Dave wondered if his uncle was starting to suspect he had a secret relationship and if he had figured out that Bianca was the one involved.
It seemed he needed to distance himself from Bianca for a while.
Dave rubbed his temples. He could stay calm in most situations, but he couldn’t shake the frustration of not being able to see Bianca.
After finishing her work that afternoon, Bianca checked her watch and realized it was time for dinner.
Bianca was eager to call Dave.
“Hello! I’ve finished up my work. Are you still stuck with overtime? If you can wrap things up earlier, we…”
“Bianc,” he cut in with a calm, low voice.
Hearing her cheerful tone made Dave feel a pang of discomfort. He replied in a composed tone, “I need to head back to my grandfather’s place for a while. He called and said he wasn’t feeling well. I’m worried about him, so I’m going to spend some time with him.”
“Is your grandfather okay?” Bianca asked with concern. “You should go back right away. If needed, take him to the hospital. Don’t wait, or a small problem might turn into something serious. It could become a bigger issue.”
Dave planned to spend some time at his grandpa’s place to stay updated on his condition. He wanted to make sure his uncles couldn’t use his absence to plot anything behind his back.
But hearing Bianca’s deep concern and complete trust in him made Dave feel a heavy sadness.
“Bianc…” Dave’s voice sounded rough as he called her name.
“Is something wrong? Are you feeling down?” Bianca asked, noticing the sadness in his voice.
With his warm voice, Dave said, “Yes, I’m feeling a bit down, knowing I won’t get to see you for a while.”
His playful tone made Bianca laugh. “If you want to see me, you can visit anytime. And even if you’re busy and we won’t see each other for a few days, it’s not forever. It’s good you’re going back to keep your grandfather company. Sometimes, older people say they’re sick just to get attention. If you spend time with him, he might feel better soon.”
After a moment’s pause, Dave had something on his mind but decided to keep it to himself.
He finally whispered, “Make sure you take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
“Don’t worry about me,” Bianca replied. “I’m swamped with work since the company just started. I’ll manage just fine without you around.”
“Oh? Really?” Dave teased, making Bianca blush.
“Ahem, I mean…”
“Get some good rest and wait for me to come back,” Dave chuckled. “Try not to miss me too much on those lonely nights.”
“Make sure you don’t miss me too much,” Bianca shot back.
As she responded, Bianca heard Dave’s deep and captivating voice, making her smile. “I will miss you very much.”
Bianca’s heart raced as she gently bit her lip and replied, “Same here.”
The next morning, when Bianca arrived at the office, she saw everyone gathered and discussing something intensely.
As she walked in, Diana pulled her aside and said, “Bianc, I just heard that Orion Entertainment’s network system got hacked and crashed completely. The whole network department had to work through the night to fix it.”
“Seriously?” Bianca asked, surprised. Orion Entertainment was a top company with strong network security. How could it have been breached so easily?
“I also heard that every computer in their company went dark last night, but a message appeared on the screens,” Diana added, sounding intrigued.
Bianca’s curiosity was piqued. “What did it say?”
“Shitty Ashley Scott, get out of showbiz.”
Bianca couldn’t help but laugh.
Diana crossed her arms and said with a skeptical look, “She really brought this on herself with her wrongdoings. I’m guessing she’s crossed someone influential who’s decided to give her a taste of her own medicine. After this, her reputation must be in tatters. It’s surprising this hasn’t made bigger news online. It seems like Orion Entertainment’s insiders tried to keep it quiet, but word has leaked throughout the industry.”
Bianca couldn’t help but think about how, just last night, when Ashley entered the company and began making empty statements, Orion Entertainment quickly turned things around on her.
Her gaze then wandered to Reese’s desk. While others were chatting and enjoying themselves, Reese sat alone in front of her desk, looking lonely.
Bianca walked over to Reese with a smile. “Why are you sitting by yourself?”
Reese looked up and gave a forced smile. “I guess not everyone likes a chubby girl like me, so… it’s better if I stay alone.”
Bianca pulled up a chair and sat next to Reese. “Who says that? I really like you. Don’t put yourself down.”
Reese blushed and looked down. “Thanks, Bianca. I really like you a lot, too.”
Bianca noticed a lunchbox on the desk, filled only with vegetables. She smiled and glanced at it.
“Are you trying to lose weight?” Bianca asked casually.
Reese nodded. “I’m not very hopeful, but I want to give it a try.”
“Why are you so sure it won’t work?” Bianca noticed that there seemed to be more to Reese’s story.
Reese fidgeted with her fingers and spoke slowly. “When I was a child, I had a health condition that caused me to become obese. I’ve tried countless doctors and methods, but nothing has worked, so…”
Bianca realized that Reese had once dreamed of becoming an actress but had to give up that dream because of her weight.
Bianca felt a pang of sympathy for Reese.
“Don’t lose hope. The world is big, and there’s definitely a solution out there for you. Plus, the acting industry is diverse. You can find roles that fit you. It’s not just about being a star, but about being a good actress.”
Reese shook her head. “I never wanted to be just a star. I… I just love acting.”
Bianca smiled, appreciating Reese’s dedication to her dream, especially since Reese had expressed interest in joining the acting class.
Then Bianca noticed a series of complex codes on Reese’s computer screen. An idea popped into her head, and she asked casually, “Did you hack into Orion Entertainment’s network?”
“No! It wasn’t me!” Reese’s eyes widened with surprise and concern.
Bianca gave a faint smile and said, “Oh, I just thought you might be secretly avenging me.”
Reese looked shocked and started to stammer, “I… I… um…”
“Don’t worry about it. Just keep doing your thing. I’ve got to get busy,” Bianca said, giving Reese’s shoulder a reassuring pat before getting up to leave.
Reese let out a relieved breath and smiled.