Chapter 21

Nikita's POV:

My heart thudded, my fingers shaking. This isn't supposed to happen! She was supposed to be dead! I breathed heavily and ran my hands through my hair, my head spinning. I needed to do something, but what?

Frustrated, I brought out my phone and called Mason. Counting the seconds till he picked up, I immediately spoke into it.

"It's true, that Lila is CG'S daughter." I announced.

"Woah… Wait. What are you saying?"

"The girl dance routine you showed me earlier, she really is CG's daughter."

"What? Weren't you aware that CG had a daughter?"

"I was… But I thought she was dead! I hired thugs to kill her and her mom a long time ago!"

"Take it easy, Nikita. You'll find a way out of this," he cooed, but I wasn't calming down.

"You know what? I'll come see you later today. Well discuss more then. For now, try to relax. I'll talk to you later. Bye."

The line went dead. I dropped the phone and stared into space. There's no way I'm calming down.

***

(Beamlight Entertainment's temporary base)

Lila's POV:

Everyone had woken up, but no one was talking to each other. It was clear Zoey was still mad at Paige and the latter wasn't ready to apologize. Why all of this is happening now, I don't know.

I had showered and wore my clothes to prepare for classes. Wearing my hair into a ponytail, I was ready. I turned to the rest of the girls. Zoey was almost true, but Paige still lagged.

"Should I wait for you or go alone?" I asked out loud. Paige glanced at me, but Zoey replied.

"Please wait for me, we are going together," she said, finishing her makeup.

"Okay."

Once she was done, she grabbed her phone and came towards me.

"I'm ready, let's go." She announced, and I nodded. We left the room, leaving Paige behind as we proceeded to music class.

I started a conversation on the way.

"Are you girls ever going to make up? You've refused to talk to each other all morning."

"Not until she apologizes to me first," Zoey replied.

"Did she say something wrong?" I asked. Zoey stopped walking. I did too. "What is it?"

"Thing is, I don't trust that girl," Zoey said.

"Why?"

"I don't know… I can't tell, but she's definitely giving up a weird vibe, like she's going to harm one of us or something."

I gulped. Whatever is going on must be really serious.

"You should stay away from her. I'm serious." Zoey suddenly said. What?

"You've said that before," I reminded.

"And am saying it again."

"You know what? Let's go class, maybe some work will clear our heads." I quickly said and held Zoey's hands, dragging her with me.

We got into the class and the officials that would take us had already arrived. Mira was among but she wasn't part of the music. They waited for the rest of the girls and they were soon complete.

"Good morning girls."

"Good morning ma'am." We all chorused.

"So today will be training our vocals. We'll try to see how high your voices can go and hopefully we'll make it better. I hope you're ready to have your voices stretched."

"Yes, we are," we replied.

"Great. You would all be split into groups now." She said, and another took over and split us. Luckily, Zoey and I were kept together. I glanced at Mira one time and when we held gazes she smiled and waved slightly. I smiled back.

"Hmm… Looks like someone already has an official as a friend," Zoey muttered and jibed me lightly in the shoulder.

I chuckled. "Be serious," I scolded. "I don't have her as a friend. I think she just naturally likes me."

"Just like everyone else," Zoey muttered and stared at Mira. "You know, in a way I'm kind of jealous of Mira Kentucky our dance instructor."

"You're jealous of her. Why?"

"You know, she just got married not too long ago. People said the man she married was a long-time boyfriend and they had been dating since high school."

"Woah! That long?" I exclaimed softly.

"Yep. She also said one time he was her crush. Imagine this, you have a guy as a crush, same guy becomes your boyfriend before eventually marrying him. That's some serious loving there."

I was surprised. I never knew that. "Does that kind of love still exist?" I asked.

"Oh, I don't know. But people say it still exists. You know I just think those kinds of people are lucky. Having fall in love with just one person and not go through the pain of break ups. I'm only twenty-four, but I already have three exes… And if I don't find one special one soon the numbers are going to keep adding up," she said and laughed later.

I glanced at her. She's so positive and full of fun. And great friend too. Made me wonder what kind of guy would ditch her and go for someone else? They must be really stupid. I realized she was still speaking and gave her my full attention.

"You have that kind of luck." I heard her say. "It's why people easily like you. And yours is especially strong cause even Chad does, and that makes me jealous."

"Oh please…" I said, waving off the compliment. "Not everyone likes me. The woman who has me as her adopted daughter doesn't for sure."

"Well, that's her decision. Even she doesn't like you it's because she chose not to, not because you don't have charm."

"That might be true," I muttered and looked away. "Anyway, that doesn't matter now. Let's focus on training our voices." I sang the last bit, and she chuckled.

"Well, of course, that's what we should be doing." She said as we paid full attention to the official who was teaching, with what Zoey said in the back of my mind.

***

Paige's POV:

Watching Zoey and Lila talk to each other and laugh made my blood boil. It was nauseating. It made me feel as though they were making fun of me, and that they could do without me. And the argument we got into last night did nothing but matters worse.

Zoey is deliberately avoiding me, I thought to myself. And it's all because of Lila. Everyone likes Lila, she's the one who is special. With each passing minute all that woman said to me that night became clearer. It'll be so easy for her to get us all disqualified. Not if I can stop that first.

I took an excuse from the instructor to go use the toilet because I was pressed. Once that was granted, I went to the restroom and brought out my phone instead. Calling the number Nikita had used to call me earlier, I waited until she picked up. Eventually she did.

"Hello." I said into the receiver.

"Hello, who is this?" She asked. Her tone was edgy.

"This is Paige."

"Oh… I'm so sorry. Paige, how are you? Why did you call me?"

"Actually there's something I forgot to tell you yesterday. I'd like for you to know."

"I'm listening," she said as she lowered her voice. I smiled to myself.

***

(A few hours later)

Nikita's POV:

I was back home. I was so messed up that I could barely concentrate at work after Paige's phone call. I needed a solution fast. Mason said he'd be arriving any moment, and I needed to see him. Maybe he will come up with something.

I heard the door unlocking, and I glanced at it. It was Mason, and he had already arrived. He locked it after he entered.

"Took you long enough…" I complained, but he walked up towards me and put a finger on my lips.

"Shh," He mouthed. "Relax."

"How can I relax? We're in trouble in here!"

"Hmm," He replied, shaking his head. "YOU'RE the one who's in trouble. I'm only here to help and I can't help you if you're not relaxed." I took a deep breath and let it out. "I have an idea of what you're going to do but you are going to have to coax me to tell you," he said.

"What? Seriously now, Mason!?" I complained, and he smirked. "Okay, what is it you want?"

He lowered his face and tilted my face to his. Pervert! I should've known. I tried to push away, but his arms held me securely in place.

"Kiss me," he ordered softly. When I protested, he spoke up, "The faster we start, the sooner we're done. You know it's more fun when you're feisty."

"Fine," I groaned out and slammed his lips on mine. "Let's get this over and done with." I muttered against his mouth as his fingers slid to my buttons to undo them.

***

In a matter of minutes, we were done. I laid on the bed with Mason's hands around my body as I stared at the ceiling. It was pretty obvious he enjoyed it. I scoffed. How can he be using my tricks on me?

"Still not calming down?" He muttered gruffly as he made to turn me to face him.

"I don't have time for this, Mason. What is the plan you wanted to tell me?"

"Oh that… You still haven't forgotten."

"Mason!"

"Sorry, sorry. Well, it's pretty simple. You just kick Lila out of the training program," he announced. I stared hard at him.

"I asked you to give me a plan, not a suicide mission."

"And kicking Lila out of the program is hardly one," he replied nonchalantly.

"How am I supposed to just walk in there and tell Lila to pack her things and leave without a reason? It's absurd."

"Which is better? Have Lila kicked out, people ask a few questions which you easily answer or deflect or have her stay there where she finds out who she truly is and comes after you for what was rightfully hers?"

"The first…but—" He cut me off.

"No buts. Just do it. Call her and make up some reasons on why she can't continue and disqualify her. The longer she stays, the more people will begin to really notice her."

He's right. I guess that's what I have to do.

"Plus, you're the boss. Any decision you make concerning the company can't be questioned. So what will be your decision?" He asked as he raised a brow at me.

I immediately stood up with the sheets wrapped around my body, getting ready to dress up. That's what I'll do, get Lila out before she caused any more trouble.

***

After dismissing Mason, I made my driver take me to the Beamlights temporary base. On the way I kept checking her file, hoping I could see something that could warrant a disqualification. Her files didn't really hold much. But I'll have to do with this.

Once I arrived, the officials recognized me and one of them came up to me after the driver had opened the door for me to collect my handbag.

"Welcome ma'am." She greeted. I raised my fingers in recognition.

"Take these things up to my office."

"Yes ma'am." She said and scurried off. The officials I met on the way greeted me and I nodded at a few and ignored some. Once I got to the office, it has already been paid and ready for me to look over. The official was still there.

"What's your name?" I asked her.

"Megan ma'am."

"Megan, get me a cup of coffee and while you're coming back, call me one of the girl's, Lila Walker. I'd like to see her."

"Okay ma'am," she said and left the office. I sat down on the chair and waited.

***

Lila's POV:

I was in the room watching a movie on Zoey's laptop when I got called upon.

"Lila Walker?" The official called out.

"That would be me," I said raising my hands up. From the corner of my eyes I could see Paige roll her eyes. She's yet to talk to the rest of us.

"Madam Nikita would like to see you. Come with me?"

"Nikita? What does she want to see you for?" Zoey asked and I shrugged.

"I don't know." I muttered and followed the official out of the room to the office of this ma'am Nikita. Finally we got there and she told me to stay outside for a bit.

After some time, I was called in and I entered the office. There she was, seated and pouring over a file. I looked at it and discovered it was mine. My heart pounded once. Why is she looking at it?

"Lila Walker?"

"Yes… Ma'am, you called for me."

"Indeed I did. Please sit." She said and I hesitated a bit. She sounded ominous and it was actually scaring me. I eventually lowered myself into the chair as my body shivered slightly. Those moments of silence with her were the longest of my life but I was more scared of what she actually wanted to say. Everything told me it wouldn't be good.

"It says here that you're the adopted daughter of Mrs. Stella Walker. Is that true?"

"Y-yes?"

"So you don't know who your real parents are, am I right?" I pursed my lips as I thought of what to say.

"Yes."

"It also shows here that you didn't attend college. Your education stopped at high school. Is that true?" She asked and I suddenly developed cold feet and a buzzing sound started in my ears. My heart was racing.

"Yes." I replied despondently.

"Why?"

The hairs behind my back stood up. I bit my lips and started rubbing my fingers together which did nothing to calm the storm welling up within me.

"Because… We couldn't afford it." I whispered, feeling breathless. I swear I couldn't breathe in that room.

"If I may ask, how were you able to afford the audition fee?" She asked and my heart missed a bit and I widened my eyes. No way I'm telling her it's because of Chad!

"I don't know…" I mumbled. I heard a sigh, and it was not a good one.

"I'm sorry Lila Walker, but you have been disqualified from continuing this competition." She announced, and my heart sank to the bottom of my shoes.

Tears sprang up to my eyes as my lips quivered. My lungs became too heavy to take in any air, and my vision blurred. No, she couldn't do this.

Was this how I was really going to end?