"Edwin, slow down!"
"Edwin!!! Oh my God! Please slow the fuck down! I don't want to die right now, and definitely not yet. I still love my life, please!"
Kimberly pleaded, but all his cries fell on deaf ears as Edwin continued to race down the highway. Despite the chaos unfolding around him, Edwin cut a striking figure behind the wheel. His dark hair, usually meticulously styled, was windswept and wild. His emerald green eyes, normally sparkling with charm, were now intense and fused with determination and desperation. Even in crisis, he couldn't help but exude an air of stardom, his designer clothes - a tailored wine-red suit paired with a crisp white shirt, now rumpled from the day's events - a testament to his celebrity status.
Kimberly gulped down in fright, his eyeballs almost falling out of their sockets. He felt like his heart was about to explode, his voice turning hoarse from screaming and shouting as he pleaded for his dear life. Kimberly's wine-colored hair, usually perfectly coiffed, was disheveled from the wild ride. His striking blue eyes were wide with terror, contrasting his usually composed demeanor. Despite the panic, he still managed to look effortlessly stylish in his fitted blazer and designer jeans, straddling the line between masculine and feminine with his handsome yet delicate features.
"I shouldn't have allowed you to take the steering wheel in your state. It's all my fault that I'm going to die without finding my true love," Kimberly continued to cry out, blaming himself for allowing Edwin to drive in his unstable state.
His last hope was the seatbelt as he grabbed onto it like his survival depended on it.
"Ahhhhhhhhhh....." Kimberly couldn't help but scream his lungs out while closing his eyes upon seeing the imminent danger before them.
Just as they were cruising on their death race, Edwin almost ran into another car. He managed to gain control of his obviously drifting thoughts as he quickly averted the accident, suddenly stepping on the brake and pulling to the side of the road.
"Cough... cough... cough..." Kimberly coughed furiously as he quickly unbuckled the seatbelt and practically jumped out of the car. In the next seconds, he was throwing up the contents of his stomach while gripping the area where he'd had his recent operation.
Edwin wordlessly walked to the vomiting man, a bottle of water in hand. He uncapped it and handed it to Kimberly, his chiseled features impassive despite the chaos he'd just caused. Even in this moment of crisis, Edwin's tall, well-built frame and movie-star good looks were unmistakable.
Kimberly glared at his suddenly crazy boss before snatching the bottle of water from him. Seemingly unbothered, Edwin walked back to the car. But instead of taking the steering wheel, he opened the back door and sat himself there, his broad shoulders slumped in defeat.
After rinsing his mouth and washing his face, Kimberly made his way back to the car, his blue eyes flashing with murderous intent at Edwin.
Grabbing the open door, Kimberly decided to give the man a piece of his mind. "The next time you try this shit with me, I'm gonna make sure that I give you death myself. You can die alone if you so much want to end it all like a scared coward, but please don't you ever dare to get me involved in your suicide mission."
But then, Kimberly was shocked to hear nothing from the man. He was awfully quiet, which made Kimberly pause, swallowing the rest of his scolding as he stared wide-eyed at the silent actor. Utterly shocked by the sight before him, Kimberly quickly rushed into the car, pulling Edwin into his arms.
"Pull yourself together, Edwin Kasper. The image of your face covered with tears doesn't suit a stony cold man like you at all. Don't tell me that you're suddenly weak because of this little obstacle we're facing? I'm sorry for what I said. Although I still don't share the idea of dying with you, I'm sorry for saying it out loud and in such a manner. Just see it as me trying to encourage you to remain alive because we are going to get through all this. It will surely be over soon, trust me."
Kimberly felt his heart sink for his boss as he tried every possible soothing and less selfish way to console him. But he was apparently failing woefully. Still, he didn't mind as long as he could get the man to stop crying like a baby. It didn't suit his image at all. The icy cold Edwin Kasper would never...
He grabbed onto the crying man, pulling him out of his arms as he looked at his face, noting how even in despair, Edwin's striking features couldn't be diminished.
"And guess what? You'll look back at this time and say, 'Kimberly, you were right.' Trust me."
"You called it a small obstacle, but I don't see it that way," Edwin suddenly whimpered in pain. He couldn't bring himself to tell Kimberly about the full extent of his situation. Apparently, it was worse than Kimberly could imagine.
"Just tell me what to do with my life? What exactly am I living for? Everything I've worked for is practically crashing right before my eyes! And you call it a small obstacle? I got fired from the series where I was the main lead. And someone who has always been my second is taking over my role. Don't you see what's happening? I'm in a big mess. No one wants to work with me anymore. They're all turning their backs on me. All the brands that endorsed me have started canceling their contracts. Do you get it now?"
"I know," Kimberly couldn't help but lick his lip in embarrassment, guilt washing over him. He thought as long as he could help the man to continue walking on his feet, they could survive. But who was he kidding? It would only take a great miracle to survive this fall.
"If you know, don't try to patronize me by calling it a small obstacle," Edwin said before exiting the car, slamming the door behind him.
With his hands in his pockets, he began walking down the road. He had no idea where he was heading, but he needed the breeze and a moment alone to think about his nightmare of a life. The fact that he was removed from a series he was part of was a great blow to him, and he knew that this was just the beginning of his nightmare.
As Edwin walked, his tall figure cut a lonely silhouette against the setting sun. Even in his distress, there was an undeniable grace to his movements, a reminder of the star power that had captivated audiences for years. Now, that very fame seemed to be turning against him.
If only the wind could blow away his worries and wash his predicament off. No, if only he could go back in time, would he be able to change anything?
But the most intriguing and mind-boggling thing was that he had yet to find out who was behind this evil plan that was taking him down. The person really got him so good, and he or she deserved an award for mastering evil!