From Zero To Stardom: My Superstar System

Chapter Nine: A Call

Marcus' phone vibrated in his pocket, and when he checked the caller ID, a wry smile graced his lips.

"How shameless of you to call me, Rachel," Marcus answered the phone, his tone cold and unyielding.

"Where are you?! We need to talk!”

Marcus' ears feel like it would burst as Rachel's voice pierces through the phone.

Hearing Rachel's voice on the other line, he could not help but remember the times when he begged Rachel to forgive him and come back to him on the phone only to be met with rejection.

Now, the tables had turned, and Marcus savored the opportunity to assert himself.

"Why don't we just talk here on the phone?!"

Marcus retorted, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"You bastard! You dare?! Where the fuck are you?"

Marcus couldn't help but chuckle at Rachel's anger.

Her frustration was music to his ears.

"Oh, Rachel, don't be so impatient. I'm not going anywhere," Marcus replied, enjoying every moment of their confrontation.

"You shameless bastard! I'm gonna teach you a lesson, Marcus. Tell me where you are!"

Rachel shouted with more anger, and Marcus couldn't help but smirked as he listened to Rachel's escalating frustration.

"Well, if you really are so eager to talk to me, meet me on the rooftop," Marcus teased, savoring the rising tension.

"I'm coming—"

"I'm a busy person, Rachel. I will only wait there for one minute. If you are not there in one minute, I'm gonna go."

"What?! Do you know how far—"

Marcus didn't bother to listen to what Rachel was going to say next and hung up the call.

He gritted his teeth and clenched his palm into a fist.

The day that he was waiting and wishing desperately had come and he was trembling with rage.

***

The rooftop breeze played with Marcus's unkempt hair as he leaned against the ledge, waiting for Rachel to arrive.

He could hear the distant sounds of the bustling city below, but his focus remained on his watch.

“8… 5…4… 3… 2—”

Bang!

The door to the rooftop swung open, and Rachel emerged, her hair was messy and she was gasping for air.

As soon as Rachel saw Marcus she stamped her feet towards Marcus.

“You! Do you really want us to break up, Marcus? I gave you the script for you to use!” Rachel yelled as she pointed her fingers on Marcus. “I have to lower myself just to get the script and you didn't even use it!”

Rachel was trembling with rage. Currently, Eric is one of the A-list celebrities in Polleywood. He is a major movie star and his songs always top the charts.

His influence in the entertainment industry is undeniable, and Rachel knows that having him on her side is crucial for her career.

Eric was her key to stardom that was why she tried so hard to please him.

She even wrote a fake script and had them printed so she could fool Marcus but when she gave the script to Marcus he suddenly ripped it to pieces in front of her.

Her plan failed, fortunately, Eric let it slide and they made a new plan to sabotage Marcus.

Rachel was certain that it would certainly work since Eric used money to manipulate the result and she was certain that with Marcus' skills, the Director will not even set his eyes on him but an unexpected thing happened!

Marcus got the Director and the writer's attention and got the role.

‘Just how did he do it? How did it get so good? He is a terrible actor. What happened? Did he do some acting lessons behind my back? But he can't even afford a new set of clothes!’ Rachel thought in disbelief.

Marcus smirked, “Do you mean the fake script that I destroyed?” Marcus scoffed at his words. “Why are you still not admitting that it was fake? And what do you mean break up? We are over, aren't we? I believe we already ended it. I thought I made myself clear.”

Rachel crossed her arms, her lips pressed into a tight line, and she took a moment to compose herself.

"Do you really think I believed you when you wanted to break up with me?" Rachel asked with a venomous tone as she rolled her eyes at him. "Who was the one who begged me to hold my hands? Who was the one who sold his parents' things so that you could give me everything I wanted? Who was the one who begged his boss for an advance salary because I wanted a Hermès Birkin Bag? Do you really think that I'm gonna believe you that you want to break up with me? You are practically my dog," Rachel said with a smirk on her face.

“If you don't want me to break up with you, don't accept the role,” Rachel added and took something from her bag. It seems to be a script again. “Here. That is a new zombie movie that will be released next year. I heard that they are looking for a zombie role. I have to ask someone about this because of you. You should be grateful.”

It was a lie. Rachel got the script from Eric and Marcus will only appear on the screen for one minute. It doesn't even have any dialogues. The script was only for show.

Marcus took the folder, his demeanor giving no indication of his true intentions.

For a moment, Rachel believed she had succeeded in manipulating him once again.

However, just as Rachel's satisfaction began to surface, Marcus abruptly threw the folder into the air.

The wind caught the pages, sending them fluttering and spiraling downward like confetti.

Rachel's eyes widened in shock. “What are you—”

“No,” Marcus cutoff Rachel. “It seems that your ear has been damaged since you didn't even hear what I said. But out of kindness to you, I will say it again.”

He stared at Rachel who was reddened with anger like a volcano ready to erupt with an intensity that made Rachel uneasy.

“I said, we are over,” Marcus declared, his voice holding no emotion.

Marcus suffered for the whole ten years and those ten years, he became a new person.

Anyone who experiences what happened to Marcus will surely go insane but not Marcus.

He knew that there was no chance for him to have the revenge he wanted so he just kept on imagining the day that he would have his revenge and the day where he could get them on their knees.

And that day has arrived.

“Do you know how much I worked hard to get that script? What the fuck is wrong with you, Marcus? If you are going to continue acting this way, I will really break up with you. You won't see me anymore!” Rachel threatened Marcus.

"Do you hear yourself, Rachel?" Marcus's voice dripped with a mix of disbelief and disdain. "You shamelessly arrived today together with Eric, and you are shamelessly saying these words to me? I already know about your relationship with Eric. There is no need to hide your adulterous act. Even the media are talking about Eric's new girl."

Marcus's words struck a nerve with Rachel, leaving a look of surprise but Rachel quickly gained her composure as her face twisted with anger.

“Fine, I'll admit it! I'm cheating and I was only using you,” Rachel admitted with no shame.

Hearing this, anger gnawed at Chandler, like a relentless beast with sharp claws tearing at his composure.

Even though he moved on and didn't have any feelings anymore towards Rachel, he was filled with fury.

He already knew that he was used by Rachel but hearing it in words made him remember the cold and harsh wind when he was living in the streets begging for coins and food to survive.

“Do you really expect me to be loyal to you? A loser and a good for nothing boyfriend? No woman would even want a man like you in their life, Marcus. They don't want a poor bastard like you!” Rachel hissed. “They want someone like Eric. Powerful, rich and someone who oozes with charisma! No one will lower themselves because of you!”

As Marcus heard Rachel's words, he could not help but laugh crazily.

Looking at the woman in front of him, he can't believe he was deceived by her when Rachel made it obvious everytime that she hates Marcus's every being.

He was blinded by love and believed that even if Rachel treated him like trash, she still loved him.

Rachel's frustration boiled over as she saw Marcus laugh at her.

"You are laughing? You don't belong here, Marcus!” she exclaimed and suddenly grabbed Marcus by his throat. “You're nothing but a street rat pretending to be something more. So what you should be doing is proving to me that you're nothing but a failure!"

Rachel's grip on Marcus's throat tightened, her nails digging into his skin.

Marcus, however, remained surprisingly calm which made Rachel more angry.

"Eric will not sit still. He will make sure that you will not arrive at the table reading." Rachel's red lips curled into a scornful smile. “As we are talking, he is probably planning to ruin you.”

"Ruin me?” Marcus scoffed as his eyes locked onto Rachel's furious gaze. “No, in this lifetime, I will be the one to ruin you, Rachel.”