16. ( Reputation )

                                    

                                          
        
                          
I didn't get much sleep because I had to be up early and make it the airport to head back to LA. I took a quick shower and by the time I came out Jake was on his phone by the door. 
                          
"When will you be back in Cali?" I asked.
                          
"Give or take two weeks, why?" he says.
                          
"I want to see you silly" I said and he smiles. I walk up to him and hugged him. "Thank you for trusting me so much Jake"
                          
"Thank you for listening" he says and I smile at him. He bends over to kiss my cheek and I smile at him. "Have a safe flight back home Mel" he says opening the door and leaving. Jake Morrison... boy you do wonders. When I was ready, I took an uber to the airport and it was a decent flight. Jasmine was picking me up and taking me back to Cameron's.
                          
"Did you meet lots of people?" Jasmine asked me as I texted Nessa I was back in town. 
                          
"Yes a bunch. I handed out my information like you told me to"
                          
"And Jake?" she asked, I smile at his name. 
                          
"Yea... he's fine. He actually introduced to me lots of his director and producer friends" I said looking over at Jasmine. 
                          
"He's going to be a good one to have around"
                          
"I agree" I said smiling then looking at my phone. "Hey, what's going on with Nessa? Can't get a hold of her. Where is she?" I asked.
                          
"Not sure, Last time I talked to her was yesterday" Jasmine said.
                          
"Maybe she's napping or something" I said when my phone started ringing. I look down to see it was my brother calling. "Hey bro"
                          
"Hey sis" Braeden said and I laugh. 
                          
"What's up?"
                          
"I will be flying in tomorrow"
                          
"Sweet! Send me your address and I will make sure I stop by and help you move in"
                          
"Sounds great"
                          
"Sweet, love you, see you later" 
                          
"Love you" he says getting off the phone. 
                          
"Braeden coming in town?" Jasmine says.
                          
"Yea, he's actually staying for a few months so I'm excited" I said smiling.
                          
"Fun! So... I told you that we have something to talk about" Jasmine said and I look over at her.
                          
"Oh yea..." I said and I stare at her. "What's up?" I asked.
                          
"So as your manager, I'm always checking on your status, right?" she says.
                          
"Yup"
                          
"And I recently did my little update and Melanie... your ratings have started to drop"
                          
"How? I haven't done anything"
                          
"Your ratings started to drop when you got back with Cameron" she says glancing over to me. 
                          
"That's stupid"
                          
"PUMA wanted to make a contract deal with you but they pulled out"
                          
"Because I'm dating Cam? Are you serious?"
                          
"I thought it was stupid as well. So I asked them why does that matter? And basically Cameron and the guys have been in some trouble in the past. We know this, it's not new, Cameron does not have a clean record. However, Cameron is an endorser for Carter" she says and I bite my lip. 
                          
"I don't follow"
                          
"When Carter needs money for tour, or business or whatever, Cameron is his main provider. Cameron does this because no one will work with Carter anymore after he tried to rape that girl on camera" she says and I took a deep breath. "You being with Cameron is hurting your reputation because Cameron supports Carter when lots of people look at Carter as a rapist. So mainly people think you support a rapist"