Tetris in Red

03: Tetris in Trouble

I chew on my lips. My resolve is starting to ebb away. But I know if I sign it, I can't get near him anymore and probably risk jail time if I decide to try again. Maybe I should talk to him, ask for it and get this over with?

I immediately shake the thought away. It's just not an option. My pride won't let me anyway. I can almost picture myself standing in front of him acting like a fish out of water.

Noises and heavy footsteps make my head snap up and turn toward the door. Well, shit. More famous people. More NDA to sign.

The door of Holland's suite suddenly opened before I can discern what's happening. Men pile inside the room, walk past me and greet Holland. Backslaps are exchanged and Holland who has the attention span of a toddler is immediately lost in the conversation.

No one even decides to pay attention to me. I'm suddenly thankful that I sit on the corner, opposite Holland, who's facing the door; which means I'm obscured from anyone who's going to enter the room.

I sneak out like a practiced ninja before anyone can blink.

xxx

The Los Angeles sun is glaring at me as I get out of the cab.

It's as if it knows all of my sins and is now punishing me for it.

It's the kind of heat that makes your whole body covered in sweat just for breathing. I barely escape being sunburned by the time I enter the narrow street that leads to the apartment buildings. Living in the fairly decent side of town, where the studio apartment plus the electric bill cost you ninety percent of your basic salary, should have its perks. And I'm living it right now.

I doubt they will care to find me in this place to sign a freaking NDA.

It's overtly populated and almost untamed. The apartment buildings are old enough that some of the windows from whatever floors may drop to the ground just because the wind is blowing a little too hard. And well, a few wanted criminals hide here, too. Because in these buildings, no one knows who you are.

Tetris Posziel? I don't know her. The other neighbor might not know her too.

Another downside of living here apart from what I mentioned thus far is the elevators are out of order forever. So if you are living on the 15th floor like me, you'll probably have an ass bigger than the Kardashian's by the end of the week. Not that I'm saying I have a good ass, but—shrugs—it's possible.

I'm breathing so hard by the time I reach my floor. My hands immediately dig on my dress pockets for my keys. "Tripper, I'm home!"

Small paws pad against the hardwood floor and my little corgi appears on my bedroom's doorway. He wags his tail happily, his tongue peeking out. No one's more excited to see me than my dog and I love him so, so much for that.

"Hey buddy, I'm sorry I've not been home for a while," I coo as I caress his fur. "Did Rosie take good care of you?" He barks once and I take that as a yes. "All right, I'll feed you in a minute and we'll cuddle on the couch."

I slip out of my shoes and put my wallet and keys on their bowl. Tripper—still wagging his tail—follows me around while I make myself comfortable. I turn on the TV to drown out the silence of my apartment while I pour dog food on his bowl.

As I sit on the couch with a microwaved pizza on hand, the afternoon Entertainment News comes into view. I snort. Who fucked up now?

Tripper manages to wiggle his lithe body onto the couch. The couch isn't tall but he still struggles because of his short legs. His big bright eyes beg for attention as he lay on my stomach. "Why, hello there."

My phone rings just as Tripper decides to shower my jaw with wet kisses. I haven't seen that thing for a while and the sudden blaring makes me jerk. Tripper stiffens on top of me. My palm slides down the poor guy's fur to soothe him while I feel around the couch for my phone.

It's still vibrating when my hand finds it. It's Rosie. "What's up?"

"Oh my God, girl. I'm so sorry."

A frown etches its way on my face. "For what?"

I hear harsh voices in the background. My instincts tell me that this is something bad. So I prepare myself for the worst, but I should've known nothing could ever prepare me for her next words.

"Girl, I just want you to know that I didn't know anything until they published it on print." Rosie's voice turns solemn. "Someone sent a picture of a woman sneaking into Alec MacSweeny's suite this morning." My stomach plummets in horror. "Then another picture of MacSweeny dragging his suitcase out of his suite without the woman. They did a quick background check. And because you designed for us more than once, they instantly identified you. The media was eating it up. And things escalated fast from there when..."

"When what?"

She clears her throat. "When someone posted a picture of you attacking MacSweeny online."