Talia did one final check of her hair and makeup in the mirror before walking down the three flights of stairs. With every click of her heels her butterflies kicked into overdrive. She was wearing a cute black dress that was neither sexy or chic. It just was. As she walked down another flight she tried to ignore the images that had plagued her all day. Zeke's lips on hers. His hands pulling her closer. Those images made her blush just thinking about them.

That needed to stop. This was just a game.

She wiped her sweaty palms down her dress. Zeke was waiting for her. He lounged across a chair. Sunglasses hid his eyes as he scrolled through his phone. Looking exactly like the movie star he was.

"What's with the sunglasses?"

He tipped the sunglasses down giving her a once over. "It's part of my thing."

Talia sighed. She grabbed her jacket then stared at him. He just smirked.

"What?" She asked.

"Are you ready for this?"

"I've seen movie stars before. Let's get going."

Moving to put her jacket on, Zee grabbed it out of her hand to help her into it.

Talia grunted a thanks. His arms wrapped around her holding her still. "We are going into the wolf's den tonight. You have to be on point. Remember I am Zee tonight. Alright, Lia?"

"Yes, but if you keep calling me Lia I will cut your balls off." She gave him her sweetest smile.

Before she knew it he leaned in and kissed her. This was different from the earlier kiss. Strength and passion was in this kiss. As she started to melt into him, her brain kicked in and reminded her that they don't need to be kissing.

Talia pulled out of Zee's arms. "What the hell are you doing? There is no one here. No need for a show with no audience."

Zee had a stunned look on his face. He seemed confused for a moment but recovered by fixing his sunglasses.

"Let's go, Talia." He stepped outside.

He finally used her name but somehow it didn't feel right.

***

"OH MY GOD! IT'S ZEE!" Squeals assaulted Talia's ears the moment they stepped out of the SUV.

Zee waved to the crowd surrounding the entrance to Celestial. Flashes from cameras blinded. Talia followed blindly behind Zee. He linked his hand with hers, signed a few autographs and took a few photographs before entering the restaurant.

Celestial was the premier restaurant for the stars. Anyone who was anyone was seen there. The chef who owned this restaurant was on television. He was infamous for screaming at his customers. His theory was the opposite of the customer was always right.

The inside of Celestial was gorgeous. Small candles and lamps were the only illumination. The ceiling of the restaurant was designed to mimic the current night sky. When it was a pitch black night it was that way at Celestial. If there was a full moon, it was the best night to see the menu. Tonight, it was a perfect starry night.

At the hostess station, a very excited woman bounced on her spike heels. Zee pushed his sunglasses on top of his head. Leaning on the hostess podium, Zee talked softly. Talia stood awkwardly to the side. She watched the girl twisting like an excited puppy with each word Zee spoke.

With a giggle, she grabbed menus while sashaying toward a dark corner. Talia followed as Zee waved to people he knew. She, however, received sneers and dirty looks. With every dirty look she received, she also felt a bit starstruck. Some of her idols were sitting just tables away.

"Are you sitting, Talia?" Zee gestured to the seat across from him.

"Always the gentleman." She snapped.

Zee gave her a sideways glance toward the table near them. She looked at the couple trying not to look at them.

Right. They were supposed to be a happy couple. This was going to be harder than she thought.

Talia took her seat then immediately stared at the menu.

A creepy feeling of being watched crawled over her skin. She attempted to look around inconspicuously but didn't see anyone.

"Looking for someone?" Talia's attention snapped to Zee across from her.

"No. It feels like someone is watching us."

"Gwyn and Gina are two tables over. They haven't stopped staring at our table."

"What?" Talia spun in her chair to see.

"Try to be cool, Talia. Relax, they will be over soon enough. Now, I suggest the steak. It's fantastic."

Zee babbled on about the food on the menu. However, she couldn't shake the bad feeling.

After ordering, people flooded by their table. Stars of every order shone in Celestial that night. Rock stars, film stars and even a few sports stars stopped by to congratulate Zee on his newest hit. Most pretended Talia wasn't even there. They were sure to say the blandest things loud enough for her to hear but anything else was a whisper with a side eye. Her reputation as the gossip queen proceeded her.

When their food finally arrived visitors finally gave them their space. However, Talia no longer had an appetite.

Zee with his sunglasses perched on his head dug into his meal with gusto. She pushed her salad around on her plate.

"Eat, Talia." Zee ordered barely looking at her.

"Why?" She hissed.

Zee swallowed steak and looked at her. "You agreed. This is part of it."

"They don't give a shit about me, Zee. In fact, I could tell you right now they would all cheer if I stood up right now and left."

"Whose fault is that, Lia?" Zee snapped.

"Excuse me?"

"Whose fault is it that no one in this room likes you or even trusts to have a conversation around you with out it landing in Dirty Laundry tomorrow?"

"That's my job!"

Zee looked around. Tables close to them started to stare at them. "Calm down, Lia."

"I told you not to call me that, Zeke. How do you think this all makes me feel? You didn't even try to introduce me to some of these people. They don't know me, but they vilify me. Did you even remember I was hear while you were busy being Zee Jaxon?" Talia rolled her eyes and shook her head.

Zee's face was red. "I knew you were here. What do you want from me? Zee is a part I play. He's a dick. He isn't nice. He doesn't treat people well. I cannot deviate from that."

"Bullshit. Why am I really here? Zee Jaxon would never be with someone like me?"

Zee stared at her. His face a blank canvas. However, his eyes showed conflict, shame and fear.

He opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by a heavyset man with a model thin woman on his arm.

"Zee! Good to see you out and about." He said around the cigar in his mouth.

Zee stiffened. "Gabe."

"Have you given any thought to that picture I talked to you about?" His eyes slid to Talia. It was the first time he'd noticed her.

"I am still thinking about that, Gabe. I have a lot of offers right now." Zee followed his gaze. A muscle ticked in his jaw.

"Is this the infamous Gossip Queen everyone has been chattering about?"

"Talia Walker" She held her hand out.

Ignoring her outstretched hand he cocked his head appraising her. "Not really your type, Zee."

"I love all women, Gabe. You know that." The airheaded blonde tittered and batted her eyes at Zee.

"Yes, but nothing like this." He motioned toward her body. "Come on, Zee. What the hell is this? I guess she has nice tits and big eyes but everything about her is... fat." He and the stick figure next to him laughed.

"Gabe." Zee warned through gritted teeth.

Talia focused on the salad in front of her. If she could focus on the salad dressing dripping off the lettuce leaf, then his poisonous words wouldn't penetrate that wall she'd built for these instances.

"I understand why she is good at her job. No one would take a second glance at her. What could you possibly benefit from this?" Another larger gesture drew the attention of more patrons.

"Shut up, Gabe." Zee stood next to the horrid man.

Gabe ignored him. "I've got it!" He snapped his fingers. "She's got to have a magic pussy. Well, I guess after you find it underneath all that fat. It must be magical to entice Zee Jaxon. Is that how you get your muscles? Holding up her fat ass while you fuck her? Maybe I will have a taste when you are done." He ran a finger down her cheek.

In a flash, Zee was holding him by his neck against the wall. Talia stood frozen watching the scene in front of her.

"Listen, you piece of shit. Don't ever talk to my woman like that again. If you do, I will choke the life out of you." Zee put pressure on his windpipe.

"This is a mistake, Zee. I can destroy your career." He rasped out

"I don't give a fuck." Zee applied more pressure on his neck.

"Do something!" The useless stick bug next to them squeaked.

Talia rushed to Zee placing a hand on his straining bicep. "Put him down, Zee."

"No."

"Please. For me?" Zee met her eyes.

He nodded and dropped the worm. Zee continued to stare at Talia.

"You will destroy your career for that?" The worm choked out.

Zee dropped money on his table to cover their bill. Entwining their fingers, he dragged Talia out of the restaurant.

Zee paced while they waited for the valet to retrieve his SUV. Flashes came from a few lone cameramen. When he finally stopped pacing in front of Talia, a soft female voice drew their attention.

"Well done, Zee. Way to fuck up your career." Zee's former manager stood next to them.

"Gina, I don't think any of this is your business anymore."

"It's not but I still care about you. You will always be my best accomplishment. I'd hate to see you throw it all away for a fling."

"Thanks for youradvice. Don't you have someone to getback to?" Zee stared at the glass doorswhere Gwyn stood.