CHAPTER 2

I WOKE UP WITH A SLIGHT HEADACHE. My head was spinning and gave me the gists that I'd been on a Ferris wheel. I felt an equivalent sting to that of a bee on the sides of my head. As I opened my eyes, my still blurry vision was able to catch the sight of the whitewashed coating that ran wall to wall.

I groaned and sat up, reaching for the aspirin tablet on the night stand. I downed it in a bit along with the glass siting next to it. I got off the bed and instead of being surprised by the new setting, I smiled.

The paintings, art crafts and everything else artistic gave away the truth of the matter. I was in Adam's apartment. I quickly walked to the windows and took a deep breath awaiting today and the schedule that followed.

The sight of a busy street in the morning it always a good feeling for mento start a day on a brighter note. It only meant things will work out. My eyes caught sight of the giant billboard in the centre of the street.

A smile grew on my lips and immediately faded. As I looked at the billboard, I was impressed with how far I've gone with my life. Started from a scratch, a few rejections and a whole line of setbacks but who knew....the very same face would be on the most expensive billboard in town.

It cost exactly $200,000 monthly to promote someone on that billboard. So much money....for something so little....a mere billboard...

The ringing of my phone brought me back to reality and I ran back into the room. I grabbed it and quickly picked without looking at the caller ID.

"Adam???" I started as I sat back on the bed.

"Yeah....it's Adam....am all you ever dream of everyday ain't I?" The unfamiliarly familiar voice responded ending with a chuckle.

"Gemini...." I gasped and sat up. I immediately looked at the caller ID. It was my manager on the line!

"Where the hell are you??? It's almost 9 in the morning and you're nowhere to be seen. A bunch of reporters are already here waiting for you...."

"Reporters??? For what exactly??" I know having reported waiting for me wasn't surprising but this time around, I found it surprising.

"For wh--!! Tsk..so it's true....the rich just eat and dust the tables for the poor to pick from the bits that don't reamain in the plates but those that fall on the ground...."

"Am sorry but I don't understand...." I replied with a heavy heart wondering what had happened. I scratched my nose trying to rekindle my memory but all that came was the same all times routine. A date with Adam, disco and finishing it off with a movie.

"Tsk. Tsk. Tsk.... Eleanor....just get your butt here ASAP!!!" He hang-up and I anxiously ran my fingers in my hair.

What did I do last night??

**********

In less than thirty minutes, I was dressed and walking down the corridors of Aramark Arcade. Lauren was by my side and I could feel my brain still tensed up trying to decipher the tiny bits of yesterday night. What exactly happened?!

We walked down the corridor as we approached the minor auditorium in the building as led by my bodyguard. I turned around and stared at Lauren who had my back and when she smiled, I felt a bit relaxed. I was walking in six inch heels and wearing a skin tight white dress that went as low as below my butt. My small boobs slightly flashed as the two straps formed a V shape on my chest. Since my hair had been cut, I was wearing a fourteen inches, black hair wig. I know I looked stunning and fit to be every guy's dream but at the moment that was the least of my concerns.

"If it isn't Eleanor of Avalor...." A familiar voice began from behind me.

A smirk grew on my face when my dad memory reminded me who it was.

Natalia Ramos. Head of the model agency I worked for.

She had a habit of calling me after a cartoon title which I highly despised. This time though, I had no time for that. I knew I had done something wrong because she called me that when she was either proud or disappointed.

"Natalia ..."

"Lost the keys to your sex dungeon last night??" She asked and I immediately gasped.

I couldn't hide the embarrassment flashed on my face when she asked.

I saw a rude smile on her face as I looked sideways to see if anyone heard her.

This cheap arrogant woman!

"Excuse you???" I asked back and got a snicker in return as a reply she saw fit.

"It was your busy day yesterday and your boyfriend finally got his long waited for exhibit...if you ask me I'd say it's a good day to bet on a king sized bed on a dark night in his apartment! Oh with drink of course. What was it? Whisky? Gin? Rosé???" She asked again and I immediately clenched my fists.

I narrowed my eyes at her in disgust. For a woman, she had a rather ugly tongue.

If only she knew Adam and I don't sleep together she wouldn't have asked that. We agreed to maintain the purity of our relationship and spare the beautiful act for our wedding night.

I was about to flash the truth in her face but she didn't deserve it.

Having heard her level such disgusting allegations at me made me believe the rumours about her.

She was ever an independent woman. She slept her way into the industry and once she ended up with the man that carries the fortune, she sure worked her charm and had him dead leaving her as heir to his whole empire. Bloody devil!

"The person I hate is someone who gets drunk and loses his memory the next day!!" she pointed her overtly long artificial nail at me and I decided to play chase. I folded my arms beneath my breasts and raised my eyebrow at her.

"Eleanor...thank God you're here!!!" Gemini shrieked as he ran to me. We shared a one minute embrace and he immediately laid his eyes on me and wrinkled his forehead.

"Talk some sense into her. she can't just go outside and at all bullshit when she knows that's not what we expect from her. she's not the only actress out there and we can end this contract right here and right now. Shit!" Natalia spued her venom all over me and I maintained my look.

Gemini held my hand and dragged me aside.

"What's going on with you??" he asked.

"I think it would be fair if I was made aware of what's going on..." I replied and didn't forget to roll my eyes.

He took his phone and after playing whatever it was, he handed it to me.

I carefully watched as I showed up in the video.

I was wearing some Jean shorts and a blue converse which matched with the sleeveless top I was wearing.

I seemed to be drunk....yeah....seemed to be.

I staggered from inside Adam's room to his balcony where I dropped down the bottle I was drinking from.

I seemed to be frustrated with something I wasn't sure of now that I was trying to remember.

I climbed onto the balcony and sat right at the edge almost jumping off to my death.

This was total shit. This was bad...how could I do this?? I sighed and looked around the room and landed on Natalia's eyes. Just looking at her made me feel like an angel entangled in a pact with the devil.

"You'd better have an explanation for that..." Gemini snatched his phone from me and walked towards the stage. I shrugged my shoulders and walked behind him. I had an explanation. I was drunk, and that was it.

"What have you guys discussed between yourselves???" the snitch Natalia asked and I gave her a smirk.

"If it's between us why do you wanna know???" I asked in a very shady attitude causing everyone to stop and stare at us.

"Eleanor...!!!" Lauren yelled but I raised my hand at her in a dismissive gesture. Natalia always wanted to act bossy with me in ways that I did not like. She literally expected me to lick her body for her to understand that I was beneath her, and that I was never going to do.

"I think it's clear from the video that I was drunk....", I rolled my eyes and chewed on my gum as I circled a strand of my hair around my finger.

"Do you think they'll buy it?" she asked back.

"I don't give a shit on whether they'll buy it or not...all I know is that's what am fucking saying then they can decide...." I spat in her face and went for it.

Cameras flashed the moment I walked into the spotlight. I waved into the crowd and earned a few back, nothing to stress about.

My bodyguard led me to the booth and I stood behind the microphone of course with a smile painted on my face.

I braced myself and crossed my fingers, ready to nail it.

"Miss Eleanor, would you please and kindly explain to us exactly what happened yesterday..." one of the reported asked and I smiled as I licked my lips.

"As you all know my boyfriend was finally having his exhibit last night and being the Stargirl I think I had to turn things up a little bit...."

"What are you saying exactly???"

"What am saying is I was celebrating and things got a bit out of hand.....and thinking in the same lines I think that's a learning point to all of you....never mix champagne...a balcony...and a one gallon of happiness....that's a recipe to disaster..." I felt relaxed when laughter filled the room immediately after I said that.

"So you were technically drunk? that's your defense story??" another question boomed from the crowd and I shrugged my lips.

"You know...Adam and I... we're like that she story book romances on Netflix and I think if a girl's gotta get down on the gin...then a girls gotta get down on the gin for it..." I winked and hoped the constantly flashing cameras captured that moment.

"Uh.... quick question...how does a person fall off a ten feet railing? Officer, is this a suicide attempt or what??" another reporter asked and I stood there staring at him like he was the devil in my story.

"Yeah....she just made a statement...---" Gemini intervened and I felt relaxed when he did that. I literally saw my chest sink in relief after he helped me answer that question.

"Look here Sven...you're not going to interrupt this press conference just to get a bunch of tabloid bullshit is that right?" Natalia joined in and I turned to look at her. Was this really happening?

"Can't you just answer a simple question??" this so called Sven, asked back and I have him a death glare despite the fact he was looking at Nat. Following his question, murmurs spread among the journalist causing me to feel sweaty on my nose. My palm ran over it and having drained the sweat, I still felt a somewhat feeling of wetness over it.

I stopped paying attention the moment, the murmurs grew in the place. It became suffocating and the air around me seemed to have gone thin. I started panting and I knew me collapsing right now would be adding a cherry to the already heaped up pile of bad publicity.

No one was listening to anyone and it seemed as if the reporters were attacking me.

I was drunk and that's what it was but no one was ready to step down on to the ground.

Adam.

Where was he?

I needed him now...

"I was there...and I saw the whole thing happen. Like she said....she was drunk....and that's just what it is....suicide attempts and whatever is brewing up in your minds is just a mere speculation which she's already proven false...If there was something, I don't think you guys would miss it...."

Just like that, the whole place became quiet as though an angel had passed through.

I didn't feel my body anymore and all I sensed was me being dragged backstage.

Lauren offered me a sit and I took it followed by a glass of water she offered to me.

"Are you okay??" he asked caringly as his hands caressed my cheeks. I didn't reply. All I remembered doing was spreading my arms around his neck and trying my level best not to cry.

"Shhh....it's okay....." he kissed my hair as he ran his hand up and down my back.

"How are we doing back here???" Natalia's voice echoed as though she was speaking through a microphone.

I immediately turned to her and wiped the tears on my face.

"If I didn't know better I'd say you're a bitch! but now that I know...you've got a devil's tongue...." she grinned and wiggled her eyebrows at me. Instead, I ended up giggling and making circles on the floor with my toes inside my shoes.

"Eleanor.....", Natalia began as she held my hands in hers. "You're the best thing our agency has. You're a model and an actress and you do best at both. You make us what we are and we can't afford to lose you just because you didn't handle your gin. Now that's just shit and the kind that you don't serve.....

"Please see yourself through my eyes...." she seemed to have finished her statement and lowered her eyes. Then, she raised them back and looked at me.

"Promise me this won't ever happen again.... because if it does..... we'll all go down in business..."

I laughed. So all this is about her and not me. Business, money, that's what she's worried about that's all.

"It won't...." I nodded and she quickly pulled me into a surprise hug.

Then it occured to me, this was just the first time she's hugged me off set. Today was sure a day of jam.

"What's on your schedule today???" she asked

"Umm.... actually after this, we're supposed to go for a shoot...."

"Oh you have a shoot today???" she asked.

"Yeah...a remake of the old times romantic movie... Love between the covers..." I replied and shrugged my shoulders.

"Nice...how about I shift it to tomorrow and you can have today off....I think you need a break...." she smiled and I nodded agreeably.

I Definitely needed a break.

*******

"Fasten your seatbelt please...." Adam demanded as he started the car.

"Where are we going??? anywhere fancy?" I jiggled as I did as he asked.

"Says the girl who's in front of cameras instead of going to the hospital" he teased as he reversed the car out of the parking lot and into the freeway.

"Oh God....Natalia gave me a day off in like forever....is this how we'll spend it??? "

"Yes....I don't want you in front of alcohol cooking another scene. You know am not a fan of celebrity trash talk and seeing all those reporters being so good at it caused my blood to boil..."

"I know...it's as if they knew I was trying to commit suicide or something...", I replied and Adam immediately stepped into the emergency break.

"What do you mean by that???" he asked looking keenly at me.

"I meant what I said...I was drunk and that's the truth to it....they can believe what they want I really don't give a damn! and what the hell?!!! We could've died! Don't drive like that!"

"Am sorry just that...I thought you said something..." he defended himself and started the car again slowly speeding it.

"God...when I thought I'd finally get off the camera and have a good day....this happens..." I whispered the last part so that he doesn't hear me.

"Am sorry...." he apologized and held my hand in his planting a kiss on the back.

I gave him a smile and he smiled back at me.

"So where are we going....?"

" My parents old farmhouse...it's like about two hours drive to and from. I'll be sure to bring you back tomorrow in time for your shoot...I heard you're starting four hours after midnight...."

"Oh yeah....I have an early start tomorrow...." I smiled and looked out the window.

The scenery was peaceful and calming.

As I admired every bit of it, I tried not to let my previous experience at my press conference choke me and tear me down again.

Most importantly, I didn't understand how I really climbed over a ten foot inch railway in my drunken state. Was that even possible..??

Unless I climbed up their myself...

So...did I really try to commit suicide??

No...of course not...

I was drunk and that's the truth to it.

...nothing more, nothing less....

"I love you..." I heard Adam whisper as he stopped on the red robots.

I turned my head to face him and smiled.

"I love you...."