Five years ago…
“No, not again. I failed another audition!” Ashley wailed as her hands covered her face, tears streaming down her eyes uncontrollable. She sank into the floor, her back against the wall as she sniffled.
Ashley, who was a student of college of Art and Media, has wanted to become a renowned actress. She had been going from one audition to another, trying to at least land herself a role in a TV show or movie. But all her effort was proved abortive.
She had just received another message of another failed audition. What else would break someone if not a thing that she had been pursuing for a very long time not going as planned.
An uncontrollable sob rack her body. She buried her head in her lap, letting her tears soak her shorts.
Just as Ashley’s cries were about to consume her, the shrill ring of her phone broke the silence in the room. Ashley’s cries ceased for a brief moment. She raised her head from her laps and looked at her phone, which just dropped from her hand a moment ago.
Seeing the caller ID, she couldn’t help gritting her teeth in anger. “That asshole.” She cursed, still sobbing. She couldn’t believe that she did something as shameless as sleeping with the person calling her out of desperation.
With anger coursing through her, Ashley answered the call, shouting into the phone before the caller could speak. “You asshole. How dare you trick me into sleeping with you, with the promise that your father would help me land a role in moonlight production!” Ashley yelled, her emotions getting the better of her.
She had been feeling guilty for the past three days after sleeping with Ian Scott, the son of Henry Scott, who was a famous director in the entertainment industry. All his movies were consistently blockbuster hits, each raking a minimum of $2 billion dollars at the box office.
Ian Scott had been chasing after her since her first year in college. As the son of a famous director, almost all the female students of Art and Media want to be closer to him. She was also among the people that wanted to be friends with him, since he was useful to her.
Ian had asked her out some days after their first meeting. She had rejected his advances because she already had a boyfriend she had been dating since high school.
Raymond, who was Ashley’s boyfriend at the time, had always been the person she cherished the most, but Raymond’s worth in her heart was not as high as her dream, which is to become a famous actress known all over the world. And to achieve that, she would do anything to reach the top of the entertainment industry, even if she had to sleep with someone as shameless as Ian.
“Hey sugar, calm your nerves…I didn’t force you to sleep with me. You did it willingly.” Ian chuckled through the phone. Ian honestly said, rendering Ashley speechless.
“You…” Ashley bit her lips, her eyes welling up with fresh tears. How dare he lie to me? I would definitely make sure you pay for this. Just you wait. Ashley thought, her eyes flashing with malice, even though Ian wasn’t in front of her right now.
“What about me, huh?” Ian asked playfully, not minding Ashley’s pain. “By the way, there is another offer I have for you. I promise that this new audition would surely be in your favor, as long as you listen to…”
“Fuck. That bitch dares hang up on me.” Ian cursed angrily as Ashley hung up on him from the other end.
“That idiot, what did he take me for? A whore?” Ashley fumed, almost smashing her phone. Thankfully, her phone was on the floor beside her.
Picking up herself from the cold floor, she dragged her already exhausted body back to her room.
****
“This way Miss.” A waiter walked Ashley through the elegant corridor of H&B restaurant. They stopped in front of a large mahogany door, adorned with an intricate carving.
“Here we are, Miss. Sir is waiting for you inside.” The waitress pointed to the door, gesturing for Ashley to enter.
Ashley nodded politely at the waitress, before turning her back to the waitress as she walked towards the door she was directed to.
As Ashley reached the door, she took a deep breath, calming her nerves. Her instinct was telling her to turn back and go home, but what the occupant of the room had said to her on the phone earlier this morning echoed in her head.
This morning had started like any other morning would be for Ashley. She had received a mysterious call from an unknown number. The low, husky voice of the caller on the other end had said to her: “Meet me at H&B restaurant by 4:00 pm if you want to succeed in your acting career.” Without waiting for Ashley’s reply, the mysterious caller ended the call, leaving Ashley with more questions than answers. It was like the mysterious caller was sure that Ashley would definitely come.
And here she was. Standing in front of the door separating her and the mysterious man, who sounds dangerous through the phone earlier. She had her doubts as she was coming. What if this is a trap? What if he is a serial killer or a kidnapper? Different thoughts had run through her mind, but she remembers a saying; Risk it until you make it. And here she was, taking a risk with her life, just to achieve her dream.
Taking a deep breath, Ashley steeled herself and finally pushed opened the door.
“Welcome, Miss Ashley.” A man in black suit greeted Ashley as she entered the room. His voice was firm and polite. Ashley immediately felt an oppressive aura pressing against her like an invisible weight inside the room. A shiver couldn’t help running down her spine as she took in the man’s imposing figure. His stern expression makes him even more intimidating.
Just as she was about to respond, an even more gruff, raspy voice echoed through the room. “I see that you have finally arrived Miss Brown. I must say, I admire your courage.”
Ashley shook at the voice, her body frozen in place. She slowly turned her gaze towards the speaker, her eyes scanning the room, until they landed on an old man, who looks like he is in his early 60s. His legs were crossed over each other. If not for the fine line etched on his face, and a sprinkle of white hair on his head, he would have been taken for someone in his 50s.
His piercing blue eyes seem to bore into Ashley’s soul, making her feel uneasy. Ashley felt the man look familiar, but she couldn’t place where she had met him before.
The old man’s gaze held hers, admiring how Ashley’s fear had turned into curiosity as she looked at him. A hint of a smile played on his lips. “Please come in and take a seat Miss Brown, we have much to discuss.”
Ashley’s instinct screamed at her to run and never look back, but her desire to succeed makes her walked towards the man, and sat two seat away from him.