After The One (The One Series Duet)

by Danielle Allen

  When we walked into the living room, I let out some catcalls. Keisha had on an emerald green dress that covered her body completely, but fit like a second skin. Her shoulder-length hair was curled prettily, framing her face. Lenny had on a navy blue, 1950s style pinup halter dress that fit her body like a glove; she looked hot.

  We openly admired each other’s style choices and threw around sincere compliments. We didn’t just praise each other physically as we sat around the living room. We reminisced about old times, sharing stories and memories as we appreciated what each of us brought to the table as individuals.

  “Well damn…” Lenny gushed as three spectacularly handsome men walked out of the house next door.

  We all silently gaped at Omar, Scott, and James as they made their way over to our villa. They looked good. All of them wore black pants, but their styles were so different.

  “If you don’t want that threesome, I’ll take whichever one you don’t want,” Koko muttered to Keisha just before the patio door opened. “Hey guys!” Koko’s cheery tone didn’t even slightly indicate the sexual comment she’d just made.

  “Hey,” I added, trying to contain my amusement. “You guys look nice.”

  “Thanks,” Scott said with a grin. “You four will be the most beautiful women at the meet-and-greet.”

  “You can say that again,” James uttered in a low tone. His eyes were glued to Lenny.

  “Is Julian still getting ready?” I questioned as I rose to my feet.

  “Oh, I thought he got in touch with you,” Omar replied, his forehead crinkling. “Right after he finished getting dressed, Beverly banged on the door, saying it was urgent. He didn’t call you?”

  I checked my pocket for my phone and didn’t feel anything except for the keycard. “I can’t find my phone.” I looked around the room. “Can someone call it?” Focusing back on Omar, I lifted my eyebrows. “What else happened?”

  “He said he was calling you. I don’t know what she told him because by the time I came into the room, he told me to tell the fellas he’d meet us at the meet-and-greet, and then he said he was calling you and ran out of the villa.”

  My mouth went dry. “He ran?”

  “Fast as hell, too.” He pulled out his phone. “Now that I think about it…” He put his phone to his ear and we all waited.

  When he hung up without reaching Julian, my stomach knotted.

  Where the hell is my phone?

  “It probably had something to do with filming,” Koko guessed, calling my phone again.

  No one seemed worried or panicked, but I knew Julian and he wouldn’t just take off running or abort our plans to ride together for just anything.

  I glanced over at Omar and I could see the wheels turning in his head.

  I’m not crazy. Something is clearly up.

  I started to rush upstairs, but as soon as I got up three steps, I realized I’d had my phone in Koko’s room. I turned quickly and headed that way. When I entered, I could hear my phone vibrating.

  My eyes swept the room, but I couldn’t find it. It wasn’t until the subdued vibrating noise stopped and then revved up again that I spotted it.

  “Got it,” I yelled out to the others as I yanked it from the bed.

  Nine missed calls. Three text messages.

  I read the messages first.

  I love you too, Beautiful. Can’t wait to see you.

  I’m back. I’m going to hop in the shower and then get dressed. See you soon.

  Call me as soon as you get this. I need to take care of something and we are going to have to ride separately. I’m going to find Robert at the meet-and-greet. Call me when you get this and I’ll see you when you get here. I love you.

  My hand trembled as I called him. It didn’t ring. It went straight to voicemail.

  “Hi Julian,” I greeted him, my voice shaking with nerves. “I’m so sorry I missed your calls and texts. I left my phone in Koko’s room so I’ve been without it for the last forty-five minutes. Call me as soon as you get this. I don’t really, um… I’m worried. I know it could be nothing, but Omar said you ran out…” I let out a breath as I walked out of Koko’s room. “I’m about to leave the villa now and head to the meet-and-greet. Call me. I love you.”

  I squared my shoulders and entered the living room.

  Spotting me first, Keisha asked, “Did you get in touch with Julian?”

  “No, but he’s at the meet-and-greet,” I answered, attempting not to sound as anxious as I felt. “So we should head out.”

  Everyone seemed relieved and satisfied with the knowledge that Julian was at the meet-and-greet already, but I was unsettled. I didn’t mention it as we made our way to the carports, but I felt an uneasiness that sat in the pit of my stomach like lead.

  Lenny walked up beside me, lowering her voice as we climbed in the backseat of Koko’s car. “What’s wrong?”

  I gave her a tight smile and waited until we were all in the car to respond. “Julian wouldn’t have just run out if everything was okay. We talked all day about going together.” I looked down at my phone and the screen showed no missed calls or new messages. “It’s probably nothing,” I stated as confidently as I could.

  Something in my gut nagged me though.

  Koko backed out of the parking spot and followed the car with the guys in it. While my friends’ excitement started to build as we approached the golf course, I just felt off.

  I tried calling him again and it again went straight to voicemail.

  We parked and entered through a service door in the back. The red carpet was for those individuals who wanted to see and be seen. My childhood and college friends weren’t able to afford a night at the villa so they weren’t going to be at the party. Everyone I knew and loved who was able to make it to the wedding on short notice was staying on the hill. Julian’s industry friends weren’t going to subject themselves to the madness of twenty-four hour filming so they were only attending the actual wedding. The bulk of people in attendance at the meet-and-greet—and really, the wedding—were invited by the masterminds behind The One.

  I just need to find Julian and everything will be okay.

  I closed my eyes and breathed in deeply as we approached the ballroom. I could hear the sound of people enjoying themselves and classical music being played before we actually saw anyone. Once we turned a corner, we almost ran into a camera crew. Since I was in the back between Omar and Scott, no one in the crew noticed me.

  We passed them without incident.

  Around forty or fifty people stood around the corridor outside the ballroom with drinks in hand, talking. None of them looked familiar. The double doors were open and it was clear that at least two hundred people milled around inside.

  “That’s a lot of people,” Lenny muttered under her breath.

  “I was thinking the same thing,” I replied.

  I checked my phone and didn’t see a missed call or text message from Julian, but I did have one from my mother.

  “He hasn’t gotten back to me either. It keeps going to voicemail,” Omar stated quietly.

  I looked up at him. Omar looked more perplexed than worried. “That’s a little weird, right?”

  He kind of shrugged his shoulders in a noncommittal way, but his eyes said something different. He looked down and hit the call button again and put the phone to his ear.

  “My mom said they have a few tables saved for us. We might as well head in and get this over with.”

  And it starts all over again, I thought as we headed toward the double doors.

  I plastered a small smile on my face as I moved from around Omar. At first, no one noticed us as we crossed the threshold into the room, but as we traveled through the crowd, they spotted us. Although I didn’t explicitly see a camera on me, I could feel it. Some of the attendees spoke or waved as I brushed by them, but I didn’t see anyone from my session or anyone I remotely recognized. Finally, I saw Julian’s mom walking to a table and for the first time since we�
��d arrived, a genuine smile creased my face.

  My entire family, soon-to-be in laws included, looked so nice.

  “Hi!” I yelled. I went around and hugged every single person.

  “My, my, my! This is a good-looking group!” my grandma complimented, kissing me on my cheek.

  “I would’ve sworn they were another bunch of movie stars. Did you know the woman from the soap opera, As the Days Get Restless is here? You kids look good enough to be on a soap opera!” Grandma Pearl pointed out.

  My grandma and Julian’s grandma started talking to one another about As the Days Get Restless as if they hadn’t initiated a conversation with me.

  Ummmmm…okay, I thought with amusement.

  Those two were trouble and I loved it.

  I looked between my parents and Julian’s. “Have you seen Julian?”

  “Earlier,” my dad answered. He looked at Julian’s dad. “Brian, when we went out for fresh air at the start of this thing, he was headed to the other side of the building, right?”

  “Yeah, he seemed to be in a rush,” Julian’s dad replied. He looked back at my dad. “Zachary asked him why he was moving so fast and he said he had something to take care of. I asked if he needed help and he said no and disappeared.” He shrugged. “Now that I think about it, I haven’t seen him since then.”

  “I saw him…” Julian’s mom spoke up. “He was too far away to talk to, but when I was coming back from the restroom, he was talking with some man who looked like he was part of the production crew or something. He was near the big stairwell next to the restaurant. Maybe he’s in an office near there.”

  “Okay, I’ll try there first,” I replied.

  “Oh, I went up those stairs earlier today when I was looking for the bathroom. It’s really nice up there. It might be locked by now, but this afternoon it was open. Well, until I was kicked out for a meeting or an interview or something,” my mom added. She assessed my outfit with a nod of approval. “And you look beautiful as always, Sweetheart.”

  The corners of my lips turned upward. I felt undeniable happiness having my family in town and having my family and Julian’s family get along so well.

  “Thanks, Mom. So do you.” My eyes moved around the table. “You all look great.”

  I told them I was going to find Julian and then bobbed and weaved my way through the crowd. I saw three camera crews. I was pretty sure there was supposed to be four total, but I didn’t see the last one. Once I left the ballroom, I reminded myself not to let my guard down.

  The fourth camera crew could be anywhere.

  I walked down the hallway toward the restaurant and the stairwell. Every few steps, I received well wishes from people I didn’t know who were going to be attending my wedding. Each stop between the meet-and-greet and the other end of the corridor made me wish Julian and I had waited until the contract had ended.

  It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate people congratulating me. I just didn’t know them and I was going to be sharing my special day with them. It felt wrong.

  “Hello, Zoe,” Robert Brady said smoothly as he walked out of the restaurant area.

  I gave him a tight smile. “Hello Robert. I’m looking for Julian. Have you seen him?”

  His walkie-talkie beeped and he lifted his forefinger up in the air. “Please hold for a second.” He grabbed the walkie-talkie with the other hand and held down the button. “Brady,” he answered in a clipped tone.

  A brief moment of static and then a man’s voice broke through the airways. “Team B here. We are on the golf course and have a situation developing. We’d like your guidance. Ron and Caroline from Season One Session Three are currently hooking up on the golf course as we speak.”

  Robert Brady’s eyes flashed with excitement. “Didn’t Ron arrive with Sophia from Season One Session Four?” He patted his pockets. “I don’t have my phone on me, but Ron and Sophia have been in a relationship for a while now right?”

  Static. “Yes sir. Would you like one of us to try to locate Sophia and lead her to the golf course? Or would you like us to capture what we have here and just hope for a different storyline to develop?” The disembodied voice asked with general disinterest.

  Cheating is wrong. Whatever this Ron character is doing is a problem, but to go get Sophia specifically to hurt her on camera for entertainment value as opposed to telling her or letting her see the footage privately so she can deal with it privately is fucked up.

  My face apparently broadcasted my disgust.

  Robert looked at me for a full thirty seconds before he put the walkie-talkie back to his lips. “Just keep rolling for now. I’ll be out there in one minute.” He lowered the walkie-talkie.

  “Oh, don’t make that face, Zoe.” Robert’s voice was patronizing. “Better the drama is with someone else than with you, am I right?”

  “I don’t know any of these people, but it seems pretty cruel to break Sophia’s heart on camera like that.”

  Robert rubbed his hands together. “I can’t control what Ron does and I would never advocate for someone to cheat, but I have to capture what’s happening and I know what sells: Sex and drama. Here’s what my inexperienced new producer doesn’t understand.” He took a step closer to me. “I don’t have to tell her a thing. Once the seed of doubt is planted in her head and rumors start, the friction between the couple will be the most profitable outcome. It’ll stretch the drama out. I take Sophia to see her boyfriend having sex with someone and she may make a scene in the moment. We may get one good clip, but it’ll be a lot of cursing which we’ll have to bleep out. If a fight breaks out, there’s only so much we can film without stepping in to end it. But, if we let the information slip, magic will happen.”

  I was truly disgusted by the glee in his voice. I didn’t want to entertain the conversation anymore. “Have you seen Julian?”

  Robert’s smile dimmed a bit before his thin lip curled upward. He threw the answer over his shoulder as he walked away. “Check upstairs.”

  I watched him pull the walkie-talkie out again to bark directions before jogging down the corridor and toward the main entrance.

  When I approached the stairwell, I looked around and didn’t see or hear anything. Although there were two hundred or more people at the meet-and-greet, it was oddly quiet. My stomach knotted as I climbed the stairs.

  With a deep breath, I tried to shake off my encounter with Robert Brady. I reminded myself that I just needed to get through the obligatory event for Julian’s sake.

  I’ll find him, I’ll hang out with my family, and then I’ll leave.

  Instead of mixing and mingling with reality TV stars and others I didn’t know, I wanted to return to the heated pool, or the hot tub, or the double-headed shower of the villa with my man.

  If I can find him.

  When I got to the top of the stairwell, I noticed there was only one door. I stood in the doorway of what appeared to be a sun room of sorts. I couldn’t see the entire room due to the short wall that blocked my complete view, but from my vantage point, what I saw was gorgeous. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows allowed the lights from the golf course, the moon, and stars to illuminate it. The recessed floor lights beautifully lined the room, providing an added glow.

  What is this?

  I backed my head out of the room and looked around for a sign. I didn’t want to walk into someone’s office and I didn’t see or hear anything. I was about to leave when I heard his voice.

  “You need to leave,” Julian barked harshly.

  I froze, my heart pounding in my chest.

  I just stood in the door and listened for a response.

  Is he on the phone? I wondered, holding on to the doorjamb for support and balance. Who would he be talking to like that? What—

  “I just needed to see you,” said a woman’s voice, interrupting my thoughts.

  That’s definitely not on speaker-phone. Julian is in a dimly lit room with some woman.

  I didn’t want to jump to conclus
ions. I didn’t want to make assumptions based on what the situation looked like. Julian had never given me a reason to doubt him or his loyalty. He never made me feel like he was anything less than totally in love with me and committed to me. So, when the little seed of jealousy attempted to plant itself in my gut, I pushed it down.

  If I wanted to shut the entire conversation down, I would’ve just strolled into the room. I had no question about who Julian would choose if I walked in there. I trusted him. I trusted our relationship. Even so, something compelled me to remain standing, listening, in the hallway.

  I’m just going to wait and see what this is about.

  “Well, you saw me. Now you need to leave before anyone else sees you.” His tone was gruff, borderline angry. “And if you—”

  “And if I what?” she snapped. “Tell your little girlfriend?”

  The silence that followed felt like thunder as jealousy rippled through me.

  Tell me what? What could it possibly be that he couldn’t tell me?

  “You need to leave. Now.”

  “Here’s where I think you have this situation confused. I did something for you, now you do something for me.”

  My chest rose and fell as the heavy pit in my stomach churned. If I wasn’t holding myself up with the wall, I would’ve doubled over in pain.

  “I paid for your services. We have no more business.”

  Paid for services. What the fuck am I listening to?

  The dull ache of disappointment made my brain hurt. I’d been calling and texting him and he was tucked away from everyone with some woman—a woman he’d ‘paid for services’ from and was trying to get her to leave before anyone saw her.

  “Are you going to stand there and say you don’t miss me? You wouldn’t have called me if you didn’t want me here.” The sound of heels dragging across the floor made me feel like she’d moved to be closer to him. “Admit it, Julian. You miss me.”

  “Lillian, our business is done.”

  Lillian?! So that wasn’t Leah they saw. It really was Lillian. And she’s here. With Julian. And there’s something he paid for, something he doesn’t want me to know about.