Chapter 42

JAKE

Everything I just told myself in the mirror has just flown out of my head. The moment that I saw that she has been crying. I forgot that I need to forget about her. All the things that I told myself now are not true for this second because now, I want to comfort her and find out what makes her so sad.

Then I watch a she puts on a fake smile and say to me.

"Nothing is wrong. Why would you ask?"

Then all of a sudden I realized that she is not my girlfriend and I have no right to worry about her feelings. I want to comfort her and hold her tight against me but that is not going to happen.

"Sorry, I must have misjudged the situation. It just looked like you were unhappy"

LAYLA

I can not believe that he has noticed that I was sad, I was really hoping that he would not notice anything. I guess I did not hide my tears as well as I thought I did. When he came in here and asked me if I was okay, I could see the sincere concern on his face and I knew he was genuine in his question.

Everything in me wants him to hold me tight and tell me it is going to be okay. I want him to tell me that I will never be in a situation like that again. I want to tell him all about what happened to me but I have to realize that he is my boss and not my lover. I have to remember that he belongs to the world.

I have to keep in mind that I am only a stylist and nothing more. I know that he is just trying to be a gentleman like he was on the plane. He is just a nice guy and it means nothing more.

"Thank you for your concern but I am really okay. I think it is time that we get you ready for your concert"

He gives me a slight smile and I can not help but feel as if I have put him down somehow.

"Yes, let us do that"

He takes his seat on the chair as I start to do his makeup. I can almost feel sadness radiating from him as if something is bothering him severely. But he closes his eyes trying not to focus on what I am doing.

I do his makeup as quickly as I can because the awkwardness of the whole situation is almost unbearable. It is not like the previous time when we enjoyed each other's company. Now, it is almost like we need to get away from each other.

"I am finished"

He quickly stands up and takes the clothes from my hand. Then he says.

"Thank you. I will see you backstage?"

"Yes, of course"

And with that, he leaves the makeup room. Suddenly, the sadness returns, and this time it has nothing to do with my past. This time it has to do with my present and I wish it would have rather have been my past.

Then I start to think maybe this is for the best. Maybe this way I will start to not think about him anymore as I have to decide to do that a while ago. This can only be a sign that I have made the right decision. I have to stay away from him.

Then I get my clothes and makeup that I will need between the songs. I make my way to my spot backstage.

JAKE

As I walk into my dressing room to put on my outfit, it somehow just feels wrong that she is not helping me. I almost can not believe what kind of effect she has on me. But I walk back to my mirror and I say.

"You were right, I should stay away"

Then I quickly get dressed and make my way to the stage. I am greeted by Mark that stands with a grin on his face.

"We have a nice crowd out there. I am sure you are going to enjoy it"

It is funny that he says that because I am not sure whether I am going to enjoy the show. My mind is on other things but I would still do my best.

"Yes, I see it is a nice turnout"

He hands me my mic and I know that it is time for me to get ready but I can not stop myself from looking in the direction where Layla is supposed to be. I see her standing there making everything ready and I can not stop myself from smiling. It does seem like she has some sort of an effect on me and she gives me the energy that I need.

Then the lights go off and the crowd starts to scream. I take a step closer to where I am supposed to walk in and then I see the light next to her go on. I have to look one more time and this time she is staring right at me.

LAYLA

When the light goes off I put on my lamp. Then I can not stop myself from looking at Jake. He looks so good in that outfit that I made for him and his entire body bulging with muscles through the material, just takes my breath away.

But then something happens that I never expected. He turns to look in my direction. I wish I can tell him good luck but I am just his stylist. So, before I could stop myself I smile and then I see him smiling back at me.

Then he turns to look in front of him and disappears on stage. I want to kick myself for believing in something that is not going to happen. I hear the crowd screaming his name and then I hear his smooth voice over the speakers.

I do not know how I am going to get out of this deep hole that I have dug for myself. He just has this way of pulling me down the hole and I can not get out again. I shake myself as I have to get his next outfit ready.

JAKE

Her smile was enough to give me the energy to do my performance. I walk out onto the stage, ready to give my best. I see the crowd around me and how much they adore me. I love the Australian crowd. I do my moves with perfection and sing on the correct pitch.

It seems the only thing that I am looking forward to is the fact that I am going to see Layla after this song. It is strange how my entire life has changed. From looking in the crowd for a date or one night stand to rather spend time with Layla.

The song is over and I make my way to Layla. It is a hot summer's night and usually, it makes it more difficult to perform. You feel much more tired after a song because of the hot nights. I can feel myself starting to sweat and I hate to look like this in front of her.

She greets me with a smile as she starts to pat me down to retouch my makeup. Then as I take my shirt off I hear her stumble to the floor. I quickly run over to her and help her up.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, so sorry I did not see that sound cable over there"

LAYLA

I am lying through my teeth because the reason why I fell to the floor was that when he took off his shirt, I was hypnotized by his muscles that glistened in the light, and I could not keep my eyes off him and then tripped over the cable.

I feel his hands around my waist trying to help me up and it is as if everything falls into place. That is where I want his hands to be always and I can see real concern on his face. I never thought that he would be such a gentleman.

But then I quickly recover and realize that I have to help him with his outfit. But as I want to walk over to the clothes he stops me and says.

"Are you sure you are okay?"

"Yes, thank you"

He gives me a slight smile and then I walk to go over to the clothes. I have to control my breathing because it is struggling to breathe normally. Then he takes the shirt from me and dresses himself. I wish he did not have to put on his shirt because I would have loved to have the view that I had moments ago.

Then he runs back on stage once again disappeared from my sight.