AN OLD ENEMY II

The next day, Ophelia woke up groaning in pain, her head pounding with a sharp headache. She looked around and realized she had fallen asleep still in the same spot from last night.

When she tried to stand up, her body stiffened, and her knees ached. She summoned her courage and crawled back to the room.

She slowly stood back on her feet and entered the bathroom stripped naked, she put on the shower making it wet her body.

She emerged from the bathroom, her soft black hair dripping wet, framing her heart-shaped face like a dark halo. Her warm, White skin glistened with dewy freshness, radiating a natural glow.

She got out of the bathroom with a frown on her face. She opened the wardrobe, and some of the clothes fell out. She couldn't even see the perfect ones to wear.

Suddenly, her phone beeped from the bed.

She smiled faintly, “Remembering she hasn’t touched the phone since Dave kidnapped her”. she thought.

She picked it up and saw ten missed calls from Milana. She sat by the side of the bed and dialed her number again.

After reassuring Milana that she was safe, Ophelia checked her notifications. Five messages from Rome. She ignored them and opened her email instead.

There, buried under the usual spam, was a message from a company she had applied to two months ago.

“It’s probably another rejection,” she murmured, smiling bitterly.

But then, another email popped up from the same company.

Curious, she opened it and froze.

Her application had been accepted. They were inviting her for an interview as soon as possible.

“Am I seeing things?” Ophelia whispered, rereading the message to confirm.

But it was real.

A surge of energy shot through her. She ran back to the wardrobe and pulled out a matching office outfit. Then, matching heels and a bag.

After applying some light makeup, she checked herself in the mirror. That’s when she noticed a small wardrobe below.

Opening it, she gasped.

It was full of jewelry.

“Wow…., I thought he was only cold and arrogant”, I can't believe he has some kind of decency in him Ophelia lamented in awe as she admired the jewelry.

She picked a simple golden piece that matched her outfit. Once she was satisfied with her appearance, she grabbed a side snack and rushed out of the house.

*******************

She arrived at Steller Reels Entertainment, one of the USA's top 10 entertainment companies.

Though it was a major name, Ophelia had always dreamed of working with one of the top five. Still, this was the first breakthrough after five long years of rejection and struggle.

She took the elevator to the director’s office. Her heart pounded. She was excited and nervous and terrified at the same time.

She knocked lightly. And a young lady in her twenties opened the door and welcomed her in.

“Please take your seat,” the woman said. “The director will see you shortly.”

Ophelia sat, fidgeting. Then, after what felt like forever, she was asked to come in.

She stepped into the spacious office. A woman stood by the window, her back turned.

That must be the director, Ophelia thought as she gently closed the door behind her.

The woman turned slowly.

Ophelia froze.

Her blood ran cold.

Only one word escaped her trembling lips.

“Ce…le…ne G…r…ey…”

The woman smiled, a cold, mocking smirk.

“Surprise,” Celine whispered into her ear, laughing hysterically as she pulled away. “How does it feel to see an old friend, Ophelia? Don’t you miss me?”

Ophelia’s body trembled. Tears filled her eyes.

“Celene you bitch” How dare you show up in front of me again? After all that you've done to me, how can you call yourself my friend? Ophelia shouted, her voice breaking.

Celine threw her head back and laughed.

“What did I do to you, Ophelia? You were the greedy one! You reached for what was never yours.”

“How dare you try to be a singer again?” she yelled, her eyes burning with hatred.

She stared at Ophelia for a while, then she suddenly lunged forward.

“Where did you get this outfit and jewelry?” She asked glancing at Ophelia’s neck in anger.

Ophelia yanked herself free. “What nonsense are you scheming again?” Ophelia yelled, turning to walk out of the office.

But, Celine grabbed her by the hem of her dress, stopping her in her tracks.

She bent down, inspecting the fabric. Her expression darkened.

Without warning, she dragged Ophelia out of the office and threw her into the middle of the hallway where employees were gathered.

Ophelia winced, pain shooting up her leg. She had twisted her ankle.

Celine’s voice broke through the murmurs.

“Everyone! You won’t believe who this girl is!” she cried, her sobs loud and dramatic.

“She’s Ophelia Wyatt—my so-called best friend who betrayed me five years ago! She stole my songs, used my voice, and tried to take my position. She even threatened to kill me!”

People gasped. Phones came out. Eyes stared.

Celine’s voice cracked. “And now, she shows up in my office, wearing the jewelry and dresses my father gave me for my birthday last year!”

“She said she’d kill me again if I didn’t step down!” Celine wailed.

Ophelia tried to speak, to deny it. But someone shoved her back down.

Chaos erupted.

Insults flew. Objects were thrown.

She was beaten, Spat on, Dragged to the entrance.

Then, thrown out of the building like trash.

Rain poured as Ophelia crawled across the wet ground, bruised and soaked. Her tears blended with the rain, her heart-shattering in her chest.

Her eyes caught the hem of her dress.

Then up at the silver emblem on the building.

Her breath hitched.

The Silver Key.

“Celine’s father’s company,” she whispered, realization hitting her like a punch.

She had been too overwhelmed to notice earlier.

Blinded by her tears, lost in her thoughts, she didn’t notice the car speeding toward her until it was too late.