13

Richard then turned to the file he was holding.
The first thing that met him was a photo of the girl. She looked beautiful, he had to give her that.
Her dark skin looked like a dark pearl that had been left to form until it was at its prime.
“Macy Philips. The first daughter of the Philips family,” he read loudly and then wondered of she was the first daughter of the family, why would her younger sister lock her in that closet?
According to the file Asher had brought, Macy was the older sister of Angela Philips and she was an upcoming actress.
She came from abroad one year ago and tried joining the entertainment industry. Since then, she has only gotten three minor roles in movies that nobody even talked about.
Apparently, Macy was the long lost daughter of the Philips family. She rejoined the family seven years ago while in her last year of high school and after high school, she was whisked away to Asia and she just returned.
Richard now noticed why the girl had Asian features. Her mother, Andrea Philips, was of Korean descent and Philips was an African American.
The file didn’t give details of why they did it to her and he guessed that he would ask her after she woke up but it wasn’t any of his business.
He was grateful that she saved Melvin and he would pay her handsomely for that and then they would part ways.
If it wasn’t for his daughter, he would have left already. He would pay for her treatment and that was it.
She was lucky that Melvin insisted they be here and he didn’t want to aggravate her.
After a while, Asher and Cash brought food. They took it to the room in the sitting area and spread the table.
They had brought food for Richard too because Asher knew him well.
Richard hadn’t taken lunch and all he cared about was Melvin.
They ate while talking about the girl and Asher was saying that he didn’t have enough time to find out why the girl was drugged by Angela as she was his sister.
He called the PR director of his entertainment company, Imperial House and when the call connected, “I want you to investigate something for me. Where is Angela Philips right now and what she is doing,” he said.
“Oh, second young master, that’s easy. Today is the day for the auditions of the highly talked about movie Major Calamities by Diamond Studios.
I think Angela is the most favoured one for the lead lady and she is there, definitely,” the director said and Asher scoffed.
“Okay. Can you also find out what role Macy Philips wanted if any and if not, what’s her involvement with the movie?” He asked and the director asked for a few minutes.
“Apparently, she is at an auditions but according to the director, Angela is the most favoured one for the lead role. I think as usual, her father has bought his way for her,” Asher said bitterly and Richard looked at him in a questioning manner.
“Oh, sorry. I usually forget that you just came back. Angela joined the entertainment industry like four years back and no movie director would have her.
That is because she is an awful actress. She has tried applying to sign up in Imperial but I would die before I took on someone like her.
When she realised that no one wants her and even the few endorsements she had got were withdrawing, her father started buying his way for her.
In every movie she has acted in, her father must be among the producers.
For instance, the budget for this movie, Major Calamities is around fifteen million dollars and her father has invested five million.
So, the directors are forced to take her. Good thing is she is beautiful and had built a fan base.
But she isn’t as beautiful as her older sister, don’t you think?” Asher teased and before the glare his brother shot him could kill him, his phone rang.
“It’s the director,” he said as he connected the call, “hello?”
“Boss, Macy had also applied to audition with her company. I’m not sure the part she wanted though. No one seems to know because her manager rarely cares for her,” the PR director said and Asher thanked him as he hang up.
“I can now guess why they drugged her. They didn’t want her to audition.
The two sisters have the same manager but the manager seems to care more about Angela and her other actresses than she does Macy.
She is a renown manager but has never managed to get a good part for Macy whole Angela keeps landing lead roles in major movies.
I guess Macy wanted to audition for this one and they couldn’t have it,” Asher said.
“For a CEO you seem to know a lot about other artists that aren’t even in your company,” Richard commented.
“Of course! That’s my job,” Asher said in a tone that seemed to say that he had been offended and then continued, “you very well know that I eat and sleep gossip brother. I have to do this because my work is finding the best in the industry in DC and steal them.
How else do you think Imperial has managed to stay at the top of the chain?” He said proudly and his bright scoffed helplessly.
But Richard loved this brother of his. He was a genius though he tended to mind other people’s business a lot.
“Is she late for the auditions?” Richard asked.
“If she woke up now, she would make it. It is a big movie and they had put the auditions for all the characters today.
I guess she could make it,” Asher said and like she was on cue, the nurse walked towards them and spoke.
“She is awake young masters,” she said and it was Melvin who jumped out of her seat first.
“Auntie?” she said as she ran towards the girl who was trying to sit down.
“Hey cutie? You are so beautiful now that I can see you well. So, you went and looked for help?” Macy asked as she ran her hand through Melvin’s hair.
Melvin nod her head and looked towards her father and uncle who and come and stood at the edge of the bed behind Macy.
“Hello?” Asher greeted and Macy gasped.
If she wasn’t sick and laying in bed, she would have fallen.
“He… hello? Mr Asher Armstrong? The CEO of imperial?” She asked in amazement as she looked at him like he was a God.
“Hey, Macy? Right?” He asked as he smiled kindly at her.
“My niece brought us to you. She had got lost and when she came back, she pulled her father, meet my brother Richard by the way and Melvin’s mother, she pulled us to the room where you were,” Asher said and Macy had a confused look on her face by the time he was done.
“What’s wrong?” Asher asked.
“You said mother. Isn’t he a man?” Macy whispered and Asher laughed.
“Oh, yeah. He is a man but he is so henpecked by my precious niece here that he behaves like a woman when with her. So, yes. Mother,” Asher said and laughed at his own joke.
Macy laughed awkwardly and looked at Melvin to reduce the awkwardness.
“So, you are Melvin, right?” She smiled at the girl and Melvin nodded, “I am Macy. Nice to meet you precious,” she said and that earned her a toothy grin from Melvin.
Macy seemed to ember something and she looked at Asher, “what time is it? How long have I been asleep? Oh my God!” She said as she stood from the bed and she swayed a bit but Asher was there to steady her.
“Careful. Are you sure you can walk? You have been out for like three hours. Thanks to our doctors they were able to give you an antidote in time.
You should be careful who you eat or drink with,” Asher said and Macy smiled bitterly.
“Call me a fool because I seem to trust people easily. How could I have doubted my own boyfriend?” She said and her voice was bitter.
“I have to go. Thank you all so much for saving me. I can pay the bill later but I have to rush somewhere,” Macy said as she straightened her dress and started beating off nonexistent dust.
“Hey, take it easy. You still got time and we will drive you there. Are you strong enough?” Asher asked her and she smiled.
“I am well, second young master. Thank you,” she said and smiled.
“Ash, take Mel out for a while,” Richard spoke for the first time since they came to her bedside.
“Okay,” Asher said as he took Mel and they walked out.
“What would you like as payment for saving my daughter?” Richard, being Richard, went straight to the point.
“Oh, thank you. I saved her and she in turn saved me. We are good, don’t you think?” Macy said as she took her purse that had been placed by the side table and made as if to walk out.
“I dont like owing people. What do you want? Money? Fame? What?” He insisted.
“Like I said, she saved me and I saved her. What’s the big deal? I have to go sir. I really have a very important audition and if I miss this one, my sister, no, Angela is going to stomp in me. I can’t live with that. Thank you and see you,” she said and ran out of the room.
He looked at her back and shook His head.
After she had left, “Asher, make sure she gets that part,” he said and sat back down as he thought.
“Daddy? Will I see auntie again? I want to see her again? She didn’t even say goodbye,” Melvin lamented and her father looked at her with an unreadable gaze.
“Yes baby. If you want to see her, it can be arranged,” Asher said as he picked her up.