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Maria Back to work.
He flung the phone to the other side of the chair grumpily, like Higgins's message had appalled him, whatever it was, Maria wasn't sure if it was going to be good for them, not after the paparazzi and marriage stunt."What did he say? Is there a problem?" She asked, tying her hair into a ponytail at the same time."They want me present tomorrow, with Natasha and a couple of other actors. I think the producers are going to be there." He had a habit of ruffling his hair at any slight inconvenience, "the project commences soon.""Oh." That was all it occurred to her to say, deep down, she was happy something was moving, and the faster the pace of things, the easier it got for her. She should be selfish and ambitious, she should be angry with achieving her goals and her rage-filled years of torture should fuel her longing, but why did she feel no better than a leech? He didn't even know her real reason for going through with the contract marriage."Are you okay?" He asked with worry wr
Maria Home.
She brushed Natasha's words off like they meant nothing, it did. Walking away from her even as her condescending stare pricked the nape of her neck. Whatever ploy she had in mind would have to wait. Her hand was still locked in Jackson's who stroked it with his thumb like he was reassuring her, and she felt ever so calm, so prepared for whatever might get thrown at her. She was Maria Gracia after all.Heads turned as the door was slid open, and her vision threatened to blur as different pairs of eyes pricked her skin, it was horrifying how silent and cold the office was. It was different, bigger, and wider than Sean's. They all sat around a conference table with different files scattered before them, Maria did a mental headcount, they were nine of them, seven of whom she had never seen, the other two being Higgins and Sean. She inhaled deeply, wishing for the sudden weight on her shoulders to lighten. Jackson led the way, leading her to a chair next to the one he settled on and Natas
Maria Meeting.
She hopped into the car and settled in the passenger seat, strapping her seatbelt as Jackson ignited the engine. The image of Natasha standing Jn the same spot was visible from the rearview mirror, her shoulder slumped and her face impossibly pale, she looked delicate, as though one touch would cause her to shatter. "That was brutal," Maria said slowly, owning the part of her that felt pity for Natasha, "she looks really broken, will you be okay making a movie with her?" Jackson shrugged with his eyes still glued to the road, his face held no shade of pity or remorse, it was the exact opposite, he looked accomplished. "I don't know, and frankly, I do not care."She tapped his arms lightly, " I feel bad about what happened, you're so going to be in trouble, what did you do that for?" Her brows drew together. "Because I like you."Oh wow. Compared to what he had said, his expression remained calm, he didn't waver, and neither was he nervous. On the other hand, she was praying
Maria Persistence.
"Jackson. My name is Jackson." He accepted the handshake of the strange guy and watched his brows crease then his expression fell back to normal. Jackson retired back to watching the ocean fold and fall to his feet."Jackson, uh...you have the name of someone I really want to meet, that guy took something from me." He declared with his gaze fixated on the ocean. "Lovely view, don't you think? The blue sky and the birds, I don't see that often."Where was he? Jail? Who doesn't see a blue sky? "It is very lovely, I must say," Jackson responded slowly, a smile growing on his face, but it was covered by the mask. "It's been a while since I've been out here, too." He confessed. He was always running around, hiding like an outcast in his own life. Scared to death of being apprehended like a criminal. His dreams of living free had been cut short by his career. Such a sad fate."You seem to have a lot on your mind, mate. Me too though. How about we do this, I tell you all of my problems a
Maria Crash.
"See, the craziest thing happened to me today, after our...discussion earlier I went to the beach for some alone time..." He chuckled as Andrew's face flashed in his mind. "He was weird...in a fascinating kind of way. She nodded with a mouthful of pizza, " you went to the beach? And you didn't get discovered?" Her eyes bulged."Yes, yes. But that's not the point, I met this really weird guy. At first, I wanted him to go away but it ended up being one of the best discussions I've had in a while." "So what did you talk about? Did he know who you are?" She asked with sincere worry in her voice. "Eh- not exactly. He just said something I want to follow up on. And I thought you should know." He paused making sure he got all of her attention. "I don't know what caused the outburst earlier but I'm willing to wait. I'd wait for you till you want to talk about it, and I won't stop telling you that I like you." A tiny voice in his head, the one that was scared of pushing too hard, urged him
Maria Severed.
*A FEW HOURS EARLIER*"Cut!" The director yelled as Jackson took a step away from Natasha, detecting the smug grin she had plastered on her face. "That was beautiful," The director continued, wiping his sweaty forehead with a handkerchief that was originally supposed to be white, now brown from wiping the dirty surfaces of his body. Jackson was glad the shoot was over for today, he couldn't wait to go home. All he wanted was to run home to her—Maria. These past few days had been a hell of a pleasant ride, and he was glad, exceptionally glad he had met her. The thought of her caused the edge of his lips to curve into a smile, it took a while for him to realize he had been smiling stupidly at nothing. Maria had made him become a daydreamer, even when he was with her, he couldn't help but get pulled into the imagination of how things would be with her around forever. If anything, he was sure he wanted her forever."Great work today, everyone!" The director yelled and the crew gave a c
Maria A curse?
The harsh cold gripped her causing her to shiver violently against her will as she waited for Harry. Deep down, she hoped Jackson would see her, that he'd stop sleeping and run after her, that he'd tell her this was just a joke, a cruel joke. But that didn't happen till Harry pulled over before her. He came rushing out of the car with genuine worry written all over his face. It increased when his eyes met hers, but she didn't care. She felt as though if she talked or looked at him for long, she'd crumble. Maria had barely stopped tearing up before his arrival, now she could feel the dam in her eyes waiting to crack."What happened? Maria?" He lifted her chin to see her face clearly. She fought back tears and couldn't speak, she knew that if she did, he'd see her weak and helpless. Not like he had not already. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her, Maria had never been more grateful."Where is Jackson? Did he-?" His pity transformed into a rage as he stared intensely at he
Maria Pull, not push.
She had barely slept a wink last night, all of the scenarios replayed in her head like a tragic nightmare. Maria could already tell it was daybreak, the rays of sunlight seeped through the corners of the room completely illuminating the room, still, she lay, her eyes firmly shut as she drowned in her thoughts. She was more rational, or so she thought. It was hard to think of him without the ache in her chest intensifying, she'd been hurt before, so how did she let it happen again? One word, foolish. She had been foolish to give people the benefit of the doubt, believing a person could be different from others, she had been really foolish. Then Andrew- If Andrew were around, then bad things were bound to happen. Harry knocked on the door, the first time, she'd been too tired to answer, talking felt like a lot of work, but she'd eventually have to do it. He knocked again."It's open," she said in the loudest voice her throat could provide. The door clicked open revealing Ha
Latest chapter
Maria The end.
*FINAL CHAPTER*"I found the pills, and- and I don't know what to say," she broke down and started to cry. "After all these while, you still take them? I thought you were done! I thought you were clean! God... it's been six months and you kept lying to me! You lied to me!"She watched him wince and he sought the right words to say. He crumbled before her. He looked like the ghost of his former self."Why do you keep going back? After rehab! After the therapy sessions, why do you keep going back!?" She yelled, frantic. Her terror was built up by the moment."Because no one understands!" He yelled back. "No matter how hard I try to be me, no matter how hard I try to stop, I keep finding my way back to it! I was clean! Till I wasn't. I tried! I tried and tried but there was nothing to help me get through it""But I am here-""No, not like that. I know but not that like that, okay?" He threw the cup on the table across the wall and grabbed his head, pulling and thugging at his hair, "Wha
Maria This part is done
Jackson- Jackson had been hit. She chanted in her head, it replayed over and over. The image of him struggling with Andrew, that was the last thing she remembered before the world fell into a threatening silence. Her eyes slowly opened to a blinding glow of light. She shut them back because they hurt. Maria tried again and opened her eyes slowly this time. It took a while to overpower the headache and realize that she was in a hospital, and next to her was Jackson, fast asleep with half his body on the bed and the lower half on the chair that was next to the bed.She would have shouted if her throat didn't feel clogged. Jackson was next to her. What had happened? It felt as though it's been months till she last saw him. Maria squirmed lightly, shaking the bed a little to wake him up. She needed to know what had happened. Everything felt like a threat."Jackson, Jackson," she called out slowly and when he didn't answer, she could feel her eyes begin to water, "Jackson, please wake up.
Maria Closer to the end
On his phone's screen was a picture of Maria unconscious and with a nasty injury on her head. He was still at Harry's when he received the picture. He had been shocked beyond word, and Harry had to squeeze the phone out of his hands to know the reason for his shock. The message came with an instruction of confidentiality and an address he was asked to come discreetly without company, if he did anything out of place, she would be badly hurt. If the shock hadn't been obvious on his face, Jackson would have thought going alone was the best option. He couldn't stand the thought of something bad happening to her. She had been through enough already. It's been long since Jackson experienced such crippling anxiety. It was as though every nerve in his body worked at a faster pace and then took a downward spiral at intervals. This was bad. It was really bad. He never should have left her, clearly, he underestimated Andrew. This has to be his doing, it wasn't traceable to anyone else. "Calm
Maria Square one
For the brief moment that her eyes pried open, she felt that she was in transit. A vehicle or whatever mode of transportation it was, after that she drifted into another deep sleep till hours later. Or had it been days? Maria wasn't quite sure. She woke up with a splitting headache and tried to recognize the environs she found herself in. She didn't. And in the process of that, her headache got worse. Had she been hit? There was a banging pain at the side of her head, it hurts so much it could kill and she reached for it, except her hands weren't moving. It took all she had to tilt her head and see that it had been tied to the side of the chair in which she sat. Maria couldn't understand what was going on, she tried to recall and in bits and pieces, her memories began to sum up something more reliable. In violent glimpses, she could remember how foolishly she had opened the door for someone who was supposed to be her pizza delivery guy, when she tried to remember what happened after
Maria I know.
Harry left a while after bouncing on and off their discussion, they discussed how factual the situation may be and possible ways of finding out the truth. All of which Maria heard. Was pretending she did not hear all this lying? She had to speak to Jackson about it, but somehow she couldn't find the right way to. She appeared in the living room with her happiest smile and liveliest gaze, it was sickening. The shock, the thoughts. It ate at her at an unbelievable pace."Good morning, sunshine," Jackson said at the sight of her, his smile was faltering, and so was his facade. "I was just about to find you an audition for the sleeping beauty two, did you sleep well?"Of course, he was going to hide all of it behind humor. Was she beginning to get mad at him for not telling her the truth immediately? How long does he plan to hide it? Again, at the back of her mind, she felt as though she had no right to react. "I think I'd be a better Cinderella or Moana." She responded and gave him a b
Maria Found?
Things were going well, or they should be considering neither of them has brought up the issue with Andrew. It was due to be handled and Jackson had the perfect plan, but that could wait. Their relationship is what needed fixing. They didn't go back to the penthouse yet and everything was going okay, except for the never-ending apologies Maria offered and her 'do you still love me?" at frequent intervals. After what happened, Jackson was sure he could never stop loving her even when he tried, and her feelings were more obvious now after whatever discussion she'd had with his mother.Everything should be fine. They were back on track, and slowly and steadily, they'd be able to put their differences behind them. And of course, he was going to help her with her career, once the storm was over, he'd assist her in any way he could. She deserved to have her dreams fulfilled. It was morning and the coffee makers around him somehow only listened to Maria, so he has to sit and wait for her to
Maria oh, wow.
Strange coincidence. It's not like I knew someone else who lived in Spain and bore the name 'Maria.' Strange coincidence, really. Why did it make me feel so uneasy? I watched her as she unburdened, every word left her mouth as though it took a part of her with it. It wasn't the best sight.She continued. "I didn't have any family members or relatives, and it was impossible to get to the USA, I was under scrutiny at the time. They didn't let me go and Alfred didn't have my best interests at heart. After I had Maria, the evidence grew incriminating and I'd rather know where my child was than have them take her away from me. So I tried to escape, or I did, for a brief moment. The only place I could think of was the orphanage and I dropped her there," her voice cracked and she began to tear up again. "I dropped my daughter inside the orphanage and fled because I was too scared, too ashamed to be seen as the irresponsible mother. It was rainy that night...and I stayed, hoping someone s
Maria Explain.
*HARRY*It hasn't exactly been the best day for me, especially with the conflicting emotions, especially when I saw Maria this morning, I thought I was over her. I thought it would hurt less but every piece of advice I gave Jackson was half-minded. Being selfless was hard. I was doing the exact opposite of what I had threatened to do, it was funny how in between a split second I dropped from wanting their relationship in ruins into wanting them to work. Emotions were the most unstable thing I know.There was so much paperwork to be attended to and Higgins wasn't exactly helpful, not with the stunt that Jackson had pulled, everywhere and everyone was in chaos, it still seemed as though Sean was shrinking, it must be the stress. Maybe I was too, but how could I tell? Managing a personality such as Jackson's was a six-man work, and I had to handle it all alone.Enough of these thoughts, I cautioned in my head. I was driving and half the time, the road seemed blurry and I've had other dri
Maria Resolution
He beat her. That son of a bitch. That good for nothing laid in his hands her. The anger that Jackson thought had dissipated was beginning to take form — hard and fast. It sounded like the most absurd thing he has heard all year long. The woman he loves experienced the same thing as his mother whom he had been so naive, too small to lend a helping hand. It was beyond anger—what he felt, it was rage, a good amount of it directed at himself. Why hadn't he noticed? When he saw how shaken up she was by his presence, why didn't he think of all this? He had been bummed when she opened up about everything, it was impossible to voice her struggles adequately but she did a good job at it. It made him wonder what he'd have done if he had woken up and found himself in an orphanage with a couple of other kids, all ordinary. Would he have tried to be different like she did? Even when she fought for her dreams, she still suffered for them at the hands of someone like Andrew. He didn't know
