er career and the agency. Despite the unsettling conversation, he had not proposed terminating her contract. Unfortunately, she learned the startling news

.

wn actress Izalea Benson's career has taken a turn for the worse..."

d firmly from

tended for another year, according to recent reports..." Tension hung in the air, the weight of the words settling ar

softly as Belle reached

tinged with confusion. The van remained silent. "I be

r, answered, "I promise, I

" I cal

responded, turning i

n look and waited

it, ma'am," Belle

waited for a

it. I apologize, Miss Izalea. I couldn't bring my

I replied sternly. "Belle, everything

lea. It'll never happen

, I called my manager, but he

ts my calls," I said to myself

commented, gazing out the w

afe return," I sai

ma'am," they

isclosures weighed heavily on me, my composure barely holding. I approached my flat door and noticed a gift-wrapped present waiting nicely by the door. The bright

and stepped inside with the gift. I gently placed it on my kitchen counter, the splendid packaging temporarily raising my emotions.

framed picture of myself, but instead, my face stared back at me in horror. Dark red tears, draw

n the box, which tumbled to the floor, spilling its contents across the kitchen tiles. The rat'

ped back, questions ra

d have do

id they

rveillance screen, glancing down the hallway for any evidence of the culprit. The hallway was empty,

o give my mother a call, but I immediately disregarded it, knowing it would just

won't believe what happened. Would you p

used to let them succeed. I was stronger than that, and with Jasmine by my side, I was confident I could handle whatever happened next. When Jasmine arrived, I p

out a handkerchief from her bag to cover her nos

d, my voice jerking. "It'

d rolled up her sleeves. "Let me ta

ut she held her hands in the

r tone steady. "What you ne

gave her a

dead rat in several layers of plastic bags and threw it away before carefully wiping the blood from

"Thank you so much, Jasmine. I'm not s

s before turning to me. "You don't need to go through th

ne's presence. "I was so scared," I

y hand. "We'll get to the bottom of it. But first, you sho

ing odor of the previous incident. We sipped our tea in silence for a few seconds, the tension gradually subsiding. Jasmine advised that

r mom to let her know?"

. "I don't want

inuing, "I'm sorry, but haven

nd my contract, but she failed to reach me. "It's unlike you,

as I watched Jasmine stutt

ght I sent a message. It may have slipped my memory cause I have

y girl," I resp

have seen the news and be worried sick," she

t yet. If she had, my phone would be o

of relief in the middle of the tension.

spend the night? I'm genu

ation. "Of course. I planned

head, uncertain