Manager Rita's Betrayal

In the dimly lit corridor of the Drunk Statue Bar, a sense of emptiness pervaded the air, mirroring the aftermath of a night filled with revelry and celebration. The echoes of laughter and clinking glasses had long since faded into the recesses of memory, replaced by an eerie silence that hung heavily in the air. Among the scattered remnants of the night's festivities stood Cecilia, a rising starlet in the competitive world of Hollywood, her slender figure shrouded in the shadows cast by flickering candlelight.

As she wandered through the corridor, the faint scent of alcohol mingled with the stale air, a stark reminder of the excesses of the night before. A throbbing headache pulsed through Cecilia's temples, a testament to the toll that the evening's festivities had taken on her weary body and mind. With each step she took, the weight of exhaustion bore down upon her, threatening to engulf her in its suffocating embrace.

In the midst of her fatigue, Cecilia found herself unexpectedly intercepted by Rita, her

manager and occasional confidante. Rita's sudden appearance was met with a mixture of surprise and resignation, her presence serving as a stark reminder of the professional obligations that loomed over Cecilia like a dark cloud.

"Is there anything you would like to say?" Cecilia's voice was tinged with weariness as she addressed Manager Rita, her eyes betraying a hint of exhaustion beneath their heavy lids.

Caught off guard by Rita's sudden inquiry, Cecilia's brows furrowed in confusion. She tilted her head slightly, studying Rita's expression for any clues that might explain the unexpected interruption. "Why do you ask? Is there a problem?" she inquired, her voice laced with a mixture of apprehension and curiosity.

Rita's response was swift and assertive, leaving no room for doubt. "You can't audition tomorrow, nope... I won't allow you to go there," she declared, her tone firm yet tinged with a hint of sympathy. Cecilia's eyes widened slightly at Rita's words, her mind racing to decipher the meaning behind them.

"And what makes you think I shouldn't go there tomorrow? Are they cancelling the audition?" Cecilia questioned, her curiosity piqued by Rita's cryptic warning. She leaned forward slightly, her posture reflecting her eagerness to unravel the mystery.

Rita's response remained shrouded in mystery, her words leaving Cecilia with more questions than answers. "You're here... You can't just go, right? Your stepmother, who is also Carina's manager, has already said that Carina is preparing to audition for that role. So, you should step down. There can be no two Carter family members in one movie, so Carina will go. That's final!" she explained, her words laden with unspoken implications.

Cecilia's smile was faint but tinged with irony as she processed Rita's words. "My stepmother said that to you? Is she afraid that a rising actress like me will steal her big celebrity daughter's role? And you're in support of me not going? Why all of a sudden?" she mused aloud, her voice tinged with amusement at the absurdity of the situation.

Rita shrugged nonchalantly, her expression unreadable as she avoided Cecilia's gaze. "I'm just telling you how it is, Cecilia. You know how things work around here," she replied evasively, her tone casual yet tinged with a hint of discomfort.

Cecilia leaned back in her chair, her mind buzzing with conflicting thoughts and emotions. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to Rita's warning than met the eye. "Well, thanks for the heads up, Rita. I'll... I'll figure something out," she said, her voice tinged with uncertainty as she tried to conceal her growing unease.

As Rita turned to leave, Cecilia's mind raced with possibilities. Could her stepmother really be behind this sudden roadblock in her career? And what role did Carina play in all of this? With more questions than answers, Cecilia knew one thing for certain: she wouldn't let anyone stand in the way of her dreams, no matter how powerful they seemed.

With determination in her heart, Cecilia resolved to confront her stepmother and Carina head-on, determined to reclaim her rightful place in the spotlight. Little did she know, this was only the beginning of a journey filled with twists, turns, and unexpected revelations that would test her resolve like never before.

Undeterred by Rita's thinly veiled attempts to undermine her, Cecilia countered with quiet resolve, her words infused with a sense of determination that belied her outward appearance. "Then why are you so apprehensive? They have connections, but I have skills, the performance at the audition will determine who's getting the role so no need for Alarm, out your mind at rest and cheer me on" she asserted, her confidence unshaken by the prospect of facing formidable competition.

Rita's response was firm, her words a subtle reminder of the power dynamic that existed between them. "You're my artist; you should listen to your manager!" she declared, her tone authoritative yet tinged with a note of concern and somehow Sarcasm.

Cecilia's retort was swift, laced with a hint of defiance as she asserted her autonomy in the face of Rita's attempts to exert control over her. "Heh, heh. Do you still remember that I'm your artist? I thought you had switched to being Carina's eyes and ears, instead of mine?" she quipped, a sardonic smile playing at the corners of her lips as she challenged Rita's authority.

Rita had been her manager since she arrived to Los Angeles, even though Cecilia knows that Rita often gossip about her with other crew members whenever they're on set, Cecilia didn't mind this, see considered it a matter of mindset and has the intention of changing her when she had made it big.

Before Rita could offer a rejoinder, Cecilia felt a sudden impact against her back, the force of which left her momentarily disoriented. As she struggled to maintain her balance, darkness descended upon her consciousness, enveloping her in its inky embrace and plunging her into a state of unconsciousness from which she could not escape.