The Ladybug Jinx (26 page)

“You’re right about that.” Celia tried to look into the restaurant to see if she could see Corin and Sam.

When the waiter brought out her entrée, she had completely lost her appetite. She asked for a to-go bag.

Don didn’t ask any more questions on the way home. He was content taking her back and dropping her off. Celia knew he didn’t want to come up. She had already dampened the mood.

The suite was quiet and lonely. To take her mind off Sam, she cleaned one of the new vases and filled the bottom with the light green marbles. After she put water in it, she could visualize the rose ball on top. It would go perfect with the other centerpieces.

Celia carefully took out all of the vases to inspect them. She wondered what Sam was doing. She wondered if she should call him. If he knew her like he claimed, he’d come to his senses.

*

Sam’s head rested against the passenger window in Corin’s car. He had no idea when she came over tonight to beg for her job back, he’d actually give her a second chance, let alone go out to dinner with her.

“Of all places to see her and him.” He glanced over at her.

Corin wasn’t so bad. Men would line the block for her to notice them. She was the bomb-shell he always stayed away from. His eyes traveled down to her cleavage. They were full and tan. Pleasing to his drunk eyes. He did have a good time at dinner, well at least drinking with her.

“I don’t know what I was thinking bringing her here. There was no way she could keep up. Celia is nothing like you. I mean you’re sophisticated and you look like a model.” Sam heard words come from his mouth, he couldn’t stop. Her bare leg felt inviting under his fingers.

“You’re right Sam. She doesn’t appreciate all the hard work you have done for her.” Corin smiled her evil grin when the car came a stop at the light. She leaned over. She brushed the side of his face with her lips. “She doesn’t appreciate who you are.”

It felt good, Sam thought. A woman’s touch feels good. Not just any woman—a woman who has always wanted him. He leaned and began kissing her neck. She moaned as his fingers touched her.

“How about my place?” The tires squealed when the light turned green.

He didn’t want to be alone. He was tired of being alone. Sam decided he was going to let the night progress and forget about Celia. Forget about Bianca and become the hard rock movie star he was.

“Your place sounds great, babe.” He kissed the nape of her neck and explored her body with his hands.

“We are almost there, and then you can have all you want.” She whispered in his ear as he continued to kiss her.

“Hurry up.” He pulled back. He was disgusted with himself but he wasn’t going to question himself tonight.

Corin stopped just before she opened the door to her apartment. Sam had never been attracted to blondes.

He got closer to her and rubbed his hand up her legs. She whimpered in pleasure.

“I’ve waited a long time for this.” She opened the door.

Sam entered fearing he had entered her lair. He watched her disappear into her bedroom. She winked and mouthed she’d be right back.

With disgust in his stomach, Sam looked around her apartment. Very modern like her, he thought. The glass table was cluttered with tabloids filled of photos of him and Celia.
What am I doing here,
Sam questioned his actions. No matter how much he tried to forget Celia, he wanted Corin to be her. Even whiskey wasn’t helping his feelings for Celia.

What am I doing?
Sam smacked his hand on his head. His eyes looked at the door. It was high time he got out of there. No matter how much he wanted to forget Celia, Corin was definitely not going to help. He’d hate himself in the morning, and he knew it.

His head swooned when he got up to leave, and he put his hand down on the table to steady himself. He looked at the tabloid underneath his fingers. There was a picture of him and Celia on the cover. He picked it up. He wished he could go back in time when the picture was taken, right before he took her to Kit’s on the beach.

Before he threw it back down to leave, Celia’s sketch-book was lying on the table.

Sam put the paper down and rubbed his hand over the sketch book. He wasn’t sure if it was his drunken mind playing games on him or if it really was her missing notebook. He opened it. There it was, everything Celia had worked for. Every little detail down to how much water was needed per rose.

This entire time Corin had it just as Celia had said. He was sure she was mistaken or misplaced it.

Corin opened the door to show off her long flowing black laced nightie. “Come here, big boy.” She used her finger to summons him over.

Sam put the book behind his back and did as she said. Once she reached him, she came in close. “You had it all along.” He whispered before she could kiss him.

“Yes, I do have all you need.” She bit her bottom lip with her top teeth.

“No, I mean this.” Sam shoved the book in her face. “If I wasn’t a gentleman, I would probably hit you or call you a few names.”

Corin stepped back into the bedroom. “Don did it.”

Sam had to steady himself in the door jam. He suddenly remembered why he never drank. “Liar! You make me sick.” He stumbled with the book secured under his arm.

“Let me explain, Sam.” Corin took the robe and covered herself.

“There is no need for explaining. It’s all here right in front of me.” Sam staggered out the door spilling onto her couch.

“Sam, be rational. You even said she doesn’t belong here.” Corin sat down trying to save herself. “I wanted to see her designs and I accidently took it home with me. I was going to give it back.”

“Liar!” He slurred his words. He was telling his body to leave, but it wouldn’t follow directions. One thing he did know, he had to hold on to the sketch book.

“Sam, relax.” Corin hushed him. “Listen, I had to or she’d steal my business. Sam?” She poked him and he felt her fingernail dig into him. That was the last thing he remembered.

“Experience is a jewel, and it had need be so, for it is often purchased at an infinite rate”
William Shakespeare

28

“Urgh.” Sam slapped his hands over his eyes. The light was blinding. He reached for his remote control to close the blinds. He must’ve forgotten to close them before bed.

He squinted when he couldn’t feel his table. “Great,” he mustered, realizing he was not home.

“I thought you were going to sleep the day away.” Corin held a cup of coffee over his head.

He jumped up and felt around for the book. He didn’t find it.

“Looking for this?” Corin held the sketch book out for him.

“Yes.” Sam took it from her. “Thank you.”

He was back to being the nice guy he has always been. He wanted to be mean, but it wasn’t in him. He would tell Celia everything.

Sam opened the pages and looked at Celia’s dream. Everything she put her blood, sweat and tears into. Everything she held proud. He smiled when he saw his name written in pencil next to a design like she was in high school. He rubbed his finger over it, giving it a little smudge.

“She’s talented.” Corin handed Sam the cup.

Reluctantly he took it from her. Corin was just a typical woman wanting to keep what was hers.

“I’m leaving.” Sam got up. “Your last night on my payroll is when the event is over.”

Sam watched Corin’s face. She knew it was fair. He could’ve fired her, again, then and there.

“I just wanted to keep my life the same,” Corin yelled out.

“L.A. is big enough for the two of you.” Sam didn’t feel the need to explain himself anymore. He wanted to get to Celia as quickly as possible.

The cab ride seemed to take forever. Los Angeles traffic was bad, but when you are in a hurry, it’s extremely bad. Out of the corner of his eye, Sam caught a glimpse of a picture of Celia.

He stopped and picked the paper up. There it was. A picture of Sam and Celia having their public fight at Spago’s. Of course the paparazzi had to use a long lens in order to get a picture. The headlines read: “‘It’ couple already on the outs and with new companions.”

He picked up the next tabloid. There was a picture of Don and Celia in front of Michael’s Craft Store posing just as he and Celia did the week before with him. The headlines read: “Celia Briggs dumps Sam Barber for his PR man.”

The next tabloid was the worst one. It was the reminder of why the first picture was taken. Headline read: “Celia Briggs making out at Spago’s.”  Sam inspected the photo a little closer. It didn’t look like she minded. Her eyes were closed. Her lips were pressed against his.

Sam grabbed the tabloids and handed the man a fifty-dollar bill. “Keep the change.”

*

Celia was stunned to see Sam. She noticed he was in the exact same outfit he wore last night.

“Hi.” She opened the conversation.

“I wanted to apologize for my behavior last night.” Sam looked awful to her.

“I see.” She stood her ground. He smelled bad. “Have you taken a shower today?”

“No.” The newspapers cracked in Sam’s hands. “Are you going to ask me in?”

“Sam.” Celia didn’t want to cloud her vision. “I have decided to finish my job. I’m going to continue to work as hard as I can for the next couple days. After the party, I have scheduled a flight back to Grandberry Falls.”

“I thought you were going to see some of the sites and stay the entire two weeks.”

“I think it’s best we go our separate ways.” The door knob clicked as Celia twisted it. She didn’t want to give in and let him in. She wanted to get through the next couple days and get back to her family and shop before Christmas.

“Why?” He pleaded to know.

“There is stress here. I haven’t felt this way since I quit being a lawyer. I don’t like how we treat each other here—in this environment.” Celia waved her hands in the air. “You aren’t Sam Reynolds. As much as you would like to play Sam Reynolds, you aren’t him. You are Sam Barber the movie star.”

Sam was upset with her words. She could see his brows furrowing.

“You’re right.” Sam threw the tabloids at her feet. She looked down to find the top picture haunting her. “That is how you’ll be remembered.”

Celia bent down and picked up the paper with the picture of her and Don kissing.

Embarrassment raced up her face. She was flush. Her skin was on fire. If she would look in the mirror, she wouldn’t be able to see the difference in color between her hair and her face.

“I can explain.” Celia held the magazine out.

“You don’t need to. You’re right. You aren’t the same person here as you were at home.” Sam walked to the elevator.

Celia shut the door when she heard the elevator door ding. She didn’t want him to leave, but she knew it was best for all involved. She pretty much ruined his immaculate image as an actor.

“Who was that?” Don sat at the kitchen table looking at her new sketch book.

“It was Sam.” She refilled her coffee cup and his.

“Oh.” Celia handed him the tabloid of them kissing. “Celia, I am really sorry about this.”

“I know.” Celia looked at Don.