𝐌𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐬𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐈𝐭'𝐬 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐭.

~𝐓𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐢 𝐇𝐮𝐜𝐡𝐮~

𝐋𝐢𝐚

I throw my bags on the bed, my phone in my hand starts ringing making my hand shake. I'm exhausted, worn out. I don't know why I've been this tired since Charlie's funeral, filming and Abu Dhabi, but my current state of fatigue could only be explained in one word—fucking.

Luc and I seemed to have been filling up for the months we were apart as well as those we won't be together, but I was glad he was coming for the children of Blood and Oil launch party.

The second season of the show was scheduled in two weeks, and my heart was in a constant turmoil of anticipation wondering how the fans would take to me replacing Trixie Goldberg as the female lead. I still haven't figured out how I came into this huge role. Yes, perhaps Camille Díaz, the show's director requested for me because of my outstanding performance in that two episodes in season one as my agent said, but it was too good to be true. The alternative would break my heart, which would have my father or uncles use their influence to get me the role.

I wanted to do this my way, break into this industry on merit. I constantly told this to my family. It would be devastating to know they broke my trust. But maybe I did do it on my own, my father or uncles would have said something already if they had a hand in it, they were honest with us.

Glancing at the caller, I swiped to accept, a frown on my face as I put the phone in my ear, "hallo," I said, "it's great to hear your voice," said Maxwell Vanderbilt, his husky voice reaching into my ears. I have not had a problem with him while filming the show though I could have done without his constant flirting.

Instead of standing still in my room as I was, I decided to rush into the kitchen, I figured if I had something to do, I wouldn't count the minutes until he was done.

I hated small talk, and worse if it was with someone flirting with me with whom I had no interest, plus I was worn out.

"Did I see you at the Abu Dhabi a few days ago?"

My heart pounded with force wondering if there existed an image circulating of Luc and me despite the effort I went through to make sure I wasn't anywhere near him while in public.

I hesitated, "you like formula 1 too?" I asked instead of answering, keeping my voice steady. "I love it," he responded with a muffled laugh.

"Hmm, me too," I admitted, opening one of the upper cabinets to remove a glass and then placing it beside the kitchen sink before taking out a bottle of water from the fridge.

Filling it, the sloshing of water reminded me that Maxwell was still speaking.

"So it was you?"

"Where did you see me?"

He paused for a moment, "on my way out. You were a little far, I couldn't get to you."

"Oh," I said, sounding as if it was unfortunate while I was thrilled I was saved an awkward conversation. "So, was that your brother?"

My mind went blank trying to figure out who he was referring to. It could have been the Oceans, Nic, Zion or Seb who'd joined us with his parents and sisters later in the day.

"Tall, lanky, really curly hair, " Maxwell added with an uncomfortable laugh. "That's Nic, my little brother," I said, breaking into a smile when I thought of Nic as little.

"Looks nothing like you." He proceeded to say. I felt as if he wanted to say something more, or different and has stalling or maybe trying to figure out how best to say it.

"What's up, Max?"

He let out an embarrassed laugh, followed by an uncomfortable silence that had me wondering whether I should say something.

"Aaah," he began, then paused, " I was wondering whether you could go out with me." it wasn't exactly a question, nor was it a statement, but perhaps something in between.

My mouth formed an o out of shock. Maybe I should have seen this coming considering the many times I have caught him staring at me, and flirting but I didn't think he would ask me out.

I have never had a man, other than Luc hit on me like this—in a straightforward manner. Like he would like to buy me dinner, wine me and perhaps end up under the sheets, which was what I imagined Maxwell wanted.

I was flattered, to be honest. Max was a handsome man, and to be wanted by him delighted me even though my heart wasn't thrumming with excitement.

"Sorry, I can't," I mumbled, not with regret, just a gentle turn down.

"Can't or won't?" he asked with irritation. I got the impression that Max was one of those men that didn't take rejection very well. They expected a woman to fall down on their feet to accept them with grace.

"Either of those. It doesn't matter." I responded, in a playful tone. Even though I didn't care how he took my rejection, I didn't want to piss him off too much given that we did work together. Making him some sort of an enemy was not in my best interest.

"C'mon, say yes," he pressed, sounding as if I wanted to be persuaded.

"I'm seeing someone," I told him. I didn't want to say that, but I was tired of his pressuring me.

"So what? I'm seeing someone too."

That got me angry. So pissed off my focus became blurred.

Who the hell did this man think he was? But most importantly, why did he think he could treat me like this?

Why would he think I would agree to that kind of a relationship?

"Sorry, I'm not the cheating type," I said in a sharp tone, anger bursting within me. I took a sip of water, engaging my mouth to keep me from saying something I didn't want.

"I won't tell if you don't."

"I would know," I say after a moment, biting my lip to the point of drawing blood.

"Lia, it's just a date," he shouted. I could feel the anger emanating from him, a stream of cusses reaching to my ears would have felled a lesser woman.

"I said no, Max. That is not going to change no matter how much you try to persuade me."

He went silent though I could hear his heavy breathing.

"You think your pussy is made of gold?" I wanted to laugh out loud, I was amused that the only way he could handle rejection is by insulting me. This was such a typical textbook weak man reaction to a no, it was laughable.

"Nope! It's the same as any woman in the world." I said in a bored drawl before disconnecting the call.