"You haven't dated anyone in the last five years. We are just worried that you might need a little break. At least, your body needs it." Sari teased.
"I'm still going to bet on my two cents that, Luigi likes you. He might not have gotten the right time yet, but now that you two are in the same label, it is easier to see each other." Gita said and sipped her coffee.
"Okay, I'm going to my room. Goodnight!" June stood up and grabbed the plate of assorted fruits and went to her room.
"Do you want to bet? June has feelings for him. She might not realize it yet, but it's there." Gita stated.
"Well, we will see how that pans out when Luigi returns. But I'm all in for her sleeping with him." Sari said naughtily.
"Me too." Gita and Sari slapped their palms against each other.
'Moving on to music, it is rumoured that Carlos and Kareena have broken up. While others are speculating that, it is due to their work schedules, others think that it has to do with the reemergence of June Dame. The two were a power couple five years ago..."
"This... What does his breakup have to do with June?" Gita looked at Sari.
"I need to speak with Tony. I can feel something serious brewing." Sari picked up her phone.
"I will ask Sharon if she has heard anything." Gita hurriedly grabbed her phone.
Inside her bedroom, June scrolled through the 'X' and was going through the various outlets that were reporting on the breakup of Carlos and Kareena.
A message popped up on her screen and her heart flutter. She quickly checked the text from Luigi.
'How do you feel today?'
June smiled and replied. 'I'm doing well. How's Africa? I saw you on TV this evening.'
'Is that so? Africa is a beautiful continent and I'm loving Ghana. We should come here sometime in the future.'
'We?'
June blushed.
'What are you doing?'
'I'm about to go to bed.' June replied.
'That's good. Get some sleep and don't believe what the internet says.
Tomorrow, I'm going to be super busy and might not be able to use my phone for sometime. But once I get time, I will talk to you. Goodnight, june.'
'Goodnight, Mr. Oren.' June texted back.
She stared at their messages for a while and smiled.
Luigi was checking on her, he has texting since he left a week ago, but she wasn't about to tell her cousins the truth because she didn't want them to put the wrong ideas into her head.
She just wanted to treat Luigi as a colleague. She didn't want to harbor false hope and be disappointed later on.
It was too early to be besotted with the idea of something that might not even happen.
.....
Studio Tomorrow
"Have you decided on your next project, June?" Tony asked as he got up from his desk to join June at the couch.
June smiled. "Yes, I have." June had gone through all the four scripts he gave her the last time and had finally settled in one.
"Let's see, which one did you choose?" Tony was curious.
June removed the scripts and placed them on the table. She then pointed at the one with a blue cover. "This one."
"You have good taste, June. Luigi said you were going to choose this script and he was right." June chuckled softly.
"He...said that? What did he base his confidence in?" June asked.
"Your good taste. He said you have good taste and doesn't follow blindly. He also added that, since you are under him, you will pick up his taste."
June smiled and mumbled. "This is so like him."
"Since you've picked your next project, I shall get in touch with the director and let them know. Once we receive the filming schedule, I will send it to Sari."
"Okay! Then, if there's nothing else, I should get going."
"Wait! Can I ask you something?" Tony stopped June when she was about to leave.
"You are the CEO here. In terms of authority, I should call you, my boss. No need to be so courteous." June smiled.
"Do you know what Sari likes? As you know, she and I are dating. I want to know more about her, especially the things she likes, her favorite food, drinks, music taste."
"In short, you want me to tell you everything about Sari?" June teased him.
"Yes. I really love Sari and want things to work out." Tony said bashfully.
"How about this? I will text you all the information you need but I have to warn you. It takes more than just a pretty face to impress Sari. If you want to be the only man in her life, then, you have to put in a lot of efforts."
"Thank you, June. Thank you, so much!" Tony became energetic.
"Bye!" June smiled and walked out.
...
After leaving the label, June picked a taxi to the bakery store, where they sold pastries. She wanted to buy some desserts for Gita.
Sari was out to meet the director of T-Fashion magazine to work out a schedule for her, and Gita was home alone, so June wanted to surprise her with some desserts.
"Hi, can I have two slices of walnuts cheesecake, and some banana bread, two mucha to go, please?" June asked. She was wearing her mask to prevent unnecessary attention. Especially now that the breakup of Carlos and Kareena was making the news, she feared that the paparazzi might try to push her into their drama.
"Yes, please wait a little while. It will be ready soon." The woman at the counter said with a smile.
June moved away, and found an empty table and went to sit while waiting.
The outside world seemed busy. Everyone in the city was trying to make ends meet. Different people walked the streets to and fro.
June remembered the time she was blacklisted. This was her favorite spot to sit and watch people everytime. She used to visit this bakery weekly and just watch others.
Not much has changed. But she has undergone quite a few things in the last three months.
She got casted for a movie, filmed with one of the hottest men in Hollywood, and now was even signed to his label.
If anyone had asked her if she thought so much would happen to her in three months, she would have said no.
"Miss, your order is ready. This is on the house. To congratulate you for bouncing back." The store owner smiled, and handed June the bag of things she ordered and another piece of cake for free.
"You remember me?" June asked, surprised.
"Yes. Your eyes, and voice are your unique features. If course, I remember you even with the mask on."
June smiled. "Thank you."
"Can I get an autograph?" The woman requested shyly.
"How about a picture?" June asked.
"Won't that put you on the spot?" Although she wanted a picture, she didn't want to make things hard for June.
"Not at all. I'm not sure anyone would recognize me in here." June took of the mask and stood next to the woman for the picture.
Next thing, before she knew it, a lot of people were rushing in after seeing her. They wanted to take pictures with her.
June suddenly felt awkward. She didn't think that a lot of people would recognize her.
"June, you are so pretty in person."
"June, I am a fan."
"June, can I take a picture with you?"
The store owner felt bad, seeing how the fans were ambushing June from every side, so she stepped in.
"Everyone, please can you give her a minute to go to the washroom first?" The woman held June's hand and pulled her away through the back door. Her employee quickly stepped forward to stop them from following them.
Once they were outside, June let out a relief exhale.
"I'm sorry, Miss. I shouldn't have let you reveal yourself." The woman apologized.
"It's alright." June smiled.
"I've called the taxi for you... There it is."
"Thank you."
"You are welcome. Get home safely."
"I will. Bye!" June got into the taxi and waved at the woman before going.
June relaxed on the seat and sighed. This was the first time she's been ambushed by fans outside in five years.
June realized that, no matter how famous she became, she could never get used to being the center of attention everywhere.
....
Mory Estates, Apartment 507.
June entered the hall and saw Gita busy on her laptop. "Darling, what are you busy with? You were on the laptop when I left this morning."
"I sent a message to him." Gita said excitedly.
"Who?" June sat down and picked the mug of coffee that belonged to Gita and sipped.
"Mr. TT'. I asked him if I could work for him."
"Did he reply?" June could see a bright smile on Gita's face.
"He did. In fact, he said I can work for him. He said he's a fan of my works and have long admired me."
"That's not bad."
"Yes! He sent me the contract and I'm going through it. June, he said I can work from home. So, I told him that I will be the first to know about anything you will be doing in the future. June, you and Sari must support me."
June chuckled. "Then, how about news on my next project?"
"Have you chosen your next project already? Darling, I'm ready. Give my all the information I need." Gita moved closer to June.
"So, my new project is going to be..." June didn't hesitate in giving Gita the information.