Trouble in Paradise.

15. Autograph.

Chapter 15: Autograph.

"It's coming together nicely." I tell Ashton and he smiles.

"I told you, Vee. Our estate is almost complete." Ashton says looking at the men at work.

"For the first time, you actually did something right." I tell him, patting his back.

"I'll take it." He says, smiling.

"I'll see you when I get back from my vacation." I tell him.

"I still can't believe you're going on a vacation without me." He says and I roll my eyes. "Aren't you worried about being alone?" He asks me.

"Oh trust me. I'm not gonna be alone." I say, winking at him before I turn on my heel and walk to my car.

Twenty minutes later, I am parking my car in my garage.

I got a new house. Too many people knew where I lived. And I fired Dinah, she suffered enough trauma working for me.

I walk up the porch steps and I open my door. Karlie runs up to me and I pick her up.

"Hey baby girl. Mummy's home." I say, rubbing her head.

My phone rings and I place Karlie on the sofa, before I answer.

"Hello." I say into the phone.

"Valarie, I have good news." Sarah says and I roll my eyes.

"If it's anything that's gonna make me cancel my vacation, I'm not doing it." I tell her.

"Pepsi wants you to do a campaign for them." She tells me and I freeze.

Pepsi.

The Pepsi.

"Yes. I'll do it." I say without hesitation.

"One problem." Sarah says and I groan.

"What is it?" I ask her, terrified of her reply.

"I just got off the phone with Zachary Henderson's manager and he told me that Pepsi also contacted Zach to be the sports face of the brand. While you'll represent them on the business side. So, the million dollar question is, are you comfortable working with him? If not, we can always decline the offer." Sarah says and I touch my forehead.

"Yeah. I'm open to working with him." I tell her and she cheers on the other side of the phone.

"The first location is a warehouse on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles. You guys will be shooting tomorrow. I'm sending a jet tonight and you'll be checking in at the four seasons when you get there. Pack light. Good luck." She says before she hangs up.

This is so sudden, but I'm game.

I put Karlie in her cage and I pack tins of cat food in a bag. I put her litter box in the cage with her. I pick up the cage and I slide into my bunny slippers. Holding the bag filled with cat food on one hand and the cat cage, I open the door with my elbow and walk outside.

I walk to my neighbor's house. When I get to her porch I place the cage on the tiled floor. I approach the door and before I can knock the door opens.

"Valarie." Miss Moore says with a warm smile on her face.

"Hello, Miss Moore." I greet before I hug her.

Miss Moore is a black woman in her sixties. She lives alone in this huge house all alone. She's unmarried and has no children. Not that any of that matters.

"Come in." She tells me and I pick up the cage and follow her.

I walk into her house and I place the cat cage and bag of cat food on her living room floor before I sit on the sofa.