Chapter 26
1673words
I scratch the back of my head as I walk out of the studio building and head for the small park in the center of the property. Jane said she would be there waiting for me. I couldn’t tell what she was thinking this morning when I called her and almost begged her to help me take care of this situation with Rhonda.
By the time I had phoned her, I had over 100 more messages, along with several pictures of Rhonda in provocative and revealing clothes. Tiffany was right next to me when I was scrolling through them. I thought my girlfriend was going to blow a gasket by the time we got through a few, especially after seeing the pictures. My stomach churned, thinking Tiffany thought it would be something I would like.
This vile woman is clearly crazy.
I breathe a sigh of relief when I spot Jane sitting on a bench with her back to me, but my relief doesn’t last long when anxiety and dread gnaw away at me, slowly trying to consume my sanity.
If Jane can’t help us, I won’t stop, though, and I’ll find someone else who can. My friend, Kimmon, has a lot of connections. Maybe he will know what to do.
I push the thought to the back of my mind to only retrieve if necessary and force a smile out as I walk around the bench. “Hi. Did you wait long?”
Jane looks up at me and returns my smile. “No. I’ve only been here a few minutes. You had me worried this morning. Has something happened?”
That is an understatement.
I choke down a snort and nod. “You can say that. I need your help with a stalker. I’m not sure who the woman’s connections are besides the studio owner, but that seems to have been enough to give her access to the studio while we are filming and for her to get my personal number. Now, my phone won’t stop chiming.”
I take a deep breath and force out the words I don’t want to say. “She is now sending pictures, too.” My voice trails off, but I can’t stop with just that. I need to tell her everything.
In a softer tone, I continue, “Right now, her pictures are rather provocative.”
The words leave a sour taste in my mouth, but I’m hoping Jane understands my subtle meaning.
She stares up at me, and her mouth falls slightly open while questions swirl around in her eyes.
I dig my phone out of my pocket and sit down on the bench. “Here is the full chat. I fear she will start sending me nudes soon. Can you help me stop her?”
Jane tilts her head and takes my phone once I open the long list of the stalker’s messages. “I’ll do what I can. This isn’t good if you have a stalker who has already gotten this close to you. If she has powerful connections like the studio owner, we might be limited a little with what we can do, because she can counter it fast or even get a step ahead of us. But I’ll do whatever I can to end this.”
I nod, but I still doubt things will be resolved soon or as quick as I want them to be.
“TREVOR!!”
My head whips around, and my heart races. Fear engulfs me. Is that Rhonda?
I look over my shoulder at the studio building. A staff member stands in front of the door, looking around. Just as the girl cups her hands around her mouth, I wave my hand in the air. “I’M OVER HERE! I’M COMING BACK!”
Relief washes over me.
The staff member gives me a nod before turning around and darting back into the building.
Jane pats my arm. “Do you mind if I keep your phone for a bit? I want to take more pictures of the messages to get them all in case we have to go to the police, and I can’t get to you to retrieve them.”
I shrug my shoulders. “Sure. Not a problem. Give it back to me when you are done. I’ve got to go, but I’ll talk to you later.”
I don’t wait for her response before I get up and run back into the building.
***
Tiffany POV
With a small frown, I walk into the bar and look around. The heavy bass thumps against my chest while the smell of alcohol assaults my nose. Any other time, I would enjoy this, but not with my mind in a turmoil.
I’ve had a light schedule today, and Trevor has been working hard while also talking with Jane when he wasn’t filming. I want to be there with him, showing my support, but I had already agreed over a week ago to meet up with my friends, Beth and Cassandra, for a night out. I picked one of my lighter days with my day off the following day, so we can cut loose and have as much fun as we want. That was all before Trevor and I happened.
My heart wants to turn around and leave to go back to the studio, where he is still filming, but my mind won’t let me. I need to honor my word with my best friends.
I maneuver through the crowd and soon spot my two friends in the back corner at a table, but they aren’t alone. There is someone else with them.
My eyebrows knot together as I scan the man from head to toe. Something about him seems familiar, but I can’t put my finger on it.
He has his arm draped around Cassandra’s shoulders and the corner of his mouth curves slightly up in a mischievous smirk, like he is getting away with something he knows he shouldn’t. His dark hair almost blends into the shadows of the dimly lit corner. But what I find extremely odd are the dark sunglasses he is wearing. Very odd.
This is an exclusive club. Only members are allowed in, so there is no need to hide his identity once inside.
I tilt my head and try to figure out where I’ve seen him before, but nothing comes to mind.
As I continue to zig-zag through the crowd, Beth turns around and spots me. Her face lights up and she bounces in her seat while she waves frantically in the air at me. “Tiffany!”
My name is barely a whisper by the time it reaches me and is drowned out by the noise of the crowd and the music. I smile back and wave.
I dart through the people. When I finally reach them, I sit down across from them. “Hey, guys. I’m sorry I’m late.” My gaze drifts down to the table and scans the line of empty beer bottles. “I see you have already started.”
Beth shakes her head. “Don’t worry about it. We know you are busy. Here, we already got you one.” She slides a full beer bottle to me.
As I wrap my hand around the cool glass, I turn my attention to the unknown man who is flirting with Cassandra. I point my beer towards him and grunt, “Who are you?”
His playful smile widens as he turns his focus towards me. “I’m surprised you would have to ask.”
I raise an eyebrow and stare at him. Cocky much?
The nagging feeling I had before comes back.
He seems so familiar. Where do I know him from?
I take a drink while I continue my silent debate.
Beth chuckles and shakes her head before she takes a drink. She points her beer bottle towards the mysterious man with the cheesy grin. “His face is up all over the place. I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out already. Plus, I think he is friends with Trevor. Haven’t you hung out with any of Trevor’s friends?”
I narrow my eyes and slowly take another drink. My eyes lock on the man, but my brain isn’t working tonight. With everything else going on, I can’t think clearly unless it has something to do with Trevor.
After a few moments of silence between us, I slowly shake my head.
Beth bursts out laughing and slaps my arm. “Man, you must be focusing on your drama too much. This is Kimmon, you silly. You know. One of the most popular actors in the country right now. His dramas are usually at the top of the charters.”
My mind tries to work and understand what she is saying, but it doesn’t really sink in. Something else does, an image from the mall the other day, when a large group of people were swarming around a guy who towered over the crowd and looked right at us. Cassandra’s immediate panic and how she drug us away, muttering under her breath.
My eyes widen. “You are the guy from the mall.”
His smirk grows bigger as he leans back in his chair and pulls Cassandra closer to him. “Yeah. That would be me. My little feisty kitten was stalking me, and I couldn’t let her get away with it. I needed to come punish her.”
Even though his eyes are hidden behind the dark sunglasses, his amusement of the situation is written all over his face and in his broad smirk.
I didn’t even know anyone could smirk that wide.
He turns towards Cassandra, who has her head buried in Kimmon’s neck. “Isn’t that right, babe?”
The dim light can’t hide my friend’s bright red ears and cheeks as she whines, “Stop it. Not in front of others.”
Her words strike a chord with me. Those are the same thoughts Trevor and I have about us coming out.
Before I say something I shouldn’t, I take another drink and my mind drifts back to Trevor.
I pull my phone out of my pocket and send him a quick message.
Tiffany: I miss you. I wish you were here.
