Like the plague

“Look this way Myra.”

“Miss Myra can you smile this way!”

“I love your dress, was it made by a popular designer?”

“Please, one more photo Myra!” the photographers shouted as we walked the red carpet. Camera lights flashed repeatedly but I was used to it by now. My sister tugged at my arm and I looked beside me.

“Is it always like this?” Lily asked, awe written on her face. I was glad I had decided to make her my plus one for the party that night. The house was falling apart and we both needed a break. The past two days had been one roller coaster ride after another, moving from one problem to the next. I didn’t know things were this awful at home.

“Not always, but this is a double event. We’re celebrating the birthday of the CEO of the label and the success of our new TV series.” I explained to her, forcing thoughts of leaking roofs and busted pipes out of my head.

“Look at the camera Myra.” A photographer called.

“What’s the name of your friend?” someone else asked.

“Her name is Lily, and she’s my sister.” I said proudly hugging her to myself.

After we had taken enough photos we moved into the big dome.

The room was elegantly decorated, with flowers hanging from the ceiling giving an ethereal design. With my eyes I tried to find Hannah in the crowded room.

“There!” Lily called, pointing towards the bar area. There I saw Hannah, speaking with a veteran author, no doubt discussing the possibility of turning the woman’s book into a series. Her husband standing diligently at her side.

I was glad to see her. Even though we had talked on the phone about my current situation, I hadn’t seen her since she’d made my life even more complicated by handing me the test kit. When she noticed us, she waved enthusiastically, urging us forward. Relief at escaping Hannah was evident in the author’s face and she disappeared once Hannah’s attention was divided.

She gave me a knowing look when I reached her side. Hannah still thought it was wise that I told Pierce of my Pregnancy.

“If he insists you get an abortion, then don’t. It’s your body, your baby. But leaving him in the dark is going to bite you in the ass, Myra.” She warned after I told her what I had done.

She had promised not to breathe a word of my pregnancy even to her husband, but informed me that she would not stop pressing the issue.

“About time you arrived.” Damien, Hannah’s husband told me crushing me in a bear hug. “Maybe i can actually have fun at these things,”

“Oh don’t be a spoilsport. We had a deal. One night here and I do whatever you want for a week.”

“Sounds like a pretty good bargain Damien." I said with a laugh.

We noticed a commotion coming from the entrance and I turned to find the one man I never expected to see.

Pierce was still as mesmerizing as the first day I had met him. Dressed immaculately in a dark business suit worn over a crisp blue shirt, he towered over the men in the room effortlessly, if not by height , then by his imposing and intimidating presence.

He must have known I would be here, Why did he show up even with that knowledge, the last I’d seen or heard from him had been my encounter with him and Tami at the hospital. Why was he here?was this some kind of mind fuck?

I looked at him like I could make him disappear if I stared at him long and hard enough. Tami was glued to his side unsurprisingly. She was not kidding about staking her claim in him. Pierce Blackwood who would never be caught dead, accompanying me to random social events was here with a grinning Tami on his arm. Did he have to humiliate me farther? To show me I had meant nothing to him this whole time and that he was done with me? Well, I had gotten the message and done his bidding so why was he here?

Hannah gave me a sympathetic look, and I nodded with a smile. I was fine. I turned my back to him and his noisy crew, forcing my gaze away from them.

“Who is he, Myra?” Lily asked, awe written on her face.

“A ruthless son of a bitch.” Hannah offered.

“A businessman, one of the many wealthy ones here tonight, Pierce Blackwood.” I told Lily. That was all she needed to know about him.

“Is he one of your friends?”

“No kiddo, never has been, never will be.”

I had kept my relationship with Pierce a secret from my family, hoping to publicize it when we got serious. We never did, and I never mentioned it. There was no use to do so now.

“Don’t call me kiddo.” She scrunched up her nose in protest.

Suddenly large arms wrapped around my shoulders, startling me. Beautiful blue eyes attached to a well sculpted face stared down at me mischievously.

“Adams!” I sighed in relief. Whatever stress I felt, I knew he would make me laugh it all away. Since Adams had met me during our audition for Gossip and dreams he had become a permanent fixture in my life. The type of friend I could call on if I ever needed a break from my life problems.

“When did you show up?” I asked breathlessly.

“Just a second ago. Then I came in search of the most beautiful group of women. You look lovely, Myra.” Adams whispered the last sentence, and drew me closer, his hand resting on my exposed back. “Hannah…” he added playfully.

“Nope” she answered, lifting a hand up. “You get the silent treatment for a whole month for missing the Lindsay interview.”

“Help me.” He begged me, cracking me up. A familiar pair of eyes caught my attention.

“I think Sarah’s giving me the stink eye.” I told him, and waved at her with a bright smile on my face. I giggled when he swung his arms around my shoulder and kissed my cheek.

“She’s angry because you snagged the most handsome man in the room tonight.” Adams could not be described as delusional. With his towering height and lean physique, he was a absolute head turner, sadly the only person that had my attention tonight was Pierce.

“Lucky me, I guess.” I joked letting a more natural smile spread over my face.

“If anyone is lucky, it would be me. I get to stare at your beautiful face for the rest of the night.”

Color crept up my cheeks. “What have I told you about trying out your pickup lines on me? I don’t appreciate being a test subject.”

He grinned and leaned into me, his head resting in the crook of my neck. “It’s not a pickup line Myra. I mean every word.” He whispered hoarsely. I rolled my eyes. Adams got like this once in a while. It would last till he found some model or foreign speaking waitress to obsess over. I hoped it would happen sooner than later.

“I thought you said you didn’t know him?” Lily asked with a frown on her face, I could not help but feel relief at the interruption.

“Know who?”

“Pierce Blackwood.” Adam raised a brow at me, and I flushed beside him. He had never brought it up while we talked but I was sure he had heard the rumors of my rumored relationship with Pierce.

“I don’t.” I answered with vehemence.

“Then why is he walking towards us?”

My body went taut when Hannah’s eyes widened in surprise, confirming what Lily had said. She looked at me with concern and then behind me.

“Myra.” A deep velvety voice called from behind me. A voice that had hunted in me in my dreams and followed me like the plague after I had left him. I was painfully aware of who the voice belonged to but prayed to the stars that I was wrong. Slowly I turned and my heart leapt into my throat.

His dark gaze regarded me coolly.

“Pierce.”

His gaze moved followed Adam’s hand as he placed it back on my shoulder. I fought the urge to remove it.

“Surprised to see you here.”

“I told you I would make it to your next show.” He said with a frown when he noticed I wasn’t doing anything about Adam’s hand. I hoped his statement went unnoticed by the others.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you Mr Pierce.” Adams said.

Pierce made no move to respond, but stared at his hand like it could wither away from my shoulder.

Adams slowly retrieved his arm. Hannah noticed the awkwardness and stepped in quickly.

“Pierce! The studio has been trying to get you to the studio for a while now. I’m sure Lancaster will be glad to see you’re here.”

“Of course. I hope you’re doing okay? I saw Myra at the hospital accompanying you for your tests.”

”What?” Damien asked confused while my heart dropped in my chest. “What test, love?”

“She’s fine.” I butted in, hoping Pierce did not hear him. I could hear Hannah whispering in her husband’s ear as I spoke. “It was nothing serious.”

“I ’m good Pierce. Thanks for asking.” She confirmed with a smile. My heart slowed.

“Myra,“ he started again, his focus on me. “Is there something you would like to say to my face?”

I shook my head quietly before I found my voice. “No, nothing.” My eyes darted subtly to the rest of the group, lingering on my sister, before they focused on Pierce, sending him a silent message. I did not know what he was up to but we were in public. He had to keep it under wraps.

“I feel otherwise.”

Before I could process his action Pierce’s hand grasped my arm tightly and pulled me. “Come along Myra, we have things to discuss.”