condemned idol episode 1&2

#CONDEMNEDIDOL By Onyekachi Ikeh
#EPISODEONE
(A short story about the secret of the life of celebrities).

"Roland Vanessa!!!" At the sound of the name of the actress released breathless gasps from the audience as the elegant young lady moved to the stage to give her speech for her father in law's birthday,the president...
Vanessa had risen to that point even if it had nearly cost her life...

After the celebration that night,she followed her husband from behind and held her retarded daughter closely as they all walked in silence.
One of the drivers helped pull open the door to the limousine.
In second, the car was moving...

There was absolute silence as the car drove on.
That was the way it had always been since she had walked into the marriage of the son of a President.
She had thought that life would be perfect.
She had once lived in abject poverty with her parents on the streets of Surulere in a one room apartment and had finished her schooling in a government school.
It was around the time she had completed her WAEC that some of her friends had introduced her to an audition and she had beaten into the lead actress because of her talent.
...But that same night she was recognized as the lead actress, a handsome director was waiting at the corridor...
At eighteen, she had lost her virginity to him.
She had soared and became the idol of Nigeria...

She had wanted to make her parents proud.
On one occasion, she had sighted the president's son and was bent on seducing him,which she eventually succeeded in after a year and seven months. did for a year and seven months.
She never knew that, that would be the greatest mistake of her life....
She had wanted wealth, but the route had brought her doom.
Her husband called her a prostitute because she was an actress...
He hated her even more when she had given birth to a retarded child with the down syndrome.
That was where the condemnation had started.



#CONDEMNEDIDOL
#EPISODETWO

She walked into their room and sat in front of the dressing table to take off her earrings,she heard her husband walk into the room...mumbling something as he took off his clothes...

Their marriage was five years already.
She felt awkward as she took off her clothes, "Sweetheart, what should I cook for you?".

He completely ignored her and walked into the bathroom.

She sighed to herself.
She was actually expecting his reaction.
Her husband hated her.
It hurt her so much,but she couldn't give up on her dreams.

She walked into the second bathroom to take her bath... When she returned, he was eating pizza and drinking trophy on the bed.

She fumed at him.
Her husband hated Pizza.
For him to be eating it,that mean't he would rather eat pizza than eat her food even if she was a very good cook.

Her phone rang. It was her brother, James. He was the only one in the family that had never received anything from her ever since she gained fame and wealth. He was a devoted Christian who was a teacher in a government school.
Despite everything, he was still her best friend.

" Vanessa, I saw you on TV giving a speech for the president. Are you back home now?"

"Yes. Just got out of the bathroom"

"How is Patricia?"

"She is very well. She slept in the car on our way home so the maids carried her to her room to sleep".

"Where is your husband?"

"He is with me. He is eating"

"I know he is not eating your food again"

"He is not. How is everything?"

"Vanessa, you don't have to worry,I am praying for you. Your family will be wonderful very soon.Make sure you pray tonight. God disregards anyone that disregards him"

There was tears in Vanessa's eyes, "I am tired of everything. I hate this wealth I swear..." she couldn't control it anymore,she sobbed uncontrollably. "I will call you later".

"Make sure you eat something and stop over thinking and crying okay? take care of yourself".he disconnected the line.

Her husband clapped for her sarcastically, " Whoa! So you are relieved now right? I feel more regretful than you do over this marriage sincerely. I still totally regret the fact that you came into my life ".

She wore her nightgown but didn't say a word.
She walked to the bed and relaxed on it silently.
Her phone rang again. It was one of her directors." Hello sir"

"Marky Leeves still wants you to take the lead role. He refused you taking just the cameo part. He really wants to act with you!You will be very famous around the world!!! Marky Leeves is a famous American actor. If you take this role, you will soar, not only in Europe or Africa,even Asia!!!"

"But I am discouraged because of that scene you guys want me to take. I am married"

"Commooooon,it is not the first time you are taking such role so why the panting?"

"White men can be extreme. I can't do it, I am sorry"

"It doesn't change anything. Your husband will still remain the infidel he is!Such ingrate!it was because of you that his father made it to the second tenure and he is still a disaster!!!"

"That is enough okay? I will think about it,goodnight" when she disconnected the call,her husband had already finished his snacks.

There was awkward silence between them.
She met her husband's eyes, he looked very depressed.
She turned and sighed to herself...
If they continued like this, they won't even be able to have a second child...
She summoned courage and faced him, "Ray,I need a second child"

He scoffed, "Marky Leeves will give you that in your new role..."

She nearly laughed at that.
Was he really jealous of Marky Leeves? "I will give up that role"

"I never asked you to,did I?"

She sighed to herself, "I can't give up acting"

He didn't say a word,he turned away."I was not careful enough to see through you before our marriage that you married me for purely benefits. Despite my wealth,I had wanted true love but rich men hardly find it"

Before they had gotten married, it had truly been for only benefits, but in their marriage, she had grown to know him and really love him,but as much as she had tried to prove it to him, he still didn't believe her. "Yes,it was all with the intention of benefits when we started but later,it became true .I don't know how, but it did".

"Stop deceiving yourself you prostitute!!!"

She glared at him, "I told you to never call me that"

"Your stupid fans see your stupid breasts when you wear those nude dresses and you kiss everyman that come your way. Now tell me who does that"

"Those dresses are in the acting wardrobe!!! And those kisses sometimes are kiss scenes!!!"

"...and you don't know that it is a deem to my own reputation!!! The owner of Alex Vanes and son of the president of the country... now tell me what people will say about my wife!!!right from when you weren't a virgin when I touched you I knew you will still be a flirt!!!"

"I am not!!!"

"Even in our marriage, you were cheating on me!!!that queen Elizabeth role you took in South Africa! you slept with a director before you were given the role!!!".

He was right.
They had travelled to South Africa for filming. Tricia was only one year old and she had left her with a nanny, but she was set up that night.
The director had sneaked into her room and threatened her that if she didn't sleep with him,he will choose an American actress to take her role and she will fly back to South Africa in shame.
Fans had already been anticipating the movie. If she was sent back for someone better to replace her,fans interest in her will drop. She just had to do it,but she never knew that was the beginning of her doom. A reporter had seen him coming out of her room and had taken pictures. The news had spread, even though she had denied it. She had broken the heart of some fans until she acted that movie in Texas, 'THE UNKNOWN', she had gained them back completely.
Her husband looked at her,waiting for her to deny it, " Aren't you going to say anything you slut?"

She sighed to herself, "You believe I am a slut, why do you still refuse to take a second wife or maybe file for a divorce?"

He searched her eyes, "Why do you think I am still holding unto you despite everything?"

Vanessa shrugged, " You are scared of killing your good reputation... or probably because I am growing everyday, you are scared of loosing your popular wife".

He was shocked at her, "Are you crazy?what on earth do you mean by that?"

"It was because of me your father won it to the second term so stop disregarding me"

He fumed, "This is one of the many reasons I hate talking to you,you are so immature... If at thirty you are still like this, its really a pity!!! you are not the only popular actress that is married!!! why don't you emulate the moral ones?"

"You better stop all these your Hausa defamed mentality or else while your mates are soaring,you will remain in your shell"

He slapped her so hard that she fell off the bed,"Don't you ever talk to me like that again!!!"with that,he turned back to sleep.

"You think you are the only one that hate this marriage? I will tell everyone how two faced you are!!!they will know my point of view!!!". She cried out.

"You have nothing to offer, Vanessa. To you,your career is more important than your family. You are just fake".

The next morning, when she woke up,her husband had gone to work.
She looked into the mirror,there were still bruises around her left eye. She would have to be with Sunglasses for appearances for now.
Patricia was already dressed for school that morning.
The maids were changing her bed covers. She had drenched them with saliva that morning.

She rushed to hug Vanessa," Mummy, carry me"she stretched and Vanessa carried her four year old daughter.
She looked up at the maids,"What did she eat?"

"She said she wanted cake so she had it with tea ma"

"I have an advert to attend this morning. I will drop her at school from there"

"Yes ma!!!"

When Vanessa had finished the network advert she was requested to take part in, ,the director whispered, "Your husband again?"

She shrugged, "What?"

"You think I will believe the story you told us about the bruise in your eyes? That wasn't a fall,it was a hard hit. You are a wonderful wife but he doesn't even appreciate it"

Vanessa sighed in self pity. Who was at fault in her marriage? was she the one?was it her husband? was it the both of them???