Ivan stared at Debbie's contract and said into his phone, "Your contract is going to expire soon. You plan to settle in Y City, don't you? Now you can go anywhere else to explore new horizons for your music. With your potential, I believe you will make an international star."
"But…" Debbie stammered.
Ivan knew what was on her mind, so he coaxed, "We can hold your concert in a month. If no company wants to sign you then, you can still go back to the Wen Group, while we wait for some large company to come knocking for your signature."
"Absolutely not! Ivan, I won't do that. Even if I'm going to work outside the Z Country, I will still sign with the Wen Group." Through the years, Ivan and Irene had helped her a lot. If she chose to leave the Wen Group at this moment, she would be the most ungrateful woman in the world.
"Debbie, relax. Listen to me. The Star Empire under the ZL Group is one of the leading companies in the entertainment industry. If you can sign with the Star Empire, it will add to your popularity. A contract with them will benefit you a lot. You've been working day and night all these years. Have you forgotten what you've always wanted to be?" Ivan asked.
'What do I want? I want to be powerful enough to avenge myself, ' Debbie thought.
After a short pause, she said, "My answer is the same. I want to stay with the Wen Group for life."
Ivan burst into laughter. "I admire your firmness! But… Come on. We have many popular stars, and your absence will make no difference. The only reason why I'm asking you to sign with the Star Empire is that they have Carlos as their boss. You came back to Y City for him, didn't you?"
'What? Carlos is in charge of the Star Empire?! That means if I sign with the company, Carlos will be my boss!' The very thought excited Debbie.
Sensing that she hesitated, Ivan continued, "I believe you and Carlos will eventually get back together. Then you will settle in Y City. Isn't that something you'd fancy?"
Ivan's words made sense. "But the Star Empire has more established stars. I'm afraid—"
Ivan interrupted her. "Don't think too much. You are different from them. Unique in your own special way. How about this? If you sign with the Star Empire, you can stay in Y City. And if something is off, you can always come back to the Wen Group. Okay?"
In a choked voice, Debbie asked, "Ivan, why are you always so nice to me?"
"Because I love Piggy so much. She is so adorable, I want her to have her dad's company. I did all of this for her, not for you!" Ivan joked.
"Thanks a million, Ivan," she said, wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.
"No problem. I'll release the news that you are going to hold a concert in Y City. The concert tickets will be available for booking soon…" They discussed work for quite a while before hanging up.
What Ivan had done for her reminded Debbie of Curtis. She stared at her phone, lost in thought.
'Curtis is always so nice to me too!' Thinking of this, she sent Jared a text message. "Send me Mr. Lu's phone number. Thanks," she wrote.
Instead of replying to the message, Jared called her. "Did you come back to Y City? Ungrateful woman! Why didn't you contact me and Kasie as soon as you arrived? You must be a fake friend!"
Debbie giggled and explained patiently, "I just arrived. I want to find Mr. Lu because he's always nice to me. Compared to my own brother, Mr. Lu is more like family to me. Oops! got it wrong. He IS my family. I need to treat him to dinner and thank him in person."
"Lately, Mr. Lu has been a busy dad. Taking care of his child has changed him in many ways. All the same, I'll send you his number shortly. And hey! Why not hang out with us when you're available? You think of nothing but your man! There are still other men in the world!" Jared teased with a laugh. "Men like me," he added, gauging her response.
"Really? I better call Sasha and tell her that her boyfriend is thinking of another woman." Debbie decided to play along.
"Are you kidding me? Sasha would skin me alive! While you were away, she has changed a lot. She's no longer the soft girl you knew. Bossy and willful would describe her better. Anyway, I'm glad you're here. Please talk to her, if you know what she means to me."
Amused, Debbie teased him all the more. "You used to dislike Sasha. I suspect you must be reaping what you sowed. Karma, you may say, right?"
Scratching his head, Jared said softly, "Well then, forget about it. But tell me, are you going to stay and work in the city? We'd cherish having you back, Debbie." He paused and waited for her response. "Hopefully, I…" Debbie stammered.
When she couldn't finish her sentence, he nudged on, "Sasha has had several ads recently. Looks like she has real prospects in branding and showbiz, which I think might work to your advantage as well. Together, the two of you might take the industry by storm." "That's cool," said Debbie.
"I'm planning to work in Y City, but I'm not keen on acting. Singing is all I want," she added. "Awesome. How are things with you and Mr. Huo? Is there a way I can help?" asked Jared. "Your old crew in town, me, Kassie and Sasha would gladly assist."
Debbie was moved by his kind offer. "That's very nice of you, but I'm good. Just be nice to Sasha. If I really need your help, I won't hesitate."
It was good she had Jared for a friend.
"Hmm. I got to go. I have a client to meet with. See you." With that, Jared hung up and sent her Curtis' phone number.
Staring at the number, Debbie hesitated for a long time. She didn't know what to say to Curtis.
'Ugh! I better just apologize to him. After all, I owe him a lot.'
The call was connected soon. "Hello?" came a woman's voice.
Debbie asked timidly, "Is this Colleen?"
"Yes, ma'am. Who am I talking to?" Colleen sounded somewhat drowsy at first. But she quickly recognized Debbie's voice. "Gee!" she exclaimed. "Debbie, is this really you?"
Debbie's eyes turned teary as she answered, "Yes… Colleen, I…"
"Ain't fair, Deb. You just went MIA for a whole three years!" Coleen complained. "Girl, I even came to Z Country a couple of times, but you were nowhere to be seen. What's up?"
"Yeah, I know. And for that reason, I'm reaching out to invite you and Mr. Lu for dinner."
"Sure. Wait a second." Colleen called out, "Honey! Honey!"
Curtis' voice came from the other end of the line, gentle as ever. "What's up? The call's for me?"
"Mm-hmm. Guess who?" Colleen handed the phone to Curtis. A strange number.
Curtis passed the baby in his arms to Colleen and answered the phone in confusion. "Hello, who am I talking to, please?"
"Uncle Curtis, it's me, Debbie."
Curtis was lost for words. Debbie's voice alone was surprising enough. Yet she called him "Uncle!" The first time! He couldn't help but smile. A real ear-to-ear smile.
'Stubborn girl!' he thought. "Are you back in the city?"
"Yes, Uncle," she replied, her voice choking on tears.
Curtis asked with concern, "Good to know that. How have you been all these years?"
"Pretty good. Uncle Curtis, I want to invite you and Aunt Colleen to dinner and apologize to you face to face," Debbie explained.
