Behind The Mask

Chapter 37

Michael’s POV

I keep my eyes on my watch as people drone on and on in the background. I have a meeting which has outlived its useful purpose. I have heard what I needed to hear and my answer is no – no matter what they are still saying around me. I am NOT hosting the Academy Awards. I have been approached several times with this idea, and every time I said no. I am not a skilled show host or speaker. I can’t tell a joke properly, somehow I mess it up and it’s not funny anymore. I am a singer and dancer. That’s my line of entertainment and I’m sticking to it.

I wish I could leave soon and see what Anouk bought herself for Janet’s party. I sent her in the limo with Wayne to do some shopping after a long and loud debate with arguments ranging from “I ain’t spending your money” to “I’d rather go naked”. But in the end I prevailed and she accepted to go and buy herself something cool and trendy to wear.

I fish for my mobile phone and text her: “Pls call and say the house’s on fire.” I put it on silent and wait for a reply. Soon enough I get a text back: “Suck it up and wait till it’s over, lazy boy!” I giggle a little and everyone stops talking and looks at me.

“Are we saying anything amusing, MJ?”

“Not particularly, no...it’s just a nervous reaction. I already said I’m not doing this, so I really don’t see why we have to continue this. I’m a busy man, I got other things to do.”

The meeting finally comes to an end. I was out of the door when I realized that I forgot my fedora in the office. I pop back in right in time to hear one of my managers saying:

“He’s busy dicking down that blonde bimbo he picked up in South Africa. Got quite rabid after he got a taste of the action from Lisa.”

I slam the door behind me and they all jump in their chairs. I pick my fedora, place it on my head and point at the respective guy:

“You’re fired.”

It was either this or jumping at his throat. I walk right out, breathing in and out deeply to calm down. I am literally seeing red in front of my eyes. My hands are shaking and for a moment I feel like turning back inside the office and throttling that bastard.

My mobile phone buzzes in my pocket and I reject the call without even seeing who it is. I cannot talk to anybody right now. I am pissed off, mad as hell...and worried. These people know about me and Anouk. I just fired one of them. How long till it hits the papers? How long till a bitter, vengeful man starts spilling out lies about us?

I sit in the can and take my mobile out. Shit! I rejected Anouk’s call. What if it was important?

I hit Redial with a fast beating heart.

“Hi, Michael!”

“Hey, baby. Anything wrong? Is everything alright?”

“Sure thing. But I’m gonna run late, I’m taking Manny to a hairdresser to have his mane chopped off a bit. It grows frightfully fast. Maybe I’m doing a thing or two to my hair as well, who knows?”

“Noooo, Nooki, don’t cut it short, please!”

I pout as if she can see me. Her hair has just grown a bit over her shoulders and I love it like this.

“Nothing major, OK? I promise.”

“Pinky promise?”

“Yep. So, how was your meeting after all?”

“It sucked big time. A total waste of time, and I’m really angered when I lose time like this!”

“Wow! You sound really pissed off. What did ACTUALLY happen there?”