Chapter 1

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Back Home Again…

 After arriving at the airport, I took a taxi straight home.

 ‘Yes I'm back to where it all started’ I said to myself, took a deep breath, and walked into the mansion. Everyone, the maids, and guards looked at me with awe looks on their faces.

 ‘I was no longer the little, naive, shy, innocent, and calm girl they once knew. Now…hahaha…. I was crazy. Yeah, though I was a small actress in the local acting industry, I still fought for my dreams.’ I halted when I saw my father, his wife, and their daughter.

 I smiled dryly and said, "I'm home…..who missed me?"

 "Why are you back?!" Father said.

 "Honey, calm down, she just came back, why don’t we let her rest first….." Marie, my stepmom said. She was a quiet devil….a pretender…she was a good actress too, in front of my father…I guessed her daughter got professional acting skills from her.

 "Sister…. Welcome home," said Jolene.

 "A point for correction Jolly, I AM NOT YOUR SISTER!" I glanced at her.

 "Get out…..out….you ungrateful bitch….you bad egg….." Dad yelled.

 "Honey, calm down she’s just a child," Marie said.

 "Yes, daddy I’ll talk to the sister," Jolene said.

 "You should be thankful to your mother and sister….. if not for them, I’d have abandoned you by now," Father yelled.

 "Mother? I don’t remember having one, and as for my father……I don’t even believe I have any." I said and walked down to the basement where I’ve lived all my childhood and youth.

 I started cleaning the basement and arranging my stuff when the two witches from the Eastside entered.

 "Seems, you know your place in this mansion," said Marie.

 "Of course I do, unlike others who only know their place is in another man’s bedroom," I answered with a smile as if nothing happened.

 "You slut! why are you back?" Jolene yelled.

 "To see if I can move around like your mother…. Looking for married men to snatch." I said. I could see them burning up in anger, I was winning their little game.

 "Gem….don’t anger me or else you want to see your dead mother," said Marie.

 "Of course, I’d see her. But as for you two? hahaha…..you big daddy Mr. devil is waiting for you……" Marie got too angry as she raised her hand and slapped me.

 "I promise you….you will not live long….just like your mother…." She said.

 "Let’s see who gets to meet big daddy first," Jolene said and danced after her mother. I gnashed my teeth in anger.

 "Oh and by the way…..I hope you haven’t forgotten what I said when we were 16? I promised that I’d take everything away from you…. EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AND CHERISH." Jolene said.

 I picked up my phone and saw my company calling me. I cleared my throat.

 "Hello?"

 "Miss Gem?"

 "On the line."

 "Yes…. We’ll be expecting you tomorrow….your manager has been selected and auditions are already lined up for you…. Please be here very early tomorrow."

 "I will, thanks."

 I sighed……Let’s see how tomorrow goes.

    Jolene stole the spotlight in a press conference.

 "Aww…..she’s a goddess " The girls praised. Every man wished to be with her, while every woman dreamt of being her.

 The press would soon begin.

 "Wow, goddess Jolene….you’re really sparkling today…." The lady who was interviewing her said.

"Aww….stop it I'm blushing," Jolene said.

Both ladies laughed.

 "There are rumours that you’ll be acting as the female lead in a new movie ‘Rate My Heart RMH’?"

 "Oh yes…..and auditioning is already out….. we’ll be working with other acting industries this time." Jolene said.

 "Speaking of industries….has our goddess ever dreamt of entering the IM Industry?" She asked.

 Jolene smiled brightly and sigh "It’s every actress and actor's dream to be there. I know that one day I won’t only get there, I’ll be there." Jolene was so confident.

 "I heard rumours that the President of IM is very handsome and charming but keeps a low profile!"

 "I’ve heard that too," Jolene said.

 "Have you ever imagined marrying the king of entertainment, that is the President of IM, and becoming entertainment's first lady?" She asked. Jolene was a donkey who danced happily when a shining carrot is thrown at it.

 "I don’t know…..I can’t make decisions now…..who knows if my future husband is watching this show….." she jokingly said and everyone laughed.

 "Back to business….how is your next movie RMH going to be?"

 "Well….I'm gonna put all my effort to be the best….let’s just wait till the movie is out….. you’ll gonna love it." She said, winked, and smiled.

 "Thank you, goddess Jolene….."

     I was seating with my new manager and our industry President.

 "I want you in that movie….., try and get the spot of being Jolene's elder sister in the movie. I’ve heard of your acting grades back in the States, I hope you can do well" Mr Festus said.

 "But sir….that role is a little too hard…. Remember it’s just her first movie….."

 "Manager Ruth…..I’ll do it…..no…. in fact, I can do it…..let me see the script reading……", she looked at me in surprise and gave me the script "Show me the hardest scene," I said and she showed me. It’s when the elder sister who was a psycho has acted hurt, happy, plain, and filled at the same time. "Ha…..piece of cake…..let’s go," I said.

 "Go where?" Ruth asked.

 "To the auditioning, we don’t want to miss it," I said.

 "But you’ve not practised" she protested.

 "Don’t worry…..I'm already loaded….let’s go…we don’t have much time." I said and she looked at Mr Festus who only smiled and nodded.

 After our little makeup and outfit session, we arrived at the auditioning.

 We were a bit late but we were able to still cover up due to Ruth's smart move.

 All eyes were on me. Eyes that were saying who is she? why’s she here? what’s with her dressing?.

 I didn’t mind them, I just took my seat and closed my eyes relaxing, waiting for my name to be called. Ruth was not happy with my behaviour, I was too relaxed and calm while she was shaking all over, getting nervous on my behalf.

 "Miss G, are you sure about this?" She asked I didn’t answer. Well, that’s because I’ve fallen asleep. "Oh God…..help me please…let the ground just swallow me up.

   "Number 34." They called and Ruth woke me up. My eyes were red and I looked tired.

 "Am I up next?" I asked as I yawned and she nodded.

 We both went in.

 "Number 34 Miss Gem….from VYV industry……you’re the one taking the role of Tartan? He asked but I gave him a deadly glance. I later smiled and nodded cutely.

 "Ok, what part are you taking today in the script?"

 "The hardest of it all," I said and they burst into laughter.

 "Young woman, don’t waste our time here," The female judge said.

 "No….you’re the one wasting my time …..I'm ready whenever you are!" I said.

 "Ok, act 356……scene 14….. action."

   The sweet smile on my face was wiped away as my face turned blank and dark instantly.

 I bit my lower lip and smirked.

 "I'm not crazy…..I'm not insane" I said calmly no one knew what I was thinking. Suddenly my eyes turned red……very red as tears gathered up in my eyes that refused to drop.

 I crushed my little gown in my hands

 "She….he…." I said slowly but later yelled "GONE!" the judge shivered. "Gone! they left me…..me…..me…..I'm not….crazy…..they….left me…..pains….I feel in here" I touched my heart as the cute smile appeared on my face again. The smile mixed with my red and teary eyes made my emotions unreadable…….I danced around like a  kid but soon stopped, turned my back to the judges, and said.

 "Gone….." And the tears finally dropped. Finished, I wiped my face and smiled again.

 "That’s it," I said and the judges were in shock.

 "Why did you stop?"

 "I want to see more of your acting."

 "Fabulous….. splendid….. you got the role……" They all praised me with a round of applause.

 I thanked them and left.

 Ruth kept on looking at me.

 "What?" I asked.

 "You are….. AWESOME." She said raising her thumbs. And I smiled.

 "Let’s go celebrate… let’s go get a drink," I said. We entered a bar.

 After drinking and drinking…. Forgetting that I was a slave of alcohol…….each time I drank…..I became a princess searching for a prince….due to alcohol….I hugged any handsome guy I saw and held him tight until I fell asleep before I let go…… because I was too excited tonight, I forgot.

 They were hosting a mask party in the bar…..only a few of us were unmasked.

 "Miss Gem….slow down….you’ll get drunk," Ruth warned me but it was too late…with just one glass I was going into the pool of alcohol but today I had taken like 5 before she stopped me. I told her all my childhood stories….Ruth was touched and even cried.

 "Ah….don’t cry…Sister Ruru ……I'm strong n..now…I….ii…fight…them ….with…..bottle… hehe."

 "Don’t worry Gem that Jolene devil will never take me away from you." She said crying.

 "That’s what they ... all said ….b…but….all my friends ran to her and became her friends…..boring Bozo’s, Ruru…. Manager Ruru….Ruru."

 "It’s Ruth…..Gem." She said now smiling.

 "Shhh…….who's that handsome man over there?" I asked. Before Ruth could look, I stood up and went to sit on his lap.

 Leon who was bored with the party, his friends forced him to come and was surprised when something warm sat on his lap and wrapped its hands around his neck.

 "Mmmmmm ma prince…..I’ve missed you…."

 "Miss……oh no…." Ruth ran to them. "I'm sorry…..I'm so sorry…..she’s….just drunk…. G let go…let’s go home hmm."

 "Nah, Nah, Nah…..I'm not leaving ma prince again….. I’ve found him." She hooked her hands tighter on his neck. Leon saw his friends laughing and mocking him.

 "Miss, let me pull her away no problem." His deep voice and aura brought a shiver to Ruth. ‘This was no ordinary person she thought.

 Leon tried to pull her away but the more he tried the more the little-bodied girl hugged him tighter, never wanting to let go. If he used more force he’d surely pull her away but he might hurt her. He hated hurting women, especially girls.

 "Miss…..miss…..wake up…. You’ve got the wrong person." He tried to wake her up but the girl started crying.

 "It’s all your fault for leaving me first. Now they blame it all on me…..how can I let you go……ma prince please don’t hate me too….don’t hate me too please… please….. don’t hate me!" She burst into a loud cry. Screaming, don't hate me don’t live me please…….. making Leon embarrassed as the cry drew attention to him.

 The old waiter walked up to him.

 "Sir, console you girl or do something, don’t just leave her crying…..I can see she really loves you." He said.

"She’s not my girlfriend…..I don’t even know her." Leon yelled in anger as his friends laughed even more.

 "Please do something about her, she's distracting the party," the man said.

 Leon tried to pull her away with strength…..this time he didn’t care if he hurt her….she was annoying.

 "Get off me….." He said and pulled her away. But the girl yelled again.

 "Prince….. you’re mean….. aaahhh ……. aaahhh….. you’re not as good as my book says ….. you won’t hug me…. aaahhh." she started screaming, pointing at Leon who had no choice but to play along.

 "Ok, princess….. I'm sorry….come here." He said with a small smile and the drunk girl ran to his embrace again. Sitting on his lap on hugging his neck. Leon started rubbing her back, calming her down.

 "It’s okay I'm here." He said. His friends laughed and laughed while Ruth kept on apologizing on Gem’s behalf.

 She soon fell asleep and Leon carried her to Ruth's car.

 "Sir, please give me your address or information…so we can apologize to you properly"

 "Never mind…just don’t appear in front of me again…. Goodnight." he left in anger.

 "Phew…..Gem let’s go home now…. Alcohol addict." Ruth said and drove home.

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