Looking at the annoying Nicholas, who had been picking on her since they started filming, Ashley’s face couldn’t help turning pale. She had started feeling like she was walking on eggshells around him.
Nicholas who was playing the lead actor for this new project has insisted that if Ashley was to be the female lead, he should be counted out. No one dares to go against Nicholas in the entertainment industry.
Though his family business was real estate, Nicholas was the only one among his three brothers who didn’t join the family business. He went into the entertainment industry with the excuse of playing around. His brothers opened an entertainment company just for the sake of their baby brother.
Ashley, who thought Nicholas would be happy to see her after she left the country, didn’t imagine he would treat her with hostility after meeting again. Nicholas had been one of her and Raymond’s die-hard fans back then in high school. He always wanted them to be together. Who knew years later he had changed so much that she didn’t seem to recognize him?
He even made her play the role of the second female lead in the film they are shooting now. If not for the director who was in charge of the movie and had a reputation for his movies always becoming blockbusters, she wouldn’t have played the second female lead role she hadn’t played in ages.
Nicholas, who had been observing everyone on set congratulating Ashley, couldn’t take it anymore. He stepped forward to mock her. After receiving a call from Dylan, who told him Raymond and Lina left the hospital separately after the Raymond scandal, he couldn’t help coming to vent his anger on Ashley.
“Nicholas, please don’t get started with Ashley right now. We still have an important night scene to shoot. And you know this scene needs the right emotions for the characters to come out. Can we do this after shooting please?”
Director Ian, known as the movie box king in the entertainment industry said, feeling a headache coming at the smell of gunpowder between Ashley and Nicholas, who were the hardest to deal with in this set. He had it at the back of his mind never to work with the two of them again if they were ever on the same cast.
“What’s there to be proud of having a dirty scandal you arranged and created yourself? You better take down that nonsense circulating online, or you will regret it.” Nicholas sneered as his eyes bored on Ashley, his words loud enough to carry across the set.
“What…what nonsense are you spouting?” Ashley’s eyes flashed in anger, but she tried to keep her cool.
Raymond is my boyfriend and you know that. Why would I do such a thing to be in the limelight?” Ashley asked, trying to sound as cool as possible.
“You know in your heart whether I’m spouting nonsense or not.” Nicholas flung his wrist and folded his arm at his back, looking like a Chinese Prince Charming. “This is my last warning to you. Take that nonsense down before tomorrow morning or face the consequences.” After saying that, Nicholas snorted in disgust before walking away in a powerful stride.
Ashley couldn’t help feeling worried. Wait, Nicholas is Raymond’s friend. Does that mean Raymond had told Nicholas what the consequences of going against him were? No, that isn’t right. Raymond loves me so much that he would never let any harm befall me. Ashley was still delusional, thinking she and Raymond were still in a loving relationship after five years of heartbreak.
“Ashley, is Nicholas saying the truth earlier?” The tall brunette actress couldn’t help asking. The other actresses also stared at Ashley, indicating she should tell the truth. They have already begun to murmur among each other.
“Of course not. Am I someone that would do such a thing for fame?” Ashley said while smiling nervously. She couldn’t help cursing Nicholas in her heart.
“No need to defend yourself, Ashley. We all see Nicholas has been hostile towards you since the day we started filming. This might be one of his tricks.” Another actress chimes in, saving Ashley from the awkward moment.
“Thanks, guys, for believing in me,” Ashley muttered as she prayed her plans didn’t backfire.
“Ashley, it’s your turn next. Go and get ready for your scene.” Director Ian shouted while Ashley left the small group to go get ready for her scene.
***
At Lina’s apartment,
The next morning.
Lina yawned as she emerged from the washroom, her eyes still heavy with sleep. She wasn’t able to sleep well last night. She slept during the wee hours of the night. Her mind was flooded with Raymond and Ashley’s scandal.
Ria had tried her best last night to soothe her. She stayed with her till she fell asleep after placating her.
Ria had wanted to take her to her apartment yesterday, but Lina refused, insisting she brought her back to her apartment in the Palm Grove district instead.
Knowing Ria has a boyfriend now, she doesn’t want to become a third wheel. She didn’t know about Ria’s decision to break up with her boyfriend because of her.
Looking at the familiar room she left months ago, she felt everything had gone back to how it was. After she moved out, she still paid the cleaner to clean up the place.
She sighed heavily before leaving her room and walking downstairs towards the guest room. The door was wide open. As she stepped into the room, she couldn’t find Ria. “Ria!” Lina shouted as she walked towards the bathroom. What answered her was the echo of her voice off the walls. A faint sense of unease settled at the pit of her stomach.
Has she left already? She thought while twisting the bathroom doorknob. She checked everywhere, but Ria was nowhere to be found. She came out and closed the bathroom door. As she scrutinized the room, she noticed the bed was neatly made, with no traces of someone who had occupied it for the night.
Her gaze moved to the empty dresser. That was when she noticed a piece of paper on the vanity.
She walked towards the vanity, her fluffy slippers making a small crunchy sound on the rug-covered floor. Picking up the paper, Lina saw it was a note from Ria, written in her familiar scribble, a small smile couldn’t help forming on her lips.
“Dear Lina,
I’m sorry to leave early. I just got a call from the company. I need to rush over to sort out an urgent matter. I will be back in a jiffy. In the meantime, don’t immerse yourself in thinking about your husband’s scandal, instead, rest well and recuperate.
P. S. “A surprise is waiting for you in the kitchen. Go check it out.”
Love, Ria.”
Lina’s expression softened as she read the note. Her lips couldn’t help curling up. She was grateful to God for providing a supportive friend like Ria to her. She doesn’t know what she would have done without her. She folded the note and placed it inside the chest pocket of the Pajamas, making a mental note to call Ria later.
Curious about what Ria has installed for her in the kitchen, she hurriedly makes her way there. As she entered, she was greeted by the sweet aroma of freshly brewed coffee, and the delicious aroma of freshly baked croissants.
Her eyes landed on the box of croissants and a thermos of hot coffee on the counter, with a note attached to it, which read; “With freshly baked croissants and hot coffee, your worries would be washed away,” followed by a heart emoji.
Lina couldn’t help laughing out loud. The kitchen was filled with her heavenly laughter. This was the happiest laugh she had had since yesterday afternoon. For now, she forgot about her worries. She drew a chair closer to herself and sat down.
Her heart couldn’t help swelling with gratitude at Ria’s kind gesture. She poured herself a cup of coffee and took a bite from the fluffy, buttery croissants. The taste was heavenly, and for a moment, she forgot about her worries and simply savored the great taste of the croissants and coffee. Ria always knew a way to brighten her day.