Acted to Love

Part 4 La Lola

HER POV

Party for one of the biggest beauty line in Johnson is one heck of a riot. Too many stars and socialites coming in and it would be hard to stand out if you're not good in your poses. Or if you are not the it girl of the season

She knew her old friend is somewhere out there so she's on the look out. She never came face to face with Frida for years after their fight and she can't afford a scandal on that kind of party. Patty managed to avoid the girl everytime they're at the same party and that night, she's doing it again

She came with backless dark blue casual fitted dress with Audrey Hepburn print on skirt side. The dress stop at her knees. The lower part have five inch red ruffles at the end of it and she partnered it with black pumps. Her black hair braided to her right shoulder so she can flaunt her flawless back. She doesn't have her own stylist now but she knew how to handle herself anyways

"Patricia, what will you say on other actress' taking the role you've been playing for two seasons?" a showbiz reporter asked her before entering the formal event. Another upfront question about that show. Her role died there so that the role will be reincarnated to be another face.

"I hated that stupid role anyways, it's low class production with too much coincidental plot," that's her answer in her mind. Just in her mind because she can't burn bridges specially now

She smiled with knowledge that her eyes will be smaller on the camera that it will not see how her eyes really wanted to say, "I think it's time for a new face this time. I respect producer's decision on that matter"

"Is it because the show is suffering from low rating that they need a younger and much noisy name?" The reporter asked again with her mic shoved on Patty's face more

She even smiled widely to battle her sarcastic look, "Well, there's some things we can't control. Anyways, this event is all about anniversary of our beauty line so let's just talk about it."

"Ah, Patty James been long time," the executive of that beauty line greeted her after she escaped the press. He's of old age with big belly to accompany his even bigger ego

"You keep on using my old photos on your brochure that is why," she greeted laughing

"I'm going to fix that darling. But let's have picture first," the guy promised as they pose at the camera. The guy's left hand touched her exposed back and that subtle massage didn't escape her. "Patty, let's have a little chat after this party if it's ok with your schedule," the guy said in her ears in between those pretentious smile

"I have other engagement I'm sorry," she answered politely, also in between her pretentious smile. She knew what's that after party the guy's talking about and shivered on the thought of it

"Oh, you still having engagement more than this?" the guy asked her as the flashes of light blinded her. "We need to talk about contract renewal darling, I know you're in dire need of that"

She don't know how to answer that. It's like damn if you did, damn if you don't moment.

"I let you know," she just replied and walked out that pink carpet to extract herself from his hold. She's crying inside, she can't imagine being in that position as if she's starting again at fifteen but acting is her forte so she still went on looking dignified. Acting is the only thing she knew and she love

That kind of discreet offer was not new and almost every actresses experienced that. Some experienced that when they were starting and there's some percentage rode on that bandwagon to jumpstart their career. She on the otherhand didn't experienced that at start because of her father. Her father paved the way for her. It was an easy start since companies itself offered her product endorsement, sometimes with her father on the frame. Afterwards, teeny bopper roles. Then came another year with more serious roles and it's all because of her and not about her father anymore. She's professional unlike her father, who always showed late in his commitment. She came early and ready every call time.

Offers like that first came to her when she got her first Johnson's finest but she shrugged it off. She's on a lot of project those times getting endorsements, movies and continuous supply of television starrer so she doesn't need to jump on that ship. Then there's simple offers here and there by businessmen, politician and so on. It sometimes come with extravagant gifts like diamonds yet she will return it politely. She didn't accept any of it. Now, as she goes on thirty it came very often and she's tired of that. It's not that she's virgin, it's her body, she'll do it for a guy she likes not even for six digits worth of money!

A day after party she's now talking to Lola, her eyes on double size. She can't believe what's she's hearing. Lola, her manager of old age talked about a certain project she got for her requiring a daring move

"A what!" she exclaimed. They were talking at her old mansion in Northern Hills while taking their breakfast

Lola laughed, that's her style anyways. "Patty, haven't you heard that social circles been calling you Fat Pat or beefy Patty now?"

"I am not fat! I'm just curvy and white and healthy! I'm on my right weight in proportion with my height!" she exclaimed

"I know that. For me you are the right sexy but because you are clear white, you look seven pound chubbier, I mean round on screen.... What I mean is... Well you know already. So I think this is a right move for you," Lola uttered

She took down her fork and exhaled, "Taking all my clothes off in broad daylight? Shoot. You've got to be kidding me!"

"But it's for art purposes. You posed for them twice already and they are artist, it's nothing for them," her manager insisted with her hands throwing in the air

"And I'm in bikini or have some sheets drape in my body then. I have my limitation, you know that," she reasoned

Lola cleared her throat and stared at her. She's struggling for words. "Maybe it's time for you to shed a little?" Lola said in her trembling voice

Patty lifted her two hands to give her manager her two stop signs, "No way!"

Lola shook her head, "Then I don't know what I'm going to do anymore. Either you do that or you keep on accepting mother roles from now on, which there's too many of you who's waiting in line"

"Mother roles of ten years old you mean. Because an infant will always make do," she said slumping her shoulder. She leaned her back on her seat and looked at the picturesque view outside her home

"I know it's not fit with your age. Patty, I'm doing everything for you because I love you. I don't want to see you losing that career you built because you worked hard for it. But you see, I'm managing other talents too," her manager explained softly

"I understand Lola," she replied softly without looking at her manager

"What happened in that meeting you have with Gabriel White?" her manager suddenly asked.

She looked into her manager's eye. She almost forgot that. "Uhm, he's just asking for a date Lola. It passed to you again," she lied and covered it by laugh. A pretend move so that her manager wouldn't ask anymore. It was a secret agreement that she can't share anything transpired during that day.

"Oh I'm sorry. I didn't thought about that. I know he's running for senator next year and I thought he wants to talk to you about endorsement. Well he's handsome," Lola said wriggling her brows and they laughed about it

"Yeah but not my type," she said.

"He looks like he smells so nice," Lola playfully said that in dreamy eyes and two hands clasping on her chest. She chuckled on that move yet she internally agreed. The guy really smells nice when he walked beside her.

After some more discussion of her unglorious next project, Lola went to her way and that's the time she took her phone and dialled his number

Two rings and the phone answered, "Hello Mr. White? I'm taking your offer"