Rise of the Billionaire actress

Deloise and Amanda were finally having a video call after many failed attempts.

“How are you doing? Where are you?” Amanda asked, the worry on her face couldn’t be hidden.

Deloise pushed back a hair loft as she replied. “I’m alright.”

“I feel so terrible being unable to help. I’ve replied to a tonne of hate comments on the internet but that’s barely enough.” She sulked, “You don’t deserve this. How were you meant to know he was your dad if your mom didn’t say a thing about it? I can’t believe how stupid people are, believing anything they see.”

“I’m alright.” Deloise reassured her with a smile. “I appreciate your efforts, but that’s not necessary.”

“Still. I can’t look past anyone badmouthing you when they don’t even know you.” She hissed, “If I can defend Anna- who isn’t my biggest fan at the moment, best believe anyone who breathes wrongly about you will be getting a lot more than a few stitches.”

That brought a laugh out of Deloise. More so because she meant every word. “Don’t get into trouble on my account, Ams. There’s literally nothing anyone can say that will affect me. I’ve heard it all.” She said, “Speaking of Anna… How is she?”

“With everything going on, you still find time to care about others.” Amanda sighed, “Anna is a bit more tolerable. I think she’s seeing someone.”

Amusement danced in Deloise’ eyes, “And how does that translate to seeing someone?” She asked.

“It’s always a man. Think about it, there’s got to be a reason she’s a bit more tolerable. She’s in a fight with her mother, and she isn’t blowing a vein. So yeah, it’s a man.”

“I don’t even want to know how you heard about that.”

Amanda huffed, “It’s hard not to know when she spewed her thoughts in a drunken slur that night. I was tempted to let her wallow alone but that wasn’t how my mama raised me.”

“Amanda…” Deloise muttered as Anna walked into her eyesight.

“What? You don’t think my mama raised me well?” Amanda was oblivious to Anna’s entry.

Anna cleared her throat, “Can we talk?”

Amanda turned around, and with a skittish smile, she said, “You’re here.”

“Hey Ann.” Deloise said from the screen, “How’re you doing?”

“Fine.” Her hands nervously weaved through her hair, “And you?”

“Great.”

The room was silent. Awkwardly silent.

“Can I speak to you?” Anna spoke up, eyes trained on Deloise.

“Why?” Amanda asked without batting an eyelid. “Didn’t think you still-”

“Amanda.” Deloise warned, and to Anna, she replied, “Yes.”

Relief crossed Anna’s face, “I’ll send you a text.” she said and sauntered out of sight.

The eyes of both ladies widened, and she sauntered out of their sight.

“That’s interesting..” Amanda said, earning an eye roll from Deloise.

******

Deloise couldn’t explain how she was feeling. After the conversation with Anna a few days ago, they got around making plans to meet.

When she informed Doris of her decision to meet Anna, Doris was quick to point out the fact that she wasn’t a friend. Nevertheless, Deloise managed to convince her.

Now, she was seated in a small diner, head bowed and contemplating the possibilities of her being stood up. Her thoughts were brought to an end by the timely appearance of Anna in the diner.

The doorbell chimed as she entered.

“Over here.” Deloise raised her hand in the scanty diner. That was enough to have her headed towards her.

“Hey.” Anna sat down opposite her.

She swallowed nervously, feeling every word she rehearsed fade away from her consciousness.

Deloise came to the rescue, “How have you been? It’s been- It’s been a while we spoke,”

“Yeah…” Anna cringed at the thought of their last encounter. “I’m sorry.” She said to her surprise, “I’m sorry for how everything panned out.”

Deloise felt lost. “What are you talking about?”

“Everything. Everything I did to you, every single one of them.” She reached for Deloise’s hand. “I’m sorry I was such a selfish jerk to you… I can’t live with myself knowing I might be a part of everything that’s befallen you.” She was close to tears. “I swear I wasn’t trying to hurt you, I didn’t know when it happened.”

“Calm down, Ann.” She covered her hand, “There’s nothing you do, or will do that can change the fact that I love you. Look at me,” She demanded, their eyes connected, “What are you trying to say?”

A quiet understanding passed through them, “I found out that night.”

Deloise paid rapt attention, as she continued, “On the night of the dinner, I found out my father’s identity, and I bet my mother knew all this while.”

“Shit..”

“Shit is right.” She withdrew her hands in shame, “I wanted to tell you but when you said you were leaving, I lost it.”

Anna longed to know her father from a young age. She was made to believe her father was a personnel in the special forces and as a result, couldn’t be an active part of her life. After fighting a couple times with her mother, Anna stopped demanding to see her father.

Unknown to them, she decided to go solo in her pursuit.

“I thought if I could get you to stay, then we could seek him out together.” she said, “When you refused, I resented you. I resented the fact that you were going off to be happy while my life was going to shit.” She bowed her head, “And I was right, after you left, my life went to shit.”

“I started searching for answers I knew would hurt me and when they did, I fell back on things I’m not very proud to say.” Deloise reached for her hand, offering the comfort she could. “I came that night, expecting to see my father and perhaps have a few words with him. I didn’t know I’d meet you, my mother or his entire family.” She breathed. “I was stunned when I saw you, but nothing could prepare me for when I saw him with his daughter.” she smiled through the pain. “Somehow, my stupid self didn’t consider that he might be married with children. How fucked up is that?”

“Don’t beat yourself up.”

“I’m not finished.” She interrupted, wiping away a tear that escaped her eyes. “I was so stupid, I headed for the bar and ordered a drink.”

Deloise could sense where things were going but she remained quiet. “I met a lady who listened to my sob story as I drank to stupor. With the liquid courage and encouragement, I thought it’d be great to meet my dad in person. I mean, he was the sole reason I was there anyways.” She looked up to her, “Before I left the bar that day, I might have shared a bit of your identity to that lady.”

“I can’t remember what she looks like and after a few days, I figured she wasn’t anyone important, but when I saw the news, I knew I had betrayed you.”

Deloise was stupefied. “Y-You don’t know that..” she said. They both knew that was a lie.

She shook her head, “I do. Believe it or not, I said things I shouldn’t have uttered, much more to a stranger.”

“You were having a bad day.”

“Stop giving me excuses! I did what I did, regardless of the events,” her voice lowered, “I caused you this pain… I played a role in it… I’m so sorry.”

Deloise watched her with hooded eyes, trying to properly digest the meaning of her words. If she truly said something to someone that night, why would they wait till the premier before they released it? And even if she did say something, she didn’t know her father.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

Unless her mother told her.

“When did you find out?” Deloise asked suddenly,

“Find out what?”

“About my dad…” It was a struggle to say his name, “When did you find out he was my father?”

“On the news.”

Relief covered her. She didn’t know if she could handle the betrayal of knowing who her father was the entire time and hiding it from her. Every other thing, she could understand, but if it got to that, she didn’t know what she’d do.

“I’m sorry too.”

The last thing Anna expected was an apology. “What?”

“I’m sorry for not being there for you when you needed me. Believe it or not, I should have kept trying, I should have reached out more when you started acting out,” Deloise pointed out, “Despite knowing something was terribly wrong, I continued selfishly with my life. For that, I’m sorry.”

“I don’t know what to say…” she felt overwhelmed, “Thank you.”

Deloise regarded her with a smile, “Now that’s over, let’s eat.” She said and her stomach growled in unison.

Halfway through their meal, Deloise remembered something.

“Can you recognize the lady you had that conversation with?”

“Sure,” she answered mid-chew,

Deloise reached for her phone, trying not to react to the state of her mouth. She pulled up a picture of Stella and showed it to her, “Is this her?”

Her eyes squinted as she studied the picture, seconds later, it widened, “Oh my goodness! It’s her! You know her?”

Deloise smirked at her reaction. Of course she knew her. It was the one person that wanted her downfall. Stella Davis. Suddenly, everything made sense. She was there that night, she somehow managed to stumble upon her family secret before her and decided it was best revealed at the movie premier.

Wicked. No surprise there.

“Just one of my colleagues.” She waved off the matter, but Anna wasn’t having it,

“Who is she?”

“Someone who’ll do anything to bring me down.” She said in a taut tone, and proceeded to explain their rivalry. “Regardless of what you told her, she’ll always find a way to make up hell on my account.”

Anna couldn’t believe her ears. For the longest period, she led herself to believe Deloise was having a great time while she suffered. Apparently, there was more to what meets the eye. She felt a fresh wave of respect and admiration for her friend.

“Congratulations on achieving your dreams Deloise,” She said with a sniff, “I’m so proud of you.”

That was all it took for the waterworks to begin. Hours after their meeting, in the dead of the night, Deloise reached out to Doris in a text, asking for a press conference to be organized.

It was about time she addressed the public.