Spotlight (The Ballbusters Series Book 1)

Chapter 2: His side

Look...All I’m saying is, normal people don’t hit people’s foreheads and say snooze off.” He finished with a shrug as he closed the zipper of his camera equipment, looking hella fresh for a dude that just spewed some fighting words.

Why was he sticking around anyway? All photo ops related details were done with ages ago. Knowing how dramatic Jason could get I continued to pay him no mind; maybe he would just leave.

He didn’t.

I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes and groaned internally. Dude looked like a failure in the system; the whole wardrobe stuck in the nineties from head to toe. From Fresh Prince of Bell-Air shirt, original Jordan’s, even a checkered belt. He also bragged about his CD player…a real Walkman. When I thought things hit rock bottom…he brought his adult Tamagochi out to play.

See, he’s a sharer. And I was done sharing and playing nice because of this job. Now we were done and comeuppance was more than a hoity word. This fucker had his time running out on him since the very moment he decided my sleep wasn’t worthy of respect. He had to be removed, permanently.

Without looking in his direction I said, “A disproportionate reaction, hmm? Then, by all means, tell me. What would you recommend I do next time someone breaks into my hotel room at four a.m. and starts clucking like a chicken at the top of his lungs?”

“So, what you are saying is that you are not going to apologize for slapping my forehead?” Said a disembodied voice, because believe it or not, the little fucker was nowhere to be seen. He basically broke physics and disappeared from sight, which was good because I didn’t want to go to jail, they would never feed me properly and then what?

Shaking my head at air, I reminded myself to look into who allowed that whole s**t to happen in the first place. Their damn selfishness had to end.

I sighed as another recent memory broke through. It was her laughter that first drew me in, she was that beautiful. It was her comment that turned her into Katrina for me: a no f**k zone. I had no business being disappointed in this random female, I knew that, and yet that’s where I found myself.

Just admit it…you wanted her for yourself.

It was the truth. I was tired of f*****g perfect; perfect moans, appropriate laughs at all jokes, even the ones that weren’t funny but sardonic, their rehearsed neutral opinions, well practiced moves and unnaturally fragile bodies. All their petite and perfectly made up faces blurring into the one before and so on; I never lied to any of them, though. I was always open in what I wanted…and more often than not, they didn’t want me either, we were both means to selfish ends. I used to be more than ok with that but lately I’ve been craving something more. I wanted company that would bring me as much enjoyment as my job does. I have had two serious relationships and if they have taught me anything it’s that while you will find great understanding from a partner that works in the film industry, most of the relationship will be spent apart and through phones and that doesn’t work for me.

Her laughter was like receiving an electrical shock down my spine, forcing me awake. I followed her stories…she was a born storyteller, loud and funny. What was not to like? Then I saw her and it was like God was answering my dirtiest prayers. I know I will go to hell for my sacrilegious thoughts so short after thanking God therefore opening a link, but those were the thighs I wanted to loose myself in. I was willing to bet she’d be one of those women who laughed real loud when they come. For all the right reasons. I was dying to get right on that until she spoke. I had a direct vision of her when she said it, so I could see the disgust and contempt on her face…even anger…maybe jealousy? I still don’t know and no longer cared.

She f*****g called them cockroaches. From all the f*****g insults in the entire f*****g world, that’s what she went for. It was because of that f*****g word that I almost lost Liza. I had to remind myself of the big project I had coming on or I would have imploded right then and there.

Her laughter lied to me, she wasn’t genuine and different. As a matter of fact, I have met her kind before, the kind that needs to bring others down so they could feel better about themselves. And had I confronted her in public I would have probably lost my job while she played the victim.

Shaking the memory I looked at my watch. It has been forty-five minutes since my last photo, what’s the point of being done early if you have to wait around for the rest to be done? Marty said he’d bring the papers to sign off all my profits off to my charity, that would then use the money to support arts programs across the nation…that had been forty five minutes ago.

I frowned. Fucker making paper himself or what? Like…Did he meet a couple of charming hobbits and left for Murdor without telling me?

From around somewhere near the sound of a female throaty laugh had me drawing short of venturing any further into Marty’s adventures. Who cares about Marty? He’s in good company, hungry fellows them hobbits, but harmless…mostly. He’ll be fine.

It’s weird, though, it’s not like laughter would normally trigger a semi from me but here we were, twice in a day and yet, even as I wonder over it, I inched closer to the partition blinds. Confused…but intrigued.

It had to be her. I completely refused the possibility of this being a thing now for me. Nope. I’m not a throaty female laughter w***e; I’m almost certain it was her. Like I said. No need for a shrink appointment just yet.

“Dimples? We don’t have dimples.” A confused male voice simply stated.

She made some awww sound then in the coldest tone said, “But I do.”

And that was when all hell broke loose. IT WAS HER. Devil spawn. I looked around, just in case Lucifer was about to reclaim his property, didn’t want to be in the way.

The man growled, I swear. “If you know what’s good for you, better stay in your lane. Also, I thought you weren’t interested.” Threatened whom I now recognized as Kyle, one of the other photographers of the event. Daniel’s, I believe.

“And I am not interested, Legolas! But facts are facts!” She huffed and even though I was nowhere near yet, I was willing to bet she had her hands on her wide hips. “But for you to go and tell me to stay in my lane? Seriously? I am Latina! That’s offensive. We never stay in our lanes. Like Dora, mofo, we like to explore. So yeah, screw you. Our babies would be prettier than yours and that’s a fact. Look at these cheekbones, look at them, you could slice your hand open with these!”

What the f**k? Somebody better tell her cheekbones weren’t a thing; when was the last time you overheard someone say they’d do somebody because of their cheekbones? Go ahead, I’ll wait. Men were into cheeks, just not those.

She was insane.

I was glad there was no one to see how for a few seconds I became trapped in the black curtains. They were lush and soft and could be use to smother someone. It’s like being drowned in butter. Confusing, frustrating, but strangely peaceful. Finally seeing the light, I shoved them behind me and pushed myself forth, coming short of hitting somebody’s back. Not wanting to get knocked out unnecessarily, I reached out and tapped Omarion’s arm to alert him of my presence.

It proved interesting how out of it he was that there was a need for me to make him aware; there was very little that went over the large African American man’s shinny, bald head. He wasn’t just intimidating muscle, the man had unholy reflexes to match it. With a conspiring smile he offered me to pass through, Amir, the other huge bodyguard next to him quickly following suit. I forced myself to take a few seconds to meet Amir’s face even though all I wanted was to confirm what I already knew. Usually quiet brown eyes shone with the same innocence mine must have had before she went and ruined it. What an i***t, Amir, I mean.

It was HER. I could recognize that plumb ass anywhere; it’s the kind of ass that ruins souls because they’d never get to claim it, the kind of ass you’d slap as you plow into her from behind. Even her long black hair gave me ideas. And I’m officially a pig.

Why was she still here, though? This massive place was pretty much empty, with only a few vendors, main guests, staff and security bumping around…and her. I looked at the guys and shook my head. Fools. This beautiful, shallow conniving woman had them all under her dangerous spell; from Daniel, that genuinely looked like a puppy in love to a disturbingly smiley Omarion…well, not Kyle, he looked ready to launch for her head. She was a menace to mankind, we might have to team up. Amir must have been one of them Radium Girl in his previous life because his jaw was on the ground.

So she came to meet Daniel, I thought to myself. No skin off my nose. Daniel was an all around good guy, great to work with. Talented and smart. Just a little too eager for the pay. Not that he chose wrong, he was beyond successful; just not my choices. I didn’t want to peak, I wanted to live off of this for the rest of my life, so I paced myself…and alertly but patiently waited to come across roles that felt right.

All my life I had been made feel like my looks were all I had to offer. One time back in high school I asked a teacher for pointers with my college admission essay and she laughed in my face, waiving me off, telling me that with a face like mine I shouldn’t worry about those things, if pushed came to shove, she added, just break the bad boys while tapping my stomach. What pissed me off the most was that there were other teachers present and they all laughed. I knew I wasn't at the top of my class, but damn it, my gpa score was 2.7 which was good enough to get me into college, but not a single f**k said anything for me. Ever since I took that modeling gig back in sophomore year to help my biological parents pay for my sister’s surgeries. The photographer initially said they would never see the light of day because they were meant for his portfolio…and next thing you know, my face became the face of a men’s fragrance I had never heard of but seemed to be everyone.

I got into college all the same, no thanks to them, and that was when I experienced something so f*****g pure and satisfying that I became addicted to it. There was very little that felt as good as achieving something you had to earn.

I didn’t want to be the it guy, I wanted to be genuinely respected for something more than my abs.

Back to my innocent boys, I had to save them from themselves, protect their virtues through a supreme cockblock move. So focused devising a plan, I didn’t even realize Daniel had seen me. “Are you a Japanese ghost? Why are you lurking in the back, come over.” Said Daniel in a thickly accented English, which only happened when he was either drunk or really comfortable.

My focus, though, was on her,

It was easy to tell she didn’t like being surprised, it was written in the way her back stiffened at his comment. Even though she was wearing a s**t-ton of golden necklaces of different lengths her right hand rapidly went for the black choker around the middle of her neck as if the thing was a lifeline. Odd.

Widened green eyes turned striking against her darker complexion met mine then went neutral. In the snap of a finger all emotions were gone from her face. It irked me how fast she recovered. It f*****g pissed me off even more when she began to pretend nothing happen, ever. Bring the freaking Oscar. Plastering a smile she nodded at me in recognition…as in I recognize you because you are famous, not as in I recognize you from when I behaved like a b***h and you happen to overhear me.

Oblivious Daniel went to make introductions, “So, this is Payne and this beautiful woman over—…”

The moment I began to talk I instantly regretted not waiting long enough for the stupid introduction; I could have still insulted her afterwards but I would have known her name. “They were complete strangers to you, as far as I know they did nothing to provoke you…so care to explain why did you call them that?”

Her arms sagged but her face was just all wrong. The look on her face was as if deep down she had been waiting for it all along, not wishing for it…but knowing it would be so.

“Parce, what the hell is the matter with you? Check your manners or I’ll check you.” Said a pissed off Daniel and while I understood where he was coming from, it made me resent her all that much more.

Meeting intense whiskey eyes I tried to make him listen, “She said she wasn’t interested in you? You dodged a bullet right there. See, earlier she took it upon herself to go after some of my fans. As a matter of fact she called them cockroaches, Daniel. What? Only yours deserve respect?”

A dark brown eyebrow raised, “And what does either Amir, Omarion, Kyle or I had to do with anything? How is that fair?”

My face burned with embarrassment at being called out. “I’ll give you that but since we are at it, why did you?” I asked the mysteriously gone mute female with a pointed glare. Anger was better than shame.

Looking down she gave a small shake to her head and I swore she just called me a son of a b***h, but I couldn’t be certain, “I have no excuse for the things I said other than my own shortcomings. While it originally wasn’t meant in the way you obviously took it, I did realize how wrong of me it was to call them that. So I happily apologize. Did any of them hear me? What am I asking? Of course they didn’t, else you would have had my head off just then and there.” She smirked at her own joke. “For what’s worth I am sorry.”

For a second she almost pulled it off. It was right at end she lost me. When she said she was sorry, there was a part of her that was not really all that sorry. “Mind telling me what it was supposed to mean originally? ‘Cause it feels like you just got caught.”

Omarion came at my side, “Dude…she apologized.”

I scoffed, “I’m just asking a question. She implied it was a misunderstanding, so let’s clear the water.” Amir shrugged in what I assumed was agreement.

They all turned to look at her and that’s when she began to break. Her mouth opened only to miserably close again, even swallowing seemed challenging at this point. With fisted hands and taking a breath, “They were touching you.”

As if that should be explanation enough. “So what?”

She flinched and looked haunted but recovered quickly, chin raised in the air, suddenly feeling challenged and raising up to it, “An apology was due and it was paid. You are in no way entitled to my mind.”

Scrunching my nose, “Don’t like being called out, do you? You don’t even have creativity enough to come up with an excuse on your feet?”

“Enough!” Snapped Daniel who clearly has been going strong on his coffee. I no longer blamed him for snapping at me. The woman was good at playing the victim.

She shook her head at him, halting his furious pacing, “It’s time to go, anyway. My sister is going to try and kill me as it is. Anyway…this has been fun but let’s never do it again.”

Daniel glared at me and I could tell he wanted to glare at me some more but didn’t want to risk not getting to her fast enough. He tried to grab her elbow but she must have been expecting it because she dodged it in a way that I have only seen in The Matrix.

“Let’s have dinner together?” It was a question but it felt more like begging. And pathetic.

She looked at him through glazed eyes and shook her head once, “I…don’t. I’m sorry.”

“A bullet, I tell you. You dodged a bullet twice by my count.”

Omarion Prius’ed his way next to me, silent until he no longer was. “She’s not the one that hurt Liza.” He said only to me.

I knew that. Of course I knew that. He just wasn’t there; the amounts of contempt and hatred when she had said those words were unmistakable. For a time no one said a thing. I genuinely believe it had something to do with Daniel just hoping I would leave but he could go to hell. That b***h was poison…beautiful poison and even though he wasn’t acting much as one he was still my friend. And friends don’t let friends stick it in vinegar. Realizing I wasn’t about to budge, he started for me. She moved quickly for someone with her short legs and stood in his path.

Have you ever seen one that cute video about a lion pretending the bites of his cubs hurt to encourage the predatory behavior? This right here? It fell like that. The bull of a man stopped, all his attention centered on her at the exclusion of all else. I could still see him over the top of her head since she came about clavicle high and s**t you not when I say that his eyes actually softened. “No gastes energía, con el idiota este. Hubo un mal entendido y es más complicado de lo que parece.” (Don’t waste energy on this i***t. There was a misunderstanding and it’s more complicated than it looks.)

Pulling on the short strands of his hair, “Aún así, que se disculpe. ´El no tiene que ser tan guevón.” (Still, he has to apologize. He didn’t have to be so…)

I wasn’t certain of what that last part meant but I would look it up and come up with an appropriate violent response in time.

Did she think I wouldn’t understand her? It doesn’t take a genius to know she just called me an i***t and something about a misunderstanding. Well, misunderstand this, “Yo hablo bueno Español.”

Her flowery dress rose as she twirled around with a sudden burst of energy. I looked up at the sky, more than frustrated. This woman was Devil’s spawn. Because only the Devil would put everything I am sexually attracted to in someone with her kind of personality.

A chill went down my spine. Don’t ask me how I know this but she was about to destroy my self-confidence in a brutal manner. As if holding a double A battery between her index and thumb finger she said, “Dude, you were this close from looking cool. It’s supposed to go: Yo hablo bien el Español. Like I said…so close.”

I won’t lie, I took the hit, I hated feeling dumb. Especially when I had to glare at Omarion and Amir to get them to stop laughing.

Dismissing me entirely, she turned back to Daniel, “Thank you for today, I mean it.” With a small nod over her shoulder, she left.

I watched after her until I couldn’t anymore. Strangely enough this didn’t feel as good as I thought it would.