Reputation

A/N : I posted a video after the picture up above, listen to the video while reading so you'll get a better sense of this chapter :) "Rose" is the backup singer on this song. Enjoy !---------

*One Month Later*

My life has been ruined. After the press conference nobody wanted to work with me. I was slowly but surely losing everything I had. I went from the Queen to the artist formally known as Rose. Every company I had deals with pulled out on their end, all pending deals I once had, are gone. And none of my so-called friends will speak to me. The majority of my employees quit after more recordings of me surfaced talking shit about how terrible they were. I don't have regret about that though, they were shitty employees. The only ones who stayed behind was Charles, Traci, and Tabitha , the maid. I'm lucky I get to keep my house because it's paid off, but people keep trying to mob me so I relocated to California to get away from press. But that was a bad idea, since the press are worse in there than in New York. My "family" tried to get in contact with me but I refuse to talk to them, they're probably the ones who leaked everything of me. You can't trust anyone at all.

"Charles, get me my tea." I say through my intercom.

"Right away madam." Charles bellows.

I turn on the tv and low and behold who do I see on there?

You guessed it, Michael.

I roll my eyes and flip through the channels, trying to see what else is on that could take my mind off of all this stress.

I stop when I notice a music video playing, and it's mine. It was ending and the V.J comes back on the tv looking a little too happy.

"And that was 'Anger' by now disgraced singer Rose! I guess the title suits how she's feeling huh? Now as you all know, Rose was- and still is- the center of negative attention with new leaked recordings and videos of her mistreating her employees and family, talking smack about her very own loyal fans, and harboring money also. Why would she do that you ask? Maybe because she's selfish, who knows? The now infamous Rose has become an overnight sensation and not for the best ways either. But nonetheless people are still calling in here and requesting her videos. How about we throw in a video that few people know that she was a backup singer on? Here's Alexander O'Neal's 1987 hit, 'Criticize' !

I look on horror when I see the video play, what people don't know about this song is that me and Alexander used to date and I did this song as a favor, and to my dismay I didn't realize he wrote this song about me ..

'Can't you find something else to talk about? Is this song the only one you sing? Makes you look better when you put things down? Value your opinion!

Don't criticize my friendscriticize my ideas

Don't criticize my life style

I'm fed up 'cause all you wanna do is criticize.'

"Here comes my part." I groan.

'You've just closed your mindooh ooh - criticize!Yov don't realize - all you wanna do is criticize.I just want what is rightstill you saycriticize.'

I continue looking at the video, and cover my ears until the end. I wasn't in the video because I was on tour and we had broke up. We broke up because supposedly I nagged him too much or whatever. They put some ugly look alike there but nobody noticed it was supposed to be me. I finally hear the end of the song and sigh in relief.

'You've just closed your mindooh ooh - criticize! . . .You've just closed your mindooh ooh - criticize! . . .You've just closed your mindooh ooh - criticize! . . .'

"Who would've thought that Rose actually sang backup to something? Last we heard, she does not work for other people. People work for her. We'll be back right the commercial break."

I turn the tv off and look outside. It's a nice day in Santa Barbara today, maybe I'll take a walk around the woods.

Rose. Snap the fuck out of it. You do not go walking around the woods. You don't even walk your own damn dog! Plus you've never been here before you might get snatched up!

I shake the cynical thoughts out of my head and head out of my room. I have Charles put my tea in a thermos and I make sure nobody is around before I grab one of my favorite books, 'Flowers In The Attic.'

I walk around the lake that surrounds the woods until I find a quaint little bench that happened to appear and sit down. I take deep breaths and try to take in the air. It's cleansing and relaxing, something I haven't felt in a month.

I start reading my book and before I know it the sun is setting and I'm basically complete with my story. Something about this story always sparks my imagination. I stretch my arms and legs and start to get up to walk back to my place. Only there's one problem...

Where the fuck is my apartment at?

I groan inwardly to myself as I start walking around, hoping I don't get too lost or kidnapped. But who would want to kidnap a disgraced singer right?

I finally find a patch of light after walking for about 10 minutes. I jog towards it praying it my place but it's not, it's someone else's apartment.

God I hope someone can direct me back to my place.

I walk up to the mystery door and ring the doorbell.

I wait about three minutes then ring it again. I keep ringing the doorbell until I hear someone come to the door.

"I'm coming! Jeez can't a person have some privacy sometimes?" A familiar voice says.

Where have I heard that voice from?

The door opens and it's the last person really ever wanted to see.

"What the hell do you want?"

"Ugh don't get your panties in a bunch, I got lost and I was hoping the lovely people at this residence could help me find my way back home." I say, sarcasm dripping from my voice.

"Well you better find someone else to direct you, because I don't want to help you. In fact I'd rather you get eaten by the Bears!" The voice sneers at me.

"Listen here, bitch, no bears are gunna scare me and you sure as hell don't scare me so what's up ?" I yell, making the trash jump behind the door.

"Karen? Who's at the door? Why are you yelling?" Michael says, coming from behind her. He pauses when he sees its me.

"Rose? What are you doing here?"

"I live in the apartments next door and I got lost, I was reading by the lake and I forgot where to go, I saw the lights on here so I figured I could get directions home but I didn't know this grinch would be the one to answer the door." I explain, rolling my eyes at Karen.

Karen starts to say something but is cut off by Michael. "Karen you can go now, it's getting late and I don't want you driving home so late." Karen gives Michael a look of sadness before purposely caressing his face in front of me and kissing it, then walking away but without giving me a hard shove in the shoulder.

Okay bitch, that's two...

Michael clears his throat, bringing all my attention to him. I notice he's wearing a tank top, and plain jeans, and his loafers of course. His curls are clipped back, with a few falling out here and there, and he doesn't have his glasses on for once. He kinda is an attractive guy.

"Miss Rose, I feel as if you're stalking me now." Michael smirks, snapping me out of my becoming fantasy of him. Weird.

"Now why the hell would I want to stalk you? I don't know where anyone lives here anyways." I scoff.

Michael grabs his jackets and closes his door. "Where do you live?"

"Casanova, 479." I say and he starts walking, making me follow him.

"So what was that ogre doing at your place?" I ask, breaking the ice a little.

"Karen is my makeup artist. She was there to make sure everything was set up for my photoshoot tomorrow."

"She seems like more than a makeup artist to me." I mutter.

"What was that?"

"Oh nothing."

We walk in silence for a few moments until we get towards my entrance.

"Well here we are." Michael says. "Maybe you won't get lost next time."

"Yeah yeah whatever. Thanks I guess." I say and start walking to my apartment. I'm stopped by Michael because he grabs my wrist, making me turn around.

"Flowers In The Attic." He mumbles. "What's that about?"

I stare at him like he had three heads.

"You never read this book before? They just came out with the movie last year! It's an amazing book, and it spawned several sequels." I say, flailing my arms.

"Can you explain it to me? I like books, any new book I see I immediately take an interest to it."

I ponder for a moment on how to explain the book to him. "Here." I place the book in his arms. "Read it for yourself and see what it's about."

"Rose I couldn't possibly take this." I held up my hand and he stopped talking.

"I've read this book a million times. It's my favorite. Maybe it'll be yours too. Just remember to give it back to me, or I'll kick your ass. " I sneer, half joking, half serious.

Michael chuckles. "I'll keep in mind of that. Well I'll see you around then. Neighbor."

"See you, I guess." I turn to start walking in and then I turn around. "Michael!" He turns around.

"Yes?"

"Don't you dare tell anyone that I seen you or had any interaction with you. The last thing I need is more scandal. Especially with you."

He laughs as he walks away. "Okay I got you. Goodbye, Rosie."

I turn around to yell at him for calling me that atrocious name but he's already running back, singing the name Rosie as he goes.

For the first time in months, I had a genuine smile on my face. And honestly, it felt good.

My moment of happiness went away as soon as I walked in my place and sat down.

"CHARLES! WHERES MY DINNER?!"

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Helloooooo. Decided to update before the holidays ! If I'm not back on by Friday then I wanna say Merry Christmas to everyone! I hope you all get a lot of presents and MJ things also! I love you all :)

-Angii<3