It's been two days since the video went viral, destroying his entire reputation and forty eight hours of sleepless nights, reading hate comments and screaming in anger. 

He feels like he is hanging by a thread. Like He will fall and lose his senses anytime. He is tired.

There were times when he wanted shout and reply to all the hate comments and shove some logic into each of them but he stopped himself thinking his agency would handle the mess for him. His agency will defend him. 

But his agency did nothing. Mr. Scott did nothing. Well, the video was taken down from every fansite and social platforms. But, his reputation is already ruined. Everybody thinks he is the mistress now. 

"What's your group ?" 

Ben comes out of his thoughts when Juliette waves her card in front of his eyes. Ben looks back at Juliette "what ?" 

"In next episode, we will perform in groups. What's your group ? I got the sweet group."

Ben widens his eyes "sweet group means ? Sweet dishes?"

Juliette nods "I like sweet dishes more than Savory. Let's see if we are in same group." 

Ben opens his card hurriedly wishing the same group with Juliette. 

"Savory." Juliette reads Ben's card out loud. 

"What a luck !" Ben clicks his tongue. "Who else is in my ground ?" 

"Briana is in Savory." 

"Wonderful! Couldn't be any better !" Ben rubs his face in frustration. 

Juliette was about to comfort him, when Briana walks towards them "Are you any good in actual cooking or you are just a crow who wants to wear peacock feathers?" 

Juliette glares at Briana "mind your language." 

"What ? This is not my language. Everybody is saving this. Haven't you two checked the latest news today ?" 

"What news ?" Juliette asks with a irritated face. 

Briana chuckles. "Official statement of Zoom entertainment?" 

Ben removes his palm from his face. My agency released a statement? Finally ? A relief washes over his body for a second. He pulls out his mobile to read the statement hurriedly. 

Ben reads the content of the statement twice. He clicks on the comments hoping to see those stupid people who were hating on him before. 

He scrolls to read the top comments. 

"Oh my god, imagine ceo himself denying the rumours. I want to see that Ben's face. He thought he would slid into CEO'S bed with these rumours .. ha ha ! Funny. 

Well, everybody wants to copy our Fred but this is the outcome. 

Damn ! CEO worked overtime to clean the trash. Statement at 7 am in the morning. 

Now I can sleep in peace. Crow didn't get the peacock's feather.

Wait he denied rumours with Ben but never denied rumours with Fred. We all know what it means right ? 

Should you all apologise to Ben for calling him the mistress? 

Ben closes the comment section with a disturbed face. Only one good comment about him ? He clenches his phone tightly.

Juliette lets out a deep breath. She read some more comments but all are worse. She pats on Ben's shoulder. "Ignore them, it's a part of starlife. They will forget about it soon. Don't worry." 

"Now" Briana chimes in with an extra happy tone "can we discuss the dish ? Since you don't have any added advantage of being the mistress, you have to work hard and actually cook a dish." 

Ben has no mood of fighting. He simply stops Juliette who was about to shout. "Who else is in our group ?

"Charlie and Mathew."  Briana replies as a matter of fact. 

Ben knows Charlie from the rainbow cake. But Mathew's counter was towards the last row in last episode. He didn't notice Robert. 

His eyes catches Juliette's Team from the corner of his eyes Juliette, Denis, kia and Jackson. All strong competitors.

"We need to make a strategy." Charlie walks towards Ben and Briana.

"I have a plan." Mathew whispers in a low voice. 

His voice made Ben realise why didn't he notice Mathew before. 

"What's the plan ?" Charlie asks. 

"If we are asked to prepare one dish then we will decide our tasks in four sections. "Like chopping, marinating, frying and garnishing."  

"But if we are asked to prepare a full course meal with 3 to 4 dishes. We will make 3 dishes. One Starters, one main course, dessert or drinks. We will devide this task too. One member for starters, two for main course and one for dessert." 

Ben nods with Mathew's suggestion "sounds like a plan." 

"I will prepare the main course." Briana chimes in. 

"I have no problem. You already got the second star. So I trust you." Charlie agrees. 

Briana smiles happily and tilts an eyebrow at Ben "what are you going to make ? Are you going to be lazy again ?" 

Ben sighs. This is going to be a long ride "I can take anything.. starters or drinks." 

"Why not main course with me ?" Briana asks. 

"Because you don't like me and I don't like you. This is a group project and our bad blood can ruin the entire dish. I don't want to be in elimination." Ben replies directly. "And remember, if we ruin our dish, you will be in elimination too. So please, can we focus." 

Briana clenches her jaw "don't use that tone with me. If you are angry at your agency then go, shout at them." 

Mathew who was listening to the conversation silently, whispers "I think Ben and I will be better solo. We will take starters and drinks section." 

Charlie nods "that leaves me for the main course." 

*** 

Alan throws his mobile on his desk frustrated. What the f ! 

He took down all the videos from the web already. It was just a statement clarifying Ben is not piggybacking anyone. 

But the situation worsened again. He opens his laptop and directly went for reddit. What is Ben's reaction? He wanted to talk to Ben directly but his mother's blood pressure fluctuated suddenly and he got busy. 

There is no update from Ben. How is he ? Should he call ? 

Before Alan could doubt any further, he already picked up his mobile to call Ben. 

The call connects after the forth ring. 

"Hello !" Came Ben's voice from the other side. 

"Hello Ben !" Alan smack himself in his mind. What is he supposed to say. 

"Mr. Scott ? Is there any problem ?" 

Alan comes out of his awkwardness "no , I mean yes. You don't worry about the controversies. I will take care of it. Some fans are just twisting the truth. I will deal with them." 

The other line stays silent for sometimes. 

"Ben ?" 

"Yeah , it's fine. It's all a part of artist life. Things happen and it's already been two days. I have come to accept it." 

Alan leans back on his chair "I am sorry. I should have posted the statement as first as I could. But my mother suddenly got sick and everything went down." 

"It's fine. As an employee it comes under my contract that I have to abide by companies decision whatever or whenever. I know my place. Mr. Scott shouldn't apologize to me. It looks bad. He must apologise to Fred for the chaos." 

Alan tilts his head "you know I have nothing to do with Fred."

"Yeah I saw it in two days." 

Alan frowns"what do you mean ?" 

"Nothing. How can I interfere in the CEO'S personal life. Mr. Scott doesn't need to explain his relationship with Fred to me. It's against the contract." 

"What contract ?"  Alan frowns harder. "I am not getting what are you talking about ?" 

"I am saying CEO must not contact me anymore. I don't want another mistress rumours also I have no interest in wearing peacock's feather. I am happy being a crow." 

The line went dead before Alan could reply anything else. What crow ? 

*** 

Ben cuts the call with a stern expression. He has had enough. He can be a mediocre artist with no extraordinary looks or talent but he is not a doormat. He can see things clearly.

He is practical and he knows that Mr. Scott denied the rumours just to save himself from being involved with a mediocre artist. Mr. Scott has no problem in being involved with Fred. After all, he is the great Fred. 

Who is he in comparison with Fred ? 

Ben shakes his head before heading towards the bed. It's been a rough day. He needs to sleep. He was about to lie down when a knock interrupts him. 

Ben groans. "Juliette is that you ?" 

"Sir.." a female voice comes with another knock. "There is a woman in the reception. She said that she wants to meet you. It's urgent." 

Ben opens his door with a click. "A woman but.." Ben frowns. Fans are not allowed inside the hotel. So it's can't be a fan. The who ? 

"The woman has a VIP, sir." 

Ben has a bad feeling for some reason "VIP ? Ok ! I am coming." 

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