Fools Gold || Jean K.

4 - VIII of Clubs

AN: HELLO EVERYONE!!! Welcome to this nearly 10k word chapter that I am absolutely obsessed with. This chapter was so easy to write and I loved it so much. This fic is so fun and I can't wait to get deeper into this insane story!

I hope you're all excited as well!! :)

- J <3
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VIII(8) of Clubs: Difficulty in business and in love

Ophiras POV:

"I'm sorry Ms. Cunningham, but unfortunately with your reputation within the small community we have right now..." 

The woman in front of me trails off, shaking her head as she removes her glasses to look back to me. Her green eyes had dark eye bags and many wrinkles under them, easily showing her age no matter how much concealer she used. 

They downturned slightly, giving off the faintest look of constant aggravation that made me uncomfortable even when she smiled at me. 

Fuck. I thought this was going so well! What happened?

I balled my fists in my lap, grabbing onto something that wasn't there to distract myself from the boiling rage in my body.

"I'm afraid it's too much of a risk for the company overall for someone as controversial as you are right now," she goes back to looking at her computer, "You walked away from one of the best managers and agencies in the entire country...and all over a small role? You're an actress! You know it's all acting!"

Everyone this week has said the exact same thing. No one gets it. No one understands it. 

No one would believe me if I said the real reason too. I shouldn't get roles just because I go on a date with someone's son. That's fake, and fake isn't something that I want to be. 

"You're very talented, I'll give you that, but your reputation right now would make it so challenging for any company to take you on."

Frustration seeped through my body, yet I know I need to keep it together as much as possible. I could in theory still turn this around if I'm careful...

"Ma'am please, I promise you my old manager was just awful to me and is making me out to be worse than I really am. Am I hardheaded? Yes, but that isn't a crime!" I muster the most authentic smile I can, which is proved to be difficult even though I'm an actress.

Desperation truly is the most embarrassing part of wanting something so badly. I'm throwing each and every particle of my being on this table in front of me despite wanting to shelter my pride in a metal cage. 

I could nearly feel my cheeks burning with a hot fire that threatened to burn me from the inside out. A feverish hell behind my eyes threated to spill out through every pore and word I could imagine saying to this woman. 

"Ma'am, I will truly do anything for this. I want this career so badly, and I'll work so hard for it, I swear." 

All I want is a chance again. Just one that comes to me fairly. 

"I'll take extra classes, do extra workouts, any plastic surgery and any diet you want! Please, just give me this chance, I beg of you!" 

I hadn't even realized that I had stood up, now nearly leaning over the table in front of me. The woman's dull eyes were now wide and awake looking, as if the caffeine she had this morning had finally kicked in. 

"I'm sorry," the woman shakes her head, "I'd suggest trying again in a few months when the news isn't as fresh, you know? If you really want it as badly as you claim you do, you'll wait for it. Have a nice day, Ms. Cunningham."