The CEO is Her Bodyguard

After arriving at the airport, I took a taxi straight home. "Yes, I'm back to where it all started," I whispered to myself, took a deep breath, and walked into the mansion. The maids and guards looked at me with wide eyes.

"I'm no longer the naive, shy, innocent girl they once knew," I thought, a smirk playing on my lips. "Now... hahaha... I'm crazy. Even though I'm just a small actress in a local industry, I still fight for my dreams." I halted when I saw my father, his wife, and their daughter.

Smiling dryly, I announced, "I'm home... who missed me?"

"Why are you back?!" Father snapped.

"Honey, calm down. She just got back; let's let her rest first," Marie, my stepmother, interjected. She was a quiet devil, a pretender, a good actress too in front of my father. I guess her daughter got her acting skills from her.

"Sister, welcome home," said Jolene.

"A point for correction, Jolly. I am not your sister!" I shot her a glance.

"Get out... out... you ungrateful bitch... you bad egg..." Dad yelled.

"Honey, calm down. She's just a child," Marie said.

"Yes, Daddy, I'll talk to sister," Jolene added.

"You should be thankful to your mother and sister. If not for them, I'd have abandoned you by now," Father continued to yell.

"Mother? I don't remember having one, and as for my father... I don't even believe I have any," I retorted and walked down to the basement where I'd lived my childhood and youth.

As I started cleaning the basement and arranging my stuff, the two witches from the East side appeared.

"It seems you know your place in this mansion," Marie said.

"Of course I do, unlike others who only know their place is in another man's bedroom," I replied with a smile as if nothing had happened.

"You slut! Why are you back?" Jolene yelled.

"To see if I can move around like your mother, looking for married men to snatch," I said. I could see them burning up in anger; I was winning their little game.

"Gem, don't anger me, or else you'll see your dead mother," Marie threatened.

"Of course, I'd see her. But as for you two? Hahaha... your big daddy, Mr. Devil, is waiting for you..." Marie got too angry and slapped me.

"I promise you, you will not live long... just like your mother," she said.

"Let's see who gets to meet big daddy first," Jolene said, dancing after her mother. I gnashed my teeth in anger.

"Oh, and by the way... I hope you haven't forgotten what I said when we were 16? I promise I'd take everything away from you... EVERYTHING YOU LOVE AND CHERISH," Jolene said.

I picked up my phone and saw my company calling me. Clearing my throat, I answered, "Hello?"

"Miss Gem?"

"On the line."

"Yes, we'll be expecting you tomorrow. Your manager has been selected, and auditions are already lined up for you. Please be here very early tomorrow."

"I will, thanks." I sighed. "Let's see how tomorrow goes."

The next day, Jolene stole the spotlight at a press conference.

"Aww, she's a goddess," girls praised. Every man wished to be with her, while every woman dreamed to be her.

The press soon began.

"Wow, Goddess Jolene, you're really sparkling today," the lady interviewing her said.

"Aww, stop it. I'm blushing," Jolene responded, and they both laughed.

"There are rumors that you'll be acting as the female lead in a new movie, 'Rate My Heart RMH'?"

"Oh yes, and auditions are already out. We'll be working with other acting industries this time," Jolene said.

"Speaking of industries, have our goddess ever dreamed of entering IM Industry?" she asked.

Jolene smiled brightly and sighed. "It's every actor's and actress's dream to be there. I know that one day I won't only get there, I'll be there," she said with confidence.

"I heard rumors that the President of IM is very handsome and charming but keeps a low profile!"

"I've heard that too," Jolene replied.

"Have you ever imagined marrying the king of entertainment, the President of IM, and becoming the entertainment first lady?" she asked. Jolene was one donkey who danced happily when a shining carrot was thrown at it.

"I don't know... I can't make decisions now. Who knows if my future husband is watching this show..." she joked, and everyone laughed.

"Back to business, how is your next movie, RMH, going to be?"

"Well, I'm gonna put all my effort into being the best. Let's just wait until the movie is out. You're gonna love it," she said, winking and smiling.

"Thank you, Goddess Jolene."

Meanwhile, I was sitting with my new manager and our industry President.

"I want you in that movie. Try and get the spot of being Jolene's elder sister in the movie. I've heard of your acting grades back in the States; I hope you can do well," Mr. Festus said.

"But sir, that role is a little too hard. Remember, it's just her first movie. She-" my manager started.

"Manager Ruth, I'll do it. No, in fact, I can do it. Let me see the script reading," I interrupted. She looked at me in surprise and gave me the script. "Show me the hardest scene," I said. She showed me the scene where the elder sister, a psycho, has to act hurt, happy, plain, and filled at the same time. "Ha, piece of cake. Let's go," I said.

"Go where?" Ruth asked.

"To the auditioning. We don't want to miss it," I replied.

"But you haven't practiced," she protested.

"Don't worry, I'm already loaded. Let's go; we don't have much time," I said. She looked at Mr. Festus, who only smiled and nodded.

After a little makeup and outfit preparation, we arrived at the audition. We were a bit late but managed to cover up due to Ruth's smart move.

All eyes were on me. Eyes that seemed to say, "Who is she? Why's she here? What's with her dressing?"

I didn't mind them. I just took my seat, closed my eyes, and relaxed, waiting for my name to be called. Ruth was not happy with my behavior; I was too relaxed and calm while she was shaking all over, getting nervous on my behalf.

"Miss G, are you sure about this?" she asked, but I didn't answer. I had fallen asleep. "Oh God, help me, please... let the ground just swallow me up."

"Number 34," they called, and Ruth woke me up. My eyes were red and looked tired.

"Am I up next?" I asked as I yawned, and she nodded.

We both went in.

"Number 34, Miss Gem, from VYV Industry. You're the one taking the role of Tartan?" the judge asked, but I gave him a deadly glance. I later smiled and nodded cutely.

"Okay, which part are you taking today in the script?"

"The hardest of it all," I said, and they burst into laughter.

"Young woman, don't waste our time here," the female judge said.

"No, you're the one wasting my time. I'm ready whenever you are!" I shot back.

"Okay, act 356, scene 14... action."

The sweet smile on my face wiped away as my face turned blank and dark instantly. I bit my lower lip and smirked.

"I'm not crazy... I'm not insane," I said calmly. No one knew what I was thinking. Suddenly, my eyes turned very red as tears gathered but refused to drop. I crushed my little gown in my hands.

"She... he..." I said slowly but later yelled, "GONE!" The judges shivered. "Gone! They left me... me... me... I'm not... crazy... they left me... pains... I feel in here," I touched my heart as the cute smile appeared on my face again. The smile, mixed with my red and teary eyes, made my emotions unreadable. I danced around like a little kid but soon stopped, turned my back to the judges, and said, "Gone," and the tears finally dropped. "Finish." I wiped my face and smiled again.

"That's it," I said, and the judges were in shock.

"Why did you stop?"

"We want to see more of your acting."

"Fabulous... splendid... you got the role," they all praised me with a round of applause.

I thanked them and left. Ruth kept looking at me.

"What?" I asked.

"You are... AWESOME," she said, raising her thumbs up, and I smiled.

"Let's go celebrate. Let's go get a drink," I said. We entered a bar.

After drinking and drinking, forgetting that I was a slave to alcohol, each time I drank, I became a princess searching for a prince. Due to alcohol, I hugged any handsome guy I saw and held him tight until I fell asleep before I let go. Because I was too excited tonight, I forgot.

They were hosting a mask party in the bar; only a few of us were unmasked.

"Miss Gem, slow down. You'll get drunk," Ruth warned me, but it was too late. With

just one glass, I was going into the pool of alcohol, but today I had taken five before she stopped me. I told her all my childhood stories. Ruth was touched and even cried.

"Ah, don't cry, Sister Ruru. I'm strong now... I... fight... them... with... bottle... hehehe."

"Don't worry, Gem. That Jolene devil will never take me away from you," she said, crying.

"That's what they... all say... but... all my friends ran to her and became her friends... boring bozos, Ruru... Manager Ruru... Ruru..."

"It's Ruth, Gem," she said, now smiling.

"Shhhh... who's that handsome man over there?" I asked. Before Ruth could look, I stood up and went to sit on his lap.

Leon, who was bored with the party his friends forced him to attend, was surprised when something warm sat on his lap and wrapped its hands around his neck.

"Mmmmmm, my princey... I've missed you..."

"Miss... oh no..." Ruth ran to us. "I'm sorry... I'm so sorry... she's just drunk... G, let go... let's go home, hmm?"

"Nah, nah, nah... I'm not leaving my princey again... I've found him," I said, hugging his neck tighter. Leon saw his friends laughing and mocking him.

"Miss, let me pull her away, no problem," his deep voice and aura brought shivers to Ruth. 'This was no ordinary person,' she thought.

Leon tried to pull me away, but the more he tried, the tighter I hugged him, never wanting to let go. If he used more force, he'd surely pull me away, but he might hurt me. He hated hurting women, especially girls.

"Miss... miss... wake up... you've got the wrong person," he tried to wake me up, but I started crying.

"It's all your fault for leaving me first. Now they blame it all on me... how can I let you go... my princey, please don't hate me too... don't hate me too, please... please... don't hate me!" I burst into a loud cry, screaming, "Don't hate me, don't leave me, please..." making Leon embarrassed as my cries drew attention to him.

The old waiter walked up to him.

"Sir, console your girl or do something. Don't just let her cry... I can see she really loves you," he said.

"She's not my girlfriend... I don't even know her," Leon yelled in anger as his friends laughed even more.

"Please do something about her; she's distracting the party," the man said.

Leon tried to pull me away with strength; this time he didn't care if he hurt me. I was annoying.

"Get off me..." he said and pulled me away. But I yelled again.

"Princey, you're mean... aaaahhhh... you're not as good as my book says... you won't hug me... ahhhhh," I started screaming, pointing at Leon, who had no choice but to play along.

"Okay, princess... I'm sorry... come here," he said with a fake smile, and I ran to his embrace again, sitting on his lap and hugging his neck. Leon started rubbing my back, calming me down.

"It's okay, I'm here," he said. His friends laughed and laughed while Ruth kept apologizing on my behalf.

I soon fell asleep, and Leon carried me to Ruth's car.

"Sir, please give me your address or information so we can apologize properly," Ruth said.

"Never mind... just don't appear in front of me again. Goodnight," he left in anger.

"Phew... Gem, let's go home now, alcohol student," Ruth said and drove home.