"Was it always like this?" Luigi asked after driving in silence for a while.
"In this business, running into men like Ziggy Owens is pretty normal. Some are good at hiding their desires and playing the long game. He just happens to not be in control of his emotions that's all." June turned to look outside the window.
"No wonder you are so guarded." When Luigi turned to look at her, he noticed she was struggling to keep herself from crying.
Luigi looked around and found a safe place and parked. "June, if you want to cry, you can do so. In front of me, you don't have to pretend to be so strong. I'll give you a moment." Luigi got out of the car and went to find a place to sit , leaving June alone in the car.
June couldn't hold back her tears anymore. She cried loudly in the car. Just thinking about how helpless she was even after five years made her feel worthless.
This man has been a nightmare to her. Five years ago, she had just started her acting career. She was popular and loved by a lot of people, but fame came at a cost.
After filming, she joined her co-actors to go to the club to have fun. If Greta hadn't accidentally pissed off one of the directors and she stepped in to apologize, she wouldn't have gained the unwanted attention of Ziggy.
He got interested in her and tried to win her with expensive gifts but she rejected him and his ego got bruised. He started to make things difficult for her, even stopping other directors from working with her.
He even had someone plant drugs and an unregistered gun in her dressing room one time when she was filming a commercial. She got arrested mid-filming and her career took a downhill.
The only reason why she wasn't prosecuted was because those things didn't have her fingerprints and her blood was clean. It was a narrow escape for her.
Just thinking about all the humiliation she endured over the years, made her unable to control her tears. She wept in the car for almost half an hour before calming down.
Luigi was watching the stars while smoking a cigarette when he heard footsteps behind him. He turned and saw June and immediately stopped smoking. He turned the cigarette off and asked her.
"Should we go?"
June shook her head. "Give me five minutes. I want to watch the stars. They are so beautiful tonight."
"Do you know that this is the longest sentence you've spoken to me outside filming premises?" Luigi asked and June chuckled.
"Is that so? Maybe, I'm afraid to wrong you. You don't exactly have a good reputation on set." June replied earnestly.
Luigi smirked and stood next to her, watching the stars with her. "That's true. But it didn't stop you from telling my uncle that you are my woman, right?"
"Your uncle? That man is your family?" June now remembered he referred to Ziggy the same way back at the bar.
"He's my mother's brother. Cousin actually, but all the same."
"Then, you got into a fight with your uncle because of me? I... I'm sorry." June suddenly felt bad.
"Hey, relax! He and I have never been on the same page. It's not because of you. June, I hope this wouldn't make you stay away from me, right?"
"I... No, I won't do that." June revealed a smile.
"That's good. Because all my efforts will be in vain."
"Huh?"
"Nothing. That man is a monster. I've been thinking of a way to keep him away from my family because he uses my mother's connections to do bad things. I now have a good reason to kick him off the board of directors at my mother's company."
"I see!" June didn't want to probe into his family drama.
"June, I know a lot of labels have contacted you to sign with them. Have you made a decision yet?" Luigi changed the topic.
"Not yet! Do you have any recommendations?" June asked. She figured, he might have a suggestion since he was asking.
"How about signing with my company? Right now, it's just me, Wanda and Tony, but we have the resources to help your career..." Luigi suddenly became nervous.
"Okay!" June didn't allow him to finish.
"You... Will sign with us? Just like that?" Luigi was surprised.
Watching him, June suddenly realized that, maybe he wasn't that difficult after all, or maybe his sassy attitude was reserved for certain people. He seemed really nice to be around with outside of set.
"You guys gave me my first project in five years. I have to be grateful to my benefactors." June smiled and turned towards the car. "It's getting late."
Luigi smiled and followed her into the car.
.....
Mory Estates, Apartment 507
Luigi waited until June was inside her apartment before he drove away.
As soon as June entered, Sari wrapped her in a tight hug. "My God! You are finally home. June, how are you? Gita told me everything that happened. Thank God, Luigi was there to help you. That man is lucky I wasn't there. I swear to God, I would have grabbed his balls and smashed them to pieces."
"That's enough, thank God you weren't there, or the whole world would have heard of it because Lord knows what you would have done." June sat down, saying.
"Well, that's true." Sari said after a thought.
"Here, drink this and tell me what you and Luigi are up to." Gita brought June a glass of water and sat across her.
June took a sip and breathed in deeply. "Nothing! He left me in the car and I bawled my eyes out for half an hour and he asked me to sign to his record label and I said yes."
"What?" Both Sari and Gita exclaimed.
"That's it? You two didn't confess your feelings and kiss?" Gita asked loudly.
"Is romance the only thing in that head of yours?" June asked back.
"But I could have sworn I saw an electrifying chemistry between you two." Gita shook her head and looked at June. "Darling, couldn't you feel it?"
"I didn't feel anything. Get those thoughts out of your mind." June flecked Gita's forehead.
"Have you really made up your mind to sign with them?" Sari questioned.
"Do you think it's not a good idea? I can take my words back if it makes you uncomfortable." She and Sari were business partners at the end of the day, and June didn't want to do something that Sari felt uncomfortable about.
"No, not that. Tony also spoke about it and I wanted to ask for your opinion. But now, I'm curious, why you chose them." Sari stated.
"They gave me my first project. They also seem like a decent company. If I want to go far, I still need to leverage the popularity of Luigi to get more projects. I think that working with someone who is very responsible and professional like him, he won't take advantage of me because I don't even have anything that he could be interested in." June responded.
"I wouldn't be so sure of that, June. I think he has feelings for you." Gita still couldn't be convinced otherwise.
"He probably just feels pity for me because Ziggy Owens happens to be his uncle and they don't get along."
"His Uncle?" Sari and Gita exclaimed again.
"Are you serious?" Sari asked.
"Like, seriously. That monster is Luigi's uncle?" Gita was stunned.
"Mm! His mother's brother. But they don't get along, so Luigi is taking my side."
"This isn't something I was expecting at all, but it's good that things turned out this way. The enemy of your enemy is your friend. You did well by agreeing to sign with him." Sari remarked.
"Tonight, was hectic and I just want to sleep in. Nobody should wake me up in the morning." June stood up and went into her room."
"Goodnight, love." Sari said to June.
"You guys too." June replied as she closed her door.
"I'm going to send the draft to my supervisor. Once he approves it, I'm going to expose that monster and let everyone know just how much of a beast he is. I have enough scoop for it." Gita picked up her bag and opened it.
"Make sure you blur out June's face." Sari reminded Gita.
"Of course, I will!" Gita stood up and grabbed three cans of beer and returned to the hall. She picked her laptop and started working.
...
Airport.
Luigi allowed his assistant and his manager take his luggage to the check-in point while he chatted with Tony for a short while.
"Make sure you keep your eyes out for Ziggy. After experiencing such humiliation, he will definitely try to make things difficult for June. While I'm away, please keep her safe."
"Don't worry, I will protect your woman on your behalf." Tony assured Luigi.
"Call me if things get out of hand in my absence." Luigi sighed. "I hope she can hold on until I return. I can't stop worrying about her."
"June isn't that weak. Have faith in her. She has been able to protect herself for five years. Besides, she has Sari and that reporter by her side."
"You are right. I need to trust her ability to protect herself. I have to go."
"Take care, man!"
"You too." Luigi joined his assistant and manager at the checkpoint.