-  Henry's POV -

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"Cut!" The director yelled, while everyone became at ease and pulling off of their characters. My assistant walked over to me and handed me a water bottle. I drank the content while searching around for Hope with my eyes.

"Where's Hope?" I asked, when I couldn't find her.

My assistant became a bit startled but responded, "I don't know sir, I was helping the lighting crew throughout your retake."

I nodded and waved her off. She took the bottle and left. I signaled for a different staff to help get my phone and patiently waited till it was handed to me. My biggest guess was that she must have gotten a bit bored and wandered around.

"Henry!" I didn't need to move to know the owner of such voice. Soon Yemi found her way to me, with a pout plastered on her face. "I need to show you something."

I didn't have the chance to say anything. Yemi's phone was already moved so close to my face that all I could do was to watch. I quietly watched the conversation she had with Hope, and how she pulled off her wig, revealing her true identity. Though my inside was boiling, I didn't give Yemi any emotion.

All I wanted was for Hope to trust me and reveal the truth to me. It was one thing for Jackson to know her identity, it was one thing for me to be aware of her secret, but it was another thing for her to trust me enough to open up. But I guess I wasn't enough for her to trust in the first place.

"Where's Hope?" I asked, my sharp gaze landing on Yemi. She flinched at the intense way I stared at her, before regaining her confidence.

"I don't know," She shrugged slightly. "The point is she's gone, isn't she? She lied to you, Henry, lied to everyone. If it was possible for your fans to go over to her place to beat her up without being scared of lawsuit, they would."

I turned, leaving Yemi to herself. I heard her protest behind me but I ignored that. Once I'd retrieved my phone, I heard over to where I had parked my car, only to see Jackson, resting on it.

Jackson already had worried gaze and all I wanted was for him not to ask me series of questions right now.

"Did you see?" Jackson asked deeply as I got to the car. I nodded, hoping he'd end it at that. "I thought you both would talk after I told you how her roommate threw her stuff out."

"My original plan," I replied dryly, clicking my car remote to get the car open. "But she didn't trust me enough to open her secret. It shows we aren't compatible."

Jackson sighed, shaking his head in disagreement. He leaned away from my car, giving me access to the door. "Of course she wouldn't trust you, knowing the encounter you had with her real self. Remember, she isn't aware that you knew her secret. She thinks you hate her."

"Bro," Jackson placed his hand on my shoulder. "You've liked this girl even before you met her in person. You could have tried to get on her good side, tried to let her know that she could trust you with her secret. How did Yemi know?"

"Yesterday's video went viral didn't it?" My voice still didn't have any bright tone to it.

"It did," Jackson bit his lower lip. "But even the media couldn't tell it was Cherry or should I say Hope. She had her head lowered with Baby, Henry."

I got into the car and was about shutting the door. "Where are you going?"

"Home, Hope might be there." I wanted to speak to her. I wanted to give her the chance to come clean to me. I wanted to let her know that I was aware of her secret and nothing changed with my feelings towards her. I wanted her to be aware that I never hated her and wasn't sure I ever will.

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Once I'd arrived at my residence, I jumped out of the car without locking the doors and throwing the keys to Osagie to do the honors. I stormed into the house without looking back and with my mind full with so much thoughts.

Was she still home?

I walked further into the living room and approached the dining area. Stepping my foot there, I noticed series of noise coming from the kitchen. The thought of her still around the house, still close to me, sent so much adrenaline into my blood stream. I finally moved into the kitchen with enough settlements in my heart. "Hope!"

But unfortunately, it wasn't Hope. Far from it to be exact. My face morphed into deep disappointment as I proceeded in dashing out. "Henry, why don't we have a drink? The red wine looks nice."

"I'll do that when I get back." I stepped out of the kitchen and back to the living room.

"If it's about your bodyguard, I took care of her." I stopped at my track, my brows tightly furrowed as I turned to my sister.

"What do you mean you've taking care of her?" My voice, low, edgy and filled with so much venom. The idea of her taking care of Hope was far more scaring than her knowing Hope's pronoun.

"Exactly what I meant," I watched as Dorcas wasn't feeling remorseful at her actions. She placed the wine bottle on the dinner table while holding two wine glasses. "I sent her packing out of your house. Preferably, out of your life."

"Why on earth would you do that?!" Dorcas flinched at my sudden outburst. "My house, my life, my rules! Why do you always have to meddle in it!"

"What has gotten into you, Henry?!" Dorcas yelled back, "When did you learn how to raise your voice at me like some murderous beast? I'm your sister, your eldest sister!"

"Then act like one!" I wasn't backing down with her pity speech. "Care for me like one!"

I couldn't stand the sight of Dorcas any longer. I turned and walked out of the house.

"Osagie!" Upon hearing his name, he rushed towards me. He could sense I was mad and with that, tried so hard to be careful with his actions so he won't get aggressions transferred to him.

I stepped into the car and immediately, tried dialing Hope's number. For several times it rang and several times she chose to miss my calls.

After eight times of dialing her number to no avail, I dialed Jackson's next.

"How'd it go?" He asked immediately he accepted my call.

"She's gone, Jackson." There was a devastating pause on his side. "Please, I need a favour from you. Can I have Baby's number?"

There was another pause, like he was reluctant. "I'll text it to you."

Twenty seconds after our talk, I got a text message from Jackson. I didn't waste anytime. I dialed Baby's number and he responded in one go. "Hello?"

"Baby?" Though it came out as a question, I knew he was the one speaking.

"No?" I closed my eyes trying to stay calm.

"I know it's you Baby, I really need to talk to Hope." Another pause settled in.

"She's refusing to speak to you," Baby said. "Just send her, her salary or something."

"This isn't funny, Baby—"

"I wasn't joking. My best friend's hurt, Henry." His voice was now laced with so much seriousness that I almost couldn't recognize him. "I'm not saying it's your fault because it isn't. But my friend just made a tough decision to stay aware from you. I know we're just in the middle of the month, but pay her, her salary for the hardwork—"

"Baby!" I became alerted when I heard Hope hiss in the background.

"I need to talk to her, she isn't picking my calls. Baby, please—"

"I'm doing this so she won't get hurt, Mr Williams." Baby sharply stopped me. "Please, you both need to clear your head first. After that, you can meet and discuss what the future holds."

"B—"

"If you love her the way she love you," I stopped moving once I heard Baby's words. "Give her space."

He ended the call and I stared into nothingness, replaying his words over and over and over in my head like it was some broken record.

The way she loves you.

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The reason for my lack of update is nepa, simple and short.

So here's today's chapter. Base on my battery percent would determine my next update.

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Word count : 1470

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- Eddy