Chapter 25: Chapter 25

~Third person POV~

“How could you do something like that?! You lied to me!” He yelled at her with trembling hands as his eyes became clouded with tears.

She was crying too and even harder. She knew this was it; she no longer stood a chance with him. She had broken his heart, she had done something unforgivable. She tried to reach for him but he abruptly moved away from her.

“I… I am sorry…” She trailed off as she cried hard.

He licked his lower lips and ran his hands over his head with a frustrated expression on his face. He looked at her with clouded eyes and shook his head, “You could have at least told me that my mother was alive! How could you…how could you…” he placed his hands against his head and heaved a shaky sigh.

“Please, I’m sorry… I… I love you so much and you…”

“If your love hurts this much, don’t you think it’s because it’s poisonous?” He swallowed hard and sniffled. “Just… Just go, I don’t want to see you again.” He said in tears as he turned around and walked away from her leaving her to slump to the ground in tears.

“Cut!!” The director said in a loud voice.

Everyone applauded with smiles on their faces while the actress’ assistant quickly ran over to adjust her makeup which had smudged because of the crying.

“Wow, Daniel. You made me cry with what you did there.” The director smiled broadly at the actor.

Daniel grinned and walked over to the director who was still smiling widely at him. “Let me see, director.” He said and the director quickly showed him the screen.

“Did you see the way you poured out your emotions there? I didn’t even know you would be able to pull it off since it’s the first time you are taking such a scene.” The director said as he stood beside Daniel who watched the scene again closely from the screen with a satisfied look on his face.

“How did I do, director?” Rachael, the co actress Daniel just acted the scene with, asked with a smile as her assistant stood beside her.

The director turned to her, “You did great Rachael, and the scene came out perfectly.” He looked back to Daniel. “I knew the two of you would be a great match.” He laughed and Rachael smiled broadly but Daniel did not say a word and simply focused on the screen.

“Daniel.” A deep masculine voice called out and Daniel who already knew the voice belonged to his 39 years old manager, Sebastian, turned around.

“You did really great there.” His manager, Sebastian, said with a wide smile on his face. “We have to get going now; you have a commercial to shoot.”

Daniel sighed and walked over to his manager. “You told me this was my last work for today, manager.”

Sebastian smiled sheepishly, “I am sorry about that but I forgot about this. The model would have already been there waiting for you and it would not be good to leave her waiting. It would leave a bad impression.”

Daniel sighed and dipped his hands into his pockets. “What model is that?”

Sebastian sighed and shook his head, “I already told you about her before, have you forgotten?”

Daniel tilted his head as he tried to see if he could recall but then he shook his head, “You tell me a lot of things, manager. I can’t recall this one.”

Sebastian sighed and nodded, “Her name is Brenda Johnson. She is a model who based in England but she came to Nigeria because she got some offers to shoot ads and commercials here. She is more known in England than here so I think she’s being paired with you to boost her fame.”

Daniel frowned at his manager, “Don’t say what you don’t know, manager. It’s not all about fame, you know.”

Sebastian pursed his lips, “I get that she is beautiful and all that but it won’t change the fact that she is only a star who blew up because of her beauty and daddy’s money. She’s not that talented.” He shrugged and scratched the back of his head. “Well, that’s the girl. You were supposed to do the shoot with Ara Alade but I don’t know why they chose to use this girl. I would have preferred Ara though; she is more popular and talented. She would…”

Daniel frowned harder at his manager. He knew how foul his manager talked and he hated it. He had scolded him times without number. “How would you feel if someone says the same thing about me?” He questioned.

Sebastian turned to him and smiled widely. “Why would one say that about you when you are too perfect? You are popular and not just because of whom your father is but because of how talented you are and your amazing personality. That was what I saw in you when I first met you.”

Daniel sighed but didn’t say anything more and just shook his head. “Where is Excel?” He asked referring to his assistant.

“I sent her to go and get your clothes.”

Daniel nodded and started to walk away with his manager following him quickly.

“Daniel!”

He paused in his steps when he heard his name and he turned around. He saw Rachael walking towards him.

“Um, you did really well today.” She started to say with a wide smile on her face. Rachael was one of the top actresses in the country and she was very good as well. Many movie producers wanted her to act her in their movies.

“Thank you, you did well also.” Daniel said to her.

She smiled and brushed her hair from her face to the back of her ear. “Oh, did I?” She blushed. “I was actually nervous.” Everyone in the set was aware that Rachael was crushing on Daniel and even Daniel knew about it but he pretended to be oblivious as usual. He never bothered those things anyway, only focused on his career and nothing more.

“Oh, I see. Well, you did great. If you may excuse me, I have to go now.” Daniel said quickly and turned to walk away but she grabbed his wrist.

“Um, would you have time later for dinner?” She asked him.

He gently withdrew his hand from hers and dipped them into his pockets. “My schedules is tight today, I’m sorry.”

“How about tomorrow evening?” She pressed on.

“I will see and ask my assistant to get back to you.” He said to her.

She smiled widely and nodded, “Okay, see you then, bye.” She turned around and walked away.

His manager turned to him, “Your schedule is free tomorrow, so you can spend as much time as you want with her if you want.” He permitted him with a broad smile on his face.

Daniel shook his head at his manager. Of course his manager would want to pair him up with a top actress like Rachael. That was how things were in show business. “Can you stop trying to hook me up with her? I’m not interested.” He rolled his eyes and continued to walk away.

“Why wouldn’t you be interested in Rachael, hmm? She is a top actress that everybody is dying to be with but she likes you and if you could date her, it would do great for your career and you will benefit a lot…”

“Can you just stop? I don’t need anyone for my fame; I am satisfied with what I am. Stop pressing it, manager.”

Sebastian sighed and nodded, “I was only giving a suggestion but well…” he shrugged his shoulders. “I won’t force you to do what you don’t want to.”

They walked over to his car and just as Sebastian was about to start complaining, Excel came running to them carrying several hangers of clothes in her hands.

“I am here, manager!” She yelled as she ran over to them.

She quickly opened the boot of the car and placed the clothes inside before she opened the door to the backseat for Daniel to enter.

Daniel turned to his manager, “Why would you make her run around carrying clothes when you could have sent someone to bring them over later?”

Sebastian gaped at him, “If I can recall properly Daniel that is the reason I employed her for you, right? To run around and do these things, that’s why she is your assistant.” He shook his head. “You are too nice.”

Daniel shook his head at his manager before he entered into the car. The manager glared at Excel before he walked over to sit at the front seat. Excel entered into the driver seat before she started the car and drove out of the set.

Daniel rested his head against the seat of the car and shut his eyes they drove silently. He had been in the entertainment industry for about four years now and he became famous after an action movie he acted. Acting had always been his passion ever since he was young and he kept pursuing his dream but his father never supported him though. As the only son of Andrew Dike, the owner of the richest group in the country, he was meant to be heir to the group but he had no interest in the business which brought an issue between him and his father. His father never wanted him to be in show business and even till now, he was still not in support with it. At the age of 20, when he was supposed to start taking over the business, he started auditioning for different agencies instead but his father made sure he was never accepted in any of them. Well, he didn’t stop. He moved out of his father’s house and that was how he met his manager who took interest in him and found him very talented. He started from scratch with his manager until he got to where he is but deep down; he knew well that his father was not going to let him go like that. There was never a day that he missed reminding him of the shame he was bringing to him by becoming an actor.

After a while, they arrived at the set where Daniel was going to do the shoot with Brenda. Sebastian led him into the building while his assistant followed him quickly. Just then, a woman in her mid 40s approached them with a smile on her face.

“It’s so good to have to have you here, Daniel Dike. My name is Miriam and I am in charge of the commercial shoot.” She said with a smile before she stretched out her hand to shake him.

Daniel shook her hand and smiled. “Thank you for having me, Mrs. Miriam.”

Miriam turned to Daniel’s manager, “I’m glad you took our offer, Sebastian, it’s great to have Daniel here.”

Sebastian smiled and nodded his head. “Of course, shall we?”

Miriam nodded, “Of course. The crew is already waiting for you. Brenda has arrived about an hour ago.”

She led them over to where the rest of the crew was. The director of the shoot quickly ran over to meet them.

“It’s good to have you here, Daniel.” The director said as he shook hands with Daniel. Daniel could only smile slightly at the man with bald head who kept smiling at him. He was already used to all of this, the unnecessary familiarities and all that. They all wanted to be close to him not because he was a talented and popular actor but because his father was Andrew Dike.

“Thank you for having me.” Daniel said.

“Let’s sit first boss.” Excel, his assistant said to him before she led him over to sit on a couch.

Just then, Brenda walked in along with her assistant and manager. She saw Daniel sitting on the couch and swallowed hard before she looked away. Like Akeyla had told her, it was just a crush and they all very young then, things had changed.

Daniel stood up from where he sat to stand in front of her. He stretched out his hand for a handshake and she stared at him. She wondered if he did not remember her or if he was just pretending. It was supposed to be a relief that he did not remember her but it still wouldn’t feel nice that he did not remember her at all.

“I am looking forward to work with you, Brenda.” He smiled at her.

She gulped and shook his hand. “I look forward to work with you too, Daniel.”

“I am sorry for keeping you waiting, I had a shoot.” He apologized as he let of her hand.

She smiled slightly at him, just as she remembered; he was still polite and nice as before.

“It’s fine.” She nodded.

“Alright people, let’s start!” The director announced.

Brenda threw Daniel a glance and sighed. She didn’t just have a crush on him, he was her first love.

“You two have to do a photo shoot first.” Brenda’s manager informed them.

XOXO