Chapter 2 .2

Rosalie

"I don't need your help, Alexander."

He looked surprised that I knew his name, but he was quick to mask the surprise with a smirk.

"I just want to make sure you get home safe. You don't look like you are in the right mind to drive."

I willed myself not to get mad at him since he was only trying to help, even though I didn't ask for his help.

"I am in the right frame of mind, Alexander. If I needed help driving home, I could have called my driver."

I told her, and despite the disapproval in his eyes, I pushed his driver's hand away and forcefully closed my car door.

As I drove away, I looked through my mirror and saw that he was standing and watching with both hands in his pocket.

Did he look worried? For me? I wonder why. It's not like he is a fan of mine.

The few times we spoke in passing in the past, he always sounded so hostile towards me, which gave me the impression that he hated me.

That's part of the reason I didn't resign with his company after my brand ambassadorship contract ended.

I had hundreds of other contracts lined up, so I was about to choose.

I pushed the thought of Alexander Russell, Collins, Lillian, and the whole award shit out of my mind when I arrived home.

I took a cold shower and went right to bed.

"Who the fuck is calling me so early?"

I let out in anger, and I reached for my phone, ready to end the call, but stopped when I saw it was my manager, who never calls me so early unless it was urgent.

"If you are calling me for a schedule, please cancel as I am not in the mood to meet with anyone right now."

I told him right after I took the call.

"I wish I was calling you for a schedule, Rosa."

I sat up immediately because he sounded stressed.

"What's going on?"

I asked him, hoping that no one saw me crying last night at the beach.

"A video was posted."

Fuck. Someone saw me.

"Of me crying?"

I asked even though I already knew that was it.

"No."

I blinked in confusion at his response.

"If it's not of me crying, then what is it?"

I asked, wondering what else could have been caught on camera.

"Of you bullying actors less popular than you."

I scoffed at his words.

"Amos? Are you kidding me? bullying? Me?"

The absurdity of what he just said made me laugh.

"I am not joking. There are several videos of you talking down on Actors less popular than you, and the one making the most rounds is Lillian's video since she won the best actor award last night and someone uploaded a video of you not even standing up or clapping last night when she won."

I got out of my bed.

"I will call you back."

I said and was about to hang up when he spoke again.

"The agency already released a statement confirming the videos are real, and they are putting your exclusive contract on hold. Not just that, but brands are also cutting contact with you and wanting compassion since a lot of people are already boycotting stuff related to you."

I couldn't even get a single moment to process everything that Amos was saying to me because they made absolutely no sense.

"Are you done?"

I let out.

"I wish I was done, but there's more. Someone leaked your address, and reporters might be outside your house, so don't try to leave. The company is thinking of suing you for damages, and I was told to tell you that you are to return every official thing that was given by the company, including the house you are currently living in."

I couldn't believe his words.

"The house is mine!"

I let out. It was a gift from Collins for our first anniversary, but it has nothing to do with the company.

"The house was bought under the company's name. Also, you can't reach me anymore since I was instructed to call you and inform you about everything and never take your calls again."

There's just no end to it.

"Also, all your social accounts have been disabled, and the company plans to sue if you make any public claims that might further ruin the reputation of the company."

I couldn't say anything. My phone fell from my shaking hand, and I collapsed to the ground.

"Was this what he meant when he said I would regret it?"

It didn't take so much to realize what's going on. Collins and Lillian. Those two were out to get me.

I reached for my phone and ended the call without saying anything else to Amos. He wasn't my friend even though he had been my manager for two years now.

My former manager, who quit to focus on being a full-time dad, was my only friend in the whole company, but I couldn't stop him from quitting.

I searched the internet on my private account and found some of the videos. The others made no sense, but the one that didn't make sense the most was the one for Lillian.

"Collins asked me to do this!"

I let out. Collins literally begged me to help her practice for her movie, and I was literally acting.

Even though I knew it wouldn't help my case since thousands of comments were already on her side and defending her, I still removed my account from private and commented on it.

I saw the announcement the company made. I tried to log into my public account but couldn't access it.

I tried to call industry friends I knew who had a lot of following so that they would lend their voice, but they either didn't pick up or straight told me that they couldn't help me.

After so much effort, I gave up and lay on the ground.

"This is the end."

I whispered to myself as fresh tears fell from my eyes.

Last night, I thought I lost it all when I lost the award and found out Collins had been cheating on me.

Well, now I have truly lost it all. My reputation was gone.

I stood up and went to get dressed.

I have to see Collins. He can't just do this to me.

When I got out of my apartment, I took another route because I knew the entrance would be filled with reporters.

Thank god for the underground parking lot and my second car.

I made it out of my house safely and headed straight to the agency.

"We can't let you in here. We were told not to let you in."

Those were the words the security guards at the agency told me.

"I just want to speak to Collins."

I let out.

"He hasn't come to work yet, and we can't let you in.'

I hated begging, so rather than beg, I decided to try Collins home, and sure enough, the bastard was still home.

But Lillian was gone.

"How could you do me like that, Collins?"

I fired at him.

"What did I do? Was I the one who told you to bully your co-actors?"

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.

"You know damn well that I didn't do anything like that! You were the one who asked me to practice with Lillian! You were the one who gave me that fucking script!"

I yelled at him and almost charged towards him when he laughed lazily.

"Too bad no one will believe that. The videos are viral, and everyone already hates you. You left enough evidence to make the claims believable. You were such a mean bitch that everyone bought the stories pretty fast."

I realized that talking with him won't yield any positive result and will only give him something to laugh about.

"The truth always comes out, Collins, and believe it or not, I will get through this, and I will show you."

I told him. I don't know how I will do it yet, but I know this won't be the end of me.

Collins laughed at me.

"There's no getting out of this, Rosalie. There's no one on your side. The only way to undo all of this is to forget what you saw last night and continue our relationship."

I couldn't believe him.

"Is that why? So, because I ended things with you after I caught you cheating, you decided to ruin me?"

The words sounded so unreal coming out of my mouth.

"Your biggest mistake was thinking you can end things with me, Rosalie. I decide when we are over, and if you don't follow that, then I will ruin you and make sure you don't have anyone on your side. I have the power to do that."

So, that's what it is. Power control. I turned around and walked out of his apartment without saying anything else to him.

"You came back."

I didn't expect to see Alexander in the elevator when I got in. I remembered last night and his offer.

"I did; I had something to do here, but this is the last time I will be here."

I told him I wiped off the tears that gathered in my eyes.

"I saw the news."

I didn't say anything when he said that.

"I know you didn't do what they are accusing you of."

He told me.

"Thank you."

For some reason, it felt reassuring hearing him say that he knew I didn't do it. It felt reassuring to have someone believe me.

He didn't say anything else to me until the elevator reached the ground floor and I was about to get out.