19 A role for a role

Date = 5 April
Place = San Francisco (Enrique’s home)(Inferno)

POV - Enrique

Covering her with a blanket, I bend down and tenderly sweep some of those red curls away from her face, noticing the tear marks on her cheeks. Why was she crying? Is it because of me? My heart cringes … but still, she’s extraordinarily beautiful … naturally … not like all those superficial bitches that surround me all the time. Nope, she’s real … original … fresh … unique … unforgettable …

Ug, Blackburn … what the hell are you doing? I scold myself. Using a lot of adjectives to describe a girl is never a good thing. But if I’m being completely honest with myself … I already know the answer, but I just can’t acknowledge it … not yet. Those words - I can’t say it; can’t even think it. So how can I even begin to explain to her how fucked-up I really am …

I notice the envelope is missing from the table, together with my phone. She must have hidden it. My curiosity grows together with my anger - I recognized it from the photos.

Brian must have handed it to her … but what can it possibly be? Another contract? Maybe I should just ask her straight out? Or I could ask Mel … I’m sure she would know. Aria must have told my sister everything, cause that’s what girls do.

Looking for my phone, I find that she’s clinging to it with a fierce grip. I carefully unclutch it from her hands and check the time. There’s a message … from fucking Amanda. Ug, stupid whore. There’s no way in hell I’m touching that thing ever again … not even with a ten-foot pole. From now on there’s only one pussy for me … Aria’s. I’m a little taken aback by the realization. Where did that come from? Shit … that’s crazy … never thought that would happen …

I read the message and my heart falls to my feet. Did Aria see this? Is that why she’s crying? Fuck. Should I wake her up and explain? I don’t know what Amanda is trying to accomplish with this message. I’ve never fucked anybody in my office before … until that little rendezvous on my desk with my sexy fairy-girl. I stare at her dainty face for a few seconds and decide to let her sleep. I quickly walk to the door, wiping my hand over my face. Who knew having a girlfriend would be so difficult?

I start the car and drive through the gate. A deep breath clears my mind. Wildflowers … the smell suddenly fills my nostrils … and my dick reacts willingly. Even after my shower, her scent is still lingering on me … or maybe I’m just imagining it cause it’s been burned into my mind. I relive the sight of her on my desk earlier tonight … the way her pupils dilate when she’s having an orgasm … the feel of her when I drive into that tight addictive little fanny … the eagerness with which her body reacts to my touch …

Ship … now I’m sitting with a full-fledged road bone.

FUCK! I slam the steering wheel; frustrated. I cannot get the damned woman out of my mind, and it’s seriously beginning to piss me off. The urge to turn the car around and go fuck her silly is overbearing … but I manage to park and force my way into the club, greeting fans and guests automatically as I go until I reach the familiar hallway leading to my office … the same office I claimed Aria in earlier … and I know that I’ll never be able to look at my desk the same way ever again. A huge cock-tightening grin spreads over my face while I take my keys from my pocket.

Then I notice it. Flip … the door is open. I’m sure I closed it before I left … but I’m not thinking straight – my head is spinning around - so it’s possible that I might be mistaken. I shake my head, close my eyes, and sigh deeply. I’ve fucked many women, but these feelings are a new and stimulating experience for me. My cock agrees – AGAIN – stupid overeager organ. I enter silently.

“FUCK!” I yell in shock … surprised by the figure kneeling at my desk. The man leaps to his feet … also startled … hiding his hands behind him. Brian fucking Cruise!

“What the fuck are you doing in my office?” I grunt, giving a tentative step forward, angry because I’m swearing so much, knowing Aria would not like it at all. His stunned face contorts into a frown. I know he’s up to something … but what? There’s nothing valuable in my office … unless he knows how to open my safe … but that’s highly unlikely. And my safe is not under my table. Was he looking through my trash?

“I was looking for Aria,” he seems a bit faced and uncomfortably sticks his hands into his back pockets.

“And you think she’s hiding in my trash?”

“I just dropped my phone … anyway … I’ll leave now,” he says, heading for the door.

“Brian, please sit down,” I’m professional but cold, and insincere.

He stares at the chair as if contemplating whether it’s going to bite him or not. Then he falls into one chair and slams his feet onto the other. I bite on my teeth.

“I just want to tell you that you shouldn’t be too shocked if Aria leaves you for me. There’s this attraction between us … ” he says.

I feel like strangling him, but instead, I grind my teeth and dig my nails into my palms, drawing blood.

“I think she might be the one … she’s special … and I can see myself married to her with a few kids.” I don’t know how but I manage to pull off a sardonic crooked smile, thinking about his corpse collapsing on my floor. Cold-blooded murder suddenly has its appeal … not to mention it would be greatly satisfying to be rid of this asshole for good.

“I see you still live in that fantasy world of yours, Cruise. There’s no way Aria would leave me for you.” I fake confidence, knowing that at least, the contract backs me up and hoping I’m right. But the way the dude smiles scares me. It’s as if he knows something I don’t. Will Aria really do that to me? Is she in love with Brian?

The envelope flashes into my mind. What’s in that envelope? Is he forcing her to leave me? Is it another contract?

“We’ll see,” he smiles even wider. A chill runs down my spine. No … Aria would not do that to me. Anyway, she can’t break the contract.

“I don’t want to talk to you about my girlfriend,” I say in a freezing voice, “I’ve decided to back out of the movie … the role is yours.”

His eyes light up and he cocks his head to one side.

“Wow. That girl sure works fast.”

I don’t know what he’s talking about, but I don’t like the sound of his voice.

“Sorry?” I frown confused.

“Aria … she convinced you much faster than I thought she would.” He’s smuck. I hate it when guys are so cocky. Should I tell him that it was my own decision? Nope. Let him think that he has the upper hand for now. He’s planning something and Aria is part of that plan. Or are they really in love? Is she using me? I think about our session on my desk earlier. Can she be that fake? That cruel?

“You see Blackburn … I won’t stop until I’ve taken everything from you … your family, your girlfriend, your career, your reputation …” his overconfident face is beaming pleasure and now I want to kill him even more than before. But this cocksure arrogance makes me a little itchy, ‘cause I’m now sure he’s plotting something. Something bad. Let’s just hope he’s not another Darren or Harry.

Flip, why did I drag Aria into this shithole that’s my life. Maybe I should send her away … I can still pay for Leyla, but at least they won’t be involved in all this Brian crap. And maybe then these sudden feelings will also fade away … so I’ll be killing two birds with one stone. I stare at my desk and see Aria laying on it in my mind’s eye; her hair cascading down like a red waterfall. Sending her away is not going to be easy. Brian clears his throat and I disperse the images of Aria from my thoughts and look at him.

“Brian … why do you hate me so much?” I know our line of work is not easy, but he’s over the edge. And I don’t even know why.

“Because you stole everything from me,” he scorns hatefully. I … stole … everything … from him? Now I know for sure he’s crazy … how the hell did he put that together?

“How?” Maybe I can understand how his scrunched-up mind works. If that’s even possible.

“Remember your very first role … the one where you played the jock?” I nod. Wow … that was years ago … I think I was like 16 or something … it was your typical teen movie where I was the popular jerk that didn’t end up with the girl. But I did end up with my first nomination for an Oscar. Didn’t win it … but it boosted my career.

“Well, I also tried out to play that character … but ended up playing one of the subs.” Okay, I remember that our first meeting was on the set of that movie … and that Brian hated me even back then.

“But how’s that my fault?” I mean, it’s ridiculous … it’s not my fault he didn’t get the part.

“Cause you intimidated the director to give you the role …” I frown. What is he talking about? He must be crazier than I thought.

“What the fuck are you talking about? I was just a kid back then.” Maybe I didn’t hear right.

“I overheard your father threatening the director to cast his son … or else he’ll have Garcia’s gangs on his back. That role was supposed to be mine … you didn’t deserve it or the fame that came with it. But I learned something from that … to get to the top you have to play dirty,” his voice pitches a little higher.

“My dad? He threatened … wow,” I’m speechless. Could my father have done that? Is my whole career a lie? No … I’ve worked my ass off to get where I am today. It can’t all be a fabrication.

“You do know that I haven’t seen my father for about ten years, until he died a few months ago … “ I’m not sure why I’m trying to explain … I don’t owe Brian anything.

“Boo hoo hoo … it doesn’t change the fact what you did.”

“I didn’t do anything … I didn’t even know that. But even if my father forced the director to cast me … the Oscar nomination was all me … my acting.” That’s the truth … I know I’m a good actor. But I suppose I can understand why he’s bitter.

My father … flip … I wonder what else he did to help us? Not that my family needs any help … we’re luckily talented. Not to brag or anything. But that luck comes with a price – a shadow that covers our lives.

“Who knows … maybe you’re father used money or his reputation to get you nominated too. It won’t even surprise me if he’s behind all of your success. Rich people always think they never have to follow the rules!” His voice is full of hatred.

“Okay, let’s make it right.” I pick up the phone and call Dean. He answers after a few rings in a groggy sleepy voice. I suppose I woke him up … it is like 2 in the morning after all. I put the phone on speaker so Brian can hear the conversation.

“What the fuck, Blackburn?” he sounds a little pissed.

“Sorry, Dean, but I need to talk to you about the movie part.”

“Oh, you heard. Congratulations boy, you got it!” I look at Brian and see the anger on his face.

“Really? Great. Now I want you to tell them that I can’t do it. Tell them that they should give the role to Brian Cruise.”

“What? Enrique, are you drunk or something?” Dean is now wide awake.

“No, I just don’t want the part.” The silence from my manager tells me that he’s probably too shocked to speak, so I continue.

“Dean, I need to ask you something. You remember my very first roll?” I don’t wait for him to answer, “Did my father threaten them to give the roll to me?” This time I wait for him to respond.

“Eh, yes … but I thought it was your uncle at that stage. Anyway, they decided to give it to you even before that … so it wasn’t necessary for him to do it. Where did you hear about it?” I feel bad and good at the same time. At least they didn’t pick me because of my father.

“Never mind. Thanks, Dean. I’ll talk to you later.” I end the call and look at Brian.

“I gave you a roll for a roll. We’re even now.” He gets up with a sinister face.

“I still want Aria,” he says darkly as he walks to the door, my eyes shooting daggers into his back as I watch him leave. The man is unstable … and that’s not good. Not for me and certainly not for Aria. I recline in my chair and stare at the ceiling. I wonder how far he would go … but my gut tells me I won’t like the answer. Fuck! I need to find a way to protect Aria and Leyla … but I’m not sure I can let them go.