*Ophelia*Asher’s home less than an hour later, walking through to the living room with sheer annoyance on his face. “What a waste of time. She’s fine; I don’t know why they bothered calling me.”I shrug. “Maybe Courtney was afraid of something being wrong.”He sighs, plopping down next to me on the couch. “Well, I’m back now.” He looks over at his television, turned onto a sports channel. “What are we watching?”I sigh. “Bullshit. Just passing the time while waiting for you.”Asher kisses the side of my head. “That’s sweet. Any way I can make tonight up to you?”“There’s nothing to make up,” I insist, nudging his ribs. “Courtney needed you.”The thing I don’t say, however, is that I’m still skeptical of how tonight’s events played out. I don’t want to sit around accusing people at all costs. I WANT to trust Asher when it comes to all of this. We’ve battled enough since the start. I know after this brief separation that I want him in my life, and I’m willing to put in all the wo
*Ophelia*I’ve called Mac Daddy three times since I received Lucy’s text message, but I haven’t heard from him. I’m currently rushing to the recording studio we’re working in. I don’t even understand what Lucy’s message means. What am I stealing exactly?I made sure to shoot Asher a text to let him know I arrived, and that business came up, and I couldn’t call until later. ‘Understood. Go kick ass and take names.’His confidence upped my desperation to get answers, and I burst into the studio to achieve that goal.Mac Daddy, Lucy, and others on the team all jump in surprise.“You weren’t answering my calls,” I state, walking towards my manager.“We were in the middle of a meeting,” he replies, pulling out his phone and barely glancing down at it. “And what’s that meeting?” I snap. The man we’re working with, David Letz, snaps his eyes onto me with shock. Lucy smirks in my direction, seemingly to challenge my opinion and anger. “Because we’re supposed to be here for MY album.”
*Ophelia*Even though Mac Daddy wanted me on the red carpet tonight, he still had me in the recording studio for hours before finally cutting me loose.I’m exhausted now, working tirelessly to put this album together. I guess the silver lining to this is that David is excellent to work with and very kind which is a first since I got to L.A. I feel like someone gives a damn. It’s hard to tell what Mac Daddy is looking for, but sometimes, it doesn’t feel like he cares. Maybe I’m just too exhausted to know.I speak to Asher about the stress, and he’s on edge. “Do I need to come out there?”“For me to sing some songs?”“To make sure he doesn’t work you to death.”My heart sings. “I want it to be the best it can be, baby,” I insist. “But thank you for looking out for me.”Asher immediately responds, “I always will.”I return to my hotel, wanting nothing more than to shower and collapse into bed. But I know that’s not going to happen. I shower, the warm water comforting my fatigued
*Ophelia*I’m stunned into silence. I’ve only seen her online and in gossip columns, but she’s undeniably picturesque in her long blue dress. Her long, blonde hair perfectly falls in waves down her back, and her pink nails match with her pale pink eyeshadow. The only contrast is the gold necklace wrapped around her neck. It’s a large C in what looks like real gold, and as she walks towards us, her gold heels peek out of her dress.All of this is to say Asher’s ex-girlfriend is striking in person. She doesn’t compare to her pictures. She’s the whole package. Even her breasts and butt are huge, straining the fabric in the way I know many men ogle.“Mac!” Courtney’s chipper voice comes across as sweet, unlike the voice I’d heard on the other end of Asher’s phone. She leans over, kissing him on each cheek. “Mwah! Oh, darling, it’s been ages!”“Look at you in this dress! The definition of perfection.”She turns to admire her figure. “Oh, this thing? I saw it in a store display and simp
*Asher*It’s pouring rain today, so Coach keeps us inside for practice. We spend the time on the weights, each of us having been given a schedule from the fitness trainer. It’s a nice, easy day, in my opinion. Sometimes, coming off the field and doing the basics again is nice. It reminds me of high school.In the off-season, my buddies and I would hit the school’s weight room together, goofing off while also doing what we needed to do for our specific positions on the team. Lifting weights and having someone spot me on the bench brings a genuine warmth to me. Currently, I’m standing behind Mark as he lifts his bar.“So, what are you doing to kill time on your days off?” I ask my buddy.“Sleeping,” he grunts, thrusting the bar up into the air with all his might. “Also got an invite from some friends to go out one night.”“Sounds nice,” I respond. “Guess it’s been a while. We’ve been non-stop for weeks; I honestly just lost track of time.”Mark replaces the bar on the rungs, sittin
*Ophelia*A yawn escapes me, and I do my best to attempt to stifle it. I feel like I haven’t slept in weeks, which, in a way, I really haven’t. I’ve spent every day, non-stop, in the studio with the music I’m trying to learn. I’m also emotionally exhausted, wishing I could turn off the annoyance and frustration.“Miss Lane, do you need another coffee?” David asks into the microphone that reaches my headphones. They’re wrapped around my neck as I practice, so his voice surprises me. I look up at the glass window, and he’s looking at me with some concern. Do I look as tired as I feel?“I shouldn’t,” I say into my mic. He glances somewhere I’m unable to see, then says, “You’re working hard. I’ll get my intern to ask what everyone wants; we could all use some coffee.”I give him a small smile and mouth the words “thank you” so he knows I appreciate it. David’s been kind to me since we got started. He has kept an eye out for me, checking in, and even stepping in when he thinks Mac Dad
*Ophelia*The next day, things start feeling much worse in the studio. I reached out to Asher last night, and he didn’t get back to me until this morning.‘Looking into something. Sorry, I didn’t message you back. Call me tonight?’I don’t understand what’s happening on Asher’s end, but I text him back that I’ll reach out. I send him kissing faces, weary of how he’ll respond, until he sends me them back, as well as a few hearts.I don’t think whatever’s going on involves Asher being distant with me. But I still stress as I leave the hotel and return to David’s studio. I was hoping Asher was going to consider coming to L.A. I would love to see him, spend my nights wrapped in his arms, and bring him around to meet everyone.But instead, I’m by myself, still, with no understanding of what’s on Asher’s mind.I grab the biggest coffee I can get for myself, opting to grab one for David as well. He’s been an actual life raft with Mac Daddy, and if anyone deserves praise right now, it’s
*Ophelia*I walk back to the studio slowly, unsure what to think or say. Marilyn’s words keep echoing in my ears.‘Alvin drugged me.’I thought my attitude towards Mac Daddy was just exhaustion. We’ve been working together for a while, but creative differences happen. Now, I can’t help but think back on each interaction since the beginning after hearing Marilyn’s accusation.The issue I’m grappling with is she doesn’t seem untrustworthy, but I don’t know the woman. How am I supposed to trust this random woman’s word? What if she’s just out to get ME? However, I don’t exactly see how that would make any sense.I take a deep breath before I finally walk into the studio, the entire group of people I’ve been working with turning to me as the doors slam behind me.“Oh good, you’re back. Are you okay?” David’s the first to break the silence, coming up to me. His genuine kindness and concern for me and the entire group are heartfelt and touching. I nod, swallowing the lump that’s sitt