THE MASKED HOODED GUY

"THE RISING ACTRESS STAR, JANE ANDERSON WHO HAD STARRED IN SOME MOVIES AND TV SHOWS WAS SEEN IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST BARS IN LAS VEGAS. HURRYING OUT OF ONE OF BAR'S UPPER ROOMS. IN A MESSY STATE."

"RUMORS HAVE IT SHE HAD A STEAMY NIGHT WITH A MYSTERIOUS MAN BUT WHO IS HE? THE CCTV CAMERA DIDN'T CATCH SIGHT OF ANY MAN, WALKING OUT AFTER."

"COULD IT BE SOME TOP ACTOR? POLITICIAN OR SOME INFLUENTIAL MYSTERIOUS MAN?"

Matilda chunked down the little harsh liquid in the glass in hurry as she tried to calm her nerves from racing when she read out the headline from her phone. She went further to read the remaining content. Scrolling down to read the comments and trust me, some of the comments were a bit harsh whole some were in favor of Jane.

Jane sat beside her in the restaurant she worked at, lost in her train of thoughts, after being given the greatest shock of her life by her director. Speaking of her director, she saw the unimaginable unimpressed look in his eyes at the said video of her. And truthfully speaking, she didn't inform her director of the offer she got from Wonder Prism Studio.

Jane gasped as she watched the video of her hurrying out of the room to the elevator, her hair was a mess and she was clutching her fabric and her shoes in her grip as she hurried to the elevator.

"Can you explain what this is?" The director's voice was low but she could detect the disappointment in it.

She worked under White Rose Production agency where she kicked off her acting life after her mom had made her skill known. Her mom was quite the influential type who knew most industries. She was starting to rise to fame and even got a huge offer and this was what happened?

"Why were you seen like that? And is that article true? Did you actually go there with a man?"

Jane kept mute, wondering what to reply to the question and the look in the director's eyes was screaming that she shouldn't keep him hanging. The corners of her lips quiver a bit as she contemplated what to say. Tell the truth or say it was an unintended mistake.

"Umm…." Her eyes deflated on the ground for some minutes before she raised it, swallowing at the look the director was throwing her way. She slowly nodded.

"How did this happen?"

"Actually I got offered a role by Wonder Prism Studio in a historical magical drama as the female lead so I crashed into the bar to celebrate with my sister and friend. The next morning, I have no idea what happened or why I was in one of the rooms."

"Do you know how bad this is?" Though there was a flicker of anger that gleamed in the director's eyes, he kept his voice low but she could hear every disappointment in it.

"I'm sorry.. I didn't know someone took pictures of me."

"An actress was seen walking out of a room in a hurry and you expecting not to raise people's suspicion? You were caught up in a scandalous act and you didn't even bother to tell me that you got offered a big role?"

"I was gonna tell you but everything happened too fast," Jane defended herself. At the brim of a tear rolling down her face. "I didn't know. I was too flustered to figure out what happened."

"You do realize you are a public figure?" The director asked, calmly. "Every little thing you do—- every small trip of yours is seen by people, every breath you take in is noticed by people. WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!"

It was the very first time the director raised his voice causing her to jolt. Jane swallowed and hung her head in utter embarrassment. What has she gotten herself into? What happened? Who was taking pictures of her when she walked out of that room? She definitely saw no one there so how?

"I'm terribly sorry, It won't happen again." She apologized. Eyes still on the ground.

A moment of silence swept across and Jane stood still but her body was trembling inwardly so much, for a sec, her vision became blurry. She waited for the backlash from the director. She was ready to take any scolding for her own foolishness.

"This is a wrap for the day," the director announced. Jane raised her head at his sudden announcement—- of course, the news of her sleeping with a mystery guy must have shook him as well as the rest of the actors, actress, and crew on set so she didn't try to debate it. "That would be for the day."

She flinched a bit when the director's eyes rested back on her. The soft look in them had turned cold and she couldn't bring herself to look at him. "I'm really really sorry, I swear, it wasn't done deliberately ....I'm sorry for being so careless."

She trailed off when the director didn't utter a word but instead gave her a dead stare.

"Just know, you have put your acting career on the line." She was silent and waited for him to continue. "Just go home— the shoot is rescheduled for next Wednesday."

Without sparing her another glance. He walked off, her gaze followed him and she saw some of the crew members throwing her a sympathetic, accusing, judgmental and a look of disdain. When she walked past her fellow actors and actress, she swore she heard her name in their mouths. They must have seen the video.

"Bet this is her way of climbing the ladder," she heard a female actor say and she was quite aware she said it for her to hear it. "Sleeping around with influential men in the industry to skyrock her to the top."

It felt like a sharp blade was pierced into her heart at the accusation and those words were coming from the one person who disliked her for no reason. Who shamed her in any given opportunity. To Jane, it felt she was trying to find a flaw in her to push her down—- why? Maybe she felt threatened by her.

And it was no other person than Ashley Mckenzie, a rising actress as well who would do anything to hit the hall of fame.

Jane tried to ignore her accusing and judging words.

"Who knows who it was this time? Was it a politician or some man she wanted to keep his identity hidden?" She and the rest let out a mocking laugh.

A proud smile appeared on Jane's face as she turned to her and the rest. Harboring a proud look as she tilted her shoulders high. "If you don't know anything about me, you shouldn't go around making false claims."

"Oh please," Ashley rolled her eyes. Letting out a disgusted snort. "We all know you are not innocent as you claim to be and I wasn't making false claims, sweetheart. The video says it all. If I was making false claims, why were you seen in the video and why were you hurrying out like a cat caught in a devious act?"

"We know you aren't a Saint," Ashley added. Frowning.

"There's so much that meets the eyes," Jane's smile broadened. Reaching to dress her collar properly. "Like I said, don't make false claims if you aren't so sure. Also, that last part, you should address it to yourself."

"Just because mine was shared in the limelight doesn't mean we aren't in this together. Doesn't mean we all don't know or play the game."

Jane whirled away from her, knowing she was probably sizzling with anger. Her face was already red like tomatoes but Jane was finally feeling relieved for giving her a piece of her mind after being bullied by her verbally a couple of times.

Jane heard her snort again before screaming after her. "I dislike hypocrites who act like the victim and are not so innocent."

Jane ignored her words, knowing it was pointless exchanging words with her. Dozens of questions stormed her mind as to who leaked that footage and why? Was the person waiting for the best minute of her life to crush her?

She definitely believed it was a setup. This was to frame her up, to bring her down but she would get to the bottom of it all and expose the truth. Also she was curious as to who that mystery guy was.

"JANE! Are you even listening to me?" She was jarred back to the present when Matilda snapped her fingers across her face. "Where was your mind? What are you thinking?"

"A whole bunch of things. Like how did everything happen in a snap? Who took those pictures and how did I end up in that room with a guy I met that night? I know I wasn't drunk. I wasn't drunk."

"You made a terrible mistake," Matilda said.

"I know." She heaved a deep breath. Shoulders slouched, feeling disappointed in herself.

"No, not that." Matilda emphasized. "I meant you made a terrible mistake for not knowing who the guy was, at least you can hold him accountable for what happened to you."

"I don't know, I couldn't process anything at that moment. I was too startled and flustered."

"This matter is very deep. Maybe some paparazzi or reporter or a troll was there that night, watching your every move that night to get a story out."

Jane's memory headed back to that night she bumped into that hooded masked sturdy masculine looking guy. Could it be him? Did he accidentally bump into her that night or was he deliberate?

She shouldn't jump into conclusion without finding the whole truth. Who was watching her that night? And was she drugged?

"Didn't you or Ivy have a clue what happened that night?"

"Nope." Matilda shook her head. "We were pretty much wasted, flirting with some hunks."

Why does all evidence and suspicion of her point to that masked hooded guy?