The Affectionate Player - Part2

Chapter 1

"One contact? There were at least a dozen! Max, they were like wolves at the door. I watched them from the window as they took her away and they weren't taking any prisoners. They're still out there now!"

"What? No! I don't fucking believe it! He said one contact, Soph. One!" I roar, slamming my fist down hard on the table. In all my planning I hadn't reckoned on them turning up in their masses.

"That was one hell of a risk to take, Max. Are you really that naïve? The cameras were everywhere. First on the drive then following her to the police car, click-click-click, snapping at her heels."

"Stop it! I can't think straight!" I seethe, trailing my fingers through my hair. I'm furious with my sister, a feeling I haven't felt in years. It's not her fault but if she's right, how could I have got this so wrong?  She pours us another drink, saying nothing more. I neck mine and swiftly pour another.

"What am I going to do, Soph?" Pushing back the chair, she comes to me and places her small hands on my shoulders.

"Look, Max. We have all witnessed the pressure you've been under since Monty was taken. You're desperately worried about the danger he's in and that's understandable, but its also obvious that your judgement has been totally clouded by it. All you can do now, Max, is wait. Wait for Jonny to move Monty. Wait for Gracie to be released and wait for her to come back, if she wants to."  My eyes shoot to hers in confusion.

"But what about Holly and Monty? She has to come back!"

"I know you don't want to hear this but she doesn't have to come back. She should because she'll want to be with her children, especially Holly who needs her so much right now but the likelihood is that she'll be hurting and in shock that you appear to have betrayed her. She may not want to be with you and you have to prepare yourself for that."

"But I can explain! Surely she'll understand, won't she?" My voice is fraught with fear as I await her answer and panic grips me as I witness my sister's turmoil. She asked for my honesty, now I must endure hers.

"I don't know, Max," she answers truthfully, her tone now mellow. "I just wish you'd spoken to me first and considered a woman's perspective before letting that cop take you down a one way street. It's not as straight forward as that, love."

"Is she going to leave me?" Terrified, I close my eyes. Maybe if I don't see her lips move or hear her reply it won't be real. "Would you leave Josh if he'd done the same?"

"I'd hate him for not having faith in me, Max, and I don't think I would ever look at him the same way, again." She pauses for what feels like forever. "My heart would leave him."

I can't breathe. I can't fucking breathe. What have I done?

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                                                                                  TABLOID TUESDAY

"BRITISH actor and rising star, Max Jacob, last night watched in horror as his lover and baby mama - Racy Gracie Campbell, was arrested and forcefully removed from his London home.

In a sensational turn of events, our source believes that the 'fan-turned-lover-turned-alleged psycho' is accused of snatching the Sco-FTA winner's young son, Monty, the child he fathered with his late wife and pop sensation, Melody King, who died tragically 18 months ago.

The circumstances surrounding the investigation are not yet clear however we do know that the 3 year old has not been sighted with the family since last Friday. Our source has confirmed that Ms Campbell is likely to have been the last person to have seen the toddler, having arrived to collect him from a nursery near Mr Jacob's luxury home in W11, 'looking dishevelled and reeking of alcohol.'