"What's the company's take on this?" Viviana asked her manager.
"Not too good." An Mey conveyed her concerns. "Agent Yan told me to wait for the heat to calm down a little before sending out a statement. He might be taking this chance to tie you down for good this time."
Viviana heard what her manager said and was reminded of the unpleasant conversation she had with the director just a few days ago.
"Remember that I can break those wings anytime…"
She was doubtful that he did not have a hand on this. The unusual seriousness on Viviana's face caught An Mey's eyes.
"What's it? Do you have something to say?"
The actress looked into her eyes, debating whether she should tell her about her little interaction she had with the director.
"So, it's like this. At the after party on the night of the premiere…"
In the end, Viviana decided to come clean with An Mey. And the manager couldn't help but curse out loud.
"Why do you have to be so reckless?"
Viviana did not retort at the accusation. The manager was right. She was indeed reckless that night. The fearlessness she felt that night had eaten her brain.
"Even if he had not caused this, he will surely easily help you with the clarification without getting something from you."
The manager was pacing back and forth in the limited space of the small apartment. This made the already anxious Elisa even more edged.
"What if they ask you to sign for another ten years? That'll be similar to life imprisonment. What to do?"
Viviana then saw An Mey suddenly stop in front of her. And with intense eyes, the older woman asked her.
"What if we go against the company now?"
Elisa: "Sister An?"
Viviana: "…"
The two were surprised by the idea the manager came up with.
"Think about it. Agent Yan will not easily let go of the little positive attention you've gained these days. And this will clear up all the accusations about your mistreatment by the company."
Her eyes were almost begging Viviana to understand where she was coming from.
"Even if the company really does clarify, it'd be too late for you like always. Don't let them play dirty with you again…"
Viviana did not say a word for a while as she locked her eyes on her manager. All the previous actions of the older woman since she had become her manager came into her mind.
An Mey was like the other staff who were given to her by the company before. They were just eyes and ears for Yan Lui who wanted to control her. They never cared about her feelings or opinions. To them, she was just an object of the mission.
But along the way, within these few months, Viviana had come to see the changes in both An Mey and Elisa's attitude towards her. She could see the effort they put in trying to make her better. So that she can change her attitude towards her career and future.
"Why are you trying so hard to save me?"
Her question threw the manager off guard.
"I… I just can't handle the way they treat you. You… You're a talented person, Vivi. And I want to get to the top with you." Manager An answered honestly.
Something in Vivi moved. It was as if her chest was swelling. But warm…
"Do you believe that I'll be able to get to the top?"
"Of Course!" An Mey assured the actress. "You have the looks and the talent. All you need to do is to choose the right direction which you'll never get in Han."
"You're amazing Sister Vivi. I don't want you to just be a shadow of someone else." Elisa also supported the idea.
Viviana looked down at her toes, and for a second, she smiled at the words of her companions. But she quickly put it away before she looked up again.
"So… what do you think we should do first?" She asked An Mey.
The manager took a few minutes to think it through.
"Let me gather some things to get you free from the company's clutches first. Just a day or two. Then we'll release a statement with or without the company's approval."
Viviana knew that the longer time she took, it'll only affect her more in a bad way. But she also knew that if she released the statement without preparation, she'd be charged with breach of contract and would have to pay a huge amount.
And the odds were against her at this moment. She still needed to convince the 'Royal Physician' crew to be her witness when she clarifies later.
"Just act like how you always did. Don't alarm anyone in the company."
Manager An warned before heading out of the apartment. Since there was nothing much for her to do there, Elisa also followed her out. Both did not notice the change in Viviana as soon as they disappeared from her sight.
-[This is just the beginning.]
The message read. The number was not saved. But she could guess who could've been the possible sender. There were three individuals who would create such a mess for her. Lyra being the topmost in the list. Director Yan followed her and then his nephew, her loving Agent next in the row.
For Lyra, she had no explanation. The girl wanted to beef with her for no reason. She had never crossed paths with her during their trainee period. But after she debuted a year later than the girl, the girl started making her the villain in every situation.
At first, she thought that it was all for the plan to make Lyra look a saint when compared to herself. But she had seen them, the hate for her in the younger woman's eyes, when she lost her cool in front of her.
Viviana knew that Lyra hated her. But she just couldn't get why since she had done nothing to her before. If this was a plan from Lyra, with how much she had provoked her these days, the younger girl must have wanted her to corner her with no way out.
But the girl was not brave enough to drop this huge bomb without any support. And it would not be surprising if she had angered Director Yan enough to make him want to uproot her out of the industry.
Before he did everything but force her physically to try and make her his. But her existence became nothing but a sign of his failure. Even an example to resist. So. It would not be surprising if he no longer wanted her and only wanted to erase from the industry. Break her so as for her to not stand up ever again.
And for Agent Yan, he wanted her out of the industry as much as Lyra.
'Oh! There's that person too…' Viviana remembered one more person.
If there was anyone who wanted her out of the entertainment industry more than the rest, it would be that person.
Then there were the haters.
Everyone wanted her out of this industry. And even herself at one point.
But then, Viviana remembered the hopeful eyes of her manager and assistant. They were one of the few people whom she knew wanted her to light up again, while the rest of the world just threw sand and poured water on her. And each time, her flame was diminishing little by little.
She had barely recovered her flame this time. But those who wanted her to be in the darkness were not satisfied with her flame.
Viviana doubted that the scandal this time would be like those before. She had a lumbering fear that this might be the biggest pit someone has dug for her. One she could not come out of. And she was already half way in the hole.