Chapter 2

• "Miss Levine! You've made up your mind? That's fantastic! Let's connect on WhatsApp, and we can talk more tomorrow," came the excited response on the other end.
• Vilma said, "Okay", silently adding the contact on WhatsApp.
• Before she could hang up, the sound of footsteps reached her ears.
• A few seconds later, Frederic walked in, holding an umbrella.
• He froze when he saw her, drenched and sitting on the floor. A frown creased his brow. "Why are you all wet?"
• "I forgot my umbrella," she replied, her voice small.
• Her damp hair hung in front of her face, and the sensor lights flickered off, leaving her expression hidden. Frederic ruffled her hair. "You're still like a child. You should check the weather next time."
• Vilma didn't respond. She just watched him as he turned to head into the bathroom.
• Once he was out of sight, she slowly stood, her body still numb from the emotional storm, and made her way to the other bathroom.
• After a quick wash, she climbed into bed, staring blankly at the white walls.
• Not long after, Frederic joined her, lifting the blanket to lie beside her.
• The familiar scent of cedarwood filled the room, reminding her of their old moments together. The memories of the conversation she had overheard earlier came rushing back.
• Unable to hold back any longer, Vilma reached out, gently lifting his shirt.
• There, just above his heart, were two letters—BW.
• It wasn't the first time she'd seen the tattoo. In the early days of their relationship, when everything was new and intense, she had noticed it several times. She'd been curious, but never asked about it.
• Now, seeing it again, her vision blurred with tears. Her voice trembled as she asked, "What do these letters mean?"
• Frederic stared at her for a moment, then looked down at his chest. His tone softened, but there was a warmth to it that she hadn't felt in years.
• "They mean something very important." He paused, then seemed to misunderstand her intentions in lifting his shirt. "Alright, you've been out in the rain. We'll talk later. Get some sleep."
• He gently pushed her hand away, pulling his shirt back down and switching off the lights.
• The room fell into a heavy, suffocating silence.
• Only the sound of her quiet sobs remained, mingling with the darkness.
• *****
• The next morning, Frederic woke early. He skipped breakfast and hurriedly changed his shoes, preparing to leave.
• When Vilma noticed the constant rain outside, she called after him. "You haven't had a flight job lately. Why are you leaving?"
• Frederic, in a better mood than usual, gave her a faint smile. His cold eyes softened ever so slightly. He grabbed his umbrella and headed for the door. "I've got something important to take care of. Stay home and be good."
• With that, he left, the door clicking shut behind him.
• Vilma stood frozen, watching as Frederic's figure disappeared. She turned slowly and went back to the bedroom, her eyes immediately landing on the phone he'd left behind on the bed, its screen flashing with a constant stream of notifications.
• She picked it up, opened WhatsApp, and there it was—the conversation, laid out in plain view.
• The name at the top caught her eye, Barbra.
• His message to her read: "What time is your flight today? It's pouring outside. Don't leave the terminal, I'll come pick you up."
• The tone was affectionate, tender—so different from the cold, impersonal reply he'd given her last night, the one where he had reminded her to check the weather forecast.
• So, when it came to the woman he truly cared about, he'd make the effort to go pick her up in the rain.
• Vilma didn't have time to see more. She heard footsteps approaching, and without thinking, she quickly dropped the phone, slipping into the walk-in closet just before Frederic could walk in.
• She spent the next few minutes applying makeup, taking her time to compose herself. By the time she came back out, the phone was gone, and the house was eerily quiet.
• She grabbed her bag and left, hailing a cab to the coffee shop where she was supposed to meet the talent scout.
• When she arrived, she spotted Alton Kline standing near the door, waiting for her. After exchanging pleasantries, they headed to a private room.
• Alton went over the training plan and prospects in detail before handing her a contract.Vilma's eyes lingered on the bold red stamp of Star Entertainments on the document.
• Star Entertainments was the biggest name in the industry—an opportunity people would kill for.
• Yet here she was, ready to sign, after almost walking away.
• She let out a bitter chuckle but didn't hesitate before signing her name.
• Alton's face lit up with an unmistakable joy, like someone who had just discovered a rare treasure. His smile deepened, and the creases around his eyes grew.
• "Miss Levine, when you turned me down before, I was truly disappointed. But now, I'm so glad you've made the right decision. The pearl won't be left in the dust anymore. Don't worry, Star Entertainments is one of the best in the world. We'll make sure you shine on the biggest stage. This will be a closed training session. When you get back, start preparing. In fifteen days, we leave."