"I can't believe that she's my co-star. That is absolutely ridiculous, Azelie," Her boyfriend complained through the earbuds in her ears as she rolled dough for a new recipe she was trying out. She rolled her eyes slightly at his dramatics, as a smile slightly grew on her face.
"Azelie, I can feel you rolling your eyes at me," Liam Jacob ordered in frustration, sounding more and more childish, "Stop. This is serious."
Sighing, Azelie retorted dryly, "What are you going to do? Punish me?"
When he was silent for a few moments, Azelie's body warmed as she remembered just how good his punishments felt. Then, she heard him growl lowly:
"Don't tempt me with a good time, baby girl,"
She let out an involuntary shiver and trembled slightly at his tone.
Azelie knew Liam was exceptionally good at being a lover. The way he touched her, held her, she had never experienced before with any other lovers. While the rest of the world saw him as a sweet, gentleman, there was a darker side to him that only Azelie got to feel.
And boy, did she feel it.
She felt it so hard and so good, it was a struggle to walk to work every day.
Liam sighed deeply and that was when Azelie realized that the arrival and casting of his ex-girlfriend were really troubling him.
Alina Jasmine.
Azelie had never even met her, yet she had occupied so much of her boyfriend's thoughts. All she knew about the model and actress was that she was one of the more problematic people in Hollywood. Azelie had often heard her name in stories of paparazzi cameras being broken, pregnancy scares, cheating scandals and just unfiltered drama.
Everyone knew of Liam and Alina's catastrophic relationship, but if there was one thing that Azelie had learned from her relationship with Liam was to always get the truth from the source.
"What's so bad about her?" Azelie inquired, watching her words as to not overstep boundaries, "I mean, you've never really told me anything about your relationship with her,"
Liam was silent for a moment, then he sighed, "I'm due on set in five minutes, so I'll give you the summary,"
Pausing her actions of kneading dough, Azelie listened attentively.
"Alina and I began dating when I first became famous. We actually met at the premiere of my first big movie. Then, she was a c-list actor at most, featuring in small parts, after her move from Oklahoma. She was... to put it nicely, fame-hungry,"
"She would make both of us go out to every event and every restaurant, knowing we would make headlines. Tabloids ate us up." Then, dryly, Liam chuckled, most likely reminiscing of the time from his words, "I always told myself I wasn't going to be with someone with an addiction, yet that is exactly what I did with her,"
Confused, Azelie inquired, "Addiction? Did she do drugs?"
"No." He answered, "Well, in a way, yes. Fame was her drug. It had all the same signs; the high she got from praise and gossip from the tabloids, the irritation and withdrawal she had when we weren't trending. The rash decisions she would make to get that high."
"She would be with other people in public, in front of cameras, to promote cheating allegations. When we went out to restaurants, she would cause a scene, start yelling all of a sudden, so that the paps can have material." He scoffed, "One time, she bought a fake baby bump and induced vomit, in public, so that people would think she was pregnant,"
Jesus Christ, she was crazy.
"We were off and on for about 4 years because even though everyone, including my dad, warned me about her crazy ass, I'm a sucker for love,"
Liam explained, "It wasn't until, about 3 or so years ago, that it all went to shit. We had been broken up for about three weeks because I found out that she slept with my former bodyguard. By walking in on him pleasuring her."
"A hit movie of mine was about to hit the cinemas, while she had been kicked off the indie film she was working on because of her anger issues. She came to my Downtown penthouse and told me she was pregnant with my baby. Showed me a bunch of pregnancy tests, but I didn't believe her and I told her that. When she realized that I wasn't taking her bullshit, she told me it was the bodyguard's and that he raped her. Still did not believe her and at that point, I wanted her out. Of my penthouse and my life."
"I told her she should go back to the bodyguard and deal with that, and she threatened to kill herself if I didn't get back together with her,"
Azelie was in shock.
"Anyways, as I started to reach for my phone to call security, she grabbed a vase next to me and smashed it on the floor. She looked like she could kill me. I grabbed my phone and ran to my room and locked the door." Taking a deep breath, trying to put himself together, Liam fell silent. Then, with a low, emotion-filled tone, he continued, "All I could hear was her smashing things. The sound of wood hitting glass, her enraged screams, I'll never forget it. She took a bat and started smashing my bedroom door when I refused to open it. But, thank God, my security and the police stormed in and stopped her before she could get to me."
"Anyways, she... uh..." Liam trailed and Azelie could hear him sniff away a tear. Immediately, Azelie reached for her phone and requested to switch the call to FaceTime, desperate to see him and comfort him. When he accepted, she saw him with his head back, taking deep breaths, blinking away his tears.
"Baby, I'm here," She spoke softly, "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to,"
When Liam dropped his head, Azelie saw his dark blue eyes glazed with tears as he groaned, rubbing his face. For a couple of moments, they were both silent, taking in the comfort of each other's presence, even though it was virtually.
"Nah. I'm good, baby," Liam assured, nodding to himself. He gave her a small smile, "You need to know. I want to be 100% transparent with you,"
Her heart skipped a bit at the sincerity in his tone. God, this man. She gave him a large smile, as she murmured, "Thank you for that."
He nodded at the camera, chiselled jaw flexing, then, continued. "Anyways, she plead not guilty due to mental illness and the judge sentenced her to a rehab centre for a year and I filed a restraining order against her, but she appealed that after her release, on the grounds that what happened was due to her not being well mentally."
"Since then, I've just been ignoring her at functions and events, trying to be the bigger person," Chewing his lip, Liam finished worriedly, "But, I don't feel safe if she's on this set. Like, after all, my scenes since seeing her, I literally hide in my trailer."
Suddenly, Azelie felt horrible for thinking his worry was childish. This was even worse than the tabloids showed. It was extremely unfair that Liam did not feel safe in his own career space and she felt that he should voice that at once to the director. If the director still isn't willing to do something about it, then maybe it was time to go legal.
"Liam..." She began, but Liam, sensing her train of thought, interrupted.
"I don't mean to be rude, but please don't tell me to go to the directors. This is my job. Acting. I'm not the only actor who has issues with someone and letting them affect my job will do nothing but show Alina that she still matters to me," Keeping his gaze on hers, Liam insisted, "One of the last things my dad told me before he passed was to be the bigger person when it comes to her. I'm keeping that to heart,"
"Okay," Azelie agreed, then extremely seriously, she stated, "You can be the bigger person, but I don't have to be. If she puts so much as one finger on you, I will beat her ass, then send her to jail. If she wanna be crazy, my Haitian self can and will be crazier,"
Liam let out booming laughter, the rich baritone sound filling her ears. Then, he slyly asked, "You? The same person who cries while watching animated Disney movies?"
"Hey!" Azelie fake-pouted, her heart warming at how much happier he seemed, "I'll have you know that Up is a serious heart-wrencher,"
Smirking, he sarcastically replied, "Of course, baby girl."
Before Azelie could retort an answer, her phone vibrated, signalling that she was getting another incoming call from the landlord at Cooklie & Kream. She gave Liam a smile and said, "Let me call you back, baby. C&K's landlord is calling,"
"Okay, no problem. Bye, baby."
Still giddy, Azelie switched the calls and the landlord's old, raspy voice emanated in her ear.
"Allo? Kosefs? You there?"
Clearing her throat, she replied, "Yes, Mr. Jackson. I'm here. Is everything all right?"
Taking a deep breath, the old New Yorker responded, "Look before you get mad at me, you gotta know that I ain't got a choice. Everyone has been so mad but you gotta understand that they are scary,"
Getting scared herself, Azelie responded, "Mr. Jackson, what on Earth are you talking about?"
Silence.
Then:
"I'm selling the lot."
Azelie collapsed on her ceramic floor, but Mr. Jackson was not done, "The new buyers, they are not keeping the shops. Everything is getting demolished in a year, to build one big hotel by the pier side,"
Her heart started to race as her breath hyperventilated. She simply could not breathe.
"Who... who..." Azelie tried to ask, but resulted in inquiring with a weak whisper, "Who bought it?"
With a terrifying tone that brought goosebumps to Azelie's brown skin, Mr. Jackson whispered as well;
"Xante and Chidinma Deliano,"
______________________________
AUTHOR'S NOTE
dun dun DUNN
hey.
now y'all know the whole story between Liam and Alina.
Alina a crazy girlie, ain't she?
If you don't recognize the name Xante and Chidinma Deliano, they are from Sinful Desires and they are one boss-ass couple.
If you do, you should also know that THEY DO NOT PLAY.
AT ALL.
(This info is going to be crucial later on)
by the way, I just want to thank all of you for reading my book. It warms my heart every time I see your comments.
I love you alll...
(Told u I was gonna update more)
all my love
ada