THE ACT

eft the hospital. Now that she thought about it, the car had yet to make her usual bimonthly visit to Joe's mechanical workshop, and her

ed her neck twice, trying to release tension, before pulling into the overly small parking lot o

ed by some evildoer in the cold and when she came out to take out the trash at night in the rain, she had heard a tiny, almost unnoticea

her eyes due to the felines intense distaste for anything water related. And when few days later, she called the shelter which, as it turned out, had no available space, she decided it

ast her neighbour's apartment, Mark, a jujitsu teacher in his mid forties, who share

ment door wa

big name in the entertainment industry. Palms tightly holding on to her pepper spray, she treaded into the living room wearily. But instead of the intruder she expected to meet inside the two bedroom apartment,

you about it time and time again?" Laila chided the redhead and

a guilty laugh, "I just knew you'd be at the door soon enough when I cam

st rendered speechless at

window at this very moment," she pointed to the french win

eyes surveyed what she could see of the small

er friend into a hug and then gave her a peck on both cheeks. "He

to him as your best friend?" Lai

ean that evil cat of yours, who, I'm pretty sure, spends most of his waking hours planning world kitty domination, then I haven't seen him or eve

mortal enemy, Chelsea. The grown woman, in turn, glared back at the cat and let out what suspiciously sounded like a "humph". The cat, still clinging t

d human, shook her head and picked up the heavy cat, while stroking his beaut

ature clearly never liked me in the first place. Gosh, he doesn't even put me in his

la said, kicking off her shoes and adjusting, cat

Chelsea don't even sound alike at all in the first pla

n changed the topic,"Anyway, gues

, looking eager for the gis

lue bloods hersel

ally, "How delightful that must have been for

fight off a yawn. "Funny thing was I almost didn't recognize her. Girl definitely had a surgery since the last time I s

, that green tea bitch, had a surgery? WTF? Now that I remember, Steph mentioned this to me in passing, once. But I'd be

amily has the power to shut the story. Oh, and also, she invited

econd son of some really rich family. Mcdumont or something

Laila asked, unconcer

ed comically. "The time's already past six, bi

a actually don't want to go," she spoke in a small voice, while looki

et waist length hair swinging as she stood. She held Laila by the should

closest friend, nevermind that foolish Lee who thinks he can compete with me for that position," she said, badmouthing

nd's statement. But then, backed up when

I never quite understood the rivalry that's been go

h tone, "Her majesty obviously would never under

out you. And I do know, for a fact, that you still love to act, even after leaving the industry, babe. Also, painful as it is for me to say, this party Amber's throwing could very well provide you with someone, a

even bag yourself one of those rich as fuck blue blooded dudes," she chuckled, "God knows

convent, you know. And also, whatever. Fine. Yes, I'll go to the party. The witch even

hat?" Her frien

t's nothing serious. We'll talk

Laila towards the master bedroom with the cat trailing closely behind both women, c

the industry and known to her. She looked around the large hall in which the party was being held for

om across the room. They belonged to a dark featured olive toned man in an equally black suit standing at a fe

ry countenance oozed power and his gaze which felt as though it could rip through her and uncover

eaking eye contact with him and began to walk in the opposite direction, towards a more secluded area of the hall when that same annoyingly shril

similarly haughty old money compani

eling quite better now?" She piped up, eyes blinking rapidly, obviously recalling the earlier coughing episode at the parking lot of the hos

up a glass of champagne which was being se

r all, you clearly insisted that I be there," she q

e coughing for me, fortunately. Oh, dear, I do hope the illness hasn't been spread to you," she

eached white teeth, trying to fight off the frow

not under the weather in any way. Anyway, I must

usly in a rush to get away from the sha

ly familiar. She shrugged, no longer dwelling on it and continued on her way to the corner she had been walking towards befo

la had gotten there late, the ex actress had already managed to chug down one too many

n, all dressed to the nines in beautiful and expensive designer clothing. She even spotted several famous CEOs, and other

ays," the pecan skinned woman thought to herself, fingers tapping steadily a

, the older male looking a bit similar to him. There was also a pretty younger platinum haired female who stood with them. She shared mildly similar features with the mystery male who

grandkids, Laila let out a small cough in discomfort. And the dark eyed man, as though on cue, raised his face towards Laila, amusement apparent in his deep gaze. He nodded towards her direction and

the only person who stood in that corner, her doe eyes widened briefly before she quickly schooled her features, thanks to many years

man after first laying eyes on him earlier in the evening. "Laila, love, wh

n the hunter's trap. How on earth did the Devil sent male know her name? She paus

controlled by an invisible force, taking sure steady steps towards the family of four. And then, her arms hooking through the solid ones belonging to the other male who appeared momentarily surprised at her willingness to play pretend alon