CHAPTER 33

"WHAT'S WITH HER??" CIARA ASKED FOLDING HER ARMS IN RAGE. She was looking in the direction of Jeannine who was sitting quietly, looking through a magazine as if nothing had happened.

"If it's with her why are you asking me?" I replied and approached the hostess.

"The bathroom please...." I requested. She bowed her head to me and smiled before showing me to the bathroom.

Was this a Korean airline? But I heard it was a private jet.

I walked into the bathroom and stood in front of a sink. I looked at my reflection and told myself I wasn't going to let her childishness get in my way.

I was here for one reason and that was to attend a wedding. This was such an opportunity to get to know new people and maybe get new gigs. Who knew?

I wasn't going to let a hooligan like Jeannine get in my way.

I opened the tap and rolled some tissue, which I wet and then wiped my dress.

"Eleanor, right?"

I turned around to see a young woman, maybe in her mid twenties.

"Uh...yeah...." I replied.

One of the most awkward moments in my life were when people asked my name. Seriously?? Don't you have a TV at your place? You can just turn it on and scroll through the channels, I'd just magically pop up.

"Am... Ayesha Hart...." She introduced herself and I recalled Ciara mentioning her name. I knew her anyway. As a celebrity, I make time for other people when am free. And it just so happened I stumbled upon her some one time. She was the actress playing 'Indira' in the Sky One and AMC adaptation of A Discovery of Stars.

"I know...." I smiled and dried my hands over the drier.

"I saw you were on last month's Harper's magazine cover.....I totally envy you....My agent's been chasing that spot for months now...." She chuckled and pushed back a few of her hair strands.

"Oh... I guess I should be grateful...." I smiled at her not knowing what to say. I felt odd talking about my works. That was just equivalent to asking me to watch a movie I starred in. Awkward!

"You should be...and working with someone like Drake Anderson should be a big deal too....isn't it?? What's he like??" She asked and my memory faced back to when I was in the hospital. I planned to give him a call but unfortunately, I forgot.

I was such a terrible person.

"Umm...it's okay....he's nice....." I compliment. I looked down at my dress and it seemed better. Fortunately, she soiled it with a yellow coloured juice and fortunately enough I was wearing yellow too.

"Bell peppers and rutabega ....make the perfect yellow juice combination now don't they...?" She smiled.

"Tell me about it...." I grimaced.

"It aids in digestion, boosts your immunity, and acts as a powerful anti-inflammatory agent. I just didn't know it makes your screws loose in the head..." She rolled her eyes and opened the water tap. I smiled after I figured out what she was getting at. So I wasn't the only one who witnessed Jeannine's amateurism. She was so done for.

"See you around...." I waved and walked out.

I walked straight to where Ciara was and she was busy on her phone. She didn't attend to me and I knew it's because I was rude to her earlier.

I was just angry at Jeannine and unfortunately took it out on her.

"Am so sorry sis....I'll kiss my elbow if you want me to ...." I pleaded with her.

"You've become rude you know..." She sighed still on her phone.

"Am sorry...a chocolate maybe.....??" I asked knowing it was her weakness. She turned to me and pointed her sharp nail at me.

"Lindtt. Intense Orange...." She demanded.

"I hear you..." I lifted my hands in surrender.

She helped me sit up next to her coiled her arms around me like a baby.

"So....what's cheese-mesh???" I asked,hoping I remembered the word right.

"Chismes....it's Spanish for gossip. It's in these places that you catch up on your gossip....." she wiggled her eyebrows at me getting me to laugh.

"You'll never change...." I smiled slapping her leg.

We had four hours up on this plane to ourselves and we spent it entirely on gossip as she predicted. Knowing someone like Ciara, who was like the axis the world rotated around was a good deal. She was kind and heart-warming to be with.

After acting with her, the movie became a bit and box office success with a total of $285.3 million under a budget of $30 million. We got nominated for an won an American Cinema Editor's award under the category Best Edited Feature Film.

I got nominated for a Golden Globe award under the category, best actress in motion picture.

I had a great time on set with Ciara and of chance has it, I'd love to work with her again although lately, she seems more into the business industry and less of the acting department.

"So how does the make up feel....?" She asked taking me back to when I wanted to tell her I wouldn't be modeling anymore.

"It's great. It actually feels good on my skin..." I told her lightly touching my face.

I kept forgetting I was wearing make up until someone points it out. My make up was that good.

I loved that I didn't get a greasy feeling on my face like I did with other brands.

MAC cosmetics was just the best.

"Oh yes....you were about to tell me something.....about it....is there something you don't like about it? We are having a product launch meeting in two weeks and I have to prepare a presentation. I need to know what must be changed or maintained...."

"Relax Ciara....I love everything about your product. Really....I wanted to tell you I wouldn't be modelling anymore...."

"What?? Why???"

I moved closer to her and started narrating to her the entire story of what happened this morning. I told her from after I left the car to what I found when I arrived at the salon. Her face instantly became indifferent at the mention of Jeannine. I couldn't pick out what was on her mind as I couldn't tell if that was her extreme-anger expression or immerse-rage expression. Her face became blood-washed pale like snow and I felt her trembling.

A fearless heart among others is one of the things Ciara and I had in common. We weren't the kind that would so much stay lip zipped when someone was being forced to sail through turmoil. Everyone struggles in showbiz and it was important to know who to talk to and who not to.

Respect everyone was the first rule but apparently a lot of people skipped it angering me and Ciara; that was the likes of Jeannine.

"I can't believe it.....I knew she was rotten right from the start....she's even infamous....how did she suddenly get her name on the guest list?" Ciara wondered. Just as I thought.

"Am not quite sure but Luna said she....." I paused and looked around to be sure no one was eavesdropping. Everyone was busy with what they were doing but I still wasn't convinced. Walls have ears, I thought, then I came up with a very cool idea. We would talk in codes.

"I heard that J.C....." I quoted the word JC with my fingers so she would know I meant Jeannine. She nodded to signal me she understood.

"I heard that she didn't even audition for the post in the upcoming movie Chasing Red. She just....boom....got the spot...as lead...just like that...." I explained. Ciara looked at me and I knew she knew we were onto something big.

"...the salonists said there was someone big supporting her. He was apparently the one who was also funding 50% of the salon...no wonder Jeannine acts like she owns the place...."

"Wow....this is good to know....and the most important thing is it isn't rocket science.....we already know how she's gotten all these gigs....." she calmly laid it all out and I looked at her confusedly. What was she getting at?

"Really??"

"Uh-huh....." she interjected. "I wonder who she's sleeping with...."