Jemima dashed into her apartment, her breath ragged and her face covered in sweat. She grabbed the water from her desk and downed it in one gulp.
Once she calmed down, she sat on her bed, recalling what had happened to her.
The hounds.
They had scared the hell out of her. After she had agreed to Tatiana’s request, someone in the dark whistled, and the hounds left her. Jemima had tried to find the person, but he was gone along with the hounds.
Jemima clenched her jaw. Apologize? Her ass. She would never apologize to a mere assistant!
She took her phone and called Daniel.
“Hey, why are you crying?” Daniel asked on the other end, his voice filled with concern.
Jemima explained everything to him.
“She did all that?”
“Yes. I was so scared I thought I was going to die. I really need your help to destroy her. She might kill me soon.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll do something about it. If she wants to play dirty, I’ll play dirty.”
—
“Do you think she’ll apologize?” Jolene asked Tatiana as she played games with Dylan.
“Jemima would rather lick the toilet floor than apologize. I was messing with her,” Tatiana said, knowing Jemima to be full of ego. She faced Jolene. “Her doom will come on award night. It will be fun humiliating them.”
Jolene smiled.
“I won!” Dylan exclaimed, jumping down from the couch. “I won! I won!” He began to jump around.
“How can a five-year-old boy be this good?” Jolene blinked in surprise.
“I’ll be six in three months. Mother and I will be celebrating our birthdays soon. Buy me cookies!” Dylan said cutely. “When is your birthday, Miss Jolene?”
“December 3rd. A boring day to remind me that I’m getting old.”
Dylan chuckled. “Let’s play another match.”
“I’ll beat you this time around.”
“You bet.”
Tatiana’s phone beeped. It was a message from Kings Entertainment Company. Her eyes widened at the message.
“Oh my God. No way!”
—
‘Nominated’
Jemima smiled at the message in her email. Her eyes lit up with excitement.
“Congratulations, ma’am. You’ll definitely win the award,” Wiley assured.
“What about the other nominees?” she asked.
“On it.”
Jemima nodded. There were four guards behind her, including the one who had been protecting her since the hounds incident, thanks to Daniel.
“Here are the names,” Wiley said, handing the list of names to Jemima.
Jemima immediately searched for her name, and when her eyes settled on it, she hissed in disgust and disdain.
“Why is that bitch Tatiana’s name here? She’s only done one movie…”
“Not really one, ma’am. Remember, she’s an experienced actress. She’s done more than three movies, which makes her eligible. She also has experience…” Wiley reminded her.
“I know. I know. You shouldn’t remind me. Goddammit.”
“Rest assured, ma’am, you’ll win the award. You did last year, and you’ll do so this year too.”
Jemima scoffed. Rest assured? She couldn’t be at peace knowing Tatiana and her mysterious lover were a huge threat to her.
“Get me the list of the judges,” she ordered.
—
Rowen watched Jolene preparing the dishes, her face serious as she carefully added ingredients. Rowen had finally managed to get a small job nearby.
Jolene was happy when she found out, but he was worried as his daughter never asked him why he left that day.
“Jo?” he called when she sat on the couch waiting for the soup to cook.
“Hm?” she answered, deciding to check Tatiana’s platforms.
“Why haven’t you asked about that day I left?”
Jolene paused, and her eyes met his. After a while, she responded, “Because I don’t want to know. I’m afraid it might destroy our relationship.”
“But it has been troubling my mind. If we are to start over, I think it’s best to be honest with you.”
Jolene exhaled nervously. She then nodded, knowing Rowen was right. She nodded, giving him a cue to speak.
“I was terrible. I was under a lot of pressure and wasn’t good enough as your father. I can’t blame your mother for yelling and scolding me every single day. I blame myself. I was selfish to think leaving was the best option. I cried every day remembering how sad you looked running after my car. I left the country to find a better life and return, but it was stolen away from me. I got framed and imprisoned for a crime I didn’t commit. I spent several years thinking of how to come back to you, and that was the first thing I did when I got out… to find you…”
Rowen paused to study Jolene’s expression. There was no anger or resentment.
“Did Mother cheat?” Jolene suddenly asked, and Rowen’s eyes widened a little. How did she know? Yes, her mother cheated, but he didn’t want Jolene to know about that.
“Jo?”
“I was young back then, not stupid.”
“You were sick, Jo. We needed money, so she…”
“That doesn’t make her right. She hurt you. I understand you, Father.”
Rowen’s eyes slowly widened. Father? She just called him Father?
“I’m so sorry I left. That was stupid of me.”
“At least you made it back,” Jolene smiled, and Rowen could see her eyes tearing up.
“Oh Jo, come here,” he said, spreading his arms. She immediately ran to hug him and burst into tears.
“I’m so sorry,” he said again, patting her hair gently.
“Don’t ever leave me again,” she muttered.
“I won’t. I’m back for good. I promise.”
Jolene hugged him tighter.
—
[OSCARS AWARD NIGHT]
The day arrived swiftly, a day everyone had been expecting.
In a large hall filled with numerous people dressed in exquisite outfits. There were actors, models, directors, idols, and business men and women.
Reporters held their cameras firmly as they flashed every second. Their sole purpose for the gathering was…
The Award Ceremony.
It’s an annual event where each celebrity worked hard to get a spotlight: Best Idol, Best Model, Best Newcomer, Best Director, and Best Actress.
Among the crowd, Tatiana sat gracefully. Indigo stayed by her side. Tatiana wore a wine glittering gown that accentuated her beauty.
Cassius, on the other hand, was seated in the high seat as he was the special guest. He wore a wine suit, somewhat familiar to Tatiana’s dress design if one looked closely.
Both had their wedding rings on!
Tatiana was about to make a big move, even though she doubted she would win the award tonight. She came solely to reveal something.
Dylan stayed home that night, as the event was going to be rough.
Her eyes met Jemima, who was also staring at her. Tatiana smiled and returned her gaze to the host greeting the guests.
Jemima scoffed, a smirk playing on her lips as she recalled what she had planned for Tatiana.
“I knew she was only making empty threats weeks ago. She said she would hunt me, and nothing happened. I’ll destroy her tonight,” Jemima mumbled.
Wiley cleared her throat nervously. “Well, ma’am, people have been comparing you to Tatiana online, and it’s not going well.”
“I’m afraid Tatiana might have more votes than you,” Wiley mentioned.
Jemima knew something like this would happen, so she left to make a call.
“How is it going?” she asked.
“We have her,” a voice said on the other end.
“Let me see.”
A video was sent to her. Jolene was tied up, blood dripping from various parts of her body. Her face was swollen, and she looked like someone about to die.
A satisfied smile spread across Jemima’s lips. The bitch who hit her was now suffering. She planned to use Jolene to make Tatiana withdraw as a nominee.
Tatiana loved Jolene so much; she wouldn’t let Jolene die, would she?
Also, Daniel planned to announce Tatiana’s signing with the Crystal Company tonight! Tatiana wouldn’t be able to refuse because she wouldn’t be present when it happened.
The video would force Tatiana to leave the hall. Daniel’s men would kidnap her and force her to sign with the Crystal Company…