Chapter 15
IMANI’s POV
He paced back and forth, his arms akimbo. A habit of him anytime he was furious. “As if ripping your dress was not enough, he kidnapped you!!” He huffed
“It wasn’t kidnap Jay, don’t exaggerate.” I rolled my eyes, taking a sip of wine.
“He couldn’t even apologize to you! We should sue him!” He marched to the couch where I was seated and snatched his iPad.
He began to punch some keys, “He can’t publicly humiliate you and assault you and walk scot free!”
“Jay, it’s not that serious, really.”
“Of course it is!! What if something had happened to you?? What if he had done something to you??”
“Well he didn’t.”
“But what if Imani?” He stressed, his eyes flashing with concern. “What if he does something worse next time? What if he doesn’t let go next time? What then?”
“No one can harm me, Jay. it was just a futile attempt to try to intimidate me.”
He sat beside me, “It’s not about intimidation, babes… It’s the fact he could corner you so easily, I just don’t want anything bad to happen to you.”
I reached for his hand, “Nothing will happen to me, I’m careful.”
“Maybe we should call your father, he’d make sure–“
“No.” I shut it down immediately, withdrawing my hand from his.
“But babes–“
“Do you have such little faith in me, Jay?”
He shook his head. “Ofcourse not, you know I believe in you, but this is—“
“Just another man who thinks he can make me grovel before him in fear. And I would never give him that satisfaction.” I rose up from the couch.
“You think I came here unprepared for opposition?” I questioned, my voice calm.
He sighed, “I know you planned everything ahead… but did you expect this?”
“I expected worse, and it is yet to come.” I knew deep down that coming back here would have its consequences, and how grave they would be, however, Jay didn't know that. But I did.
“So stop with the worrying, alright?” I told him reassuringly.
“Hm.” He nodded, but his eyes were unsettled.
I understood he was just concerned, but he didn’t know fully who I was.
If he did, he’d never worry.
I gave him a small smile, “When is the interview starting?”
He grabbed his iPad, switching back to PA mode, “In an hour. I told them you have other plans for the day so the interview shouldn’t extend for too long.”
“Good.” I turned around “I’ll be out in 20.” I called out as I headed to my room.
I sat at the huge vanity and stared at myself in the mirror. Sometimes I felt like I was looking at a complete stranger, and then I remembered– this is me. The real me.
Laura was weak, ugly, powerless. But I? I am the complete opposite, and I would prove it to everyone who dared cross me. Everyone who hurt me.
I quickly applied a bit of matte blood red lipstick and blush on my cheeks. I threw on a black suit from my walk in closet and joined Jay in the living room.
“You know you don’t have to do your makeup yourself.”
I waved off as we walked to the door, “I’d rather not have anyone touching my face.” It wasn’t a complete lie, “And I’m too busy to be wasting hours being idle.”
He sighed, “I still wonder how we’re besties.”
“Likewise. How did I end up with a manwhore as a best friend?”
“Manwhore is a stretch, don’t you think?” He murmured.
“Remind me of your body count again?”
“I’m never telling you about my nights of passion again.”
“Thank god, you’ve traumatized me enough.” I chuckled lightly as we entered the car.
He shot me a look before turning to his iPad, “Do you want to go through the questions again?”
“There’s no need.”
“Of course there is, It has to be perfect. This is your first mainstream interview in the US and we cannot afford a slip up.”
“Have I ever slipped up in any interview?” I raised a brow.
“No, but-“
“This time would not be any different. We’ve gone over the questions thrice, that’s enough.”
He sighed, “I’ll cross check with the staff once more, just to be sure they don’t ask anything out of pocket.”
I nodded, and as I looked out the window, the horrid pink eyesore passed us by, causing anger to brew in me.
“What do you know about Shela, asides from the fact that she’s a tasteless designer?” I inquired, keeping my voice calm.
“First off, I think her designs are decent.” He defended, “But from what I know… even though her family are rich socialites, they aren’t the main investors in her business.”
“Oh really?”
He nodded, “Although it’s purely speculation, but The Sims industries seems to be her biggest investors.”
So they were still involved with each other? I didn’t think their friendship would last this long.
“Who’s your intel?”
He smirked, “I thought you didn’t want to hear about my nights of passion.”
“Aren’t those two different things?”
“Nope.” He said cheekily, “And we’re allowed to have our secrets, arent we?” Something shifted in his eyes as he spoke.
I would be a fool if I didn’t understand it. “We wouldnt be human without them.”
He regarded me for a moment, trying to find the words, the perfect way to frame the questions. But as usual, he chose silence and turned back to his iPad.
I knew he had questions about certain parts of me I had kept hidden, but he was right. We all have our secrets, and some of them should never see the light of day.
It took a few minutes of silence before we arrived at the building.
He reached my hand and gave it a tight squeeze, but he said nothing. Neither did I.
Everything that could have been said was shown through that gesture. That even in the midst of the doubts, he still loved me unconditionally. Something I never thought I’d feel from anyone asides from my mother.
We walked into the building, and we were greeted by a couple staff, their gaze lingering on me long enough for me notice.
“Miss Rodriguez!” A robust man walked up to us, his cheeks almost ripping with the smile on his face.
His eyes roamed my body, resting shamelessy on my chest, “My god, youre more beautiful in person...” The pig almost drooled.
“I’m in a hurry, can we start?” I said with a tight smile.
“Ofcourse, ofcourse.” He snapped out of his trance and led me to the broadcast set, Jay following closely behind.
I sat down across an empty chair, “Do you people not keep to time?”
“Yes yea we do, he’ll be here any second.” He said sheepishly, turning away, “Can somebody find Marshall, for Christ's sake!”
I looked over at Jay, and I saw his expression change, a frown formed on his face.
I followed the trail of his sight, and it was the seat across from me.
The problem was not the fact that she didn’t regard me. The problem was that she was a woman.
Jay told me the interviewer was a man.
“We’re going live in 3,2…”
I raised my head high in composure. The interview wasn’t supposed to be live either.
Then she looked at me, and that smile was anything from cordial.
Here we go.