The Rich are always right

"Are you crazy? You what?" Morgan asked in disbelief as Phoebe lamented the situation to him with tears in her eyes.

"How could you do such a thing? Do you have any idea who that man is? Oh yes, you do obviously!" Morgan said sarcastically.

"What was I to do Morgan? It's not my fault he is a pathetic jerk! I felt the audition slipping away from my hands. Do you know how that felt? Moreover, he said rude things to me too. I couldn't just sit back and watch him insult me."

"Oh, You could have clamped your mouth shut because no matter what Loukas Hamilton would win over us anywhere. That is how it works." He flared up.

"But you weren't there. You didn't have to face those judges while Loukas battered me! I'm sure you would have said something if you were there." Phoebe sniffed.

"Gosh! You shouldn't really have traded words with him. Getting on his bad side would do us no good!" Morgan stood up in anger as he spoke.

This had been his shot at fame and Phoebe had dashed it to pieces. He had thought that she would be selected and once she was, that would automatically mean his life had changed too but when the doors opened and he saw her being dragged out.

Morgan had known that his fears were right. Phoebe Gardner had angered Loukas. How would he settle his piling bills now?

This wasn't what he had expected when he was training her.

"Damn! This was one chance you missed!" Morgan cursed.

Phoebe flinched. She wondered why Morgan was overreacting this way. He had refused to hear her side of the story fully.

"I need to smoke." Morgan excused himself for a smoke.

"Hey, let him go." the model who had encouraged her came to sit by her side. He had seen what had happened.

"You're still here." Phoebe hastened to clean up her tears before faking a smile.

"You don't have to pretend. I know things didn't go well in there. It can be like that sometimes I am Luis Kennedy." he introduced himself before shaking her hands.

"Phoebe Gardner. Thank you for the other time." Phoebe said forlornly as she took his hands. "How are you feeling?" Luis asked her.

"I don't know at all. It's like I'm in a fix. I borrowed the money for the audition from someone I should have never borrowed from. However, I had to because I thought that I would be selected. Look at me." She sounded despaired.

"I understand. This isn't my first audition, you know." Luis said.

"I had failed one before this." He said to her disbelief.

He looked so perfect, what else would they want?

Luis nodded.

"My whole life is in a mess. I need to pay that money back before next week and I have no idea where to get the money from. It's worse that I didn't get the money. What's worse is if I lose my incisors."

Luis chuckled at her amusement. He had known she'd be cool when he saw her trying to control herself.

He had felt more than that. Phoebe hadn't been around then. He had come out to see her.

"Phoebe, sometimes life is all about second chances. I was lucky here and you could be lucky elsewhere. This is not the end of the world. Just go home and rest. When you wake up, think things over." He cheered her up.

"Thank you so much, Luis." Phoebe was grateful that even though she had lost today, she had gained a friend also.

Luis' manager signaled to him.

"So I gotta go, can I have your number please?" he brought out his phone to get her number.

"Sure."

"Congratulations Luis, you deserve this." she smiled at him.

"Thank you." he and his manager exited the room.

Almost immediately, Morgan came back into the room.

"Are you ready to leave?" He still looked dejected.

"Are you alright Morgan?" She asked him but ignored her and stomped outside.

___________________

"Is that all you did to him? You didn't smack him in the face and what's this about Morgan acting up like it's your goddamn fault for not passing the audition?" Zen said as she listened to Phoebe who had just woken up from a short nap after crying herself to sleep.

Her head was clear now.

"I don't know what to do right now Zen. I have to pay Gordon his money or you know what he's going to do to me. How am I going to do so? My job can barely cater for my needs. Now I have a deficit." Phoebe spoke in a low tone.

Her sobs had sapped her of energy. She looked miserable even after the nap.

"Hey, you're not gonna think about the money or anything right now. Not even Gordon. You need to rest, girl. You look… I don't even know the right word to use. I wish I could see the jerk who did this to you." Zen felt so bad for Phoebe.

She had gone to the audition in high spirits. This person sitting in front of her was a sharp contrast to Phoebe who left home this morning.

"This is not the end of the word girl. There are so many opportunities out there waiting for you to grasp them. Do not let Loukas get to you. Now, come here." Zen opened her arms to let Phoebe nestle in them.

"Thank you, Zen." Phoebe snuggled in her arms.

She needed someone to comfort her. Thank goodness Zen came home early today.

"Shhhh, we will think of what to do later like always but for now, sleep. You need it."

Phoebe was almost asleep when she heard Zen's low tone.

"The rich are always right," Zen muttered.