Ch 6: Regrets

Selene extended her hand and took the bag from the beautiful lady, it contained her belongings after all. When she moved toward the door, she realized she had erred.

“Where’s my car?” The thought suddenly hit her, and she stood frozen at the spot, probing her memory for answers, albeit in futility.

When she brought out her phone to book a taxi, she noticed there were no vehicles near the place. Peak Grooves was a private property on the outskirts of town after all.

Even though other homes were being built at the moment, only one luxurious mansion stood at the peak of the hill. It was Declan’s house, a place that overlooked the bustling city of Bloomsbay.

Selene only wished to get away from this seemingly dangerous man, as everything that transpired between them was still fresh in her mind. It was the same reason why she resorted to being harsh toward him since she woke up.

“Boris would take you home and only leave when you are safely indoors. For your car keys, you’ll find them hidden in the flower vase in front of your apartment.”

Declan calmly spoke from behind, earning a confused look from Selene.

What he couldn’t say, however, was “I hope you stay indoors for the next few days.”

He had his reasons and hoped she wouldn’t find out from someone else. He was about to open up to Selene about the problem at hand, even though he was almost through with handling it.

However, the car soon arrived, and Selene opened the back door, sliding into it as if escaping from someone.

As Boris drove her toward her home, he noticed that her eyes were tightly shut, an indication that she wasn’t willing to be disturbed.

He couldn’t stop himself from wondering why his boss would call him so early in the morning, just to shop and take the young lady home.

He was rather glad that a love story was brewing between the two.

The drive was relatively quiet, with Selene’s memory being filled with nothing but the events of the previous night.

[Ring!]

[Ring!]

[Ring!]

As much as she wished everything would remain in the past, so she could move on without any difficulty, her phone suddenly rang, jolting her from her wishful thoughts.

She earlier spotted some missed calls, but just wasn’t in the mood for any long explanations, hence, she only wanted to get home first. The other things could follow later.

After she ended the call with her parents, the only statement that was stuck in her head was, “Come home this instant!”

A frustrated sigh escaped from her, and she did nothing to hide it. Right now, she regretted her hasty decision from last night, knowing fully well that someone had tactfully set her up.

The only person that came to her mind was, “Declan! Well played, Declan!”

The baffling issue was that, Selene didn’t know how far the problem had gone, neither could she tell what Declan actually did. She was initily thinking that her parents were angry because she wasn’t at the airport to pick them up.

The driver was suddenly worried about the coldness she exuded. She transformed from a demure and fragile young lady to someone he didn’t wish to describe.

All the same, he knew it was his responsibility to do his job, and he need not meddle. The least he could do was to report about the trip to the boss.

Selene soon got down from the car as if she was a zombie, and carefully walked through the gates of the mansion without even bothering to shut the door.

[Wannabe model applies the old rules for fame]  

[Upcoming actress hooks up with a married man for roles.]

[What is the industry turning into? So young, yet so black-bellied.]

[She came with a fire; newbie beats Coco for a role in the movie, ‘Targets’]

[At least she gets to enjoy the guy and the money.]

One damning entertainment reportage after another was displayed on the television screen, with presenters and show hosts doing everything possible to paint her as the evil child who snatched food from the mouth of the B-list celebrity, Coco Powell.

One glance and it was obvious there were invincible hands at play. However, Selene could swear that the only person who could benefit from this was none other than Declan, the bastard. “You’ll pay for what you’ve done, Declan. I swear I won’t forgive you.”

Selene could see the photograph being projected on the television screen. She was clinging onto Declan as if her life depended on it, and the man in return snaked his arms around her waist in a compromising stance.

The picture was so tactfully edited that the man’s face was blurred, and impossible to make out. Hers,  on the other hand could be recognised even in the dark.

She couldn’t believe he would go this far when she never wronged him in any way.

The atmosphere in the sitting room was stifling silent, her parents staring at the screen in sheer shock. It was clear their attention wasn’t on the television, yet, their gazes were locked on it.

Selene slowly picked up the remote and decisively turned off the television. She could spot some servants huddled in a far corner, a huge pillar separating them from the sitting room where everyone was. They then scurried in various directions after being exposed.

“Dad…” There was no response, as her father only buried his head between his palms. He didn’t know what to say, neither did he know how to react.

Selene could see how hurt her father was, but she didn’t know what to say to soothe his aching heart.

“Dad… I know it seems terrible, but I can explain.

Dad, just say something, please… Anything, dad. I promise I can explain… I… I…”

Selene noticed the subtle movement of her father’s eyelids, even though he still looked to be in a daze.

However, he wanted to hear whatever explanation she had for him. She had been spoiled rotten by Christopher Davies, who adored his child so much that he worshipped the ground on which she stepped.

It was her mother’s rationality that shaped Selene into the woman she was today.

Even now, he wanted to hear what she had to say, yet, Selene wasn’t making it possible to believe her.

When he noticed he couldn’t hold in his anger and disappointment anymore, Christopher stood abruptly, not caring about the young lady who had thrown her upper body onto his right thigh.

Selene was crying a river, witnessing first-hand how her carelessness has affected her father. She watched silently as her body plopped onto the luxurious woolen carpet, the words, “I can explain,” still on her lips.

“Was this why you didn’t want me to introduce you to the public?

Selene, is this what you’ve been up to?”

The agonized voice of her father sounded in her ear, his eyes bloodshot. He then turned around briefly and asked in a firmer tone,

“Is this why my daughter never wished to be seen in public with me? How long have you been planning this, Selene?”

She had no words to defend herself, as she felt that anything she said would be too ridiculous to believe.

Selene watched her father climb the stairs toward his room, each step heavier than the previous one.

When she finally thought about running after her father, her mother’s words sounded behind her, compelling her to remain rooted to her spot.

“Who was it?”

Tara Anderson fired at her daughter, without the slightest care for her current state of mind. When Selene refused to acknowledge her, she spat meaningfully,

“I could never tell that the silver screen meant more to you than your dignity and your family.”

She then walked past the young lady, going toward the direction of her husband.

“Don’t do it, Selene.

You will regret this by tomorrow morning.”

Chloe’s words stabbed into Selene’s chest like needles, and she just couldn’t get it out.

She coiled herself into fetal position, her hands securely hugging her knee as she lay sprawled on the floor.

“You will cease to be a member of this family if you as much as walk past a filming venue again. Mark my words.” With this, Tara also stormed off, leaving Selene behind.

If she had taken a look behind, she would have noticed that her daughter wasn’t in good shape at all.

However, both parents were angry with her for remaining silent, which only confirmed the allegations, no matter how badly they tried to look the other way.

Selene’s tears flowed like a broken tap, regret being the most common word etched on her mind.

“I regret it so much, Chloe.

You were right.”

...

To be continued...