CHAPTER 22: CHAPTER 22 RICH AND FAMOUS

*ALORA*

After filming for the whole day, I was so exhausted.

The only thing on my mind was to crash on my bed and just sleep.

I headed for the parking lot to my car. I couldn’t even wait for my manager.

He had said something about wanting to talk to the director real quick.

Well, my manager, Oscar and I had nothing more to discuss today so there was no need to even wait for him.

I got into the back seat of my back, fastened my seatbelt and said to my driver.

“Home.”

Immediately I said that, I leaned against the window, closing my eyes.

I needed a good rest.

I could feel the car drive off and I couldn’t wait to get home.

I slept off at some point, I didn’t know how long the ride had been so far but I was waken up by the ringing of my cellphone.

Sighing, I reached for it in my bag and picked up.

It was Oscar.

“Where are you, Alora?”

“I’m heading home.” I replied.

“I need you to be calm right now, I’m already trying to track your cellphone and we’re coming to get you, but tell me exactly where you are to make things faster.”

I frowned.”Is there a problem?”

“Fred was found unconscious in one of the bathroom cubicles. The CCTV at the parking lot was messed with and I can’t get in contact with who’s driving your car.”

My eyes dilated.

Fred was one of my drivers and the only one who drove me to work this morning.

If he was at the cubicle, then who was driving this car?

I looked ahead and swallowed when my eyes met with his on the rear view mirror.

He was on a mask and I had absolutely no idea who he was.

With a swift move, he grabbed my cellphone from me and threw it out the window.

“Who are you?”I panicked as he continued driving.

He lifted up his shirt a bit and I saw the gun protruding.

“Behave and I’ll make this peaceful for you.”

The initial fatigue that I felt disappeared instantly and I was in a full alarmed mode now.

“Why are you doing this? Who sent you?”

He didn’t say anything, he just drove, this time increasing the speed.

I looked outside the window, this wasn’t the way to my house.

I was being kidnapped!

I tried to open the door but it was locked.

I panted.

No!

I had been getting death threats lately which I always ignored.

Part of being a celebrity was conditioning your mind to always expect positive and negative comments.

People could go as far as hating you simply because of a character you played but that never bothered me.

Oscar had wanted us to tighten my security since the death threats became more frequent but I refused.

I never thought anyone could go as far as getting me kidnapped!

Oh God!

What was he going to do to me?

Demand a ransom?

What if he was working with other people? Other men?

They could take advantage of me!

They could kill me!

That thought got me even more panicked.

No!

I didn’t want to die.

I was an A-list actress, I loved my life. I still wanted to feature in many more movies, I wanted to live more.

I suddenly got a desperate need to survive and that desperation sent my thoughts scattering as I rushed towards him without thinking, I grabbed the steering wheel from behind.

“What the fuck are you doing?!”He thundered.

“Stop the car!”

“I’m going to fucking kill you!” We both struggled with the wheel.

“Let me go!”

I was being reckless. I knew I was. But I just wanted to escape.

He pushed me backwards and I landed on the backseat.

As he tried to gain control of the car again, it was too late, the car screeched off the road and hit the Guardrail of the bridge.

Fortunately, the rail was strong, causing the car to stop, abruptly.

The force had made me fall off the backseat.

I winced, feeling a pain in my hand.

There was a faint smell of smoke. I managed to pull myself up to my feet and then I saw the man had hit his head on the steering wheel.

He was grunting in pain as if fighting to stay conscious.

I didn’t wait for him to finish doing that.

I quickly pressed the button to open the door.

I opened the door and ran out.

I shouted at the top of my voice.”Help! Help me!”

It was raining now and it was late, cars were barely passing by.

I was scared out of my wits.

I looked back to see the man struggling out of my car.

I ran, running as fast as I could. I needed to get away from him. Just then, I saw three cars approaching.

I recognized the plate. Relief flooded me.

Oscar had found me!

The cars pulled up all around me, Oscar and some men rushed out of it.

He immediately held me.

“Are you okay, Alora?” He asked.

I nodded and shakily pointed at my car.

Just as the men raced up to it, we saw my attacker jump off the bridge.

“Don’t let him escape!”Oscar ordered.

****************

The following morning, I woke up to find myself at the VIP room of a hospital.

“You’re awake.”Oscar said, walking close to me.

I sighed. “What happened?”

“You had fainted from the shock of last night’s event. But the doctor said everything will be okay after a good rest. I’ve cleared out your schedule for the rest of the week.”

I nodded and then the memory of the man jumping off the bridge flashed through my head.

“Did you find him?”

Oscar shook his head.”But we’re still looking for him. Plus, I’ve contacted the police, they’re going to investigate discreetly. The black box was obtained but he was on a mask. For now, Alora. We cannot handle things, lightly. It is obvious someone is after your life, so until they’re found, you need to be protected 24/7.”

I couldn’t act stubborn anymore so I nodded in agreement.

I didn’t want to go through the incident of last night again.

I was just lucky but I couldn’t bet on luck next time.

*********

There was one thing about me now, Alora-Grace Harper.

I was a perfectionist.

Very little thing got on my nerves and I always wondered why people around me couldn’t just be as perfect as me.

Some people call it, pride or arrogance.

But I call it self-worth.

It wasn’t easy to be me so if anyone should be around me, they have to be on their best behavior!

The bodyguards Oscar found for me weren’t exactly up to my standards. So I fired them in less than a week.

In two weeks, I found three set of bodyguards from three different security companies.

“From today onward, you’ll not be allowed to fire the bodyguards anymore!”Oscar thundered when I fired the third set of bodyguards.

I scoffed.”Maybe if you found the ones worthy enough to protect me, then I’ll stop.”

“I’m serious this time, Alora. You need to be less strict with people. I just secured us a slot to get bodyguards from MG security firm, they’re one of the best in the country with highly trained bodyguards. Plus, they also offer top investigating services. They will help in finding who is trying to kill you as soon as possible. So you’re not allowed to fire this set. I do the firing this time and it’d only be for good reasons. I doubt I’d even have any reason to fire them.” With that, Oscar stormed off.

I eyed him.

Should I just fire him?

I sighed.

I couldn’t exactly do that because he’s been the best manager I’ve had so far.

Before I got someone like him, I’ve literally had managers who tried to take advantage of me, tried to steal from me but so far, Oscar who was in his late forties, had proven to be very capable.

But he could be so strict sometimes and I began to wonder who employed who.

Then again, I needed someone to give me a reality check every now and then.

Ugh! It wasn’t so easy being so rich and famous.