ELARA~
Following the cancellation of the show, I was sent to an isolated place far from the city. An enclosed space, quiet and some what peaceful.
My brother Sydney, had reached out asking if I was okay but my father was not so pleased. He didn't like that I sang, also didn't like that my contract didn't allow him to do anything for me.
It was morning time and I was downstairs doing yoga while watching the news. I was all they could talk about, rather all I could hear.
I was getting emotional again. Just then the door clicked open. I turned to see who it was. Isla walked in, hands filled with bags.
She's been away for three days, I almost thought I'd been abandoned.
"You shouldn't be watching that, you need a clear mind for the upcoming court case" she said. I was never getting use to that voice or the way she pulled off the suits she wore.
I sat up on the mat and switched the television off, picked up my bottle of water and drank from it. She set the snacks on the table and when done, looked at me.
"Hungry?"
I had searched her up. She was known popularly for clearing up celebrities messes. She appears, works the case and disappears again and so far she has cleared up everyone she's worked for as innocent.
Although apart from that there was no information of she outside work.
"Am I going to jail?" I asked getting up from the mat. She fell onto the sofa and picked up her tablet.
"No Ms. Jones you're not" she replied.
"What exactly am I being charged for? Her death?" I picked up a burger from the table and sat on the sofa next to hers.
She looked at me "That isn't for you, you should be watching your weight" she stretched out her hand, took the burger from me and took a bite off it before I could complain "Yours is salad" she pushed one of the bags to me.
"As for her death, we have documents that proves she died of an overdose as stated by forensics" she added looking at me. "You're going to court because of Chris and I am here to talk to you before I contact the company lawyers." she turned away.
"Talk to me? About?"
She mumbled some words as she chewed, paused and drank water then cleared her throat before speaking again.
"Sorry I'm just reading through your contract again and I'm a little bit hungry. Excuse my behaviour." A phone call came in and she excused her self. With her care free behaviour I began to feel unsure.
But, she said she'd handle it, so I just had to believe that she would. She was back not too long after and picked up her tablet again.
"Do I still have a career?" I asked.
"Definitely," She paused for a bit. "As far as this goes well" Her reply didn't give me confidence at all.
"Do you think I still have a career?"
She finally looked at me with a smile, and I swallowed. I shouldn't be admiring her features. I should be sad about all this.
'News flash Elara you may never climb a stage again' and I knew that but how was I suppose to think when she looked like a freaking angel.
"Ms. Jones you ask a lot of questions"
I kept shut. She rubbed her eyes then let out a sigh. "The girl in the video, who was she?" she asked. "Girlfriend?" her brow rose slightly.
"No" I shook my head 'focus Elara'
"She was my best friend" I answered.
"I can't help you if you lie to me" she leaned forward "Same with the lawyers and I am here to make sure you don't lie to them. I'm here to help you"
And just like that my mind was clear of all the sick thoughts I'd been having so far.
"You think I'm lying?" I asked. She stayed quiet. "I said she was my best friend"I sounded annoyed, I was. "I don't do girls… it's disgusting" she scoffed almost immediately and that annoyed me more than it should have.
"At this point no one is going to believe that, there's a video of you both kissing"
"That… that is very misleading" I stuttered, knowing fully well if I were in her shoes listening to me, even I won't believe me.
"So why did you kiss her if it's disgusting?"
"Come on now, are you being serious? How is this going to help the case?" She threw her head back with her eyes close while muttering to herself before looking at me again.
"Well forgive me for not trying to understand why you called kissing a girl disgusting" she got up - "All you homophobic bitches are something else" - picked up her things and walked away. I watched her get into her car and drive off.
Now she was just over reacting. As I stood there on the porch it then dawned on me. Isla Matthews was the only hope I had right now.
"Fuck!" I slammed my hand on my head then rushed in. I got my phone and dialed for Richard who picked on the first ring.
Thank goodness.
"You decide to reach out finally. Are you okay? I've been calling…"
"Please get Isla to come back." I cut in.
"What happened?"
"I might have uhh... pissed her off" he let out a long sigh before cutting the call.
---
Isla was not back for another two hours. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I had just come out from the showers. I didn't look worried considering my whole life was at crossroads at the moment.
And why did I say that, my eyes welled up. I looked up to the ceiling. No I didn't find girls disgusting for being gay, but growing up with homophobic people sure does something to a person.
Soon after, I heard a car drive in. I rushed downstairs after throwing on some clothes and found her standing by the door.
She spoke first. "Before we begin-"
"I'm sorry" I apologized. "And I'm not homophobic. It's just part of my contract was I being straight since a lot of the sponsors are homophobic. And coming from a homophobic home had messed with me, my mind and I just kinda freaked out when you asked that, and..." What else to say? " and I- "
She closed the door behind her, walked to the sofa where she was seated before and sat crossed legs.
"I can't tell you to trust me but at this point it's what you need to do. I am not here to hurt your career any further but to help put it back on track. So let's start again" I took a seat directly opposite her.
"The court hearing is by month end and mind you when I say, Chris is not going to let this die easily"
She slipped a slim metallic pen from her pocket, its tip glowing faintly. She brought it to her lips and inhaled.
For a second, I didn't think anything of it.
"What's he suing me for?" I asked.
Then she exhaled and I my body went rigid.
"That the lawyers will talk to you about. So can you tell me what happened that night?"
"I. She, her name was Angela. We…" The room suddenly became smaller. And it felt like the oxygen in the room had dropped. I took in sharp breaths while mentally telling myself to breathe.
"Are you okay?" She asked. I looked at her and gave a nod.
"You can't be serious, Elara" I thought, a short, disbelieving laugh slipping out. "Since when does something that smells like sugar mess with me?"
"Just-" I started then stopped as I felt my chest tighten again.
"You good?" She asked exhaling again. I inhaled shallow, looked at the stairs then got up.
"Ms. Jones?" she called out to me. I tried to answer but my chest tightened the more. I dropped to my knees. With every passing second breathing became difficult. I pointed blindly toward the room.
"Table" I managed to say "Inhaler" I added.
"Oh my..." I heard her footsteps fade away in the distance. I clenched my chest tight. My chest rising and falling too fast. She was back again with the inhaler.
I took it from her and sprayed once then held it there. Two then three. She held my trembling hand all the while trying to calm me down.