STARLIGHT STAR, JASON TREVOR, AND NEW GIRLFRIEND SHOPLIFT AT VALLEYVIEW MALL.

"Unbelievable!" William threw his phone across the room, discus fashion, the screen shattering to smithereens as it buffeted the accolade on his trophy stand. "This is exactly what I was trying to avoid!"

Jason remained in the office chair, unfazed by William's childish tantrum. He was used to William's anger. Though he could admit that this time he was angrier than usual. He was red, and swollen like a hyper-carbonated can of soda that would soon implode, and quite frankly, Jason was rather keen on seeing him explode.

He paced around the room, marching like a lion in search of prey to rip to pieces, and for an unnerving, split minute, Jason feared he might be that unfortunate prey. "She's a contestant, Jason, and you've brought her into the spotlight against the rules!"

"You should be lucky they didn't disclose much about who she was—they didn't even mention her name. Why are you so mad?" Jason asked, his anger rousing. "Why are you so determined to keep her away from the spotlight?"

William's shoulders drooped, the fury in his eyes giving more room to another. Fear? It sure looked like it. But fear of what? "Mallory was your responsibility, and you failed!"

"Oh please! We both know what your problem is William.

"Which is?"

"Don't act like you don't know." Jason snapped. "You want to use her talent to your advantage, isn't it? You want to get all the glory when she becomes a star. You lied to her about fame and stardom but we both know how selfish you are in sharing the spotlight. "

Willliam looked shocked for a second, but that look withered under his facade of innocence. "My primary objective is to bring out the—"

"—Best in people?" Jason flung his chair across the room. "Isn't that what you told me years ago too? But I can tell you, William, you didn't bring out the best in me. As a matter of fact, I'm at my worst."

"You're famous!" he spat. "You should be thanking me for giving you that life, not yelling like an ungrateful ass."

"Life? You call the paparazzi being at your back every minute a life? Do you call living by schedules a life? I never breathe William. Do this. Do that. I'm sick of it." Jason tugged at his hair.

"What are you saying?" Wiliam asked, stunned.

Jason turned to him. "I want my life, William. You took it all away from me years ago. I want it back."

"The contract, remember?" Wiliam gritted his teeth.

Jason raked his hair. "I can't live by you for six more freaking years William. I just can't. I'm losing my mind."

Willaim shook his head, returning to his seat. "You discontent little prick."

"Same to you, sir." Jason sat back in his chair.

"Many would love to have your life."

"Then let them," Jason leaned in closer. "They'll wish they didn't."

William placed his glasses back on and began typing away at his laptop keys. "When you help me make a contestant win, I'll let you go."

Jason rose his eyebrows. "Mallory, you mean?"

Willaim kept his gaze on the screen, unresponding.

"You're a perverted man you know that?" Jason said, yanking his laptop from him. "You're lucky Mallory is too naive to see this part of you! What the hell do you want with Mallory? Why are you so freakishly obsessed with her? You want something from her, don't you? You freaking pedophilic nicomp—"

Willaim rose. "Shut up! Don't you dare say one more word."

"I'll swear I'll tell her one of these days," Jason said, his eyes tearing up. "I tell her to run away from you while she still can."

William yanked his laptop back. "You?" He laughed. "You won't dare tell her. And if you do you'll suffer for it, you and your Carlos."

Jason sat back. As much as he hated the life William gave him, he needed it to survive, to save his father, Carlos. He was the reason Jason had ventured into this life in the first place. He needed the money, a million dollars to be precise, That was what it took to release Carlos from the captivity of those nefarious gang members he joined years ago. But life was cruel to Carlos. He'd had to betray the trust of his gang members by stealing a million dollars from them to save their dying mother. But what was the point anyway? Lillian still died. Carlos was still in captivity, and here Jason was, fighting for him. A risk without benefits.

Jason resisted the onslaught of emotions fighting for dominance of his body. The last thing Jason would do was give the sadistic William the pleasure of seeing him hurt.

"I pray you rot in hell someday." Jason rose, seething with anger. "You won't get away with this. I'll ensure it."

You won't get away with destroying Mallory's life especially. Not another life.

William merely smiled, unthreatened. Relaxed.

"Evil never wins," was Jason's final words before he stormed out of Lucifer's office, raging, angry at William, but more at himself, for his inability to do anything to stop whatever William was up to. The devil had run this organization for years and people were still oblivious to it. Naive people like Mallory.

"Jason!"

Speaking of the Devil—

"Let me be, Diana." Jason quickened his strides, not in the right state of mind to face Diana's whines. Not today, at least.

"Jason." She caught up with him, tugging at his jacket.

Jason turned to her, fury rising to his lungs. "Not now!"

"Yes now." She flipped her blonde hair, her blue eyes brimming with defiance. He eyed her, disgusted by her promiscuous manner of dressing. She donned a strapless, tank top that hugged her body to the point that he feared her suffocation. And that mini skirt...He could puke over it for the sake of morality. Couldn't she just dress as decently as Mallory?

Really? Was he comaparing his girlfirend to a girl he'd only met a day ago?

"What?"

"Can you please explain this?" Diana pointed to her phone. The photo of him and Mallory caught red-handed in the mall, her small hands spread on his chest, his arm around her small waist. He didn't realize how pretty she looked in that sophisticated yet shoplifted green dress. He'd made a right choice—

Diani slapped his chest. "Why are you smiling?"

He was? Jason returned to her, rubbing the scruff of his neck. "Nothing."

Tears pooled Diana's eyes. "Why did you look at her that way?"

"What way?"

Tears streaked Dianai's ashen face. "Are you—are you cheating on me with her?"

Jason didn't respond. He wasn't, but he'd let Diana think he was. Savor the hurt in her eyes for a minute. Cynical of him, yes, but Diana herself was the most conceited girl he'd ever met in his life. The definition of overprotective. Always barraging him for talking to another girl, for holding another girl, for smiling at a girl, for—he was sick of it! And poor love-stricken Jason would always coax her, and help her abate her jealously in the hopes of not losing her, but no more. He was sick of it, and he wasn't afraid of losing her. Only a fool would be afraid of losing something he didn't care about anymore.

"The rumor is true?" Diana's voice broke. "What happened to us, Jason?"

She came closer to him, her arm sliding up his arm, Jason shoved her away.

"We were over for a long time, Diana." He said, breath intensifying.

"We've been dating for five years, Jason. Why are you losing interest in me?"

"Because you lost interest in us!" Jason yelled, earning a few gawks from passerbyes. But he was right. He'd loved Diana. He had from the day she moved into the house next to him. But ever since she got selected for the Starlight Academy, her ambitions had been getting the best of her. She'd become selfish, flamboyant, cutthroat. He just couldn't recognize the girl he used to love, or maybe she just never existed.

Diana touched his face. "I still love you, Jason. Don't let that whore get between us."

"We're over, Jason," Jason shook her off him, "and she's not a whore. Her name is Mallory."

Diana moved in closer, "Jason..." Her voice was faint.

"I said we're over. Caprice?" Jason began walking off.

"No, we're not!" Diana yelled. "You'll regret this Jason Trevor. You and Mallory. Trust me!"

Always a barker, never a biter. Jason left the hallway, left Diania standing there, hopeless. He'd broken up with her. He didn't know where he'd found the courage to do that after five years of struggle, but he didn't care. He was happy he had. It felt like a load had been lifted off his shouders.