Maeve arrived at Silver Crown entertainment and moved directly to Fred Orchard's office. She ignored the gazes of the workers and other fellow stars who stared at her like she was some disgusting shit. She already knew what they thought about her, but she cared less.
Once upon a time, she was well respected by everyone in here. The apple of Fred Orchard's eyes. Everyone wanted to be close to her, but right now...
"The audacity she has to still show her face here," one person whispered to the next.
"What can she do? She's signed to Silver Crown. I wish Mr Orchard would just terminate her contract and drop her."
"Yeah, a woman like her deserves nothing good."
"Can you believe after running around him for years and getting the opportunity to be THE Fred Orchard's wife, she just blew that away."
"It's a golden opportunity every woman wants. I can't believe I loved her music," another said.
"Ehh, we wouldn't say they were bad. She's had a good time." Maeve ignored their words and marched forward. She wasn't here for the puppets she was here for their boss.
When she reached Fred's office, she didn't bother knocking. She was too upset for that. She pushed the door open.
But instead of Fred, she found Mirabelle sitting comfortably in his chair, chatting with Mr. Martin like she owned the company.
The face she saw was different from the cute innocent facade she always put up. But she wasn't surprised. Her sweet innocent sister looking like the devil she was not something she should be shocked about.
"Maeve." Mirabelle jumped to her feet the moment she saw her, eyes wide like she'd just seen a ghost. Maeve should have seen all of these in the past, but she was blinded by it all. She was blinded by her fake care.
"W-what are you doing here?"
Maeve ignored her, scanning the room.
"Maeve, didn't we already talk on the phone?" Mr. Martin tried to sound calm, like he had things under control.
"Where's Fred Orchard? I need to speak with him," she demanded, not caring for their little meeting. Though she wondered what it was about too. Since when was Mirabelle and Martin this close.
"Brother Fred isn't here. How have you been Maeve? Mother's worried sick about you." Mirabelle walked toward her, her voice dripping with concern.
"Maeve, you can hate me all you want, but please don't ignore me. I've done nothing to you."
She didn't answer. She just stared. Because truthfully, she didn't come here for her. And since when did Mirabelle even show her face in this place?
"Maeve how about your engagement with Mr Grey? I've been meaning to ask you sister, how did it go? Have you spoken to him?" Maeve had no idea why she was suddenly interested in her life.
"It's okay if he didn't say anything and it was all just for show. After all, Mr Grey is way above our level. Not even Fred his nephew gets to see him. Can you imagine?" She laughed, placing her hands on her chest.
"Besides, I heard the account that messaged you was the fake one and Mr Grey is not online. How embarrassing." She tried not to laugh.
"Tell Fred Orchard he can't hide from me forever..."
"Who's hiding from you, Eve?" The voice came from behind her. She spun around and there he was. Fred stupid Orchard.
"Fred..." He raised a hand, cutting her off.
"It's Mr. Orchard, Maeve. Don't forget I'm still your boss." Her teeth clenched immediately. Of course, he'd go there.
"Fine, Mr. Orchard." She flashed him a sweet smile, the kind that wasn't sweet at all. Her tongue was sugar-coated as she spoke out.
"Though I've never seen a boss so eager to work their employees to death. I write songs as a human not some song-making machine."
His brows lifted. "And how exactly does that relate to me?"
"Oh, it relates to you perfectly." Her voice stayed calm. "I can't make your twenty million in a single day. Just like you can't sign two thousand contracts before sunset. Let's be real, Mr. Orchard."
She leaned forward, eyes locked on his. "Our deal was clear, no overworking me. Forcing me to churn out eight songs within hours? And rejecting everything I sent before without listening to it is not just unreasonable, but cruel."
"We got divorced Fred, move on from it. We already agreed that work is different from our personal lives."
"Eh! Maeve, what are you talking about? Brother Fred can never ask such of you, that's a death sentence." Mirabelle chimed in as always, trying to act like the good one.
"What are you talking about Maeve?" Fred asked, and then she turned to Martin who suddenly turned uncomfortable in his chair.
"I only suggested selling the songs because I care about you Maeve, I had no idea you would resort to such tricks." Martin tried to defend himself, and she just smiled.
Mirabelle had been the one to ask tell him about selling the songs. It was their little idea to punish Maeve.
Though Eve was a little shocked at his lies and betrayal, she never expected anything less. In the past everyone had betrayed her including her family.
"We have a new rising star amongst us Maeve. Stop being the bitter senior and help out." Martin said.
"A new rising star should be able to write her own songs, Mr Martin, not try to steal mine," she said.
"Mr Martin you're fired from being my manager. I'll need a new manager Mr Orchard, it's clear this one is working against me," she said calmly.
"I don't give a fuck if you fire me Maeve. You're not loved or important anymore. I would be more than glad to be Rae's new manager Mr Orchard." Martin turned to Fred.
So that is her name, she wondered. He had requested that the songs be sold because he was working for Ama. That double-crossing bitch.
She had a trap set for her and she went ahead to cry to Martin to help steal her songs?
"The faster you realize your career is going nowhere after the divorce the better for you. You're now old Maeve, you're not needed anymore. Let the young girls shine." She ignored the cruel words from Martin.
They had said the same thing in the past.
"Maeve your time is past, you have Fred by your side what other thing do you want?"
"Maeve let the newer girls shine, you're old now!"
"Maeve give them your music. Just write for them and let them shine, if it brings more money to Fred it'll bring more for you!"
She was freaking 21 for crying out loud. People her age hadn't even done anything in the industry, yet she was obligated to resign early?
They had all ganged up to destroy her before. And she had been dumb to not see it. But this time, she was back to wear her crown again and rewrite her story.
"You're a flop Maeve and you've been shelved," Martin continued. A man she once saw as a father now said the most vile things to her.
"Have I been shelved, Mr Orchard?" She turned to Fred. He was the boss and CEO of Silver Crown, his words were final.
"You haven't done anything in the past four months. Rae has released good songs lately and has been praised by the public," Fred said.
"After the whole scandal, I don't think it's wise for you to release any music under my record label Maeve. You can go elsewhere, but for now, you're not needed here," Fred said to her face.
"Alright," she said calmly and started towards the door.
"Maeve," Fred called, and her eyes met his.
"For the upcoming competition, it's best you step down. It's going to be Rae's show," Fred said.
"We'll see about that," she smiled. She was more than prepared for the competition. Let's see how Ama wins against her.
"Maeve," she heard Mirabelle's faint voice but she didn't bother responding.