Chapter 10
Lilian, after returning to the stage area, signaled reassuringly to Florence, who then confidently announced, “Next, I’ll be singing the song ‘Perfect
Match.”
As the music began, Florence lifted the microphone with confidence, ready to perform.
However, as Florence prepared to sing, the music for “Separation” played instead, followed by “Blues,” confusing the band and halting their performance.
Despite being unable to follow up with the songs, Florence bravely bit the bullet and continued lip-syncing. As she was unaware of the upcoming songs, each shift on the playlist revealed Florence’s embarrassed expression on the big screen.
A hush foll over the entire stadium as the unexpected transition left the audience in silence. The clear vocals resonated through the night sky, now unaccompanied by the band, while Florence continued her performance.
Suddenly, the music cut off, and Florence was too slow to hide her shocked look. The whole place saw her moving lips-no sound. Realizing she was busted, she clammed up.
As she turned on her microphone to explain, Stephanie’s voice filled the stadium, “Hello, everyone. I’m Florence’s vocal double. I apologize for deceiving you with my voice while staying hidden. Singing brings me joy, and initially stayed behind the scenes for Florence’s sake. However, discovering her true colors has led me to reconsider. The engagement party scandal is true, and Florence’s attempts to manipulate the story are unacceptable. If you don’t believe me, ask her to sing without music, though she’ll likely use feeling unwell as an excuse and leave the singing industry soon after.”
Stephanie continued. “Though we’ve not met, I know you’ve appreciated my voice, I hope we can truly connect someday.”
She then left the microphone and in-ears on the lawn and exited swiftly.
The revelation ignited fury among the fans, who accused Florence of lying “Florence, you’re a liar!”
Overwhelmed with fear, Florence collapsed to the ground, watching as the glow sticks from the audience surged toward the stage. Unable to stand, she dragged herself backstage.
Lilian, concerned for her safety, quickly directed the staff to help Florence escape the growing unrest.
The scene was charged with tension from the fifty thousand fans in attendance, the fallout of which was hard to predict.
The public relations manager from Fantasy Entertainment stepped forward, attempting to calm the storm by suggesting Florence was the victim of a defamation campaign..
Yet, the crowd wasn’t swayed. The evidence was too clear-Florence’s lip-syncing had been exposed to thousands, and her subsequent breakdown seemed to confirm her guilt in the eyes of the audience.
Caught off-guard by the magnitude of the crisis, especially so soon after dealing with a scandal involving leaked photos, the public relations manager felt a growing resentment toward Florence.
In an attempt to quell the uproar, the company offered double refunds for the concert tickets.
This pacified some, but others demanded a direct explanation from Florence herself.
The scandal, following closely on the heels of the leaked photos debacle, catapulted Florence into the center of controversy, becoming a hot topic online. Despite the company’s efforts to suppress the discussions, they couldn’t stem the tide of public opinion.
Douglas, watching the concert unfold on his screen, felt a surge of anger. The similarity between the vocal double’s voice and Stephanie’s was unmistakable, raising questions about Florence’s reliance on Stephanie’s talents. Suspicion gnawing at him, he repeatedly dialed Florence’s number
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Chapter 10
until he finally reached her.
“What’s happening? Those weren’t your vocals, were they? Was Stephanie the one singing?” he pressed.
Florence, tearful, responded, “Douglas, I’m devastated. It was my voice on the sample, and the company backed me because they liked it. But after drank coffee Stephanie made, my vocal cord was damaged, and I couldn’t sing anymore. She offered to help as my vocal double out of guilt. Now, I think it was all part of her plan to undermine me at my peak.”
“Is that so?” Douglas questioned, his skepticism evident.
Florence, sensing Douglas doubt, doubled down on her story. “It’s the truth. Remember, Stephanie had an abortion at fourteen, which speaks volumes about her character. Despite her past, I welcomed her back, hoping she had changed. Yet, she betrayed me.”
Douglas, recalling past encounters with Stephanie at a bar, concluded that someone of her reputed background could indeed be capable of such deceit. “Don’t worry, Florence. I’ll support you. Maybe it’s time to shift your focus to film and television. I’ll ensure you become the best actress,” he offered.
Florence, momentarily uplifted, asked, “Douglas, I miss you. How are you? How’s your injury?”
As Douglas shifted, a sharp pain shot through his back. “Don’t worry about me. It’s Stephanie and Vincent who should be worried.”
Meanwhile, Stephanie was enjoying a moment of satisfaction, reveling in the thought of Florence’s predicament. The unfolding events brought her a sense of vindication, amused at the chaos Florence now faced.
Outside the stadium, the parking lot was bustling with cars. Stephanie meandered down the pedestrian path, reaching for her phone only to discover its battery had died.
Opting to walk a bit more before catching a taxi back to Tranquil Garden, she pressed on.
Connor, having waited patiently in the car, noticed the throng of concertgoers spilling out into the streets and decided to step outside.
He scanned the dispersing crowd for Stephanie but found no trace of her. In a state of alarm, he dialed Vincent.
“Mr. Fletcher, the concert’s over, and I’ve lost sight of Mrs. Fletcher,” he conveyed with urgency.
Vincent tried calling Stephanie, only to be met with the void of an unreachable phone.
He then turned to his laptop, fingers flying over the keys in a rapid dance.
The conference room quieted down as the executives watched, both impressed and intrigued by his swift actions.
However, Stephanie’s phone being off presented a hurdle, her device’s encryption adding another layer of complexity to the task at hand.
Vincent shut his laptop with a decisive snap, addressing the room, “After going through the rest of our agenda, I’ve pinpointed ten areas needing attention. I’ve highlighted these for review, and Zane will coordinate the adjustments. That’ll be all for today.”
Zane then swiftly wheeled Vincent out of the room, leaving the executives in a state of muted astonishment at how quickly he had managed to work through the extensive proposal before them. ‘No wonder he’s a business genius!’ they thought.
The executives were taken aback to see Vincent, a figure of unwavering calm amidst billion-dollar deals, visibly unsettled. Their curiosity piqued, they speculated on what could possibly ruffle the feathers of a man known for his stoic and detached demeanor.
Rumors that Vincent had a fiancée spread rapidly, igniting whispers and speculation among the executives. They couldn’t resist pondering whether his infamous fiancée had cheated on him, suggesting a reason behind his unusual state of distress.
On the two-hour drive from Gerton to Jacaster, Vincent sat in the backseat, his expression etched with worry. He urged Zane, “Drive faster.”
Tes virimipiesus wash over nim.
Zane cast a glance at the speedometer, noting they were already pushing 111 miles per hour, and felt a wave of helplessness wash over him.