La Mia Stella-( My Star )

Chapter 3

« I got the article » I screamed as I entered my hotel room.

My colleague was still asleep but my excitement couldn't be held back. I jumped and clapped my hands until I was hit by one of the pillows which brought me back to reality. I cleared my throat and calmed myself down.

« Read it. » I snapped handing him over my laptop.

He rubbed his eyes and started reading with one eye open trying to get used to the light. I sat on the edge of the bed taking off my shoes, I had a flashback about all the plasters Damiano had on his feet. I still wondered if he was in pain.

« That's the article you want to send to the boss? » He raised an eyebrow getting up from the bed. « Dude you're crazier than I thought. Do you want to get fired? » He laughed as he started stretching.

« You don't get it. » I snapped back my laptop.

« No, I think YOU don't get it. The boss wants a story that sells, he wants Maneskin's deepest secret. How a rockstar, so young is snorting cocaine from the Eurovision because his parents abandoned him when he was a teenager, they couldn't accept a boy dressed like that, so he found comfort in drugs... »

« But what if that's not the truth? »

« Who cares if it's not the truth, it's a story that sells. » he rolled his eyes

Then I thought back to what he said 'People like you, your country would love to watch me crumble'

NEWSPAPER ARTICLE

Damiano David, born in 1999, is the singer of the band Maneskin. Overnight their life known success and scandal in one. The younger generation will know the band as the one who won the Eurovision whilst concerned parents and shocked grandparents will know them as the ones being accused of drugs. Damiano David denied those claims and is ready to do a drug test to prove they have nothing to hide.

Rock and Roll is known to have eccentric outfits, dark makeup on both men and women, androgynous clothing, heavy use of hardcore drugs and sex. Maneskin fits the description, so it only makes sense a rock and roll band is accused of using drugs. Is it the truth? We'll find out tomorrow as Damiano David is determined to prove to the world those were fake accusations.

Their look comes with a price and it's not the first time the band faces some labels, accusation and bullying. When you examine Damiano David's tattoos, you will find Jesus begging with a crown of rose and thorns around his head. Italy is known to be a religious country, where the Pope resides, has labelled the band as 'blasphemy'. However, it didn't stop the band to find their entry into Eurovision. So will this new accusation cost their place at the top of the Eurovision?

Is it the fearless smokey eyes or the chestnut length hair that seduced the younger generation? Damiano David, 22 years old is making some heads turn. But who is he really? While everyone is wondering if he is dedicated to cocaine, he has no shame revealing his addiction to tobacco. You will always find him with a cigarette in his mouth, or at least in his hands. 

And behind those deep dark eyes lay a soft, gentle human. While his outfits, his lyrics are unconventional to some, his personality is pretty ordinary. A young man passionate about music, his ambitions took him to the top with a pinch of emotions buried deep down all his chest tattoos and nipple piercing. So maybe what attracts the younger generation wasn't after all his physique, but the pain he cries on stage? 

-

« I must say, you have some nerves kiddo » I heard my boss on the other line of the phone taking a cigar. « That's the article you want to publish, huh? »

« I told you so » mouthed my colleague

« Yes sir, I do. You see all the magazines took a different angle. Who is Damiano David from Maneskin, they stuck to the fact of what they did and won in Italy. Technically, sir, we don't have any more than what he said briefly on national TV that he was going to do a drug test to prove everyone he is has nothing to hide. But I looked at the poles, the older generation does not believe him, they said the Eurovision were too late in action and the younger generation believe in his innocence. They love him, they love the band ... TikTok hashtag Damiano David, Maneskin is rising, their Instagram followers is rising through the roof, I even saw Duolingo published their new data 56% more people started learning Italian since they won the Eurovision...Sir, this article will ...

« Yeah, yeah alright » he stopped talking for a minute, my body frozen... was I gonna get fired? « Fine, you convinced me. If this article ruins my sell kiddo, I will hold you personally responsible. »

« Yes, sir. »

He hung up. I stared at my phone in disbelief and then I screamed « O.M.G »

My victory was quickly ended by my colleague's comment: 'Shut up, we need to get ready for our flight. We live in 2 hours' he threw my top in my face.

I sighed grabbing my top quickly throwing it in my suitcase. « I'm going to miss Rome, won't you? »I looked out the window feeling nostalgic.

« You only miss it because it's your first mission,» he said as he was folding all his clothes neatly back in his suitcase carefully.

« Yeah maybe » I turned away from the window and starting packing.

The phone rang. I raised an eyebrow looking at my colleague. « Did you order room service or something? » I asked concerned. He shook his head to say no. « Hello? »

« Miss Stella —'' someone is waiting for you at reception. » The receptionist said with a slight Italian accent.

« Me? » I asked surprised. « Alright, I'm coming down I won't be a minute. Grazie. »

I took my purse with me and my phone.

« Don't run away from your packing, I won't do it for you » He shouted as I closed the door.

I headed toward the lift at the end of the corridor. I looked at my reflection in the elevator as I waited nervously, I had a creased white shirt that I wore as a dress as it was too long for me. I'm only 1m55. I tied my golden belt around my waist as it became loose.

Ding.

The doors to the lift opened, there were a couple of people already in there so I pulled out my black mask over my face as I got inside. I checked myself again in the mirror, the mask wasn't going to hide the bags under my eyes from the lack of sleep I got last night. It took me hours to find the right words, the way I wanted to write that was both pleasing the band and my boss.

I got out of the elevator and walked to the reception. « Hey, I think you just called me... mi chiamo Stella, someone is waiting for me? » I hesitated.

« Sì, signora. The man is waiting for you » I raised an eyebrow confused as to why a man was waiting for me. « Just on the couch behind you. »

« Grazie, Buona Giornata. » I nodded and headed to the gentleman on the couch, the closer I got to him it felt like he was familiar. As I got close to him he stood up and turned around to face me. It was the bodyguard from the airport.

« He wants to see you immediately madam. »

« Now? I...but I got a flight to catch. »

« He wants to see you immediately » he emphasized his sentence

« I can't, I published the article, his name will be cleared »

« Immediately »

« urgh, fine 30 minutes top. » I crossed my arms over my chest annoyed I was summoned like this.