Beyond The Spotlight

Vanessa groaned, letting out a frustration sigh. She used too much shampoo on her hair. She tried calling her personal assistant Lisa to set up a meeting with her stylist, but her number wasn't going through. "I'm going to teach that lady a lesson when next I see her," she says with obvious rage, trying to get the shampoo off her hair with warm water. She could as well go to any other salon, but... bad idea! because she'd spend all her time signing autographs rather than doing her hair. That's why she loved Sandy's.

She gives her home service, and any other hairstylist is a no for her because she hates making her hair, and Sandy makes it look simple for her. After washing her hair, she styled it into a messy bun and was going through her Instagram when she started receiving bashes and insults on her newly posted picture."" She went through her comments and started getting disturbing messages, and soon her phone was buzzing. And then a call came in. It was her manager, and with fear and agitation she picked up. "What is it, PetASS?" She snapped over the phone. Vanessa, we have a crisis on our hands! You need to get here ASAP! ! Her manager tells her, and she gets scared. "Okay, tell Jeff to turn the car around," she ordered, and quickly changed into some loose yoga pants and threw on some crop tops before dashing out of her mini apartment in the big city. Coming out was hard for her, so she took the stairs instead of the elevator. After driving for a few minutes, they arrived at HSQ Record Studio, where she does all her recordings. " Ms Vanessa What do you have to say about using drugs on your last performance and sexually abusing children?" A reporter shouted as she stepped down from the car. She raised her middle fingers to his face and stuck her tongue defiantly before entering, ignoring the thousands of reporters that kept taking pictures and asking crazy questions."Really? Vanessa, you are in serious trouble, and you are insulting reporters." Peter hit his hands on the table as the record label director shook his head."Well, hello to you too, petASS. I need a whisky. Can someone get me a whisky?" She took a chair opposite him, yelling."Whisky? Seriously? I don't think you know the magnitude of what's on ground," Fred, the record label owner, barked. "Hold your horses, Freddy. I guess it would blow over soon; I was framed, and the fans aren't going to get mad because I give them good music; you feel me?" Vanessa wasn't having any of their talks."I told you this girl was bad news," Duncan, the head of ANR, added. "Who are you calling bad news? Ya mama is bad news, nigga, not me," she bashed back."You did drugs and sexually abuse people's children; that's terrible and low even for a black person," Amanda, Vanessa's rival, added. Amanda has been on her ass ever since Vanessa broke out three years ago with her mixtape 'Drunken Driver.'"Who let a dog in here? Can someone tell me how this dog got in because I thought I read a fucking sign that clearly stated 'NO DOGS ALLOWED'? I'm beginning to think those signs are wrong because I'm staring at a dog right now," Vanessa lashed out."You are the dog," Amanda said with an eye roll."Oh, shut up, racist. Because of girls like you, Beyonce had to release lemonade, so shut that rat hole you call a mouth," Vanessa fired back."At least I'm Becky with the good hair; what are you? Some bitch suc**ing off?" Amanda rolled her eyes, and Vanessa was fed up and attempted to beat up Amanda when Fred interrupted."Oh, stop it, girls, and you Vanessa. I'm highly disappointed in you; I accepted you even with my colour? You accepted me even when I was black, and I should kiss your ass every time just because you gave me an opportunity? Well, no thanks, White Jack. She interrupted Fred's words, and tension filled the room. "Guys, we've got a problem," Gina, the secretary, announced. "Not again; what more could be worse than this?" Fred groaned. "JSA Mobile just pulled out their endorsement," she said slowly. "Oh no, they are our biggest investors, and their money is really helpful," Duncan shrugged.Vanessa sighed. "Well to hell with them; I've got thirty other endorsements." "Linda Cosmetics pulled out too." "Pulled out? You make it sound like I was fu**king them," Vanessa smirked. "Do you have to joke over serious issues? Shame on you," Amanda rolled her eyes. "No one asked for your comment, and besides, I didn't like Linda; I was doing her a favour," Vanessa arched her brow as they all lost hope in hercobly winery too." "I hate their wine; it tastes like pee. Have you ever had pee before? No? Then try Colby Winery." "Vanessa," her manager tried cautioning her. "What, Petass? You scared of a little touchy-touchy; I knew you were weak, but dude, level up.""Vanessa, you need to be serious here; these allegations could ruin your career," Fred announced."If it had not ruined it already," Amanda took a quick bite on her doughnut."Girl, get my business out of your mouth," Vanessa fired at her, and she rolled her eyes.Fred sighed and was obviously confused on what to do. "What made you do it?" "Do what?" "Use drugs obviously and abuse those innocent kids; you are inhuman Vanessa," Amanda added, and Vanessa gave her a glare."Wait what? Y'all believe those shit those reporters are saying?" She paused as no one spoke but glanced at each other."Even you petASS? You are my manager; you are supposed to have my back. I mean, I pay you well, and I also feed y'all very well; never forget that." Vanessa pointed it out, but no one said a word but adjusted themselves."Yeah, right, what did I expect from being the only black person here and trusting your weak ass with my career? You bunch of arseholes," she stormed out of the place and texted Jeff to pick her up."Well, guess that's dealt with." Amanda smiled, and Peter ran after Vanessa. "Vanessa! Vanessa!" Peter called after her. "What? You motherfu*kers already decided, so what else do you want from me? I know I'm black and I like it, but you think I'd have something with children? You of all people should know I can't do something like that, she scoffed, and he sighed."I'm sorry, Vanessa; it's just hard to believe. I know you, okay? You're crazy and all but not a child abuser; you love children," Peter said, trying to make her feel a little better."I don't love children; they are hard to control, but the rest are kind of true," she corrected."Oh, I'm sorry, very sorry, it's just...""It's fine, petASS; I'd be fine," she interrupted and walked away, typing on her phone, trying to get Jeff.

Two weeks had past, and her career was done! It was over. Three years of making people happy and having everything was just over. The harsh reality hit her: three years of hard work and a legacy now reduced to ashes. Her Instagram and Twitter followers have decreased from ten million to one hundred thousand. People cared less about her, and she was tired because she was harassed everywhere she went.

Walking around her apartment, she got a call to come to the recording studio; she knew what they were going to say, but she went anyway."Hey PetASS and Freddy, why did y'all call me? Ya miss me? Awww, I feel fine," she slumped into a chair, trying to be happy and not letting anyone steal her joy."Vanessa, please be serious," Peter begged. "We called you here because we wanted to tell you that it's over; your career and you being here with us are making us lose money, so...""Say no more, Freddy. It was a hell of a ride. Bye, y'all," she rushed out before anyone could make her feel worse than she already does. That night she devoured a whole carton of Fritz Chips and watched a sad documentary before staggering to bed weakly. "I need a drink." She went back to the minibar in her apartment and grabbed a bottle of red wine and a wine glass to drink away her sorrow. She scrolled through her Instagram, and the insult was much; she went to Twitter, and it was still the same. They even had a hashtag to protest against her: #Vanessa Harrington thought she was above the law. # I can't believe I ever idolised Vanessa Harrington before. Then she saw a tweet from Freddy stating that Vanessa Harrington no longer belongs to their record label."Gosh, they messed me up big time." She drank a full glass of wine and opted for more, then decided to speak for herself since she has no career anymore to protect."Are you all crazy? Just one moment that I needed y'all to stand for me, y'all abandoned me and believed the first thing you heard. I've given you good music, day and night. I've had a sleepless night just to make you happy, and this is what I get: bashes and insults from every corner. I've lost it all, and the part that hurts the most is that I lost the most important thing to me; y'all," she tweeted, throwing her phone on the sofa, and she couldn't control herself anymore; she let the tears out. She cried to her heart content and slept on the floor drunk. The next morning she woke up lightheaded with a very strong headache."What the hell!" She muttered before heading to the bathroom to wash up.After washing up, she went through her Twitter, and she was getting backlashes from her fans, and it really hurt her, but the part that hurt her the most was when Amanda posted a picture with Peter with the caption 'My new manager' with an hash tag big dreams."F**k y'all," she muttered as she knew her trial would be up in a few days. She was lucky she knew some people; if not, she'd be in prison by now or even worse. She picked up her phone and wanted to call in a favour. After ringing for a while, the person picked up."Hello Judge Judy," Vanessa teased. "It's Juliet, Judge Juliet," she corrected over the phone. "Yeah, right, I need a favour,"" she said after an eye roll."What do you want, Vanessa?" Judge Juliet asked. Vanessa helped Juliet out of a big mess earlier, and Vanessa was ready to collect now."What do I want?" Vanessa repeated with obvious humour in her voice."I'm a busy woman, in case you forgot, so get straight to the point," Juliet said angrily."Fine, you know what I want-just you to make this trial go away and your debt to me would be paid," Vanessa grinned, knowing she might just be able to convince her.Juliet sighed. "My hands are tied, Vanessa. I'm sorry I can't help you." "Fine,. I guess your husband would be thrilled to see you frolicking with another man, which isn't him. I'd be sending the pictures in a few minutes. Happy divorce, Judge Judy," she attempted to hang up. "You can't do that; it would kill him, and it's Juliet, Judge Juliet," Juliet begged as she was shaken."I know, that's the whole point, so bye.""Fine Vanessa! I'd see what I can do, and using drugs and sexually abusing children isn't cool," Juliet agreed and scolded also."I didn't do anything; I was framed," Vanessa defended herself."Okay, I'd talk to you later, and after this you destroy those pictures, promise!". Girl bye," Vanessa hanged up and released a sigh of relief. She brought out the pictures and smiled."Not yet, Judge Judy; we still have one hell of a ride," she kept the pictures back in her drawer." Hours later, Vanessa got a call from judge Juliet that she has worked some magic and the court would let her go on community service on the ground that she is mentally dysfunctional and would be sent to a psychiatric home."What that? I'd rather go to prison than do that shit," she yelled."Vanessa, you can escape and be a different person and live a normal life; you are mentally dysfunctional, so they'd look for you, but you have to disguise yourself," Juliet explained."! I hate this running shit; it freaks me out all the fucking time, and I'm an artist; what about my career?" She questioned and rolled her eyes. "It's our only option," Juliet said lowly. "Fine, but where would I go to?" She asksd. "I don't know, maybe somewhere quiet and where you can disguise yourself easily," Juliet suggested."Okay," Vanessa smiled as her mind darted to her hometown. "You got two hundred hours of community service, so happy serving," Juliet said. Bye." Vanessa hanged up and knew where she needed to be. After thinking for hours, she sipped on her wine and decided to call her mom. "Hello, ma," she said as her mom picked up. "Vanessa, is that you? I've been trying to call your ass since I heard about what happened," her mom said, obviously happy that Vanessa was safe."Nothing happened, ma," Vanessa shrugged. "You crazy girl, it's all over the fucking news." "Mama, you ain't going to tell me you believe those shit," Vanessa replied."I don't know; I haven't seen you in years; since you moved to the big city, I don't know you anymore," her mother said truthfully."You are so the best mom of the year; I'm coming home," she announced."What? No! Someone is going to recognise you here, so go someplace else," her mom advised."I'm not stupid, mama; I'd disguise myself; with a little bit of makeup and some good wigs and changing my style, I'd be invisible," Vanessa replied."Fine, just be careful," her mom advised. "Thanks, mom. I love you. Bye," she hanged up. Barnes, be prepared; your girl is coming home.After completing her two hundred hours of community service, she was to be taken to a rehabilitation centre, but with the help of Juliet and some insiders in the police force, she escaped and was on the next train to Barnes City. With her heart racing, she settled into her seat, and her mind was filled with fear. Hours passed, and she finally arrived at Barnes City. She stopped at the train station and took a taxi to her home. Walking towards the porch, she realised how much she had missed this and sighed. She pressed the doorbell but got no answer; she did it again, and the fourth time, the door swung open and revealed her mom, who seemed not to age at all. "Hey mom! I'm home," she smiled.

With the song blazing in the club, Vanessa felt at peace hanging out with her girls; it's been ages since they last shared a drink, and her being among them now made her very excited."Cheers," they clicked their glasses together as they all gulped down their shots. "I've missed this," Vanessa sighed and breathed in."Girl, please, I've dreamt about this day," Tarnie, her closest friend, says, and they all laughed.

Vanessa Harrington, a top-notch celebrity in the country, decided to take a break from the limelight due to the allegations she was accused of and spend quality time with her family and friends in Barnes, and this night she decided to chill with her high school closest girlfriends, Ariel, Tarnie, and Juliana, the four badass. So they called themselves, and Vanessa being a black woman, she had to work her ass out so she could make a name for herself outside of Barnes, and now she is popping-Beyonce kind of popping but so sad that ended after being framed-she had to disguise herself in order to share a peaceful night with her girls. Wigs on, makeup, and everything made her invisible, and no one knew she was there except her three girls, obviously.Tarnie laughed at Ariel's dry joke. "Girl, you still with Jacey.""Yes, and he ain't going to break my heart," Ariel said with confidence."Preach sister, I bet he is currently with another bitch right now." Tarnie giggled, and Juliana laughed hard. "Girls, let her be," Vanessa added, and they all laughed, but Ariel wasn't finding it funny at all because they were talking about her man like he was some loose dog. Yes, he cheated on her once or maybe twice, and by twice, she meant a billion times, but still she loved him with all her heart.Vanessa, being a music artist, understood those boys more than anyone because for her, it was a hit-and-run situation; she sleeps with any man she chooses, or so she thought."Holy shit!" She exclaimed as she saw a tall, sexy, handsome black dude whose physique caught her attention, and she was practically drooling.Tarnie traced where her eyes went and saw it fall on the hot dude across the room."Uh, no way, girl, that dude is off the table," Tarnie noticed Vanessa's drools."Why is he with other girls?" Vanessa arched her brow."Vanessa-oh, sorry, Nessa, that dude is closed off; he practically turned Juliana down and other girls that look his way, so stay off." Ariel rolled her eyes, and Vanessa was still lost in the dude's cuteness; he had everything she wanted; his dark brown eyes and his black curved hair made her h**ny instantly. She imagined being in his bed and them sharing a very rough and passionate moment. "Hello," Tarnie snapped her fingers across Vanessa's face."Well, good thing I'm not Juliana because I'm taking this guy home; I've got my supper," Vanessa said with total lust in her eyes as she walked towards the handsome guy. "She'd rather learn the hard way," Tarnie sighed and gulped down her drinks..Liam accidentally came to the bar today because his friends made him to. They lied they were going to have dinner but led him into a bar, claiming it was a restaurant, and Liam, being a newbie in town, believed that 'the cranes' was actually a restaurant."Loosen up, man," Joshua punched his hands playfully. He met Joshua in the mall last week, and with an attempt to introduce Joshua to God, they became friends with the hope he'd change, but now he sat down in the midst of drink lovers, and he got uncomfortable. "I'm fine, can we leave and stick to the actual plan, which is dinner?" he was fed up as stripers crawled to the stage."Hello," he noticed a black girl with brown eyes and straightened hair as she posed seductively, trying to get his attention."Look, you are going to take this number one Joshua's friend, Payne teased as they all giggled."Don't call me that arsehole." Vanessa felt irritated as they referred to her as p**sy."I'm sorry for their behaviours; do I know you?" Liam apologised on his supposed friends behalf."You don't, but you could," Vanessa flirted, and Liam understood where she was heading and adjusted himself."I'm not interested," Liam blared, and Vanessa felt bad that he rejected her."You are playing hard to get, huh? Scared your little bitches might castigate you, dude, I know your type and I can handle you." Vanessa wasn't going to give up.Liam cleared his throat and turned to her. "I'm not going to say this again, Lady; I'm not interested."He stood up and left, dropping some money on the table before heading out."Arsehole," Vanessa muttered..Liam got outside, regretting that he was this stupid to get played by the boys. He walked home because his house wasn't so far from the cranes. Barnes was a small town, and he's here to establish and lead souls to Christ, and he wasn't going to lose sight of his mission here. He was used to girls hitting on him due to his good looks and amazing physique , but he ignored all of them and decided not to date .Vanessa felt rejected and had this sudden urge to show everyone that every guy she wants, she gets."Why do you look so familiar?" Joshua asked, observing her from head to toe."I don't," she said, covering her face with her hair and hurried off before he could recognise her."It went bad?" Tarnie said with obvious humour in her voice and a look of, 'I told you so."You happy?" Vanessa asked, and they all burst out in laughter."Girl, I hate to say it, but I told you so," Ariel added, and they laughed some more."Stop laughing, okay? I'm going to get this guy, I promise," Vanessa said with determination."Okay, how about a bet?" Juliana suggested, and they glanced at each."What is in that mind of yours?" Ariel looked at her with a curious look."If you get the guy, we would all run naked on the streets and give you fifty bucks each," Juliana said, knowing it might be impossible to get the guy."Agreed!" Vanessa said happily as Tarnie gave Juliana a worried look."I don't like that bet," she squeaked."I agree with Juliana!" Ariel added that as Tarnie nods in agreement, it's more like she was forced to agree."What if she doesn't get the guy?" Tarnie asked the obvious question."Then she'd be the one to run naked on the streets and hundred bucks each," Juliana smiled."Fine, y'all better go get ready because Barnes is about to see y'all, black butt." Vanessa sipped her wine with total lust written in her eyes.