The Fault Dwells In Our Stars

er career and the agency. Despite the unsettling conversation, he had not proposed terminating her contract. Unfortunately, she learned the startling news

wn actress Izalea Benson's career has taken a turn for the worse..."

d firmly from

tended for another year, according to recent reports..." Tension hung in the air, the weight of the words settling ar

softly as Belle reached

tinged with confusion. The van remained silent. "I be

r, answered, "I promise, I

" I cal

responded, turning i

ng look and waite

it, ma'am," Belle

waited for a

it. I apologize, Miss Izalea. I couldn't bring my

I replied sternly. "Belle, everything

lea. It'll never happen

"Hold on, what? He never rejects my calls," I said to myself, the realization hitting m

with the manager tomorrow. You both

ma'am," they

isclosures weighed heavily on me, my composure barely holding. I approached my flat door and noticed a gift-wrapped present waiting nicely by the door. The bright

and stepped inside with the gift. I gently placed it on my kitchen counter, the splendid packaging temporarily raising my emotions.

framed picture of myself, but instead, my face stared back at me in horror. Dark red tears, draw

n the box, which tumbled to the floor, spilling its contents across the kitchen tiles. The rat'

ence sent a shiver down my spine. I ran to my front door and checked the surveillance screen, glancing down the hallway for any evidence

o give my mother a call, but I immediately disregarded it, knowing it would just

You just won't believe what happened. Would

used to let them succeed. I was stronger than that, and with Jasmine by my side, I was confident I could handle whatever happened next. When Jasmine arrived, I p

out a handkerchief from her bag to cover her nos

d, my voice jerking. "It'

om under the sink and began effectively cleaning up the mess. She wrapped the dead rat in several layers of plastic bags and threw it away

n. "Thank you, Jasmine. I'm not sur

s before turning to me. "You don't need to go through th

s presence. "I was so scared," I acknow

and. "We'll get to the bottom of it, Izalea. But first, you s

ing odor of the previous incident. We sipped our tea in silence for a few seconds, the tension gradually subsiding. Jasmine advised that

r mom to let her know?"

. "I don't want

ontinuing, "I'm sorry, but

nd my contract, but she failed to reach me. "It's unlike you,

as I watched Jasmine stutt

ht I sent a message. It may have slipped my memory because I have

y girl," I resp

have seen the news and be worried sick," she

it yet. If she had, my phone would be

f the tension. Then my expression became serious again. "Jasmine, c

ut hesitation. "Of c

ain and intimidating, but at