Arabella was sitting inside her office, which was very grandiose. It wasn't her office actually—it was her father's.
But in his absence, she was handling the affairs of the agency.
Her agency, Wright Entertainment Agency, was one of the most influential, as they had many famous actors and actresses contracted to them, with multiple models.
And despite being an executive director, she was in the Ceo's office. Because of her father's sudden sickness, it came to her to manage his part, which took most of her time, since managing a number of celebrities with their demands and contracts was no easy feat.
Sitting on her executive chair, she had a deep frown on her face as her eyes were drooping low because of tiredness, and she was holding a file in her hand.
On the table, there were several similar ones in one place, all piled up.
Soon after, she closed the file after signing at the end and placed it on other ones.
That was the last one, and finally she leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes, which were now starting to sting because of lack of sleep.
On the day, she had to work, and at night, almost every day after Rea's wedding, Angelica was paying her a visit and shortened her hours of sleep.
Thinking that, her eyes opened, and with another tired sigh, she pressed a button on her landline, and soon, a middle-aged man with a happy face came inside.
"Is that all?"
Without saying anything, Arabella asked, and the man obediently gave her an answer.
"Yes, for now...."
For now?
She was too tired to show an expression, but she didn't like those words one bit, so she ignored it and asked him why she called him for.
"What about the monthly schedule of Angel?"
Though she didn't have to look at the schedule of any of her contracted actors or actresses, much less any newbie model, Arabella always asked for the schedule of a particular model every month.
"I have it here."
The man then picked a file on the table, which was placed away from the piles, and gave it to Arabella.
After taking it, she started to turn pages, and her eyes, which were out of any light, showed some energy. It was clear that despite being sleepy, she was paying extra attention to this file.
"Fuck."
After getting to a certain page, she couldn't help but curse as her face darkened.
"Is there a problem?"
The man asked after seeing the tension on his boss's face.
The man's name was Richard, and he was one of the most trusted people of Arabella, so much so that he was the only one who knew about Arabella's heated endeavors with Angelica. So, without even looking at his face, Arabella replied.
"She is cooperating with J&K this month. I totally forget about that."
With how her life became during these last few days, she was barely keeping her wits, but she was still disappointed in herself.
As the silence fell inside the room, Arabella looked at the man as he had some confusion on his face.
"That's where Rea works."
She replied in her usual gloomy voice, and only then did he understand.
"Oh? This is quite troublesome. Is Angel going to be okay?"
Yes, it really was, since now, there wasn't a possibility for them to meet. Until now, Andrea was occupied because of her new position, and her leftover time went to dealing with her boss. Arabella was really worried about her, but at the same time, she was thinking of the phrase "reaping what she sowed." And for Angelica, well—
"I don't know. But I think we should be worried about Rea, not Angel."
Arabella knew how to calm Angelica down, but Andrea? She was different. She rarely showed her feelings, so it was difficult to know how she would react, but it wouldn't be pleasant, that was for sure.
"M—ma'am, M—Mrs. Wright is here, asking to meet you."
Just then, her door opened, and a petrified-looking young girl spoke without even entering into her room.
Arabella had just listened to her and had not processed what she had said when that nervously looking girl pushed to the side and a beautiful middle-aged woman forced herself in.
"Get out of my way. Do I need permission to meet my daughter?"
That woman was her stepmother. As if she didn't have enough on her plate, now she had to deal with her?
Again, she didn't express her emotions and just stared at a distance before slowly looking at her secretary and the man named Richard.
He didn't need to listen to her as he quickly left the room with the shy girl.
"What brings you here, Mrs. Wright?"
After they left, Arabella asked in a calm manner. Listening to her, her stepmother exhaled—a little too dramatically—before she sat down on a chair across from her.
"I don't know what I am doing wrong that you can't recognize me as your mother."
Her words never matched her face—that was what Arabella thought every time she listened to her.
"Yes, please, make yourself comfortable, but you haven't answered my question."
Ignoring her completely, she asked again, and this time, seeing Arabella's disinterested face, she spoke with a little frustration.
"Your father missed you...and so do I."
Did she really have to add herself? And also Arabella knew that she was also lying about her father.
"And?"
The woman's grip tightened on the armrest as she watched Arabella with clenched teeth. But instead of lashing out or doing anything according to expression, she just said it without hiding any of her unpleasantness.
"So pay us a visit."
"Okay."
Arabella again replied halfheartedly, but this time, her stepmother thought of her agreeing with her, which she couldn't do in any circumstances.
"You will?"
Beknownst to her, Arabella was just too tired to butt heads with her, so she just said that.
"I'll think about it."
Arabella knew what was waiting for her at home and why her stepmother wanted her to come. It was nothing but a headache.
That woman, on the other hand, was very persistent. Even after seeing how Arabella didn't even give her an ounce of interest, she didn't leave and continued to sit before she spoke again.
"Anyway, I find some suitable matches for you—"
Arabella didn't need to hear that too. Since her father became sick, she was being forced on many blind dates that her stepmother had suggested. She complied at first, but after too many dates, she just ignored her or didn't even give her a chance to speak.
"I am busy, Mrs. Wright."
So, before she continued, Arabella cut her off and picked up a file she had recently reviewed. It was a time for her to leave, and she wanted to take a rest, as Angelica was busy today, but instead of leaving, her stepmother continued.
"This time, it is not just me—Edward also wants you to attend this blind date."
Father? He rarely did something that included her then, so why was he doing this? Arabella's frown, which had loosened a bit before, tightened again as she studied the woman sitting in front of her.
The woman was pretty—too pretty, actually. Arabella hated to admit that, but she had a charm that attracted her to her. She knew it was because of Angelica, who looked exactly the same as her. All those nights must have etched into her body, it seemed.
But Arabella was also sure that she was lying, or just like now, she had taken her father's silence as a yes.
"Since you can't find yourself a girlfriend, then what choice do we have but to find ourselves?"
Arabella's face fell a little as she heard that not because it wasn't true—well, it was true, but she again felt a guilt in her heart.
"Is that all?"
But it was another thing that she would have to go on that blind date, since her father was involved without his knowing or not.
Her stepmother clicked her tongue loudly and stood up in frustration that the chair went rolling away as she started to walk towards the door, huffing and puffing.
Arabella had to commend her patience that she held on for this much long.
But as she reached the door, she stopped and turned around before saying.
"Oh, yes, make sure to find a better secretary because I am firing this one."