Once In A Limelight

4|Edward

"You butchered your acting career before it even started," The reporter gave a dramatic pause as he smiled at me, "Was it because In Black and The Punisher didn't do well in the market or was it for a personal reason?"

My face was impassive, holding back words like "My take from one of theses two films was most probably more than what you've made in your forty something years of existence" or "I'm not giving you the satisfaction of talking about Camilla" or better yet "Fuck off"

"Butchered is a big word, my friend," I grinned at him, "I'd say I preferred sleeping in my bed everyday."

Pulling night shifts for filming was a breeze.

No one knew why I stopped acting after The Punisher even though, despite Mr butchered here, the two films were on the box office's top five for respective months.

"And do you–"

"You're done." My bodyguard extended a hand between us, telling him his time was over.

I didn't get to take two more steps before another male reporter was in front of me.

"Edward Vettel," His pronunciation was off on my last name as usual, "Um...You um...appeared with Laura Hemmes in Paris yesterday and...are you dating?"

He was nervous, obviously, but it was only when he looked at my face. I wasn't surprised, just amused. Also because Laura owed me ten thousand dollars after that question.

"I'm sorry...I'm babbling and–"

"Don't sweat it, buddy, you're doing a great job." I smiled at him.

"Really?" He ignited.

"No."

His face fell again, but my head swerved to my right as a crazy set of cheers and screams erupted, the sound of cameras flashing drowning anything else. I knew it before I laid my eyes on her.

Camilla Rémon was here.

With Mari Stewart on her side, the people went ever crazier.

My eyes were only on her though. I didn't give a fuck about how I'd look, staring at her in public. She was mesmerizing.

In the blood red long dress, she was a sweet little demon with eyes so dark you'd drown in them forever. The slit on the left gave room for her toned leg, making me breathe deeper. My heartbeat hitched even though it wasn't the first time I've seen that dress. In fact, I was the one who chose it along with other options and asked Sabine Taux to send them to Kevin, Cami's stylist.

Sabine and I have been having a secret little agreement for a while.

Seeing it on her was an entirely different thing though. Like bringing words to life. She brought this dress to life.

She gave her back to the cameras, posing like a pro and exposing the parts of her back that were visible due to the design and that ass...Fuck.

She tilted her head to her right, her eyes meeting mine and making the world stop on its axis. It was like everyone held a breath, seeing us connect in any way after so long.

We held eyes for a moment that felt so vividly significant it stole my breath right out of my lungs. Any sort of connection with Cami felt like that.

I felt a pat on my shoulder, the sounds of the world returning after being on pause when I broke our gaze and turned to my bodyguard.

"We'll be moving now."

After a very chaotic pathway towards the entrance, I was in my seat with Leon on my left and an empty chair with Monica Murphy's name on it. Putting my ex next to me with Cami just a few feet away was a low blow that I was certain Michael struck on purpose. Dirty bastard.

"Should we switch seats?" I nudged Leon's side.

After getting no response, I turned to him, finding his eyes on Mari Stewart while she laughed loudly with Angelo Katabna, a fellow model.

Leon Monroe was an ex National Hockey League star whose face still took over covers of sports magazine issues even after he left the league. That face gave him enough charm to be chosen as the Sexiest Man In The World by People magazine.

Leon–despite what the press claims–never had an official relationship. He had been with more women than anyone I know, and I know everyone, but somehow...somehow Mari was a constant even though she never gave him a single chance. Never even looked interested, let alone was. He'd never admit that she was different from the others for him.

"You cream your pants yet?" I whispered in his ear, teasing him with his obsession over her.

I knew Mari ever since she and Cami became inseparable. Watched her take my seventeen year old crush before I could. Watched my best friend irrevocably fawn over her too.

Suffice to say, she wasn't my favorite person in the whole wide world.

I liked teasing Leon over her nonetheless.

"I get harder for your mom." He winked at me, deflecting efficiently.

Before I could flip him off or rather yet knee him in the balls, I felt someone sit beside me.

"Edward." Monica clipped out, resting her elbow on my seat hand. I removed my arm.

"Nice wig, Monica." I said, meaning it.

Her bleach white wig was totally different than her raven black hair, a new change ever since she dumped me because I was still hung up over a certain doe eyed brunette. Guilty me.

It looked better on her, but I knew she didn't agree, so I said it to rile her up. I knew I was petty.

Monica gave me a hard look without saying anything else. Classy as always. Not like my feisty one.

I turned back to Leon, who was back at burn holes into Mari's back mission, and nudged him hard in the ribs.

"Stop with the poking, shitface." He looked at me with daggers in his dark eyes. It said enough about his physical health to think I was poking him.

"Regarde." Look. I signaled with my eyes at the newest couple.

After the big scandal, Sebastian Cortez was here with his once "mistress" on his side. The fifty one year old actor divorced his wife for the twenty five year old new model, Kilani.

"Putain de Merde. That is just wrong, man." Leon winced. Fucking hell.

The age difference was the biggest problem here, but, surprisingly, Kilani looked happier than he was.

"Maybe she has something on him." I wondered hypothetically.

Looking to where Mari was now sitting, I found the seat next to her void of a short vixen in red. I felt her here, but I couldn't find her.

Where are you, Cami?

Bingo. I found her.

With him.

"We're in public, Eddie." Leon warned, seeing my line of vision. I must've been on literal fire if he felt my anger that quickly.

He had a point. We were in public, but that was before they disappeared behind a set of velvet curtains with his hand on her back.

Like hell was I going to leave her alone with him.

I stood up, on my way to them through the rows of seats with clenched hands and murder on my mind.