Chapter 12

Just as I was about to enter the driver seat, Dad came to me, “Hey Jennie, where are you going?” I shrugged, “I am off to some work. What about you? It’s rare to see you in the house in the daytime.” He shakes his head, “You know I am getting forgetful thanks to my age. I came to take some files.” When he was finally next to me, his face became worried, “Oh my God! Jennie, what happened to your hand?” I gave him a reassuring smile, “Just a minor accident. Seriously Dad, don’t ask any further questions. I just explained everything to Grandparents and you know how they can be scary.’ Dad chuckled, “Don’t worry I won’t ask any questions. Just be careful. Oh right by the way I have a favor to ask of you.” I confusedly ask, “What is it?” Dad cleared his throat, “You remember I told you about gifting Kathy a publishing company? So I wanted your friend to do the interior design of the place. You asked me to give your friend an interior design job, right?” I jump with happiness and hug Dad, “Oh my God! Thank you so much, Dad. She will pass out on hearing this.”

After that good news, I drove to PARK PRODUCTIONS and went to Ashton’s office but the receptionist sitting at the desk stopped me. She eyes me suspiciously and asks, “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Ashton?” Oh, God! This is the last thing I want to go through right now. “Yes, I have an appointment.” The receptionist gives me a weird look, “But Mr. Ashton didn’t-‘’ Before she could finish I called Ashton. “Hey, Lory.” I put the phone on speaker and speak, “Do I have an appointment with you, Mr. Ashton? The receptionist here won’t let me in.” Ashton cleared his throat and spoke in a heavy voice, “May I have a word with the receptionist?” I gestured to the lady towards the phone, “Yes, the phone is on speaker.” The lady was looking confused as hell. “I told you that someone named Loretta Harvey has an appointment with me. Did you forget or what?” The lady looked a bit scared as she realized I am Loretta Harvey. That’s why it is said never to judge a book by its cover. She didn’t even ask me my name. “I am sorry Sir. I promise it won’t happen again.” I cut the phone call and make my way to Ashton’s office.

I finally entered Ashton’s office only to see him smirking at me, “Come, sit down Your documents are ready.” I go and sit on the chair and take my documents. And ID card as well. Suddenly he spoke in a curious tone, “I am really confused about something. Why did you want to be a singer when you could have been so many more things?” I won’t tell the true answer if it would have been someone else but since Ashton knows my secret already so there’s no point in lying. I coughed and spoke, “It was because of my mother. I thought that if I would become famous so maybe somewhere my mother would see me and then maybe finally, she would come to meet me. Of course, that wasn’t the only reason because I genuinely love music since it feels like my only escape from this World.” Ashton had his lips pressed in thin lines then he spoke, “Well then you don’t need to worry about it now. Since it’s my goal as well to find your mother that’s why now I will make sure that you will become the first person to debut within two weeks.”

I had my mouth hanging open. Two weeks? At the least, it takes 2 months to prepare for the debut. “Wait, how are we supposed to do it in 2 weeks?” He shakes his head in amusement, “That’s the challenge. There are going to be 4 phases. First, you need to write a song.” I sit up straight and speak, “I already have a song ready.” He nods, “Well then that’s good. Now you need to go to the music room and a director must be sitting there. Show him your song and get your song ready in 2 days with his help. When the song is ready come to me and I will tell you what to do next.” I salute him, “Okay, Sir.” And with that, I left the office.

I knock on the music room but no one opened the door so I stepped inside the room and saw a man in his thirties sitting in front of a computer with headphones on. I tapped on the table and his face turned toward me. He smiled, “Are you, Loretta Harvey?” I smiled and nod my head, “Yes I am Loretta Harvey.” He took his hand out, “I am Edward James. I am assigned to help you with the making of music for your song.” I shook his hand, “Pleased to be working with you.” “Me too. Can I have a look at your song?” I took a seat next to him, “Yeah sure.” I take out my laptop and show him my song.

Just like that, we spent 5 hours working on my song. He was such a professional person that it was fun working with him. We were so immersed in work that we forgot lunch and so when we realized we were halfway done so we thought of completing the work first and then ending the day. Now I am so hungry that if I see any food around, I will go crazy. I decided to go to a restaurant near Castle so then I would directly go home.

Just as I entered the restaurant, I saw Addy sitting at the front table. He waved at me and so I went there and put my backpack on the other chair and sit on the other one. “Woah you look like a complete ghost. Did you skip lunch?” I sighed and spoke, “Yeah, I was working. Where the hell is the waiter?” As if on cue the waiter came in. I ordered two plates of Singaporean rice and a burger with two chocolate milkshakes. Addy ordered a subway. After the waiter went Addy was looking at me like I was a ghost. “What? I am really hungry. Stop looking at me like that. Oh yeah, by the way, how come you are here at this hour?” Addy smirked and said, “Well, I am here for my date. Oh, look there comes my girlfriend.” I gasped at him and leaned closer to him so that his girlfriend can’t hear, “Is she the real one?” “Yeah. Yeah. She is the real one.”

The girl was seriously so damn beautiful. She looked like a Barbie. She spoke in a soft voice, “Hey, Addy.” Addy pulled out a seat beside him and gestured for her to sit. Addy spoke, “Sweetie, this is my friend.” The girl turned to me and took out her hand, “Hey, I am Lucy Grey.” I shook her hand, “Hey, I am Loretta Harvey.” Lucy made an O face in realization, “Oh my God. It’s so nice to meet you. Trust me at one point I felt like I am becoming your fan. Addy talks about you so much.” I laughed, “Well then welcome to my fandom. Trust me I seriously thought that Addy was having an imaginary girlfriend. He would never introduce me to you. I felt so annoyed at one point.” Lucy laughed, “Well then welcome to the imaginary World.”

I spent an hour with them just eating and talking. Lucy was a kind and fun-loving girl. She did look like a barbie but she was a kickboxer. We both became really good friends. This time Addy was getting bored between us because our talk won’t get finished. Oh, and guess what, she is also a foodie like me. She told me that all of Addy’s money is mostly used to buy her food. We exchanged numbers and she said that we should hang out someday and I agree with her. She would love to meet Stacy. I think they both would get along well. Addy then went to drop off Lucy while I started the navigation to the Castle. I was just about to turn on the ignition but stop when a message popped up.

Stacy:

Hey

Only two days are left for papers. When are you coming to tutor me?

Oh, God! I completely forgot about that. I quickly type a message.

Me:

Be ready tomorrow. Your apartment at 5 pm.

After texting Stacy, I text Kathy remembering my conversation with Mary this morning.

Me:

Kathy, I am bringing Mary to your boutique in an hour or something.

Kathy:

What? No! You know I am going on my fashion week tour tomorrow.

Me:

Then should I say no to her?

Kathy:

Oh, God! Fine, bring her over. But only on the condition that Steve won’t come with you guys.

I smirk to myself. Well, I was not going to take Steve with us but now that she said it, I want to take him with us.

Me:

Yeah, don’t worry. I won’t bring him with me.

Now I drive back to Castle and immediately go to Mary’s room. She was curling the tips of her hair. “Hey, Mary. Are you ready?” She turns back to me with a real broad smile, “Just a little bit of makeup is left. Also, Fiona (Kathy’s stylist) will bring my dress in half an hour, so it would be done by then.” I don’t understand why would she apply makeup and all just to go shopping but yeah again it’s not like she is given a chance to get ready and go out every day. And anyway, she has a reputation as a princess so she needs to look perfect when she goes out. “Fine then let’s meet in the living room after an hour.”

I finally lay down on my bed. It was an exhausting day for sure. It didn’t take long to make Steve agree to go with us. He was ready when he heard that we are going to Kathy’s boutique. They would have fought and Kathy being Kathy would’ve gotten angry with him now Steve wanted a chance to apologize to her before she leaves the city and I gave him that chance.

You guys might be wondering why I keep myself so busy so yeah, it’s because I want to refrain from thinking about my mother. Whenever I get some free time, I start thinking about her, and tears automatically come to my eyes. I don’t want to cry because it’s just pathetic. I want to handle situations strongly and for that, I need to constantly work. Every summer all the children would go on vacation with their families but I would take classes for other activities. Like I have taken classes in dance, self-defense, hacking, writing, piano, and many more classes. You got it right that I am a multitasker. I had a hard time choosing my career because of these classes but one day Aunt was telling me and Kathy that there are so many people who are getting abused but they are poor and weak that’s why they are unable to ask for justice. That’s when I decided to become a lawyer.