Through You - Reneé Rapp

I'm done

 As Reneé got up from her bed, the weight of loneliness pressed heavily upon her it has been a week since Natasha last talked to Reneé. The absence of Natasha beside her left an ache in her heart, a longing for the warmth and comfort of her presence that seemed to pervade every corner of the room.

With a heavy sigh, Reneé reached for her phone, her fingers trembling slightly as she scrolled through the messages that awaited her. But as she scanned through the notifications, her heart sank at the sight of the countless texts and messages about the fake news that had engulfed her life in recent days.

With a deep breath, Reneé pushed aside the distractions and made her way to the bathroom, the sound of the running water serving as a soothing balm to her troubled mind. As she stepped into the shower, the warm embrace of the water washed over her, easing the tension in her muscles and soothing the ache in her soul.

As Reneé sat on the couch, tears streaming down her cheeks, her mind churned with a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. Amidst the overwhelming sadness and confusion, a spark of realization flickered to life within her.

With a sudden jolt of clarity, Reneé's thoughts turned to her manager—the orchestrator of her career and the architect of her public image. Could he be behind the vicious rumors and fake news that had thrown her life into chaos?

The more Reneé thought about it, the more it made sense. Her manager had always been fiercely protective of her career, willing to go to any lengths to maintain her image and reputation in the public eye. And now, faced with the threat of Natasha's newfound fame and their blossoming relationship, perhaps he had seen fit to take matters into his own hands, manipulating the media to serve his own agenda.

As Reneé's phone rang revealing the man himself, interrupting her train of thought, she hesitated before answering, her mind still reeling from the revelations swirling within her. With a deep breath, she composed herself and picked up the call, bracing herself for whatever her manager had to say.

"Hello?" Reneé answered, her voice tinged with a hint of uncertainty.

"Reneé, it's me" came the familiar voice on the other end of the line, a tone of excitement evident in his words. "I have some incredible news for you."

Reneé's heart skipped a beat at the mention of "incredible news" her curiosity piqued despite herself. "What is it?" she asked, her voice betraying her eagerness.

"You've been nominated for a VMA" her manager exclaimed, his excitement palpable even over the phone. "It's a huge honor, Reneé. Your hard work and thankfully for the media for putting you trending again, its all finally being recognized on a global scale."

As Reneé listened to her manager's excited chatter about the VMA nomination, pieces of the puzzle began to fall into place in her mind. The timing of the nomination, coming on the heels of the fake news scandal, seemed too convenient to be a mere coincidence. And as the realization dawned on her, a surge of anger and betrayal coursed through her veins.

Without missing a beat, Reneé interrupted her manager's enthusiastic monologue, her voice cold and determined. "Did you plan the fake news about me and my ex?" her words laced with accusation.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line, the silence speaking volumes as Reneé waited for her manager's response. When he finally spoke, his voice sounded strained, tinged with guilt.

"I... I did what I thought was best for your career" he admitted, his tone defensive. "I wanted to generate buzz and attention, to elevate your profile in the industry. And as you can see, it worked."

Reneé's anger flared at her manager's admission, her sense of betrayal fueling her resolve. "You manipulated me and my personal life for your own gain" she seethed, her voice trembling with emotion. "You used me as a pawn in your game, all in the name of furthering my career."

There was a long moment of tense silence as Reneé grappled with the weight of her manager's betrayal. But amidst the anger and hurt, a sense of clarity began to emerge. She knew that she couldn't continue to allow herself to be controlled and manipulated by someone who didn't have her best interests at heart.

With a steely resolve, Reneé made a decision. "I'm done" she declared, her voice firm and resolute. "I'm terminating our professional relationship effective immediately."

------------------------------

With a heavy heart and a mind swirling with emotions, Reneé dialed the number of one of her closest friends, Alyah. As the phone rang, she braced herself for the difficult conversation ahead, knowing that she would need Alyah's support and understanding now more than ever.

"Hello? Nae where have you been???" came Alyah's voice on the other end of the line, filled with warmth and concern because Reneé tried her best to hide the last days from everyone.

"Yaya?" Reneé said, her voice trembling slightly with emotion. "I need to talk to you about something."

Alyah immediately sensed the seriousness in Reneé's tone and listened intently as Reneé recounted the events of the past few days—the fake news scandal, her manager's betrayal, and her decision to terminate their professional relationship.

"I just feel so betrayed and lost" Reneé admitted, her voice breaking slightly with emotion. "But I know that I can't let this setback define me. I have to take back control of my life and my career, no matter how difficult it may be, but I'm done letting others decide things for me, I'll manage my own career from now own."

Alyah listened attentively, offering words of encouragement and empathy as Reneé spoke. As Alyah inquired about Reneé's next steps, Reneé took a deep breath, her mind already racing with ideas and possibilities. "I need to focus on the VMA's now" she replied, determination ringing clear in her voice. "I want to make a statement, something big that will show Natasha how much she means to me and finally stop this shit."

Alyah listened attentively, her curiosity piqued by Reneé's resolve. "What do you have in mind?" she asked, her voice tinged with anticipation.

Reneé paused for a moment, considering her options. "I want to dedicate a performance to her" she declared, her voice unwavering. "I want to show her and the world just how much she inspires me, how much I love her."

Alyah couldn't help but smile at Reneé's bold declaration. "That's beautiful, Nae" she said, her voice filled with admiration. "I have no doubt that Natasha will be touched by your gesture."

With Alyah's encouragement fueling her determination, Reneé set to work on planning her performance for the VMA's, pouring her heart and soul into every detail. She needed it to be perfect.