is big money," she stated. The woman smiled and handed her an envelope, but Delia acted quickly and snatched the envelope out of her hands as if she were playing a silly game.
She was going to take up the envelope when the woman took it. Delia, on the other hand, snatched the envelope again, as if she were toying with her. "Easy. Being an artist is not what I'm offering to you. I'm offering you a project that has the potential to derail an artist's career. Still interested?"
"Let's go right to it. What is it?"
Delia slightly chuckled. "All you have to do now is to smear Lucius Hudson's name and reputation in public. I want you to destroy him but don't worry, scripts are provided. It can be your training ground as an actor," Delia said, then smiled.
She was speechless. She was taken aback by Delia's offer, which piqued her interest.
"Why? Why do you feel tempted to wreck his life? "
"It's none of your concern. Do you accept my offer, or are you going to back off?"
She can't afford to damage someone else for the sake of profit, yet her mother's life is at stake. In exchange, she must get it before others do, even if it is against her will.
"Fine. I'll accept it as long as that money is exactly 200 thousand pesos." Estella said while pointing at the envelope that Delia was holding.
Delia gave a devilish grin. "There's more money in this envelope than you're asking for.
There's nothing to be concerned about." Delia stated and offered the envelope. She promptly accepted it without a doubt.
"Tomorrow morning. Someone will be interviewing you here in the SKYRIM Building. Good luck!" She added. The woman exited the car and demanded that the driver take her to the hospital. She knew it was wrong to damage someone's reputation, but she didn't have a choice. For the sake of her mother's surgery and her family's future.
LUCIUS was doing his favorite exercise, barbell weightlifting when his phone rang. Lucius sighed and checked his phone. It was his manager calling, which made him mad. Before answering the phone, he took a few moments to contemplate. In his mind, his manager must respect him while he rests, but Lucius thinks that his manager doesn't know that the word "respect" exists.'Lucius, hurry up and turn on your television to catch up on the latest news! ' His boss screamed, panicked, which irritates him even more.'Great! Fucking fantastic! 'This is what I mean when I say I'm relaxing,' he said quietly to himself in annoyance.Lucius groaned and hung up his phone.He grumbled as he walked out of his gym. His gym, which is located within his condo unit, is one of his favorite places. He walked to the gym's nearby small bar and poured Brandy into a glass.Lucius sat on his plush sofa, holding the glass. He turned on his flat-screen TV and switched to the live news station.“Yes, Lucius Hudson i
"Are you serious?" Estella quickly recognized his furious tone, but she knew he was merely suppressing his emotions for her own sake. She is unable to talk and must maintain her stance. Forever. She glanced aside and said, "I'm sorry, but I have to go home." She gently moved the man away from her before she stepped away from the kitchen. She attempted to stand up straight, but she failed. She winced in discomfort. Her wound is still not healing well. She is aware of the discomfort caused by her wound. "Do you think I'll simply let you go? You wrecked my life." Estella sighed and raised her head upwards. "Mr. Hudson, I told you that you can do anything to me, hurt me if you don't want to send me away. I want you to punish me for the things I've done!" The young man laughed out loud and moved closer to her. "Are you sure? Are you kidding me? Who is the source of your evilness? You appear to be too afraid to say anything." She took a swallow. She attempted to keep her voice steady
When Estella woke up, she sat up as she remembered two strangers peering at her in Lucius' room. The man even came in to talk to her till he closed the door of the room, allowing her to breathe comfortably, but Estella fell asleep by accident. She was hungry, and her skin was greasy. She hadn't taken a bath since arriving at Lucius' condo unit. It's nearly midnight, and it's dark outside the big windows of his room. She and Lucius had been together for nearly a day. Her thigh hurt again, making it difficult for her to move. She staggered out of the room, grimacing at the searing agony that was developing in her thigh with each step of her feet. She can't move her hip, she can't walk normally, she's in pain, and it's all her fault. Nobody else is to blame. She just has herself to blame for her mistakes. She saw Lucius's head inclined as she moved her feet in the kitchen. The alcoholic drink is on the table opposite it, and there is a cake in the middle that appears to be his food wh
Estella exited the bathroom wearing a black knee-length t-shirt even though it was intended for men. She brushed her hair while looking in the mirror to examine her face. She dropped off the comb when she was finished, then hurriedly went down. Look around as if someone were hiding—there, here, left, right. Her meal had been interrupted earlier when she smelled her own horrible smell, so she grinned when she couldn't see the young man and hurried to the kitchen. "It tastes good! Good goodness, the refrigerator has plenty of food." Estella said as she ate the menudo from the refrigerator, her mouth full. Estella was eating when the doorbell rang outside. Her heart pounded because she thought the police were coming. She was afraid the young man would let her go. What if... She is experiencing so many unfavorable thoughts. "Estella, go inside the room." She was startled when she heard the young man's voice. "Faster, Estella! Bring what you eat." "O-okay.." She dashed into the bedro
Estella awoke, feeling glad, and, for unknown reasons, smiled as she got out of bed. As long as she is in a good mood and feels nothing but pleasure. Is it because of the young man that he doesn't compel her to speak the truth? Especially since he is protecting her? She keeps a smile on her lips until she takes a shower. "Estella?" The voice came from outside the bedroom door, and it seemed to be Lucius calling her. She quickly wrapped a towel around her body before going out and went straight to the door to let the young man in. "Ah, good morning. What-" "Get dressed and go downstairs," said the young man, who didn't know where to look because only a towel was draped over the woman's body and half of her chest or cleavage peeked out. The young woman quickly followed the young man. She got dressed, and the clothes she was wearing were a young man's t-shirt that reached her knees. After that, she went down without a comb, and in her haste, she almost slipped. Luckily, she was clut
It's a good thing that Lucius' cousin Sandra, was kind enough to grant his request, although he was aware she was preoccupied and had a lot on her schedule. She also agreed to accompany Estella while he was not at the condo, so he was content to leave Estella at the condominium. The scandal harmed his image even more. He knows the edits are just that, and he'll prove everything to the public soon to clear his name. When Lucius heard what had happened inside his condo while he was still in the garage, he immediately ran upstairs to check. The young woman was screeching as she picked up the broken bottle, and Lucius was calling out her name, "Estella!" However, the young woman seemed to hear nothing as she knelt to start picking up small pieces of broken bottles on the floor. The young woman was holding the glass when he approached and grabbed her. She pulled it up and saw blood on her finger, but the woman didn't seem hurt, even though it was bleeding. "Lucius? So it's you! Drink t
Sandra grinned while holding her hand. "I'm sorry. Last night I truly planned to make you drunk." She gripped her hand tighter, her guilt visible in her eyes, and waited for her to explain. "I did that because I needed to know the truth; why you were able to discredit Lucius, why you lied. I was upset with you last night, but after hearing your story, my anger faded and was replaced by awe and sympathy." She became tense suddenly. What if they discovered who had ordered her? She didn't want anything to happen to her family. To get away with it, she had to do something. She was aware that the issue could explode anytime, but she needs to get the family away first so as not to get involved in the chaos. "Are you mad?" Sandra inquired her. She was also holding her hand. "Why would I be angry? You should be angry with me, but why don't you yell at me now, even though you already know the truth?" "Because I know you've just done that for your glamorous mother and siblings, you're just
She was so defensive that she raised her voice and interrupted Sandra and Kian's sweetness; they were now looking at her with confused expressions on their faces due to the noise she caused. "What happened?" Sandra inquired. Her smile was forced. "I-I'm sorry, I just screamed because it felt like a cockroach was crawling up my leg." "Lucius? Is there a cockroach here?" Sandra elevated her legs on the chair in fear. "Why do you have cockroaches in your condo, and why are you not cleaning it?" Lucius stood up and shook his head, carrying his own plate and placing it in the sink. Her gaze was fixed on the young man's every action. He looked at her before leaving the kitchen. Lucius was just sitting on the terrace, taking in some fresh air and pondering on what had happened the night before. He was more concerned with that than with his problems. In frustration, he rubbed his face with his two palms. He was upset with himself, but he couldn't stop himself from being annoyed by the wo