novelraw Chapter 91: If he had feelings...
Chapter 91: If he had feelings...
Three days after the concert, a news article came out. It talked mostly about the two minute video that played on the screen that night. It also mentioned her sponsorship with the Vale family.
Elara was alone in the grade four studio when Ziva walked in with the news.
Ziva handed her the phone and Elara took it and read quietly without a change in her expression. She was not surprised or angry. She had expected something like this.
After going through it, she handed the phone back. "I want to do an interview," she said.
"That’s a good move." Ziva said with a nod, then she crossed her arms. "Which publication?"
Elara gave a small shrug. "Anyone you think is best."
Ziva looked at her for a second, then nodded again.
"When?" she asked.
"As soon as possible." Elara replied without hesitation.
–
The interview took place five days later.
Elara sat across from the journalist in a simple room. The woman looked to be in her mid thirties. She held a notebook in one hand and a pen in the other.
She studied Elara while Elara looked back at her calmly. Then she opened her mouth.
"There have been reports that before the concert, you were seen working at a restaurant. Some people are questioning how that fits with your position now as a rising artist." She asked directly with no harshness in her tone.
Elara did not react. "I worked there. It’s true." She said simply. "I was building something so I needed income. And the restaurant provided it."
"I worked there because I needed to. I sang because I needed to. I don’t see a contradiction there. Most people who are serious about something have done something ordinary to support it."
The journalist gave a little nod and wrote something down. Then she looked up again.
"What about the second video?" she asked. "The one that played during the concert."
Elara did not move but her expression stayed composed. "Someone edited footage of me into something it wasn’t. I think most people who watched it carefully could see it wasn’t real."
"The people who chose to believe it... they were going to believe something like it eventually regardless. So I’m not going to change how I live just because of what people who already judged me will think ."
"Does it bother you?" The journalist asked watching her closely.
Elara went quiet for a long second before speaking up. "What bothers me is that someone spent time and effort trying to destroy something I spent years building." She said quietly. "That is what bothers me. Not what people believed."
The journalist nodded again, then asked, "Who do you think was responsible?"
Elara raised her head and looked at her. "I have my thoughts. But I’m not going to say something I can’t prove in an interview." She said.
*****
Relanie sat with her legs crossed in the sitting room of the Vale mansion, her eyes on the television. She was playing a game on her phone while waiting for Mrs. Vale to come out when she heard a familiar voice from the TV.
When she looked up, she saw that it was an interview. And Elara was the one present in it.
Relanie’s eyes stayed on the screen but her expression didn’t change. After a moment, she gave a small snort and looked back down at her phone.
Then footsteps sounded from behind her. Relanie already knew who it was so she turned her head sideways and smiled. "Mom," she called.
Mrs. Vale walked across the room and sat beside her. She reached out and patted Relanie’s hand gently. "Sorry to keep you waiting," she said with a warm smile.
"It’s fine," Relanie replied while Mrs. Vale’s attention shifted to the television.
The interview was still playing.
"Oh, it’s Elara Veyne," she said with a little surprised tone and watched for a long while. "She handled that well."
Relanie said nothing.
"What do you think?" Mrs Vale suddenly asked, turning to her.
She pressed her lips together, then forced a small smile. "Yeah."
Mrs. Vale looked back at the screen. "Most people in her position would have been defensive...or emotional. She was neither." She continued watching.
"I wonder who keeps doing these things to her. Every time something starts going well for her, something else happens. The concert incident. Before that, the Rising Voice issue." she said casually and shook her head gently. "Someone doesn’t want her to succeed."
Relanie kept her eyes on her phone as she replied. "Hm,"
Mrs. Vale did not look away from the screen. "She’s a good girl. I can tell just by looking at her. Whatever people say, there’s something genuine about her. You can see it in how she carries herself." she said simply and then suddenly paused. "I think she reminds me of someone."
"Who?" Relanie asked looking up at her.
"She’s a bit like Adrian," Mrs. Vale said quietly, almost like she was speaking to herself. "That expression... always calm. Like nothing touches her." She paused again. "Though I think many things do. She just doesn’t show it."
There was a quiet warmth in her voice which made Relanie uncomfortable. She slowly put her phone down and looked at the television. Then she made up her mind.
She wanted to see Mrs. Vale’s reaction.
She wanted to know... if she would turn away from her if she knew the truth.
She turned her head and looked at Mrs. Vale. "Mom," she said while Mrs. Vale looked at her. Relanie took a small breath.
"What if..." she paused, "Adrian liked someone?"
Mrs. Vale’s expression stayed warm, but Relanie could tell that she had become more attentive.
"What do you mean?" she asked.
"If he had feelings...for someone... would you support it?" Relanie replied.
Mrs. Vale went quiet for a long time. "Adrian having feelings for someone..." she said slowly. "That would be..." She paused. "That would be important. He has never..." She stopped again and looked at Relanie. "Why are you asking me this?"
Relanie turned her gaze to the television. Particularly, at the face that filled up the screen. Then she looked back at Mrs. Vale.
She did not say the name. She don’t need to.
Mrs. Vale followed her gaze to the television and also, turned back to Relanie...