ANNIE WEMBLEY ✨✨

I don't know how to feel, or how I feel about everything that's happening all at once. First, it was the rumor that broke out during the weekend about Jeremy and the new Gardenia model. A damn stunning beauty, who I'd recognized back at the Indigo event. I had to leave my movie spree with Wendy and come in for an emergency meeting.
When Jeremy phoned me I'd wanted to remind him I was off work. It was the weekend for heaven's sake but when he asked me to check the socials... Well, I despised everything about last Saturday and how that nasty feeling in my belly had stayed there throughout the day.

I couldn't look him in the face when I arrived, I just didn't want him to see how much the false narrative had affected me. It would be so stupid and embarrassing to learn that I could react like such a jealous fool. And it wasn't all that... I mean why wouldn't I feel that way when he indeed launched himself at me just a handful of days ago, right in the quietness of his office. He'd apologized for his actions and things had been so awkward that I wanted to leave, to put a distance between us and finally let out a long drawl or I'd pass out.

And I did, only that the memory couldn't just stop replaying in my head. While I washed up for bedtime, when I was snuggled under the duvet counting the clock till my mind felt fatigued enough to fall asleep but even that seemed impossible until it was almost morning. I'd furiously gotten up the next morning for a wicked jogging session and it all left me cranky and exhausted. I didn't want to see him so soon, not after that but the rumor had put me in an uncomfortable position that I couldn't resist getting to the office to find out how true it was.

And as I stood by the coffee maker back in the office, my fingers fidgeted beside me. It wasn't the Jeremy-effect nor the rumors that had prompted my paranoia, it was something else. Much worse.

Gardenia board had decided to thoroughly investigate the situation with the Indigo group. How Indigo was able to steal their products before it could enter the market. And every damn employee of Gardenia was required to schedule a free time with the PI. I couldn't help my fuzzy bowel movement, it all but intensified as I heard more whispers, more scurrying around of eager employees who thought it would put them in the good books to have their schedule with the PI upped. People like Oliver who cared so much about eye service couldn't resist the urge to go first. He'd felt it would somehow put him in the good books if he showed how fearless and innocent he was.

"Urgh," I gnashed my teeth and snatched my cup of coffee from the machine before heading back to my desk. I anticipated Jeremy's arrival with fear and uncertainty. And when the glass door swung apart revealing the breathtaking man in black suit my chest changed rhythm.

"How are you doing?" He stood before me and smiled a tight but effortful smile. My jaw dropped.

What the heck?!

"Are you okay? You seem quite pale,"

I shook my head vigorously and snapped out of my daze. "Yes of course," I laughed. "I was just... there's just something I recall I didn't attend to and I have to do that quickly," I spun on my heels and made to rush off to heaven knows where when he stopped me.

"Good, at least I know you're not sick or anything. I was told the other day after the meeting that you'd left for home due to some belly ache, hope you're feeling better today because I'd like you to ride with me to today's shoot,"

My poor heart somersaulted, his words weren't clear enough. I mean was he inviting me to tag along with him for what? Goodness!!

"W—why?" I choked.

He seemed to think that my question was stupid when he gazed at me emptily. "You must've heard the rumors about me and the model, yeah? It's safe if I walk in there with my secretary, I mean it would give more sense of seriousness and duty at my arrival and also..." he tasted the next words on the tip of his tongue. "And to be seen with another woman that's not her..." he shrugged, letting me know I should be ready before time as he stepped into his office.

That was it!

There was a time when I felt the passion for acting rush through my veins. It was blinding that I could sneak out and go for auditions upon auditions just to be picked for a role. I didn't care if they were minor roles or even a passerby. I just needed to get a link into Hollywood. To make my breakthrough just like every child actor from Disney and Nickelodeon did. But unlike them, I didn't have the support of my parents or friends who could pitch my talent to a higher up.
That desire in its own had dwindled right with the desire to live big after dad died and mum fell sick and Wendy came into the picture.

But as our car pulled up to the massive garage with truck-like cabins spread out across the environment. The busy people, some with detachable mics to their ears, a folder in hand yapping angrily at whoever was at the receiving end, throwing orders around. A make up tent at the far side with lots of food stands enough to feed my whole street. It was Hollywood all over again. Nostalgia seemed to hit me hard and strong as I took in everything.

"Are you sure you're alright," Jeremy spoke softly beside me. I turned to look up at his concerned filled eyes and noticed he had a hand on my shoulder. Instinctively I moved away, not wanting to paint a picture of us together. That would be bad for my career. I had to keep my head down here, though I couldn't help admiring every single detail around me.

We were led to one of the tents. It was a makeup tent with at least five people rapidly working their art on the model. She sat leg crossed and phone in hand with a lazy look on her face. I felt for her, it must've been so hectic to be out here all day, letting people yell commands at you.

Well, at least she was living the dream. I sighed.

"Annie!" I heard someone call me and froze when everyone paused to stare shockingly at me and at Jeremy who tapped at an empty seat beside him. Encouraging me to come sit down.

What the heck was he doing calling me by name?! Why did he suddenly let go of the formal tone?

This seemed to alert the model of our presence and she snapped her hands down to crane her neck towards us. I saw her eyes lit with excitement at seeing Jeremy enter the space. She'd acknowledged little of my presence as she hopped off her chair and strode over to  his side.

It all but helped me feel more relaxed that the whole attention wasn't focused on me now. As a mere spectator who wasn't much on duty, I was allowed to wander off and admire the scenery. So I did.

I soon ventured into a makeshift stage where a movie shoot was ongoing. I couldn't believe my luck as I stood in awe and engulfed the amazing talent display. It was an action shot, I could tell by how two casts putting on the same costume stood a distance from each other. One was displaying a stunt, rounds of backflips while a mafia swung a dagger at her and as soon as she landed on her feet the director screamed 'cut' in that little time, the other actor rushed to stand at the exact spot where her doppelgänger was. Then the cameras rolled again, this time with less action and more talking. It was surreal to watch, I hugged myself and watched them go on until someone spoke beside me.

"So this is where you're protecting me, Miss Wembley?" Jeremy said softly, his eyes trained on the scene before us.

"I—I'm sorry, I got carried away. And I thought you needed time with the team. I shouldn't have left."

Jeremy waved to the crew who seemed to have paused their work to acknowledge him, they only returned to work when he insisted. "You should make up for that then," his gaze stayed on mine for a moment then he said. "So?"

"Am I supposed to do something?"

"Walk with me back to the tent, there's paparazzi everywhere and they seem to strongly anticipate another incident between Ms. Mayern and I. I want to disappoint them by not falling for that." He took my fingers in his larger ones and tugged me out of the premises. I couldn't breathe.
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