Thanks for the Read and Review Rue. I think this is where the story gets more familiar.


The Rumor Mill

"This movie is going to be a hit." Anna said sitting across from me at a table. I was back in town a couple of weeks later to sign for another movie.

I looked up at her and arched a brow, "Good."

"Don' you want to know why?" She asked taking a sip of her coffee. I shrugged and handed Maddy her juice cup. "Look at this."

I looked at the Star magazine and there had a picture of Jayden and I standing on the rooftop set kissing. "That is part of the movie."

"Look at the chemistry in that shot. It's hot." Anna said fanning herself with a napkin.

"It's a picture of a scene." I said brushing it off, "Can we talk business here?"

"So did you get to read the script?" She asked.

"I want it... When was the last time I came from London voluntarily?" I said

"I get your point. I'll get you a meeting for Good Samaritan." Anna said softly.

We sat silently as we ate for a few minutes. I could feel Anna's eyes on me "What?"

"What really happened?"

"With what? Jayden?" I asked.

"Yes, did you guys take it beyond this movie?"

"Besides a new friendship?" I said wiping Maddy's face with a napkin. "Not to say that I didn't want to, but I like his wife."

"So you do dig him." She said with a smirk.

"God you'd have to be blind not to." I said

"Do you only think with your..."

"Anna..." I interrupted, "Change the subject."

"Okay, all right."


About a week later I was Pakistan. There was an earthquake In India near the border with Pakistan, and there was some major destruction on either side of the line. Disputing factions put aside their differences, and I went back to my home of past lives to help them get back on their feet.

It was great. I could forget all about the tabloids and the paparazzi as I went out and help distribute food to the newly homeless in Pakistan. I went to an orphanage while I was there. There were so many little children there. A lot of them were Indian refugees who lost their family in the earthquake. There was this one little boy there; he was three months old, and weak from malnutrition. I reached out to him and held him. I tried to remember my Farsi and I asked one of the women there in my broken language what had happened.

Impressed, the woman said to me in Farsi. "His mom was Pakistani, but they had just gone over the border to visit her husbands family. And the Earthquake happened." She had been friends with her and when she went looking for her, she found them dead but the babywas alive.

"Are you adopting him?" I asked holding him close.

"I can't, I've got five of my own. So I come here every day and watch over him." She said, "You can't trust them to, he's a darkie."

I bristled, The racism here was worst than back home. "I want him," I found myself saying without thinking. "I want to take him with me."

"Bless you," She said and she led me to the office and I held my baby close. Of course I knew that he wasn't coming with me just yet, but I was reluctant to put him down for fear that I might loose him.


I had a summit later that afternoon; so I reluctantly left my son behind I headed to the summit and made my appearance there. It just so happened that Jayden was there as well. I saw him from across the room, but I stayed where I was. If I approached him, it would seem like he'd come here to be with me, or vise versa. That was unless Ashleigh was there.

I looked around for any signs of his wife, but there weren't any. So I did my bit and went to search for Lilly. "What you're not even going to say hello?"

I turned to face him and smiled, "Hi." I shifted a bit then came a little closer, "What are you doing here Ares?"

"I'm trying to be compassionate," He answered, "I thought you liked compassionate guys."

"It doesn't matter weather I like you or not, You don't have to impress me." I said walking on to find Lilly."

"Oh but I must," He stops me for a second, "because for some reason I really need you in my life. If only as my friend"

"You will always be my friend Jayden, but I don't think that I can live near you and not... You know." I couldn't say anymore, there were pictures being taken of me talking to him. "I don't want to be looked at, as if I were some home wrecker."

"Too late, they are going to hound you forever." He said, "Ash and I are going to go on Vacation together next week, to Cabos... Just so you know and make sure you are at the other side of the world when that happens."

I laugh and walk away to my daughter and nanny.