Paisley tried to get out of her hold, but Tatiana was stronger than she imagined. She felt a taste. Salty. Urine! She struggled more, only to have Tatiana push her head further.
Tatiana pulled out her head, her grip on Paisley’s hair still hard and firm, like she was going to pull it out of her scalp.
“Let me give you a warning, bitch. The next time you cross paths with me, mind the way you use your words. Talk shit about my boy again, and I swear you’ll experience a fate crueler than death,” Tatiana warned, her tone icy. She dipped Paisley’s head briefly into the toilet again before releasing her.
Stepping out, Tatiana composed herself and returned to her calm and charming aura. As she walked through the hall, she felt the curious gazes of the onlookers and cared less about it.
Paisley splashed the running water on her face, scrubbing it intensively. She could still taste, smell, and feel the urine. How dare Tatiana?! Does she think this was years ago? Does she even know what she had done?
Her furious gaze settled on the mirror before her, the scene where Tatiana slapped and humiliated her replaying over and over in her head. She removed the mirror and smashed it to the floor.
“You’ll pay for this!” she yelled insanely.
____
“Her audition went well,” Hudson informed the cold man seated on his black shiny chair, his jaw moving gently as he chewed on his cookies.
“Hmm,” Cassius shut his eyes and savored the flavor.
“Why do you like those things so much?”
“Why do you like your idol so much?” Cassius asked back.
“Because she is amazing. I knew her audition would go well without even checking up on her.”
“Cookies are amazing,” Cassius gave his response too.
“So, she was the woman you talked about years ago?” Hudson uttered, and Cassius paused and looked at him. “Are you surprised I found out? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“You know the reason. And if you do that crazy thought seeping into your head right now, I will bury you six feet underground,” Cassius warned.
“She was your first and the woman who…”
“Shut it,” Cassius glared, and he stopped talking.
“Now I get the reason why she rejected us, and I’m glad she did. Do you wish for me to dig into everything about her?”
“No, I’ll get to know her myself,” Cassius glanced at his watch, stood, and ordered, “Get the car ready.”
___
Tatiana’s phone beeped; Cassius sent the address she was to come. She sighed and kept her phone. She planned to head there after meeting an old friend.
Tatiana and Jolene stepped down from the car to an area with Black Americans. One of her old friends lives here.
“Do you think they’ll forgive me? It’s been years,” Tatiana asked Jolene.
“They would, at least for me, ’cause I still visit them. They’ll take you back,” Jolene replied.
Tatiana approached a doorstep and knocked on the door lightly. When she got no response, she knocked again.
“I’m coming, I’m trying to dress my ass up,” a voice sounded from inside. The voice belonged to Parker, a Black gay man.
When the door opened, his eyes widened at the sight of Tatiana. He blinked several times just to make sure she was the one.
“Tatie?” He raised a brow, chewing on his gum lightly.
“Tatiana?” Another voice sounded. It was Stacy, another old friend of hers, she was white. She peeked and gasped.
“Uhm… I know I really screwed up. I mean, I left all we worked hard for, and I feel so bad…”
“Are you here to ask us for help? ‘Cause I’m definitely not doing that,” Parker said coldly.
“Parker?” Stacy hit him gently. “Be cool, let’s hear what she has to say.”
“She left us for the bastard named Nathan, baby. I lost my shit,” Parker said.
“I deserve your hatred, and I swear I’m gonna make it up to you guys. I don’t expect you to accept me now, but I want you to know that I’m deeply sorry.”
“Please, guys,” Jolene spoke behind her. Parker took a deep breath and sighed deeply.
“I’m cool. I’m just glad you’re back to your senses,” Stacy said and gave Parker a look.
“Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes. “We’re drinking all the way tonight,” he said, and they all laughed.
____
[STARDUST COMPANY]
Nathan just ended the meeting and watched his shareholders leaving. Flynn stepped in and informed him that a female artist wanted to see him.
“Let her in,” he replied, smoking.
Soon, a young lady burst into the office in tears.
“Please, president, you can’t do this,” she went on her knees.
“So you can beg, huh?” Nathan smirked, enjoying how she trembled in fear.
“Please, I’m sorry, I was so wrong to dare you. It won’t happen again. I promise, please don’t destroy my brother’s reputation. He doesn’t do drugs anymore, and if that news gets out, he won’t be able to further his education and will be arrested. He is the reason for my hard work, so please,” she pleaded, her hands tightly clutched together.
“It was just a simple request, sweetheart. Have a one-night stand with the famous singer Matt Brown and gain more fame. Is that so hard for you?” Nathan asked, his eyes devoid of emotion.
“I… I just can’t sell my body… I have a fiance,” she mumbled in tears.
“Fiance?” Nathan chuckled. “You’re still not ready, fine. Flynn, release the damn thing.”
“No!!” The lady stood and kneeled closer. “I’ll do it. I’ll pleasure him for one night, I promise. Don’t release the news, please. All my effort will be in vain. Please.”
Nathan lifted his finger, stopping Flynn.
“Good. You will pleasure him, dear, and bring me more fortune and fame,” he stated, and she nodded vehemently.
“I’ll do it.”
“Clean those tears of yours. You’re one of the most beautiful dancers we have here, act like one. Flynn will prepare everything. All you have to do is please him the way he wants,” he spoke calmly, and the lady stood, wiping her tears.
She tried her best not to curse at him, knowing what this monster could do. She had seen him ruin artists beyond measure, just because of their disobedience.
“Understood,” her lips trembled as Flynn led her out.
Getting home that night, Nathan found Paisley crying around the corner of the room.
“What is it?” he asked, his voice neither cold nor soft.
Paisley raised her head to him, and she cried harder. “It’s Tatiana. That bitch attacked me.”
Nathan’s expression didn’t change. He had already suppressed Paisley’s humiliation news immediately after it got out. He crouched before her, hating her tears.
“She attacked me all of a sudden because of what happened years ago. She hates me, she humiliated me before everyone. She took me to the toilet and…” she paused and sniffed as more tears streamed down her face.
Nathan stayed silent.
“I got to find out something too. She has a son,” Paisley said, and Nathan’s eyes narrowed.
“A son?”
“Yes, around the age of five. It’s not yours, right? You aren’t fucking her before the wedding, right?” she asked, fear swirling in her gaze.