Chapter 5 A Challenge

Gerald Sullivan's office was a testament to his success and refined taste. The spacious room was adorned with sleek, modern furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a stunning view of the city skyline. The walls were painted a warm, rich gray, and the carpet was a deep, plush blue that seemed to glow in the soft light. A large, polished mahogany desk dominated the room, its surface gleaming with a subtle sheen.

Behind the desk, Gerald sat in a high-backed, black leather chair, his piercing brown eyes scanning the documents laid out before him. His jet-black hair was perfectly coiffed, and his tailored suit fit him like a glove, exuding an air of confidence and authority.

To his right stood Colin, his secretary, who was gesturing animatedly as he spoke. "As you can see, PMG sales rate seemed to have skyrocketed compared to their previous monthly revenue," Colin said, his voice filled with a hint of admiration for his boss's strategic thinking. The tone was one of awe, as if he still couldn't believe the genius of Gerald's plan, which had just saved a company from the brink of bankruptcy.

Gerald let out a low, husky "Hmm" that echoed through the office, making it sound like a pronouncement of great import. He was impressed, or so it seemed, until his attention span suddenly evaporated like a soap bubble in the sun.

"Have you heard anything from that little rat?" he growled, his voice like a rusty gate, referring to the hapless soul who owed him a pretty penny.

Colin, his trusty sidekick and secretary, shook his head. "Not yet, boss."

Gerald's eyes narrowed, his brow furrowed in a scowl that would have made a Klingon warrior proud.

"I gave her three days, and if she doesn't cough up the cash by then, we'll be seeing her in court." Colin ventured, trying to sound firm but ending up sounding like a nervous mouse.

Gerald snorted, his chair creaking ominously as he leaned back, steepling his fingers together like a villainous mastermind. "Three days, you say? Isn't that a tad... generous?" His deep voice dripped with sarcasm, making Colin take a hasty step backward, as if fearing a lightning bolt of wrath might strike him at any moment.

"She didn't look like one who could provide such money instantly," Colin added hastily, trying to explain his reasoning.

Gerald's expression turned skeptical, his eyes glinting with amusement. "And you think I was dumb not to know?" His voice came out as a dare, his eyes sparkling with mischief, as if he was enjoying the cat-and-mouse game a bit too much. His eyes suddenly snapped into focus, his mind racing with a new, devious thought. He sat up straight, his chair creaking in protest, as he barked out orders like a drill sergeant on a sugar high. "Get me everything on that little woman - her name, address, job, family... everything! That little rat might be plotting to make off with my money!"

Colin nodded meekly, his eyes wide with a "yes, sir, right away, sir" expression. But then, a glimmer of mischief sparked in his eyes, and he ventured, "Uh, boss, can I ask you a question?"

Gerald's response was immediate and dismissive, his hand waving in a "don't even think about it" gesture. "Don't."

Colin smiled, a sly grin spreading across his face like a Cheshire cat. "I knew you'd say that, but I'm going to ask anyway." He took another step backward, as if preparing himself for the impending doom that was Gerald's wrath.

"Why," Colin asked, his voice laced with a hint of curiosity and a dash of courage, "are you paying extra attention to that little lady?"

Gerald's face turned a lovely shade of puce, his eyes bulging like a cartoon character's, as if the very suggestion that he was paying extra attention to the little woman was an affront to his masculinity. "Are you out of your mind? Me? Extra attention? To that little rat?" He scoffed, his voice rising to a near-shriek, as if the mere idea was preposterous.

Colin pressed his lips together, his eyes sparkling with amusement, as he watched his boss deny his claim with all the conviction of a guilty puppy. He knew that if he didn't intervene, Gerald could go on and on, ranting about his "little rat" and how she was trying to swindle him out of his hard-earned cash.

So, Colin quickly changed the subject, his voice smooth as silk. "Don't forget the charity fundraiser you're to attend this evening, sir." He reminded him, his eyes fixed on Gerald's still-bulging face.

Gerald's expression deflated like a popped balloon, his eyes returning to their normal size as he scowled at Colin. "Why on earth should I bother attending a social gathering disguised as a fundraiser, where those leeches called celebrities will no doubt rub shoulders with me in hopes of milking my bank account for their latest pet projects?" He asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

Colin, unfazed by his boss's grumpiness, replied, "Well, sir, it's a charity event. And they've specifically requested your presence. You know, to add a touch of your... unique business acumen to the proceedings." He added, trying to hide a smirk.

Gerald snorted, his face scrunched up in distaste. "Unique business acumen? Ha! They just want my money, Colin. And I'm not about to let them suck me dry like a bunch of vampires."

Colin shrugged, turning to leave. "Very well, sir. I'll just call and inform them you won't be gracing the fundraiser with your presence."

But Gerald's deep voice came out lazily, stopping Colin in his tracks. "Just leave it, Colin. Since they're so desperate for my presence, I'll just go to show my face."

Colin raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the sudden change of heart. "Ah, sir? Are you sure that's a good idea? You know how... unpredictable you can be in social situations."

Gerald waved a hand dismissively. "Pfft, I'll be fine. I'll just go, make a few appearances, and then slip out unnoticed. Easy peasy."

Colin sighed, knowing better than to argue with his boss when he got like this. "Very well, sir. I'll make sure to have the car ready at 7 pm sharp."

As Colin left the room, he couldn't help but wonder what kind of chaos Gerald would unleash at the fundraiser. One thing was for sure - it wouldn't be boring!

***********

Jojo walked into the spaceship agency building, her sneakers making barely a sound on the sleek marble floor. She navigated through the bustling hallways, where harried workers scurried about, tending to the demands of other A-list celebrities on the company's roster. The air was thick with the hum of activity, the chatter of agents and publicists, and the occasional ring of a phone.

She approached the CEO's office, a sleek glass-walled sanctuary that seemed to glow with an aura of efficiency. Jojo rapped twice on the door, and a friendly voice called out, "Come on in!"

She pushed open the door and slipped inside, her eyes adjusting to the dimmer light within. The CEO, Mr. Mark, a bespectacled man with a kind face, sat behind his desk, his phone pressed to his ear. He gestured for her to take a seat, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he smiled.

Jojo settled onto the couch, her gaze wandering around the office. The walls were adorned with framed photos of the agency's most prized clients, including Binnie, the film sensation who was currently the apple of the CEO's eye. She noticed the sense of calm focus that seemed to radiate from the CEO's very being.

When he finally hung up the phone, the CEO turned his attention to Jojo, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Jojo, how are you?" he asked, his eyes crinkling at the corners as he leaned back in his chair.

But his gaze quickly snapped to her cheek, his expression morphing into concern. "What happened to your cheek?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of surprise.

Jojo's fingers fluttered up to her face, her touch gentle as she grazed the tender skin. "I got this while acting," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Mark's eyes widened in understanding, and he nodded sympathetically. "Ah, I see. Well, Binnie is done filming, so good job on that project. Your pay will be transferred to your account shortly."

He stood up, his movements hurried as he prepared to leave, but Jojo's next words stopped him in his tracks.

"Today is the day," she said, her voice low and mysterious, her eyes locked on the CEO's.

He frowned, confusion etched on his face. "The day for what?" he asked, his tone laced with a hint of curiosity.

"The day my contract as a double expires," Jojo said, her grin spreading from ear to ear as she awaited the new contract she had been promised. She had been counting down the days for what felt like an eternity, and finally, the moment of truth had arrived.

Mr. Mark, rubbed his temples, his eyes squinting in a mixture of confusion and recollection. "Ah, that," he said, his voice laced with a hint of embarrassment. "I had completely forgotten."

Jojo's excitement was palpable, her eyes sparkling with anticipation. "When am I to sign the new contract?" she asked, her voice barely containing her enthusiasm.

But Mr. Mark's next words dropped like a bombshell, shattering Jojo's dreams into a million pieces. "There's no new contract," he said, his voice firm but laced with a hint of regret.

Jojo's smile faltered, her face falling like a house of cards. "What do you mean by that?" she asked, her voice trembling with disbelief as she got up.

She took a step forward, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and hurt. "You promised me that once my contract as a double expires, I can start working as myself, and you promised to offer me a contract," she said, her voice rising as she reminded him of the promise he made to her five years ago.

She had been just a naive young actress, fresh out of acting school, when Mr. Mark had discovered her at an audition. He had convinced her, with his silver tongue and promises of stardom, to work as a double for Binnie, the film sensation. And now, after five long years of hard work and dedication, he was reneging on his promise.

Mr. Mark let out a heavy sigh, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his own guilt. "Yes, I promised you, Jojo, but it's all in the past," he said, his voice laced with a hint of regret.

"You're doing so great as Binnie's double, don't get greedy," he added, his tone dripping with condescension.

Jojo's eyes widened in disbelief, her voice incredulous. "Greedy?" she repeated, as if the word was a poison she couldn't swallow. "You're calling me greedy for wanting to pursue my own career, my own dreams?"

Mr. Mark's expression turned condescending, his eyes gleaming with a hint of malice. "Actually, I knew you've always been jealous of Binnie," he said, his voice dripping with venom. "But it's understandable. Everyone wants to be like Binnie."

Jojo's face burned with anger, her fists clenched at her sides. "Jealous of Binnie?" she spat, her voice low and deadly. "You think I'm jealous of Binnie?"

Mr. Mark's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Ah, Jojo, you're so passionate," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I'll prepare another contract for you if you still agree to be Binnie's double. And if you don't agree..." He paused, his finger jabbing towards the door. "Then you can walk out that door like you normally do."

Jojo's face contorted in disbelief, her eyes blazing with a mix of anger and hurt. "Was this your plan all along?" she asked, her voice trembling with emotion. "To keep using me, to keep me trapped in this never-ending cycle of pretending to be someone I'm not?"

Mr. Mark's laughter was like a slap in the face, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Using you?" he echoed, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "You should be thankful to be qualified to work as a double for the famous Binnie. It's an honor, really."

Jojo's hurt turned to outrage, her voice rising in indignation. "An honor?" she repeated, her words laced with venom. "You call this an honor? Being a puppet, a fake, a stand-in for someone else's fame?"

Mr. Mark's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he spoke. "Truthfully, I also gave it a thought because I wanted you to make a debut," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "But I only figured it out after time has passed whether you're worth keeping or should be flushed out."

Jojo's eyes widened in horror, her mind reeling with the implications. "Flushed out?" she repeated, her voice barely above a whisper.

Mr. Mark's smile was cruel, his eyes glinting with amusement. "But you have such great talent, it would be a waste to let it go to waste," he said, his voice dripping with insincerity. "That's why I'm giving you the opportunity to still work with Binnie. I'm sure our Binnie would still love to work with you."

Jojo's lower lip trembled as she fought to hold back the tears that threatened to spill over. Her voice cracked as she asked, "If this was your plan, why did you make that promise?" The words felt like a betrayal, a lie that had been perpetuated for far too long.

Her emotions boiled over, and she yelled, "Why did you get my hopes high?" The tears she had been trying to hold back finally fell, streaming down her face like rain.

Mr. Mark took a step back, startled by her outburst. His eyes widened in surprise, as if he had never seen Jojo like this before.

Jojo cursed under her breath, wiping away her tears with a fierce determination. She faced Mr. Mark, her eyes blazing with a newfound resolve. "I don't want to keep working as a double," she said, her voice firm. "No, I hate hiding behind Binnie's shadow."

Mr. Mark's expression turned cold, his eyes narrowing as he realized Jojo was serious. She was no longer the pliable, obedient double he had grown accustomed to.

"I'll make you regret dumping me," she said, her words a promise, a threat. And with that, she turned to leave, her head held high, her heart pounding with determination.

But as she reached the door, she saw Binnie standing there, her arms folded, her eyes watching them with an unnerving intensity. Jojo's heart skipped a beat as she realized she had been played, that Binnie had been in on this charade all along.

Jojo held her bag tightly, walking past Binnie with a sense of determination. She had no intention of engaging with her, not after the revelation that had just occurred. But Binnie's voice called out to her, soft and gentle, yet laced with an underlying tone that made Jojo's skin prickle.

"Jojo," Binnie said, her voice like a whispered secret.

Jojo turned back, her eyes narrowing as she gazed at Binnie. "What?" she asked, her tone firm. "I don't think we have any business together."

Binnie walked closer, her long legs striding effortlessly across the distance. She extended an envelope, her hand held out like an offering. "Take this," she said, her eyes gleaming with a hint of curiosity.

Jojo's gaze fell on the envelope, her mind racing with questions. "What's that?" she asked, her voice laced with skepticism.

"An invite to a fundraiser," Binnie replied, her voice smooth as silk. "I heard that Director Zic would be present. You've always wanted to work with him. Take it as an opportunity to meet him and maybe show your potentials."

Jojo's eyes snapped back to Binnie's face, searching for hidden motives. "Why are you giving this to me?" she asked, her voice laced with suspicion.

Binnie's smile was enigmatic, her eyes glinting with a challenge. "You said you wanted to work as yourself. Actually, I'm curious to see what you can do outside my shadow."

Jojo's mind raced with doubts, but her desire to break free from Binnie's shadow won out. She took the envelope, her fingers brushing against Binnie's as she did so. "Thank you," she said, her voice firm, and turned to walk away.

As she disappeared into the crowd, Jojo couldn't shake off the feeling that Binnie's words were more than just a friendly gesture. They sounded like a challenge, a gauntlet thrown down, and Jojo was determined to pick it up.