ANGELA ANDERSON: MOMENT TO SHINE [COMPLETED]

Chapter 9

The car came to a halt and they all alighted. Angela quickly signed her name at the entrance and provided her details and proceeded to sit with the other contestant’s backstage.
She could tell the guys were admiring her and the ladies were staring at her with envy. She didn’t care, it boosted her confidence all the more.
Back at the house…
Dad was back home from his meeting, looking frustrated and tired. Apparently, the clients he was supposed to meet with failed to show up. Earlier on that day, Jake and Chris stalked his account and went through his stuff and booked a meeting with clients that did not exist (Which he was unaware of)
“What happened?” Cara asked. “The clients didn’t show up and ended up wasting my time and money” he replied. “I am not supposed to be stressing myself out” he went on further to say. “I am supposed to be resting.
“Calm down baby” Mum said hugging him. “Where is Angela?” he asked. “It’s been a week; I need to speak to her”
“Oh she is fine, don’t worry about her” Mum replied. “I want to reduce the punishment and maybe perhaps hear what she has to say about this singing of hers” he added.
“Speaking of which” Mum said taking a blindfold. “We have a surprise for you”
“I hate surprises. You know I don’t like these things” he scoffed. “Shut up Richard” she laughed.
She dragged him to the car and Ellen, Jake and Chris tagged along.
Taking charge of the driver’s wheel, she sped off heading towards the direction of the competition.
She warned the children not to let their dad take off the blindfold as she drove.
Richard kept asking where they were heading towards several times but his wife and children wouldn’t tell him.
She managed to beat traffic and they arrived at the place just on time. Still, with his blindfold on, she paid for the tickets for all of them and they entered the auditorium.
She took his blindfold off.
“What is this?” he said looking very displeased. “Sshh” she said, placing her index finger on his lips as they sat down to watch the contestants.
Not long after, the MC walked in.
“And so there is this lady” he said. “The lady in red as I like to call her” he went on. “Her dashing looks caught my attention as soon as I saw her step into this auditorium”
The crowd laughed.
“Singing a song, written by herself, let’s give it up for Angela Anderson”
The crowd cheered.
Mr. Anderson was shocked. He was worried. He feared Angela would be filled with fright or might be discouraged by the size of the crowd. For the first time, he wasn’t angry. He was actually impressed, that his daughter had gone through great lengths to pursue what she wanted even if it meant defying him. He knew, he invoked a spirit of fear in his children with his strict disciplinary actions.
Angela walked on to the stage gracefully, as the lustrous curls bopped over her shoulders and the silver ribbon placed at the side of her head sparkled.
The crowd stared at her in awe. She looked great, from her hair to her accessories and not to talk of her outfit.
She picked up the mike from the MC and smiled back at the crowd. Her family watched with keen anticipation. Her eyes searched through the crowd and once she finally spotted her friends and family, an aura of confidence rose through her veins.
The curtains drew behind her as the MC went back stage and the crowd became dead silent, waiting to hear how she would sound like.
She began to sing and she caught the attention of the large audience.
She moved about gracefully to the rhythm of her voice and the crowd completely focused on her. After a few lines, she forgot about the audience and sang her heart out.
Her dad was impressed. He never knew Angela had such an incredible talent and he was very proud of her.
Angela’s song came to an end and she received a massive standing ovation with her dad cheering for her the most.
Tears of happiness streaked down her cheeks as she made it back stage.  She decides to go to the bathroom to take care of her tears, so it doesn’t ruin her make up
Just as she’s approaching the bathroom, she hears Alicia’s voice.
She stands back and see’s Dylan kissing her from afar.
“Angela performed great” Alicia said, feeling insecure.
“Forget about Angela, you will do great. I am here to provide you full support” he replied wiping the tears off her face.
Angela walked passed them confidently and laughed. She laughed so hard just so they could notice her.
Dylan was surprised to see Angela. She didn’t question him this time. She just walked passed him. “Angela?” he called out but she ignored and proceeded to sit back stage with the other contestants.

She watched them perform and clapped for them when they were done.
Before Alicia’s performance, Angela noticed Alicia go talk to a couple of judges and hand them a brown envelope.
She also noticed Alicia talking to the MC.
‘Is she trying to rig the contest?’ Angela thought to herself and scowled. Angela texted her friends immediately to tell them what she’d seen.
Alicia went on stage with Angela staring at her with disgust.
Alicia had always paid her way through everything back in high school. She’d paid her way to get good grades, she’d paid her way to win pageants, she’d even paid her way to get good remarks on her slips as well.
Angela was not surprised to see her paying her way out through this however, she wasn’t going to allow Alicia’s methods favour her this time.
She hoped her friends would figure out something fast before the winner was declared.