De Classico’s Place
Hillary leisurely strolled towards the restaurant with her manager, Shirley trailing behind. She paused when she observed a small crowd of people standing by the entrance of the restaurant. As a celebrity she knew the kind of crowd standing out there.”No one knew I was coming out today right?” She curiously asked Shirley.”No” Shirley replied as she also observed the few number of people standing by the door.”Are you sure?” Hillary asked suspiciously.”I guess it might be the director who must have leaked something out” Shirley reasoned.”It must be” Hillary acknowledge with a nod. “I guess I still have some fans with good brains who are still so eager to see me. It good when people know the right thing to do” A cheeky smile spread across her face as she continued her walk towards the restaurant.Hillary’s smile widened when she heard squeals coming from the crowd as she walked closer. This was what she liked. Never did she think that she could still be able to pull this number of fans. The bitter truth, her fan base has been dwindling for the past few years, and all she had was a measly number of fans which she has only be able to garner and maintain their interest by granting several meaningless interview. This was unexpected.But what Hillary didn’t notice was the direction those fans were eagerly facing.”Oh my god, it’s truly her. I can’t believe it” A high school girl in the crowd cried.”My idol, my idol is coming. open the door” Another girl cried. Hillary could feel her heart swell with joy when she heard those hungry cry for her. It felt good. It’s been so long she enjoyed something like this. It was like those days when she met Henry and he helped her established her career. Her career bloomed which made her very popular and she loved the fact that she was always in the spotlight and in people’s heart. But everything changed when Henry died and for some reason her fame died with him. But now it seems she still have some fame after all.Hillary continued her walk towards the door, her every move were gracious and the smile on her face was different from the usual one. She was beginning to think there might be no need of continiuing with her plans after all. This was enough to brush Jake’s insult off her mind.”There she is!!!” Voices screamed as the crowd pushed forward. Hillary’s smile waivered when she observed something was unusual, something she should have noticed before.’Why were her fans looking that way and not at her?’It was then she realized she had missed something after all. Those set of so called fans had theirs to her all this while. Was she thinking wrongly?Shirley observed the change in Hillary’s expression and as if she could read her mind. “I think they’re expecting you to come from that side of the park” Shirley reasoned with a quick smile. She has worked with this woman long enough to know what she liked and how she thinks.Hillary didn’t buy that, something still felt amiss. But just because this was what she has always wanted -that is being the center of attraction -she decided to believe and go with the flow.To Hillary’s surprise, not only did the fans not look at her, they ran towards the opposite direction.”Goddess Joan, you look so good””Please can I get your signature. I love your dress. Omg! you look stunning”” I heard you’re casting in director Charles new movie. Do well our idol. We love you” Were the praises soaring in the air at the gorgeous actress, Joanna Steele.Shirley sneakily peeked at Hillary’s face and she saw the frown lines formed on her face, but that didn’t take a few seconds before an impish smile spread across her face when her eyes fell on the person who the crowd had gone to meet. Shirley knew what that smile meant. Whoever’s name was in heart right now might not see the dusk of day.” How perfect” Hillary uttered impishly, her smile not leaving her face. She signalled Shirley to come closer but her eyes was locked on that particular figure.”Call Black and tell him I want her on the XX entertainment headlines by tonight” She said calmly, like she has not just ordered the total anihilation of someone’s career and maybe life.Shirley was not surprised by Hillary’s orders. “Okay” Shirley replied as she quickly brought out her phone to get to work.”Wait! Make that tomorrow morning. Let’s give her sometime to digest her meal and enjoy her time. I really didn’t want to do anything to her, but it seems this is a necessary evil if I must get that role. We don’t want fan crises on our hands do we?” She said smiling sweetly. This little incident was like an insult to her and it fueled her to carry on with her plans.Shirley nodded in agreement. The woman was just too sinister.They both continued their walk to the restaurant. Hillary gracefully smiled as she made her way to a private room.”Good afternoon director Charles” Hillary greeted in a sing song tone the moment she stepped into the private room. The director stood up to greet her too.”Good afternoon Hillar. You look good” Director Charles greeted back as he stretched his hand for a hand shake.”Thank you, and you don’t look bad yourself” Hillary replied taking the man’s hand.”I guess life has been good.” He said taking his seat while Hillary sat opposite him, with Shirley standing behind.”Yes it is” Hillary nodded as she smiled. She ordered Shirley to go get their orders.”So Hillary what brings you here? I was surprised when I got your call.. Don’t tell me you’re tired of being in the corporate life” Director Charles joked, but sincerely he was curious about this imprompt visit.Hillary bellowed out in laughter.”Director believe me if I tell you my eyes are forever glued to the corporate world. But you’re right about one thing.” She slurred her speech to pique the man’s interest.”What is it?” He asked interestedly.”I do miss the screen. You know acting is my passion and I can’t help but feel sad” Hillary said with a sad voice.”That’s a given, I completely understand. It’s that why you have called me?” Although Director Charles might not know the reason behind Hillary’s call, he had a feeling it was related to a comeback.”Yes and I know you’re the only person who I can talk to” Hillary said with a smile. Director Charles remained quiet as if urging her to continue and Hillary obliged.”You see I need your help. And I know you can help me” She said in a tone that said ‘You’re my only hope”.”Okay, tell me what it is, I’ll render my help if I can. I still owe Henry a big favor” Director Charle said. Wasn’t that why Hillary had come there.She smiledamusedly her mind when she heard those words. She was there years ago when Henry, her husband granted Director Charles a favour and the man had vogued to return the favour. Knowing the kind of person he was Hillary had backed on that favour.”I want to make a comeback” Hillary said firmly. She paused for effect, but continued when the man didn’t respond as she thought he would.Director Charles guess was right. He knew it had to be something related to this. If it was just this he could help her, though hr didn’t see the reason. why she should do that. She was rich and her late husband had left his family for her to look after, or so he thought.”Really?” Director Charles asked, while Hillary nodded.”So you need me to cast you in a movie?” Director Charles asked the obvious.”Exactly” Shirley returned with a waiter a served both Hillary and the director some wine.”So what do you say?” Hillary asked, picking up her glass. She swirled the glass in her hand, sniffed the aroma of the wine before taking it to her lips. She allowed the the wine to roll down her tongue for a couple of seconds before gulping it down. “Good wine, I want the bottle” She said to no one in Particular but Shirley jumped to it almost immediately, she knew better than to keep Hillary waiting.Director Charles the woman silently and for some reason he was beginning to see something different about her. She wasn’t the woman who she was before Henry died. Something has changed.”I can help you get one. I’ll put my eyes and ears to the ground to get you a master piece” Director Charles said With a Smile. Hillary dropped her glass on the table, leaned back on her seat and smiled brightly at the man.”The thing is I already have a movie in mind and it’s right under your care, that’s why I have come to you directly””Really?” Director Charles was surprised. He had just on movie which he was about to shoot, but then all the cast have been selected. Even a press conference has been made. “What movie would that be?” He asked curiously.”Stardom” She uttered. Director Charles was surprised that was the movie she had in mind.”But all the cast has been selected for each role” He said.”I don’t want all the roles, I just want the main lead” Hillary said casually.”What? You know that’s impossible””impossible means I’M POSSIBLE” She said emphasizing on her last words. Director Charles was shocked by her request.”But I can’t help you with that” He said with a firm tone as he frowned.”Why? I thought you wanted to return my late husband’s favour?” Hillary asked calmly. She wasn’t at all bothered by the man’s tone and words.”I do, but what you’re asking for is impossible.” He declared is tone still as hard.”Why?” Hillary asked with a cute sad pout.”Because that’s Joan’s role. I personally selected that role for her” He declared making Hillary scoff.”What a shame then. We’ll just find her something else” She said with a shrug. Director Charles was utterly suprised by Hillary’s behavior. She was being unreasonable.Hillary observed the angry look creeping into the man’s face but she was unfazed.”Director let’s not make a big fuss out of this. I want the role that’s all matters, therefore I’m taking it” Hillary said with wicked smile hung on her face as she took another sip of the red wine.”But I’m sorry Hillary, what you’re asking for can’t be done” The director replied firmly. He looked at her with contempt.”I don’t like it when people stress me over minor issues. This is a minor issue right?” She turned to Shirley and asked with a smile, while Shirley nodded in agreement.”You see even she says so” Hillary flashed that fake smile at the director again. “It’s just a role, I’m sure whoever you must have casted for the role won’t mind me taking it” Her smile never leaving her face.”Let me tell you a secret” Hillary started in a low voice as she crossed her legs, with an fiendish smile on her face, she signalled the director to move closer.”I heard something terrible might happen to that actress you picked for the role. That’s why I’m here offering you a good deal one I’m sure you can’t refuse, so take it” She said slipping a cheque towards the director, who frowned the moment his eyes fell on the cheque. His eyes turned cold and his anger was evident to all, but Hillary remained unfazed. She has dealt with his type before.”How dare you insult me like this?” The director roared in anger as he stood up, ready to leave.”…Humans they don’t just understand the dynamics of life” Hillary sighed before taking another sip of the wine.”What do you mean?” The director asked. He hated the Way Hillary was behaving. The woman has indeed changed.Hillary closed her eyes for a moment, before opening it to drop the glass.”Director, It would be better if you sit down, because I’m not done telling you the good part yet” She raised her gaze to him and revealed another of her sweet smiles, but the director didn’t bulge he just stared back looking at her with fire in his eyes.”The thing is I was not giving you that as a bribe, it was just a means of helping you from the forthcoming challenge you might face””Stop spewing nonsense. What do you mean?” Director Charles asked seethingly. He was extremely annoyed by her attitude.”Since you don’t want to sit, I’ll tell you while standing but don’t fall over okay” She sighed.”So I came across an article that says that your rehab wife allegedly killed a girl when she was drunk driving… what a shame” Hillary shook her head in pity.”Oh and your son is addicted to amphetamine” She paused for effect and sighed.”Now I wonder what the people would say when they find out what your wife especially when you’re trying to help her loosen her time. Well, you know how the masses behave differently from the law. Would your son survive in school? what a shame””Oh, and I wonder what the school authorities might do him for those drugs.” She raised her face to the pale faced man who could barely stand.”I wonder how a principled man like yourself end up with a irresponsible and useless family members” She shook her head again and sighed before standing up.”I guess you’re about to get your plates full. Let’s just forget about the movie, maybe you can get something for me next time right” Hillary snickered before regaining her smile. “Let’s go and get my wine. I like the flavour” She said to shirley.”Hillary wait” Director Charles said when he finally found his voice but Hillary Continued in her strides.”Hillary please” The once confident man resulted to pleading, but she didn’t bulge, rather Shirley dropped a card for him and followed her boss.”Hillary is this necessary?” Shirley could no longer refrain herself as they got into the car. She couldn’t understand why Hillary took Jake’s word to heart, because his were the reason Hillary was acting this way. The woman has been calm for a while now.Hillary turned to her with a frown, and Shirley quickly apologized, “I’m sorry. I was just curious”Sigh..”Curiosity is good, but it also gets the cat killed” Hillary smiled revealing her white teeths as she patted Shirley’s thighs.”By the way, any news regarding my father in law?” She asked as she boringly looked out the window.”No” Shirley responded.”This is getting tiring. I can’t wait any longer. I wonder how he’ll feel if I lay my hands on one of my step sons” Hillary said calmly with a evil smirk making Shirley’s eyes to pop.Hillary scoffed amusedly at Shirley’s reaction. “Don’t be so judgemental, I’m only taking what’s mine.. I never really planned on keeping any Beau alive” She shrugged as her lips curled up into a smile.
WATCHOUT FOR EPISODE 59
