The Luster of Stars in Moscow
⁇ 75
The presence of Rafael Moscovich on the glass screen at a press conference held by Vladimir Vallensky was more than enough to make "Joan" an object of intrigue.
"What about the rivalry between Tsar Dramy and the MoscovArt Theatre in the staging of Joan?" ask a reporter.
"Ah, nothing." Vladimir replied with a confident attitude that was trained. "For Joan, this time it will be a joint performance between Tsar Dramy and the MoscovArt Theatre."
Cheri was flabbergasted while smothering his mouth.
Mikail blinked behind him.
Members of the MoscovArt Theatre simultaneously froze with the intensity of a judgmental gaze.
Sesha paled on Mikail's side.
"I'll be the producer" Vladimir announced. "And the director." the man grabbed Rafael's shoulder and the camera immediately aimed at the man. "My old friend who was also a member of Tsar Dramy, Rafael Moscovich!"
The reporters applauded.
Cheri shrieked stifledly and turned to Mikail.
The man was as shocked as he was.
"Did it have been planned like this from the beginning, huh?" Sesha muttered at Mikail's side.
The whole room started to get rowdy.
"But aren't you two rivals?" The reporters began to ask again.
"Why did you suddenly join?" ask the other reporters to start fighting.
"If it's not wrong, there are rumors of a love affair with the female lead!" the other timpal.
"For sure." Valentin took over the answer, but before continuing, he pulled Vladimir's hand off his shoulder and muttered, "I don't like it when my shoulder is hugged!"
Vladimir smiled uneasily with his jaw tightening slightly.
"Right now we're turning a blind eye to a small problem" Valentin told the public. "I chose a bigger theater group because 'Joan' would be more successful there. But if the sponsorship issue is handled by Moscovich Corporation, which is run by my own parents. This show will be a spectacular show. The main cast, as planned, we'll be using Cheri Dutchskova."
"I'll call President Moscovich!" Mikail can't take it anymore. The man simultaneously twisted his body and rushed over.
"No," Cheri chanted, trying to arrest the man. Then follow him out of the room. "Marile!"
The man didn't bully her.
No, thought Cheri. Please don't do it, hope in your heart. This is tantamount to betraying Rafael!
Reaching the administration room, the two burst into it almost simultaneously.
Cheri insists on preventing Mikail.
"Valentin did it!" Mikail raised her voice. It was the first time he used such a high tone on Cheri that the girl shrieked. "President Moscovich alone was completely terrified. If the name Moscovich Corporation has been brought up like that, inevitably, they must provide support. Otherwise, they would be considered strange, and Rafael's secret would be leaked to the mass media."
"Whatchu mean? I don't understand!" Cheri stammered looking at Mikail's face. "Didn't the Moscovich Corporation give Rafael support to finish off Vladimir?"
"I raise my hand" Mikail said. "As long as the public's attention is on 'Joan' I can't catch Valentin."
Cheri tightened his jaw and looked at Mikail's face with his eyebrows intertwined.
"That's what Valentin thinks too!" Mikail added.
Cheri finally understood.
Will I let Valentin do what he wants?
.
.
.
A few moments later…
The members of the theater began to discuss their respective unrest. They all gathered in the training room.
Cheri was also there in the midst of them with Mikail, but no one had yet realized his existence, as everyone was too busy fighting over complaints.
It is hard to get up! regret Cheri in heart. But I have returned.
"Sorry, yeah. I have absolutely no idea about working with Tsar Dramy!" Sesha felt guilty. "It's too sudden."
"Rafael outrageous!" Some people started to hide.
"Oh, comeon!" Sesha tried to calm them down. "Try thinking with a cool head. Rafael must have had a pretty strong reason. Rafael could not have joined Vladimir for no reason."
Yeah, if it's Rafael! Cheri batin teryl.
"Cumprrrgh!" Ibrahim groaned in frustration. "How is this?"
"No," Sergey Cheri couldn't help himself. "This must be an idea.." he suddenly stuttered. They don't know about Valentin yet, he realizes. Then add up quickly, "Vladimir!"
The whole room suddenly went quiet.
"We can't accept it" Cheri said half-hysterically. "Rafael must have been framed. We have to stop him!"
"Cherry!" Some people screamed in surprise, then the whole room turned to Cheri.
"Why are you here? Haven't you been pulled by Vladimir?" Someone asked half protest.
"The words of a man like him can be trusted," others chimed in.
"Wait on! You all misunderstood me!" Cherry tried to defend herself.
"Please listen to what Cheri has to say!" Mikail.
The entire room looked disdainfully at the man, but their faces looked irritated.
"Ah—alah, Cheri! Leave it to me!" Someone suddenly interrupted.
The whole room turned towards the door.
Rafael burst in with wide steps. The tip of his long coat until it fluttered behind his body. Her hair whipped dramatically at the side of her face which was extremely stunning.
The entire room looked at the man.
For a moment, Cheri was also blown away. But then he realized the man was not Rafael.
Valentin--for what is he here for?
"Everything was my idea!" valentin shouted. His face looks as serious as Rafael.
Is he Rafael? Cheri was suddenly worried.
"Cheri moved to Tsar Dramy to protect me and save the MoscovArt Theatre."
Sounds like Rafael!
But then the man hugged Cheri's shoulder. Cheri just found out that he's still Valentin.
"He's not responsible for any of this" the man concluded as he placed his hand around Cheri's shoulder.
Cheri pressed his shoulders unobtrusively and inched a little away from him, while the man was still trying to give understanding to the entire member.
"You must have known for a long time my quarrel with Vladimir," explained Valentin. "What he and I have been thinking about all this time is how to fight each other and find out each other's weaknesses. Finally, Vladimir managed to find out my weakness. Cheri was threatened by Vladimir, so he moved to Tsar Dramy."
"There's so much pity on him" murmured someone. "Because of that, we all misunderstood and even thought nothing of Cheri."
Cheri and Mikail glanced at each other with meaningful gazes.
Sesha looked at Cheri with concern.
"I'm not defending you" Cheri protested, shaking his shoulder from Valentin's embrace. "Basic liar. "When you yourself intended to destroy the MoscovArt Theatre" he growled impatiently.
Valentin turned to him, looking into Cheri's eyes with the exact same face as Rafael.
He really is already good at acting, thought Cheri annoyed. But even more upset to her who could not stop pounding every time she was near the man.
"Cheri," Valentin said softly as he rubbed the girl's face with his knuckle. "Now you don't have to pretend to be anyone else."
The whole room held its breath.
Mikail groaned in her heart.
Shit, Cheri's curse in the heart. Both of his eyes suddenly glazed over. Then he turned his face in any direction and bowed. What kind of fucking feeling is this? he thought helpless.
Valentin turned his attention back to the crowd. "Now, Vladimir and I have also gotten to involve the theater group in our futile quarrel" he told everyone. "So I asked Vladimir to make peace. And. he accepted it.
His face was like Rafael, Mikail thought. His style of speaking too.
All fooled.
Cheri doesn't think it's Rafael, does he?
Cheri was still down hiding his tears.
"Trust me" Valentin repeated. "Cheri is completely innocent. He wants to get back to you. And. This merger is not to destroy 'Joan' but to succeed him. This is our only chance to be able to perform on such a grand stage."
The entire room exchanged glances with someone near them.
"I can understand how you all feel" Valentin added. But... will you work together for our theater group?"
"Enough," protested Cheri.
Then suddenly the man bowed to everyone, "I beg of you" he asked.
The entire room shrieked stifled and inched backwards away from the man.
Cheri and Mikail simultaneously paled.
The whole room was smiling.
Sesha rushed towards the man and pulled him to her feet. "Reside, Rafael! We.." Sesha hung up her sentence and looked around.
The whole room nodded at Sesha.
"We will work together" Sesha said, a little too enthusiastically. "By pleasure!"
Valentin glanced silently at Cheri with an annoying grin.