herophine - Trouvaille

Chapter 38

Brixton, London - England, 2026

She has only worked once in her whole life in something that is not related to acting. Well, if being dressed up as Elmo in the middle of the mall counts as a non-acting job. So, she doesn't have a lot of experience in the world of work nor university studies.

What a mother she is made. What an adult.

Josephine arrived to Los Ángeles with not much money of her own, and although she has always been backed up by her parents, she has always been pretty independent economically. However, the problem that almost gets her ruined has made her call her dad for help.

Stephen Langford quickly contacted with the family accountant due to his youngest daughter petition and has got the economic issue solved. According to the accountant, thank you to some big projects from Jo's past years and mainly from the After movies, she is going to be economically covered for a bit. 

The black car stops at Heathrow Airport parking lot, place where Hero told Mercy they would be waiting for her. She must be already out of the plane that flies from Liverpool, ready to be picked up by her brother and spend New Years' Eve with her family.

- Are you going to tell me? - Hero stares at her. 

Jo promised she would trust him and to make him trust her. Hiding feelings and avoiding communication is not way of building a relationship. Something they should have learned from Hardin and Tessa.

She unbuckles her seat belt and manages to straddle Hero. There is none sexual intention in her gesture, he understands it and as pure instinct he surrounds the small of her back, pulling her close to him in a protective way.

- I want to be strong, but I really don't know what should I do next... What do I write on a curriculum?

Hero frowns, trying to get to her point. Maybe if she explained it from the beginning, he would follow better.

Josephine has told Lena that she will give her an answer as soon as possible, and she has already made up her mind. But Jo has not shared her decision with Hero yet. Right after the meeting this morning, Hero insisted on knowing what was going on. On the contrary, Jo assured him that she would tell him, but she needed to make some calls first. Despite his eager, he had also promised himself to trust Josephine and wait for her to tell him. Now that the accountant has resolved her financial doubt, she is ready to talk to Hero. 

- I quitted. I told Lena, I'm done. - She takes a deep breath before playing with his hair. 

Hero grabs softly her wrist to stop her and focus on what she is saying. 

- What? - He cannot be more confused right now.

- I got sued by certain brand and I had to discuss my financial situation before any other movement. - She explains rapidly . - That's why Lena was calling me non-stop these past days, she wanted me back in Los Ángeles. She still does, although an enormous check and an "I quit" has apparently solved it.

- You dropped acting? - Hero can't believe it. 

- I did. - Jo presses her lips for a second, before continuing. - I told you, Hero. Maybe it was time for me to stop, and this was just the straw that broke the camel's back. 

Hero knows that Jo really meant what she said about not wanting to pull apart from Sofía and him, though deep inside he thought that her love for acting was bigger than the love she had for them.

But, Hero did it. He gave up everything for Sofía. Why wouldn't Jo do it this time?

- What about the press issue? - He asks. He needs to make sure that Sofía is going to be protected as they had planned, before any other movement. 

- They are going to release the truth. - She says serious, not losing eye contact with him. - They will talk about how I gave up my own daughter, and I will probably be a monster in the eyes of the people. - Hero notices her saddened voice. - They won't say any lie either, but I took charge that they won't write anything about Sofía's personal life.

Hero opens his mouth to tell her it was not necessary to tell the whole world about her depression and her life decisions, that they could have just told it themselves to all their loved ones who still doesn't know it. Furthermore, most important is that they both know the real story after trying hard to listen and understand each other.

Nevertheless, Jo interrupts him before he has time to speak. 

- Anyway, the important thing is that you and I know the truth, isn't it? Whatever the world says about me, I don't care. I only care about what you and Sofía think about me. - She confesses nervous with shaky voice. 

I think we really do have a great dynamic. And ability to... I don't want to say read each other's mind, but we almost don't need to talk. One of us might just want to say something, and the other one will know exactly what we're going to say.

Hero nods showing her a warm smile with two dimples on his cheeks, and pulls a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. 

- You know, there is many people our age that still doesn't know what to do with their life. - He says, going back to her first question about the curriculum. He wants to let her know his support and answering it, seems a good way. - How about you don't push yourself too hard? You can give yourself some time to figure out what you want to do. 

Josephine doesn't need anything else right now than his support, so Hero's answer fills her heart with love making her decision to quit her career worth it. Additionally, she can't find a better way to assure him that whatever happens, she wants them to be together. Even if everything goes to hell. 

- What we want to do, right? 

This time, it is her answer that fills Hero's heart. For him it isn't just an reassuring statement, but a way to let him know that she is not going anywhere. She is staying.

- Fine. What we want to do. - He says before kissing her forehead. 

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Hii,

sorry sorry sorry. I was going to update a couple days ago, but I'm on vacations mode😅🙏🏼.

here you have it!

Xx.