Everett sat there. His eyes went to Paulo’s hand, where it held Gena’s. He watched Paulo’s thumb stroke the back of Gena’s hand. Gena didn’t take her hand away. Instead, Paulo took his hand away first when he noticed Everett’s attention focused on his hand. “Everett, I don’t know how you expect to keep up such a crazy schedule with your other responsibilities. You’ll burn yourself out in no time. I don’t believe your fanbase is all that caring about Empire Nights. If you have a role in it.” Paulo said to Everett. His words betrayed how he complained, masquerading it as advice. He favoured Grandview Manor and Gena over Everett and his career. Paulo worked as an agent to both actors. Everett didn’t see the impartial treatment and investment into his career. Though he saw the favouritism flowing toward Gena currently. “Paul, what are you getting at? Are you recommending that I not take work and forgo the salary? Or are you telling me not to expand my r

Everett didn’t have a warning when he’d found himself pulled into a meeting with Mr. Johnson Sebastian and his murder of crows. That’s how Everett saw the Studio Executives. John Sebastian spoke for the entire murder. Resembling a crow, he became the inspiration for many board members trying to imitate him to different extents.John sat across the conference table from Everett. Its glossy wooden surface gleamed too much in the morning sunshine. John's wrinkles hinted at the discreet cosmetic procedures he had undergone to maintain a youthful appearance. His highly manicured black hair, though, once was natural. Now, it wasn’t naturally black. Everett would not be the one to tell him it did nothing to hide his age. His all-black suits leant to the crow description that his skinny birdlike features gave off. The tailoring may point to skill and money spent, but the clear padding used to fill out his form screamed unnatural. It gave him a creepy air all around. Everett imagines the man d

Rebecca couldn’t believe what he’d done. She knew precisely how he’d use that recording. Bloody ass wanted to blackmail her into marriage. What did he achieve by doing this? A role in Empire Nights? After he again burned his bridges to Gena and Grandview Manor. Rebecca stopped suddenly in the corridor as a thought struck. He’s said he wanted to repair bridges. What the hell? Rebecca felt a ray of hope, then discounted it because nothing changed. She was a losing bet in every aspect. Did he do this out of pity after what he’d learned. He’d find himself sorely mistaken. She couldn’t afford a lawsuit or scandal. If her real name came out and the wrong people discovered her, she’d be in danger. Rebecca’s career risked everything. For years, she patiently awaited her father’s death. Then they’d not want her back. He compelled the search for her.Gena wondered why Rebecca wasn’t impressed with her family, their money, and their influence. Rebecca didn’t c

In search of Everett, Rebecca left the conference room. She needed to speak with him. She’d tried to avoid him when they weren’t working. Following the meeting, she sought details about his role in the agreement. Where did he see this going? What made him agree to this? It felt like torture to have these questions flooding her brain with chaos. Rebecca didn’t know which was worse. She suspected she had the answers, but the thought of them frightened her. Rebecca found Everett in his dressing room. The man already moved his things from the guest dressing room he’d used to the dressing room that connected to hers. No one used it because Rebecca feared the person would get nosy or see something they shouldn’t. What was she thinking? He already had seen too much. Now Rebecca needed to do damage control and set some boundaries with Everett. She knocked on his dressing room door and waited. Rebecca felt self-conscious a

Rebecca understood her reasons for going ahead but not her reason for agreeing to participate in it. She wondered why she didn’t just give up and end it all. If Everett found out how badly everything fell apart after he left, he’d run for the hills again. She was certain he’d leave on the earliest train possible. But until then, what did she do? Her hair grew back, but she wore wigs for a while. Rebecca didn’t know how he’d take to her changes. His kiss back there was like he was kiss starved, but the paparazzi caught him kissing many women, especially Gena over the years. Despite this, he seemed insatiable and almost intoxicated after the kiss. No words of hers could alter the fact he had done something. But what had he achieved? Rebecca just didn’t understand him. Maybe she never had understood him. The studio executives only said they wanted a whirlwind romance and a wedding. How fast was that supposed to happen? Rebecca worried it would be too d