Flawless, page 2
I’m not usually a guy who has random sex with a stranger. And I don’t usually have it unless I’m in a relationship. My last relationship ended eight months ago. She walked out of my house, taking my heart and our daughter with me.
Tonight, I’m pushing all my feelings and regrets about my failed marriage to Larisa to the back burner.
Danica lifts, allowing me to shift and slide into her. She opens wide for me and then hums.
“Mm....mm so good,” she says as I fill her up.
Sliding up and down my shaft with her arms locked around my neck, she weaves a beautiful web around me that I can’t escape if I tried.
My hands slide up the sides of her body, molding themselves to her curves and delighting in her softness.
“I don’t make a habit of this,” she says to me as she rocks back and forth and up and down.
“I want more,” I growl in a guttural moan. “Need more,” I share, sinking my teeth into the side of her neck.
“Me too,” she says, bringing her head down to capture my lips.
Every part of her feels perfect in my arms, on me, and against me. When we break our kiss, I tell her, “You’re the most beautiful girl in the world, Danica.”
Her laughter is light and lilting. “I’ve heard that once or twice,” she says, winking at me.
“Can I take you home with me tonight?" I ask.
“I thought you’d never ask,” she moans as I feel her pussy convulsing around my dick. “Yes, Zenon!” she cries out as she cums, pulling me under with her.
It’s not until the next morning after she leaves my bed that I know who she is.
Supermodel Danica Maxwell, also known as, Nica.
I smile when I make the discovery. For one night, she wanted to be known for the girl that she is and not the woman the world knows and loves. It’s that first person that I instantly fell for. The one who carved a place in my heart.
1 – DANICA
“Here you go,” Tasha, my personal assistant, says, handing me a water bottle along with the two pink pills.
I swallow them and unscrew the cap. Turning the bottle up to my lips, I use the water to chase the pills down as Camyrn, my hairstylist, puts the finishing touches on my hair.
The door opens, and a cool breeze blows in along with Marie Crowder, my executive producer. The beautiful, red-haired, green-eyed woman pushes her away through the team working on my appearance and stares quizzically at me for a moment.
She sniffs and then says, “Remember, don’t ask her anything about the divorce. That’s off-limits right now, and her husband’s lawyer is looking for her to screw up. She’s got a couple of billion riding on this thing.”
“I know, I know.”
“I’m serious, Dani. I know that it’s what everyone wants to hear right now, but I’ve promised her that we wouldn’t discuss it,” she says, taking one hand off her hip to squeeze my shoulder.
“Okay, I hear ya loud and clear.”
“Good. It’s time for you to take your place,” Marie says, breezing back out of the room in her peach, caftan blouse and black, wide-legged pants.
I stand and remove the dressing robe that covers my white, off-the-shoulder jumpsuit. Nicole, my dresser, bends down to puff out the wide-leg pants before stepping back and giving her nod of approval.
“Dani, these gold sandals are chef’s kiss. They’re just what this outfit needs,” she says, kissing the tips of her fingers and splaying them out at me.
“Thanks, Nic. You know I trust your style, girl. You’re the only one that I trust to dress me.”
“Well, dressing you is an honor. I’ve always dreamt of dressing as a model, but to dress a supermodel is the highest honor.”
I smile before Mel pushes Nicole out of the way and steps close to me once more. Mel places her hands on my shoulders. “Are you good, kid?”
“I’m good, Mel.”
“Okay, come on. It’s show time,” she says, winking at me and turning me towards the door of my dressing room.
I sashay down the short hall to the studio where my show is taped. The doors are instantly pulled open for me, and I waltz out onto the stage to thunderous applause from my studio audience.
“Dani!” They repeatedly chant as the music for the show is cued.
I bow before them and blow several kisses as my curls sweep over my shoulders and then back in place when I stand. They’re still cheering as I make my way to my seat. I blow a few more kisses, wave, and then finally sit down.
Crossing my right leg over my left, I pick up my glass of wine that waits on my table for me at every show and take a sip.
“You guys are full of energy and excitement today. Are you ready for Tia Santana?” I ask, referencing today’s special guest.
“Yes!” They shout amid catcalls from several of the men in the audience.
I chat with my guests just a little longer before I introduce our special guest, Tia. She walks out with a broad smile, wearing a daring, short, yellow dress paired with black stilettos.
I stand and hug her before we exchange air kisses. When the audience applause dies down, I turn to Tia and say, “Girl, I’m loving that hair color on you.”
She smiles and turns from side to side, showing it off to the audience who cheers again.
“Y’all like it?” she asks, looking from me to the audience.
Over their cheers and screams, I reply, “Girl, we love it! Honey blonde definitely pairs well with your bronze skin tone.”
“Thank you! I just came back from vacation in Rio and got a tan,” she gushes.
“Honey, you have the most gorgeous skin. You’re naturally tan and beautiful.”
Tiny pinpricks of heat creep along my skin. They feel like little needles poking me, and I try to push away the uncomfortable sensation.
“Thanks, Dani. So are you!”
“So, Rio?”
“Yes,” she says, smiling broadly. “After filming Lover’s Sabbatical, I needed a break.”
“I heard that you guys worked twenty hours a day, six days a week for four and a half months.”
“Girl, yes! I haven’t had a chance to see my family, scream at the top of my lungs, or anything. The one day that we had off each week, I was too tired to fly back home to California.”
“And you all filmed in different locales, correct?” I ask, noticing that my mouth is becoming dry.
I shove the glass of wine on my table aside in favor of the bottled water.
“Yes, we did. We were in New York, Belize, Bogotá, Florida, and back to New York again for those four and a half months. When I say that a girl was tired!”
Laughing, I reply, “Most people would consider that a vacation.”
“Please. What I do may look like fun, but it’s hard work. Don’t get me wrong, I love my job, but it can be very demanding.”
“And Cal Walker. How was it working with him?”
The audience whistles and grows rowdy again, making Tia laugh at them. I see a slight blush creeping up her cheeks which makes me wonder about that.
Our segment continues until the first break. Patrice rushes out to refresh my makeup, and I see Mel hanging near the door, watching me closely. I turn my gaze away from hers as the first trickle of sweat pours down my spine.
I grab a few tissues, preparing to dab at the sweat on my face when Patrice taps my hand. “What are you doing? You’re messing up my work.”
“You know that I can’t stand sweat, Pat.”
“There’s no sweat, Dani.”
“On my top lip.”
“You’re imagining stuff. Now, hold still.”
It’s a struggle but I manage to incorporate mind over matter and remain still. It seems like only three seconds have passed since we went to the commercial break, but we’re being cued that the break is over.
“Now, before we get into the good stuff, girlfriend, walk to the center of the stage and show off that shoe porn!”
Tia giggles and gets up to do as I ask. She dances in the middle of the stage before returning to her seat.
A fun, upbeat tune begins to play as the crowd shouts, “Ten dash!”
The room is hot as hell, and I want to ask someone to please turn on the air conditioner, but the music seems to grow louder.
Guests have to answer as many questions as they can in ten seconds. The buzzer begins, and I start with my questions.
I feel a wave of dizziness as I look at the floor. I close my eyes and slowly lift my head, opening my eyes once more. I press a smile to my lips as I turn to Tia who has a look of concern on her face.
“Kids.”
“Three.”
“Years in the industry.”
“Eighteen.”
“Favorite male actor you’ve worked with.”
“Taryn Spiers.”
“Ma—”
The world spins all around me as the voices grow further and further away. Darkness claws at me, and no matter how hard I try to fight it, no matter how scared I feel, I can’t stay away from its evil grasp.
I feel my body hitting the floor before I black out.
2 – DANICA
“...says that she was in the middle of interviewing Tia Santana when she passed out on set. Danica Maxwell, known by her modeling name, Nica, hasn’t looked healthy for some time. She’s always maintained a trim and toned figure because of her career, but lately, she appears to have lost more weight, and it looks unhealthy. Sources close to the former supermodel say that she hasn’t been eating, and she’s showing all the signs of an unhealthy alcohol and possible drug addiction.”
“Turn it off!” I grumble.
“That’s just one of the reports,” Jade, my agent says of the report that was just aired on CLM, the Celebrity Life Magazine talk show. “Social media is going crazy with replays of you falling from your chair and Tia trying to catch you.”
“There weren’t supposed to be any images captured or videos taken inside of that studio! That’s part of the agreement, Jade.”
“I know that, and we’re trying to get to the bottom of it now. I’m not sure who leaked it and who these supposed sources were, but we’ll find out, and they will be held liable. In the meantime, we need to consider what we’re going to do to get ahead of this and paint things in a positive light. You’ve signed the release allowing your doctor to discuss your health issues with me. We’ll get a story together to paint this in your favor, Dani. I promise.”
“What about the contract?” I ask, clearing my throat.
Briefly, Jade looks away, and I know that isn’t promising. She’s always been nothing but sincere with me.
“Honestly, this couldn’t have come at a worse time, Danica.”
There’s the first telltale sign. She’s called me by my name, and not just Dani or D, as she usually does.
“You think I wanted to get sick? This isn’t my fault.”
“The season is ending, and so is your contract. We’re not sure if the network will renew after this fiasco.”
“It’s one time, Jade.”
“One time, but you haven’t been looking good for a while now. They have to work extra hard to get you ready for the show. You’ve had two DUIs in the last year, both of which we’ve been able to get you out of, covered up, and swept under the rug. God forbid, the media should get ahold of that.”
“As if I’m the only one.”
“No one said that you were, but you’re the only one who we’re talking about right now. The only one who is up for a contract renewal with the studios. The only one who passed out on national TV, and the only one whose career is in jeopardy.”
“I feel like you’re not going to bat for me. I feel like I’m being sold down the river,” I grumble.
“Listen, don’t ever question my loyalty to you. You got me?”
“Then damn it, show me your loyalty!”
She sighs and pulls her fingers through her hair, loosening her ponytail until her dark hair falls around her shoulders.
“It’s temporary. Don’t worry about it. You’ll go and get the help that you need and be back on your feet in no time,” she says.
“No, I don’t want to do it this way. This is my show, and I’m calling the shots!”
Jade blows out a long breath. “I know that’s what you believe, but that’s not the reality, Dani. Marie, Don, and Kendall all agree that it’s time to go a new route. I’ve spoken with them and poured my heart out on the floor, and they didn’t want to budge. I promised them that you would go into rehab for a couple of months, and they said they might consider it.”
“Might? Rehab? I’m not some damn drug addict, Jade! You know this.”
Her light brown eyes swivel away from me, and she purses her heart-shaped lips. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”
“I didn’t say anything,” she says, holding her hands up.
“You didn’t have to. You can’t even look me in the eyes, Jade. I mean, come on here. You’ve always kept it real with me. Don’t start sugar-coating stuff now to preserve my feelings. I see you do that with your clients who are washed up. I’m not some has-been, Jade!”
She sighs. “No, you’re not, but you’re on your way there. You want honesty. Honestly, you’re taking pills to wake up and pills to lie down. You take pills to get you through the day, and you’re drinking four to five glasses of wine a day on top of that. It’s not a good look, Dani. Mel says—”
“Mel? Mel says? You want to tell me about the one person who’s handing them to me while everyone else is looking the other way. Isn’t that a bitch?!!”
“Listen, I have a meeting that I’m running late for. I want you to relax and get your rest. I’ll call you later when I’m done, and I’ll be back to check on you in the morning.”
“Are you seriously walking out on me right now?” I ask as she grabs her Chanel bag and hurries across the floor with her heels click-clacking.
“Look, I’ve got to go make money. I love you, Dani. You know I do, but nothing gets in the way of my money. I have a potential new client. I promise, I’ll call later.”
“You wouldn’t have the money or the clientele if it weren’t for me. I took a chance on you, Jade, when no one else would!”
She shakes her head, tugs her purse up her shoulder, and stops at the door.
“Get it together.”
“Fuck!” I shout, throwing my water pitcher across the room.
Water splashes on the wall and the leather chair across from my bed, and the pitcher clangs to the floor just as she opens the door.
It doesn’t close all the way, and I hear the soft murmur of voices. After several seconds, I begin to get glimpses of the conversation.
“...talk to her,” I hear Jade saying. “They’ve recommended that she step down from the show for a little while. They’ll be showing repeats, and if she doesn’t get it together, then they’ll find a new host.”
“Can they do that? It’s her name on the show,” I hear my brother, Onyx, say.
“It’ll be the same show for the rest of the season with special guest hosts. After the season ends, there will be a new show with a new host. They’re already writing it in case she doesn’t get the help that she needs.”
“Okay...I’ll talk to her.”
I roll my eyes, pissed that Jade feels the need to speak with Onyx about my situation. My first inclination is to fire her as soon as I get a chance.
The doctor and nurse walk into the room, and I close my eyes, pretending to be asleep.
“Ms. Maxwell,” Dr. Connors says. “Wake up,” the doctor says, gently patting my hand.
I peel my eyes open slowly.
“How are you feeling?” he asks.
“Tired. I just want to rest,” I mutter.
Dr. Connors checks my vitals before he proceeds to explain the tests they took.
“Your heart rate dropped, as did your blood pressure. We’re going to be monitoring that for the next twenty-four hours along with getting you hydrated and detoxed,” he says, wrapping up his explanation.
We already had this conversation when I woke up the first time. The last thing I need is this damn doctor in my face telling me the same things that I’ve heard from my agent a million times or more.
“Sure,” I mumble, turning away as the nurse finishes taking my vitals.
I hear the doctor walking away, and then his footsteps stop in the doorway.
“Hi, Dr. Connors.”
“Mr. Maxwell, it’s been a while. I wish it were under better circumstances,” Dr. Connors says.
“How is she?” Onyx asks.
Dr. Connors is one of my mother’s colleagues. My mother is a neurosurgeon here at the hospital, and I can only pray that the doctor-patient confidentiality code is practiced in spite of her status.
If I had been awake when I was taken to the hospital, this would have been the last one I would have chosen, simply because my mother has a major presence here.
“Your sister was extremely dehydrated. She’s going to be fine. You may go in and visit with her now. I think being in your presence might do her some good,” the doctor says.
Rolling my eyes, I’m grateful that he didn’t say more. My family is aware of the laxatives and diet pills that I take to keep the weight off which contribute to my dehydration. They also know that I have a bad habit of working out excessively.
It’s a lifestyle that I became addicted to during my modeling years, and one which I still maintain.
“Dr. Connors, my sister’s lifestyle, her drinking, and what I suspect may be an addiction to something else, I’m unsure what has to be addressed,” Onyx says.
“Mr. Maxwell, you know that I’m not at liberty to discuss her health with you.”
“I’m aware...I just...is there anything that we can do?”
“Just be here to support her however she needs you and whenever she needs you. You have a strong family, Mr. Maxwell. She’s going to need all of you.”
I hear the doctor shuffle out into the hallway as my brother steps further into the room.
“Hey, you,” I greet my big brother from my bed, fiddling around with the nasal cannula and shifting to get more comfortable in the bed.
