Rebecca finally felt well enough to leave her dressing room, but she still couldn’t come up with an acceptable reason for her horribly unprofessional behaviour. But the show must go on. The saying consumed her life and became her sole motivation. The walk down the corridor to the reading room filled her with dread. She felt like she was about to learn her sentence for an imaginary crime. The urge to walk away tugged at her. Not back to her dressing room. No, she’d walked out of the production studio lot and keep going. Where would she go? Rebecca didn’t know anywhere but here. Seeing Everett again hurt too much. He looked so good. It wasn’t fair. In the reading room, everyone was returning slowly from lunch. The director, David Keyes, waved Rebecca over to a corner. She made her way to him. Everett wasn’t in the room yet. For that, she sent up a silent prayer of thanks. “Look, before you dress me down for unacceptable behaviour. I’d like to say, I
Everett stood in the doorway, exuding the aura of a leading man. Even his eyes exuded playful dominance. It wasn’t fair that he looked so good. Every cell in Rebecca’s body regretted letting him go and not fighting for their marriage, as she should have done. She didn’t want him to blame her when his expectations for the future did not manifest. Rebecca now knew it was unlikely that she’d ever have children unless she went through various procedures to correct the damage she’d suffered before she finally received a diagnosis. Then she’d have to be vigilant to the extreme about her care. The uncertain flickering of her hope for success resembled a failing ghost light. “It’s fine. I didn’t scrape it off the floor or anything.” Rebecca tried to be flippant as she swallowed the last bite of the chewy bar. She gave him a cavalier smile and cocked her head at a jaunty angle. Anything to annoy him and change the subject. “Rebecca.” Everett’s voice held a w
Everett entered the restaurant unusually early. He’d left everything he usually did unfinished because he’d struggled with the entire encounter with Rebecca. The feelings Everett felt as he saw her again and the utter shock at seeing what had become of her in his absence. It became too much for him to handle. Confident in his actions, he left her years ago, doing what he believed was best for himself. Everett never questioned how Rebecca would be once he’d left. She had many people to rely on. Now, as he thought about that, he couldn't see Rebecca doing that. As a private person, Rebecca didn’t fall back on anyone. She didn’t tell her secrets or vulnerabilities to anyone. Everett only knew a few things because Rebecca, his wife, told him. Now he saw what became of Rebecca, and it killed him to see it. The pain and how she acted like a cornered feral cat. Everett couldn’t talk to his agent about this. He didn’t like the idea of Everett sharing his ti
Everett sat there. His eyes went to Paulo’s hand, where it held Gena’s. He watched Paulo’s thumb stroke the back of Gena’s hand. Gena didn’t take her hand away. Instead, Paulo took his hand away first when he noticed Everett’s attention focused on his hand. “Everett, I don’t know how you expect to keep up such a crazy schedule with your other responsibilities. You’ll burn yourself out in no time. I don’t believe your fanbase is all that caring about Empire Nights. If you have a role in it.” Paulo said to Everett. His words betrayed how he complained, masquerading it as advice. He favoured Grandview Manor and Gena over Everett and his career. Paulo worked as an agent to both actors. Everett didn’t see the impartial treatment and investment into his career. Though he saw the favouritism flowing toward Gena currently. “Paul, what are you getting at? Are you recommending that I not take work and forgo the salary? Or are you telling me not to expand my r
-Four Weeks Later- They’d finally found a routine for filming the production of Empire Nights. Rebecca loved the show with its era of rich clothes and the hint of risky behaviour for the time. A gin joint with a resident gum shoe and the female plucky owner of the gin joint who had a per chant for stumbling into crimes. Rebecca’s health eased up a little, even though she still struggled with symptoms periodically. But today she’d tied herself up in knots over the major scene they’d film. The fans sat on the edge of their seats waiting as Rebecca and Everett danced around with a rekindling romance. She could feel the emotions of her character and Rebecca fears those weren’t Bella’s feelings for Dane. No, she felt her feelings rekindling for Everett, and it was a sweet, sad thing.Rebecca realized she could never act on her feelings, fearing the harm she would cause him. If she pursued him to try again and as she told him before. She’d become sick aga
Everett didn’t have a warning when he’d found himself pulled into a meeting with Mr. Johnson Sebastian and his murder of crows. That’s how Everett saw the Studio Executives. John Sebastian spoke for the entire murder. Resembling a crow, he became the inspiration for many board members trying to imitate him to different extents.John sat across the conference table from Everett. Its glossy wooden surface gleamed too much in the morning sunshine. John's wrinkles hinted at the discreet cosmetic procedures he had undergone to maintain a youthful appearance. His highly manicured black hair, though, once was natural. Now, it wasn’t naturally black. Everett would not be the one to tell him it did nothing to hide his age. His all-black suits leant to the crow description that his skinny birdlike features gave off. The tailoring may point to skill and money spent, but the clear padding used to fill out his form screamed unnatural. It gave him a creepy air all around. Everett imagines the man d
Rebecca walked in from where her driver Randell delivered her. Ben would take part in the meeting remotely since he couldn’t make it in person because of being at his office across town. As soon as she entered the building and passed through security, she found herself accosted by Everett. He pulled her aside into a small, quiet alcove behind some decorative greenery. “Everett, what are you doing? Stop pulling on my arm. Explain yourself right now.” Rebecca didn’t know what was happening. Everett held onto both of her arms, ensuring she stayed facing him. “I’m sorry, but I don’t want anyone seeing us talking to each other or overhearing this. You know, no matter what we’ve gone through before, I never stopped caring about you.” Everett looked awkwardly around the large potted palms to ensure no one lingered to overhear them speak with each other. Rebecca couldn’t understand what happened here. Everett appeared to act more oddly with ever
Rebecca couldn’t believe what he’d done. She knew precisely how he’d use that recording. Bloody ass wanted to blackmail her into marriage. What did he achieve by doing this? A role in Empire Nights? After he again burned his bridges to Gena and Grandview Manor. Rebecca stopped suddenly in the corridor as a thought struck. He’s said he wanted to repair bridges. What the hell? Rebecca felt a ray of hope, then discounted it because nothing changed. She was a losing bet in every aspect. Did he do this out of pity after what he’d learned. He’d find himself sorely mistaken. She couldn’t afford a lawsuit or scandal. If her real name came out and the wrong people discovered her, she’d be in danger. Rebecca’s career risked everything. For years, she patiently awaited her father’s death. Then they’d not want her back. He compelled the search for her.Gena wondered why Rebecca wasn’t impressed with her family, their money, and their influence. Rebecca didn’t c
“I lost our first baby. It’s my fault Everett didn’t know about it. I didn’t tell him because it would’ve killed him and I feared he’d think I was using it as an excuse to cling to him. If I told him he’d want to know why it happened and then blame me for it. I was too tired from losing the baby that I’ve agreed to almost anything. Mentioning pregnancy, I indeed recall feeling the same way before. Rebecca leaned against the door jamb and gave a heavy sigh. Hopefully, this time yields better results. Can’t do it again.” “Then I’ll go call them now and see if I can catch the receptionist before she leaves for lunch. I hope it’s a baby and nothing bad.” Jill left the dressing room and the other to speak between themselves. “A baby…” Rebecca sounded like she was stunned. “Oh, good grief. I hope the doctor was correct when he told you I could still have children.” “We’ll find out soon enough.”(SEVEN MONTHS LATER- MERCY GENERAL HOSPITAL, LABOR, AND DELIVE
“Are you alright love? Should I call your doctor for an appointment?” Everett asked Rebecca when she left the bathroom of the dressing room they now shared at work. He looked at her with concern in his eyes. “I don’t know. I’m nauseous but there’s no pain. “Perhaps I’m coming down with something,” Rebecca said, her pale face lacking its usual smile. “This will pass soon too.” “Perhaps we should secure the appointment now, rather than later. We’ll play it safe and catch whatever it is early. Why don’t you go sit down and relax? I know our lunch will arrive at the set soon. Then we can enjoy it and see how you’re feeling.” “The truth is I’m a little tired and nauseous. That’s it. No headaches, no pain, or weakness. There’re no mystery rashes, and my breathing is fine. I can’t find even a simple mystery bruise, and no strange bouts of acne. My hair isn’t falling out like it was, at least not yet.” “Can we sit and list your exper
Coming out of the interview with Everett, Josalyn sat down an hour later with the man she knew was her father. She’d spent hours researching stories and coming up with questions. The writers added questions to the lists well in advance. The questions went through the Studio’s legal department and her father’s legal team went through them as well. It became a lengthy-drawn-out process because of all the legal complications. Everett insisted on staying with her for support and sat in the dark shadows off to the side, away from the cameras, watching everything. He’d become protective and a little obsessive of Rebecca, but at this point she didn’t mind so much. Rebecca still basked in his attention and his attention hadn’t become intrusive yet in her eyes. Something had changed and Rebecca knew that. Her father sat there and shifted in his seat. He didn’t appear comfortable, and she’d not hesitate to say he appeared nervous. She attributed it to his pri
(SIX WEEKS AFTER THEIR WEDDING) Everett took a seat beside Rebecca on a sound stage. He took her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. Then his smile changed from the genuine one he gave her to the smile he’s known for when he looked at the interviewer. This was their explanation of events. Legal advice urged them to take a preemptive measure to defend against Gena’s potential slander. “Thank you for being here Mr. Stone and Ms. Jones.” Ken Douglas said to them as he settled into his own seat after greeting them. The cameras were rolling and picking up everything. “Thank you, Mr. Douglas. But it’s Mrs. Stone now.” Everett said to Ken. He corrected the interviewer before Rebecca could. “Oh, I’m sorry I didn’t realize you changed your name.” Ken Douglas looked at his notes, already off kilter with this interview. “It’s a recent development. My wife and I decided it would better reflect our leaving the past in the past.
“Morning, everyone. Thank you for settling down so quickly. Let’s start immediately. I’m afraid we have had several events in the past few weeks and several rather disturbing events last night.” Surprisingly, the Studio handler, who never attended a meeting like this before, assumed control. He let the comments and surprises fill the room. “It’s with a heavy heart that I must tell everyone that Yuri will not return to the set as he and his driver were found early yesterday morning dead in their cell. The cause of their deaths isn’t known, but suicide has not been ruled out yet.”Shock spread among everyone, including Josalyn. Though she knew the reputation of Gena’s family and two suicides this early didn’t sound right to her. Gena’s family had conflicting feelings about the women in their family. Hurting their own women was one thing, but an outsider doing so was another. Then there’s the baby. She wondered if they could have killed Yuri not for harming Gena, but for caus
They had two weeks for their honeymoon. Jake promised to arrange for something better later. He wouldn’t tell her where they’d go. It would be a surprise. He believes it’s important to be nearby for her health since her recent injuries stopped her from doing physical activities in a foreign country. If something happened, he didn’t trust the medical system of a foreign nation. Jake let her decide if she would show up at the studios without her wig. It’s odd to see the reaction she received when they arrived at the gate this morning. “Well, here we go.” Jake’s choice of driver eased their way through security and fans. They’d been lying in wait for them. Nunzio and Ben, both warned them that there’d been clashes between two groups of fans. One group supported their marriage, and a second group opposed it. “Yeah, I wonder what they’ll do when they learn we were married before this.” Josalyn asked Jake, “What they would make of that?” Their
Jake and Josalyn relaxed and enjoyed their usual activities at the cottage. Without the crowd of friends, of course. This time they weren’t window shopping for antiques. They could go through the shops and buy whatever they wanted. Though Jake found Josalyn hesitant to use his money. He couldn’t risk lowering his guard. He had to watch her to see what caught her eye and then ensure that he purchased it. These pieces weren’t for the cottage, but for their city house. Once they completed the renovations, they needed to refurnish the entire house. They needed everything from the floorboards to the ceiling. They won’t understand everything right away, but they can start. Afterwards, he would hire a professional to finish the space. “Jake, over here. Look at this. I love these cabinets; wouldn’t they make perfect nightstands for the master bedroom?” “Found a blanket box bench over there. Place it at the bed’s foot. It’s not just a box but has several dra
The next morning, they ate their breakfast on the back deck overlooking the lake and enjoyed the silence of nature as the sun rose. Josalyn forgot the joy of sitting without worrying about schedules, scripts, or getting through the day. Jake’s presence was soothing rather than grating on her nerves. She viewed him differently last night, absorbing new information about her long-held experiences. Her fears were unfounded sometimes and in others she found herself exposed to far too much. This time, when she tried to bring up the problems, Jake stood with her, and they formed a consensus. With that consensus came a plan. The plan’s activation is uncertain, but it would provide clarity to the public. They agreed not to involve the Studio’s PR handler. They’d handle it alone and let the chips fall where they may. She came clean about her finances and today they’d hand them to Jake’s family’s accounting firm and allow them to sort out her debts. Jake wasn
Josalyn lay on their bed at Jake’s teasing mercy. His hungry gazed followed his hands, and he toyed with her body. He’d just told her he wanted to see her orgasm before he satisfied himself. Then, without missing a beat, his fingers found her depths and thrust into her core, searching for that spot that would send her spiraling out of control. Her breath became heavy. “I want to share this pleasure with you. Let me touch you, Jake.” “Later. Now focus on what I’m doing and enjoy it. Breathe and focus. His other hands slid along her inner thighs with gentle caresses that left her thighs shaking and her mind forgetting to breathe. Along with her rich moans, the room filled with the slick sound of his fingers thrusting in and out of her. Josalyn knew he loved to hear what his actions did to her body. “Jake, oh god. Please I want to touch you.” “You know the rules love. I want to start tonight off right. Come on my hand. Show me h