chapter 7

At Elite Entertainment company, the whole building became dead quiet as the CEO walked in. He had never set foot in the company building unless there was a serious problem. With his arrival coupled with the problems that was being experienced by their biggest competitor, it was no longer business as usual.

The president and vice president immediately ran to his office floor to welcome him.

Everyone was on toes, having been caught off guard. One wrong move and they were fired.

Eliot was already in his office with the president and his vice lining up to give reports.

"What about her?" Eliot asked with a creased brow.

The question that Marcus had dreaded for a while now was finally before him.

" I'm sorry to report this but miss Reeda decided to cancel the contract with our company two months before your....." Marcus replied but paused,afraid of saying the word.

" That's unacceptable, make sure she pays for the damages to our company as stated in the contract," Eliot said and got up. He adjusted his tie before he stepped out.

The two gentlemen could finally breathe as they wiped off the sweat that had formed on their foreheads. They had become lucky, any loses to the company would often be borne by the person who caused it. And since they hadn't charged Reeda for breaching the contract due to her upcoming wedding with the boss himself , they were to bare the costs, except for the mercy her just granted them.

" Sir, we better hand in the information to her," Willis said.

" Of course, do the necessary," Marcus the company president said.

Willis had the secretary quickly draft the document before having it sent to Reeda.

At the same time Reeda arrived at Starlight entertainment company. The building was flooded with reporters and Reeda had to make her way through the back entrance. But there too several reporters had been waiting. She couldn't escape especially since several rumours about her had been spreading online. She had managed to hide from the media since a week ago, but now it seemed she had no where the run.

Being alone without her security detail, the reporters had stormed her car to get a statement from her.

Several blinding flashes of the camera filled the air as she tried to squeeze her way between the reporters.

" Miss Reeda, is it true that you had cheated on your fiancée on the day of your wedding which resulted into the wedding being postponed, or better still, your fiancée had to marry someone else?" One of the reporters asked the question on everyone's mind.

" Is it true that whatever is happening to Starlight entertainment is linked to what happened between you and your fiancée?" Another asked as several other questions were thrown at her.

" I've no comment," that was all Reeda could say as she fought through the crowd.

Reeda tried to cover her face with her jacket even as she pushed her way to the she cursed inwardly at Adrian. Had he not interfered with their plans none of these could have been happening.

Finally the security guards went to her rescue and she was able to enter the building.

Safely inside, she leaned on the cold wall trying to catch her breath after the unfortunate encounter. Coming back to her senses, she found several employees staring hard at her, with audible whispers everywhere.

" What the hell are you all looking at, don't you have work to to?" Reeda's shouted angrily.

Everyone scurried back to their stations and had their head glued to their desks.

Reeda went for the elevator before the employees sighed and continued with their gossip.

Reeda budged into Adrian's office and found him standing by the window. He had been watching all along everything that was going on down there.

" I can't believe you Adrian, you couldn't help me when the reporters were out to kill me," Reeda blurted out angrily.

" But as far as I can see you are all right, not a single scratch on you," Adrian said still staring outside.

" Adrian, why are you being so cold towards me? Did I perhaps do anything against you. Why did you suddenly postpone our trip. The wedding is tomorrow for goodness sake," Reeda said angrily.

" Are you just playing dump or something Reeda? You want to tell me that you have no idea what's going on in the company. Aren't you always online?" Adrian said with anger surging through his voice before he took back his seat.

" What are you talking about Adrian, you know that I'm busy handling everything to do with the wedding. I've no time for online gossip." Reeda said, lowering her voice seeing the depressed state Adrian was in.

" I'm sure this is Eliot's doing. Suddenly our company is facing several law suits, things that aren't even relevant, yet several investors are already pulling out their investment. The upcoming movie will be a total disaster," Adrian said as he leaned on his chair desperately.

" What! Eliot behind everything? You can't be serious Adrian, you know that Eliot can't do something like that, he is always so dumb. If we were able to date for almost a year without his knowledge, do you think he can pull this off by himself, no, I don't believe it's him Adrian," Reeda said throwing her hands in the air.

Eliot might be smart, business minded, but certain things are above his level. He couldn't actually make Starlight entertainment company go bankrupt, that she was sure of.

" It seems you have no idea who Eliot truly is. It might be you who's been dumb the entire time you've been together," Adrian replied, displeasure evident in his tone.

" Are you insulting me now Adrian, I'm your girlfriend not your employee or something," Reeda said.

" You don't need to remind me that," Adrian said.

" Look Adrian, I didn't go here to argue with you. I just wanted to know why you had to skip our trip.

Babe, I'm really sorry about what's happening with the company right now. But there is nothing really that you can do," Reeda said.

" You think so Reeda, that I'm only playing back here," Adrian said.

" Please Adrian let's not argue just because of this, " Reeda said and paused when a knock came through the door. It was the secretary.

" Sir, it's Max on the line," the secretary said.

Adrian scratched his head before he took the receiver.

" Adrian, I've been waiting for your response, what the hell are you doing to stabilise the company?" Max's voice reverberated through the line that Adrian had to move it away from his ear for second.

" I'm sorry Max but I'm doing everything possible to contain the situation. You know that I can't let the company go to ruins," Adrian replied.

" You need to releases a press conference and assure the investors that everything is under control. If not I'll be forced to sell my shares," Max said.

" Max, with all due respect, you know that I don't operate in that manner, I can't give them the satisfaction of seeing me on the news. I'll handle everything myself, just don't worry," Adrian replied.

" Don't say that I didn't warn you Adrian," Max said and cut the line. He owned a total of twenty shares in the company. It would be dangerous should he decide to sell to someone, especially right now that the person behind all these might be trying to gain entry into the company.

Adrian had the company's vice president prepare to release a statement concerning what was happening.

Reeda rolled her eyes before she glued her face to her mobile. They might end up fighting again since that had been the norm ever since her botched wedding. It was as though Adrian had become a totally different person, but him agreeing to the wedding meant that he still loved her. Now that everything was on hold , Reeda couldn't help but feel anxious.

Reeda quickly searched online, only to find her face trending everywhere on social media. She cursed loudly at these, her reputation that she had worked hard for was getting destroyed just because of one person.

Reeda's caught eye on the email that just popped up on her screen.

" What the hell," Reeda remarked as her eyes widened in surprised.

" He can't do this to me,a lawsuit against me. Where the hell does he want me to get a total twenty million dollars for breaching the contract," Reeda said helplessly.

" I saw that coming Reeda. Didn't I tell you not to cancel your contract with Elite " Adrian said.

" Are you now blaming me for this Adrian, you were okay with everything, you even encouraged me to sign a contract with Starlight, are you seriously chickening out just because of this?" Reeda asked.

" Do you even love me for sure Adrian, or I'm just a pawn in your game with Eliot," Reeda said.

" Reeda, calm down. We both aren't okay at this moment. It's not a good time for us to talk about such things. Let's calm down and think. We are in some serious mess right now," Afraid said, his voice suddenly soft. Reeda was the only card he had against Eliot, he wouldn't want to let go of her so easily.

" Reeda, I know that it's not easy being a top actress in the country now, and having everyone talk about you negatively isn't good either. And about the wedding, I think we'll have to push it to a further date, and if possible we have it done here. We don't have to do it in secret as though we were hiding from anyone," Adrian said.

" You sure about that Adrian?" Reeda said as she went over to Adrian and sat on his lips.

" I promise dear, we'll have a grand wedding, just let's handle the mess we are in first," Adrian said and pecked on her lips. His mind was however elsewhere.