Chapter 2

I breathed a sigh of relief as the reporters disappeared from my sight. They may be tired of chasing me.

I walked straight, not knowing where to go. I glance around the place. I’m not sure where exactly I am right now but it’s familiar to me. I didn’t encounter much on the way. Quiet in this place, maybe because it’s morning.

I stared at the small establishment on the street. You will see the same on the other side. He is busy with his business opening.

I kept my eyes on a beauty parlor. The woman’s neck and face turned red as she squatted, trying to lift the iron barrier. Its root seems to be coming out of the neck and arm. It stopped what it was doing, she glanced at me. His right eyebrow rose, I averted my eyes then continued walking.

The weather was hot so I took off the jacket I was wearing first. I also fanned my hand to feel at least the wind but to no effect.

I found myself at the mall. I’m going to die in the heat outside so I’ll be here first, cool down like I always do. It is also not possible to go to the condo.

I didn’t even think that the parking lot of the studio would be inhabited by reporters, I had a hard time escaping them because I’m not used to running away from reporters, I’ve never been bored in the presence of reporters, only now. If Mossy is right, they are definitely waiting for me to stay.

Playing the scene in my mind makes me fuming mad. That person will ask me about the photo taken earlier. Who is that man, why is everything a big deal? I didn’t know that the media today was interested in the man who stole my coffee.

That coffee stealer.

If it weren’t for him I wouldn’t be asked for that! I went inside an ice cream parlor. It’s good that the mall was open when I arrived earlier.

I sat near the corner so no one would notice me. I immediately removed the heels I was wearing, it stung as I gently squeezed. My foot is red. Seeing the blister made me close my eyes tightly.

This would not have happened if I had worn proper shoes. If I could just walk, I would do it.

A female ice cream parlor staff approached me. I ordered a triple deluxe chocolate ice cream. I took charge of not removing the shades and cap. Not that many people here, few of them are lovers.

I observe the whole place. The ambiance is good, it’s just how an Ice cream parlor is supposed to look like. This place is relaxing. Compared to the outside before, it’s cold so it’s calming here.

I scooped on my ice cream. The cold and sweet chocolate melts in my mouth. I can’t help but close my eyes and savor it. I slouch on my chair. It’s good that no one stole the ice cream I ordered today.

I checked on my phone. Hoping that I’ll get a text from him. But no, Mossy is probably still busy finding a solution to my problem.

I glanced at the staff, they were busy cleaning. They don’t turn in my direction, I’m probably not familiar with them.

I’m already wearing the shoes, it’s embarrassing if I just step on them. I removed the cap I was wearing, I wanted to remove it earlier. Then I lifted the shades up in my head. I turned to their direction, they were not paying attention to me. Thank goodness.

My eyes landed on the television attached above. A staff member opened it.

“Sir!”

“Mr. Bentley! Any statement?”

Reporters surrounded a man, on his side and behind him were bodyguards. They look like they are outside a building. There were many microphones laid out in front of him, placed there on which network they belonged.

My eyes remained on the tv, the face of the man being interviewed familiar.

Wait…

My eyes narrowed as I stared at his face on the tv. He’s the coffee stealer!

“Have you known Artemesia for a long time?”

My eyes widened at the question.

Shit! He’s being mobbed by the reporters!

“No,” he said.

“Is she your girlfriend?”

“No.” The coffee stealer didn’t want to answer.

“Are you dating her?” another reporter asked.

“No, I didn’t know her until now, never heard of her name.”

“She’s Artemesia Vena, known for dating guys and her break up songs.”

Shit! Why was my dating life such a big deal to them? What if I’m dating now? I’m twenty three, I’m at the right age to date! Anyone is doing that but why do they have to make it look bad when it comes to me?

“She has a boyfriend every other break up, they called her the psycho clingy dater for not moving on from his exes. It’s like she’s collecting men. Are you one of the ones she collected Mr. Braxton?”

Heat rushed inside my body. The question is making my blood boil.

I’m not moving on? How can they say that?! Did they interview me? Not at all!

“No, I don’t really know who she is and I don’t want to be involved with her. “

I sighed heavily. The staff focused on the television as if they needed to know something or they needed to be updated.

“Who is Artemesia?” asked a staff.

“Shh! Don’t be loud I’m watching!” The girl shushed her.

“You are seen with her this morning, cozy and sweet while holding hands outside of a coffee shop. Isn’t that enough involvement Mr. Bentley?”

“I bump into her, that’s all.” He made a serious face.

Bump? He stole my coffee because he is lazy to line up! You … Coffee stealer!

“The picture says otherwise Mr. Bentley, you two are holding hands.”

We’re not holding hands! I’m just taking my coffee in that photo!

“I went there for coffee not for this issue. We’re not a thing, she’s not my girlfriend.”

“I don’t know her and I don’t have a plan to bump on her again. My life is busy. I fly around the world for business to keep BC the leading company in the world.”

I dropped the spoon on the table. I faced palm. My annoyance with the man subsided.

You were there to steal my coffee! We’re not really a thing! Gosh! I’d rather be an old lady than be your girlfriend! Maybe every day you’ll still grab me my coffee!

A reporter posted a picture. The man did not glance at what he had just said. “Sir, here’s a picture of her a while ago. She’s wearing a disguise. Hiding from the reporters. They couldn’t get a statement about it.”

Shit! They took a picture of me!

“There’s no need for her statement. I want to be out of this issue. As I said, I’m a busy person. I don’t want my name to be involved in anything unless its business.”

I don’t want to be involved with you either! You… Coffee stealer! You are the reason why your name is involved. If you hadn’t snatched my coffee! Even if he changed it, what he did was still annoying. This is what happened!

The reporter would have asked more questions, but they couldn’t catch up because his huge bodyguard blocked him.

The network reporter stared at the camera. “According to Mr. Braxton Bentley, there was no intercession between the two of them. The meeting was unintentional, but don’t get lost as to why the two were holding hands. Is this really true? Did Artemesia fake it all for publicity? Or is it a tactic to make her name known?”

Fuck that reporter! Is that really how they think of me? Yes, I want to be famous but I’m not that greedy for attention. I was trying to get to the top but here they were, pushing me down. Filled with what issue. Is there nothing to talk about in the country so they even enjoy my former life?

“Artemesia Vena? Who is that?” asked a staff.

“Singer.”

“Singer? I haven’t heard any of her songs!”

The guy smirked. “Probably because she’s not famous!”

“All I know is Juliana!”

“Really?”

“Yes! Juliana is famous unlike her. She hasn’t even become famous, yet here she is full of scandals!” laughed the woman.

I swallowed hard. My gaze remained on the two of them.

“Artemesia, she hasn’t even been famous for a long time, so I just had to meet famous artists to get to know her, that’s how I really got to know her! She can’t move on with all her exes so she writes songs! Her songs don’t become hits, no one is listening! Not all women are like her!”

I smashed my fist above the table. I can’t take all their words anymore. It’s so much to bare. They turned in my direction. I was about to get up when suddenly someone came in.

Shit! I close my eyes tightly. It’s the reporter! He’s wearing an ID of a tv station and a camera is hanging on his neck.

“Artemesia Vena wears disguise, she’s wearing a blonde wig, jacket, cap and shades. If you see someone wearing all that, she’s probably her,” he said.

Shit! Shit! Shit!

Slowly the staff turned to me. Even some customers whispered.

I stiffened where I stood. I want to say something but no words come out of my mouth! I can’t stay here anymore!

I pushed the reporter who was blocking the door, hurriedly running away from there.

“Artemesia!”

I turned to see who it was. Shit! The reporter is after me! What else does he need? Didn’t he hear what that coffee stealer said?

I went to the other building of the mall. The man is confused why I’m here today.

What’s up?

Maybe it’s okay so the reporter can’t see me. I huddled in the sea of people, I forced myself to get in the middle. Those around me were shaking, others were arguing. I close my eyes when the light hits my eye slightly. It disappeared immediately. I glanced at the people here, most of them are young people. My eyes widened to see the big picture of her in front. Then I just realized where am I.

“Juliana!!”

“Oh my god!”

“Juliana my idol!”

“Juliana you’re so beautiful!”

Those were just some of the screams of her fans when Juliana appeared on the mini stage of the mall. The crowd went wild when they saw her. I remain unbothered in the middle of young people shouting, clapping with joy. There is even a hand flying and hitting my face or even my arm.

Until now, the woman is still in shades.

Won’t she remove that?

“Height of the sun ah!” I shouted but my voice just blended in with the screaming crowd.

Juliana began to sing, people accompanied her. They obviously know the lyrics of her song, some even follow the steps of her background dancers.

I saw those next to me crying with joy. I stare at them, they seem so happy and touched by Juliana like she did something to their lives. So she really have an impact to this teens. Her song is obscene and they enjoy it. I rolled my eyes around, more and more people. I was deafened by the loud screams of the people.

“I love you Juliana!”

Juliana flew a kiss in the direction where the scream came from. She started singing again, and people sang to the lyrics.

The shouts of the people here are deafening but that is not enough because I can clearly hear the painful whispers of my mind.

“Artemesia, who hasn’t even been famous for a long time, so it’s only a matter of time before famous artists get to know her, that’s when I really got to know her!”

“She can’t move on with all her exes so she writes songs! She doesn’t play songs, no one listens! Not all women are like her!”

What that woman said stayed in my brain. Maybe I’m really obsolete even though I’m not famous yet, because if I don’t. I should be in her position, where I’m singing. There are no crowds and shouting people here and not just the ones looking at where I should be.

I wonder when will I get to that stage, right where she stands. I wonder how it feels to stare at these people adoring you, I wonder how it feels when they sing to your lyrics. I wonder how it feels like to be appreciated.

My forehead furrowed as I saw someone climb on stage and snatch the mic from Juliana. The two of us met eye to eye. It doesn’t look good, she’s going to say.

“Artemesia Vena the psycho clingy dater is in the middle of the crowd!” she shouted.

Shit!

Juliana’s minus one kept ringing but no one was singing, the people fell silent. Little by little they looked at me.

“Is that her?!”

“Is that Artemesia?!”

“The thickness of the face to go here!”

“Why is it here? Will it be a mess?!”

“What a bitch, really!”

Those are just a few of what I heard, I didn’t bother to listen to others. I huddled again to get away from the crowd.

When I left there I thought it was safe. My mouth gaped when I saw the group of angry Juliana fans, they were chasing me, so were the others.

Here we go again, even though I’m tired of it I need to run.

I ran again. Do I have nothing to do today but run?

Why are Juliana’s fans chasing me? Why are they mad at me?

I’m at the door of the conference room now, after Juliana’s fans chased me, I received a call from Mossy. He said I could go back because there were no reporters.

I gasped as I entered the conference room.

I groaned. “It’s exhausting! I even beat marathon athletes in the length and speed I ran today!”

I immediately removed the heel, I also followed the wig then laid it on the table.

“Artemesia!” Mossy’s eyes widened. My forehead furrowed at what he had done. I looked around the room. There were four body guards in each corner of the room. My glance landed at the man in the middle, next to it was another body guard.

He looked amused with what I said a while ago.

The two of us met eye to eye. His deep and mysterious eyes.

My eyes narrowed at him. His face reminded me of the anger I felt when I saw his interview.

You… Coffee stealer!“What are you doing here?!”