Sydney

As I ran through the maze of corridors, I was in tears. In my entire life, I had never felt so embarrassed. Fiona and, most likely, Will were aware that I was only a temporary 'arrangement.' She was rubbing it in my face for that reason. I had chosen this misery, and there was nothing I could do but accept it. I found myself in an unfamiliar environment. I couldn't tell if it was a library or an office. A large portrait of two adults and a teenage kid who was obviously Aiden hung on the wall. He had a fragile and lovely appearance. Who knew the sweet little guy would grow up to be such a devil?

 "Are you looking for something, Mrs. Reiner?" A young girl, clad in the same blue and white uniform as the rest of the staff, approached me and asked me.

"I... I got lost while looking for my room. Could you please point me in the right direction?" I inquired of the young lady.

"Of sure, Mrs Reiner," She flashed a bright smile.

Emily, one of the staff, took me to my room, and I sat down on the bed, unsure of what else to do. I called Mike because I had the rest of the day free till lunch.

"Hey, how are you? Everything fine?" Mike said from the other end of the phone.

"Not really," I answered gently, trying not to cry. "I miss you guys."

"Listen, I'm sorry, but I have to go down to the theatre, and I won't be able to speak with you right now; would you like to come down to the theatre and watch me rehearse?" He inquired.

"Not today Mike, maybe later....." A thought hit me... "guess what I am coming down to see you rehearse," I said with finality.

"Great! See ya," he said.

As for the lunch with Aiden? To hell with that!
I quickly texted Aiden to let him know I was leaving. Then I changed into a basic blouse and pants, got my bag, and walked out seeking for Martha or anyone who could help me get to the theatre. I was seated in a white Cadillac fifteen minutes later as Peter took me to the theatre. As Aiden had anticipated, a few reporters were lurking around on my way out. They began clicking pictures of the automobile right away. I was grateful for the thickly tinted windows for once.

Marilyn hissed, "Well, well, well, if it's not our Mrs Reiner herself. What brings you to our humble theatre?" she inquired rudely.

I sighed and rolled my eyes.

I just stated, "I've come to see my friends." I had no desire to argue with this bitch.

"Oh, that was really thoughtful of you. I mean, I'm moved. You're now a rich man's toy, and you're still hanging out with people like Mike?" Marilyn expressed her astonishment by putting both hands on her breasts and acting astonished.

I said, "It's not your concern who I should or should not mix with."

"Well, my dear, let me give you a piece of advice. Maybe you should get to know your friends better. They may have certain.... secrets... Good day, Mrs Reiner, we shall meet again," she said silkily before sauntering off with her head held high.

I just stepped in and shook my head. I've had my fill of advice for the day.

"Sydney! Take a look at you." Leah dashed up to me and embraced me in a bear hug.

I hugged her back and whispered, "I missed you."

"No, you didn't," she responded, a grin on her face.

"I did," I insisted. "Where's Mike?"

"He is rehearsing, come on let's go." We settled down in the seats facing the stage and Leah started grilling me about Aiden.

"So how was it?" Leah asked with a sly grin.

I knew perfectly well what she was referring to.

"I have no clue what you are talking about," I lied.

"Honey, come on, he is a walking wet dream. So, tell me how big he is? I wouldn't mind using him as my model for my next assignment," Leah giggled outrageously.

"Leah, I am not going to talk to you ever again if you ask me anything about Aiden," I threatened.

" OK, so you are getting bored with your job already?" Leah asked.

"Still trying to figure out.... stuff," I mumbled.

"Relax, you'll figure out soon enough. Here's a suggestion for you. You could wear yourself out by working on him every night and then you can sleep in late the next morning, so you don't have to wake up early and worry about what to do all day. Good suggestion, huh?" She said cheekily.

" OK, that's it! I am leaving if you don't stop talking about my sex life," I said firmly.

"Oh! So, you have a sex life, huh?" Leah said, her brows twitching.

"Leah! Enough!" I said, my face flushed, as she burst out laughing.

Mike had leapt off the stage after his rehearsal and was walking towards us, asking, "What are you gals arguing over?"

"Mike! What's new with you?" I leapt to my feet and hugged him.

"Everything's cool, I saw you with Marilyn. Was she giving you trouble or saying anything?" Mike asked a little anxiously.

"No, but her dislike for me is quite obvious. Sometimes I wonder, maybe she implicated me in that drug thing," I said matter of factly.

"That's all done and dusted, right? Just let it go. Hey, how about lunch? I am hungry, " Mike said, changing the subject.

"That sounds great!" I replied.

"I'll get changed and we could go down to the steakhouse for lunch?" He spoke.

"Sure, let's go in my car?"

" OK, give me ten minutes?" He said and ran towards his dressing room.

*************

Mike

A couple of other crew members and I shared the dressing room. It was, however, desolate. A click and rustle of material caught my attention as I was pulling on my shirt. When I turned to face the entrance, I saw Marilyn enter. She grinned as she closed the door behind her.

"What do you want, Marilyn?" I shrugged. I was sick of her antics.

She made a tsking sound and carefully moved around me, creating a full circle with her finger over my body that ended back on my chest.
Dramatics!

"Is that the way to talk to me?" She said unhurriedly, a hint of warning under that saccharin and sweet voice of hers. Her steely blue eyes bore into mine.

Then she snatched my collar and pressed her lips against mine in a forceful kiss. I closed my eyes and yanked myself away from her after what seemed like an eternity.

"What the hell is going on here? What's the matter with you?" I glared fiercely at her while wiping my lips with the back of my palm.

"You don't enjoy my kiss, do you? Regrettably, you will eventually learn to appreciate it."She smiled.

My heart pounded a little harder.

"What do you want, Marilyn?" I sighed.

"Oh! nothing much, just a little assignment with you, your secret friend," she said, shrugging her shoulders.

"I can't help you with your plans, Marilyn........"

"Did I ask for your consent?" She snapped angrily.

She took out her phone and flashed me a knowing look before tapping it with a well-kept finger and adding.

"If you don't do as I say, you know what will happen, right?"

"Marilyn, your plans don't seem to be working out. Take a look at what happened the last time. Aiden and Sydney tied the knot. What makes you believe you'll be successful this time?" I attempted to persuade her otherwise.

She sighed and rolled her eyes.

"I don't need your brains, but I do need your brawn. Keep an eye out for my instructions."

I stared at her retreating back with silent fury, then turned back to the dressing mirror and saw that my lips were smudged with her lipstick, so I grabbed a piece of tissue and rubbed it off. I took a deep breath, checked myself in the mirror again and went off to look for Leah and Sydney. I was betraying my friend, but I had no choice. Marilyn had my secret. A secret that could ruin everything. I was trapped.