Chapter 6

As Alexander's words hung in the air, there was this subtle tension between Nathan and him. It was clear that Nathan's plan had been foiled, at least for the time being. I turned to leave, but not before catching a glimpse of a familiar face across the room - Alicia. When did she get here, "I guess she's always hovering around you" I said and they both shifted eyes to her.

Alicia's gaze lingered on me for a moment before she regained her composure. She must have overheard us.

A sly smile spread across her face, this bitch getting some funny ideas.

She felt threatened, and I could sense her mind racing with ways to take me down. 

After the staring competition she walked towards us, surprisingly Nathan walked to her grabbed her wrist and took her out.

"Lovers quarrel" Alexander said and chuckled

The entertainment industry, here I come. And Alicia, you're going to find out that the Paula you bullied back then is not the same person I am today.

***

Today marked my first day in the entertainment industry, and I couldn't help but feel so much, I'm finally venturing into something I love even after all those hard times.

As I stepped into the grand lobby of Eclipse Entertainment, my eyes widened in awe. The first thing that caught my attention was a stunning statue of the legendary singer, Aurora Wynter, her voice and legacy inspiring generations of artists. I felt a surge of excitement, knowing that I was about to embark on my own musical journey.

The lobby was a gallery of sorts, showcasing the talents of Eclipse Entertainment's roster of artists. Beautiful portraits, sleek sculptures, and vibrant installations adorned the walls and floor, it left me breathless.

I approached the reception desk, where a friendly staff member greeted me. "Hi, welcome to Eclipse Entertainment. Can I see your ID, please?" I handed over my identification, and she smiled. "Great, you're clear to enter. Enjoy your first day!"

As I walked through the secure doors, I heard a familiar voice behind me. "What's the princess doing out of her castle?" It's always the witch.

Alicia's tone was dripping with sarcasm. I turned to face her, her eyes shooting daggers at me. Flanked by two girls who seemed to be her loyal minions. They chuckled in unison, and I wondered what they found so amusing.

Alicia's attempt to intimidate me was transparent, and I wasn't having it. I knew her tactics all too well - she felt threatened and was trying to cover it up with her usual arrogance. "What would you be doing here?. You must have done something underhanded to get here, right?"

"I'm not like you; I don't resort to shady dealings to get ahead". I retorted

Alicia's face turned red with rage 

"Get something to do, Alicia!" I just smiled, knowing I had gotten under her skin. She stomped her feet in anger, then stormed off to God knows where, the girl with blonde hair shot me a death stare and they both followed her behind

I couldn't care less, I guessed right, they were her lackeys after all.

***

Alicia in the restroom, she pulled out her phone and made a call.

"She's back, and she seems different. What am I supposed to do?" she lamented to the person on the other end of the line.

***

I had blended seamlessly into my new life. Everything felt effortlessly in place. I was finally living in the moment, free from the burdens of her past.

For now, no Alicia or Nathan. They were distant memories, though my revenge plan still simmered in the back of my mind.

Over the next few weeks, i settled into my new routine, spending long hours in the recording studio, working with producers to develop my song, taking dance classes and working on my stage presence.

"Well done, Miss Paula," my trainer praised, beaming with pride. "Your voice is truly exceptional."

Days turned into weeks, and my life continued on this upward trajectory. I was exactly where she was meant to be, and it felt amazing.

Alicia, on the other hand, seemed to be keeping a low profile, we never seemed to cross paths. I wondered if she was just biding her time, waiting for the perfect moment to strike.

Meanwhile, Alicia's been getting info on all Paula's activities. It was like she was living in a nightmare, with Paula as the star and she, relegated to the sidelines.

She was seething with resentment, feeling like Paula was stealing the spotlight and getting all the attention.

Finally it's the D-Day, the audition operated by Eclipse every year to pick the star of the year.

Alex had video-called me earlier, apologizing for not being able to attend my audition. Business had taken him out of town for a while, business could be unpredictable, and I appreciated his sincerity plu I could understand the demands of his schedule. 

I sat in front of my mirror, carefully applied a light layer of foundation to even out my complexion. I added a touch of blush to my cheeks, giving me a subtle glow. My eyes sparkled as I lined them with a soft brown pencil, finishing the look with a swipe of mascara.

Next, I picked up a tube of lipstick and applied a shade of coral pink to my lips. The color complimented my skin tone perfectly, adding a pop of color to my overall look.

I styled my hair in a neat, low bun, securing it with a few bobby pins. Slipped on a fitted white blouse and a flowy black skirt, the perfect outfit for my audition.

As I gave myself a final once-over, took a deep breath, letting my shoulders relax, and smiled cheerfully at my reflection.

With my music case in hand, I headed out the door and drove to the Eclipse Entertainment building. As I arrived, I could feel the excitement building. The whole place was buzzing with preparations for the audition.

Backstage, the atmosphere was electric. Presenters were rehearsing their introductions, and the sound team was doing last-minute checks on the equipment. .

I had to do a quick practice since there's still time.

As I made my way to the recording studio, I couldn't help but notice the whispers and glances from the other artists and staff members. Some of them seemed curious, their eyes scanning me with interest, while others looked at me with a mixture of suspicion and disdain. I felt a shiver run down my spine as I caught the tail end of a conversation between two girls, who were looking at me with scornful expressions.

"I heard she bought her way into this industry," one of them said,

 "Money can't buy talent, but I guess it can buy auditions." The other girl snickered in agreement, and they both turned back to their conversation, no doubt dissecting every aspect of my life.

My face is growing hot with annoyance. Who were these people to judge me? Did they know anything about my struggles and hard work? I thought about confronting them, about telling them that they had no idea what they were talking about. But I knew that would only fuel the fire, giving them more ammunition to use against me.

Instead, I took a deep breath and tried to brush it off. I reminded myself that I had worked hard to get where I was, and I wasn't going to let rumors and gossip bring me down.

As I stood in line for the audition, I could feel the eyes of the other contestants on me. I noticed Alicia and her minions talking to the other contestants, and this Alicia, noticing me, gave a very sly smile and walked away. Oh, she was the beginning of the rumors, I guess. I thought she was being calm for nothing; she was so childish, even up to the end. But I chilled them down, focusing on my music.

When it was finally my turn, I took a deep breath, stepped onto the stage, and the emcee announced my name. I smiled confidently as I walked up to the microphone. I adjusted the mic stand, my hands shaking slightly with nerves. But as soon as the music began, I forgot all about my worries, flowed with it, moving with the beat. Yeah, at that moment, I felt it was just me in a quiet room, with just the beats and music started.

While launching into the choreography as well, my body moved in perfect sync with the music. I started with a series of sharp, precise movements, my hips swinging to the beat. As the music built up, I kept singing along, and the audience was entranced, their eyes fixed on me as I performed.

When it was time for the vocal part, I grabbed the mic and belted out the lyrics,, hitting all the high notes with ease. I danced and swung, my body moving in time with the music. The audience was clapping along, cheering me on.

It was at that moment I looked at the front, and saw Alexander. I could see a huge smile on his face. He's always the best,. When did he even get here? He was clearly impressed, and that gave me the confidence to give it my all.

I poured my heart and soul into the performance, giving it everything I had. The music swelled, and I let my voice soar. I was lost in the moment, completely absorbed in the music.

The emcee came up to me, beaming with a smile. "Wow, that was incredible!" he exclaimed. "You have a truly gifted voice." I smiled, feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment. I had worked hard for this moment, and it felt amazing to have it pay off.

As I walked off the stage, I felt self-assured. I had proven myself, and I knew I had what it took to make it in this industry. I was ready for whatever came next, and I knew I would give it my all.

As I stood in the backstage area,

 I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease with Alicia and her minions still lingering around. I wondered what business she had here, she always has something up her sleeves.

Just as I was starting to feel a bit frustrated by her presence, one of the judges approached me with a warm smile. "Paula, right?" He asked and I nodded in response "you're doing well," he said, his voice filled with encouragement. "Keep it up, and you'll definitely get into the final round. And who knows, you might even win."

I felt a surge of gratitude and confidence at his words, and I smiled back at him. "Thank you so much, sir," I said. "That means a lot to me."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I realized that Alicia was not going to give up easily. She was going to keep trying to bring me down, no matter what it took.

But I was not going to let her get to me. I was going to stay focused and keep pushing forward, no matter what obstacles Alicia threw my way.

I took a deep breath and steeled myself for what was to come. I knew that I had to be strong and resilient if I was going to make it in this industry. And I was determined to do just that.

My phone beeped and it was a message from my fiance, Alexander.

My worry was replaced with happiness almost immediately, I packed my bag and went down to meet him.

There he was, arms wide open as I ran in for a hug like my life depended on it.

"You said you couldn't make it ?" I murmured

"I had to,it's my woman's audition" he responded as I broke the hug and placed a gentle kiss on his lips.

"Let's get you home" he said and slide my bag on his shoulders.