Young And Beautiful

Chapter 14

Todd only came back home a week after our argument. I was cleaning the living room when he suddenly walked in. My face remained content and showed no emotion. He didn't have to know that I had been losing my mind during his absence.

He looked exhausted. I wanted to kiss him and massage him and fuck him so hard.

Todd exhaled as he hugged me tightly.

"Let's never fight again, okay?" He whispered as he held me even tighter.

"But Todd–“

"I know," he cut me off. "But let's not talk about it right now. "

I hugged him back. "But that doesn't mean I love my job more than you. You're my everything Todd. Never forget that."

That afternoon I met up with Stewart and and my new manager. I took a cab into town to Starke. I was immediately escorted up to Stewart's office.

"Rosie come in," Stewart smiled from behind his large desk as I entered the office.

Across from him sat a middle aged woman. She had strawberry blonde hair with white streaks that displayed her maturity. Her eyes were a warm brown colour. Her skin had very few wrinkles, and was actually close to clear aside from the mole on her cheek. She got up and turned to me.

"Hello darling. Kate Graham."

Her voice was kind and appealing. She wore a stylish grey coat and a midi black dress. She was beautiful, well put together and nice. I liked her instantly.

"Rose-Marie, but everybody calls me Rosie," I shook her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"Likewise. You and I going to do great things together."

Over the next hour Kate, Stewart and I discussed the next steps of my career. I could immediately tell that Kate was knowledgeable in the entertainment industry. She was strategic and intelligent. Shehad a sense of humor too. She had briefly been an actress before becoming a producer, then a talent manager.

"I'm really excited to work with you Rosie," Kate said softly as she slid a brown envelope across the desk to me.

"What's this?" I asked as I picked it up.

"Our contract. Two years," Kate stated. "I promise you Rosie, I wil make you a star. "

I took out the stack of stapled pages and began to flip through. I wasn't very good with reading and so I just skimmed through, checking for any important things.

"It says here I can't get married while the contract is still active." I raised my hand to show Kate my ring. "I'm engaged. We're getting married in a few months."

Kate cleared her throat. "Honey, while I am really happy for you, as your manager I have to give you a nugde in the right direction. Now, if you really want to get married you can but there's some consequences. Hollywood doesn't favor married women, especially this early in your career. Now, while two years from now is still early in your career, I'm sure we would have made a name for you. Marriage wouldn't completely destroy your career, but, getting married is burying yourself alive."

Stewart nodded. "Right now, our priority is making the best career moves for you. Getting married isn't one of then. It just closes a lot of doors for you. Directors and producers prefer unmarried young ladies. They have no marital obligations holding him back."

I sunk into my chair, torn. "Todd is going to be so upset. He was already unhappy with me being an actress."

"Just imagine the claim he'll have on you once you're married," said Kate as she placed her hand on my shoulder. "I know you love him, but it's up to you to decide what's more important. You and your career, or marriage."
.
.
.
.
.
As the clock ticks steadily towards dinner time, I stood in the kitchen, the aroma of sautéing onions filling the air. My hands moved mechanically, chopping vegetables, but my mind raced with an unsettling chatter of what-ifs. Todd would not take this well. He would not agree to wait two years, especially after how he had vocalized how he was against my career.

I fumbled with the dinner plates and utensils as I sat up the table for dinner, nervous.

Tood came in through the front door.

"Hey honey," he smiled tiredly.

I rushed over to him and kissed him on the lips.

"How was your day?" I asked him sweetly as I helped him take off his jacket.

"Same as always. Tiring. What smells so good?"

Todd sat at the table and I scrambled to dish up for him.

"I tried something new," I told him as we both ate. "I saw this garlic asparagus and chicken recipe in a cookbook a while back. I thought I'd try to make it myself."

"Nailed it," he ate heartily. "This is delicious."

"Thank you."

I cleared my throat, shifting in my seat. Somehow I just knew what I was about to say would completely break us. I don't know when and how, but I had already unconsciously chosen acting over Todd. I just had not realized it.

"I met my new manager today," I said carefully as I poured myself a glass of water.

"Yeah?" There was a note of displeasure in his voice.

"Yes. Her name is Kate. Kate Graham. She's such a sweetheart. I signed a two year contract with her."

"A contract?" Todd paused and looked up at me. "You should've taken me along. For all you know, you signed all your rights away."

I chuckled nervously. "Well not all of them. Um...the contract...said something about...me having to remain unmarried thorougout the next two years."

"What?"

His voice was dangerously quiet. My lips trembled.

"And you still signed it? Wearing my ring?"

I could hear his heart break through his voice. My own actions appalled me.

"Todd, I love you so much and I hurt me to sign the contract knowing we can't get married but its only two years–"

He scoffed incredulously. "Only two years? Marrying me is that insignificant to you? That you can just easily put it off for two years?"

Tears streamed down my cheeks.

"Todd..." I whimpered. "I love you but acting...acting is what I was made for. It's my purpose Todd."

Todd put down his fork, nodding. "You know what? I've showed you so many times how much I love you. Now it's your turn. Terminate the contract and leave acting if you love me."

I burst into tears. " Todd please don't do this..."

I looked deep into his cloudy eyes. Suddenly, I knew I had to make the right decision.

I slowly pulled the engagement ring off my finger. It was as if I could hear Todd's heart shatter.

"You deserve someone who would abandon everything for you. I'm  not that someone."

"Yes you are. You left Matthew and Grace behind for me. You cannot possibly tell me a job is suddenly more important to you."

I put the ring on the table. "You don't understand. It's not just a job. It's what I was made for. My purpose–"

"Your purpose is to me with me. I was made to love you. You were made to love me.

"Todd, all I'm asking for is two years," I pleaded.

"And I'm asking you to decide now. Me, or acting?"

My lips trembled as I stared at Todd with teary eyes.

"I'm sorry Todd," I finally said as I looked away. We both knew my choice. "I love you, I really do."

"Clearly not enough," he spat bitterly. "You don't have to leave. I'll go."

I sat down, taking deep breaths to contain my emotions. As heartbroken as I was, I realized something. Up until a few minutes before Todd and I ended our relationship I was convinced he was the love of my life. I had been wrong. My passion was the love of my life.

Acting.
.
.
.
.