"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.
Tony smiled and waved at him and waited until they were out of sight before he left the airport. As he was about to drive, his phone rang. He smiled, seeing the call from Sari.
"Baby, good morning. How are you doing today?" He asked pleasantly over the phone.
"I'm fine. Woke up to some waffles from June." Sari took a slice of the waffle and looked at June.
"How is she doing? I just saw Luigi off at the airport." Tony plucked his airpod on and started driving.
"She is fine. Luigi has left already? So, early?" Sari said loudly, while looking at June.
"He was supposed to leave last night but he didn't want to go without saying goodbye to everyone. He told me that June has agreed to sign with us. Is that true?"
"Yes, she did." Sari smiled.
"That's great. We are going to be labelmates now. When are you guys coming over to sign the contract?"
"When June is done sulking. Tony, I will get back to you. I need to coax my cash cow." Sari hung up the call and moved to the empty seat next to June.
"On your period?" She asked June.
June nodded her head. "I feel irritated for no reason."
Sari sighed. What can I do to make you feel better?"
"Shopping? I haven't shopped in a long time. Don't we have money left after settling our debts?" June pouted her lips cutely.
Sari laughed. She took her phone and sent June some money. "Check your account!"
June hurriedly checked her account and exclaimed. "This much?"
"My bad for not sending it sooner and waiting for you to ask. I was just caught up with settling our mortgage and totally forgot." Sari apologized.
Been her manager, Sari was responsible for handling all her business and money. It was an arrangement they made earlier on in June's career. Of course, this was because of their mutual trust for each other.
They have always remained true to each other and Sari didn't abandon June when other opportunities came for her to manage other artists in their former company after they left June to fend for herself during the scandal period.
Sari and Gita were more than just family to her, they were the people she trusted the most in the world and would do anything for them.
"It's fine, I understand. What about you? Have you paid yourself?" June asked because she knew Sari had the habit of forgetting about herself and only taking care of others.
"I did. June, we don't have to worry about money anymore. You don't have to overthink about how we will survive. This house belongs to you now and our debts are finally cleared. If you want something, buy it. If you want to go somewhere, you can go without having to worry about money anymore." Sari said tearfully.
June nodded her head. "We are finally debt free and can afford the life that we want."
"Are you two crying and hugging without me? I feel cheated on." Gita stood at her door, saying.
"Come over here! We are just happy that June finally made her first half a million dollars in five years and we've settled our mortgage." Sari said and opened her arms to Gita.
"Exactly! This house is now ours, and we don't have to see that ugly agent at the end of the month again." Gita sheepishly ran into their arms.
"If you check your account, you might cry more than this..." Sari said as she sent Gita some money.
Gita immediately checked her account and began to cry. "Yay! Why did you send me so much money for?"
"Because your salary kept us fed and clothed all these years and you did it so willingly without complaining. You deserve this and more." Sari replied.
"Is this necessary? We are family. I don't regret spending on you guys, but I won't reject the money either because I want to buy a new dress for a party next weekend. I will shamelessly take it since you are insisting." Gita looked at the money in her account and hugged June.
"God, thank you so much! My cash cow is back on her feet. I don't have to worry about money anymore. I love you, June!"
"Tsk! What kind of sisters are you? Shamelessly calling me a cash cow to my face." June said and they all started laughing.
"Let's go shopping! I need to shop to feel better." June added.
"I strongly support that. After sending in my report to my supervisor, I feel so much better. Ziggy is going to be very busy with cleaning up his own mess to care about what you have going on." Gita smirked.
"The waffles are getting cold. Let's eat breakfast first." Sari stood up and rushed to the table.
"Let's eat!" Gita pulled June up and they joined Sari at the table.
.....
Cleome Mall
The day was going perfectly fine and the girls were enjoying their time, shopping for new clothes, bags and shoes.
Everything seemed to be going well until they reached a cosmetics store. They wanted to restock their cosmetics and also get a few new things. They ran into Greta and Renda. The two were also in the store shopping, before June and her sisters arrived.
"Should we go to a different store?" Sari pulled June back when she saw Greta and Renda inside the store.
"No! We are not changing a store because of them." Gita insisted.
"Let's go in. At best, we ignore them." June replied.
"Even at worse, we still ignore them." Gita chuckled.
"June?" Greta's face changed when she saw June. She was still holding resentment over their encounter the last time which eventually led to her losing her role.
"Greta, be careful. She is protected by Luigi Oren. Don't let her complain about you to him. You don't want to end up like me, with no job in the industry." Renda said sarcastically.
"I don't care who has her back. June, let's be honest. You slept with Luigi, right?" Greta folded her arms and asked smugly.
"Watch your words, Greta. Not everyone is like you. " Gita stepped forward, protectively.
"Isn't this the reporter who hasn't made a name for herself even after working in the industry for five years? Gita, if I were you, I would be wary of June. Because of her bad reputation, no one wants to get interviewed by you. Don't you hate her?" Greta snickered.
"It's not that I don't get interview request, I just don't want to interview the likes of you." Gita retorted.
"Well, whatever helps you sleep at night." Greta was being sarcastic.
"June, I didn't want to say anything initially, but..." Renda started but was immediately interrupted by June.
"Then don't say anything. I don't want to hear it and I'm not interested either." June replied sharply before turning to Greta.
"You asked if I've slept with Luigi or not? Greta, just because you slept your way into the industry and important roles doesn't mean everyone else did the same. Sari, Gita, let's go."
"Let's go! I don't want to even breathe the same air as some people here." Sari remarked.
"Stop there!" Greta was becoming impatient and furious.
"What do you want?" Gita asked impatiently.
"June, don't you think you owe me an apology for what happened at the restaurant the last time?" Greta was still reluctant to let June go.
June sighed. She was becoming tired of Greta. "Is something wrong with your brain? Between you and me, the one who needs an apology, you know it in your heart."
Greta fanned herself and scoffed. "Do you think you can do whatever you want just because you have the backing of Luigi? Let me tell you, you are not special. He's going to dump you after he gets tired of you. When that time comes, let's see how arrogant you still be. This isn't over!" She glared at June before leaving the store.
"I'm beginning to think there's something seriously wrong with her. How could she make such assumptions in public without evidence? Gita remarked.
Renda quickly hurried out of the store after realizing she was alone and couldn't fight June by herself.
"Let's not be bothered by her. We came out to shop after working hard for our money. Don't let her attitude hinder our business." June said and walked towards a set of facial scrubs.
After buying the cosmestics they needed, they set off to go home. When they got to the car, Gita's phone rang.
"Let me answer this first." It was a call from the intern that worked under her. "Hello, Sharon. What? No, I did not. Okay, I'll be there. Give me ten minutes!" Gita hung up.
"What's wrong, Gita?" June asked.
"My supervisor refused to publish the scoop I sent in last night." Gita's face changed.