Unexpected Heart Series

Rosalie

"The best actor of the year award goes to-"

I held my breath and waited anxiously as they announced the winner of the award that I have wanted so much since I became an actor ten years ago.

Every year since I started getting major roles, I worked hard and did my best to stand out among others, but every year there's always someone better than me.

Someone more loved by the general public.

However, this year, I was sure it would be me.

Who else would win over me?

My movie this year made the most noise, and my acting was wildly praised.

"Lillian Cadmus."

At the mention of the name that wasn't mine, I was stunned into silence.

Not even by the fact that I didn't win, but by the fact that the person whose name they just called was a rookie actor.

I clenched my hands into tight fists and willed myself not to show any emotion that would be used against me.

I couldn't even force myself to clap along with everyone else as I watched Lillian go up the stage to collect the award that I knew very well was mine.

How did this happen?

I don't know what happened. I was so sure I would win.

I even prepared a speech.

The rest of the events went by in a blur.

I wanted to hurry out of there, but if I left, I would be the topic of discussion tomorrow all over the internet.

"What the fuck happened in there? How did Lillian win over you?"

My manager asked when I finally made it back into my dressing room.

I couldn't answer because I was too choked up to say anything without breaking down in tears.

I worked too hard this year for someone who didn't even do as much to steal the spotlight that was supposed to be mine.

The fact that she was even nominated for the grand prize was already something to side-eye, but I didn't think too much of it because I thought maybe not many great movies came out this year, so they were low on options to choose from.

I was wrong.

"This can't be real! Everyone is stunned. Everyone knows that you were supposed to win."

My stylist let out in anger.

Rather than say anything, I sat down and let them take off my makeup before going into the changing room.

"Give me my car keys."

I told my manager once I had changed.

"No, you can't drive in your current state of mind. I will take you home."

He argued.

"I am not going home."

I wasn't supposed to go home. Not after the award ceremony.

I was supposed to go to the after-party organized by my agency for me.

Only that my agency will still be celebrating but they won't be celebrating me.

Yes, Lillian is also an actor in the same agency as me.

She joined a year ago, and for some reason, they seem to favor her a lot which didn't matter before until they gave her my award.

"Where are you going to?"

There's only one place where I can find some peace and quiet right now.

Since everyone will be at the after-party, no one will expect me to be there.

"You don't need to know; I will text you tomorrow."

I said and grabbed my keys from him.

I ignored all their protest and got out of there.

Thankfully, the media were too busy with the winner to care about me who passed by with a hoodie and heavy sunglasses even though it was late.

I reached my car, which I had come in because I came directly from my boyfriend's house.

My boyfriend, who also happens to be the CEO of my agency.

We have been dating for five years now, and it has been fun, but lately, we have been having a hard time due to my busy schedule, and that's why I decided to spend the whole week with me because I had nothing but this award show scheduled.

Once I was in my car, I dialed his number, but it went straight to voicemail.

"Maybe he is busy."

I told myself as I let the first drop of tears fall from my eyes.

This loss hurt me so much because I worked so hard this year.

Every other year I lost, it didn't hurt as much because the one who got it deserved it somehow.

Not this year.

Lillian didn't deserve to win! Her movie was a mess, and her acting was bad. The reviews were bad too, so I don't know how she could have won.

I wiped my tears as I changed my direction.

Rather than go to the agency as I intended. I drove to the beachside and cried my eyes out by the ocean.

I got back in my car about three or four hours later and drove straight to my boyfriend's house, hoping to get some comfort from him.

I knew something was wrong from the moment I got out of the elevator, but I chalked it down to the sadness I felt.

Once I pushed the door of his apartment open, I froze when I heard voices coming from within.

I didn't think he would be home already, and I certainly didn't expect to hear female laughter.

"Maybe it's Anita."

His sister usually comes over too, so it could have been her.

I would have announced my presence, but for some reason, I didn't. I just walked slowly into the apartment and towards the bedroom that I had been spending the night in for the past week.

I stopped dead when I heard the sound coming from in there.

"Stop, Collins, you just had me; don't tell me you want me again."

Those words filtered heavily into my ears, and I was still trying to process what I just heard when Collins spoke.

"I can't get enough of you, Lily. You are so sweet, I want you again."

I gasped breathlessly. I couldn't believe my ears, so I walked even closer.

Her giggles filled the room. Giggles that soon turned to moans of pleasure.

I walked quietly to the door and pushed it slightly open, hoping and praying for me to not see what I already knew I would see.

Too bad my prayers weren't answered.

I gasped loudly when I walked into the room, and that startled the couple to pull apart, and sure enough, Collins was in bed with Lily.

Lily, as in Lillian, the rookie actor I just lost my well-deserved award to.

"What the fuck are you doing back already?"

Collins yelled at me while trying to get dressed, while Lillian stayed in bed covered with the duvet.

She had a sly smile on her face, which made me realize she was happy I caught them.

I knew what she wanted to see. I knew the kind of reaction she wanted, and I refused to give it to her.

I turned around and started walking away, but Collins stopped me.

"Rosa! Wait, I can expla-"

I turned to him and laughed bitterly.

"Can you? I would like to see you try?"

I told him.

"Darling, why do you need to explain to her? Just tell her the truth! You are tired of her, and you don't want her anymore."

I didn't even look in Lillian's direction when she spoke.

"Wait, you are right."

I couldn't believe my ears when Collins agreed with her.

"What you saw was right. I was fucking her. I have been fucking her for months now, and I am not going to stop, so you either accept it or leave it."

I bit down hard on my bottom lip and did my best not to let my true emotions slip.

Good thing I am a good actor, so I can fake it.

"Okay."

Collins looked shocked.

"Okay? That's it? Are you not going to argue? You are not going to fight?"

I just nodded.

"Send my things over."

I told him and walked out of the bedroom. I didn't expect Collins to follow me.

"Rosalie, wait."

I stopped and turned to him.

"What do you want again?"

I didn't raise my voice.

"We are not over."

Okay, that was a new low even for him.

"What?"

Even my voice showed how stunned I was by his words.

"Just because I am fucking Lillian doesn't mean we are over. If we are over, that means your career will be over too."

I couldn't continue listening to him.

"We are over, Collins."

I told him and started walking away.

"If you walk out of here, you can also kiss goodbye to the agency resigning you."

I stopped at his words and turned to him.

"What?"

I whispered as I fought hard to keep the tears away.

"You heard me, Rosa. Leave now and kiss your acting career goodbye! We won't resign with you, and I will make sure no other agency signs you! You won't get any roles either!"

I laughed bitterly at his threats.

"Make sure you do all of that, okay?"

I saw the shock in his eyes when I said that and turned away immediately.

He didn't expect me to say that. I didn't stop walking even when he yelled after me, and I hoped the elevator would come fast and empty.

The elevator did come fast, but it wasn't empty.

I entered and didn't bother to acknowledge the person in the elevator. Thankfully, it closed before Collins could get closer.

The ride down and the walk back to my car were barely processed by me. My eyes were blurry due to unshed tears.

How did I manage to lose everything in one day?

I was so happy earlier today, and now everything seemed to have been turned upside down.

I was about to start my car when a hand stopped me. At first, I thought it was Collins and was about to curse at him when I saw it wasn't him.

"My boss asked me to drive you home."

I blinked at the stranger and sniffled back tears before I responded to him.

"Who is your boss and why does he care how I get home?"

I fired at him. he wasn't Collins' driver; that much I knew.

"It's me. I am his boss."

A deep, unfamiliar voice spoke.

The face of the one the voice belonged to came into frame, and I was stunned by the aura he carried around him.

He wasn't a stranger. Not that I have spoken to him a lot, but I have seen him at high-class parties and also modelled for his company some years back.

Alexander Russell. The chairman of Russell Holdings.