Jemima felt Tatiana’s cold heel lift off her face and heard the sound of Tatiana’s footsteps fading as she left.
Jemima stood, her face contorted with anger. She went to the bathroom to check her face and noticed a small cut on her cheek.
That bitch! She cursed inwardly.
*Just wait until I deal with you,* she thought, clenching her jaw.
___
Jaxon’s eyes fluttered open when he heard his doorbell. He had fallen asleep on the couch.
Sweeping his messy black hair back, he went to open the door and was shocked to see the person standing there.
Didn’t she say she wouldn’t be able to come? And now she was at his doorstep, staring at him.
“Jojo?” He raised an eyebrow.
Her eyes scanned him. “You seem okay,” she mumbled.
Right, he had told her he was sick. Jaxon immediately squeezed his face, placing one hand on his chest.
“No, I’m not,” Jaxon mumbled. He was an actor, so this was easy for him.
“Let me take you to the hospital, then,” Jolene suggested.
“I’ve already been. I’ve gotten drugs and used them. I just need some company, that’s all.”
“Oh, I’ll be good company,” Jolene nodded, and he smiled, but it dropped when another figure appeared behind her-Hudson!
“What is he doing here?” Jaxon mumbled.
“I thought he might know what you need, so I decided to bring him along. The two of us will keep you company,” Jolene explained.
“Can’t it be just you?” Jaxon blurted out, and Jolene’s eyes widened. Right! He shouldn’t make her think he was a pervert, so he quickly added, “I mean, Hudson disturbs me a lot. He’s one troublesome fellow who won’t let me rest.”
“It seems he doesn’t really need company. He wants peace and quiet. He was probably sleeping when we arrived. Let’s go-”
“No!” Jaxon exclaimed before Hudson could finish. “You guys should stay.” He definitely couldn’t waste this opportunity. He just needed to find a way to get rid of Hudson.
As they walked in, Jolene found herself admiring Jaxon’s home. It was simple, rich, well-furnished, and clean. The atmosphere was comfortable.
Jolene still couldn’t pinpoint why she had come here; she just couldn’t ignore Jaxon’s request. She brought Hudson because he seemed to know Jaxon well.
She returned her gaze to Jaxon and noticed how he kept glaring at Hudson. This man seemed fine!
“Is there something I can do?” she asked, and the two men looked at her.
“Yeah, what can she do for you?” Hudson emphasized.
Jaxon clenched his jaw, thinking hard about what to say.
“I need to sleep,” he immediately said. “And I need help to do that. My head is throbbing badly, and I need help.”
“Oh,” Jolene swallowed at the wild thought in her head. “And what helps you sleep?”
“When I was young, I had trouble sleeping. My mother would place my head on her lap and rub my head until I fell asleep,” he said.
“So you want Jolene to do that?” Hudson asked.
“If it pleases her,” Jaxon made his face look pitiful and hurt, as if the headache were real. Even Hudson almost fell for it. What a good actor.
Jaxon looked at Jolene.
“It’s fine if you say no. I just don’t know who else I’d call.”
Jolene knew Jaxon was a ladies’ man. He was always swamped with beautiful female artists-women she couldn’t compare herself to.
Yet… this man called for her? She couldn’t help but feel conflicted.
“Alright, I’ll do it,” Jolene agreed, and she could swear she saw the man’s lips curl up slightly.
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to. I can do it for him instead. I’m good at rubbing heads…” Hudson offered.
“I believe you’re busy, Hudson,” Jaxon cut in.
“Oh, I’m free.”
“You don’t need to, Hudson. Don’t trouble him,” Jolene patted her lap for Jaxon. He immediately swung his legs onto the couch and placed his head on her lap.
His eyes met hers, and he couldn’t help but smile.
“Close your eyes,” she ordered.
“Alright,” he closed his eyes and felt her soft fingers on his scalp.
Fuck! It was better than he had imagined. Her fingers moved gently. He wasn’t lying about his mother making him sleep this way. Her touch reminded him of his mother.
___
“So many invitations from different companies,” Tatiana dropped her phone and sank her naked body into the tub, her head resting on Cassius’s broad chest.
“I don’t even know what to choose,” Tatiana mumbled.
“What about King? You’re good to go for it,” Cassius whispered in a deep voice.
“The Kings?” Tatiana’s lips parted in surprise, and Cassius nodded.
“Why are you so surprised?” Cassius chuckled, gently washing her hair. His hands were firm yet gentle.
“I… I don’t know. Isn’t it too much? I mean, what if I don’t get in? I know it’s your company, but I want to earn it,” she said.
“You already have,” Cassius responded, and she turned to look at him. His eyes were settled on her exposed chest. “You broke a record. Your recent movie is proof that you’re capable of joining. You’ll be accepted, fairly,” Cassius whispered, and Tatiana smiled.
“Alright then. We won’t know unless I try.”
Cassius caressed her hair gently and kissed her forehead. “My talented little Rebel. I’m happy to see you grow.”
Tatiana shifted closer, her hand reaching for his length under the water. Cassius’s eyes darkened.
“I wouldn’t have done it without you, my capable husband,” she whispered, and Cassius kissed her gently.
___
“You criticizing other movies before everyone in Australia was a shitty thing to do, Jemima. Accept the fact that you were wrong,” Daniel snapped at Jemima, who was sitting calmly on the couch.
Daniel was the CEO of Crystal Entertainment Company, a middle-aged man with a built figure.
Jemima rolled her eyes and sighed. “I only said my opinion, sir. You can’t blame me for it.”
Mr. Daniel sighed at Jemima’s stubbornness. Jemima would rather lick the toilet floor than admit her mistake. He knew her to be troublesome, but she was the best actress in the company.
“I’ve asked the company to clear out the rumors. It was easy since Tatiana made our viewership double. She is a lucky gem,” Daniel stated, and Jemima looked at him coldly.
“What?” Jemima stood. “Lucky gem, my ass. That woman is a devil in disguise. Those smiles on her disgusting face are all lies!”
“Hmm, you’re jealous, Jemima.”
“I’m not. I just think Tatiana doesn’t deserve it. Our movie took almost a year to produce, but hers was just a few months. I don’t get why people even liked that movie. And I know you’re thinking of signing her,” Jemima said, not taking a second to breathe.
“I’m not thinking of signing her,” Daniel said, and Jemima’s expression slowly relaxed.
“I *am* going to sign her,” he added, and Jemima clenched her jaw. “She is a rare talent. She is going to take the company to another level. You remember when she said the man she was in a relationship with is a powerful man in the industry?”
“And you believed that?” Jemima approached and stood in front of him. “You can’t sign her. She is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. I’ve seen it.”
“Jemima-”
“Don’t,” she cut him off. “If you sign her, then it’s over between us.” She spun to leave, but the man dragged her back. Her eyes met his.
“Don’t you dare say that. Nothing is over between us,” Daniel trailed his hand to her waist. “Come to think of it, once Tatiana is in this company, her fame and resources will be under us. I know how much you dislike her. I also don’t like the fact that her movie beat yours. Once she’s in, you can show her who the boss truly is.”
Jemima’s expression slowly calmed. Daniel was right. Once Tatiana was in, she’d have many chances to destroy her.
“What do you say?” Daniel asked, kissing her neck.
“I’m not doing anything here, Daniel. Go home and fuck your wife,” Jemima whispered.
Daniel squeezed her ass, and she moaned. “I don’t want that old hag. I want you. I’m fucking hard just looking at you. I’ll prepare a meeting with Tatiana; she needs a company to sign with. And the offer will be hard for her to resist.”
“What about Ciara?” Jemima asked.
“Let it go, my love. You know the world respects how strict Crystal’s interviews are.”
“I can’t. If she wasn’t going to do it, she could have told me. She fooled me on purpose.”
When the man didn’t reply, Jemima pulled away from him and left the office to find Ciara. She found Ciara in her office working.
“Hi, Jemima. How may I help you?” Ciara smiled from her seat, and Jemima scoffed.
She walked up to her, took the bottle of water on the table, and emptied the contents on Ciara’s head. Ciara gasped.
“Fool,” Jemima muttered and left the office. She then pulled out her phone and made a call.
“Hello, I need you to do something for me,” and evil smirk graced her lips.
One way or the other, Tatiana have to pay for what she did to her.