This chapter is dedicated to everyone who has taken their time to read, vote and comment on this story.
Honestly, you all are wonderful people.
Thanks for showing support. I appreciate it.

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"Other people call me a rebel,
but I feel like I'm just living my life and doing what I want to do. Sometimes people call that rebellion, especially when you are a woman."
Joan Jett
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Margot

"Why can't you just believe anything I say? This is the fifth time I will tell you that there is nothing between that girl and I!"

"It's not that I don't believe anything you say. But why are you always staring at her ass every time you come to my workplace? You dummy, that bitch isn't even sexy."

"Perfect!" Maria exclaims as she glances away from the script in her hands to look at me. "Your facial expression, body language, gesture.. everything is just perfect. However," she says as she places the script on the table before her, "you should try putting a little bit more energy into saying that last part. Something like.." She stands up and flips her hair the way we women do when vexed. "You dummy, that bitch isn't even sexy!"

Sometimes, I wonder why Maria didn't just go into acting fully rather than being my manager because, not bluffing or anything, she does it better than some actresses.

"Wow! someone is a badass actor." I wiggle my eyebrows at her.

"Oh, just shut up already and do it again," she says, her cheeks a little bit red.

Maria? Blushing?

Wow. I never thought I would see this day.

I cheerfully do it again, taking note of her correction. From the way her face lit up, I know I got it correctly this time around.

"Bravo! Now you are almost ready to kick ass in Shards," she says, referring to the movie I am to start shooting next week.

We practise the dialogues two more times before taking a break.

I like it.. No, I love it when I practise with Maria. Not only does she totally immense herself when playing a role, she also never shies away from correcting me when I don't play my role well. In short, she's like my personal director.

Practising dialogues together is something we bond over. Even though she was annoyed with me earlier today for being, you know, a little bit promiscuous. But as soon as we began practising, all signs of anger left as we laughed at each other's mistakes and complimented each other.

Even though she is no longer angry with me, I know that still doesn't mean I have escaped getting an earful which I'm sure is about to be delivered to me hot as she settles down with her cup of coffee, eyes fixated on me all along.

"Margot Johns," she begins calmly. "Twelve years ago.."

Woah! she's going to tell me a story? I'm in a way deeper shit than I thought.

"I got married to Luke Alexander. A year later, Luke died from drunk driving without leaving a single offspring in this world."

Okay, exactly where's this going?

"Any idea why I'm telling you what you already knew?" she asks, a sad smile appearing on her face.

Now, she's making me nervous, "No, Maria."

"I never married Luke for the sake of love."

Shocked at this revelation, I open my mouth to say something but she signals that she isn't done yet. "As you know, I was forty-three when I got married. My mother," she pauses to sip her coffee, "day and night, was always nagging me about how all my friends were married. She would ask: was it in her grave that I would give her a grandchild?" She dabbs her eyes with her fingers to prevent the tears that now clouds her vision from falling and my heart breaks for the woman I consider my mother. "Well, since she's dead now, that wish of hers can't come true, can it?"

Even if she were alive, it is too late for grandchildren, Maria already reached her menopause, I don't say out loud.

It is sad, really, how life treats good people sometimes. There are times I wonder why, just why should things like this happen to the wrong individuals?

"And then in social gatherings like weddings, where your friends think because they are married and you are not, it's cool to poke fun at you for being the only one who was still single." At her next statement, she looks down like as if she is ashamed to say whatever she's about to. "All this made me decide to marry Luke when he came along."

Honestly, I feel sorry that she had to go through that much to meet the society's expectations. However, I am yet to see how all this connects to the reprimand I was expecting her to give me.

"My point is, Margot, when I was your age, I had been exactly like you." She smiles a little. "Breaking hearts, sleeping with boys whose names I wouldn't remember the next day, avoiding anything called 'serious relationship'... you name it." Now, she looks into my eyes. "But when I eventually got ready to get married, it was only men like Luke that came my way: men I had no interest whatsoever in. That was when it occurred to me that while I had been busy having what, to me, was fun, I had lost my real life partner."

Maria stands up to sit beside me on the violet loveseat. Putting an arm around me, she continues, "Baby girl, I don't want you to end up like me: single and lonely at fifty-five, with no man to call mine." Gently, she places her palm on my left cheek. "And that is why you should stop this kind of lifestyle before it's too late."

Disappointment

Anger

Betrayal

These emotions flood my heart as I take a proper look at Maria, just to ensure she is the one that said all this and not another person. I must have done nothing but stare for minutes unending because she finally clears her throat. And when she does, I decide to say what I thought about her speech.

"You, Maria, have always told me to do whatever the fuck I want and not let what people say get to me." Maria looks at me like as if she wants to say something but decides against it. "So, imagine my disappointment when my heroine calls me a heartbreaker even though I've always been the one who ends up getting dumped in a relationship."

"Margot..."

"I'm not done talking, Maria. I am not you, so I won't end up with someone I don't love," I say, as I stomp towards the door. My hand on the doorknob, I turn to say one last thing. "And I don't need a man to keep me from being lonely. You know why?" I ask, gazing intently at her. "Because I'm enough."

With this, I open the door and break into a run in case she decides to follow me.

"Margot!" I hear Maria keep calling but refuse to answer as the tears roll down and I do nothing to stop them.

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So Margot and Maria had a fight.
Me rn😔
So, let me know your thoughts
Was Maria wrong to have said those things?
Should Margot not have reacted like that?
And remember, While your comments are very dear to me, so are your votes..

So, don't forget to VOTE, COMMENT and SHARE

Thanks cupcakes😉