''That damn woman just turned me into a bully'' Alice said as she went towards her room.

''I'm glad you realised that'' Director An said. Alice stopped and looked at the man standing at her doorstep.

''Director An?'' Alice walked closer but maintained a good distance between them.

''I didn't know you were the one so I filmed it. What do we do with this now? You are going to be tagged a bully when this gets into the internet''

''What do you want?''

''I brought the script. What do you say? Should we go in and discuss it over a bottle of wine?'' Director An asked as he lifted the bottle of wine and two glasses that were in his hand.

''I'm sorry, but, it's late and I have a shoot tomorrow. You can discuss this with my manager'' Alice replied.

''Then, will your manager also clean this mess up when it hits the internet? Or will you manager clean up the mess when it finally comes out that Josh Cobbs is not your real boyfriend?''

''What do you mean?''

''Alice, don't keep acting like you do not know what I want from you. This is a lifetime opportunity I am giving you. I planned to meet with Mimi Song tomorrow morning, but I decided to come here and give you another chance. This project is going to guarantee you a spot at the Golden Actors Awards this coming summer. You shouldn't let such a good thing pass you''

''Director An, I thought by going round in circles you would get the clue but it seems that I need to put it bluntly. I do not want to work with you and I do not like the way you talk to me''

''What? Hey, you must think that you a rea big shot, right? Who do you think you are?''

''I don't take myself to be a big shot but even if I am still rising up as an artiste I must be honest with myself. I do not mix business with pleasure. You've been crossing the line with me and I do not like that''

''That so funny considering the fact that you are the one who lured me in first with your flirtatious actions''

''What?''

''Anytime we are working together, you act so nice towards me. You even said once that I was the youngest and most handsome director in the industry''

''Those were my honest thoughts on you but it didn't mean that I flirted with you or liked you. You misunderstood my intentions''

''So, you are saying that you I was the one who got carried away? Then, what about this afternoon? Are you really dating Josh Cobbs?''

''Do I have to answer that question? Director An, it's already late. Please leave before anyone sees us and thinks that we are doing something else''

''Why? You don't want to soil your reputation? Figures, you don't want people to find out about your dark past, right? You think you've made a clean start, right?''

''What… what do you mean?''

''Alice'' Josh came out of his room and saw them together. he walked closer and pulled Alice behind him.

''Wow, such a protective boyfriend'' Director An teased.

''Director An, it's late. I believe whatever you are discussing with my girlfriend should be over now. Alice, let's go inside''

''Harry Winchester. Does the name ring a bell?'' Director An asked Alice.

Alice's hands quivered and she tensed up. Josh looked at her and turned to Director An, "would you leave or do I need to call the security?''

''No need calling the security. Alice, the offer will still be on until late after tomorrow. Call me if you change your mind'' Director An said and walked away.

''Are you alright?'' Josh asked Alice after director An walked away.

''I'm fine. I'm just tired, thanks for helping me out''

''Go in and rest. Don't allow his threats get to you. That debut movie, won't even see the light of day''

''You…''

''I am not doing this because of you. I am doing it because you are not the only artiste he has threatened before. Go in and have a rest''

''Good night'' Alice nodded her head and went inside. Josh turned and also got into his room. He took his phone and dialled a number.

''I want you to run a check on Director An and find out what kind of relationship he has with Harry Winchester. I also want to know where that bastard is hiding right now''

''Yes, boss''

Josh hung up and sat on the bed.

….

Xia looked at her time and sighed. Karl was now fast asleep and Connor hadn't arrived yet. She must admit, the boy was such a talkative, like his father. He wouldn't stop talking until he fell asleep. He even asked her to sing him songs.

Xia yawned and opened her eyes when she heard a knock on her door. She hurried over and opened it.

''Hi'' Connor said as he looked at Xia's face.

''Hi, come in. He fell asleep after waiting for a long time'' Xia said awkwardly as she fumbled with her fingers.

''I was caught up in a meeting. I'm sorry to have inconvenience you. I hope he didn't bother you with a lot of talking?''

''No, it's alright. did you bring his clothes?''

''Yes, I did'' Connor showed her the bag he was holding.

''I had to wrap him in a towel because the robe was too big for him and it's a little cold'' Xia shifted her gaze when Connor turned to look at her. Her heart was in a mess. She hadn't seen him for a day and she already missed him.

''I will change him and take him to my room. Thank you for taking care of him. I met Via but she didn't look so good. I don't know what is wrong with her?''

''Connor, I don't want talk about Via. Whatever she does is her business, I don't want to be part of her drama'' Xia said honestly.

''You are right, I'm sorry'' Connor sat on the bed and pulled Karl closer to himself. Xia picked the bag and removed the shirt and gave it to him.

''Here, his shirt'' Xia said and Connor stretched his hand to take it, their hands brushing in the process. Xia retreated immediately and the shirt fell on his laps. She turned away and went to sit in front of the dressing mirror.

Through the mirror, Xia watched Connor change the sleeping boy his clothes. A lot of thoughts went through her mind. If she hadn't run away like a coward, would she have become the mother of the boy by now?

Xia frowned and shook her head mumbling, ''get you head together, Kim Xia''

''Kim'' Connor called and Xia stood up immediately.

''Yes?''

''I'm taking Karl to rest. Thank you for helping me out''

''It's nothing. that's what friends do for each other, right?''

''Friends?'' Connor asked.

''Karl said you told him I was your friend'' Xia said and smiled.

''That…''

''You should go now'' Xia went and opened the door.

''Now, I feel that you are really pushing me away. Xia, I won't stop hovering around you. I will prove to you that my feelings are true. It didn't change, it never will'' Connor said and left the room.

Xia closed the door and leaned against it.

….

Connor placed Karl on the bed and was about to stand up when the little boy suddenly asked.

''Daddy, does mommy not love me at all?''

''Karl, you are awake?'' Connor was taken by surprise.

''Daddy, today when I soiled myself mom said I smell. She asked me to leave her alone''

''Karl, mom loves you. She just finds it difficult to express her feelings''

''Dad, I love that aunt. When she was cleaning me, she didn't say I smell bad. She played with me and said I was so handsome like my dad. She even told me not to hate my mother''

''That's the Xia I know. Always able to coolly separate her private life and never allowing it to cloud her emotions'' Connor smiled.

''Dad, I missed you so much. Mom doesn't play with me. She said I should make her get closer to you or she will abandon me''

''Karl, don't listen to your mom, okay?''

''Mm, I'm going back to sleep''

''Goodnight, Karl'' Connor kissed the little boy before standing up.

….

''That little slut'' Director An returned to his room looking quite furious. He smirked and walked over to his bag. He removed a very old Motorola phone and turned it on. When he entered the contacts section, there was only a single number in it. He dialled the number and the other side answered it.

''What do you want?''

''That little slut told me that she was flirting with me. how can she say that after everything?''

''You are drunk'' the mysterious voice said back, ''if you have nothing to say hang up''

''I told her about you. That bitch tensed up just at the mention of your name''

''Andrew, how dare you mention my name to that woman?''

''She made me angry. She claims Josh Cobbs is her boyfriend, can you believe that?''

''Shit. You just made things more complicated. Who have I been hiding from and you just made that man aware that I am still in this town'' the line got disconnected.

''Harry, hey'' Director An screamed into the phone.

Purplebride's corner:

Hi everyone. I hope everyone is healthy and keeping safe?

I noticed a lot of you want mass release and you keep telling me that in comments section.

Here I'm just going to be blunt. I am a human being and I need motivation and inspiration to be able to continue to write everyday.

A lot of you only read, you neither comment nor write a review. Maybe because I'm not so popular so you don't even want to bother with such things. But these are the little things that a writer needs to be able to assess the book.

Reviews whether good or bad are necessary so that we will know whether we are doing the right thing or not.

I have a lot of readers but I can tell you honestly today that about 90% of my reviews are from fellow authors, we do review swap to assess each other's works but the greater part is from readers which sadly for me I am not getting. I'm not sure whether I'm doing a great job or not because I don't have that much reviews.

If you are a free reader and this is not a jab at you because I also read a lot, sometimes free but most of the time with paid coins to support the work of the author because trust me it is not easy to sit and write at all and we don't even get that much from writing anyway, but if you are a free reader, the least you can do is support with power stones, comments and reviews. I always leave a review whether I'm reading for free or not.

Now a lot of you have been doing that and I truly appreciate it but, if you could just give me a little boast by writing a review for me, it would really make me happy.

To all my paid readers, I truly appreciate you because I am able to get something small for my writing everyday because of your support. Thank you and I do hope you continue to support me.

That's all and I hope you don't take offense to this, whatever I said.

PS: No mass release until I get a lot of reviews so until then, let's stick to one chapter a day because I have work that I do and don't have the motivation to write a lot of chapters for any mass release. Thanks!