THE RULES OF FAME

Chapter 15 - Meassuring Up

Peyton Bell

My back stiffened, and when I saw Tate there, my entire blood boiled. What was he doing here? And Where was Vanessa?

I turned around, measuring myself against this bastard. He was taller than me, but not better looking. He was ruled the most attractive man alive this year, but that does not compare with the way I look.

I have a lot going on, especially being the youngest music producer with a net worth of nine figures. Yeah, I am close to becoming a billionaire, and I have the advantage that I know her; she doesn´t need to tell me when she is feeling off or sick, I don't have to guess any of it, I just know, because I can feel her, deep in my bones.

“Peyton Bell,” I stood up and shook his hand, introducing myself.

“The youngest music producer? That Peyton Bell?” he asked, and I nodded.

“That's me,” I said, and he pointed at the bench where I was sitting.

“What an honor,” he said, and I squinted my eyebrows. Did Nessa not tell him about me? Has she forgotten about me? Or? He is not really his boyfriend, and they haven't had a deep conversation about their pasts; thus, he is completely oblivious of who I am to her.

“And? How do you know my girlfriend?” he asked, and I chuckled, feeling a bit better and almost seeing through him. He was f*****g bluffing and trying to get information out of me.

“Long story short?” I paused, and he nodded, “My sister is married to her brother.” I said, and he took a deep breath in relief.

“So you are practically family,” he said, and I smirked but didn't answer that question, because we were indirectly through our siblings, but we were family because we were meant to be together and start a family of our own. But the bastard in me decided not to release that information,

“She finished her scenes early, some issue with the schedule of her next project,” he said, and I nodded.

“Yeah, I was informed,” I sighed, and he nodded.

“How close are you to her that you bring her flowers?” He lifted his eyebrows, and I chuckled.

“Wouldn't you want to know?” I smirked, and he frowned, but quickly covered it up, rasping his throat.

I laughed. “Family friends, my mothers insisted.” I winked, and he sighed.

“So, are you here on a work-related trip?” he asked, and I shook my head.

No, asshole, I am here looking for her, the love of my life. I thought of revealing that harrowing truth, but I smiled,

“Not really, just vacations…” I shrugged, and he nodded. “But as of late, everywhere I go, I get a job offer.” I sighed, and he smirked.

“Well, ride the wave, because this industry is so fickle,” he said, and I nodded.

“It is not a wave when your talent speaks for itself. Just now, your director asked me to write the score for the movie…” I shrugged, and he gasped.

“So, you will be working with us?” he said, and I sighed.

“I have no idea what the project is about, so maybe?” I said, and he chuckled.

“It is a Rom-Com, with a couple of musical numbers…” he said, and I shrugged.

“As you can see, I am on time off, so I sent him to my office. Eddie can handle it.” I said, and he raised his eyebrows, as if wondering if Eddie was my romantic partner.

“Eddie?” He lifted his eyebrows, and I nodded.

“Eddie Muse, my business partner and cousin. His sister is married to Leon Vedder.” I pointed out, and he nodded, disappointment crossing in his eyes.

“Do you want me to give Vanessa a message?” He said, and I shook my head.

“Nah, I am going to backpack around Europe, and I have already scheduled a stop in Ireland. I want to surprise her,” I smiled, and he nodded. “So, if you would keep this visit a secret, that would be awesome,” I smirked, and he nodded.

“Are you sure you are family?” he asked, and I took a deep breath.

“I would have assumed that she has talked to you about her family, she is really close to her family, and adores our nephew and niece…” I said, and he sighed.

“Our relationship is pretty new, so we haven't had time to speak about those topics. You know how it goes with actresses, they like f*****g first and then talking…” he dared say, and it took everything in me not to punch him in the face.

“Singers are easier than actresses,” I said and stood up, letting the conversation simmer, and turned around, hoping he couldn't see how his words struck me hard. I forgot the bouquet on the table and slipped my hands into the pockets of my hoodie. I left the place.

I already agreed on taking the job, Eddie will handle the details, and I hope to God I won't see him again in my entire life. He is an asshole, a lion wearing the skin of a lamb. The way he talked about her as if he owned her, and the way he said that she would rather f**k than talk, spoke volumes. A real man does not flash his s****l life around, especially if you care about her. When a man loves a woman, he would lay his life for her, he will protect her reputation…

No, she has not slept with him. If the relationship was new, Vanessa would wait until she knew him better. I don´t care if she is a virgin or not; I just don't see her rushing into casual s*x, into an empty relationship. That is not her, no matter how much she has grown and evolved. I am sure that part of her remains the same, because it is not a trend, it is just who she has always been.

I exited the studio and headed to my hotel. Time to regroup and go after her. I sat in the living room and took my phone out. I texted my assistant. “Confirm schedule with Vanessa´s manager… Where is she, and when is she starting her new project?” I typed.

“Sir, she is in London,” he typed, and I took a shivering breath.

“They told me at the studio she left for Ireland,” I typed.

“I will check again, but there hasn't been a change in her schedule. I know the guy who handles her schedule personally,” he said, and I didn´t want to ask. My assistant was super effective, because in his gaynes, he wanted everything done to perfection, on time and on point.

“So, are you telling me that the director and the rest of the production hid her from me?” I typed, and instead of typing a message, he called me.

“Peyton, darling… You need to work for it…” he said, and I rolled my eyes. He was a good guy, but I hated it when he used pet names for me.

“Give me a fucing break,” I sighed, weighing my options.

“I know you want to have that big Hollywood reunion, but maybe go for something less public?” he said, and I took a deep breath.

“I am out of options.” I sighed, knowing well that popping at the studio was my only shot, because I was certain Amanda and Thomas would not give me her address…

“f**k! I know what to do!” I said, and he chuckled.

“It was nice to be there to illuminate your brain,” he sighed, and I rolled my eyes.

“The production of her movie wants me to write the score… keep them at bay, I don't like it when they lie to me,” I said, and he chuckled with a hint of evilness.

“Oh, we are playing hard to get… I love it!” he said, and I laughed.

“Keep me posted,” I said, and with that, I finished the call.

Amanda and Thomas were not an option to get her address, but… I dialed another number. “Mom!” I said,

After asking the usual questions and chatting a bit, I braced myself. “Mom, I need to ask you for a favor,” I said,

“Anything, sweetie,” she said, and I explained that I finally got my head out of my ass, and I was in London looking for Vanessa.

“Can you ask Amanda for her address? Tell her you have a present for something…” I said, and she laughed.

“Oh, Honey!” she said with half amusement and half sympathy.

“I am not going to ask your sister…” she said,

“But…” I tried to protest, and then she laughed.

“I don't need to, because I have sent her a Christmas gift over the last five years… I have her home address.” Mom said, and I almost fell on my knees. I knew I had called the right person.