Chapter Eight

Vanessa

Relief washed over me as I exited the bathroom, with the scent of Liam's cologne clinging to me. I desperately needed to escape the memory of Liam's searing kiss and his seductive words. I navigated the maze of guests, the murmur of conversation fading into background noise. Finding Richard in a corner, I forced a smile, hoping to mask the turmoil in my head.

As I approached, I saw him mid-conversation, a playful glint in his eye, he offered me a drink which I accepted.

I took a few sips and attempted to focus on the solemn festivities and forget what just happened between me and Liam, but it kept getting hard. Richard quickly noticed my distraction.

"Honey, what's going on? I've been talking for over four minutes, and you haven't responded. Not even when I said Amy Adams is here."

Snapping out of my thoughts, I asked, "Wait, Amy Adams is here?"

Richard grinned. "No, she's not. I was just trying to get your attention."

My cheeks flushed with a mixture of annoyance and relief. "That's not fair," I mumbled, the encounter with Liam playing on repeat in my mind. "Almost as unfair as you not telling me this was Logan Carson's funeral. Or that your friend now owns the hotel I'll be working at next week."

Scratching his head, Richard mumbled, "I'm sorry. It slipped my mind. I thought I told you."

"No, you didn't," I replied, my frustration evident.

Richard attempted to reassure me, "Well, it's not so bad. Now you know who your boss is. In a way, it helps you... I think," he added, sounding unsure.

I forced a laugh, the sound hollow in my ears. How was knowing Liam Carson was my boss a good thing? It only added another layer of complication to an already messy situation.

"I don't see how that helps me, but..." I began, but before I could continue, Diane, who has been staring at me off and on throughout the funeral approached us.

Her eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Excuse me, dear. I am sorry to interrupt, but have I seen you somewhere before? On television, perhaps?"

My heart stuttered. Here we go. "Yes, actually," I admitted, forcing a smile. "It was a commercial, right?"

My cheeks flushed a hot pink. I braced myself for the inevitable awkwardness.

"Yes, the yeast infection drug commercial," Diane confirmed.

"That's right," I admitted. "I'm the lady with the yeast infection in that commercial."

"Wow! You were really good, like very good," Diane said, impressed.

A wave of heat flooded my cheeks. "Oh, well, thank you," I mumbled, wishing the ground would swallow me whole. Since I did that commercial most people who recognise and call me 'The Yeast lady' on the street. I just have mixed feelings about it.

"Have you done any films or TV shows?" Diane continued, oblivious to my discomfort.

"Not yet, ma'am, but I'm working on it," I replied.

Suddenly, a small crowd gathered around us, drawn in by Mrs. Carson's enthusiasm. Liam, Karen, and Anna all joined the circle, their gazes flitting between me and Richard and for a moment there I felt like a celebrity. I felt Richard stiffen beside me, a flicker of discomfort crossing his features. He reacts this way whenever someone recognizes me or takes an interest in my acting career.

"So, what are you working on now?" Anna asked, with a mischievous glint in her eyes. Richard had hinted earlier when she arrived at her father's funeral that she is trouble personified.

Before I could answer Anna's question, Richard interjected, "She'll start working as a waitress at the Carson Hotel next Monday," he announced, his voice a touch too loud. His words stung as a wave of humiliation washed over me. That wasn't how I wanted to present myself. Everyone gathered around me, now looked at me with pity that came off like condescension.

Liam's gaze met mine, a hint of curiosity tinged with something else I couldn't quite decipher. "So, you will be working at my hotel?" he asked, his voice a low rumble.

The heat in my gaze must have mirrored the intrigue in his eyes. "Yes, but it is temporary," I confirmed, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. "Just something to pay the bills until I land a big acting gig."

A slow smile spread across Liam's face. It wasn't a triumphant smile, but one that held a flicker of… something. Anticipation, maybe?

Diane reached out and grasped my hand, her touch surprisingly strong. "Vanessa," she said, her voice filled with sincerity, "whatever you do, don't give up on acting. Find a way to do it, any chance you get. It's easy to get comfortable, to let your dreams fade away. But for a dream to be more than just a dream, you have to keep fighting for it."

The weight of her words settled on me, resonating deep within. For a moment, Diane's unwavering belief pushed aside the chaos swirling in my head. I found myself smiling back, a genuine one this time. "Thank you, ma'am," I whispered, a flicker of hope rekindled in my chest.

—----------

Liam

The tail lights of Richard's car winked out at the end of the driveway, taking Vanessa with them. Relief washed over me, a fleeting sensation overpowered by a stronger wave of yearning. Every fiber of my being craved to see her again, tomorrow, the next day, every day.

A shrill voice cut through my reverie. "Well well, brother. Take a picture, it will last longer."

I spun around, forcing a smile as my sister leaned against the doorway, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Anna," I said, my voice tight, "you startled me."

"Seems like most of the guests have gone home or wherever the fuck they go," she drawled. "Can we talk now?"

I scanned the dwindling crowd. "Alright, shoot," I sighed, the weight of the day settling on my shoulders.

"No need to beat around the bush," she declared, her voice deceptively calm. "I don't want to go back to rehab."

My smile vanished. "What? You're kidding, right?"

"I am dead serious, brother."

My frustration flared. "So, because you managed to be on your best behavior for a few hours, I should just let you stay at home instead of getting the help you need in rehab? Anna, that's the only place your brand of chaos is kept somewhat under control!"

Her chin jutted out in defiance. "I'm different now, Liam. I am six months clean now. No drugs, no alcohol. This time, I mean it."

The sincerity in her eyes warred with years of experience managing her outbursts.

It had been three years since I last had to deal with this. For her current admission into rehab, my father ensured that my easily swayed mother wasn't the sole signatory on her release form. Two family members now had to sign, which is why she was asking for my help.

"I don't know, Anna," I countered, hesitant. "Letting you stay here feels like a gamble I can't afford to take."

"Look," she said, her voice softening, "brother, I get it. This wasn't your ideal weekend and I haven't been a good sister. But if you don't sign my release form, I'll tell Karen you cheated on her with…" she paused, a sly smile spreading across her face, "Vanessa."

The blood drained from my face. "Stop with the nonsense, Anna. You don't know what you're talking about."

"Oh, but I do," she countered, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "I heard almost everything you and Vanessa said in the guest bathroom. Those walls are thin."

A shiver ran down my spine. The image of Karen, livid and vengeful, stormed into my mind. If she found out, she would rush to tell her father and the fragile balance of the buyout negotiations would crumble in an instant.

Anna squeezed my hand, her playful facade replaced by a chilling seriousness. "So, what will it be, brother? Rehab or my freedom?"