Chapter 527: Shady Manager


    “Staying?”


    “Don’t look surprised,” said he taking off the helmet, “-I paid, and I need a ce to stay. The apartment is big enough for four people.” He ambled towards the lift, each word spoken echoed about the dusty and stagnant underground parking, “-besides,” with a smirk, “-it’s not like you have a partner or anything.”


    “Why you little,” she hopped onto where he waited, “-how dare you!”


    “Mindful,” said he, “-won’t take much to transfer the apartment onto my name.”


    “Whatever,” her embarrassment released physical strains; clenching the fist, gritting, and obnoxious loud breaths.


    Inside came to be a quaint environment; a small balcony used for nts instead of humans. The interior merged the kitchen and living room into one giant cluster. Rooms werebeled, “-take the room over there,”mented she hiding her smile.


    “Alright.”


    .....


    *Click,* locked, she eased onto the couch, ‘-I’ve missed you so much,’ said she hugging a pillow. ‘Jumping ces to ces didn’t feel right, my banks nearly exhausted. Those damned brats had to go and destroy themselves. How could they?’ drool escaped the otherwise tight-lipped mouth, ‘-I didn’t even do anything this time. Bunch of idiots.’ Low muffled music exited Igna’s room, ‘-I’m employed by Igna Haggard. Didn’t think he was rich but was I wrong. Spending so much on a bike and reiming my apartment. We don’t get along that much but there’s a mutual understanding. I like it, a good rtion. I’ll show him my real talent. Enough wasting time on worthless idols and pretty faces; I like him. There’s the power to the words, and I like a man with conviction. Igna Haggard, congrattions, you’ve won me to your side. The first impression wasn’t of weakness, rather, it came to be of a lie, someone who hid their truest desire.’


    The days would continue – Alicia gave tours of the city of which he could have cared less. They spent more time with one another than searching for jobs. A heavy cloud of unknown hung atop their heads. Ack of jobs on Alicia’s part and the nonchnt, ‘-I’m bored,’ look on Igna’s face.


    Monday the 15th of February; a few days passed. Igna woke up to prepare breakfast. Alicia arrived ten-minutester in a very childish-looking pajama. “Morning.”


    “Morning,” returned he.


    “Wait,” locked onto Igna, “-I’ve found us a job,” said she.


    “What kind of job?”


    “A photoshoot,” she came to lean against the granite counter, “-I’ve already sent the resume and a few photos.”


    “Oh, for what?”


    “Man,” she smiled, “-the first job is actually a massive one. Tis a musicpany, they’ve decided to bring multiple idols and stars for the shooting.”


    “I’m rtively unknown, how did you?”


    “Don’t worry about that,” she left with a coy wink towards the bathroom, ‘-can’t tell him I had to call in favors from a few friends. Lustful bastards,’ staring at her reflection, ‘-I’m a mess of a woman.’


    A prominent figure and one-shot wonder artist named Turi suffered a bad ident. The Arcanum, mostly the man’s fanbase, went haywire looking for an answer. It happened a few days ago – the photoshoot organized by Alice had initially picked him. Now that the star was out of the picture, they needed new faces to showcase the new guitar. Few forumsplied theory of what happened but none took any attention as most were busy sending love messages for a good recovery.


    The details felt a little suspicious, reading the few posts had Igna thinking. “éir, can you?”


    “Yeah, already on it,” said he, “-I’ve infiltrated her phone and kept an eye out. She did visit a few people, especially those holding ces of power. I count, Turi from Alice, the modelingpany. A subsidiary of Ansoft.”


    “I presume he’s a singer or some kind of musician?”


    “Yeah, a star who met an unfortunate ident. The reports are incoherent, some say he fell, others say was pushed, the result is he’s at the hospital.”


    “Let me guess, my Manager’s involved?”


    “Does fit the details of what happened. She went for a visit and the man is reported injured a few hourster.”


    “If so,” grinned Igna, ‘she might be more useful than I think. People on the Arcanum are smart. Most ruled it as an ident while few thought it is foul-y.’ Dark-brown hair swept before him, “-Igna, get ready, we’re leaving in an hour or so. Make sure to have some nice clothes on you.”


    “Got it,” returned he, ‘-innocent or not, I can’t tell.’


    “Guilty,” said éir, “-I’ve traced and found a damning piece of evidence linking her to the incident.”


    “Which is?”


    “A recording,” of which yed. He held his breath, stopped whatever he was doing, and listened, the murmurs, the uncleared chatter. “-Let me fix it,” said éir. The track reyed in rity and the conversation was heard in full.


    ‘He’s drunk. The way he speaks, he wanted to get some – Alicia’s sober. Guiding him to the bed. Got a vague representation of what happened, she drugged him into falling off the balcony.’


    “éir,” said he, “-video, there’s video evidence against her right?”


    “Yeah, the police’s gathered the recordings.”


    “Wipe it.”


    “Are you sure?”


    “Obviously,” the face straightened, “-let her do as she wishes. Wipe all the evidence, disprove the witnesses, feed them cash – if things get rough... we ought to have hitmen wanting for some easy money.”


    “Igna,” said éir, “-you’ve certainly gotten scary over the past few days.”


    “Well, I figured it’s better this way. I won’t lie, I sort of enjoy the prospect of killing. There’s a strange pleasure within.”


    “No murder,” voiced the spirit.


    “I know, I’m not a monster.”


    Readied in smart clothes and a short-ck skirt Alicia wound up at a counter and ate breakfast. The innocence on her face, no remorse, no guilt, nothing, it was as if nothing ever happened. Igna watched, both impressed and frightened. Someone like her was a double-edged sword. The evidence left behind would one day or the other bring the police to their door.


    ‘As long as éir keeps an eye on her, we’ll be fine.’


    The ce of the audition was a mediaplex in Konlda, close to the center. The drive felt more or less rxing until Igna began to speed along the main-roads neatly linking each district.


    “What’s the interview going to be like?” wondered he.


    “Oh, nothing much. Just a group of select people. The evaluationes down to thepany itself. I honestly doubt they’ll hire anyone. Ansoft being part of the five-conglomerate as well as the top productionpany in Alphia currently. Alice’s just as scary.”


    “Way to score such an opportunity Say, was there anything shady involved?”


    “Perhaps. No matter, why worry about it now?”


    “I ought to warn you,” the bike slowed shy of the location, “-leaving condemning evidence behind...”


    “How did you know?” she tightened her grip around his stomach.


    “Lady Manager,” coughed he, “-I have more reach than you’d ever imagine. I might not be able to cover the next time – do be vignt.”


    “Are you going to fire me?”


    “No, hell no,” heughed, “-a manager who isn’t afraid of getting dirty is the best thing I could have asked for. I won’t interfere, make sure you don’t leave proof behind next time.”


    “Understood,” for a second, her heart jumped out the chest, anxiousness of getting fired worried more than a potential police case.


    Dubbed Area 04, most of the buildings were warehouses held inside apound. A single guard at the frontzily allowed entry. The massive buildings had numbers painted on their sides. Grey, dusty, and industrial, a far cry from what many painted the Odgawoan life to be.


    “Warehouse 03.”


    “Got it,” they passed a lovely mural of prior deceased super-stars.


    ‘More people than I’d imagined,’ the bike drove at a walking pace. Pretty faces went to and fro, some had guards’ others had managers, and some even reporters. Side-casts in costumes crossed the street separating the various warehouses.


    “There’s another movie being shot,” exined Alicia, “-doesn’t matter to us, just head on forward.”


    Big and nd, they got off to catch the eye of a hurdled group of well-dressed figures.


    “Look,” hailed one, “-it’s Alicia,” voiced they.


    She nervously smiled, “-go on then,” she stumbled per a bump, ‘-Igna!’


    “Don’t worry,” said he, “-let’s score this job.”


    “Fine,” rolling her eyes, once out of his line of sight, she grinned.


    A sign disyed, ‘auditions,’ to which he followed. A small door opened to the dim and fresh inside. Voices echoed, photos clicked, a line of chairs had the names of various written on paper. ‘There’s mine,’ he sat. The others weren’t present yet.


    “Hello.”


    “Hello?”


    “You’re Igna I presume?” spoke a little man aged in his early thirties, “-head down the hall.”


    “Okay...” he walked, ‘-strange.’


    The heat stabbed her fragile shoulders, “-Alicia, I didn’t expect you to be hired so quickly,” said a man in sses tantly drooling over her body.


    “Don’t say that,” interjected anotherdy dress moderately, “-she might be young but has spunk.”


    “Or so what the men she’s slept with say,” interjected anotherdy in herte forties.


    “d to see you’re as insufferable as ever,” fired she, “-so, what’s the purpose ofing here?”


    “I don’t know,” said the man, “-Ikoen sent us messages of wanting to recruit new blood for their uing productunch.”


    “I see,” said she, “-what’s the interview like?”


    “A mess,” said the olderdy, “-my girls left without even participating. How dare they...”


    “What about the others?” wondered she.


    “We all pulled out the interviews. Far too shady, the supervisor doesn’t speak nor give hints. In any case, we’re going to hit the pub, want to join?”


    “Thanks for the invitation, I’ll have to refuse.”


    “Suit yourself,” said the man, “-good luck!”


    .....


    A bittersweet rtion between managers. Rivals on the field and perhaps friends off the scene? Who would have guessed. Their harassment was always geared towards Alicia. Part of her knew the reason, and part of her refused to admit it. By the standardsid per the media, she was pretty in every single way, a perfect fit to be an actress or idol. Still, she never wanted the attention always saying, ‘-I rather help others than help myself.’ The disrespect left a bad taste. ‘Way to ruin my day.’


    “Are you the only one here?” said a man mboyantly dressed.


    “Yes?” he rose an eyebrow, “-might I ask what’s this about?”


    “Don’t worry,” said he moving in a feminine manner, “-a representative of Ikoen will be here shortly,” he dove to rest a hand onto Igna’s knee, “-don’t move or do anything bad,” the whisper sent shivers, “-else I’ll have to redo the makeup.”


    “Rose, GET BACK HERE!”


    “Be right back, hottie,” he galloped out the confined space.


    *Clop, clop, clop,* two sets of footsteps halted at the same time, “-Igna Haggard,” stood a heavy woman bearing red-colored hair and heavy make-up, “-I’m a representative of Ikoen. We’re currently looking for people to endorse the brand. Sadly,” she held a piece of paper, “-the resume doesn’t match what we’re looking for. As a music brand, we need musicians, not chefs.”


    “Excuse me,” interjected he, “-I can y the guitar...”


    “Can you now,” she frowned, “-Park, bring the guitar here.”


    “Okay.”


    The manager crossed her arms and watched; ‘-can he even y the instrument?’


    ‘This is perfect,’ thought he, ‘-haven’t touched this in a while,’ the fingers ran up and down the fretboard. “-Do you have a pick?” wondered he.


    “Oh, sorry,” she gave one without much enthusiasm.


    ‘Who’s the best guitarist currently?’ a search by éir had one name, Sugar.


    ‘Alright, no problem,’ with a grin, ‘-don’t underestimate me.’


    “Are you going to y?” asked she.


    “Give me a moment,” the hands formed multiple chord-shapes and galloped up and down, “-alright, it’s done.” He strummed a melodically pleasing chord; the sound had the sterndy smile. ‘-Time to show off,’ the pace increased, the notes rang melodically and the room soon fell silent, workers from other stations stopped to watch.


    “Enough,” said she, “-I’m reluctant to say this, but you’re better than Turi.” The heavy stature went on to speak with Alicia.


    ‘How you like ’em apples.’