Hey ! I am new here ! 

I don't know how this platform works ! I am still figuring it out ! 

I hope you will like the first chapter of my story !! 

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"I am really sorry dear. The episode was already so long. So the Director decided to cut it short and your scene didn't make the final cut."

  Ben looks at the assistant director helplessly. He was so excited for this show. 

  "Don't worry, You will still get the full payment."

  Ben gives a fake smile to the assistant director who was trying hard to ease the situation. But he can't be happy about the payment. He auditioned for this role because of the exposure. He planned to gain some fans with the popularity of the show. He practiced his dialogues more than hundred times. But now, all in vain. 

  "Ben ?" 

  Ben comes out of his thoughts. He smiles again "I understand, Madam. Then ...

  "Myra ! Where the hell is Fred ?"

  Ben stops as the Director burges into the office. 

  Myra , the assistant director stands up "He is not ..

  "He is not at the shoot. WE NEED TO SHOOT THE ENTIRE CRIME SCENE IN FUCKING DAYLIGHT." The Director shouts at Myra.

  "I am calling him .."

  "HIS PHONE IS NOT REACHABLE."

  Ben blinks. Life can be funny. Those who gets everything, doesn't value anything. and Those who values everything, doesn't get anything. 

  "His guards aren't picking up either." Myra cuts the phone call in frustration. "Should we call Alan sir ?" 

  "HAVE YOU GONE MAD ?" The director shouts again. "WHAT ARE YOU SUPPOSED TO ASK HIM ?" 

  Myra sighs. Ben actually feels sorry for Myra. Myra is a sweet and polite girl but she is the assistant of the rudest director in the history of entertainment world. 

  Fred is late. Fred's personal assistant doesn't know where he is. Fred's bodyguards aren't picking up calls. It's not Myra's fault. why shouting at her ? 

  "I will try to contact him." Myra replies finally. 

  "WILL TRY ? WHEN ? AFTER THE SUN SETS ? AFTER MY DEATH ? WILL TRY ... WHAT WERE YOU DOING THERE ALL THESE TIME ? GOSSIPING WITH THIS NO NAME NEWBIE ?"

  "No .. No. I was just talking about his payments." 

  "WHAT PAYMENT ? HE IS NOT A PART OF THE FUCKING SHOW !" 

  Ben grits his teeth. He can't shout back. He must not shout back. He needs future roles. 

  "But according to Zoom Entertainment contract..." 

  "DON'T TEACH ME ZOOM CONTRACT , MYRA. TODAY THE ZOOM CEO WILL BE HERE, HIMSELF. AND WE NEED TO START THE SHOOT BEFORE HE COMES. IF HE SEES THAT WE ARE IDLING AROUND WITH THIS FLY , INSTEAD OF HIS HONEY, HE WILL MURDER US." 

  Ben visibly gets offended with the director's comparison. If Fred can be honey, then he can atleast be a Bee. why fly ? 

  Myra nods at the director then looks at Ben apologetically. "Don't worry. I will take care of your payments. He can shout as much as he wants. He doesn't pay you. So, it's not his call." 

  This time Ben gives a genuine smile "I will stay to help you. I have nothing to do anyway."

  ........... 

  "Sir , We are here." 

  Alan puts his laptop down. "Um. You can leave after parking the car." 

  "ok sir !" 

  Alan walks out of his car. He looks around the set with a Satisfied expression. 

  "Sir, You are here already ?" 

  Alan frowns. "Already ?" 

  "No ... I mean , we are yet to start." The director hesitates. 

  Alan raises his one eyebrow "Wasn't today's shoot scheduled at 10 am ?" 

  The director nods. 

  Alan looks into his watch "It's 12 : 30 now. Two and half hours late ?" 

  The director screams in his mind. YOUR BOYFRIEND IS LATE. HE HASN'T ARRIVED YET.

  "I asked What's the reason for the delay ?" 

  The director closes his eyes in frustration "Some props aren't ready." 

  Alan gives out a cold laugh "Props are not ready ? Aren't you the director ? Isn't it your responsibility to make the arrangements before scheduling shooting time ? Do you think people's time has no value, they will wait for you forever ?" 

  The director clenches his fist. He curses Myra in his mind. "It was not my fault, Sir. It's .. him." 

  Ben who was just passing by, stops as the director points at him suddenly. He looks up confused. 

  "He broke some of the major props in anger. So, we need to fix them." 

  Ben frowns. Props ? what .. 

  "Newbie , apologize to Mr. Scott, right now." The director shouts. 

  "what ? what did I do ?" 

  Alan looks at young boy who looks utterly confused. "who is he ?" 

  "A good for nothing newbie. We cut his scenes from the show, that's why he was angry and broke the props." 

  "I did nothing." Ben interrupts this time. He knows he can't offend the director but he can't afford to offend the CEO either." 

  "SHUT THE FUCK UP !" The director shouts. 

  Alan looks at the director "Where is the prop ?" 

  "huh ?" 

  "The prop which he broke, where is it ?" 

  "T .that ... is in repairing ..."

  "I will see it." Alan walks into the set in big steps. He is the CEO of Zoom Entertainment. He made this company from the scratch. and in the process, he has met many liars, hypocrites and sweet talkers. That's why, he knows a lie, when he hears it. 

  The director follows Alan closely behind "Sir, it's hot outside. Why don't you rest in the tent .." 

  "Where is the broken prop ?" 

  The director hesitates a little. But then he points at Ben again "I asked him to repair it." 

  Ben gasps in disbelief. This time, he looks at the CEO straight in the eyes. Enough is enough. He wouldn't tolerate this anymore. "Sir, I broke nothing. The shooting is delayed because ... 

  "Big brother !" 

  Ben stops in the middle. The sweet and high pitched voice is familiar to his ears. It belongs to one and only Fredrick Thompson. 

  Everybody turns at the source of the voice. 

  Fred walks in the set with a beaming smile "Big brother, Why are you here ? you said that you had a meeting ?" 

  "The meeting is cancelled." Alan replies to Fred casually before turning his focus back on Ben "What were you saying ? The shooting is delayed because?"

  Ben bites his lips this time. What should he say ? what was he going to say ? oh god ! his career is finished. He will never get any project from now on. 

  "Because of me !" 

  Ben turns around only to find Myra standing behind him. 

  The CEO tilts his head "you ?" 

  "Hello sir, I am Myra. assistant director. I was not satisfied with the final cut of previous show. So I asked the director to alternate the story a little." 

  "Alternate the story ? are you Fucking Out of .... "

  "Why not satisfied?" Alan asks interrupting the director coldly. 

  Myra points at Ben "He was signed as a supporting role for this story. He worked hard for it and the results were good too. But his scenes were eliminated completely."

  "He will get the full payment. You shouldn't worry much." Fred adds hurriedly. 

  Alan looks at the new face in front of him. "Do you have any problem with the arrangements? Did you ask her to support you ?" 

  Ben wants to say no. But if he says no then Myra will be in trouble. Myra was just protecting him. he can't let her take all the blame. so, he nods slowly. 

  "I was upset about complete elimination. It's an hour long episode. Even two minutes of screen time would've been a lot for me." 

  "ARE YOU JUDGING MY DECISION?" The director shouts at Ben in rising anger. He can't control anymore. 

  Alan glares at the director this time. "You cut out his entire scene after the shoot, you blamed him for breaking the props, the again you blamed him for hiding it .. shouldn't he judge your decision?" 

  The director shocks with the ceo's rising voice. He lowers his head "Sorry sir, I didn't mean to frame him." 

  Alan closes his eyes to ease his anger the he looks at Ben "I can't do anything about the episode which is already aired. But, I can offer you double payment for the loss." 

  Ben shakes his head "No no , sir. I don't need double payment. But thank you for the offer." 

  "You don't want double payment?" 

  Ben smiles and shakes his head again "No sir. I will take what I worked for." 

  Alan gives a soft smile. His anger subsides a little "Then what do you want ? Zoom entertainment owe you one." 

  Ben shakes his head again. "No no .. don't owe .. owe nothing. It's just one request .. I hope Mr. scott, brother Fred wouldn't take today's matter to heart. Myra mam and I didn't mean to offend you." 

  Alan tilts his head. Sometimes he really wonders if he looks like a lion or not ! Why are some people so scared of him ?