Love To Death: Chapter Two > Meeet Veronica!

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Today was definitely not a good day for Veronica Kings.

Veronica stepped out of her closet and peered at her reflection in the mirror again. Satisfied with the way she looked, she went down to her kitchen to put together breakfast. She grabbed a bag of crunchies and poured some onto a bowl. Grabbing a bottle of milk from the fridge, she poured some onto the bowl and stirred with her spoon.

Breakfast is served.

Veronica sighed and sat down to eat. That was pretty much the kinds of meals she's been having ever since her father had forced her into joining the music industry.

Veronica knew she was a good singer. Even as a child, people always admired her singing. She did love singing but she had never thought of making a career out of it. Veronica had always dreamt of becoming an archaeologist. She loved collecting artifacts and historical gems but her father never agreed with this. Even at 25, her father still had much control over her life and the idea of this alone annoys her.

If only her mother had been alive. She thought.

Mrs Kings was the only one who truly understood her. She was the closest to her, unlike her father who was mostly out working. Growing up, Veronica had never lacked anything, besides her father's attention. At some point, she had begun to wonder if he was her real father. He never paid any attention to her. The only time he did was when he decided to ruin her life. Her dreams. Now she has to go about her life in disguise hiding from the paparazzi and reporters.

Putting away her bowl, Veronica grabbed her keys and purse off the counter. She went up to her room and back down again, checking to make sure the house was properly locked.
Being a famous singer, you'd think Veronica would be living a grandeur kind of life. However, that was not the case. Veronica cherished her peace and quiet so she mostly went on her daily business in disguise and lived in a secluded neighborhood. Practically, no one else besides her father and manager knew where the famous Veronica Kings lived.

Satisfied with everything else, Veronica headed out and locked her front door. She checked the time on her wristwatch. 8:35am

Running on heels, Veronica hurried into her car and drove out. She had an appointment with her manager and hates being late for appointments

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By the time Veronica arrived at her studio, it was already past 10am. Due to her disguise, she had no trouble getting in without drawing the attention of the paparazzi and reporters who were probably waiting for her to show. They paid no attention to her as she walked briskly to the elevator.

Veronica sighed in relief and stepped into her studio. She took a minute to check the place. Everything looked normal and calm compared to when she'd have the reporters around her asking questions.

Proceeding to the sofa, Veronica threw her purse on it and sank back down with it. She sat with her head up trying to calm her nerves. When she got in, the door was already opened. She had hoped she'd make it there before her manager.

Few seconds after Veronica got in, the door to her recording room flung open, revealing a chubby looking brunette.

"What kept you?" Stacy Harding asked with a frown "I arrived about an hour ago" Stacy said and proceeded to plop down on the sofa next to Veronica.

Veronica, realising she had been late after all, sighed and relaxed into the sofa.
"I guess I woke up late" she responded

"You were thinking about him all night weren't you?" Stacy asked, her frown now replaced with concern.
Besides being Veronica's manager, Stacy was also her best friend.

Frowning, Veronica peered at Stacy and forced a smile "Why would you think I'd spend an entire night thinking about a psycho?"

Stacy remained neutral "because he's also your fiancée"

"Was my fiancée" Veronica corrected.

Stacy smothered a sigh "let's just do what we're here for"

Veronica sat up ready for business. At the back of her mind, she knew Stacy had been right. She was thinking about Dylan all night. She'd been thinking about him all through the weekend.
Dylan Gates was her boyfriend of 3 years. Few months ago, he had proposed to her and she accepted his proposal. They were to get married in a couple of weeks ago. This, however, was ruined when Veronica had caught him cheating on her. In lieu of apologising and giving an explanation which Veronica would've probably listened to, he came at her and hit her, threatening to kill her if she should call off the wedding. The thought of this alone terrified Veronica.
Though Dylan was presently in jail, she still can't help but feel apprehensive all the time.

Dylan was also one of the reasons why Veronica preferred to go incognito. The paparazzi and reporters would be asking questions and she doesn't even know what to tell them yet. That her supposedly fiancée is in jail because he threatened to kill her? That the wedding that made the talk of every newspaper and magazine had been called off? That the love of her life is now a threat to her life?
Veronica couldn't say any of these so she just hides from them and declines the interviews. Though she knew she wouldn't be able to escape it for long.

"So Clayton has agreed to do the song with you" Stacy announced making Veronica grin. "But...."
Veronica's face fell upon hearing this. Stacy snickered at her reaction.

"You know I like to hear the bad news first"

Stacy laughed shakily and ran her fingers through her oil soft hair "but...." she hesitated again not knowing how to break the news to her talent and friend.

Veronica was starting to get really anxious
"Just tell me already" she said,her tone pressing.

Stacy sighed in defeat "but your father got it cancelled"

"What!?" Veronica requested. She could not believe what she had just said.

"He wants you to do the song solo instead of a duet"

"And you agreed to it?" Veronica said in a blustering tone.

Stacy rubbed her palms on her silk leggings "well yes"

Veronica gasped "for god sakes Stacy you are my manager not my dad's!"

"But he pays me!" Stacy retorted. She was just as infuriated as Veronica was. They had both worked hard to get Clayton to agree and she also knew how much that duet meant to her friend.

Veronica exhaled loudly and sank back into the sofa with her head up. She didn't know what else to say. Singing the duet with Clayton had been the main reason why she had written the song in the first place. Though she was a famous singer and could get anyone to do the duet with her, Clayton however, was the only one whom she felt could pull it off. She had worked so hard trying to get him to agree for months and now it's just... cancelled?

Veronica placed her palm on her forehead and shut her eyes. She was starting to get a migraine from the news she just heard. 'The one thing she really wanted to do ever since she joined the industry. The one thing she wanted to do without her father interfering. That same thing ends up being cancelled and by the same man she didn't want interfering'.

"Would you like some coffee?" Stacy inquired in an attempt to calm her talent.
Veronica, still not feeling any better, simply nodded in agreement. She could really use a cup of coffee.

Stacy got up and adjusted her blouse. She looked down at the slight dent she had left on the sofa as it disappeared quickly. She looked over at Veronica one more time, sighed, and proceeded towards the coffee machine.

Veronica, though lost in deep thought, had noticed Stacy's action. If she didn't know better, she'd say she was on her period.

Stacy came back holding two cups of coffee. She sank back down next to Veronica after placing the cups on the table.

"Thanks" Veronica said and sat up to pick her cup. Stacy smiled lightly at her.

After taking a swig of her coffee, Veronica put it back down. "So what else is there?" She asked hoping for some good news to come.

Stacy put down her cup "So we've got a photoshoot right about..." She looked at her watch ".. now" she finished.

"A photoshoot? What for?"

Stacy snickered "your album of course. Your father insisted on it"

"Right" Veronica said emotionlessly.

Stacy smiled at this "Let's hurry up" she got up "oh and you might want to get rid of your disguise now" Stacy said snickering.

Veronica groaned and grudgingly took off her wig.
Despite how much she would've loved to go incognito, she knew her father wouldn't be pleased with her. She after all dressed to impress.

"Get ready to be attacked" Stacy said laughing as they stepped out.

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Go read chapter one if you haven't
https://steemit.com/story/@lenifty/new-story-love-to-death-chapter-one