L.A Love: A Bad Boy Romance Novel

by Chloe Summer

  ‘Babe, there’s going to be cameras and the pap and…and I know I would handle it all better if you were there. Please.’ He begged.

  Of course Liana relented, she never could say no to Jason, a fact that he knew and was always willing to exploit. And as she hangs up the phone, now even angrier than before, she tried to see the positive. She still had some great news to tell him, so what if it was at a party rather than the privacy of her own home? Maybe this way they could begin celebrating straight away?

  Yes, she was determined to stay positive. This was a good thing. She would tell him the good news tonight and then everything would go back to the way it had been.

  --

  The ‘event,’ as Jason referred to it, was actually a birthday party for one of the producers on the film. But, as they were Hollywood types, this was to be no small production. An entire mansion in the Hollywood Hills had been rented out and transformed into a gala of sorts. Where the tremendous backyard teamed with party guests who drank and talked together, the inside was a Grand Ball. The entrance foyer, framed by a Gone with the Wind staircase, had be turned into a ballroom dance floor where, as Liana guess them to be, professional ballroom dancers danced constantly; one big lavish show.

  As soon as they arrived, Liana knew that she should have said no to going to the party. First thing is she was in a bad mood. Gone was the excitement of having some fantastic news to share with Jason. This was replaced by anger at being ignored for three days, followed by an unapologetic explanation. And try as she might, she just couldn’t turn her mood around. She was really in no fit state to be socialising.

  And secondly, she knew right from the get go that there would be no celebrating her good news with Jason tonight. This wasn’t Liana being pessimistic, but realistic. She had been to parties with Jason before and whenever she did Jason, being the showman that he is, simply had to be the centre of the room. Wherever Jason was there always seemed to be a hoard of people around him, trying to get closer. This inevitably left Liana without company for the night.

  At parties where she knew other people, this was fine. But here, with this crowd? She had a pretty good feeling that it was going to be a lonely night.

  True to form, the moment they stepped foot into the backyard, it became the ‘Jason Show.’ A group of so-and-sos converged on he and Liana like piranhas, hungry to feed. Within seconds they were shaking his hand, slapping his back and very successfully squeezing Liana from the conversation. Then, before she knew it, Jason was gone. As if they carried him on their shoulders, the entire group seemed to move as one, scurrying through the party and out of sight in seconds.

  And this Liana thought, was exactly where she knew she would end up. Alone.

  She did try to make the most of it, having a few drinks and attempting to mingle with people. But as soon as she mentioned that she was a freshly-signed writer most turned off instantly. It would seem that this were the kind of party where only the ‘already made’ crowd hung out. They didn’t have time for wannabe’s. There was one ‘producer,’ or at least he claimed to be, that seemed to be taken with Liana. But he disappeared to the bathroom and never came back. After waiting ten minutes Liana was sure that she was being played.

  She spent an hour watching the ballroom dancing, amazed that the dancers never once stopped or even faulted the entire time; she then spent some time admiring a fire breather that had been hired for the event as well as a posse of pantomimes. But even still she was bored. She just wanted to find Jason and get out of here.

  Be careful what you wish for.

  Liana found Jason alright. It getting quite late in the night and she was really starting to get mad. She had wanted to leave since the moment she had arrived and since Jason was nowhere to be found, that was going to be impossible. Needing somewhere to sit, Liana headed to the upstairs bathroom, one situated right above the ballroom dancing. She figured that in there she could sit in peace. But it wasn’t to be.

  Opening the door to the female bathroom, she instantly recognized Scarlett’s voice, high and preachy as it was. ‘You’re going to be a star. There’s no question.’ Liana pulled up, not wanting to go barging in on Scarlett and whoever she were talking too. ‘You just have to ask who you want to take that ride with?’

  ‘It’s not like that?’ The familiar voice of Jason responded. Liana threw her hand over her mouth, trying to silence her breathing as she listened, leaning as close to the door as she dared.

  ‘What is it then? Just a little fun?’

  ‘Something like that.’ Jason agreed.

  ‘Well can you hurry up and decide already.’ Scarlet said in a playful tone. ‘Because you know what they say about onscreen romances? They hardly ever work unless there is some off screen chemistry…and quite frankly I’m getting sick and tired of waiting.’

  Liana, not daring to breathe at all, slowly opened the bathroom door, inch by inch until she could see Scarlett. Her back faced the door as she spoke to the hidden Jason. ‘By that logic Liana could play the role even better then you.’ Jason joked.

  ‘Hmmpphh you know what I mean.’ Scarlett cooed, taking a step in, closer to Jason.

  ‘Are all actresses’ as forward as you are?’ Jason asked, not even a little hesitant over Scarlett’s pretty clear offer.

  ‘Just the one who know what they want. And I always get what I want.’

  ‘And right now?’ Jason mused, seemingly interested by the obvious proposal.

  ‘Right now, Jason Kobe, I want you.’

  Liana did wait to hear what Jason’s response was. At this moment she didn’t even care. She flew from the room before having to be subjected to one of his ‘performances’. Out the door and down the stairs, not caring how much noise she had made. In all honesty she didn’t even care what his response was. The fact that he had even put himself in that position at all? And by the sounds of it this wasn’t the first time that Scarlett had made that offer. And what’s worse it sounded like he didn’t mind either.

  ‘Liana!’ Jason called out.

  Liana, at the base of the stairs now, pulled up at the sound of her name. In fact, everyone did. The strong actor’s boom silenced the crowd. Everyone from the ballroom dancers to the party guests we watching them.

  ‘Will you just…just wait a sec?’ Jason continued, heading for the stairs.

  ‘Go back to the bathroom Jason. If I know Scarlett, I’m sure she hates to be kept waiting.’ Liana spat as she turned her back on him.

  ‘Nothing happened. I swear.’

  ‘That’s not really the point though is it? And besides, don’t actresses always get what they want?’ Shaking her head, Liana rushed from the room.

  She didn’t know where she was going but she knew that anywhere was better than in a room full of strangers, watching her and her boyfriend duke it out. So pushing the front door open, she sprinted from the house and onto the driveway.

  ‘Liana waits!’ Catching her on the way to the front gate, Jason grabbed Liana by the elbow. ‘Come on Liana. Don’t be silly. Where could you possibly go?’

  ‘Why do you care?’

  ‘Of course I care. Why wouldn’t I?’ He asked, looking hurt. Like of course she should know that he cares. But that’s the problem, she wasn’t so sure anymore.

  ‘Because for once it isn’t all about you. That’s why.’

  ‘Come on. That isn’t fair.’

  ‘Isn’t it?’ She spat back, now in a mood. ‘The last two weeks…no forget that, months! Ever since I met you, everything has been about you. From the line readings to the auditions…to Scarlett fucking Levine. Everything.’

  ‘I don’t…I don’t know what you want!’ I thought everything was fine.’

  ‘What I want? What I want is you!’

  Jason wasn’t a big fan of ‘sappy talk’ as he called it. It was probably the reason he had been single for so long. So naturally, as soon as the argument turned to serious matters, he changed the subject. ‘This is about your screenplay isn’t it?�
��

  ‘It’s not about that at all.’

  ‘Jesus Christ it is! I’m going through the biggest deal in my life right now, all I ask for is a little support and you can only think about yourself. Tell me I’m wrong there?’

  ‘Is that what you think?’ Liana asked.

  ‘Go on then. Tell me I’m wrong.’

  ‘Guess what? I sent my screenplay off. And I signed with an agent…three days ago.’

  ‘Oh my god.’ Jason said, his mood instantly changing. Despite all this he was obviously happy for her. ‘Babe, that’s great.’

  ‘Yeah. It is.’

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’

  ‘Why do you think?’

  ‘I just thought…’

  ‘No. You never did.’ Liana spoke softly, shaking her head as she slowly took a step back, and then another. Before she knew it she was walking down the driveway, alone.

  ‘Babe.’ Jason yelled out, without following. ‘I’m really proud of you.’

  It was his lack of fight that decided it for Liana. Up until that point there was a nagging feeling in the back of her mind, something that told her he would prove himself and she would forgive him. Sure she was angry at him, but that would pass. Deep down she loved him, more than she ever had anyone before. If you had asked her two weeks ago if she thought the two of them were forever, she may have just answered in the affirmative. But, now she knew that he didn’t feel the same way. Not at all, not even a little bit. This is what happens when you date the bad-boy with an attitude; you get your heart broken.

  As much as she was going to miss him, like really miss him, she also couldn’t help but think about how much he had helped her grow. Looking back at where she was before they met and where she was now was really quite unbelievable. But still…he was more than crash course on self-development. And more than that, he had been her inspiration, her muse, her reason achieving. Or at least he had been…

  Now, as she held her thumb out to the road, hoping to wave a taxi down, she didn’t know what she was going to do. She and Jason were without a doubt over; the only question was what now?

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  An Ironic Meeting

  ‘I thought you’d be a little more excited?’ Henry said, frowning at Liana.

  ‘Oh, no I am.’ Liana offered, only half enthusiastically. But try as she might, even she couldn’t feign enthusiasm for what was actually really good news.

  ‘Ok…’ Henry took his time cutting into his steak, chewing it slowly as if really savouring the flavours before finally swallowing. It was only once his mouth was totally clear of food that he spoke again. ‘You’re aware that I’m offering you a job here? Well the studio is offering you the job; I’m just relaying the message.’

  It had been a solid month since Liana had stopped seeing Jason and still she just couldn’t move on.

  The first week was the hardest. Still with no work, and no one to talk to, she spent the entire week in bed; going through boxes of tissues at an alarming rate. She’d wake up in the middle of the night, roll over to put her arm around a non-existent Jason, and just burst into tears. To be perfectly frank the whole thing was really quite exhausting.

  The second week was slightly better, as the sadness slowly turned to anger. She would remiss on how much she hated the way he always walked around in his dirty underwear and the way he would stay in character, hours after they had finish rehearsing. Yes, she would tell herself, this was for the best. You’re better off without him.

  But of course she couldn’t keep that up and it was only too soon before she was back to sadness. It was a relative rollercoaster that took weeks to finally slow down.

  It was around week four that Liana had started trying to convince herself that she was over Jason. He was a distant memory from a past time; a distraction that stood in the way of her achieving her goals. Well she had achieved those now, so why need him at all? She didn’t need him to be happy. There was only one problem with this line of thinking. She wasn’t happy.

  Her career had finally started to take off as Henry scheduled meetings all over town, trying to sell her screenplay. With her big break just around the corner, Liana should have been thrilled. But she wasn’t. Sure, it was a dream comes true for her. Not only could she quit Starbucks, but she was going to be a full time writer. She just wished that she had someone to share it with. She thought back to that night that Jason found out he was about to start filming. The look of pure happiness on his face, like nothing in the world could upset him. Liana wanted that and she didn’t know how to get it. What did he have at that moment that she didn’t?

  Plus she was suffering from severe writers block. She hadn’t written a word since she’d broken up with Jason and although the timing was obvious; she refused to admit the connection. She just needed a reason to write again; a reason that a job would surely offer.

  But as Henry laid out the good news, that he had found her that job, Liana was still struggling to get enthused.

  ‘I don’t think you understand how rare this is? To have an unknown writer on a project this…well this big is almost unheard of. But they’re having production troubles and you know…’ Henry paused to take a bite of his steak. ‘…desperate times and all that. Anyway I sold the shit out of you. So…’

  He had managed to secure for Liana an on-set writer’s position for a movie currently in production. As luck…so to speak…would have it, the film was the very same that Jason was working on. They’d been having script issues for a while and decided that brining on a new writer might change things. With Liana’s already existing knowledge of the script, she was the perfect choice.

  ‘Hey.’ Henry said, leaning forward and taking Liana’s hand. ‘Are you OK?’

  This was something that had been happening more and more frequently of late. These little moves and gestures from Henry that suggested he wanted a little more from her than a screenplay. And god he was handsome. Even in her current state Liana could still see that. She looked down at his hand stroking hers. She looked up into his eyes, the perfect shade of blue, clear aqua; like an ocean in the Bahamas’. And yet, Liana didn’t want him. Not at all, not even a little bit.

  ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ She said, pulling her hand from his. ‘I’ve just had the flu the last few days. Still fighting it off. You know?’ She lied, even throwing in a fake sniff for good measure.

  ‘Right.’ Said Henry, a little thrown off by the rejection; it’s something he’s most likely not used to. But the rejection really had nothing to do with Henry. If anything he was the ideal man to help move on from a breakup.

  But Liana wasn’t ready to move on. It was a thought she had been fighting with for a long time now. From anger to sadness, to convincing herself that she was over Jason. But the ease at which she shrugged off Henry was proof enough that she wasn’t quite done with her former lover. Not only did she know that she wasn’t over him yet, but she was certain that she didn’t want to be either. Not yet. That was why she couldn’t write. That was why she still woke up in the middle of the night, putting her arm over someone that wasn’t even there. It was because it wasn’t over yet. Not by a long shot.

  Liana took the job as the on-set writer for the film. If she was going to get Jason back she knew that this was the best way. She only hoped that he wanted her back too.

  CHAPTER NINE

  The Perfectly Written Plan

  ‘The problem with this scene is the dialogue. It isn’t real. We’ve got two great actors up there --,’

  ‘’Hhmmpphhh.’

  ‘Sorry. A great actor and actress up there, and every time they say these lines they sound like planks of wood. Now I ask you, what do you think you can do?’

  It was Liana’s first day on set and she was halfway through a meeting with the film’s director and its first-producer; a male-female duo that Liana was sure was sleeping together. They dragged her into their office the moment she arrived, proceeding to scream notes at her non-stop for thirty minutes s
traight. Well the director screamed, while the producer sat in her chair nodding enthusiastically at everything he said. All of these notes were really in the same common vein, make the dialogue better.

  ‘I was wondering…when will I have time to talk to the actors…and actresses’?’ Liana asked innocently. ‘Just so I can get a sense of --,’

  ‘What?’ The director spat in disbelief, as if the very idea of her talking to the actors was unthinkable. ‘Why would you talk to them? You’re a writer. Concentrate on the writing and let them concentrate on the acting. Capisce?’

  ‘Capsice?’

  ‘I want you to give this scene some --,’

  ‘Heart.’ The female producer cut in for the first time.

  ‘Yes, heart.’ The director agreed. ‘And give it some --,’