CHAPTER 4

Celine's POV

Imagine my shock three years later when I saw Luca at a party three years later. The shock was palpable and had coated my skin immediately with goosebumps. Not only was he at a party meant for the influential and rich but he was looking quite polished and more handsome.

I had come to the party simply because my manager, Drake, wanted me to meet the producer of a blockbuster movie that everyone in the industry was talking about. Drake kept on and on about how if we clinched the main actress role in the movie, then our fame would know no bounds. He didn't remember that I was still working on another movie that was yet to be premiered. It was as if he didn't know that I was not getting enough sleep as it was. That I had literally been running on Salad and coffee for days on end. Hell, I could not even remember when last I had done anything that was remotely related to fun.

All I knew these days was work, work and more work. But still, I had to come to this party to meet the producer because Drake was on and on about how we needed to work hard now that my skin was still taut, my breasts still firm, and before the wrinkles would replace the laugh lines on my face. Basically, he was telling me to milk the hell out of my youth before I became a has been.

I had a migraine which was aggravated by the loud rock music. I wanted nothing more to listen to Ed Sheeran's soft vibes pipe into my veins while I soak myself in a long warm bath and then raised my feet up for the rest of thee night and not squeezing my feet into torture equipment called heels and listen to the noise they call music.

After I had greeted the hosts of the party, a veteran movie producer and his wife, a retired actress, and singer, I had thought to myself that I would slip out of the party after the talks with the targeted producer. The faster I did that, the better for me. I was still enamored by the fame and all but after three long years of constant work and living a life that pleased the producers and fans only, I was becoming a bit tired.

I looked around for him and sighted him talking to a man in a suit at the far end of the room. I quickly made my way through the guests— fake-smiled at many, exchanged pleasantries with a few—so I could reach him. The producer had seen me coming and had waved at me to come closer. Relieved, I walked faster to meet them. Just then, the man in the suit he had been talking to turned around and looked at me. My mouth fell open in an undignified manner.

It was Luca. Luca Parker in flesh and blood.

He didn't look so surprised to see me. But I definitely was. His hair was combed back stylishly and his suit, which must have been worth nearly a thousand dollars, fitted him like a second skin. He was taller now and his skin radiated more glow than the last time we had seen in his cramped apartment when we broke up three years before.

What the hell happened to Luca? How come he looked so glossed up!

I had incredulously wondered a thousand things in one second.

"Judging from Miss Smith's very startled look, you two obviously know each other, right?" The producer, a man in his early fifties whose big stomach was barely contained by his suit said, interrupting the silence.

"Yeah.” Luca shifted his gaze back to the producer. "Miss Smith was once a... friend of mine. Right?" The last word was directed at me. But I couldn't say anything. I still could not fathom how on earth Luca had transformed from the struggling computer geek to this polished man wearing an expensive suit and standing right here in an expensive party.

How the hell did it happen?

"Uh? That’s right...yeah. We have been acquainted. " I finally managed to say.

My head was beginning to clear. And even though I was still disoriented, I switched on my actress mode. I gave a dazzling smile at both men and said, "It's nice seeing two men I know talk so casually to each other. Los Angeles is really interconnected, don't you agree?"

The producer had laughed and slapped a hand on Luca's shoulder. "Mr. Parker here is a genius any wise producer would want to know and have on his team. His latest amazing software is helping my current project incredibly with their editing effects."

Okay, I was lost. So lost as to what was going on. I needed explanations from Luca. I made a mental note to demand it from him immediately when we were alone.

I smiled at the producer. "I believe that my manager has spoken to you."

"Yeah, he did. " He replied, wearing the business version of himself immediately. "We actually have a lot of actresses we are considering for this role but he believes that no one can suit Mary Jane's role more than you. But of course, he is just saying it because he is—"

"Because it's the truth." I cut in firmly then softened it with a dazzling smile. I was perturbed by Luca's passive facial expression but didn't show it.

"I believe there is no actress of high reputation that could play Mary Jane's role as if she was actually Mary Jane other than me. I am the only one who can make Mary Jane with all her emotions flesh and blood and you know it. The one who can make you sell this movie in a way that exceeds what you have done with your other movie projects." I continued to say.

"Hmm." The producer rubbed his mustache in a thoughtful expression.

I needed to clinch the deal as fast as I could, any way that I could, so I quickly dragged Luca into it.

"I am sure our friend, Mr. Parker agreed to that, don't you?" I said, turning to Luca for assertion.

His startled eyes were the only sign that he didn't see me involving him coming. Otherwise, he continued to have an unperturbed expression. For some moments, I thought he would not say anything. That he could even go as far as revealing our relationship for what it really was.

What the hell was he thinking? Say something, damn it!

He lifted one perfectly trimmed eyebrow as he looked at me. "I believe that Miss Smith knows her onions," he finally replied, his baritone voice sending warmth through every pore on my skin the way it usually does.

Relieved, I turned to the producer who said in a boisterous tone. "Alright, Miss Smith, my team and I will discuss it and get back to Drake. I believe that is okay with you?"

I nodded at that. "Hopefully, I will be expecting a positive reply. Thank you."

The producer —I was never able to know his first name and to be honest, I didn't care to know— gave another tap on Luca's shoulder, smiled at me, and left us to go talk to another guest.

As I looked at Luca, my heart began to beat rapidly. I wondered how it was legal for a man to look so damning handsome in a suit.

I had been attracted to him three years before when he was just a young man in jeans and a T-shirt trying to survive.

Now that he was taller, broader, and looked expensive, it seems as if the attraction had tripled. Damn

"What is going on with you?" I finally asked, not able to stand the silence.

"You mean to say how come I am here partying with you, the elite people?"

I could hear the note of sarcasm ring in his voice. It was even louder than the rock music pulsing in the party room.

"How come you are here, Luca?" I was not going to dally and make excuses for my fault. Luca already knew I was a straight to point person. He knew that so well about me.

"I came here for business purposes only. To mingle with my clients. Not that it is any of your concern." His gaze was still intent on me as he spoke.

I continued to raise my head high and didn't flinch from his stare even though every nerve in my skin was screaming run! I was the actress here, after all. I was the one skilled with the mastery of pretense and performance.

"Business?" I asked.

"I am no longer a nobody, Celine. I am no more that man you were ashamed to be with."

"Luca—"

"Why act so surprised that you saw me here? "

"Luca—"

"Did you really think I wouldn't be able to succeed? That my dreams would not begin to work out the way yours did? That only your dreams were valid?"

"Luca, we are at a party! At a public place. We cannot do this here. People are around watching."

"Yeah. Typical of you to always be people conscious. Always caring about what people think more than yourself and those you care about. And here I thought…here I was hoping that you would have changed."

I could get that Luca was still angry over what I had done even though three years had passed. It was in his eyes and words how deeply hurt he was still but I was not going to let him talk to me in this way, especially in the presence of dignified guests and the paparazzi media.

I was still yet to clinch that contract with the producer a few minutes ago and I couldn't afford to have my face splashed over gossip blogs and the entertainment TV news.

Luca was not in the Hollywood world after all. He would never understand how fragile the reputation of a Hollywood star was. Especially one who was a woman. How the image one has carefully grown over the years through sweat and hard work could come crashing down in a minute with only one mistake. Just one mistake was enough to destroy all she had worked for. Just one mistake and it could be all gone.

Luca would never understand image and its importance to anyone in the crafty world of Hollywood. Successful or not, he was a computer guy. He would only understand the language of computers.

I looked at him, my mind traveling to the precious times we had together, the chemistry that sparkled easily between us.

Three years since we parted and I have had four boyfriends and had one night stands with more people than I could count since then, but I have never met someone who was as smart and at the same time, decent as Luca.

Most men had that crafty look in their eyes, always looking for whom to take advantage of. For well positioned women to exploit. But not Luca. Never Luca.

In fact, looking at him now, it was so clear that he still desired me even though he didn't want to.

That he was clearly in love with me still. He might not say it with words but it was very familiar the way his eyes grazed over me longingly. I could still feel the spark between us, and I have no doubt he felt it too.

"What are you thinking about now?" Luca asked now, his voice lowered now. "Still afraid to speak to your ex in the presence of others? Scared that they might catch a whisper of our conversation and spread to ears after ears that the stunning Celine who delights television viewers with her presence on screen was once naive and had given her love to a struggling computer geek. Will it tarnish your image? Bring you down?"

I was not in a hurry to say anything. I had to choose my words carefully. I knew the power I had. It was obvious with every syllable that came out of Luca's mouth how much hold I still had over him.

I doubt that he had even had a serious relationship since our break up. So I could get him back if I wanted to.

Did I really want him? Now that I know that he had not gotten over me, that desire for me still ran through his blood as if it was three years ago and I had not yet broken his heart, it was up to me to decide whether to rekindle the spark between us or not. That is if I desired him like he did me.

I did. I did want him back.

For one, I was still clearly sexually attracted to him; I liked the person that he was.

Also, I could take a break from dating all these sly men in the industry and go for someone who was a complete novice on how Hollywood works. It would be refreshing and take my attention from how Hollywood was choking me with work, work and more work.

Thirdly, he was no longer struggling like before. Yes, I was vicious. I would not deny it. I am a Hollywood star and I needed to protect my image. A rich Luca was far better than the nobody Luca of before. Now that we are well to do, the spark between us would be explosive.

But Luca was no fool. He had a lot of pride. I knew that very well. Whether he loved me or not, it was going to take a lot of work to make him see I was still into him the way I was over three years before.

"I miss you. A lot." I said to him softly.

Now, it was not just his eyes that were startled. His shoulders gave a visible jolt and his mouth opened and closed. He had not expected such words from me.

"Don't try to fool me, Celine. Don't try to get under my skin." Luca warned, his honey eyes narrowing at me. "You wanted—"

"I know what I said I wanted." I cut in.

I splayed my hands around. "Hollywood is cool. It's something I have always dreamed of. To be here. To be this. But it's like roses. Hollywood is like roses, double-edged; so beautiful to look at but its thorns can pierce one's skin easily. It can easily drain one's spirit. I know that it has drained mine."

It was a good thing I was honest. Because whatever he saw in my eyes as he searched into them seemed to rattle him more.

Disoriented, he went through his hair with his fingers, making the neatly combed brown hair to become ruffled.

How I wanted to do that myself. I forced the urge back down. It was not yet time.

I know he still hated how I had broken his heart and never looked back.

"Why are you doing this to me, Celine?" He said, closing his eyes briefly. "Have you not done enough?"

"Because I miss you. I do not know what else to say."

Two sentences. Two simple sentences and it was Luca's undoing.

If I had become sassy and flirted blatantly with him, he would have walked off.

Yes, he liked me but he had a lot of pride. Plus, he was smart. How else was he able to have all that money? So he would see so easily that I was taking advantage of his feelings that were still blazing hot.

But it was my honesty that got to me.

For a moment, he kept looking at me. Those honey were searching my face for anything to prove that this was not real.

I looked at him as well, making sure that my desire for him reflected in my eyes.

"Are you done here?" He asked.

Yes! I have won!

"I have been dying to leave here as soon as I came in." I murmured.

"Let's get away." Luca stated.

He held my hand and led us to the exit which thankfully, was not far away from us. Less people would notice us leave that way. I would text Drake later that he should drive my own car to my apartment. He was the one with the keys after all.

We had barely got to his car when we started kissing. Hands on each other. Mouths on each other. Desire putting us in a frenzy that I have missed so damn much.

When he trailed kisses down my throat and down to the top of my shirt, I removed my hands from his neck and tore the front of my shirt because I could not work my way around the buttons fast enough. I so wanted his mouth to be on me. On every part of me.

He pulled away, desire darkening his honey eyes and started the car to drive us to his home.

We had sex that night. Not just in his bedroom but in other rooms in his house. We had sex most of the following day. We took the day off from work—that Drake didn't take lightly at all but I didn't care— and had spent the day together in Luca's house.