Foul Play but; The Mafia Lord Wants Me

NADIA’S POV The studio lights are almost blinding, but all I can see is Jaxon Creed, my boyfriend, campus football star, sitting next to me with that heart-melting smile. Cameras flash at us and girls in the audience squeal, blowing kisses his way. How typical. The intro music for the show Love Locked plays as the show’s host, Sienna struts onto the stage, mic in hand, high ponytail swinging like it knows it's got enemies “What's up, gents and babes. It's your girl Sienna. Are we ready for tonight's episode?” The audience before us roars with exciting answers that confirm in the affirmative with their phones out. TikToks are already loading. I mean who wouldn't want to know all about my relationship with Jaxon? A sports celebrity and a sports journalist? Match made in heaven. Although many people did not think of him as much of a celebrity, solely because his football skills were inconsistent. The critics were almost never ending. Harsh comments and terrible meme jokes. I didn't let any of that get in the way. I saw potential in him and I built it. Several meetings, calls, connections to find a coach who would buy him. I used every cent I had to get him into the best football academy in the city. Then came Coach Romano. Strict, no nonsense and even legendary. One of the best in his league. His offer was not so good, but it was the best so far and Jaxon was more than excited to sign the contract. Now, my baby is on his way to becoming a football star. “Alright! So Jaxon, you and Nadia have been couple goals for what, three years now? Power duo, matching fits and the whole t****k fairytale” I felt my cheeks heat up at her words. Jaxon nods with a small smile. “Yeah, pretty much. She calls me her miracle in chaos” Jaxon says and I playfully nudge his arm. That was supposed to be our little secret, but what's a little tease? “He calls me his first and only love” I say to get even, with a sheepish smile. Jaxon chuckles “Whew, I'm not sure of the part that says ‘only’ ” He says, still facing the audience with that smirk of his. The seriousness in his tone puts me off. But I still wear a smile, to keep the groove going. The audience starts to murmur, making it awkward “I guess we have a little drama brewing. That brings us to our famous segment, Truth Unlocked!” Sienna announces, as the audience chants with her, followed by a round of applause. I also looked forward to this segment, as I was a fan of this show. Truth Unlocked was where couples asked intimate questions and answered honestly. I felt Jaxon and I needed some bonding. Our relationship had grown cold these past few weeks. We barely spoke, late replies and distance. We actually needed this. I was thrilled when Jaxon told me he'd gotten us on the show. He even promised me a surprise A big screen slowly drops from the ceiling. The words ‘Pre recorded footage’ in bold letters can be seen on the screen My stomach dips. Excitement rising from my core. “Are you all ready?” Sienna screams out to ask and the crowd cheers The footage starts to play and room goes silent My body goes numb before my mind starts to process what I'm staring at. Jaxon is in a room, shirtless, rubbing lotion into a woman's back. At first I don't recognise the woman. But after a few seconds of bewilderment, I do. Kendra Lawson. Model and actress. And the girl I'd been worried about for months. Jaxon barely listened, and only brushed off my complaints. “So you don't care if Nadia finds out?” Kendra asks in that sultry voice of hers Jaxon scoffs “She's too obsessed with me. So obsessed she's not smart enough to notice the real me. Who is sick of her by the way” He said, still massaging her back I gasp. He keeps going “She's not even my type to be honest. She's a good front though. Innocent. Selfless. She'd go to war for me. Makes me look good” He said in the video My lips part slightly, but no word comes out. Not even a breath The crowd is still, watching attentively I, on the other hand, finds nothing about all of this funny The video stops playing and another one starts, this time, it's a slide show of photos. Jaxon and Kendra, on a yacht. Posing. Laughing. Kissing. Flowers and decorations everywhere. An engagement ring on her finger “Stop. Stop this now!” I turn to Jaxon, with the words coming out through gritted teeth “This isn't funny” He doesn't even look at me “How messy is this, people?”. Sienna asks the audience The audience gasps, then bursts into chaos. Laughter. Whispers. Phone clicking nonstop. I sit, frozen. Jaxon leans into the mic with a smug smile “Look I came on here to finally stop pretending. I needed out of this fake fairytale” He says to the audience, then turns to finally look at me “And this, is very real” “What do you mean-” I don't get to finish my sentence. Kendra walks in. Tight black dress. Zero shame. She walks over and sits on his lap. “Now that's what I call an upgrade!” Sienna says I can't take any of this anymore. Not for another second. I get up and walk away. Backstage, a tear threatens to fall but I console myself with words “Don't waste your tears Nadia, this is a prank. Just a prank” I tell myself It had to be. Jaxon loved pulling dumb pranks I would make him see hell for making Kendra a part of this though I can still hear chatter from the main stage and a few minutes after that I overhear Sienna rounding up the show. Time to show Jaxon what these hands are made of. What I see next clears my hope of thinking the previous encounter on stage was any joke Jaxon and Kendra laugh as they walk in, still tangled up in each other. His hands resting on that slender waist of hers. He reaches out to push back a few strands of her brown hair, then plants a kiss on her neck. They don’t even flinch when they see me. Kendra rolls her eyes “I'm going to let you handle this” She tells Jaxon and struts off Jaxon walks up to me and I suddenly become speechless. All the invectives I'd planned to hurl at him disappear “What's this about?” I manage to let out He shrugs “Exactly how it is” I study his face for a moment. The face of the man I had fallen in love with. I searched those grey eyes I loved so much for answers. But they were cold and empty. “Why did it have to be this way? ” I ask, pathetic “Ratings baby. Your tears just paid off my new lambo, and Kendra’s million dollar wedding dress “What do you mean?” I blink, confused “Sienna needed numbers. More views for her show and asked me to be a guest. All I needed to do was find a good story” He revealed. “Look on the brightside, you're trending. Congrats” He says and walks away before I can say anything else Sienna walks in as well “You knew about this?” I hiss at her She scoffs “Sorry but not sorry. It was a non disclosure agreement and this was damn too juicy to pass off” She struts off like it's nothing My phone starts buzzing and Tara's name flashes on the screen. My best friend is the only one who'd call at a time like this. Before I can answer, notifications flood in. #byenadia #jaxonthedevil #lovelockedmessy My life just went viral.