CHAPTER 3

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 is a womanizer and the most uneducated guy I've ever encountered. He almost stepped on my dignity when I was one of the people he interviewed. He is heartless!” A woman ranted while looking at the press cameras. 

"Include Black Dream Entertainment! Even though I'm talented, no projects have been offered to me by the entertainment industry! I have proof!" She added frantically.

He locked his gaze on the woman on the live news, who was talking about something that was pure lies, not just to him but also to Black Dream Entertainment.

He recalls her face, and he can't be mistaken because she was one of the candidates he interviewed at the last audition. What is the point of it? Why is he, as well as the Entertainment, being destroyed by the young woman? He knows that she's currently a trainee, but she chose to backstab him, who gave her the highest grade, and to the entertainment who accepts her and chose her to be one of the upcoming superstars.

'I can deal with the situation,' he texted his boss.

His manager responded a few seconds later. 'Okay, be careful.' 

Lucius didn't respond any longer. He kept listening to the young woman who was attempting to ruin him. He grinned and laughed instead of being terrified since he understands it was all staged. "These idiots are trying to destroy me, but their scripts aren't improving," he joked and drank the brandy in his glass.

***

"How did you obtain such a large sum of money?" An innocent question from Estella's sibling. She didn't know what to say, so she watched from afar before gathering the bravery to face her sibling. "You don't have to think about it; what's important right now is our mother's undergoing surgery."

"I appreciate it; if you don't have-"

"Shh, just relax while you wait for the operation to end."

Her sister smiled at her and rested its head on her shoulder. Her younger sister was with Carla at the time. No one else was willing to help them financially or mentally but Carla, her true best friend.

They don't have any relatives who can help them, so she has to rely on her friend. Their relatives can't be contacted when they need help. They are instantly shunned and ignored.

"Estella?" It’s Carla, who appeared to have just arrived with her younger sibling. "Can we talk? I only have a question for you," Carla asked.

She put his younger sister to sleep, along with her other sibling, so that they could sleep. She followed Carla as she walked towards the open glass windows.

"Tell me, where did you get the money?" Carla asked directly. 

Estella is almost unwilling to face her best friend in the eyes. She's ashamed and can't reveal her face ever again. Her skits are probably all over the country right now. She'll be known as the "renowned Black Dream trainee who is a traitor."

She couldn't hold back her tears. She sobbed as she hugged her friend. "Carla, I'm a horrible person. I'm attempting to derail both his career and my ambitions.” Estella sobbed, "I'm disappointed in myself."

"I understand you, Estella," Carla comforts her with a gentle pat on the back.

"I'm a horrible person, an awful person…"

"Don't hold it against yourself since you did it for your mother. It'll be okay."

She just wept till her phone's non-touchscreen rang. There are just numbers that appear. In her mind, 'What if it is another opportunity for me?' After accepting the phone call and saying "hello," no one replied, which caused her to wonder.

The phone call stopped a few seconds later, but she received a text message from an unknown number. ‘Let's meet at the Plaza.’

Carla asked as she read the text, "Are you going?"

Estella stepped up and asked, "What do you think?"

"It's dangerous, you're the center of attraction for assassination after doing that crazy scene," Carla replied.

"I'm not a politician to be killed. They will not benefit me. You know who to blame if I'm dead," Estella answered.

Despite her assured responses to her friend, she is terrified behind the confident mask she's wearing. She is unable to think clearly. It's up to her to go since she's willing to die if they intend to kill her. It's fine with her because she did her part. On the other hand, she does not want to abandon her siblings to their sick mother.

"Thank you very much, Carla, for everything. Please take care of my family. The money is in the house, and you can use them to begin a new life. Make good use of your money and ensure that you live a happy life. All I have to do now is face the consequences. "

"Estella! What are your plans?!"

"Estella!"

While fleeing, she ignored Carla's repeated screams. Her life had been full of guilt, which made her want to die. Everything was wrecked because of her. It's all because of her.

When she arrived at the Plaza, she looked around to see if the person who had asked her to attend was still there.

"Estella Velasquez… We met again."

A handsome man rests behind a tree. He appeared impassive, and she was not mistaken; it was Lucius Hudson, and she was unable to move as she gazed at him.

Lucius' expression was emotionless, and despite her fears, she approached the young guy. They are now on an equal footing for the time being, since he stood up.

The stillness was broken when Lucius said, "Why do you do that?"

"Because of the money," she said flatly, no equivocation. Lucius cynically laughed. Because of her answer. He's pissed and wants to punch the person in front of him.

"You are nothing but a toxic gold-digging human." The young man paused for a moment before staring at her. "Is that how your world revolves? Money? It's a shame, you were accepted to the audition that you don't deserve." 

Estella was insulted by Lucius' words, but she can't defend herself. She did it wrong. There's no one to blame, no other than herself.

She replied, "You do not understand.” She wanted to say something, but shame and dread were preventing her from doing so.

"Seriously? What is most important to you in terms of money? My career was created because of my hard work. I have peace, but you are destroying it!" Lucius raised a voice, making Estella dwell in tears.

She had to accept the painful words. She has no right to be upset with the young man because he's trying to destroy his image and his career. She had to stay strong and remember that she deserved all the painful words. 

"I'm sorry..." she said, tears welling up in her eyes.

"Sorry? Is there anything you can do about your apologies? Can it change anything?" Lucius' face turned red because of anger and annoyance.

"No-"

His brows furrowed in irritation, and he exhaled. In an attempt to relieve the stress, he scrubbed his face with rage, "Nothing at all! Did your parents raise you to be the most pathetic person I've ever met? Do they realize how pitiful you are? Or perhaps they have tolerated your wrongdoings because they benefit from it too.” Lucius said to her, making Estella furious.

She glared at Lucius when she heard what he said about her parents. A hard slap from her hand hit Lucius' face. "Say all the hurtful words! But don't you ever bring up my parents in this fucking conversation! They have nothing to do with what I have done! "

"Then explain yourself to me! Why did you do it in the first place?" Lucius' horrifying tone and Estella's shouting make a scene as if they were both acting for a TV show or movie. People around them watched them, not realizing that it was a true fight between the two.

"You know nothing! If you want, I'll just kill myself!" she said as she walked away from Lucius and stepped on the rocks.

"What the heck are you doing? You're a narcissistic and manipulative woman, aren't you? " Lucius said while looking at Estella.

"Forgive me. But if this is the only way I can atone for my sins."

She was ready to plunge into the river when Lucius rushed up to her and grabbed her arm, dragging her behind him. Estella's leg hung on the river's fence wire. She shuts her eyes and loses consciousness because of the pain she is experiencing.

When the woman passed out in the middle of the Plaza. Lucius was concerned. He hates the young woman, yet he can't leave her alone for fear of spreading further rumors about him. He lifted the unconscious woman to get into his car. Lucius' eyes furrowed as he felt Estella's leg, which was bleeding profusely from a cut.

The woman dressed casually in a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. He fixed his gaze on the wound, which appeared to be infected. I'm sorry for her. Those legs appear to be great.

'Please accept my condolences for your lovely legs.' Lucius jokingly said.

He shook his head in response to this thinking. It's been a month since his last intense pleasure with different women. That's why he's being horny.

He placed the woman’s unconscious body on his sofa as he bent over her.

Her wound was still oozing blood. She didn't care for Estella in the first place, but she doesn't want her to die. He believes that if Estella dies, her wicked narcissistic spirit will haunt him.

He wiped the wound with cold water and a cloth to clean the wound. He then disgustedly washed Estella's wound. Lucius grabbed his first-aid kit and then the anti-tetanus medication.

He had already injected the woman with the vaccine. He had previously administered the vaccination to the woman. Lucius stared at her still-sleeping face. Estella's eyes are stunning; her nose is piercing, which makes her hot, and her red lips are natural. Her facial shape is also stunning, which can make her a superstar; if she just has not made stupid moves.

She is a dangerous lady.

***

Estella's pupils widened. Her leg hurts, and she's aware of it. Slowly, she stood up and checked her aching leg, which was already clean and free of infection. She was the one who hit her head on the sofa, but she blamed the sofa.

She allowed her gaze to wander across the room, looking for Lucius Hudson. No one else will help her but Lucius so she can't be incorrect.

"Miss narcissist, you're awake now."

She peered at the young man's dead eyes as he stared into hers. Despite his hatred for her, he didn't leave her alone.

"Lucius-"

He got up and walked up to her. He pressed his arms against the wall. She was completely absorbed in his sweet-smelling body and breath at the time, and she was nearly tempted to rub herself against the young man to absorb the scent deeper. He was the one who turned her on.

She shook her head vigorously, attempting to shake Lucius from her memory.

What had happened to her? Estella, wake up! Don't fantasize about that man.

Lucius laid her on the dining table, with ready-made meals in the middle. Her thoughts went back to her trance. She appears to be starving. Yet she refuses to touch the food until it has been given her permission.

"Can you explain why?" Lucius calmly asks right away.

Estella casts a glance toward Lucius. "The genuine motive has already been stated. Do you have anything else in mind? "

"However, why? Is this someone you were ordered to do?"

To avoid the question, she closed her mouth and tried to stand up. She is unable to speak about Skyrim Entertainment. Her family will be put in danger.

"No, no one gave me an order. All I wanted to do was ruin you-" 

Lucius approached her carefully and only stopped a few spans away. 

"Are you serious?" Lucius asked Estella in disbelief.