When Mrs. Infamous Chose The Masochist...(BOOK 5)

Chapter 30

A month had passed after we all went to support The Skylettes, but it was a happy one as we spent the holidays with our friends and family. After that, it was time to get back to work for Palaye and for myself. The band were almost done recording the collaboration with ELYSIAN; after some mixing and mastering, they would release it as soon as possible and start promoting the single as well. I was sure Mae probably wouldn't like having to share the spotlight with Remington, but I hoped she'd remember that everyone would be benefiting from all of this. And, of course, I do hope she manages to enjoy something out of creating something with Palaye Royale. As for me, I still had to work on learning how to perform in front of a crowd before I'd have to publicly present myself as a songwriter eventually. Rem being my first audience helped a bit, I just hope I can manage to get even a fraction of the same kind of reaction from those who like my songs that have been sung by other performers I've written songs for.

Recently, I managed to sell a few more songs to even a few familiar faces, including Grave District and Dante's Inferno. They all said they loved my songs and gave me credit after putting it out as their songs. The royalties I've been receiving for those songs and more have been incredible, I had never made so much money just from doing something I truly love and put my whole heart into. With some extra money, I managed to buy a new house for my father back home in Querencia, which he loved to his very core. After reading his letter about how happy I made him and how proud he is of me, I had an idea after and thought about inviting my friends to spend a day at Disneyland in California. I had always wanted to go as a kid, but my parents never took me and I always felt left out from the other kids who did. Growing up, I realized it wasn't the end of the world, but now that I had the money and time, I wanted to do something special with everyone I love and care about here with me to join in making some precious memories.

I shared the idea with all of them and we made plans for our friends to travel to California in about a week, and meet here so we'd be ready to go the next day. Little Rosabella was the most excited and almost wouldn't stop screaming over the phone, much to her parents' chagrin. Just day before my friends were supposed to arrive, I ran into Mae at the studio while she was still struggling to work with Remington as they were close to finishing the record. She seemed stressed and tense, so I mentioned me and my friends spending a day at Disneyland for fun and asked if she'd like to come along to give herself a break. She seemed interested but hesitated at first. I tried to persuade her, "Come on, Mae! I may not be a famous singer like you, but I know even I need a break from everything I usually do. You'll have lots of fun with us, I promise." She thought about it for another minute before nodding with a smile, "Alright then, I'd love nothing more!"

Mae's POV

Carina smiled brightly and promised to share the details of the event later so I'd know the plan for that day before she waved and walked off. Despite how hard it's been for me to get along with Remington on all this, his sweet and genuine girlfriend continues to be so friendly and accepting of me. I haven't had anyone be this friendly to me for a while, so it's a little weird to get used to. Nonetheless, I always enjoy her company and hope she continues to be herself and never change for anyone. I took a quick trip to the restroom before I'd have to go back to the studio and have the song finalized. When I tried to step out of the restroom, I ended up crashing into Remington's chest and stumbled back as he dropped some scribbled sheets of paper on the ground. "Dammit, Remington!", I growled in frustration as I tried to compose myself from being thrown off balance, "You need to watch where you're going! I could've hurt you, or vice-versa!"

He held a guilty face as he waved his hands and stated, "I'm sorry, okay? I was distracted, I didn't mean to bump into you." I rolled my eyes in annoyance and then he crouched down to pick up the papers he dropped. Sighing in frustration, I did the same and tried to help out as I picked up the papers and handed them to him. When he got them all, we stood back up as he looked at me with a friendly smile, "Thanks, Mae. You didn't have to help me." I looked away and told him, "Yeah, I know. But you've always been a bit of a klutz, Leith, and there too many that would take you too much time to pick up." It was silent for a moment after I said that, but then Remington started laughing and I turned to see his cheeks close to burst from laughing so hard. I was about to be offended, "What's so fucking funny?" He waited a few seconds to stop laughing before he turned to look at me and shake his head amusingly, "Oh, Mae. After so many years, you're still tough as nails, but you care deeply too, even though you're not so great at showing. I'm glad you haven't changed much since we last saw each other."

Something incredibly strange happened to me when he said those words to me and look at me with kindness in his eyes. I don't know what it was exactly, but I must have noticed for the first time how pretty his eyes looked when they turned golden under bright lights, or how his smile was one of the most beautiful and genuine smiles I had ever seen on a man. Whatever it was, it caused my heart to beat a little faster and for my face to feel somewhat warm with him close to me. Panicking about these strange sensations happening to me, I turned my head away from his view and simply stated, "Ahem, well, I may have grown up a bit since you last saw me as a teenager, but not even you could destroy me. I may not forgive you entirely, but I am somewhat glad to see you've found happiness while remaining the same, good person like when you were younger." He smiled at me once more and thanked me for my words before walking up ahead and greeting his girlfriend with a kiss. It was possible that I was beginning to understand how Carina came to fall so hard for Remington.